The road seemed to be an endless wandering place for young Dodong or Emilio Isnani. Being abandoned by his parents, the streets became his home back in the days. With the struggles and hardships that he had been through, many of us might probably think that he would end up shattered and devastated. But he knew about life better.

He knew that life is like a road –at some point it’s smooth, at other point it’s rough. But a good driver knows how to make a good ride to success. After all, it’s not about how you get there but about how you made your journey worth the bumpy ride.

In an interview, Dodong recalls how difficult it was to live life on the streets. At a young age, he was refined by the experiences that served as the foundation of his being. But Dodong says that he was far from being a goodie-goody boy. He says he was actually full of foolishness as a kid.

At daytime, you would see him, together with his brothers, ramble around the city searching for whatever they can do to survive. During the night, they would take an uncomfortable sleep on their carton-made bed beside shopping malls. That pretty much was his day-to-day life on the street until he was taken to the then Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) –now known as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

During his stay in the MSSD’s Silungan Center, he was given an opportunity to start-up a small shoe-shine business to support his necessities. He then had a few more experiences outside the city as he enters puberty. He got back in the city and later on was transferred to DSWD’s Lingap Center. By then he already was back to school and was determined to finish his studies.

He managed to finish secondary education with the help of the people who believed in his potentials. He started to build a happy family to whom he promised never will experience any of what he had been through. Dodong sought the help of Ms. Fatima Saudia (now Caminan) for a decent job that would help him support his growing family. And so, knowing his capabilities and perseverance, he was hired as a driver for the Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC). As a driver, he was able to build a house for his family, purchase tricycle and a motorcycle that he use to earn extra income after his duty. The regional office saw his determination and commitment to the job hence he was promoted to a regular position as a Security Guard.

When asked about his childhood dream, Dodong says he wanted to be a soldier. He may not have fulfilled his childhood dream but he says that being a Security Guard makes him feel that somehow, he is able to contribute something to the community just as much as a soldier can. Dodong never left his post and, in line of duty, was hit by a bullet in his arm in the middle of the crossfire during the unfortunate September 2013 Zamboanga siege where the regional office was caught right in the battleground.

After his 6-month rehabilitation leave, Dodong continued to serve the agency with his own genuine brand of the “Mahusay, Matapat at Magiliw na paglilingkod” to the truest sense of these words.

Recently, Dodong was recognized as the Most Outstanding DSWD Worker as Public Servant for 2015 for his undeniably inspiring passion to serve the vulnerable, marginalized and disadvantaged individuals.

Truly, no one knows where the path of life will lead you. But with guidance, prayers and lots of determination, one can reach a beautiful destination he never had imagined.