Ma, daughter graduate together

SUAL, Pangasinan, Philippines  — A mother and daughter were among the proudest graduates of Sual National High School last week, as 330 high school graduates received their diplomas in simple but very memorable ceremonies.

Leonora Cuerpo and her eldest daughter Ma. Lorefiel received the loudest applause from the crowd as they marched and went on stage to receive their diplomas.

The two plan to be classmates again in college but their greatest obstacle to fulfill their dream is financial difficulty.

Leonora, 34, sells dried fish while her husband, an elementary graduate, earns P200 a day as fish net weaver.

They have six children – two will be in high school next school year, one will be in grade five, one in kindergarten while their youngest, a three-year-old is visually-impaired in his left eye.

Leonora said it was a tough task balancing her time among family, school and work.

She told The STAR that their teacher promised to lend them her books if they go to college to pursue a degree in secondary education major in English.

The mother and daughter, both in school uniform, would go to and from school together.

Lorefiel said when her mom signified interest to go back to school, she didn’t stop her because she knows it’s her mom’s long-cherished dream.

“We are proud of her because even if she is already old, she is still interested to go to school,” principal Dedicacion Manaois told The STAR.

She said Leonora’s story should inspire other parents who did not finish secondary education to go back to school.

Manaois said Leonora enrolled in the Sual National High School when she was already in her junior. She came from Negros Oriental.

Leonora and Lorefiel were classmates in 4-Makabayan section.

Leonora could have availed of the Accreditation and Equivalency Test program of the Department of Education for over-aged students to determine if they are qualified for a higher level.

Eight students of Sual National High School did so and were accelerated to college level, but Leonora wanted to attend the regular schooling and “perhaps she wanted to upgrade her knowledge,” according to Manaois.

Delia Taliman, their Filipino teacher in junior year, said that Leonora is very good in recitation and very responsible.

Leonora was usually tasked by her teachers to discipline her classmates, especially those who are unruly when their teachers are out.

She said everyone in her batch, even the teachers, call Leonora “Nanay.”