‘Sakada’ son wins TOSP award
BACOLOD CITY -- Carlos Gerogalin Jr. is another inspiration to less fortunate students as he was awarded as one of the 2009 Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) topping 33 other participants in the country.
Gerogalin is the son of a “sakada (sugarcane worker)” and the only representative from Western Visayas named in the 2009 TOSP.
Last March, he graduated summa cum laude from West Negros University.
At the age of 11, Gerogalin said he worked as a “sakada” in the cane field with his mother.
During his early school years, he hardly attended school for he needed to help his family to earn a living.
“As I recalled I only attended my classes thrice a week. I remembered that even my teachers who were concerned for my grades, asked help from my classmates by sending notices to give any amount to help me. Some of my classmates even volunteered to give us rice for food,” he said.
The poor boy, despite the odds and challenges in life, finished elementary and pursued his secondary education.
In college, he was an entrance scholar, being a valedictorian. He maintained his grades for the scholarships up to his fourth year and ended with highest honors.
He has been an active student leader, served several organizations and helped the community through teaching out-of-school youth in the partner community of WNU and also the SK Chairman of Barangay Miranda, Hinigaran 2002-2007.
The Commission on Higher Education awarded him as the recipient of the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Academic Excellence and Leadership Award.
During his comeback from the TOSP awarding rites last Friday, Gerogalin received a grand welcome from his teachers in the College of Education, classmates and friends who held a motorcade in the city.
He thanked WNU president Suzette Lilian Agustin, Dr. Nony Descutido, Dean of the College of Education, and Juben Palermo, director of Student Personnel Services, his teachers, classmates and students for helping him throughout the competition at the Thanksgiving Services at WNU in Bacolod City.
He is now preparing for the Licensure Examination for Teachers set in September and is now teaching in a computer school in Bacolod City.