01/10/2021
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4810167895700816&id=581961985188116
[ππππππ πππππ] Nearly a decade ago, the daughter of two farmers in the province of Siquijor set a stunning record after being honored as the first-ever summa cm laude of Negros Oriental State University (NORSU). Her success has sought national attention, and many leading newspapers in the Philippines have published her memorable performance.
Graduating at the top was an accomplishment worthy of Henzel Mae Manginsay Ymbol and her family celebrating. But before this moment of celebration, her destiny threw her rotten fruits. She composted those fruits and later used them to add valuable nutrients to her soil. At 20 years old, Henzel left the comfort of her home in San Juan, Siquijor without thoughts of making history.
Because Henzel's family was struggling financially, she had to experience rough patches to survive university life. Yet, as a student, she was persistent enough not to be content with where she was back; for her, ambition is never a dirty word. Henzel took up BS in Mathematics and was a scholar of the United Coconut Planters Bank-Coconut Industry Investment Fund (UCPB-CIIF). She fondly recalled that even with the scholarship allowance she received, it was still insufficient to meet her daily needs. Henzel shared that whenever she was short of money, she just went to the Mother of Perpetual Help Parish Church β just a stoneβs throw from the University premises β to pray for answers and divine provision.
She knew that turning to her family for additional financial support would only be a burden to them; so, she stepped in to become a tutor to a few students from other universities. With this, she was able to pay for her other needs like PE uniform and relevant learning materials. She also became a student assistant at the university in her second year and was assigned to the Mathematics Department.
Being a student assistant paved the way for Henzel to be graciously offered by one of the instructors to stay at their home to save on cost. For over a year, Henzel felt like being home β away from home. She helped her second family with house chores and any other way she could. She expressed how eternally grateful she is to Dr. Mae Manahon and her family for their assistance and still keeps in touch with them up to this day.
The thought of responsibility for not being always available to take care of her young and sickly brothers due to being distant away, however, made Henzel persevere more in her studies. As the eldest of five, Henzel knew that education would be the distinguishing event of her life. She was not popular in school; she was just an ordinary student who knew her weaknesses and strengths, was open to improvements, and dealt with whatever defeat. She was not competitive, but her grit to accomplish her degree revealed her being the winner.
If there is one lesson that Henzel learned from the unexpected spark of fire that shone on her college trip, it would be when she realized that there are people who ignore students' ability until it is proven in life. Therefore, to succeed in school, she believed in not forcing oneself to reach for something because people around say.
Henzel clears out that even if the tides are against you, you should keep swimming. She believes that the way to live in the present is to maintain that βthis too shall pass.β She points out that you have your way of telling the world where you belong. After her breakthrough for graduating summa cm laude, the doors of opportunities that were once invisible in her eyes and the prying eyes of many became apparent, and those doors had a lot to say.
Currently, Henzel works as an Enterprise Risk Manager, a role she solely holds at Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC). She has been working at its headquarters in Makati City for more than a year now. Her major responsibility is risk management which includes effective monitoring, reporting, and stress testing of capital levels. She stands by her conviction that to remain successful, she always strives for excellence while staying grounded by values and faith.
Article | Reychemver Credo
Graphics | Rey Mark Marcelino
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