While various media organizations have already covered his inspiring story, we’re able to get a more vivid picture of Eugene Dela Cruz's journey from being young and homeless to becoming a promising youngblood with a propitious future in the 12th and latest episode of “Maalaala Mo Kaya” entitled “Pinto.”
Portrayed by up-and-coming actors Argus Aspiras and Tommy Alejandrino, Eugene actually grew up with a blissful and comfortable life with his business owner-parents and brother Dennis. But their almost perfect life suddenly changed for the worse when his parents broke up after his mother (Andrea del Rosario) left them for her first family. Their father (Jeffrey Santos) brought him and his brother to the house of their paternal grandmother, Vangie (Ces Quesada), where they lived since 2005.
It may have been really obvious to him that his father didn’t love him as much as his brother, yet instead of being discouraged, that further motivated him to consistently do good in school in spite of all his efforts being ignored. He may have felt invisible at home, but Eugene was able to find the attention, affection, and happiness that he’d been craving from his family to his gay friends, who had helped him know himself more and embrace his true sexuality.
Since they had given him the courage to come out of the closet, Eugene finally confessed to his family on the day of his elementary graduation that he’s indeed gay. Unfortunately, his Lola Vangie, who’s a conservative Chinese, got fuming mad as she firmly believed that gays like him bring bad feng shui and bad luck, and kicked him out of her house right there and then. With his parents nowhere to be found, Eugene had no choice but to knock on the doors of his friends to seek shelter until the time came that he had to live in the bustling and dangerous streets of Manila.
Vangie then passed him on to his other grandma (Carla Martinez), who also asked him to leave after staying at her house for quite some time since she couldn’t help but get anxious that he might harm her as well. This was after Vangie told her that he almost stabbed her during one of their heated confrontations, which Eugene denied since it was himself whom he was about to hurt. His mom also declined to take him in since it was already difficult for her and her husband to provide the needs of their children.
Stream the “unfiltered” and full episodes of inspiring stories brought to you by “MMK,” now streaming 72 hours in advance worldwide, on iWant every Wednesday, 8:30 pm PHT. iWant is now also available via Chromecast and AirPlay.