From the sugarcane fields of Moises Padilla to the stage of provincial recognition, Rey Jay Mosquera—once a barefoot boy tending carabaos from Barangay Magallon Cadre—has risen above poverty to become one of Negros Occidental’s most inspiring young leaders, proving that grit, education, and a heart for service can rewrite even the humblest beginnings.

Rey Jay’s early life was marked by hardship. Born into a family of modest means, with his mother as a housewife and his father working as a laborer—plowing fields and tending carabaos—the struggle to afford even basic necessities was a daily reality.

“Our life was never easy,” Rey Jay shares. “While I am studying, I am working. I am a working student. But despite the challenges in our life, I couldn’t let our circumstances define our future.”

Despite these challenges, Rey Jay stood out academically. He graduated as Salutatorian from Magallon Cadre Elementary School, earned With High Honors and With Highest Honors in junior and senior high school respectively at Guinpana-an National High School – Poblacion Extension, and most recently, finished his college degree in Accountancy at Binalbagan Catholic College, Inc. as Magna Cum Laude.

This unwavering dedication to excellence caught the attention of the province. On June 7, 2025, Rey Jay was honored as a Finalist in The Outstanding Students (THOS) Awards 2025, hosted by Junior Chamber International – Bacolod at CityMall Mandalagan.

Out of 21 finalists, he also received the Youth Leadership Excellence Award and the Community Service Award, solidifying his place among Negros Occidental’s brightest and most impactful youth leaders.

Leadership Rooted in Compassion

Rey Jay’s story doesn’t stop at personal achievements—it expands into the lives he’s touched.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, he began his journey as a community advocate under the Hope Builders Organization Negros Island (HBONI). What started as an effort to help those in immediate need grew into a larger calling.

He founded the Golden Hearts Movement, a community-based initiative promoting environmental stewardship and humanitarian outreach, and Yuhom sang Paskwa, an annual gift-giving campaign now running for over five years.

Rey Jay was the former HBONI Area Coordinator for Moises Padilla and is presently the Accounting Officer of the organization.

Rey Jay’s journey has been challenging for him, balancing his academic and extra-curricular activities. In his THOS application, he presented his AIM Agenda, Advocacies for Humanity, Initiatives for the Environment, and Mobilization and Partnership.

Rey Jay launched various programs that uplift communities and advocate for sustainability: Bulig Kasimanwa Project that offers relief during the pandemic; Project YES (Youth Empowerment in School), an initiative advocates for leadership development among students; and Kids Library on Wheels, a traveling library initiative that promotes literacy in remote areas.

His commitment to the environment is equally notable. Through projects like Project CAUSE, ECO Initiatives, and Kabataan para sa Kalikasan, he has engaged youth in conservation work, tree-planting drives, and climate awareness campaigns.

Moreover, his leadership extended to organizing Student Council Conferences, Community Leadership Trainings, and Strategic Planning Workshops—mobilizing young leaders to become catalysts of change in their own communities.

A Message from Rey Jay

When asked what keeps him moving forward, Rey Jay humbly reflects, quoting the words that guide him:

“There is a famous saying that states, ‘Be the change you want to see in this world.’ A simple message that reminds us that the vital step toward progress and development is starting with ourselves. Even the smallest contribution, when joined with others, creates a ripple of lasting impact.”

Rey Jay’s story is proof that greatness isn’t born from privilege—it’s forged through passion, resilience, and an unwavering belief in the power of service.

As Negros Occidental continues to recognize young leaders shaping its future, Rey Jay stands tall—not just as an awardee, but as a living testament that poverty is never a hindrance to purpose. With every book he distributes, every tree he plants, and every youth he inspires, he is building the kind of world he once only dreamed of.

And now, he invites the rest of us—especially the youth—to do the same.