City scholar finishes cum laude in CNU

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Former mayor Tomas Osmeña congratulates Jhanel Flores who graduated with honors at CNU.

JHANEL Flores, 19, never thought he could finish college after his father fell ill and had to stop working in 2010.

He persevered and graduated at the top of his class at Cebu Normal University (CNU), thanks to a scholarship from the Cebu City government and Ambit Foundation Inc.

He received his diploma, graduating cum laude with a degree in education major in mathematics last March 25.

“I’m so happy to graduate. Now I can look for a job to help support the family,” he said.

Jhanel, the third of three siblings, studied at Camp Lapu-Lapu National High School.

His parents struggled to make both ends meet for the family in barangay Lahug, Cebu city. Solomon earned P300 a day as a family driver and took welding jobs at night.

Their eldest child finished a commerce degree. The second got sick in 2010 and had to stop schooling.

When he started as a freshman in CNU in 2010, Jhanel received P10,000 cash assistance from the Cebu city government each semester for his tuition.

Assistance from a local charity, Ambit Foundation Inc., took care of his books and other school needs.

While he prepares to take the teachers licensure exam in July, Jhanel said he’s looking for a job in a school or bank.

“Jhanel is a model scholar,” said Joyce Yang, a member of the core group of the 7-year-old Ambit Foundation, which had 50 scholars the past school year.

“His diligence, perseverance and consistency paid off.”

She said Jahnel was “the leader of Ambit’s scholars and works as the Ambit Secretariat to coordinate their activities and keep their records updated”.

“He has initiative, works with the least supervision and has a big heart to be of service to others,” she added.

Last Tuesday, Jhanel with his parents Solomon and Rosie visited the residence of former mayor Tomas Osmeña in barangay Guadalupe to thank Osmeña for starting the city scholarship program shortly before he ended his term as mayor in 2010.

They brought a simple breakfast to share with Osmeña – grilled fish, boiled bananas and camote (sweet potato) and “guso” seaweed, to go with “bam-i” noodles and biko.

“Bahala ug pinobre basta maka pasalamat lang mi,” said Solomon. (Never mind if this is food of the poor, as long as we can show our gratitude.)

“It’s nice to see a face that you made happy,” replied Osmeña, a former congressman, saying he was touched by the gesture.

The former mayor said he was eyeing the booming call center industry in Cebu when he started the scholarship program to help prepare Cebuano graduates for employment.