‘Joel Puto,’ 47, finishes high school
Veteran mentors
“The teachers were helpful and understood our difficulties. They knew we were working and they knew the best way to teach us,” he said.
He said the QNHS assigned its most experienced teachers—Zenaida Rallama, Rochelle Cueto and his adviser, Castillo, as well as coordinator Mildred Cueto—to handle the OHS program. Although the teachers also had to handle regular classes, they were never impatient with their “slower” occasional students, Pielago said.
Pielago cannot remember when he graduated from elementary school. He said he got married at 22 after finishing second year high school.
As he and his wife, Cely, who studied management in college and worked as a secretary to a Lucena physician, were raising three children—Sijoy, 24, Trissha, 22, and Kim, 20—his high school studies were often interrupted. He tried evening classes but the need to earn a living got in the way.
“Now that my children have finished college, it was time for me to go back to school,” Pielago said.
Article continues after this advertisementHe was not at all embarrassed at being in high school at his age or the oldest in his class (the youngest, 14, was a kasambahay). “I just thought of them as my children,” he said.
Article continues after this advertisementInitial reluctance
Pielago said he was reluctant at first to return to finish his high school studies because of his age. Until he read and heard of people much older than he finishing high school and going on to earn college degrees.
The oldest OHS graduate of QNHS, who was 54 years old when he got his diploma, also encouraged him to return to school. The graduate is now working as a masseur in Dubai like his son who supported his studies.
Pielago said he realized education was a treasure he would always have. Age should not be an issue for those who are determined to pursue their studies, he said.
He said his family was supportive, even helping with his homework, “except for the eldest because she already does a lot of teaching in a private elementary school and tutoring after class.”
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