Rochille Rose Romualdo burst into tears as she met Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing, Wednesday night. /Mandaue City PIO
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Rochille Rose Romualdo, 11, went up the stage of the Guizo Elementary School on Friday to receive her medal.
Had it not been for her bravery to seek the help of Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Qusumbing, the Grade six pupil would not have found money to pay for the toga that she used during her graduation.
Uncertain where to get the P200 that she needed, Romualdo wrote Quisumbing on Wednesday morning , April 3, to solicit the mayor’s help for her toga rental.
“Can I beg you for some money to pay my graduation fee because I am graduating in Grade six with honors and conduct award. and I’m proud of it. Please,” the girl wrote on a piece of paper.
But since Quisumbing was unable to attend their Wednesday morning handshaking in Barangay Mantuyong, it was Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna who received the girl’s letter on the mayor’s behalf.
“During early morning campaign didto silang duha kuyog sa iyang mama. I guess they were waiting for us to pass by. Then mao na to nga nitunol sila sa kato nga note,” Vice Mayor Fortuna told Cebu Daily News Digital.
(During our early morning campaign, the girl and her mother where there. I guess they were waiting for us to pass by their area. Then the girl handed me her note (for Mayor Quisumbing.)
Fortuna said he immediately gave the girl’s letter to Quisumbing when they met later that day.
Romualdo’s letter for Mayor Luigi Quisumbing. /Photo from Quisumbing’s FB page
Quisumbing wrote on his Facebook post at past 2 p.m. on Wednesday that he already sought the help of Mantuyong barangay officials so he could personally meet with Romualdo and hand to her his response letter and cash aid.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to personally receive your letter this morning, but nalipay ko that Vice Mayor Carlo received it and gave it to me. I was very touched by your letter and I will be happy to help sa imohang graduation fee. I also included a little extra for the celebration after,” Quisumbng wrote in his letter reply to Romulado.
Quisumbing added that he also directed the City Social Welfare and Development Office to include the girl as amongst the beneficiaries of the City’s Educational Assistance Program for the incoming school year.
“Hopefully this will help you maintain your record as an honor student,” the mayor wrote.
Romulado hands her letter for Quisumbing to Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna. / Photo from Quisumbing’s FB page
At around 9 p.m. of the same day, Quisumbing dropped by Barangay Mantuyong to personally meet Romualdo.
“It was nice to (have) meet you Rochille. I’m very proud of you!,” Quisumbing posted on his FB page at 9:31 p.m.
Netizens who read the Mandaue City PIO post on Romualdez and Quisumbing’s meeting asked if the city government could instead sponsor the toga of public school graduates in the city.
“It would have been nice if city sponsored nalang na ang mga toga sa mga public schools,” said May Ocampo.
“Mayor Luigi R. Quisumbing sa kadghan nang graduate unta buhatan na nimo ug lakang nga dili nalng intawn mag toga harun kami pud mga kabos nga kakha tuka lang maluag luag sa mga kada adlaw nga balayrunon,” commented Vincent Villarino.
Fortuna told CDN Digital that they are now looking into the matter.
“Actually that’s what we are thinking of. Usually it has always been a personal contribution of the graduates since these are just being rented,” Fortuna said./dcb