“Para sa mga moms and dads, it’s not too late.”
This mother paused her graduate school journey to focus on taking care of her daughter. She never thought that in her wildest dreams, she would be able to get her master’s degree after more than two decades!
She enrolled in the same university as her daughter Karla Elliesita Obispo, who sponsored her initial tuition.
The idea started when the COVID-19 pandemic happened in the country. The mother and daughter were forced to stay at home and conduct a work-from-home set up.
“Naisip ko si mommy ang tagal niya nang na i- pending ‘yung kanyang masters kaya parang, ‘Sige mag-enroll tayong dalawa.’ Tas nag back to zero kami pareho tapos same course naman ‘yung tinake namin,” Karla recalled.
“Kaya ang nangyari, classmate ko siya sa lahat ng subjects. So dalawa ‘yung Ms. Obispo dun classroom namin: Mrs. tsaka Ms. Niloloko kami nung mga classmates, nung mga prof namin kung magkapatid ba kami. Kung mommy ko ba siya,” she added.
Mommy Malou immediately liked the idea since as an educator, she needs to expand her knowledge.
“Diba naman ang education is a continuing process. It starts from womb to tomb. Kaya nga sabi ko, it’s about time na ituloy ‘yun. Hindi ko inexpect na magiging kaklase ko siya kasi ang layo naman ano, ang layo ng age gap. Imagine 20s at saka nasa 50s. Hindi ko naimagine yan. Kumbaga, mag-aaral ako yes pero hindi ko siya kaklase kasi magkaiba kami ng ano ng field,” Mommy Malou shared.
Mommy Malou said she actually enrolled in grad school in 1998 but wasn’t able to finish her thesis after giving birth to Karla.
“Imagine, thesis writing na, sayang ‘no? Pero nag full-time ako sa kanya na alagaan siya and at the same time, nagwo-work ako no’n. Kaya noong nagkasunod-sunod na sila, actually naging apat na, ako naka-decide na it’s not too late,” she said.
Mommy Malou has been teaching basic education for 33 years.
“Sa generosity na rin ng PCU, nag support din sila. Merong malaking percentage na at the end, shino-shoulder nila,” she said.
Mommy Malou and Karla proved that pursuing education is a timeless journey. Mommy Malou also stressed that she was happy about her decision to postpone her masteral studies for her family.
“Hindi ako nagsisisi kasi ‘diba there is a season for everything. Kung para sa akin ‘yun, para sa akin talaga. ‘Diba, God is always on time. He is never late and he is never early. He is always on time,” she noted.
They both graduated with a Master’s degree in Management, Major in Educational Management at the Philippine Christian University last March 27, 2022.
Karla said that she just wanted to give back to Mommy Malou after sacrificing her own dreams for their family.
“Para sa mga anak, ayan, it’s not your responsibility to provide to your parents kasi responsibility nila na alagaan kayo. Pero if you are feeling blessed, ganyan, if God is giving everything that you want and you need, parang it’s best na tulungan niyo din ‘yung parents niyo,” Karla noted.
“Magbigay tayo ng needs nila not because it’s required but because we love them. So bigyan natin sila ng mga gusto nila, nung mga hindi nila nakukuha dahil busy sila sa pagpapalaki natin ganyan. Ngayong malaki na tayo, tayo rin naman yung magpapasaya sa kanila,” she added.
In the future, Mommy Malou plans to continue her doctorate studies.
“Age is just a number in pursuing higher education. So let us continue improving ourselves through education. Kasi makakatulong ‘yan hindi lamang sa immediate family members natin, kundi do’n sa career kung nasaan tayo,” she said.
