Two of top UP grads clarify: We're not sweethearts, just best friends

No they are not sweethearts, they're only best friends.

The valedictorian and salutatorian of the University of the Philippines-Diliman's Class of 2017 have clarified rumors of their romantic relationship during the school's 106th general commencement exercises on Sunday.

Salutatorian Rangel Daroya said she was surprised over reports that she and valedictorian Williard Joshua Jose are in a relationship.

"Actually we were surprised," said Daroya, a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering.

"I guess nagkaroon lang ng misunderstanding. I guess para pong best friends," she added.

Daroya said she and Jose, who has the same engineering degree, spend most of their time studying together with their friends.

"We are used to, parang inaasar po kasi kami most of the time kasi we are always together kasi we have similar activities. I guess some people na-misinterpret kasi lagi kami magkasama," Daroya said.

Jose, who graduated with a weighted average grade of 1.058, said the feat is not something extraordinary. He said there was no rivalry between him and Daroya on who will excel better.

He said the results of their excellent grades were the fruit of friends helping lift each other up in achieving goals.

"Parang hindi naman po kasi magkalaban. Pagdating dito (sa university) dapat nagtutulungan sa pag-achieve ng ating goals para din matulungan ang bayan," Jose said.

Anyone can excel

Jose urged the public not to stereotype honor students as nerds. He said anyone can excel in their chosen fields even if it's outside of academics.

"Hindi rin naman po okay na lahatin na kapag po matalino or magaling po na nerd. Siyempre po, kung saan po siya magaling, siguro po kami dito po kami sa academics magaling. Pero lahat naman po ay may kanya-kanyang kakayanan kung saan po sila puwedeng mag-excel," Jose said.

For her part, Daroya said she just happens to enjoy studying. She, however, said she still has other past time activities aside from reading books or reading notes in class.

"It's more of I study because I want to learn pero at the end of the day that's not the only thing na puwedeng gawin," said Daroya, who has a weighted average grade of 1.074.

"I have time with friends din. I have time with family. May hobbies din, like I do Muay Thai," she added.

The two students were among Batch 2017's 36 students who marched with the highest honor of summa cum laude.

Public service

While Jose said their main focus now is passing the board exams, Daroya said their goal is to return the knowledge bestowed upon them by the country's premier state university and work for the government.

"Main goal po kasi talaga namin in the long run is siyempre to give back to the Philippines... We want to help fast track or improve the current technologies that we have, yung mga resources," Daroya said.

"Gusto po namin maging bahagi ng technical people [in government] para matulungan namin yung Pilipinas to progress," Jose said.

More than 4,600 students graduated from UP Diliman, 36 of which received Latin distinction of summa cum laude, 337 were magna cum laude, and 1,016 graduated cum laude. —ALG, GMA News