Ako si Robi: From Broken Beginnings to Building a Bright Future

“Ako si Robi — walang nagpaaral, pero grumaduate ng Electrical Engineering.”
These were the powerful words of Rhoubrick Balboa, known online as “Ako si Robi,” as he closed a chapter of his life that once seemed impossible to even open.
Five years ago, Robi thought becoming an engineer was just a faraway dream. Growing up in a broken family, he had no stable home, no responsible parents, and no one to lean on for support. He almost believed that he was destined for an ordinary life. But instead of accepting the path that was handed to him, he decided to carve his own.
At the height of the pandemic, Robi dared to apply to the prestigious university, TUP Manila, renowned for its top-quality engineering education. He knew the road ahead would be tough—he had no financial support and no safety net. But what he lacked in resources, he made up for in resilience.
From being a barista and service crew in his first year, to becoming a Food Panda rider during his second year, Robi worked tirelessly—sometimes 18 hours a day—just to survive and save enough for dorm fees. He cried in exhaustion, rode through rain and heat, and faced days when quitting seemed easier than continuing. But he never gave up.
As classes returned on-site, he shifted to new side hustles: sales agent, escort customs staff, freelance electrician, electrical designer, 3D modeller, draftsman, and even a thesis fabricator for small-scale systems. Along the way, he completed nearly 140 electrical plan projects, mastering his craft while keeping his grades afloat.
Eventually, his perseverance paid off. Robi graduated as part of Batch Hiraya 2025, earning the title Best in Thesis at the TUP Electrical Engineering Department and placing 2nd overall in the Best Thesis Presentor competition.
Robi credits his success not only to hard work but also to the people who stood by him: his grandmother who raised him, his loyal friends who kept him grounded, his mentors like who believed in his potential, and the dedicated professors of the TUP Electrical Engineering Department who molded him into the engineer he is becoming.
“Akala ko noon, tadhana ang nagdidikta ng mararating natin. Hindi pala. Tayo ang sumusulat ng sarili nating kwento,” Robi shares.
Today, Robi stands as living proof that your circumstances do not define your future. What matters is the fire within—the determination to rewrite your story.
From being told he would never amount to anything, to now standing on the edge of becoming a licensed electrical engineer, Robi has shown that grit, faith, and passion can power the brightest dreams.
And this is only the beginning.