This what Carlos R. Gerogalin, Jr. believed was his advantage over the 33 participants that made him a finalist in the recently concluded 2009 Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines.
Gerogalin, who graduated Summa Cum Laude from WNU last March, was overwhelmed with the grandiose welcome from his teachers, classmates and friends who waved blue flaglets and cheered for him throughout the motorcade in Bacolod City.
Teary-eyed Gerogalin thanked WNU President Suzette Lilian A. Agustin, Dr. Nony Descutido, Dean of the College of Education and Mr. Juben Palermo, Director of Student Personnel Services, his teachers, classmates and students for helping him before and after the competition. He was given a thanksgiving service at the Teodoro Hall of West Negros University, Bacolod City, yesterday.
Gerogalin, a son of the “sakada”(sugarcane worker) and a fisherman, said he prayed to God and claimed his prayer – that is to be included in the finalist. He was the only representative from Western Visayas who was named one of the 2009 TOSP.
“Through this achievement (TOSP), I want everyone to see Jesus’ revelation in my life. I believe GOD plans everything in our lives, he added.
Dr. Nony Descutido, dean of the College of Education, said her heart was full of happiness and she did not want to empty it. She said she really want Carlos to win because he is worthy to win.
“I really thanked the Lord for granting what we have been praying for. This was first time in the history of WNU to have a TOSP finalist”, Descutido said.
Dr. Cleo Grace Hinaut, Vice President for Academic Affairs, said only a good tree bears a good fruit. WNU is an outstanding university, so it produces an outstanding student like Gerogalin.
“Carlos’ life is an epitome of hard work and diligence– he reaps what he sow”, Hinaut added.
STRUGGLES IN LIFE
At 11, Carlos said he worked as a sakada in the cane field with his mother. He barely attended school for he helped his family to make both ends meet. He recalled he attended his classes thrice a week during his elementary years.
He said his teachers who were also concerned for his grades, opted to send notices to his classmates to donate any amount to help him, adding that his classmates even volunteered to give him rice for food.
Despite the odds, Carlos finished elementary and pursued his secondary education which was also became one of the greatest challenge of his life. He was even teased by his classmates as “patay gutom” because of the frequent notices that sought for donation from his.
He said he just bore the hardships and still never gave up his dream to finish his studies. He graduated valedictorian of his class. He was even elected as SK Chairman of their barangay, wherein his monthly honorarium had somehow helped his family.
He narrated that he was fortunate to avail of the entrance scholarship offered by WNU to high school valedictorian. He said he maintained his grades for the scholarships until he finished his studies and eventually, he was awarded the highest honors in the academic arena.
He had also been an active student leader, served several organizations and helped the community through teaching out of school youth in the partner community of WNU.
AWARDS RECEIVED
Carlos was a recipient of the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Academic Excellence and Leadership Award awarded by the Commission on Higher Education. He was also a grand winner of the DYWB-Bombo Radyo Philippines’ Road to Success Life Story Telling Competition. He had also served as SK Chairman of Barangay Miranda, Hinigaran from 2002 to 2007.
FUTURE PLANS
When asked about his future plans, Carlos simply said he wanted to wake up each morning without worrying how to feed my family.
He is preparing for the upcoming Licensure Examination for Teachers which is set this September.
At present, he is a professor in one of the computer schools in the city.* (dmg/wnu)
