A life-changing bet

Almost two years ago, then seven-year-old Jessie Myron Miller Jr. learned how a single act of strong coverage could alter one’s destiny forever when he won a jeepney from Wowowee’s Pera o Bayong segment by sticking to his answer even if it meant going against all the other remaining contestants.

“Something inside told me that I was correct,” shares Jessie, who is now nine years old. “I wanted to win badly so I prayed very hard. I did it for my dad.”

Jessie, the youngest of two siblings, admits that before joining Wowowee, life was extra hard for their family. He adds that there were many times when he would go to school with no money (baon). His father, who is a jeepney driver, would always make both ends meet for their family.

Through it all, Jessie stayed focus in his studies and remained an honor student. In fact, he was accelerated. He skipped fourth grade in a public school in Caloocan.

“When we heard that Wowowee was looking for honor students to join Pera o Bayong, I told myself that I should go,” enthuses Jessie.

Lady luck proved to be on his side that day. “I won the jeepney. Hindi na kailangan mag-boundary ni tatay,” Jessie beams.

Aside from the jeepney prize, Jessie is also grateful that the show served as a venue for him to send a plea to his grandmother, who left them years before. His lola, who was in Bicol at that time, rushed to the ABS-CBN studio in Legaspi, Albay after hearing his grandson’s heart-wrenching message. She was advised to go to the ABS-CBN main studio in Quezon City.

Borrowing money from another relative, Jessie’s grandmother took the next available bus to Manila from Bicol. On Monday following Jessie’s weekend victory, he was called on to the studio again where he had a tearful reunion with his lola on Wowowee. Host Willie Revillame made sure the grandmother’s bus fare to and from Bicol was covered, as he gave them monetary token when the program ended that day.

“Binago talaga ng Wowowee ang buhay namin,” adds Jessie. “Hindi ko makakalimutan ang tulong nila sa amin.”

But aside from the jeepney and the homecoming of his grandmother, Jessie has secured another valuable thing because of his courage — his education.

Impressed by Jessie’s love for his father and daring stance in life, cosmetic surgeon Dr. Vicki Belo of the Belo Medical Group, offered to give him a signifcant amount as a bonus.

Jessie profusely thanked Dr. Belo because of her act of kindness, while Dr. Belo asked him what he wanted to be in the future.

“I said I wanted to be a doctor,” recounts Jessie. “Natuwa si Doktora Belo kaya sinabi niya ‘I will make you a scholar na lang. Just make sure you maintain good grades’.”

Immediately after that meeting, Dr. Belo arranged that Jessie be transferred to La Consolacion College, a private school in Caloocan. To date, Jessie still attends the same school and submits his school grades every semester to the office of the famous cosmetic doctor.

“I try my best to maintain good grades kasi nakakahiya naman kay Doktora Belo,” says Jessie. “I will be a good student and a good doctor just like my idol, Dr. Vicki Belo. Then, I will help other kids just like what she did to me.”