Val Llamelo, Paolo Ballesteros at Miles Ocampo
PATOK na patok sa mga netizens ang naging hirit ng isang summa cum laude at NCPAG class valedictorian ng UP Diliman sa segment na “Babala! ‘Wag Kayong Ganuuu’n…” ng “E.A.T.”
Last Saturday, August 12, isa si Val Llamelo, sa naging choices para sa nasabing segment ng Kapatid noontime show (bagong version ng Bawal Judgmental) kung saan tampok ang mga estudyanteng naka-graduate this year.
Sa isang bahagi ng segment ay ikinuwento ni Val ang mga naging karanasan niya bilang estudyante at kung paano siya nagpursige at nagsumikap para maka-graduate ng college.
At in fairness, nakatapos nga siya ng pag-aaral bilang summa cum laude at class valedictorian habang working student.
Aniya, hindi lang basta pagsisipag, pagsusumikap at dedikasyon sa pag-aaral ang naging puhunan niya para makamit ang inaasam na tagumpay.
Ipinagpapasalamat din niya na nagkaroon siya ng sapat na kagamitan at gadgets para magawa ang lahat ng kailangan niyang ma-accomplish bilang graduating student. At yan ay dahil din sa pagsisipag niya sa trabaho.
Samantala, natanong nga si Val ng mga “E.A.T” hosts na sina Ryan Agoncillo, Allan K, Paolo Ballesteros at Miles Ocampo kung ano nga bang balak niyang gawin matapos maka-graduate.
“Kasi Public Administration ‘yong course eh. Are you gonna go into politics?” tanong ni Ryan.
Sagot ni Val, “Parang gusto ko na lang mag-artista. Tapos pag sumikat ako, tumakbo ako sa politics.” At dahil nga rito ay nag-trending ang guesting niya sa show ng TVJ. Narito ang ilan sa mga reaksyon ng netizens.
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“Oooppsss baka may tamaan, nandiyan mismo sa show!”
“He is practical and realistic hahaha… patama.”
“Best sarcastic answer hahaha.”
“Paging sa mga artistang naging retirement plan ang pagpasok sa politics kapag wala nang ganap sa showbiz!”
“Madaming natamaan boy hahahahahaha.”
“Personality politics. Hindi naman siguro mahirap intindihin yung pagkasarkatisko n’ya. Tamaan na ang tamaan.”
“Mindset ba, mindset!”
Nauna rito, nag-trending din sa social media ang valedictory speech ni Val. Narito ang ilang bahagi ng kanyang mensahe.
“At an early age of 18, I began to feel and understand my family’s financial instability, so I started to earn my own money by working for a BPO company as a call center agent.
“At 19, I juggled two jobs, as a marketing assistant and tutor in learning centers, to support not only my academic needs but also those of my family, as the COVID-19 pandemic had caused both my father and older brother to temporarily lose their jobs.
“At the age of 20, I decided to be the breadwinner of my family because it had always been my dream for my father to retire, as I know how hard it was for him to work as an OFW since I was young.
“I did all of these while studying, and now, at 22, I am very proud to say that I am the first UP graduate in my family, having received the university’s highest academic distinction.
“As you can see, my life and academic journey is similar to those that are frequently featured in the news and social media. Kwento ng isang mahirap na estudyante na nangarap, nagpursige sa buhay at pag-aaral, at ngayo’y magtatapos na sa kolehiyo.
“Taon taon na lang hindi mawawala ang ganitong uri ng kwento. Parati tayong may mababasa na trending posts na ‘Tricycle Driver, napagtapos ang tatlong anak sa kolehiyo,’ ‘Mag-aaral mula sa IP Community, nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral.’
“Nito lang nagtrending ang mga posts kung saan ang mga seniors o mga mga magulang ay nakapagtapos ng elementarya o kindergarten, at marahil ngayo’y mapapasama na ang aking kwento na ‘Working Student at Anak ng dating OFW, nagtapos bilang Summa Cum Laude sa UP.’
“To all who are listening to me, especially those who find themselves in similar situations as mine—those who are juggling work and studies at the same time, acting as the breadwinner of their family at a young age—I urge you not merely to be inspired by my success and story and wonder, ‘Paano niya ‘yun nagawa? Paano siya naging summa cum laude sa kabila non?’ I feel uncomfortable answering those questions because I do not want to be your inspiration. I don’t want my story to be your source of motivation. I am not a role model.
“I firmly believe that no one should have to endure the same structural barriers I faced just to get a diploma and reach where I am today. My journey and story should not be a standard for success, but a testament to the need to dismantle the barriers we have in our society so that we can create an equitable path for all,” aniya pa.
Sheryl Cruz proud na ibinandera ang anak na graduate bilang summa cum laude