This Gen Z from Tondo, Manila got a heartwarming reaction from his grandmother after breaking the news that he’s graduating magna cum laude in college!
22-year-old Prince Ryan Concepcion said he initially pranked Lola Rosemarie that he won’t graduate with honors in college.
In a viral video on TikTok, Concepcion shared Lola Rosemarie’s reaction upon knowing his new academic achievement.
Concepcion said he was touched on the initial reaction of Lola Rosemarie when he first joked that he did not finish college with honors. When he finally revealed the good news, his lola became emotional.
“Maraming salamat, Panginoon. Nakaabot ng magna [cum laude] ang apo ko. Thank you very much Lord, hindi mo kami pinababayaan,” Lola Rosemarie said in the video.
Concepcion grew up with his Lola Rosemarie after his parents separated while he was young, and his father died in 2023.
“Iniwan sa’kin siya nung six months old pa lang. Hanggang ngayon, ako na ang tumayong lola at saka nanay niya,” Lola Rosemarie said.
“Happy naman po ‘yung childhood ko. Hindi ko naman na-feel na parang meron kulang kasi meron ako si mommy, meron akong ibang family. Okay naman po ako growing up. Ever since talaga siya ‘yung nagpe-prepare ng baon ko, nagpaplantsa ng uniform ko, gumigising sa’kin tuwing umaga. Kaya ‘yung mga sacrifices na ‘yun, I am happy naman po na nagpay-off naman po siya,” Concepcion shared.
Lola Rosemarie described her grandson as kind and loving while growing up.
Noting, “Ever since, mabait itong apo ko. Love na love ko ‘yan, parang bunso ko ‘yan. ‘Yung tatay niya actually, ‘yun ang bunsong anak ko. Tapos nag-anak ‘yung tatay niya, ito ‘yung panganay na apo ko, siya na ang naging pangalawang bunso ko dahil ako na ang nagpalaki sa kanya.”
He graduated magna cum laude in tourism at the STI College Ortigas-Cainta. Concepcion is very thankful to those family members who helped him achieve his diploma.
“‘Yung kapatid po ng papa ko, sinusuportahan niya po ako and scholar din po ako. Nagmo-model po ako sa school ko so minsan wala po akong binabayaran na tuition. One thing I learned from my journey is siguro never give up Mahirap po talaga siyang pagsabayin lalo na’t working student ka pero everything was worth it naman po nung na-achieve ko po ‘yung recognition na ‘yun, parang na-validate po lahat ng paghihirap ko,” he stressed.
He is currently a full-time content creator and promises to take care and provide the needs of his lola.
“Promise ko na hindi ko siya pababayaan and mamahalin ko po siya, forever. Naiiyak ako kasi lahat ng gusto ko ibinibigay niya,” Concepcion said.
“Mahal na mahal ako ng apo ko. Nagte-thank you ako kay Lord, dahil ibinigay niya si Prince sa akin,” Lola Rosemarie replied.
Conception has a reminder to fellow Gen Zs, “Habang nandyan pa, seek the opportunity. ‘Wag kang mag-hold back, just show that you love them and show that you care for them because hindi n’yo malalaman kung kailan sila mawawala.”
