Iskolar ng Bayan, Juinio Hall, F. Agoncillo Street, UP Diliman, Quezon City (2026)

20/09/2026

HIS TURN 🎓

After helping all four of his children finish their studies, a 61-year-old Filipino father known as “Tatay Godo” has returned to school to pursue the college education he once had to put on hold.

GMA News Feed featured Tatay Godo’s story on September 17, highlighting how his dream of earning a college degree did not disappear even after decades away from school. Instead, he prioritized raising his family and supporting the education of his four children before finally returning to his own studies.

Now at 61, Tatay Godo is back in the classroom, this time working toward a goal he had postponed while fulfilling his responsibilities as a father.

His journey is also a reminder that education does not have a fixed timeline. For parents who set aside personal ambitions to provide opportunities for their children, returning to school can mark not only a second chance but the continuation of a dream that was never abandoned.

The publicly available GMA News Feed description confirms his age, his return to college, and that all four of his children had already graduated. Other personal details about Tatay Godo were not independently available from reliable primary sources, so they have not been added here.

At 61, after seeing four children complete their education, it is finally Tatay Godo’s turn to chase his own graduation day. 🎓❤️

20/09/2026

XTRA MILE 🎒❤️

When a sick student could no longer stand or walk, a school principal in Iloilo did more than arrange a way home, he carried the learner himself down from their mountain-side school toward the waiting boat.

The heartwarming moment happened on November 19, 2019, at Talingting National High School in Carles, Iloilo, based on the original account shared by teacher Renan Gonzales. DepEd records confirm that Talingting NHS is a public secondary school in Barangay Talingting, Carles.

Gonzales wrote that the student was brought to their small school clinic after feeling unwell, developing a fever, and becoming unable to walk. School personnel gave the learner initial care, water, and time to rest. But by dismissal, the student still could not stand or walk properly.

Getting home was another challenge. The student's family lived on another island, while the school sits uphill near the foot of a mountain, some distance from the shoreline. Gonzales sought help from their principal, identified in the post as “Sir Babas.”

The principal instructed a utility worker to prepare a boat to bring the student home. After confirming that the learner still could not walk, Sir Babas personally carried the student from the school down toward the seashore, where the boat was waiting.

Gonzales said he shared the moment without being instructed to do so because he wanted others to see an example of genuine concern for students. He added that the principal had helped many learners in other ways as well.

The story is not a recent 2026 incident; it originally circulated in 2019 and has resurfaced online years later. The photographs remain a reminder that caring for learners can sometimes extend far beyond lessons inside a classroom.

20/09/2026

DREAMS ADJUSTED

For Anna Marie S. Casalia, choosing a college course was not simply about following what she wanted. It was about choosing what her family could afford.

The fourth-year Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Science student at the City College of Calapan originally wanted to take Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE). But with no stable income in their family of five, financial hardship forced her to choose practicality when the college offered her the chance to study for free.

Since her first year, Anna Marie has shouldered many of her own educational expenses. At one point, she even wondered whether college would be possible at all.

Now only months away from graduation, she was selected as a beneficiary of the Presidential Scholarship Program. The assistance will help her buy a laptop and printer for her internship, while part of the grant will also go toward buying rice for her family.
For Anna Marie, reaching fourth year is already a victory built from years of sacrifice.

Her dream now extends beyond earning her own diploma. Once she becomes a teacher, she hopes to organize free learning sessions for children in her community and provide school materials to learners who need them.

She also leaves a message for young people facing similar struggles: “Huwag na kayong sumuko, huwag lang kayong titigil mangarap dahil ang taong may pangarap ay hindi napapagod magsumikap.”

She may have given up the course she first wanted because of financial hardship, but she never gave up on education itself.

And now, the student who once doubted whether she could even attend college is preparing to become the teacher who may someday help another child keep going. ❤️

20/09/2026

WORLD-CLASS BIGAS 🌾🍚

A rice variety developed by Filipino scientists has proven it can stand alongside some of the world’s most celebrated grains.

NSIC Rc 218 SR, or Mabango 3, a variety developed by the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) and known in the market as Dinorado, won silver at the 2025 World’s Best Rice Awards in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Held during the World Rice Conference from November 7–9, the competition featured 30 rice entries from countries including Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Australia, and the Philippines.

Mabango 3 was recognized for its fragrant aroma, soft texture, and exceptional grain qualities. It finished behind a rare tie for gold between Vietnam’s ST25 and Cambodia’s Phka Rumdoul.

Behind the award is decades of Filipino agricultural science.

The variety was bred at PhilRice by a team led by Thelma F. Padolina and Emily C. Arocena and was officially approved by the National Seed Industry Council in 2009.

It can reach a potential yield of up to 8 tons per hectare and matures in about 120 days.

The recognition also carries possibilities beyond the competition. Agriculture officials have expressed plans to increase production and seed availability so more farmers can grow the award-winning variety.

For a country where rice is part of almost every meal, the achievement is more than a silver medal.

It is proof that Filipino farmers, breeders, and scientists can produce rice capable of competing with the world’s finest. 🌾

20/09/2026

FOR HER MOTHER ❤️

When her mother’s health began to worsen, Stephanie Alfonso was ready to put college on hold and work instead.

The 21-year-old fourth-year BS Hospitality Management student at Araullo University knew her family needed income. Raised by a single mother and the eldest of two siblings, Stephanie had already worked at a fast-food restaurant for about three months while studying to help with expenses.

But while her mother was hospitalized after complications from an accident, she gave Stephanie one instruction she would carry with her: finish college because only one year remained.

Stephanie listened.

She continued studying even as her mother’s condition deteriorated. Her mother later passed away, leaving Stephanie to move forward with her 8-year-old younger sister in mind.

Now completing her 600-hour on-the-job training, Stephanie is closer to fulfilling the dream her mother did not get to see completed.

Her journey became a little lighter after she was selected as one of five Presidential Scholars in Barangay San Miguel na Munti, Talavera, Nueva Ecija. Through the Bawat Barangay Makikinabang Program, she received ₱20,000 in educational assistance.

Stephanie used the grant to pay tuition and debts she incurred when starting her OJT, while sharing part of it with her family for her younger sister’s expenses.
With graduation within reach, she hopes to work abroad or aboard a cruise ship and eventually help her sister finish school.

Stephanie almost chose work over college when her family needed her most. But her mother’s wish gave her a reason to continue.

“Magtapos ka ng pag-aaral, isang taon na lang.”

Now, every step toward graduation is also a step toward keeping that promise. ❤️

20/09/2026

📚 SIDEWALK TEACHER

Along a sidewalk beside EDSA in Quezon City, a street vendor turned part of his small livelihood space into something unexpected, a place where children could learn for free.

In November 2018, Guillermo de Guzman, then 66, drew public attention after children were seen gathering around his stall at EDSA corner Mapagmahal Street in Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City. They were not simply there to buy the accessories he sold. Mang Guillermo was giving them lessons and short exercises without asking for payment.

The practice was not entirely new to him. Before becoming a sidewalk vendor in Quezon City, De Guzman shared that he had worked as a janitor and messenger in Bocaue, Bulacan, while also earning extra income tutoring elementary pupils. Years later, the children who regularly approached his stall gave him another opportunity to teach.

To make learning more exciting, he prepared short exams and weekly quizzes. He even promised a pair of earphones to the student who earned the highest score, a simple reward that encouraged the children to take on his challenges.

The lessons went beyond basic exercises. Students told ABS-CBN that Mang Guillermo helped them with English and even Algebra. One pupil, Liam Mallanao, said the experience inspired him to work harder in school.

For Mang Guillermo, sharing what he knew required no classroom, salary, or formal arrangement. His message to the children was simple: continue studying because education is a form of wealth that cannot be stolen from them.

His sidewalk stall remained a place for earning a living, but for the children who gathered there after school, it also became a small classroom.

Thank you, Mang Guillermo, for showing that teaching can begin wherever someone is willing to share knowledge. 💙

20/09/2026

🐾 PALAWAN PANGOLIN FOUND IN CAVITE

An unexpected wildlife encounter in Mendez, Cavite has placed one of the Philippines’ most threatened mammals back under the care of conservation authorities.

On September 2, 2026, a resident of Barangay Galicia 3 found a Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis) roaming around his house. Rather than attempting to keep or handle the animal himself, he immediately sought assistance from the Mendez Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO).

The following day, the pangolin was endorsed to DENR-PENRO Cavite, which coordinated with DENR CALABARZON and eventually transferred the animal to the DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) for proper assessment and rehabilitation.

Wildlife specialists found that the pangolin required a highly specialized natural diet consisting mainly of ants and termites. Its behavior while temporarily under human care also indicated that it had not been domesticated or kept in captivity.

The BMB’s Wildlife Resources Conservation Division then coordinated with Cebu Pacific Air for the animal’s transport to Palawan, where it is expected to receive further care and rehabilitation. Wildlife authorities will determine when and where it can eventually be returned to its natural habitat.

The case is especially unusual because the Philippine pangolin is endemic to Palawan, meaning its natural range is centered there rather than in Cavite. Under DENR Administrative Order No. 2019-09, the species is classified as Endangered in the Philippines and remains highly vulnerable to habitat loss and illegal wildlife trafficking.

Its safe turnover highlights how quickly reporting wildlife encounters can make a difference. DENR reminds the public not to capture, keep, or attempt to care for wild animals independently, but to contact the nearest DENR or local environment office for assistance.

20/09/2026

HANDMADE HISTORY 🧶

Baguio-based artisan Adelaida Guia has officially earned a Guinness World Records title after creating the largest crochet mandala by an individual, a massive handmade work born from patience, recycled materials, and years of dedication to her craft.

Guia received confirmation from Guinness on September 17, 2026, according to current reports. Her creation, the “Wishing Star Mandala,” covers 29.359 square meters, measures 6.114 meters in diameter, and weighs about 32 kilograms.

Made from recycled yarn and repurposed rug material, the colorful mandala took shape through public crocheting sessions at Burnham Park’s Rose Garden in Baguio City. Guia had already become known for displaying her giant mandalas along Session Road after moving to the city in 2016.

The work underwent independent measurement and validation as part of the lengthy Guinness application process. Earlier measurements confirmed an area of 29.359 square meters and a diameter of 6.114 meters before the record was eventually recognized.

Her record attempt also received support through UP Baguio’s SILBI-TBI incubation program, together with the Baguio City government, Creative Baguio City Council, and private partners.

From crocheting learned through her mother to creating a work recognized on the world stage, Guia’s achievement places Filipino handmade artistry and Baguio’s creative community, in another international spotlight.

20/09/2026

PARENTS’ SACRIFICE 🩺🏆

When Marc Adriel Pedregosa Danan learned that he had placed Top 5 in the 2026 Nurses Licensure Examination, his first thoughts returned to the people whose sacrifices made his education possible, his parents.

The 22-year-old Bataan Peninsula State University BS Nursing graduate from Hermosa, Bataan, shared with INB that his family once experienced financial hardship that his parents tried hard to shield their children from. His father took different jobs, from painting and sewing to driving, before eventually working abroad, while his mother earned extra income through cooking and household work while caring for the family.

“There were times when we had to borrow money just to pay my tuition fee,” Marc recalled. Yet his parents kept education at the center of their children’s lives.

Marc excelled academically, graduating valedictorian in elementary school and with high honors in high school. But entering nursing did not immediately give him the sense of direction he wanted. That changed during college, particularly during an obstetric duty where helping bring a new life into the world made him realize: “This is why I do this.”

Before the boards, Marc experienced another moment he would remember: his dean and clinical instructors traveled from Bataan to Baguio to support their examinees and, he said, prepared meals for all 240 students on examination day.

Marc was asleep while waiting for the results when his dean called with the news that he had placed fifth. He initially struggled to believe it until he finally saw the results himself. His mother cried, while his father, still abroad, celebrated with him through a video call.

The PRC confirms that the 2026 NLE was conducted on August 29–30, with affected Region III examinees rescheduled to September 11–12 because of flooding.

Marc now plans to work, save money, and eventually pursue medicine.

For him, reaching the Top 5 was not simply the result of his own work. It was also a way of honoring the parents who worked so their children could have opportunities they themselves did not.

20/09/2026

NATIONAL BEST 🏆

From regional champion to the country’s best ROTC unit, the University of Santo Tomas Golden Corps of Cadets has earned national recognition after topping around 500 institutions across the Philippines.

The Philippine Army Reserve Command (RESCOM) named the UST Golden Corps of Cadets the “Best ROTC Unit – RESCOM Wide” during the culmination of the 47th National Reservist Week at Camp Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on September 12, 2026.

UST said the recognition was based on the unit’s performance in administration and organization, community engagement, and competitions. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. led the awarding rites, while UST Office for Student Affairs Assistant Director Asst. Prof. Eleighn Vanessa Grace M. Castro and ROTC assistant commandant Xavier Celestial received the award.

The national distinction builds on the Golden Corps’ previous success. In June 2025, UST ended a seven-year drought by becoming the Best ROTC Unit and overall champion in the National Capital Region, according to The Varsitarian.

UST’s Department of Military Science and Tactics described the latest recognition as a product of the cadets’ sustained discipline, leadership, teamwork, and commitment to forming service-oriented student-citizens.

From leading the NCR to receiving a nationwide distinction, the Golden Corps has now brought its Thomasian colors to the top of the national ROTC stage. 🐯🏆

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