Magna cum laude graduate from Pampanga honors pedicab driver dad in graduation speech

A magna cum laude graduate from Pampanga honored his dad, who works as a pedicab driver, during his graduation speech.

According to Ivan Mayrina’s report in “24 Oras” on Friday, John Paul Salvador’s father Michael is suffering from glaucoma on his left eye which gives him difficulty in driving the pedicab.

“Sabi ko baka dala ng pagod eh after one year noong pinatingin ko sa aking ophthalmologist, ang sabi sa akin huli na ang lahat kasi nasira na daw po 'yung aking pupil,” Michael said.

But all of Michael’s sacrifices and years of hard work came full circle when his son, John Paul, paid tribute to him during his graduation speech after earning the distinction of magna cum laude in the Bachelor of Science in Accountancy program at Colegio de San Sebastian-Pampanga.

“Anak po ako ng isang pedicab driver. Hindi po madali ang pagpadyak sa ilalim ng init ng araw, sa gitna ng ulan, at sa mga araw na wala pang kasiguraduhan kung magkaano ang maiuuwing kita. You proved to me that it didn't matter if it was just a pedicab because your love for us made it strong, strong enough to carry my biggest dreams,” John Paul said during his graduation speech.

“Tay, thank you for the monumental sacrifices you made just to make ends meet. Looking back now, I realize that with every heavy push of your pedals, you were driving me closer to this stage,” he added.

After hearing John Paul’s speech, Michael could not help but tear up.

“Yung luha ko, hindi ko mapigilan. Noong on the spot na nasa stage siya, tapos yung lahat ng ibinahagi niya, na-realize ko rin sa sarili ko na nakita pala ng anak ko ‘yung pinagpaguran ko,” Michael said.

Despite the hardships of earning a living through daily pedaling under the heat of the sun, the 50-year-old remains determined to give his child a better future.

“Ayaw ko pong matulad siya sa akin na isang pedicab na padadanas po. Kaya gano'n na lang po. Hindi ko na po inisip, sir, na mabigat 'to. Ayaw ko na. Mainit. Surrender na ako. No. Fight, sir. Fight ang ginagawa ko para sa family, sir,” Michael said.

Per Mayrina's report, John Paul is the second of Michael's children to finish school, following his eldest child, who is already employed and helping support the family.

Despite this milestone, the hardworking father said he has no plans of slowing down anytime soon, as he still has two younger children to send to school.

—Jade Veronique Yap/CDC, GMA News