A student from North Cotabato recently went viral on social media after she brought special picture frames during her graduation on May 18, 2023.
18-year-old Juvelyn Dela Torre Eugenio said that after her relative failed to accompany her during her graduation, she decided to bring the photos of her late parents instead.
“Lagi ko rin naman makita ‘yung frame nina Mama at Papa dito. Kada awarding, graduation talagang si Mama po ‘yung sumasabay sa akin sa stage. Gusto ko na talaga na present sila sa graduation ko na ‘yon at proud talaga ako na sila ‘yung parents ko.
[Sa] picture po [natulo] ‘yung luha ko,” Juvelyn told The Philippine STAR.
According to Juvelyn, she already told herself to just enjoy the special moment, but in the end, she became emotional.
“Bawat isa talaga may parents noon eh, tinitignan [ng mga teachers] ‘yung kasama. Ako na nakayuko lang kasi parang ayoko po parang maiyak po kasi ako. ‘Di po ako tumitingin sa teacher. ‘Pag akyat ko noon, sabi ko, dapat walang iiyak, sabi ko, be proud na lang. Naiyak po talaga ako doon sa isang teacher kasi hinawakan ako, tapos sabi niya, ‘Aww, it’s okay.’ Mas na-ano po ako na sana meron nga talaga,” she recalled.
Juvelyn’s father died on July 22, 2020 due to heart failure.
“Mga 7AM noon noong nakahiga lang kami dito sa sala. Pagka-10 AM po, parang bigla na po siyang hinihingal. Kinausap-usap ko pa siya before siya i-revive. Pagkatapos noon, 12:30PM dineclare na po na wala na po ang Papa,” she narrated.
Juvelyn’s family and her mother were greatly affected by the sudden death of her father.
“Sinabi ko sa half-sisters ko sa Maynila na, ‘Ate, magbakasyon si Mama diyan’ para naman sumaya man gud siya. Kasi dito, malungkot na talaga siya since noong mawala ang Papa ko,” Juvelyn said.
“Hindi po namin nalaman agad na may cancer po pala siya. Throughout May po, ilang steps pa lang parang napapagod nga po ‘yung Mama ko na hinihingal na din po lumakad. June 4, [2022] tumawag po ‘yung kapatid ko, younger brother ko na umiiyak. Sabi ‘Ate, si Mama nire-revive,’” she said.
Juvelyn then decided to travel to Manila to take care of her mom for a few days. But last year, her mother passed away after her short battle with breast cancer.
“Umiiyak po ako, tinatanong ko ‘Lord, bakit man uy? Bakit? Bakit n’yo man kinuha agad si Mama, paano man ito?’ Nahihirapan po talaga ako,” she said as she grieved for her late parents.
Juvelyn said that the situation took a toll on her mental health as she became a “parent” to her younger brother.
“Mentally exhausted po talaga ako noon, pero ngayon, nilalaban po talaga namin ng kapatid ko kasi wala po kaming magagawa. Naisip ko ang kapatid ko. ‘Yung pangarap po kasi namin ng Papa ko na maging abogado ako, so naiisip ko lagi ‘yon talaga na talagang hindi ako dapat mag-give up po,” she noted.
Juvelyn plans to continue working while studying in college to sustain her needs. She also hopes to inspire other people to continue with their lives despite hardships.
“Sa mga tao po, lalo na sa mga students like me na wala nang parents, ‘wag nating isipin na talagang super mahirap. ‘Wag nating isipin na ang solusyon is ‘yung tama na huminto na lang ako sa pag-aaral kasi wala naman akong parents, maiintindihan ng iba. ‘Wag tayong susuko talaga. Patuloy lang ang laban. Gawin nalang natin silang inspirasyon. Gawin natin silang ‘yung naga-motivate sa atin. Gawin natin silang lakas sa bawat pagbagsak natin. Kailangan din nating tumayo para sa sarili natin” she stressed.
