Graduate also went to School of Hard Knocks in Lucena City

THE GRADUATE Marlo Frias, 16, runs a trolley service (at right) on the railroad tracks in Mayao Crossing, Lucena City, which is his part-time job but pays for his education as a fulltime student at Quezon National High School. He graduated recently, and is now preparing to go to college. ARNOLD ALMACEN

Marlo Frias, 16, has the rare privilege of having gone to two schools in the last four years. One was the School of Hard Knocks. The other was the Quezon National High School.

School of Hard Knocks sounds terribly corny but it was how and where Frias learned all kinds of life lessons. In the morning, he would push a makeshift trolley to transport water for the families who lived in the homes along da riles (railroad tracks) in Lucena City, including his own. He got paid P12 a gallon.

In the afternoon, he would rush home to change from his QNHS uniform into something more rugged, carry a trolley on his back, lay it on the tracks and start giving passengers a ride along the railway. The fare for the one-kilometer ride is P5. On a good day, for two hours of pushing (with one leg while running) and after paying the trolley owner a “boundary fee,” Frias would have enough money for his next day’s allowance.

Between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on school days, he would be in Quezon High learning history, math, science and other subjects required to enter a university in June.

Full-time student

Despite his part-time work, Frias was a full-time student, and a not-too-shabby one either. His grade average in the third quarter was 89 (final report cards will be issued after graduation). His highest rating, 92, was in math, his favorite subject. His lowest, 84, is in English and Filipino, his least favorite.

“I’m not a reader,” said Frias, who also admitted to being poor in writing. “Maybe because I have a need to be constantly moving.”

Running the rails certainly filled that need, but he also enjoyed sports. “I was on the school swimming team,” he said. “I didn’t win any medals. I’m sure the other competitors had swimming clubs where they could go to practice any time. I could only swim in the river.”

But he was proud of the team and the affiliation has worked in his favor. He has just been asked to teach swimming to a young kid this summer.

Frias was in the section for the brightest students in the Basic Education Curriculum, the regular secondary school program. Although he tried, he didn’t make it to the Engineering and Science Education Program (Esep), a more elite group of students that, in senior year, had subjects such as public health, advanced chemistry and research.