MANILA, Philippines – They say the greatest legacy parents can pass on to their children is education. That’s why nothing brings more joy and fulfillment to a parent than seeing their child finish school.
But sometimes, life hits hard. There are moments when things happen that are completely out of our control, far from the plans we had for ourselves.
This is the very reason why the story of Jeck Santiago, featured by GMA Public Affairs on their Facebook page, deeply moved and inspired countless netizens.
 |
| Photo courtesy: Jeck Santiago via GMA Public Affairs (Facebook) |
Based on the caption, after four years of studying, Jeck finally found the courage to tell his mother that he had graduated from college. Yes, he kept it secret in those years!
According to him, he had to stop schooling for a time due to personal struggles.
“Nag-stop kasi ako before pero lagi akong kinukulit ng parents ko and sabi ko lang ayaw ko na,” Jeck said.
“Then I decided na mag-aral ulit. Noong September 17, 2021, naka-receive ako ng email na pwede ako mag-enroll ulit. Same day ‘yun na nadiagnose ‘yung father namin ng cancer. Tinuloy ko pa rin and hindi ko sinabi sa kanila. Sinabi ko lang after 4 years, noong graduation ko na.”
According to the report, despite the emotional weight of returning to school and learning about his father’s cancer diagnosis, Jeck chose to remain silent and press on. He was determined to finish his studies, not just for himself but as a heartfelt surprise for his parents.
And the moment finally came. On the day of his graduation, his mother could no longer hold back her tears when she heard the words: “Ma, Tay… ga-graduate na ko!”
Here are some of netizens’ comments:
“Ang college diploma ang pinakamahalagang regalo ng Isang anak sa kanyang mga magulang.”
“Eto ung cnsv ko kht Anong hirap Ng Buhay Hindi hadlang Ang khirapan asa tao nlng tlga Ang ggawa Ng way pra mkpg tapos ka at Hindi susuko congrats po.”
“Angaaaasss. Best flex ever!”
“Dreams of every parent Khit mahirap ang buhay igagapang ang anak. Congrats sau at s mga magulang mo”
For Jeck, his diploma is more than a personal achievement—it is a gift of love, perseverance, and hope for his family. Congratulations!
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express