Born in a slum area in Tondo, Gerry has two brothers and a sister. His father drove a pedicab for a living while his mother sold native delicacies. As a young boy, he used to sell vegetables in the market to help augment the family income. He gave his mother whatever he earned which sometimes served as his school allowance.

      The family went through very tough times when their parents broke up. Gerry and his siblings remained with their father who took to the bottle, eventually, neglecting the children. Frustrated and disheartened, Gerry ran away from home.

      While on the street, he learned to engage in many vices. But he continued to dream of going to school and living a decent life. Thus, when he learned that some of his friends were in a Center for street children, he decided to join them. He stayed there for two years.

      Then, he was referred to Tuloy on June 1996. After he was admitted, the social workers accompanied him on a home visit to inform his father of his whereabouts. His father respected his decision to stay in Tuloy and hoped that he would have a bright future.

      In Tuloy, Gerry was observed as a friendly boy who hardly got involved in petty quarrels. He performed his chores on time. He was also playful and loved basketball. Although he was sometimes hardheaded, he remained obedient most of the time and knew how to control his emotions.

      Gerry completed Automotive Technology in 1998 and underwent on-the-job training at a multi-national company. Currently, he is working in a petroleum company; he is still on probation but will become a regular employee very soon. His supervisor commends his performance at work, saying that he is responsible, dependable, and a quick learner. He is part of the team that goes on out-of-town trips to check on service stations.

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