Finding one's purpose
"IT'S better to be alone than to be with a bad company," said Laurence Butch Bencio, 38, a respected grade 6 science teacher of San Juan Elementary School (SJES) and the head coach of Philippine Women's College (PWC) junior’s basketball team.
Bencio who adapted that motto during his high school years in the Davao City National High School when he had to disassociate himself from a gang he joined after discovering basketball.
"In my 4th year, I was picked as a varsity member that stopped me from going with my gang. Basketball helped me to change during my High School years," he narrated. It was also what inspired him to be a coach, establishing a direction in life.
He didn't take a straight path to his dream though and stumbled along the way before finally finishing a Bachelor of Elementary Education Communication Arts and Reading degree in University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep).
He went to Ateneo De Davao University to take up Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Marketing but financial constraints forced him to drop out.
"I went to Holy Cross of Davao College, took up the same course. I did not finish my marketing degree because I got somebody pregnant," he shared. He then had to study at teh same time be a family man by taking on different jobs.
In 2002, Bencio was granted a scholarship in Usep.
While studying, he made sure not to leave basketball behind and played for four consecutive years in the intramurals representing the education department of Usep.
"From my 1st to 4th year, I'm a consistent member of the mythical five, 2003-2007, became a defensive player of the year in 2005 and Most Valuable Player in 2004," said Bencio, who stands just 5 foot 4 tall.
During those years, Bencio also was a student leader and was elected as the college governor from 2005 to 2006.
Despite the myriads of circumstances he went through, Bencio graduated and passed the board exam.
His first teaching and coaching experience was at the Doña Pilar Learning Center.
Bencio was promoted to sports coordinator the following year.
"By then we got the 1st runner up in the Private School Athletic Association and emerged as champion in the Sasa Interschool Basketball Competition," which for Bencio was a milestone of his career.
The same year he was able to handle the likes of Allyn Bulanadi who is now in the San Sebastian College, Vince Malero of Holy Child College of Davao, Jessie Requillo of Ford Academy of the Arts, among others.
"After my contract expired in DPLC. I was contacted by PWC to be a substitute teacher in 2008. I handled the cadets team and the passarelle team during that year," he said.
While he did not get a teaching contract, his coaching contract stayed until now.
After that, Bencio's career went on a see-saw.
Ongoing Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Butch Ramirez, according to Bencio left a significant effect on him by that time.
The inspiration he got from Ramirez, who was then working at PWC, was able to reward him with a NGBL 2009 title and a runner-up finish in the Garden Oases the same year.
Year 2011 was the most challenging for Bencio.
He got into bad company again and got hooked on drugs that ruined his career entirely.
"Kusog kaayo akong team but I mismanaged them because of bisyo," he said, adding that vice also pushed him to leave her two daughters behind.
But an angel in disguise, Malaya Espejo and some other friends, helped him to rise back from the fall.
“Ems (Malaya Espejo) helped save me and helped me change my ways,” Bencio said of his girlfriend.
In 2012, Bencio applied with the Department of Education and nailed it.
From there, he found a greener pasture in his career and became the School Sports Coordinator and the District Physical Education and School Sports (PESS) coordinator of San Roque up to the present.
His experiences brought him closer to God and kept his feet on the ground.
Presently, Bencio and his PWC Patriots are competing in the ongoing Escandor Cup 2018 against 19 different schools in Davao City.