Senior citizen in South Cotabato graduates from junior high school

67-year-old Dominga Malinog graduated junior high school through the Department of Education’s alternative learning system program. (Photo from DepEd)

MANILA, Philippines — A senior citizen in South Cotabato graduated from junior high school, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Thursday.

According to the Facebook post of the DepEd, Dominga Malinog, 67, finished her junior high school at a community learning center through the Alternative Learning System (ALS).

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Malinog’s son, Wilfred, a teacher, shared that his mother could not study before due to poverty.

“Sobrang saya niya, kasi noon gustong-gusto niya talagang mag-aral. Pero, sa kahirapan ng buhay noon, hindi sila pinag-aral ng kaniyang mga parents,” Wilfred Malinog said in the DepEd’s post.

(She’s very happy [right now] because before she really wanted to study but due to the challenges of life, her parents could not send her to school.)

Wilfred also said that his mother would often look at the modules he printed for his students and attempt to answer the questions.

“Every time na iche-check ko ang modules niya, pina-follow up ko kung tama ang mga katanungan niya. Sinusunod niya naman ang lahat ng sinasabi ko at lahat ng dapat gawain. So ginagawa niya naman at nagiging okay rin po,” he added.

(Whenever I check her modules, I check if her answers are right. She follows my instructions and those that needs to be done. She does it and it turned out okay.)

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Eventually, Dominga enrolled in the ALS program in 2023.

Meanwhile, Wilfred encouraged his mother and others with similar backgrounds to continue their studies through the ALS program.

“Sa lahat ng mga hindi pa nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral, especially ‘yong mga nag-stop, out-of-school youth, [at] ‘yong maagang nag-asawa, hindi pa huli ang lahat,” he said.

(To those who could not finish their studies, especially those who stopped, the out-of-school youth, and those who married early, it’s not too late.)

“Anytime, puwede kayong mag-enroll sa ALS, puwede kayong mag-enroll sa elementary, junior high school, at saka senior high school. Ipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral para makapagtapos,” he added.

(Anytime you can enroll at the ALS, you can enroll in elementary, junior high, and senior high school. Continue your studies so you can finish your education.)