AFTER 11 YEARS OF CHALLENGES 

MALASIQUI —It took  28-year old Ben John Canonigo Lazo 11 years to earn a college degree at the University of Pangasinan, and he did it in style – he finished second highest in the recent Architect Licensure Examination held on June this year.CA=

Lazo told The PUNCH that the 11 years involved his failing in his first chosen course – Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. He failed because he preferred to spend more time playing in the school’s basketball varsity team for three years.

After failing, he decided to stop schooling for two years and joined the church ministry led by his father, a pastor.  He was inspired to resume his studies, enrolling in Architecture, five year course after he did a design of the church’s building.  “So it took me 11 years to graduate college,” he confessed.

He said he became interested in architecture when weeks and months of watching “House Flips” on FYI Channel, “Mega Structures” and “Build it Bigger” on NatGeo.

While he did not deny that he had regrets that it took him 11 years to earn a college degree, he said “the lessons I learned from my mistakes had a great impact on my character,” he said.

He said his last year in college was the toughest, having to get only 3 to 4 hours of sleep every day in order to complete his thesis and apprenticeship in Alaminos City while continuing to serve in the ministry.

“I think, isang dahilan kung ba’t hindi ako pinabayaan ni Lord during those times, is because active pa rin ako sa music ministry kahit ganun ka-busy. Hindi ako nawalan ng time para mag-serve sa Kanya,” Lazo said.

To many students he knew were in his same situation, he offered this advice: Have a “start-all-over-mindset” and not the “game-over” mindset.

He said committing mistakes should not stop anyone from pursuing his dreams “ You can still make up, just have faith in the Lord,” he said.

Lazo, son of Rev. Reynaldo A. Lazo and Rev. Filipina C. Lazo, said he did not expect to be on top of the licensure exam but he prayed for it although he was afraid that his poor performance on the second day dashed away his hopes.

“Something happened that affected my concentration,” he told The PUNCH.

Lazo got a rating of 84.50 percent, second to John Vincent Rojo Lopez with 84.90 percent rating.

“Hindi pa rin nagsi-sink in sa utak ko na nag-top 2 ako. God really knows how to surprise His people,” .he said.

Lazo said his preparation for the examination was already a challenge for him because he opted to finance his review by working as a computer-aided design and drafting operator, while studying.

“Since my parents already sent me to school and it took me so long to get my degree. I didn’t want to be a burden anymore,” he said.

Lazo plans to start his own practice with his girlfriend, also an architect. (Helen Martin/ Melody Valenton)

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