UP summa cum laude set to serve family, nation in renewable energy field

When Alexander John Cruz decided to take up Bachelor of Science (BS) in Chemical Engineering at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman five years ago, he thought only of the course in very practical terms.
 
“At first, I decided to take up Chemical Engineering because I believed that a UP Chem Eng degree [could] give me a high-paying job to help meet my family's expenses and needs,” Cruz told GMA News Online.

“But after five years, I have come to a realization that I also have to give back to the country by using the knowledge I gained in UP,” he said.
 
A native of Talavera, Nueva Ecija, Cruz had resolved to pursue his college education in the province due to financial constraints. But then, he was granted a scholarship by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) two weeks before his high school graduation.

Cruz was the valedictorian of his class at Honorato C. Perez Senior Memorial Science High School in Cabanatuan City.

Surpassing financial woes

“I was struggling at first because Metro Manila was such a new environment for me. I [had] to make ends meet by earning extra money aside from the stipends I received from DOST,” Cruz recounted, sharing that he even used to eat rice partnered with free soup or topped with menudo sauce at the campus’ cooperative canteen just to save money.   
 
Cruz also cut back on spending by borrowing books from the library instead of photocopying reading materials.
 
But no amount of cost-cutting could help him make ends meet. So to augment his allowance, Cruz took part-time tutorial jobs for high school students in Ateneo, teaching subjects like Math, Chemistry, and Physics.
 
He also did research work for some professors in the College of Engineering and later on became a student assistant at the Institute of Civil Engineering.
 
“Pinaka nahirapan ako sa pag-manage ng time, kasi I've been studying Engineering and at the same time engaging in different jobs...but eventually, I learned to adjust,” Cruz said.
 
“I’ve always reminded myself of the hardships I've experienced and I’ve always kept my focus intact... Whenever I face difficulties, whether academically or financially, I always think of my family and remind myself of why I'm here [in Manila],”he added.
 
Unexpected honor

On Sunday, April 27, Cruz will receive his Summa Cum Laude award at UP Diliman’s graduation ceremony, in front of more than 4,000 fellow graduates.
 
There are 19 other graduates who will receive the university’s highest academic honor, but Cruz is the only one to hail from B.S. Chemical Engineering with an average grade of 1.16, well beyond the 1.20 qualification grade.
 
Though diligent in his studies, Cruz said becoming a Summa Cum Laude never occurred to him until after his first year in college.
 
“I did not expect to be a Summa Cum Laude when I was in my first year, but after the 2nd semester, I told to myself "aba, kaya ko naman pala". From then on, it has been my goal to graduate with University's top honors. Not just to prove myself but also to show to the world that poverty is not a hindrance in succeeding in life,” Cruz, who was raised by a single mother, said.

Future in renewable energy
 
From way back in 2009, when he enrolled in UP Diliman, Cruz’s goal to make money was replaced by a strong desire to contribute to the improvement of the country’s science research, especially in the field of renewable energy—this, despite high demands for chemical engineers abroad offering competitive remunerations.
 
Cruz said that after graduation, he intends to work for an energy-related company to help his family and save money to pursue graduate studies abroad.
 
“I want to study abroad to further enhance my knowledge on my field of study and go back here in the Philippines and be a scientist here... I have no plans of settling or working abroad,” he said.
 
At the age of 21, this sense of responsibility toward the country is evident even in his project aiming to produce renewable energy by converting solar light into hydrogen fuel, using a plasma cable.
 
Aware of the country’s need for renewable source of energy, Cruz developed a college thesis with two classmates into an actual project, in collaboration with the Plasma Physics Laboratory of the National Institute of Physics.
 
The project won him the Best Project of the Year in the recently held 2014 Bank of the Philippine Islands-Department of Science and Technology (BPI-DOST) Science Awards, besting six other finalists.

Inspiration to youth
 
But, amid all the recognitions, Cruz said there is one thing that gives him a sense of fulfillment the most—teaching.
 
“I want to return to the academe and give back to our country by being a teacher and an inspiration to the youth,” Cruz said.
 
“I really love to tutor younger students, it gives me a sense of fulfillment...Science has been my field of interest since I was young, but I always wanted to be a teacher. Since I was a kid, madalas akong mag-play as teacher with my playmates,” he shared.
 
And for students who may be undergoing a tough time, Cruz has this to say: “Don't lose hope, keep your focus and when you're in your low points always remember your purpose, your inspiration: God, family, friends and those people who believe in you.” — VC, GMA News