A video featuring an emotional father went viral on social media after his son let him try his toga and dedicated his magna cum laude medal before his graduation ceremony.
Keanne Roeh Isurda recollects the special moment with his father, Rodolfo last October 2, 2024 before his graduation.
“Ayun po talaga plano ko, kahit wala pong medal kasi hindi ko pa alam kung magku-cum laude or magma-magna cum laude ba. Basta kapag meron akong toga, ipapasuot ko sa kanya ‘yun. Bukod sa toga, nasuot niya pa ‘yung magna cum laude medal ko na hindi niya inaasahan. Kasi hindi naman kami pinupush ni daddy na kailangan lagi kaming honor student, kailangan lagi kaming top student, hindi kami ganon,” he told The Philippine STAR/LatestChika.com.
Adding, “Nung nakita ko nga po na parang tuwang-tuwa si daddy, nabigyan po siya ng medal tapos napasuot ko sa kanya ‘yung toga. Sobrang masaya din po sa feeling as an anak at as a panganay po.”
For Daddy Rodolfo’s part, he couldn’t help but cry as he appreciated the surprise of Keanne.
“Pagpasok ko, sabi niya, ‘Daddy, may sasabihin ako sa iyo. Magna cum laude po ako.’ Parang naiyak na ako. Ang ginawa niya pa, kinuha niya pa ‘yung toga niya. Actually, frustration ko talaga hindi kasi ako naka-graduate. Gustung-gusto kong mangyari sana ‘to. Kaya noong time na ‘yun, talagang iba na. Umiyak na ako. Plus, anak ko eh ga-graduate ng magna cum laude,” he shared.
Keanne said that he was shocked when he saw his father’s reaction days before his graduation.
“Hindi po namin nakikita si daddy na umiiyak eh. Kami lang dalawa nung bunso kong kapatid ko nandito. Nung nakita na namin umiiyak na siya, nadala na rin po kami sa emosyon. Strong personality siya eh. So kahit nahihirapan, hindi niya pinapakita,” he said.
“Nadala na ako ng emotion ko, natuwa ako. Sinuot ko. Niyakap ko siya, naiyak ako,” Daddy Rodolfo added.
Daddy Rodolfo and his wife weren’t able to finish their education, that’s why they were eager to work hard as a driver and nail employee to put all their children to school.
“Kasi wala naman kaming maibibigay sa kanila kundi ‘yung mapatapos lang namin sila. Kaya talagang goal namin ng mama nila na mapag-graduate sila talaga. Sa tulong din talaga ng mommy nila rin at sa amin, naigapang namin. Tapos binigyan niya kami ng napakalaking, kumbaga, pakunswelo. Nag-graduate siya na may latin honor,” Daddy Rodolfo
Keanne added, ”Alam namin lahat kung gaano kahirap ‘yung pinagdaanan namin every day. Para lang meron kami pambaon o kaya pamasahe namin. Meron talagang times na sobra talagang hirap namin, walang-wala kami nung araw pero iisipin namin kung anong uulamin namin mamayang gabi, anong kakainan namin kinabukasan. So, syempre, parang ikaw, ayaw mo na siyang maranasan pa ulit in the future.”
And Keanne did not fail to achieve his parents’ dreams. He finished Bachelor of Arts in English Language Studies at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines with latin honors.
“Sa kanila, basta nag-aaral, hindi kami nagloloko sa pag-aaral, hindi kami nagka-cutting, hindi kami nananagot ng teacher, okay na sa kanila ‘yun. So ang ginagawa namin, binibigyan pa namin sila ng mas better para sa kung anong gusto nila. ‘Yung mga binibigay naming sukli doon sa mga paghihirap po nila,” he stressed.
