Strengthened by hardships and debts, he developed resiliency, determination and bravery.

This is the story of Mark Allen – Top 2 in engineering board is former homeless. Find out how he did it.

From Poverty to Licensed Engineer: The Story of Mark Allen

The inspiring story of Engineer Mark Allen Armenion from Cebu City continues to motivate not only aspiring engineers but also students fighting through hardships to achieve their dream diploma.

Engineer Mark Allen ranked 2nd in the February 2022 Mechanical Engineering board exam, and today, he is a licensed mechanical engineer.

However, Engr. Mark shared that his journey was anything but easy. His parents worked tirelessly just to meet their needs—his father was a lechon cook, and his mother sold charcoal.

Braving Storms at Early Age

Exposed to hard work at an early age, Mark Allen took on a job as a porter at the market. Even as an elementary student, he strengthened his arms and body to carry heavy loads at the market, a burden he shouldered both physically and figuratively.

Mark Allen’s strength extended beyond physical resilience to a determined spirit.

His education journey wasn’t smooth; he stumbled twice, once in Grade 3 and again in third year high school. The financial strain on his family nearly made him give up on schooling altogether.

When he reached college, he bravely enrolled at the University of Cebu – Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UC-LM) and worked as a student assistant. But soon after, their home in Mandaue City, along with those of their neighbors, was demolished, forcing his family to move to Carbon. Mark Allen transferred to the UC main campus.

How Hardships Strengthened Him

This hardship only strengthened his resolve to excel in his studies. Although he would have graduated cum laude, he wasn’t eligible as a transfer student. Instead, he focused on redeeming himself in the board exam—and succeeded by ranking second.

“I’m proud to say that all of my hard work paid off. I passed the board exam with flying colors and became a licensed mechanical engineer,” he said.

Today, Engr. Mark Allen works as a site engineer at Cebu 2 World Development, Inc. and also serves as a part-time instructor at a review center for engineering board exam candidates.