WHEN WE talk about barkadas, what often comes to mind are the extremes — either very good or very bad.
More often than not, barkadas serve as a potent support system in life. They provide emotional security and stability amid life’s many tests. Yet, they can also become “bad influences” that lead us astray and even ruin our future.
But for Talisay City vice mayor Gabriel “Gab” Villacin, a proud Gen Z politician, his barkadas became the driving force behind a one-of-a-kind initiative that has made a real difference — especially for poor students.
It’s a simple yet inventive project: a small computer hub that offers free internet access, computer use, and printing services.
Located in Barangay Zone 14, Talisay City, this modest stall — aptly named “Gab’s Hub” — houses just three computers and one printer, all internet-ready. Students from all levels, as well as ordinary Talisayanons needing computer or printing services, are welcome to use it.
Honestly, I can’t help but admire this initiative — funded personally by Gab himself.
Admired for the Concept
When I sat down with Gab to ask how this practical yet meaningful project came to life, he smiled and said candidly, “Actually, it was my barkadas who thought of it.”
He was referring, in particular, to the project’s main thinker — a former Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) candidate who lost in the 2023 elections. Gab said he was deeply impressed by the concept.
Indeed, in today’s digital age, access to the internet has become a necessity — even in far-flung communities. Yet for many, especially the poor, computers, printers, and internet subscriptions remain unaffordable luxuries.
That’s what makes Gab’s Hub remarkable: a small space with limited units, but Wi-Fi ready — and open to everyone.
What’s most impressive, however, is the intent behind it: to help poor students and ordinary Talisayanons do research, use computers, and print documents — all for free.
For Thesis, Too
Gab added that Gab’s Hub is open even to those working on their theses. Everything is free of charge.
This kind of project, to me, genuinely melts the heart.
Coming from a poor village myself — Cudangdang in E.B. Magalona — I know how heavy the financial burden can be for students. Printing and computer rental fees can easily add to their parents’ already stretched expenses.
That’s why Gab’s Hub is a real breakthrough. It eases the weight of schooling for low-income families and serves as a “big brother” for students’ digital needs.
Plan to Expand
After just a month of operation, Gab said he already sees “the heart” in the project — and it’s palpable.
It’s helping the poor in a unique way: by bridging the digital divide.
Encouraged by this success, Gab and his barkadas now plan to expand Gab’s Hub to other barangays in Talisay, particularly in rural areas.
Beyond Politics
Gab insists this initiative is beyond politics.
Rather, he considers it a personal commitment — a way to serve students from all walks of life and help them experience the benefits of digitalization through Gab’s Hub.
And that’s truly admirable.
Playful but Valuable
In the end, Gab’s barkadas may be playful — but they are valuable.
Their out-of-the-box idea deserves praise. It may have started as a simple concept, but it now touches lives and warms hearts.
Sure, this story may seem too modest for a big headline — perhaps even just fit for a short press release. But I refuse to treat Gab’s Hub that way.
Because behind it lies something profound — a genuine understanding of students’ struggles today. The people behind this project truly feel for the poor. They know the pulse of the community.
And Gab — with his youthful energy and sincere leadership — led the way for the birth of this bold, meaningful initiative.
Kudos to Gab and his good-hearted barkadas!/PN
