MANILA, Philippines — A college student who works in his spare time as a deliveryman to support his education amid the COVID-19 pandemic has been earning praise from netizens.
Photos of Ax Valerio, a 21-year-old Communications student at Adamson University, went viral shortly after Christian Lorenz Nuñez shared them on Facebook on Wednesday.
The photos show Valerio stopping his motorbike momentarily during his delivery run so he could attend an online class. Nuñez, also a delivery rider himself, hoped Valerio would fulfill his dream.
“Kaya pala pumarada si pap… kasi need niya umatend ng online class. Sana matupad mo.ung mga pangarap mo… salute u pre,” Nuñez said in his post.
[So that’s why he parked momentarily… because he needed to attend online classes. I hope you reach your dreams, I salute you.]
In an interview with INQUIRER.net, Valerio said: “Pinili ko pong magtrabaho para makatulong sa family ko lalo na ngayong panahon, hindi po ako pwedeng huminto sa pagtatrabaho at sa pag-aaral dahil yung papa ko po ay na-stroke at wala nang katuwang ang mama ko sa gastusin namin sa araw-araw.”
[I chose to work so that I can help my family, especially at this time. I can’t stop working and studying because my father suffered a stroke and my mother has no one to rely on for our daily expenses.]
But this was not the first time he dabbled with a paying job while studying. Valerio relayed that he also had to work as a fast-food chain’s crew back when he was only 16-year-old, which made it difficult for him to juggle work and studies at the same time.
“Kaya may mga times po na nale-late ako sa work nun and for me, hindi po ethical na ma-late sa work kahit na [galing sa school] pa ang dahilan kasi I have to balance my time,” he said.
(That’s why there were times I arrived to work late, which I believe is not an ethical reason to be late for work even if the reason behind it is my schooling, because I have to balance my time.)
Currently, Valerio has been attending two types of classes: synchronous (online) and asynchronous (offline). He needs to attend a video conferencing once a week for his synchronous classes.
As to why he is determined to work in his spare time, Valerio said, he is spurred by an aspiration for a better life for his family.
“Yung supporta po na ibininigay nila sa akin yung baon ko sa kalsada araw-araw,” he said.
(The support they give me is what I carry with me every day.)
“Kahit mahirap, ayoko pong huminto sa pag-aaral. Gusto ko rin pong matupad ang mga pangarap ko, dahil para sa akin po, sobrang swerte ko at nakakapagpatuloy pa rin po ako sa pag-aaral. Kaya ayoko pong sayangin ang pagkakataon at panahon na meron ako,” he addded.
(Even if it is hard, I do not want to stop studying. I also want to fulfill my dreams, because for me, I am very lucky that I can still continue with my studies. So I do not want to waste the opportunity and time that I have.)
After the pandemic struck, many families nationwide were affected economically due to lockdowns, which were placed to avoid further coronavirus transmissions.
As people not doing essential work were urged to stay at home, face-to-face classes were suspended and distance learning methods, including online classes, were adopted.
However, several Duterte administration critics believe that the government should have not pushed through with classes as the education sector was not prepared to hold online classes. (With reports from Ves Garcia)
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