Three female Grade 12 students from Makilala National High School in Cotabato were commended for returning P30,000 cash they found outside their school campus.

The students, Bianca Dapan, Jecel Mae Madot, and Raniella Tecson noticed a tricycle dropping a fellow student while they were practicing inside the school grounds.

Later, Dapan saw a wallet fall from the tricycle. They rushed to catch up with the vehicle but it had already left.

“May tricycle na dumaan, may inihatid siya na estudyante. Nung nakaalis siya, may nahulog na wallet, kaya sumigaw ako, hala merong wallet yun dalawang classmate ko, agad-agad silang tumakbo,” Dapan said.

When they checked the wallet, the students found P30,000 cash inside.

“Ang unang-unang kong naisip yong kuya ko na nawalan din ng ganung halaga. Kaya sinabi ko sa kanila na hanapin talaga ang may-ari ng pitaka,” Madot said.

“Ang aming unang naisip talaga ay isauli ito at wala kaming intention na ito’y hatiin kahit kami ay gipit,” Tecson added.

The three even asked tricycle drivers nearby if they knew who the wallet might belong to. When that didn’t work, they decided to turn it over to their class adviser, Denden Mario. The school officials later contacted the wallet’s owner.

The owner is businessman Moisan Omapas who was overwhelmed with gratitude upon getting his money back. He said the money was meant for his employees’ salaries. He did not issue a statement.

“Ang naramdaman talaga naming is masaya dahil maraming naging proud sa amin at naging proud din kami sa aming sarili dahil kaya naming gumawa ng mabuting gawain,” Tecson said.

The school commended the three students for their honesty. They were recognized for their admirable deed during the flag raising ceremony on Monday, July 21, 2025.