23-year-old pharmacy graduate Klarence Faith Ansay shared a heartwarming and emotional moment with her mother, Mercedita, a day before her board exam last April.
“Dapat daw talaga ‘pag magbo-board exam ka, ipapatasa mo sa siya sa passer din. Magpapatasa ka talaga [sa] mga lecturer. Sino ba ‘yung laging nagtatasa ng pencil ko or ‘yung the first person who ever sharpened my pencil? Naisip ko na as a tribute to my mom, I asked her to sharpen my pencil,” Klarence told The Philippine STAR.
In a now-viral TikTok video, Klarence can be seen handing over the pencil she would use to take the Pharmacist Licensure Examination.
“Hindi naman ako board passer,” Mommy Mercedita can be heard saying in the video.
“Pre-school ako, ikaw nagtatasa ng pencil ko palagi. Kaya ngayon… [ikaw magtatasa.]” Klarence said before bursting into tears.
According to Klarence, her mom became her anchor the day she was born and she wanted her to feel special now that she’s one step closer to her dream.
“Kasi siya talaga ‘yung number one supporter ko. Mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, siya talaga lahat. Siya ‘yung anchor ko sa lahat ng bagay kasi siya din ‘yung role model ko. I see my mom as this very strong person. I just want to make her feel special,” she said.
To her surprise, her mother cried and took a moment to express what she felt during that time.
“Hindi ko in-expect ‘yung words na sasabihin niya. Sabi niya pa, ‘Hindi naman ako matalino, hindi naman ako board passer.’ Although she has a degree, wala kasing board exam ‘yung course niya,” she said.
“Lagi niya pang sinasabi sa ‘kin na, ‘Madali lang course ko. Kayang-kaya mo ‘yan.’ Naiyak ako dun [deep] inside kasi hindi naman ‘yun ‘yon. ‘I just want to give you a tribute or to make you feel special kasi you have been making me feel special.’ ‘Di ko in-expect na cocomfortin niya pa rin ako hanggang dun,” she added.
Klarence used her mom’s past to continue working hard for the future. Recalling the hard times she went through, she wanted to offer her success.
“Ten kasi silang magkakapatid tapos sa bundok lang sila nakatira. ‘Di nila afford any school supplies.Ginagawa nila is, mamimitas sila ng bayabas ta’s ibebenta nila sa classmates niya para lang may pang-exchange sa papel ‘tsaka sa lapis. Nakaka-proud kasi dati hindi niya afford ‘yung lapis ta’s ngayon nabibilhan niya ako ng isang box. ‘Yun ‘yung naging anchor ko. ‘Yung story ng mom ko na when she was a kid, they really can’t afford anything,” Klarence shared.
While reviewing up until the day of the board exams, Mommy Mercedita was there to give her full support to her daughter.
Noting, “Nung first day kasi ng board exam, sobrang pinanghinaan ako ng loob kasi sobrang hirap niya. And ‘pag binibilang ko ‘yung sure kong sagot, parang hindi siya pasok sa pasado. After the board exam, pumunta muna ako sa hotel tapos sabi ni mommy, umorder daw siya ng crispy pata. Dun pa lang, gusto pa rin i-celebrate ng mom na, “Tapos ka na. Kaya mo ‘yun.”
Fortunately, Klarence passed the April 2023 Pharmacists Licensure Examination.
“Sabi ni mama, ‘I’m so proud of you.’ I’m more proud of her kasi sobrang grabe talaga ‘yung pinagdaanan niya. Sobrang heartwarming. Tuwang-tuwa siya kasi worth it lahat. Worth it lahat ng pagod,” she noted.
