Diana a graduate, at last!

Now hanging on one wall of her room side by side with blown-up showbiz photos is a framed picture of Diana Zubiri in graduation attire.

Diana has just tucked up a diploma with a degree in Applied Arts (major in Theater) from Miriam College, a four-year course that includes scriptwriting, directing, acting and most everything covered by the performing arts.

“We are the first batch (of 10) that graduated with this degree,” said Diana who sacrificed a lot for her education, rudely interrupted eight years ago when she joined showbiz. “I stopped schooling after I graduated high school from a public school in Caloocan. At the start of classes, nanibago talaga ako. It has been my dream to finish college and I’m glad I finally made it. When I see my picture in the yearbook, napapaiyak ako sa tuwa.”

She had to attend classes every day, so she didn’t have a choice but to say no to showbiz assignments, accepting only guesting jobs every now and then. Good thing she had saved enough for the school expenses (tuition, etc.).

“There are school rules that I had to follow,” added Diana. “The school authorities knew that showbiz is my bread-and-butter, pero hindi lahat ng oras puede nila akong pagbigyan. Walang favoritism dun.”

Unmade-up in school uniform, Diana easily blended into the campus crowd, with most of her schoolmates unaware that she was the actress since she was using her real name. Only a few from showbiz are studying there.

“At first, my classmates were too shy to ask kung ako ‘yung artista,” said Diana. “But eventually, nasanay din sila.”

During the last several months of school, Diana did two Kapamilya shows, Juan dela Cruz and Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin, that’s when her classmates were convinced that she was the actress, all right.

“Sometimes kasi, uma-absent ako for the taping and my classmates were watching the shows. They would ask me what would happen in the next episodes.”

Part of her OJT (On the Job Training) was a 300-hour stint as production assistant in Eat, Bulaga! where she worked just like the staff, unmindful of the fact that she’s an actress while, among other tasks, cueing the live audience when to applaud.

Diana is still thinking whether she should take a masteral course or a crash course in filmmaking in the States (New York University, maybe?). In the meantime, she’s ready to resume showbiz work full-time.

“I hope to make use of my degree. I decided to take up that course because I already have a background in film.”

Is she ready to direct a movie?

“It’s a possibility,” said Diana.

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