Leonardo Jaminola III graduated with a BA in Political Science, cum laude, from UP Diliman. (Photo from his Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — Six. That’s how many jobs Leonardo Jaminola III accepted just so he could continue his studies at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.
But after five years in the university, Jaminola received not only his well-earned diploma — Bachelor Arts in Political Science — but he also finished cum laude.
In a Facebook post, Jaminola shared a look into his family life in Mindoro.
“Growing up, shirtless children playing near the esteros and makeshift houses made of tarpaulin were a normal sight. These were everyday scenes in my community–a community where most members grapple with the everyday reality of poverty,” Jaminola said.
“My family was part of this struggling community. We were, and are, part of the section of society that does not have their own homes, that fails to pay their electricity on time, and that struggles to survive from paycheck to paycheck,” he added.
With his father’s earnings as a messenger at the municipal hall, Jaminola had to accept jobs while studying in UP just so he could get by.
“In my five-year stay in the university, I had taken a total of six different jobs,” Jaminola said. “I was an encoder, a transcriptionist, a library student assistant, a tutor, a writer, and at one point, a food vendor at the dormitory manning my own little sari-sari store.”
During this time, if one would ask Jaminola to choose between his studies and work, he would choose work. Why? The need to survive.
This, however, came with its own consequences. including failing subjects and settling on a passing grade for some subjects.
“Choosing between work and academics was honestly a no-brainer. I’d always prioritize work. Work after all, fed me, kept me alive. Because of this, I failed a few subjects and settled for a passing grade for some others. It wasn’t about thriving and excelling anymore; it was just about surviving,” he said.
Like many other financially-challenged students, Jaminola also tried applying for scholarships — but his grades, which compared to other applicants were relatively low due to his commitments to his jobs — affected his chances.
“Every semester, I would go to Vinzons Hall to apply for scholarships. But every semester I would leave empty-handed. There’s really not that many scholarship opportunities for Political Science majors like me, or for anyone in the social sciences for that matter,” Jaminola said.
“Because of this, I had to apply to competitive university-wide grants. But as a working student who didn’t have the best grades, I was unable to compete with those other students who were fully devoted to their academics,” he added.
‘We must work twice or even thrice as hard’
“The cards are always stacked up against the poor,” Jaminola said. “For us to survive, we must work twice or even thrice as hard and manage our time more efficiently and more effectively.”
“But, even with all of these and more, there’s no assurance that a poor person will be able to make it past the structural inequalities that only seem to grow wider,” he added.
Further, Jaminola said: “While hard work is important, it does not guarantee success as much as privilege does.”
Jaminola ended his post saying that his experiences motivated him to pursue a career in development research.
“Knowing that the research I do can affect the lives of my friends and neighbors fills me with both hope and joy,” he said.
“But I know that research alone is not enough. It must be based on analysis and understanding of concrete conditions and it must be anchored in the interest of the masses. It must also lead to action–a necessary step in helping people free themselves from their chains,” he added.
Jaminola was among the thousands of students that graduated from UP Diliman on Sunday.