Some stories begin in classrooms.
But this one started on a factory floor.
In Balubad, Porac, a young man named Kenneth Calma worked the night shift at Mekeni Food Corporation—lifting boxes, checking labels, and cleaning floors—before heading straight to class at Pampanga State University. Sleep-deprived, but driven by love for his family.
When his twin couldn’t finish school and his brother fell ill, Kenneth made a promise:
“I will finish for all of us.”
As shared by The Voice Newsweekly, Kenneth juggled full-time work and studies for years, often keeping his student life a secret so he wouldn’t lose his job. He’d clock out past 2:30 AM, then sit in class by 7:00 AM—running on sheer grit, coffee, and prayer.
After years of sacrifice, he rose—
Magna Cum Laude in Elementary Education.
A son who turned exhaustion into applause.
A Capampáñgan who proved that dreams can grow even in factory halls.
May Kenneth’s journey remind us that no life is too ordinary for greatness.
Behind every Mekeni product is a story of faith, perseverance.
