Queency Caspe Tuden, a resident of the town of Titay in Zaboanga Sibugay has just earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree. It was her father’s wish that she finishes college.

It would have been a happy moment for the family, especially that Tuden graduated cum laude.

If only her father was not in jail.

“Sakit kaayo kay mao lang ang pangandoy makahuman ko dayun wala siya ka-attend, nakasulod pa gayod ko sa latin honors, then mao to iyang ginapangandoy bitaw,” Tuden said.

Her father is serving time behind bars for a criminal case. He has been behind bars for three months, as of this writing.

But because visitation was not allowed on the day she graduated on March 27, 2026, she and her mother decided to stand outside the prison walls.

There, looking up the detention center building, she waved her diploma and lifted her medal up for her father to see through the window.

She met him in person the following day.

Tuden said she never felt ashamed of her father. Rather, she considers him her inspiration to persevere. She said children must not be embarrassed of their parents, regardless of the situation, and must continue striving for success.

“Dili ko kahuman og eskwela kung dili tungod sa akong papa. Oo, nakasala sila pero kay papa lang man gihapon nato… mao nang sa tanang mga anak dira naka-experience pud parehas sa akoa, dili nato sila ika angay ikaulaw… proud man pud sila kung unsa atong ma-achieve as anak,” Tuden said.

The emotional scene outside the prison walls was captured on video by her cousin and gained heartfelt reactions on social media.