This is a good reminder that we shouldn't take things for granted. Two children - Mudjur Clemente and Gladys Dela Cruz - have recently been thrust into the social media spotlight because of the work that they do as street vendors to earn money to support their families and maybe allow them to go back to school. While many people just cruise through school and and sometimes even despise having to study, acting as if an education wasn't all that important, here we see two underprivileged children putting in an inspiring effort to learn even as they sell snacks on the streets.
I first learned about Mudjur Clemente, a 13-year-old kid who sells snacks to law students in Mendiola when an article on Manila Bulletin went viral. To help get law students to buy from him, he volunteers to recite the Preamble of the Philippine Constitution. (Check out this video of Mudjur reciting it.) He has also memorized the National Territory, the Declaration of State Policies, and the Civil Code Article of 1920, among others and he's working on memorizing more. He has impressed a lot of people who have taken to social media to share his story. Mudjur hopes to one day become a lawyer himself but that dream has been put on hold because he stopped schooling last August to help support his family.
I then learned about Gladys Dela Cruz when I found this Facebook page that is trying to help both street children obtain an education. Gladys is a 9-year-old kid who has memorized the square root of perfect squares all the way up to 1000 (although as you will see in this video of Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho where she was featured, she also knows the square root of 1 million). Unfortunately, she had to stop school last year to sell snacks to help her grandmother. Her earnings aren't even enough to cover basic necessities so school is no longer an option. Despite this setback, Gladys still dreams of one day becoming a civil engineer.
The Wonder Vendors: Mudjur Clemente and Gladys dela Cruz Facebook page has shared this report: "Mudjur has spoken to Merlita Helms, CEO and President of the foundation One Heart For Hope. A coordinator from the group will soon get in touch with Mudjur to sponsor his studies and to help with the livelihood of his family. The hope is that Mudjur will focus on his education and forego the need to be a street vendor." That is great news!
Support is still being raised for Gladys and also her cousins Gerald and Justin Tamayo. Please visit The Wonder Vendors Facebook page to read more about them and learn how you can help. You can also read more about Gladys and Mudjur in Subselfie.com (click on this link).
Mudjur Clemente (left) and Gladys Dela Cruz (right). Photo courtesy of
I first learned about Mudjur Clemente, a 13-year-old kid who sells snacks to law students in Mendiola when an article on Manila Bulletin went viral. To help get law students to buy from him, he volunteers to recite the Preamble of the Philippine Constitution. (Check out this video of Mudjur reciting it.) He has also memorized the National Territory, the Declaration of State Policies, and the Civil Code Article of 1920, among others and he's working on memorizing more. He has impressed a lot of people who have taken to social media to share his story. Mudjur hopes to one day become a lawyer himself but that dream has been put on hold because he stopped schooling last August to help support his family.
I then learned about Gladys Dela Cruz when I found this Facebook page that is trying to help both street children obtain an education. Gladys is a 9-year-old kid who has memorized the square root of perfect squares all the way up to 1000 (although as you will see in this video of Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho where she was featured, she also knows the square root of 1 million). Unfortunately, she had to stop school last year to sell snacks to help her grandmother. Her earnings aren't even enough to cover basic necessities so school is no longer an option. Despite this setback, Gladys still dreams of one day becoming a civil engineer.
The Wonder Vendors: Mudjur Clemente and Gladys dela Cruz Facebook page has shared this report: "Mudjur has spoken to Merlita Helms, CEO and President of the foundation One Heart For Hope. A coordinator from the group will soon get in touch with Mudjur to sponsor his studies and to help with the livelihood of his family. The hope is that Mudjur will focus on his education and forego the need to be a street vendor." That is great news!
Support is still being raised for Gladys and also her cousins Gerald and Justin Tamayo. Please visit The Wonder Vendors Facebook page to read more about them and learn how you can help. You can also read more about Gladys and Mudjur in Subselfie.com (click on this link).
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