For one young educator, poverty was not just a circumstance—it was the beginning of a dream.
Growing up in a household where even sardines felt like a luxury, a newly licensed professional teacher and ninth placer Jake Pradilla from Cebu Normal University-Medellin learned early what it meant to live with less. His father worked tirelessly as a tapasero or sugarcane harvester and served as a barangay tanod, laboring day and night to support a family of eight. Despite the long hours, the income was never enough to meet all their needs.
As a child, Pradilla believed scarcity was normal. Only later did he understand the truth: his family was poor.
Instead of breaking his spirit, that realization ignited something powerful.
“That realization did not break me,” he shared in a speech. “Instead, it made me a dreamer.”
In a household of six siblings, sacrifices were constant. Older siblings stepped into roles far beyond their years, especially his eldest brother, who became the family’s pillar for nearly two decades. Food on the table and access to education were never guaranteed—they were earned through selflessness and endurance.
That environment of struggle became the foundation of his determination.
Motivated by the desire to change his family’s story, Pradilla committed himself to education. Studying was no longer just a personal goal; it was a responsibility carried for everyone who believed in him. What others might have seen as pressure, he saw as strength.
In 2025, that perseverance bore fruit.
Pradilla earned his bachelor’s degree, becoming the first degree holder in his family. Months later, he passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers and achieved the rare distinction of being among the topnotchers—an accomplishment that once felt unimaginable, especially for someone who struggled with English, his eventual college major.
“I couldn’t even form a simple English sentence before,” he recalled. “Yet I was brave enough to choose it.”
Support from family and mentors, particularly his instructors at CNU-Medellin, helped transform weakness into confidence. Over time, English became not just a subject, but a passion.
DREAM DEEPLY
A message of courage, self-belief, and quiet strength resonated as another CNU-Medellin topnotcher Mary Frances Veliganilao, a Bachelor of Elementary Education graduate who placed Top 5 in the September 2025 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers, shared a personal life mantra—“high acceptance, low expectation” as a guiding principle in facing challenges and opportunities.
More than a personal reflection, she said the message emphasized that hope, dreaming, and believing in one’s capacity to achieve are not only possible but essential.
Addressing the audience, Veliganilao expressed hope of inspiring “quiet kids” to find courage and dream deeply, urging them not to be afraid of stepping out of their comfort zones.
“Do the thing you have been putting off because you thought you were not enough,” she said, reminding CNU students that they are capable and worthy.
HONORING RITES
Cebu Normal University–Medellin Campus recognized both Veliganilao and Pradilla during an honoring ceremony held in Barangay Antipolo.
They were among the record-breaking 44 topnotchers produced by CNU in the September 2025 LET. Of the 44, 15 in the elementary level and 29 in the secondary level, including national first placers Christel De los Reyes (Elementary) and Jed Vincent Abadia (Secondary).
University officials lauded the awardees for their exemplary performance, noting that their achievement reflects CNU’s brand of excellence.
“You are the living brand of CNU. Continue to exemplify excellence in everything you do and wherever you may be,” said CNU President Dr. Daniel Ariaso, Sr.
The ceremony also recognized the collective efforts of faculty members, administrators, and families who supported the graduates throughout their academic journey.
