TAGBILARAN CITY , Philippines — Age does not matter and Virgilio Pintecase never stops dreaming that one day he would finish his studies.
Pintecase, who is about to celebrate his 65th birthday on June 26, is now a Grade 8 student under the K-12 program.
He is the oldest of the 3,938 enrollees at the Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School (DCPNHS), formerly the Bohol National High School, headed by school principal Concepcion Bagotchay.
Pintecase, still a bachelor and a resident of Barangay Catarman in Dauis town, used to be a "tuba" gatherer (locally known as mananggiti) in his younger days. He recalled that at times he went fishing with other fishermen in the barangay to help his parents eke out a living.
He told Freeman that he stopped schooling after completing the elementary some 51 years ago. As years gone by, he said, he remains single and lived with his brother Leonardo. His parents already passed away.
Asked what prompted him to pursue his formal education despite his age, Pintecase said that acquiring knowledge would prevent him from being bullied by those who are educated. "Nobody could be fooled if one is educated or knowledgeable compared to those who are not," he explained in the dialect.
Fondly called Lolo by his schoolmates and teachers alike, Pintecase does not mind because he said he is determined to complete his studies despite the odds, such as failing in his Math and English subjects last year. He admitted though that he finds it hard to study because he is not an exceptional student but he vowed never to stop trying and studying harder.
Pintecase said he chose to study at DCPNHS, even if this costs him few pesos more for his daily commuting fare, because the school administration, teachers and students are friendly. He feels at home and welcomed here after his first attempt last year, he said.
He recalled that when he decided to go back to school last year as freshman he was not admitted immediately because he had no proof he has completed his elementary because all his records were destroyed by termites in the old school of his place.
Quitting however was never on his mind and he found an ally in his former classmate, Ceferino Miculob, who helped him and testify that he graduated in elementary at his barangay in Dauis..
Asked if he would like to be accelerated due to his age, he replied that he would rather rise from one level to another, experiencing every step onward to finishing his studies. (FREEMAN)