MANILA, Philippines - A 74-year-old namesake of President Aquino, a blind man and eight Bureau of Jail Management and Penology inmates lead the 449 candidates for graduation under the Alternative Learning System (ALS) on April 15 in San Carlos City, Pangasinan.
Delia Tamondong, education program supervisor of ALS in the San Carlos City Schools Division, told The STAR this is a dream come true for their graduates, who thought they had no more hope of getting a high school diploma.
Benigno T. Aquino, 74, is a very amazing person, Tamondong said.
“Did you know that when he came to us, be brought with him a magnifying glass the size of a dinner plate?†Tamondong said, laughing.
Mang Ben, as he is called, is a photographer from Barangay Buenlag, Calasiao town.
Two other senior citizens, 65-year old Aurea Fernandez from Barangay Guelew and 71-year old Francisca Velasquez from Barangay Libas, will also join the roll of graduating students.
Tamondong said she is also proud that a totally visually-impaired student, Ronald Abellera, 18, from Barangay Osmeña, Basista town, hurdled the test for the Accreditation and Equivalency Examination for ALS that qualified him to graduate.
Abellera never had any formal schooling prior to ALS.
Tamondong said his mother would patiently accompany him to class. He used Braille for his studies, which he learned when he was enrolled in ALS.
Tamondong added that she is also very happy that eight inmates are among their graduates this year.
She said their mobile teachers would go to the BJMP, where a building donated last year by former third district Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas was used for their teaching-learning sessions.
“They have their different stories to tell why they stopped schooling and it is very fulfilling to see them reach their dreams,†Tamondong said.
Their diplomas are signed by Education Secretary Armin Luistro so that should make them happier, she said.
“We in ALS feel blessed for being the bridge towards the realization of their dreams and we hope to encourage more people who have not finished high school to feel free to come to us and we are more than willing to help them,†Tamondong added.