Daniel R. Aguinaldo NHS - 304359

Seventy and Still Rising: 71-year-old ALS Learner nears graduation

At seventy, when most stories begin to settle into quiet routines, Perlita Matbangon Ariño stood on stage, receiving recognition for an achievement decades in the making.

Applause filled the hall during the school’s recognition program as Nanay Perlita accepted her award—an honor that symbolizes not just academic effort, but a dream that waited more than half a century to be fulfilled.

On Sunday, she will take another step forward as she officially graduates from Senior High School under the Alternative Learning System (ALS).

For Nanay Perlita, the moment was more than a ceremony—it was the closing of a chapter that began in 1969, when she was only in Grade 6.

Her schooling stopped abruptly when her father fell ill. With the family struggling to survive, books were replaced with work in the rice fields.

“Kahit ayaw ko, kailangan kong huminto sa pag-aaral kasi nagkasakit ang tatay ko. Kailangan kong magtrabaho sa palayan na sinasaka niya para may pangtustos sa araw-araw,” Nanay Perlita recalled.

Raised by farmer parents in Ormoc, Leyte, she learned early that life itself could be a teacher. Instead of classrooms and notebooks, her lessons came from long days in the fields—patience measured not by semesters but by harvest seasons.

She was supposed to grow up with a sibling, but fate proved unkind. Her only brother died as a baby, leaving her to navigate life mostly on her own.

Years passed, and the dream of finishing school quietly faded into memory. The lines on her face became silent reminders of decades spent working and caring for others.

Then the pandemic arrived—an unexpected turning point.

While caring for the child of a church companion, Nanay Perlita came across a learning module.

Curiosity led her to read.

Recognition followed.

“Noong nag-pandemic, may nabasa akong module ng inaalagaan kong bata. Naalala ko na yung mga lessons na nasa module ay parehas ng mga lessons na tinuturo sa amin noong unang panahon. Bigla kong naisip na baka pwede pa… baka pwede pang bumalik sa pag-aaral at mangarap muli,” she said.

That simple moment rekindled a dream she had set aside for more than five decades.

Determined to continue what she had once left behind, she enrolled in the Alternative Learning System, proving that education does not belong to a single stage of life.

Today, she studies alongside classmates decades younger than her. In the classroom, they patiently guide her through new lessons and modern concepts.

In return, Nanay Perlita offers them wisdom shaped by years of life experience—lessons that cannot be found in textbooks.

Outside school, she continues to work as a yaya, caring for a child whose family has supported her educational journey. For one year and eight months, she has balanced work and studies, her days filled with responsibilities but strengthened by determination.

“Mag-isa lang ako sa buhay. Yung kapatid ko, baby pa lang namatay na. Hindi rin ako binigyan ng Panginoon ng asawa, pero masaya pa rin ako sa kung anong meron ako ngayon,” she shared.

Despite the challenges, she found kindness from people who believed in her dream.

“Supportive yung mga amo ko sa akin. Sila mismo ang nag-adjust ng schedule nila para makapag-aral ako. Minsan nga ay binibigyan nila ako ng oras para makagawa ng mga assignments ko,” Nanay Perlita said proudly.

As she held her recognition award today, the moment symbolized more than academic achievement—it represented perseverance, resilience, and the courage to begin again.

For Nanay Perlita, age may bend the body, but it cannot stop the will to learn.

And when she walks across the stage on Sunday to receive her diploma, it will not just mark the end of her senior high school journey.

It will mark the fulfillment of a dream that patiently waited fifty-six years to come true.

✍️Airazan M.
credits: The Reflector-DRANHS

📣 EARLY REGISTRATION | S.Y. 2026–2027
Para sa Grade 7 at Grade 11 learners, bukas na ang early registration!
🗓️ Jan. 31 to Feb. 21, 2026
✅ You may scan the QR code for online registration.
ℹ️ For more info, please visit the Grade Level Heads Office.

📌𝐔𝐏 𝐃𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐧 & 𝐍𝐄𝐀𝐏 𝐗𝐈 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐇𝐒: 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔 (𝑼𝑷) 𝑫𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝑪𝑰𝑺𝑵𝑬𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑬𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝑨𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔 (𝑵𝑬𝑨𝑷) 𝑿𝑰 visited Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School to observe SNED learners’ learning environment and to offer receiving teachers technical support.

🎉𝑪𝑬𝑳𝑬𝑩𝑹𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑬𝑿𝑪𝑬𝑳𝑳𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑻𝑨𝑳𝑬𝑵𝑻! 🎉
We proudly present the outstanding achievers who shone brightly in this year’s 𝑫𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑭𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑻𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒔.

𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬
Grade 7 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
James Ramboo Abregana
Coach: Venus L. Jimenez

Grade 8 - 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Romeo Abrina
Coach: Charles T. Detecio

Grade 9 - 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Jairus Bern F. Sanchez
Coach: Kristine Mae D. Guilaran

Grade 10 - 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Kian Riz Sacay
Coach: Melany Adlawan

Grade 11 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Christoff Cesar Estocado
Coach: Dr. Steven G. Zacal

Grade 12 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Rhon Bethel Segampong
Coach: Dr. Steven G. Zacal

𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭
Grade 7 -𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Angel Princess Abegail Pagunsan & Daniel Ray B. Tan
Coach: Riza Mantalaba

Grade 9 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
John Roel A. Puyos & Matteo Buenafred Quipanes
Coach: Denise Claire Parone

𝐒𝐮𝐝𝐨𝐤𝐮
Grade 7 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Jaury G. Albacite
Coach: Emmanuel De La Rosa

Grade 10 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Jasler Symon L. Quimbo
Coach: Devie Jane Luceño

Grade 12 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Maegan G. Albacite
Coach: Jenelle Asigurado

𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐚𝐩 - 𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Esmeraldo Dante Jr.
Esmeraldo Jay Jumao-As
Xavier Montemor
John Kyle Muta
Arjun Rosalia
Coach: Denise Claire Y. Parone

𝐑𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐤𝐬 𝐂𝐮𝐛𝐞
Grade 7 - 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Zachary Batosalem
Coaches: Liezel Bayron And Venus Jimenez

Grade 9 - 𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Justin Bicar
Coach: Denise Claire Y. Parone

Grade 10 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Clark Soquiso
Coach: Gyselle Nabos

Grade 12 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Henard Vien Dimayuga
Coach: Joeffer Alagasi

Teacher’s Category - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Kenjie Shirai

𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐡
Grade 7 - 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Prince P. Cañon
Coach: Venus Jimenez

Grade 8 - 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Ithiel Jairic P. Gayorgor
Coach: Sharyl Lou Abubo

Grade 9- 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Ice Lucian B. Sumacot
Coach: Kristine Mae Guilaran

Grade 10 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Paul Nathaniel A. Veloso
Coach: Melany Adlawan

𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓-𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑹𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈
Cluster 2 - 1𝒔𝒕 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒓-𝑼𝒑

𝑾𝙚 𝙖𝒓𝙚 𝙥𝒓𝙤𝒖𝙙 𝙤𝒇 𝒚𝙤𝒖, 𝒚𝙤𝒖𝙧 𝙩𝒓𝙞𝒖𝙢𝒑𝙝 𝙞𝒏𝙨𝒑𝙞𝒓𝙚𝒔 𝒖𝙨 𝙖𝒍𝙡. 𝑪𝙤𝒏𝙜𝒓𝙖𝒕𝙪𝒍𝙖𝒕𝙞𝒐𝙣𝒔 𝒐𝙣𝒄𝙚 𝙖𝒈𝙖𝒊𝙣!
🏆🏆🏆

🎉𝑪𝑬𝑳𝑬𝑩𝑹𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑬𝑿𝑪𝑬𝑳𝑳𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑻𝑨𝑳𝑬𝑵𝑻! 🎉

We proudly present the outstanding achievers who shone brightly in this year’s 𝑫𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑭𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑻𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒔.

𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬
Grade 7 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
James Ramboo Abregana
Coach: Venus L. Jimenez

Grade 8 - 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Romeo Abrina
Coach: Charles T. Detecio

Grade 9 - 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Jairus Bern F. Sanchez
Coach: Kristine Mae D. Guilaran

Grade 10 - 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Kian Riz Sacay
Coach: Melany Adlawan

Grade 11 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Christoff Cesar Estocado
Coach: Dr. Steven G. Zacal

Grade 12 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Rhon Bethel Segampong
Coach: Dr. Steven G. Zacal

𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭
Grade 7 -𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Angel Princess Abegail Pagunsan & Daniel Ray B. Tan
Coach: Riza Mantalaba

Grade 9 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
John Roel A. Puyos & Matteo Buenafred Quipanes
Coach: Denise Claire Parone

𝐒𝐮𝐝𝐨𝐤𝐮
Grade 7 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Jaury G. Albacite
Coach: Emmanuel De La Rosa

Grade 10 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Jasler Symon L. Quimbo
Coach: Devie Jane Luceño

Grade 12 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Maegan G. Albacite
Coach: Jenelle Asigurado

𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐚𝐩 - 𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Esmeraldo Dante Jr.
Esmeraldo Jay Jumao-As
Xavier Montemor
John Kyle Muta
Arjun Rosalia
Coach: Denise Claire Y. Parone

𝐑𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐤𝐬 𝐂𝐮𝐛𝐞
Grade 7 - 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Zachary Batosalem
Coaches: Liezel Bayron And Venus Jimenez

Grade 9 - 𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Justin Bicar
Coach: Denise Claire Y. Parone

Grade 10 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Clark Soquiso
Coach: Gyselle Nabos

Grade 12 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Henard Vien Dimayuga
Coach: Joeffer Alagasi

Teacher’s Category - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Kenjie Shirai

𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐡
Grade 7 - 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Prince P. Cañon
Coach: Venus Jimenez
Grade 8 - 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Ithiel Jairic P. Gayorgor
Coach: Sharyl Lou Abubo

Grade 9- 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Ice Lucian B. Sumacot
Coach: Kristine Mae Guilaran

Grade 10 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Paul Nathaniel A. Veloso
Coach: Melany Adlawan

𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓-𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑹𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈
Cluster 2 - 1𝒔𝒕 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒓-𝑼𝒑

𝑾𝙚 𝙖𝒓𝙚 𝙥𝒓𝙤𝒖𝙙 𝙤𝒇 𝒚𝙤𝒖, 𝒚𝙤𝒖𝙧 𝙩𝒓𝙞𝒖𝙢𝒑𝙝 𝙞𝒏𝙨𝒑𝙞𝒓𝙚𝒔 𝒖𝙨 𝙖𝒍𝙡. 𝑪𝙤𝒏𝙜𝒓𝙖𝒕𝙪𝒍𝙖𝒕𝙞𝒐𝙣𝒔 𝒐𝙣𝒄𝙚 𝙖𝒈𝙖𝒊𝙣!
🏆🏆🏆