Wazzup Pilipinas!?
MAKATI CITY, 9 April 2026—The remarkable resilience of the Filipino spirit took center stage this graduation season as success stories emerged of learners who navigated extraordinary personal and systemic hurdles to reach their academic milestones.
Among those proving that it is never too late to rise are graduates of the Alternative Learning System (ALS), the Department of Education’s (DepEd) flagship “second chance” program.
Serving as a lifeline for out-of-school youth, working adults, and those in special circumstances, the ALS program is now closely aligned with the K to 12 curriculum, ensuring its graduates hold the same standing as those from formal schools.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara lauded these triumphs as a testament to the department’s mission to bridge the gap between a difficult past and a promising future through programs like ALS.
For 28-year old Alvin James Castillo, determination outweighed adversity as he recently graduated with Highest Honors from the Cauayan City Stand-Alone Senior High School in Isabela province during its recent 4th Graduation Exercises.
Financial hardship previously forced him to put his college education on hold to earn a living. Years later, when he attempted to resume college, Castillo faced heartbreaking rejections from universities because his pre-K to 12 curriculum high school credentials no longer met the new requirements.
He however refused to let the door close on his future. “Through ALS and its flexible scheduling, I was given a second chance at education,” said Castillo, who balanced his studies with various jobs to fund his daily expenses.
His perseverance bore fruit. Castillo credited the ALS program not only for his Senior High School diploma but for motivating him to support his fellow learners in similar straits.
In Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, 25-year-old Camille Raguini shared a similar narrative of hope. After dropping out of high school at age 16 due to poverty, she braved the challenges of the pandemic to return to school through the ALS program at the Ilocos Sur Community College.
Raguini often attended online classes without any school allowance nor a smartphone of her own, relying on the kindness of others to borrow devices.
Motivated by her desire to uplift her family, she worked at her family’s small sari-sari store and snack inn while completing her studies.
Today, she is gainfully employed as a finance clerk in Vigan City and is saving to fulfill her dream of purchasing agricultural land to secure her family’s livelihood.
Both Castillo and Raguini expressed profound gratitude to their teachers for standing by them during their most challenging moments.
“Ang tagumpay nina Alvin at Camille ay patunay na kapag may tamang suporta at pagkakataon, walang hadlang na hindi kayang lampasan ng ating mga mag-aaral para maabot ang kanilang mga pangarap,” Angara said.
“Patuloy nating palalakasin ang ALS para magbigay ng second chance sa mas maraming kababayan natin, para tuparin ang pangarap ng ating Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na walang Pilipinong maiiwan sa edukasyon,” Angara added.
By championing these narratives of perseverance, DepEd reaffirms its dedication to strengthening the ALS as a powerful tool for social mobility, proving that success is defined by the courage to start again and the persistence to see it through.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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