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55-Year-Old Streetsweeper Graduates with Degree in Business

A 55-year-old streetsweeper graduates with a business degree and goes viral as she inspires many others to reach for their dreams, no matter the circumstances. After all, age is just a number, huh?

Reaching for Your Dreams

A lot of people dream of graduating from college and finding a good job. But such is a difficult aspiration for many, especially the poor who can’t afford to go to school. Many Filipinos end up quitting their studies to find a job to help support their families.

For these people, completing their college education is a goal that’s too difficult to attain.

streetsweeper graduates business degree
Photo credit: Melody Jen Fernandez Ramirez / Facebook

But streetsweeper Ofelia Mondaya did not stop dreaming. While she was not able to even complete her high school back when she was younger, she enrolled with the alternative learning system of the Department of Education (DepEd).

She received the equivalent to a high school diploma in 2014. Then, she enrolled at the Colegio ng Lungsod ng Batangas in Batangas City for a course in Business Administration.

Because she also needed her job to support herself and her family, Nanay Ofelia continued being a streetsweeper. Her kind supervisor helped arrange her schedule so that she could still work and be in school, too.

Many years later, Nanay Ofelia finally graduates from college! While she was unable to march on stage due to the cancelation of graduation activities, she and her family are proud that she was able to achieve this wonderful milestone!

streetsweeper graduates business degree
Photo credit: Crizel Mondaya / ABS-CBN News

Sobrang pinagtiyagaan niya talaga. Halos sa madaling araw umaalis siya, magtatrabaho, magwawalis tapos uuwi siya ng umaga na, maliwanag na. Tapos mag-aaral siya kasi marami siyang assignment,” narrated Nanay Ofelia’s daughter, Crizel.

Proud na proud kami sa kaniya. Hindi man kami nakapagtapos, katulad ng kanyang pinapangarap sa amin, masaya kami kasi siya ‘yung halos tumupad na rin ng pangarap namin.

The next step for Nanay Ofelia is to use her diploma to find a regular job because she’s only a ‘job order’ employee at the city hall. She hopes she can find a better job so that she can send all her 7 kids to college.

Huwag na po nating hintayin na tayo ay magkaedad pa o maging matanda bago mag-aral… Kailangan po talaga maging positibo tayo sa buhay at gawin po natin ‘yung tama at alam natin na makakatulong sa atin. Ganoon din po sa ating kapwa,” said Nanay Ofelia.

College After ALS

Can you go to college after graduating from ALS? The answer is “yes”! In fact, the ALS graduation certificate is also equivalent to the high school diploma; thus, you are eligible to take college courses. Many ALS graduates have gone on to complete their college degrees and find success in their new careers.

Inspiring

SHS Student Brings Photos of Late Parents on Graduation Day

A senior high school (SHS) student brought framed photos of her late parents on her graduation day, touching many hearts and making netizens cry.

Her story has gone viral, with many netizens cheering her on and praying for her success in life…

SHS Student Brings Photos of Late Parents on Graduation Day

Graduation day is one of the best days in a student’s life, but it’s not always the happiest for all.

Some also experience a bittersweet moment because their loved ones aren’t with them. While many are due to having OFW parents who can’t be home for the special, others are because the parents have already passed on.

SHS student Juvelyn Dela Torre Eugenio, 18, of North Cotabato made netizens cry after she carried her parents’ framed photos as she marched and posed on stage to receive her diploma.

Photo credit: Juvelyn Dela Torre Eugenio

She explained that during recognition days and other special events when she was younger, it was always her mother who would accompany her on stage.

She wants to share her success and milestones with her parents, but they’re no longer around.

They lost their father to heart failure in July 2020.

In 2022, the siblings decided to let their mother enjoy a vacation with her older children in Manila, only to discover that she was sick and already in the terminal stages of a stage 4 battle with the Big C. They lost her shortly thereafter.

Photo credit: Juvelyn Dela Torre Eugenio

Juvelyn shared that losing their parents took a toll on her mental health, especially because she had to stand as a parent to her younger brother.

On graduation day, she vowed that she wouldn’t cry despite seeing all the other students with their parents.

But she broke down on stage when a concerned teacher asked her about her parents and offered words of consolation after she showed her their photos.

Despite the challenges, Juvelyn plans on continuing her journey as she dreams of becoming a lawyer someday.

Photo credit: Juvelyn Dela Torre Eugenio

How to Become a Lawyer in the Philippines

  1. Complete a 4-year Bachelor’s Degree in Arts or Sciences.
  2. Pass the PhiLSAT (Philippine Law School Admission Test)
  3. Complete law school.
  4. Complete the law internship.
  5. Pass the bar exams.

Did you know that lawyers in PAO (Public Attorney’s Office) with an entry-level position (Public Attorney I) earn a basic salary of Php95,000 (salary grade 25)?

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Inspiring

Elementary Students Praised for Playing “One Day” Using Ukuleles

Elementary students at a school in Mindanao earned praise online after playing “One Day” using their ukuleles for a presentation.

Many netizens were impressed about their skills, with some commenting that it’s a difficult piece to play on a ukulele, yet most of them nailed it! Wow.

Elementary Students Play “One Day” Using Their Ukuleles

A lot of people these days have this mistaken notion that kids are only fond of using cellphones and no longer enjoy playing with traditional toys or learning how to use a traditional musical instrument – because you can find lots of options for those online or with their phones.

But a group of students from Dipolog Pilot Demonstration School impressed netizens with their skills in playing the ukulele as they presented “One Day” for the school’s 100-year celebration.

Seated on the steps of their school, the kids played the musical instruments seamlessly, except for a few issues.

Photo credit: Kung Taga-Oroquieta City Ka

And while some netizens pointed out that one of the kids appear to be struggling with the proper chords and kept shifting around during the entire performance, the overall presentation is still quite impressive!

Many netizens even commented on the post of the Facebook page “Kung Taga-Oroquieta City Ka” that they were deeply touched by the kids’ presentation and were crying while watching. Awww.

A lot also praised the coaches who made this possible – and others felt proud of the children even if they had no idea who these little ones are.

It’s also quite impressive to see that the class had so many ukuleles. It is unknown whether the kids own the musical instruments or if the school provided them, but what’s clear is that their presentation is truly admirable.

What’s a Ukulele?

A ukulele is a type of string musical instrument that’s smaller than a guitar. It usually has nylon strings as opposed to the metal used in standard guitars.

The instrument also has four strings but isn’t considered a “kid’s instrument” only. Instead, it can be played by kids and adults alike.

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Inspiring

Proud Vendor Dad Offers Free Taho after Daughter Passes Board Exams for Teachers

One proud vendor dad offered free taho for everyone when his daughter passed the LET (Licensure Examination for Teachers).

Netizens were even more impressed to learn that the young lady passed after doing a self-review.

Truly amazing, right?

Vendor Offers Free Taho after Daughter Passes Teacher’s Board

Passing the board exams is truly a milestone that everyone can be proud of – and most of the time, the parents are their children’s proudest cheerleaders!

Of course, spouses and kids also feel the same thing. For example, a taxi driver offered free rides after his wife passed the LET.

Photo credit: Rose Torallo

The proud parents of a student who passed that same LET are also offering free taho to their customers.

Bobby and Rose Torallo happily got a tarpaulin up to celebrate the success of their daughter, Rosebel Cielo Torallo. The young woman had graduated cum laude from Baao Community College in Baao, Camarines Sur.

Photo credit: Rose Torallo
Photo credit: Rose Torallo

Apparently, based on her mom’s post on Facebook, she had also self-reviewed for the licensure exams – and this made her success even sweeter for the family.

In the post of her mom, Rose, it showed that the family’s main source of income is from selling taho. It was through this that the parents were able to send their kids to school.

Photo credit: Rose Torallo

Rose lamented that there were times when people looked down on their because they are “just” taho vendors.

Thankfully, the family didn’t mind what these people are saying. Instead, they persevered and put their faith in God.

She thanked all her kids for cooperating and striving hard to succeed in their studies even if their parents are only supporting them by selling taho.

Photo credit: Rose Torallo

How to Celebrate Passing the Board Exams

There are many ways to celebrate passing the board the exams. Some of these are:

  • Throwing a party
  • Buying cake
  • Going on a trip
  • Treating your family, friends, or even strangers to something (such as a free rides from taxi drivers or free taho from vendors)
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