“Rags to Riches: The Study of Lived Experiences of Fortunate People that Commenced from

Destitution”
Kiel Candido1,2,3, Isabel Carlobos1,2,3, Steffani Corpuz1,2,3, Vincent De Guzman1,2,3, Kurt De Leon1,2,3,
Audrei Laxamana1,2,3, Icezhen Krish Orense1,2,3, Abigail Padayao1,2,3, Yancy Rabotaso1,2,3, Mrs. Joyce Ann
Lopez-Burre, LPT1,2,3,4

1
Senior High School
2
Basic Education Department
3
Our Lady of Fatima University

4
Research Adviser

March 2022
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1.0 Introduction

Rags to Riches refers to any situation in which person rises from poverty to wealth, and in some
cases from absolute obscurity to heights of fame, fortune and celebrity- sometimes instantly. This is a
common archetype in literature and popular culture. (Horatio Alger, Jr. 2014)
Poverty is perhaps the most pressing issue that the government should address. Destitution in the
Philippines arose from the country's rapid population growth. Its effects are clearly visible in nature.
Neediness makes numerous. Filipinos do not prioritize their education. Others appears to be content with
their lives. Many parents are unable to send their children to school because of the financial difficulties
they face. The majority of those affected by this issue are mountain dwellers. Some of them live a long
distance away from schools. This is because it is easier for them to take than to go through finding a line
of work.
In this day and age, destitution is still a major issue for many people, and it's important to learn
from the experiences of those who have overcome hardship. Because it can assist you to understand its
cause and impact on society and community. And by studying their lives, you can look for possible
solutions that will improve people's status. As a result, we are learning more about it because, if this
problem is not resolved, it will continue to exist for future generations.
The main aim of the study is for us to know the struggles and motivation of some people in
achieving their dreams. It will also inspire the youth to strive harder in their life. In a culture obsessed
with measuring talents and ability, we often overlook the important role of inspiration. Inspiration
awakens us to new possibilities by allowing us to transcend our ordinary experiences and limitations.
Inspiration propels a person from apathy to possibility, and transforms the way we perceive our own
capabilities. Inspiration may sometimes be overlooked because of its elusive nature. (Kaufman, 2011)

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1.1 Statements of the Problem

In line with the foregoing discussion, the researchers aimed to address the lived experiences of the
fortunate people who was became rags to riches with these five following questions:

1. What are the problems that they encounter during their lowest situation?
2. How did they survive to get out of it?
3. What did they experience before they achieved their ambition?
4. What are the motivations that make them achieved their goal?
5. What did they do to make their ambition a reality?

1.2 Significance of the Study

The researchers will benefit the following:
Students
This study will help students in inspiring others through their desire and determination to achieve
their goals. It will be beneficial to those aspiring students who wish to be successful in their future
endeavors. This study will help the other students in continuing their education regardless of their current
situation in life.
Professors
This study will aid them in their efforts to encourage people to never give up on their dreams. It
can help them to share their experiences to others who may benefit from it. This study can motivate them
to continue their goals in life, and can help educate others.
Future Researchers
The findings of this research study will be useful to the future researchers. It will provide them
with a better understanding of the lived experiences of people who rose from Rags to Riches.
Government
The findings of this research study will be beneficial to the government, in that it will allow them
to learn more about their citizens who have gone from rags to riches and gain a better understanding of
them.

1.3 Scope and Limitations

The main purpose of this study is to find out who are the people that came from rags to riches. The
scope of this study is to gain an understanding of the experiences of fortunate people who became

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successful, as well as how they became successful in life. This study limits the coverage of people who
came from poor livelihood to being success in life. This interview is being conducted with five Filipino
respondents as a sample. Its primary goal is to identify the most common difficulties people face in their
daily lives. This study takes into account every aspect of people's impact on their lives.

2.0 Review of Related Literature

2.0.1 What is Destitution?
Destitution is popularly understood as meaning a state of poverty so severe that the individual
concerned is dependent for their survival on the goodwill of others, including charity from the public or
welfare support from the state non-governmental agencies. Common categories of destitute people
include beggars, people with disabilities without family support, and victims of natural disasters such as a
drought-triggered famine. In the contemporary British context, destitution as a label attaches mainly to
the homeless people who sleep on the streets and sell the Big Issue magazine outside supermarkets.
Common to these images is the idea that the destitute have nothing – no work, no savings, no possessions,
but also no home to go, no family or friends to turn to – i.e., very few material assets, but no social assets
either. (Stephen Devereux, 2003)

2. 0.2 Factors of Destitution

According to Heaven Crawley, Joanne Hemmings, and Neil Price's study, poor asylum seekers
employ a variety of ways to cope with deprivation and are compelled to live a hand-to-mouth existence
with a slight possibility of improvement. Their extreme lack of institutional, social, and economic
resources precludes them from establishing a sustainable livelihood, resulting in a life devoid of dignity
and violation of human rights norms.
The survival techniques employed by destitute asylum seekers are a result of the UK's asylum policy. The
fact that hundreds of thousands of individuals would prefer to live in poverty and continuous fear of
deportation – relying on friends, transactional relationships, commercial sex work, or low-wage illegal
jobs – then return to their place of origin indicates that government policy has failed.
While many asylum seekers suffer from the physical consequences of poverty, destitution also
has severe mental health consequences as a result of stress and uncertainty, substandard living
circumstances, and physical vulnerability. Even when they are not impoverished, many asylum seekers
struggle to cope with the consequences of their situation. These consequences include loss and grief
associated with the circumstances of their departure from their country of origin, guilt and anxiety about
those left behind, and difficulties adjusting to life in a new country. Many asylum seekers are also fearful
about the fate of their asylum claim and what would happen if they were denied their application.
For those rejected people, this fear becomes a reality. Rejected asylum seekers express profound sadness
and discontent with the process's injustice and low quality, as well as, in certain circumstances, with the
legal advice and counsel they got. Other studies have highlighted the catastrophic impact of destitution on
asylum seekers in this study's findings.
Destitute asylum seekers confront multiple significant threats to their psychological and physical
health. These difficulties are partly due to the magnitude and depth of their poverty and the unique
consequences of being an asylum seeker. Even when they are not impoverished, many asylum seekers
struggle to cope with the effects of their situation, including the loss and grief associated with the
conditions of their departing from their country of origin, guilt and anxiety about those left behind, and

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difficulties adjusting to life in a new country. There is also a lack of confidence about what will happen in
the future for those who are rejected and a profound fear of being repatriated.
While significant reforms have been made to the asylum determination process in recent years,
serious concerns persist concerning the quality of early decision-making. These concerns are reflected in
how approximately one-fifth of all refusals are reversed on appeal. For certain nations, the percentage
approaches 50%. Many of those who are denied believe their cases were not adequately evaluated. These
issues are exacerbated by a lack of access to excellent legal counsel and representation. Additionally,
decision-makers fail to recognize that even if an individual's reasons for leaving do not meet the
restrictive formal criteria of a Convention refugee, they may have genuine worries about returning to the
place of origin. The government must address the quality of asylum determinations immediately. (Heaven
Crawley, Neil Price, Joanne Hemmings, 2011)
This literatures explains the factors of destitution that their extreme lack of institutional, social,
and economic resources precludes them from establishing a sustainable livelihood, resulting in a life
devoid of dignity and violation of human rights norms. While many asylum seekers suffer from the
physical consequences of poverty, destitution also has severe mental health consequences as a result of
stress and uncertainty, substandard living circumstances, and physical vulnerability. These consequences
include loss and grief associated with the circumstances of their departure from their country of origin,
guilt and anxiety about those left behind, and difficulties adjusting to life in a new country. Destitute
asylum seekers confront multiple significant threats to their psychological and physical health. Other
studies have highlighted the catastrophic impact of destitution on asylum seekers in this study's findings.
Destitute asylum seekers confront multiple significant threats to their psychological and physical health.

2.0.3 Factors of Success

People who have good fortune are those who are determined, inspired, and have worked hard to
get there. Those fortunate individuals has in common mentality. These are the following factors of being
fortunate or successful. They know when to stay and when to leave, they do more than what’s asked for
them, they are willing to fail in order to succeed, they understand that they create their own luck, they set
real goals that they can accomplish, they take accountability for themselves and their actions, they make
change instead of being affected by it, they can communicate their story effectively, they are life-long
learners who push themselves out of their comfort zones, and they know who they are and their place here
in the world. (Dan Schawbel, 2013). Success isn’t just about money, power, and fame. Personal
fulfillment and making an impact count too. (Lebowitz, 2017).          
These literatures simply state that you are the one who makes your fortune. If you are determined
and has eagerness and perseverance to achieve your goal, you will most likely to be successful. In
addition, possessing a good character is essential if you want to be successful. The more extensive and
honed your skill set becomes, the better the opportunities you'll have to move ahead in your career. You
can increase your skill set through your own experiences. (Brian Tracy, 2019)

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2.2 Theoretical Framework

2.2.1 Competence Motivation Theory

Susan Harter extended White’s theory in the late 1970’s to create a more comprehensive framework
that she initially labeled as Effectance Motivation Theory but was later renamed Competence Motivation
Theory. (Thelma S. Horn, 2022). Competence Motivation Theory is a conceptual framework that explains
why people want to participate, persevere, and work hard in any given achievement context. The theory’s
central thesis is that people are drawn to participate in activities in which they feel competent or capable.
It encompasses the entire life. People are motivated by a desire to succeed something.

This theory conveys the meaning that if you do something, you will be rewarded. It serves the
purpose of our research by relating to the motivations of people who rose from Rags to Riches. This
conceptual framework explains why people worked so hard, which was to get out of destitution or
poverty and succeed.
2.3 Definition of Terms
Adequately – to a satisfactory or acceptable extent

Asylum Seeker – a person who has left their home country as a political refugee and is seeking asylum
in another.

Brunt – the worst part of chief impact of a specified thing.

Deportation – the action of deporting a foreigner from a country

Drought Triggers – droughts are caused by low precipitation over an extended period of time.

Eagerness – enthusiasm to do or to have something; keenness

Endowed – provide with quality, ability, or asset.

Possession – control or occupancy of property without regard to ownership.

Repatriate – return to one’s own country.

Tremendous – means extraordinary large in size, extent, amount, power, or degree.

3.0 Methodology
This chapter of the research study will serve as the outline of our research. This chapter is a way of
explaining how a researcher intends to carry out their research. It’s a logical, systematic plan to resolve a
research problem. A methodology details a researchers’ approach to the research to ensure reliable, valid
results that address their aims and objectives. It encompasses what data they’re going to collect and where

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from, as well as how it’s being collected and analyzed. This chapter is consists of the research design,
locale, population sampling, research instrument, research ethics, data collection, and data analysis.
3.1 Research Design
The researches will use Qualitative Phenomenological design that focuses on the commonality of a
lived experience within a particular group. It involves collecting and analyzing written or spoken words
and textual data. The fundamental goal of the approach is to arrive at a description of the nature of the
particular phenomenon (Creswell, 2013). As a result, the researchers will be able to gather necessary data
that will aid them in understanding, transcribing, and describing the participants’ lived experiences.
3.2 Research Locale
Our research study will be conducted in Valenzuela City, this place was selected for knowing the
efficiency of the said study among Rags to Riches people, this study has been implemented to the people
who started from poverty. The researchers also gathered respondents residing near Valenzuela City. The
respondents was supposed to be interview in their houses or any comfortable place that the respondents
will choose to, but because of pandemic and sudden changes of the world, we will interview our
respondents via video chat. The researchers chose the place of implementation because it will give the
researchers the needed information.
3.3 Population Sampling
Snowball sampling also called chain-referral sampling is defined as a non-probability sampling
technique in which the samples have traits that are rare to find. This is a sampling technique, in which
existing subjects provide referrals to recruit samples required for a research study (Adi Bhat, 2020). Non-
probability sampling is defined as a sampling technique in which the researcher selects samples based on
the subjective judgment of the researcher rather than random selection. It is a less stringent method. This
sampling method depends heavily on the expertise of the researchers. It is carried out by observation, and
researchers use it widely for qualitative research.
In this research study, the population sampling we will use is the snowball sampling. We selected or
chose our correspondents with a set of concrete criteria that are relevant to our research study. Our five
(5) selected correspondents are all came and example of snowball sampling. The researchers will
interview them with the same interview questions to answer.

3.4 Research Instrument

In this research study, we gathered and collected literatures from reliable sources and articles through
internet websites, specifically in Google. We also gathered data information from our one-on-one
interview and semi structured open ended interview with the correspondents, and based it on their
answers on the given interview questions. We used our laptops, smart phones, and any gadgets to keep in
touch with our correspondents. A research instrument may take the shape of questionnaires, surveys,
interviews, checklists, or simple tests. The researchers will make the decision on which exact research
instrument tool to utilize. It will also be closely tied to the precise procedures that will be employed in the
study.
3.5 Research Ethics

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After adjusting the instrument and its contents, the researchers presented evidence for respondents so
that they will know what the title of the research, the researchers also put pieces of information obtained
in the interview, thereafter, the actual empirical phase proper took place where data collection derived
from correspondents. At this stage, the researchers helped and answered all people’s questions and found
enough information. The researchers also ensured the confidentiality and security of their title to help
people who wanted to study such a situation.
3.6 Data Collection
Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on variables of interest in a
systematic manner that allows one to answer stated research questions, test hypotheses, and evaluate
outcomes. The researchers began by developing a set of questions related to the chosen topic. Then we
asked our professor for consent or permission, which we then gave to the correspondents. Following the
distribution of consent, the researchers will send their correspondents a Google form containing the
interview questions so they will know what questions the researchers will ask them. The researchers will
request schedules and will consider the correspondents’ provided date for an interview. After
interviewing the correspondents, the researchers will interpret and analyze their points of view or
responses, drawing a conclusions and making recommendations.
3.7 Data Analysis
Qualitative researchers use thematic analysis to generate topics from interview data. Thematic analysis
is versatile in that, it doesn’t require a specific research design; it can be used for case studies,
phenomenology, generic qualitative research, and narrative inquiry, to mention a few. Because the
procedures are simple to follow but rigorous enough to provide relevant discoveries from the data. The
researchers employed theme analysis to identify the characteristics that may influence the progression
from Rag to Riches in life. It includes familiarization, which is the act of getting to know the reading the
information acquired.

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