• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Bacolod City College (BCC) produced its first Summa Cum Laude graduate during its commencement exercises on Monday, June 15, at the SMX Convention Center.
Wilma Delos Reyes, a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship graduate, led the institution’s Class of 2026, which consists of 1,154 graduates.
Following her academic achievement, Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya, chairman of the BCC Board of Trustees, offered Delos Reyes a regular position in the city government to assist her in supporting her family.
“If you want to work at the city government, I will prepare a job for you and after two months you can be a regular employee,” Gasataya said.
During her valedictory address, Delos Reyes, a native of Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, detailed the economic difficulties she overcame to complete her degree. As the eldest of five siblings, she worked from an early age selling fruits and vegetables and walking long distances to attend school.
Her family later qualified for the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which helped fund her lower-level education.
Six years ago, she moved to Bacolod City to seek employment to assist her father. Due to financial constraints, she initially planned to stop her schooling to prioritize her siblings’ education.
She was able to continue her studies after securing an arrangement where she provided cleaning, childcare, and tutoring services in exchange for housing and education support.
While enrolled at BCC, she also sustained herself through a student assistant allowance.
“Poverty is not a hindrance to success. It may challenge us, but it will never define us,” Delos Reyes said.
The Bacolod City government shouldered all graduation fees for the entire BCC Class of 2026. | TMD
