Feisty 80-year-old grandma earns college degree
DAGUPAN CITY—How old should one be to graduate from college? Twenty-two? Try 80!
That’s exactly what a determined 80-year-old grandma proved to the world, that it’s never too late to earn a college degree and still earn the admiration of the public, the kind that most 22 year olds can only dream of.
Paciencia Pacibe Tamayo, widow, from Maramba Boulevard, Lingayen, was given a thunderous applause from her batchmates and the audience when she walked to the center of the stage to receive her diploma, the moment she dreamed of all her adult life.
TAMAYO: 2013 graduate
For 80-year old Tamayo, her long cherished wish was granted last Monday when she marched Monday, together with 3,203 other graduates of the Pangasinan State University (PSU) during their commencement exercises at the CSI Stadia here.
Tamayo, who will turn 81 years old on May 1, said she feels fulfilled now that she finally has a college diploma that proves she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Education major in Technology and Livelihood Education.
“This has been my dream,” said the new graduate who is blessed with 19 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
She decided to go back to school five years ago when she was widowed and felt alone, aided only by an assistant wherever she went. Her nine children, all professionals, already have their own families and live in different places.
With nothing else much to do and accomplish at home since her husband died, she knew it was time to study again and attempt to earn a college degree, initially at the Adelphi College in Lingayen. She had to stop for one semester on the insistence of her children who were afraid she might no longer be able to take the rigors of studying considering her age.
But on the prodding of a relative, she resumed her studies over the objection of her children and pursued enrolled at the PSU Lingayen campus through the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP).
ETEEAP is a comprehensive educational assessment program at the tertiary level that recognizes, accredits and gives equivalencies to knowledge, skills, attitudes and values gained by individuals from relevant work. It is implemented through deputized higher education institutions that shall award the appropriate college degree
GRADUATION DAY
Four of Tamayo’s children living elsewhere in the country – five are working overseas – arrived to witness their mother’s graduation.
“I was never ashamed to go back to school. I don’t care. It’s my dream. I spent my money for my schooling, with some from my children,” she pointed out beaming with pride.
Asked why it took her decades to pursue her college education, Tamayo said,” My husband and I had to make sure all our nine children earned their college degrees.”
She said it was her and her husband’s fulfillment in life to see their children have a chance at being successful with a college education.
“I was only a plain housewife while my husband was a carpenter… we had no college education,” she said.
Tamayo admitted it was math subject that gave her headaches but she proudly said her highest grade was 1.5 in Humanities.
Like most other diligent students, she felt disappointed with herself whenever she got low scores in her tests, sometimes crying herself to sleep out of frustration. She also asked her professors what she else must do to improve her grades.
Tamayo was one graduate who was promptly offered a job to teach at her barangay’s day care center but she declined the offer because of her age. ‘It’s enough (for me) that I achieved my dream,” she said.
Tamayo’s daughter, Edna Tamayo-Tomelden who works at the Commission on Audit in the Cordillera Administrative Region, admitted she and her siblings were initially reluctant to allow their mom to go back to school. But their mom’s decision prevailed.
“We are very proud of her because she finally achieved her ultimate dream to have a college diploma in spite of her age,” Tomelden said. (Eva Visperas)
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