INQ YearBook 2016

Rugby-sniffing
street kid now a
college grad
By: Julie Alipala
Dennis Sumampong, a former “Rugby boy,” spent his tender years on the streets of this city relying on the kindness of
strangers after being abandoned by his parents and subsequently fleeing his abusive adoptive family in Margosatubig in
Zamboanga del Sur province.
Now 25, he has walked free from the addiction, thanks to the social workers from Akay Kalinga Center, a program of the
Catholic Church-based Katilingban sa Kalambuan (Community for Development) Inc., who plucked him from the dead end.
Not only that. Because of Akay Kalinga, he has earned his bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management.
Akay Kalinga not only provides a safe and comfortable shelter for street children, it also sends these out-of-school kids to
school. It is currently sending 127 street kids to school—from elementary to college.
Loida Sapalo, head of Akay Kalinga, told the Inquirer that like other street kids, the glue-sniffing Sumampong initially resisted
help.
“We followed him, we talked to him and we convinced him to avail himself of our services. At first he hesitated. He wanted
to always be free. He reached as far as Sulu and Basilan by himself,” she said.
After three years of constant prodding from social workers, Sumampong finally agreed to submit to their care.
His advise to street children:
“Work on your dreams,
love yourself.”
Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/778552/rugby-sniffing-street-kid-now-a-college-grad#ixzz45mW1s2PM

Fudolig, Physics ‘whiz
kid,’ makes it to UP Law
By: Gianna Francesca Catolico
Not resting on her laurels, a former child prodigy takes on another
venture, this time making her way to law school.
Mikaela Irene Fudolig, who graduated summa cum laude from the
University of the Philippines (UP) at 16 years old, was among the 218
passers of the 2016 UP Law Aptitude Exam.
Fudolig, who now holds a Ph.D. in Physics, earned her bachelor’s
degree in Physics in 2007 with a general weighted average of 1.099.
She began her college life at 11 years old under an experimental
program for gifted children.
Upon graduation, Fudolig became a faculty member of the Institute
of Physics and earned her Master’s degree in 2013 and her doctoral
degree in 2014 in UP. She was also a Fulbright scholar for doctoral
enrichment in Economics at the University of California – Irvine. CDG
Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/779133/fudolig-physics-whiz-kid-makes-it-to-up-law

BAGUIO CITY—One of the country’s 1,731 new lawyers
quietly celebrated with his family on Tuesday.
The following day, he reported back for work at the
Commission on Audit office in La Trinidad, Benguet
province, wearing his uniform.
Roy Lawagan, who considered passing the bar an
early gift for his 27th birthday on May 11, said he was
staying on in his job until May 15.
After that, he was taking up a cousin’s offer to work
at a law firm in Manila. “I will go there to gain
experience,” he said.
Baguio
‘sikyu’ is
now a
lawyer
While working as a security guard, Lawagan attended
night classes on his first year at law school. It was
tiring, he said, since his wife was pregnant with their
daughter, now 4 years old.
By: Kimberlie Quitasol
“Being a lawyer was my father’s dream,” he said.
The fourth in a brood of nine, Lawagan said some of
his sisters had graduated with degrees in political
science but did not pursue law.
Lawagan, who traces his roots to Sagada in Mountain
Province, completed his criminology course at University
of Baguio and finished his law studies at Saint
Louis University.
When he did not pass the 2014 bar exam despite
having enrolled in a review center, Lawagan decided
to review on his own for the 2015 exam given in
November last year. TVJ
NEW LAWYER’S LAST FEW DAYSONTHE JOB
Commission on Audit security guard Roy Lawagan
could be counting the days till May 15, when he quits
his job and joins a law firm inManila. Lawagan joined
some 1,700 new lawyers when he passed the 2015 bar
exams. RICHARD BALONGLONG/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON
Read more http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/783315/baguio-sikyu-is-now-a-lawyer

REDDIT REPLIES:
“How different are you now from the
person you were when you graduated?”
We asked members of subreddit r/Philippines on how
different they are now from the person they were when
they graduated. Here are their responses.
TeriyakiGirl_LSKO
Some things I have learned:
choosing my battles, friendship
is a function of quality not quantity,
living life one day at a time
and celebrating small successes,
stop comparing myself to
peers, listening more and
speaking less
Idealistic then. Practical
now. Exposure to the real
Fulltergeist
That! You get
to learn you can't
change the world on
your own, worse
though when you get
swallowed by the
system.
Taongbundok
world did that.

“How different are you now from the person
you were when you graduated?”
chronoval
"Hu u?" Siguro ang sasabihin sakin... Masingit lang. "We all change, when you think about it.
We’re all different people all through our lives. And that’s okay, that’s good, you’ve got to
keep moving, so long as you remember all the people that you used to be." -11th Doctor
TimKaeyeon
It is like day and night. My 20 year old self is a b-tch that I would like to slap ala Bella
Flores until her face swells. She's a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. The only thing
that I like about that person is her desire to be the best in everything she does.
RafflesiaDrums
I thought that the world that awaits me is so much more than boring weekdays with the
ritual-like routines. And well, it truly is amazing and immobilizing; filled with excitement
and anxiety. The only difference is I made my move.
Strongbreaker
Graduated just last year so, still the same. Might be a bit healthier now compared to before
since I started working out and eating right.
toshi04
Well, I've grown a few inches and
BoomBangKersplat
More confident, and happier.
got fatter.

midori_
It's been 5 years.. During that time I became more open to criticism and hungrier for knowledge
than before.
I also became more jaded and "pusong bato". The real world will force you to make very
difficult decisions and I am still learning to accept the consequences.
bac0nologist
"Now, I've come to a point that I don't have to befriend everyone, I can't please everybody
and now I have lesser fucks to give. This is my key to happiness. Moar money too! Also,
gained 20kilos. I was literally a stick man figure back in college."
Riesig19
It's just been a year, life isn't miserable as I was back in grade school and high school since
I'm surrounded by people who genuinely cares.
I'm also enjoying the investment I've toiled through in college, I didn't really have a rocking
college life that people like to hearken back "to the good old days" but it feels great that
the fun I'm having was from the fruits of my labor.
Though I feel that I'm also stingier and care about money a bit more, since it's the money
I'm earning and every little bit of unnecessary expense does kinda sting way more than
when I wasn't working yet.
ermats
Cynical then. Somewhat more idealistic now. I'm actually trying to break out of my shell
and do something to achieve my dreams instead of just fantasizing about them. :)
Maybe in a few years, I'll be cynical once more, but I'll cherish these days.
jaredzki
Since graduating, I'm almost always baffled by the challenges life gives you. Bills? Taxes?
Rent? No vacations? Responsibility? "WTF IS DIS?" There are just certain situations that you
get as an adult and not as a student. It's fun though, don't get me wrong. It's just when life
slaps you with reality, that's when you decide to either make it or break it.

maroonmartian
Is taking up Law now. Well I take
pawedbear
I'm 10kg heavier
political science with the view of
taking up law. But I decided na work
muna and then try. Was really not
convince of taking it before. Went to
this law school, quitted, got
depressed, recovered. I discovered I
really want to be a lawyer. Is near
reaching that dream. Wiser.
Zeitgeist0123
if i see my past self now, i would be jealous of him and cringely-irritated at his guts at the
same time.
AnzaiOne
My 20 year old self is like Barney Stinson before the suit. He is naive, he lacks self confidence
and needs approval of other persons.
My current mid 20's self is like Barney Stinson after the suit, minus the womanizing part.

ElBurritoLuchador
Back then I was more gullible, susceptible to hearsay, tsismis, and, conspiracies. You know,
niche things that makes you think your smarter than everyone. The rise of social media sites
didn't help either as false information is framed as facts and you believe it because LegitimateSource
here said so.
Education is really one hell of an achievement by the human race, it gives you the ability to
do critical thinking. Over the years in college, you learn a lot of things.
History subject isn't just about dates of the Revolution or Rizal's birthday, it gives you an
insight why people acted that way and what a selected group of people did that lead to a
catastrophic event.
Philosophy makes you self introspect, it questions your very own beliefs and tears it anew
but it gives you the works of Nietzsche, Voltaire, Epicurus or Eastern philosophers with the
likes of Lao Tzu and Confucius.
Though the classes were a bit boring but it kick started me to research upon the topics to
get a much more detailed view, to understand them.
Now, I am much more cynical about people and skeptical of things that I know nothing
about especially in the Internet. I also realized that not all issues are black and white, that I
don't need to get offended by other people's beliefs nor do I need to impose my own upon
them, and that I'm still learning everyday.
judygore
I graduated 2 years ago. I was more motivated in life when I was still studying, maybe
because in school, there are more chances to stand out because you grow and acquire new
skills the same time as your classmates do. But once you get a job, you will then realize
there are people who are already 10x better than you and you'll get the feeling of being left
behind but I still can say that I am so much positively different now than what I am in my
student years because the real challenges I experienced in my job made me more capable on
things I wasn't before, my attempts on being more independent are slowly shaping me to be
the person I want to be, the daily boring routine works pushed me to discover hobbies I'm
not used to before. In short, the world had gotten bigger and there are more space for me
to grow like there's no limit to it at all.

papalala
When I graduated, I was a doe-eyed, hopeful, and full of positivity. I thought I could do
things half-hearted, procrastinate, and have a "wing-it" attitude. I thought things was just
like your course project, where you can cram everything in a week and still get an 1.0 or 1.25
for a grade.
Now I'm more grounded, I plan things, I do things on my own. I'm not dependent to my
parents anymore who gives me baon every week, so I have to plan carefully where I'm
spending my hard earned money. I think for myself now, and always assess where I'm heading
and what I want in life. I generally have a sense of direction in life too.
I still stumble and fail a lot of times, but I know it's just me who needs to pick myself up.
There's no college barkada, there's no college org, no professor to tell you what you need to
do. It's just you.
Sidissid
I was the biggest torpe you'll know, I would freeze upon seeing my crush and walk the opposite
way or just simply pretend that I did not see her. Now I can talk to any girl casually or
maybe is it because I'm already married.
charinstudy
To be honest, when I was in college I was more of a person whose sense of achievement really
depended on who I celebrate that achievement with. Now, even if I still celebrate things with my
friends sometimes, I can now be fine with just treating myself out for a movie, a couple of shows
on netflix, new clothes, etc. Basically I'm just lonely now. Please help. Loljk.
helterstash
I used to think I had people figured out when I was in college, but as it turns out (not surprisingly),
this was not the case. Exposure to different people in the workplace made me realize how stereotypes
are really inaccurate.
bagon-ligo
An honest answer wud be wiser and dumber.