In the quiet town of San Antonio, R.T.R., Agusan del Norte, where the rice fields stretch like green blankets under the golden sun, a child named Joy Escarda Bantog was born on December 29, 1985. The morning air then was crisp and full of promise, though no one knew that this boy, who came from humble soil, would one day grow into a man whose faith could move mountains.
Joy grew up in Sitio Pangaylan, a place where laughter echoed through bamboo walls, and dreams often faded beneath the weight of poverty. Life was not a bed of roses for his family — they were many mouths around one small table, sharing what little they had. Every day, Joy and his siblings would walk nine long kilometers to school, their bare feet kissing the dust of the road as the sun rose behind the hills.
“I’ll study hard, Ma,” little Joy once said, gripping his mother’s hand tightly. “Someday, I’ll make life easier for us.”
His mother smiled faintly, her eyes reflecting both hope and worry. “Just keep walking, anak. God sees every step.”
At six years old, Joy was already helping his parents — fetching water, gathering firewood, and tending to their small farm. At nine, he became a student at Balang-Balang Elementary School, walking to class rain or shine. Their meals were simple — bananas, sweet potatoes, and cassava — but to Joy, they tasted like blessings. When hunger came knocking, they shared what little they had. He often told his siblings, “We may not have much, but we have each other — and that’s enough.”
He never knew the comfort of malls or the taste of fancy food. Instead, his childhood smelled of fresh soil and hard work. The field became his playground, and the stars above his classroom ceiling. Even then, Joy’s heart whispered of a dream — to become a professional, someone who could change his family’s story.
From Grade 2 to college, Joy balanced books and burdens. He worked by day and studied by night, driven by faith stronger than hunger. But as he grew older, he began to feel that God was calling him to a different path — one not of worldly success, but of spiritual purpose.
His parents were his greatest teachers. “Keep your faith, Joy,” his father often said while mending tools by lamplight. “Hardship builds strength, and strength builds character.”
In school, Joy’s name was often written on the honor roll — a quiet symbol of persistence. He graduated from Balang-Balang Elementary School, then moved to Alburquerque, Bohol for high school, finishing with Second Honors. Though a working student, he never let exhaustion steal his determination.
His life, however, was not without storms. He faced financial struggles, emotional battles, and health issues — but through each trial, he found a reason to stand. “If God is with me,” he would remind himself, “then I am never alone.”
In college, surrounded by hopeful faces and the hum of ambition, Joy met friends who saw life through eyes of optimism. His teachers became his mentors, fanning the flame of his calling. Slowly, he realized that his purpose was to lead others to Christ — to preach not only with words, but with his life.
To Joy, success is not a medal, nor a diploma framed on a wall. It is the quiet peace that comes from walking in the path God prepared for you. He worked tirelessly, not just to escape poverty, but to transform pain into purpose.
“The greatest treasure I’ve found,” he says, eyes glimmering with faith, “is Jesus Christ. He is my everything.”
Every dawn, Joy wakes up with the same light in his heart — guided by God’s Word, inspired by the people around him, and strengthened by faith. Through the seasons of his life, he has learned to stay positive, courageous, and humble.
As a church leader and businessman, he teaches others to be steadfast. “Be like David,” he often tells his congregation. “Be humble even when you have everything. Be brave even when you have nothing.”
When asked what advice he could give to young dreamers, Joy smiled and said,
“Keep on trusting God, no matter what life brings.”
And when asked how he wishes to be remembered, he replied softly,
“By doing what Jesus did — loving others, serving with all my heart, and living with faith every single day.”
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