Rizal Gutierrez, a senior high school student with a cleft palate graduated at La Consolacion University Philippines in Malolos City, Bulacan through a virtual ceremony on June 13.
He went viral after he shared his senior high photo on Facebook and graduated with highest honor and an "Eagle Scout Award."
Photo courtesy of Rizal Gutierrez / Facebook
He was born with a severe cleft palate. Aside from appearance, there are significant functional problems. Cleft palate can affect speech and swallowing. All of these things can make it hard for him to make friends when he started to go to school.
His teacher enrolled him in the alternative learning system (ALS) after discovering a potential with him during his fourth year.
“Habang naghihintay ng exam sa ALS half-day sa elementary school po ako half-day papasok sa ALS for review. So while po na nasa ALS po ako tinulungan po ako ng teachers ko doon na mas mag-gain po ng knowledge,” he said in a documentary episode of I-witness.
He passed the ALS exam in 2013 and enrolled as a junior high school student.
Rizal thanked the people who believed and encourage him to finish his studies.
“Thank you God! Sa mga challenges na binigay mo sakin para patatagin ako sa mga failures and inability to achieve something pero proven na kung ano ang pinagdasal mo at kung ano ang deserve mo, 'yun ang makukuha mo,” he wrote on Facebook.
Photo courtesy of Rizal Gutierrez / Facebook
He was so happy that he finally graduated in high school because it was a dream come true.
“Masaya and sobrang hindi po ako makapaniwala, pinangarap ko lang po na makapagtapos as elementary but eto na ako may chance makapag-college,” he said.
Rizal is planning to take BS Architecture in college. He admitted that he is scared and nervous since classes are now online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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