FROM the moment you spot him, you will see something special about 26-year-old Jeferson Dela Peña. He makes his way around the ISUFST campus at Dumangas on a skateboard—more for need than flair. Born without his feet, Jef’s use of the skateboard is not just transportation, it is a reflection of his strength, ingenuity, and drive.
The youngest of four siblings, Jef is a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology graduating student at ISUFST Dumangas Campus. Aside from his academic credentials, however, it is his indomitable spirit that best describes who he is. “I like to push myself,” Jef says. “No matter what it is, even if it is impossible, I’ll find my own means to accomplish it.” His mindset has gotten him through more than most would have ever dreamed.
From Silence to Strength
Jeferson was raised since childhood in the city of smiles, Bacolod City, but his childhood itself took place in the town of Old Sagay. As a handicapped child, he was subjected to bullies and being ostracized, and his education ended while he was merely in Grade 2. “It was difficult,” he recounts. “The distance to school was far too long, and the judgment I faced made it harder.”
Eventually, his family returned to their hometown in Barangay Paloc Bigki, Dumangas. There, Jef resumed his studies, completing elementary school at Paloc Bigki Elementary School, then progressing to Dumangas National High School, and finally finishing Senior High at St. Augustine Catholic School in the same town.
College had never been a matter of “if” for Jef, but rather “how.” ISUFST had been his choice not just because it is close but because it provided the course he had always wished to study—Information Technology. “I have been wanting to get into tech since long back,” he says. “It’s what gets me going, makes me feel unlimited.”
Beyond the Surface: Challenges and Triumph
His journey at ISUFST has not been without hurdles. Classes held from different rooms and buildings posed physical challenges, but never once did he ask for special treatment. “You just have to move,” he says with a smile. “You can’t stay stuck.”
Before the pandemic, Jef was also an accomplished para-athlete, representing his province in swimming. He had caught the attention of talent scouts from Manila, hinting at a future beyond the classroom. But like many dreams, the pandemic put those plans on hold. Still, Jef refuses to dwell on the what-ifs. “Everything is meant to happen, he says. Without it, otherwise, I would not have been here, where I belong.”
Jef is regularly supported by the Provincial Government and the Dumangas Local Government Unit (LGU), which alleviates part of the financial burdens his family has to bear. The first-generation college student Jeff is the first from his family to graduate with a degree this June 5 systemwide graduation rites at the Tamasak Arena in Barotac Nuevo.
More Than a Story—A Movement
Jef’s story has captured national attention. He has been featured on ABS-CBN’s Christmas Station ID, in a segment with Bernadette Sembrano, and on Rated K with Korina Sanchez. But for Jef, the spotlight is simply a platform. “I’m not doing it for recognition,” he says. “I’m telling my story to remind people anything can happen.”
At the core of Jef’s tale is his love for people. He’s frequently cruising around town with friends, laughing, telling stories, and spreading positive vibrations. “I’d rather have people around me instead of being alone,” he admits. “They make life lighter.”
Despite the attention he receives, Jef remains deeply grounded. His humility and optimism resonate with ISUFST’s core values, particularly the institution’s commitment to inclusivity and personal growth.
As ISUFST President Dr. Nordy D. Siason, Jr. consistently puts it: “True education goes beyond books. It uplifts the human spirit, especially those who persist despite life’s odds.”
Jef is a living embodiment of that philosophy.
No Limits, Only Possibilities
One of the most remarkable things about Jef is how he redefines limitations. His skateboard, often seen as a toy or tool for leisure, becomes a vehicle of independence and agency. Even his motorcycle—modified so he can drive it—symbolizes his refusal to be defined by what’s missing.
“I want people to remember me as someone who never gave up,” Jef says. “Someone who stayed resilient despite everything, and who believed in the power of optimism.”
His advice to the younger generation is both pragmatic and strong:
“Never give up. Whether you belong to a poor family or have a disability, it’s not what you lack. It’s the flame inside you. That is what is going to lift you to higher realms.”
A Legacy in Motion
As he prepares to graduate, Jef is not just leaving ISUFST with a diploma—he is leaving a legacy. His presence has inspired not only his classmates and professors, but also the entire Dumangas community and beyond. His life is proof that with courage, heart, and a little bit of creativity, no dream is out of reach.
Jeferson Dela Peña did not just study at ISUFST. He lived, led, and uplifted. His journey reminds us all that success isn’t about having the smoothest path—but about how boldly you ride the one you’re given.
And with every push of his skateboard, Jef moves not just toward his future—but toward a horizon he’s shaping for others to follow.| – Jose Eugene Salazar, Jennifer Mamerto, and Herman Lagon/PAMMCO
