By Gabriela Baron
A student working as a delivery service rider graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication, magna cum laude, at Adamson University.
Ax Valerio, 21, first earned praises from netizens when photos of him attending an online class while under the heat of the sun went viral in 2020.
Back in high school, Valerio shared he used to sell sticky rice cakes and graham balls at schools.
“Gumawa [rin] ako ng mga assignments at activities ng mga kaklase ko kapalit ng konting halaga para lang may pang baon ako sa eskwela,” Valerio wrote in a Facebook post.
“Hanggang sa naging service crew, call center agent, delivery rider, [virtual assistant], at iba’t ibang klase ng raket ang pinasok ko para lang kumita ng pera,” he added.
When in college, Valerio moonlighted as a delivery driver to help him fund his studies.
“Hindi naging madali ang lahat. Mag-deliver umaraw man o umulan, mapuyat sa gabi para pumasok sa isa pang trabaho, sabay na [rin] dun yung paggawa ng mga school works,” he continued.
“Kaya nung nalaman kong ga-graduate ako ng may latin honor eh hindi ko talaga napigilang umiyak dahil alam kong naging sulit ang lahat. Sulit ang pagbibilad sa ilalim ng tirik na araw, sulit lahat ng luha kasabay ng pagbyahe sa gitna ng malakas na ulan, sulit lahat ng puyat maipasa lang ang mga kailangan ipasa sa eskwela.” – ngs
