Welcome Drifters!

I’m not really sure if you wanted that title, but I believe that at some point of our lives, we all have experienced being one – someone who wanders from place to place, looking for something, raising questions and searching for answers, or simply staring blankly at something for no reason at all. You might perceive this title negatively, but I consider this as a reality and a challenge to reach that place where we ought to be.

I personally claim that I am a drifter. I’ve been to situations where things did not go as planned, felt lost – sometimes almost giving up, but ventured to find my way back and continue life. I’ve taken a lot of pauses and turns but looking back at those times brings a feeling of fulfillment. I’ve learned a lot and I am still learning… and sharing those has always been my passion.

My Story

I’m John Paul Adiarte Lobos. My family call me Pong, most people –  Paul, my officemates – JP, my students – Sir Lobos, my lovee – Mahal… these are the nicknames that I love the most among the others. I’m 25 years old, Filipino by birth, by looks, and most especially by heart. I’ve finished my Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and took another Bachelor’s Degree in Theology after. Currently, I work as a FinTech trainer, a part-time IT professor,  and just very recently –  an entrepreneur.

Like the song says, “I was a poor boy from a poor family”, though I am not saying this to discount my parents. I can say that I am more than blessed being raised by them in proper discipline, valuing even small things, and appreciating every effort that each family member is exerting for us to survive. I am the eldest of five siblings and at a very young age, I learned how to make money by collecting the nails stuck in the firewood that we use for cooking and trading them in a junk shop, watching fairground stalls, and being a runner of the nearby sari-sari stores in our area.

I’ve always been good at school. I am usually one of those who gets sent in competitions – both for academics and arts. I like how it feels to be recognized at the end of each school year where my parents get to march with me and receive some awards on stage. We would usually walk home with medals hanging around my neck, producing sounds in every step, and capturing the attention of the people along the streets. I would often tell myself, even though we’re poor, at least, I am able to give them this pride which not everyone may have.

I also grew up with my half-brother from my mom and we really get along very well. Like me, he has always been an achiever – I guess that is a big factor why I also persevered. I’ve always wanted to be like him. He funded my college education and that gave my parents a really big relief since we don’t  have any means.

The Turning Point

When I was about to enter college, I was discouraging my friends from studying at PUP because during that time, it’s known for activists and it’s always in the news due to the rallies happening from time to time. I was also discouraging them from taking BS Information Technology because of the belief that they can just self-learn the technology stuff as long as you have a computer. I was too confident to utter those words because I have a couple of scholarships and I felt like I am in a good spot to jumpstart my college life – but I was wrong.

My brother then talked to me and advised that even if I have the scholarships, the daily expenses might be too much for us, especially because I was looking into getting a pre-med course, and the school would require me to get a dormitory. He told me that there was a campus in the province where he lives and there are good course offerings – same as those offered in the city. I don’t think he wanted to impose anything, but because he will be financing my studies, I just thought that I actually have no choice.

Being in that place unfolded a revelation. Guess what, the campus was an extension of PUP! I tried to intentionally fail the entrance exam by shading choices without reading the actual questions, but I ended up being in the priority list of passers. Because again, I have no choice, I ended up enrolling there and I just signed up for the program that most students would line up for – BS Information Technology, and to my frustration, my student number is “SP-09-00001”.

All I have during that time is disappointment and I am totally hopeless. I ate everything I said, and now, I cannot pursue what I really wanted.

Getting Back on Track

My brother introduced me to his Christian churchmates and you might be able to figure out what my initial reaction was. Not that I am not a religious person, because the whole family is, but I just don’t understand why he must move-away from the beliefs that we grew up with. At first, I was just attending the service so he won’t feel bad, but eventually, I happen to get to know Jesus more – His sacrifice on the cross, His grace, and how madly in love He is to me. I became a worker of the church – started just mopping the floor and arranging chairs, until I was able to use my multimedia knowledge from school, then eventually became the Youth and Worship Leader.

Now, as I look back, I saw how the Lord arranged every bits and pieces of my life to bring me to His flock and be used for a greater purpose. I was able to grasp his noble purpose for me and am thrilled to respond and do it in every way possible. He turned my life 360 degrees and now I can no longer imagine what my life could have been if my own plans turned into a reality.

The Drifter’s Mission

I can say that I more than just an achiever now, I am a conqueror. I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs, drifting over a mix of situations as a bread winner at the age of 25, a counselor to the young people, a young professional, a teacher, a brother,  and the toughest of all – a servant of God. I saw how each situation turn into a testimony and how each was able to impact the lives of the people dearest to me positively. This is the very motivation I have to pursue this dream of having my own website to reach out to more people. The same way as how other online content brought encouragement whenever I feel like I’m drifting again, I want to share the truth that life is an exciting adventure for those who thirsts for the best and drinks from the right source.

I would say, it is not an accident that you are reading this right now. Thank you for taking part in this mission. Let us learn from each other and touch more lives together.