UPLB Presidential Scholar; Sole 2012 Summa Cum laude

April 28, 2012 at 4:00pm to 10:00pm, the 40th commencement exercise of the University of the Philippines at Los Banos (UPLB) which was done at the Freedom park grounds in front of the D.L. Umali Hall produces hardworking graduates.

In attendance were the newly elected Chancellor Rex Victor O. Cruz, Dean of the College of Agriculture Dr. Domingo E. Angeles, Dr. Cynthia R. Oliveros, of the College of Agriculture, all Vice Chancellors, UP President Alfredo O. Pascual, Former UPLB Chancellor Dr. Luis Rey I. Velasco, all the distinguish Deans and head of the departments and proud parents.

Out of 1744 scholars and from 191 students under the College of Agriculture, Ms. Iandycel Mijares from Calamba City is the only Summa Cum laude who graduated from this 2012 batch.This year, UPLB produced 118 Cum laude with an average grade score of 1.75, 9 Magna Cum laude with an average grade score of 1.45 and only 1 Summa Cum laude with a score of 1.19 grade.

According to Mijares, being true is the most important way to become an inspiration, that being a scholar from UPLB, it is just appropriate to mention on how to strengthen the love of our country. “Confusion is the usual problem in decision making. There are some situation that we cannot solve, that because there are many things in our minds to accomplish, we are confuse if those things are still our objectives.”

Mijares still can recall that because of poverty and her parents rejection for her to enroll at UPLB, she insisted and made a lot of ways to get the scholarship. She asked politicians for the scholarship and applied for different scholarship programs. She was accepted to the UP Presidential Scholarship and because of it pushed harder to succeed. She added that the change in environment was hard for her. Much harder when her father had an accident while working as a driver. The family needed a lot of money for the medical needs so Mijares decided to work as an student assistant at UPLB.

Mijares added that having a relationship while still studying is not a hindrance for her in pursuing her dream to graduate. A major in Food technology, she added in her Valedictory address that ” walang masama sa pagluluto. Kung yun ang tingin ng iba sa Food Technology. Pero ang kursong Ito ang tumutukoy sa Mas malalim na aspeto ng mga prosesong pinagdaanan ng pagkain. Pangarap ko ang maging doctor, sabi ng Nanay ko ay natupad naman ang aking pangarap- bilang doctor ng mga pagkain. Hindi ko rin ikinahihiya na nabibilang ako sa kolehiyo ng Agrikultura. Wala rin namang masama sa pagiging magsasaka, Kung yun ang tingin ng iba sa amin. Pero isipin na Lang natin, Kung wala bang magbubungkal ng lupa at nagpalago ng mga halaman, nandito pa kaya tayo sa ating kinalalagyan? Hindi biro ang Agrikultura. Hindi lamang Ito simpleng pagtatanim ng palay, pagwiwisik ng kemikal o paggagatas ng baka. Wag nating kalimutan na agrikultura pa rin ang kauna unahang siyensa na kinailangan ng mga unang sibilisasyon…Mas kinakailangan ng ating bansa ang mga iskolar para sa bayan na magtataguyod ng Agrikultura ng Pilipinas at magpapayabong sa naghihingalong ekonomiya.”

” Napatunayan ko na hindi talaga hadlang ang kahirapan sa ating mga magagandang layunin. Hindi hadlang ang org at ang boyfriend sa pagkamit ng karangalan. At hindi hadlang na minsan ay malito ka sa daang iyong tatahakin. Napagtanto ko na ang pagkalito ay ang sanhi ng pagiging maingat at kritikal sa pagtingin sa mga bagay bagay. Ngayon ay naintindihan kona Kung bakit tayong mga estudyante ng UP ay litong lito sa mga exams. Sapagkat nag iisip tayo. Sapagkat maingat tayo na hindi magkamali at bumagsak. Sapagkat tayo ay may mga pangarap.” (Mijares Valedictory speech during the graduation ceremony)

According to the College of Agriculture Secretary , some misconception of students on why they dont want to get Agriculture is because they thought its only about farming, food, working under the sun, work or just to till soil . No country will thrive without people in agriculture. Philippines is still an agricultural land and we need not only farmers but scientist to develop and to think of ways to progress.