JESSICA GUEVARRA, marketing manager: To be independent. All my life I lived with my parents. And then a few years back, I decided to live on my own in New York for two years. It was only then that I was able to prove to myself and to my parents as well that I can be independent not only financially but emotionally, spiritually and psychologically as well. It’s such a great experience to spread my wings and fly.
PAOLO BALLESTEROS, actor: Life is a matter of taking risks. Often we may fail but hey, you’ll never learn if you don’t make mistakes. Never let an opportunity pass, it’s worth the risks.
ROSANNE PRIETO, commercial model: The best lesson I didn’t learn from school is that life is not a textbook and experience is the best teacher.
MIA URQUICO, fashion designer: In school everything is cerebral, head knowledge. It doesn’t prepare you for disappointments and the real world. That is what I’m trying to impart to my daughter Iela. If she’s grounded and has a close relationship with God, no matter what comes her way she will be strong enough to handle it. Apart from God, we are nothing. We can’t always be there to guide our children. In school we are taught to go for our dreams and what’s significant in our lives. But now I realize that we should do things for Him. Friends and our parents may support us but in the end it’s just you and God.
COGIE DOMINGO, actor: The only thing I remember not learning from school is how to deal with life. There are so many things to explore that you never get to know in school, one of which is knowing how to solve the problems life has to offer.
MELANIE J.CUEVAS, associate beauty editor, Metro Magazine: One lesson is never to take things seriously. As a student I get stressed over the most minor things but I realize that the small disasters aren’t so bad if you handle them one at a time.
MARC LICAROS, chef, restaurateur: Every day can be a learning experience. I can always learn something from anyone I meet. But I know that I must trust those I love to help see me through life. And from my grandfather, I learned that I must always have good manners and pay my debts on time. Most importantly, I learned that no matter what, my mom will always forgive me.
EMI JORGE, shoemaker: I learned that the credentials a person needs to run for president are a lot lower than what is needed to work in a department store.
ANNA MARIE PERIQUET, president, Aurelio Periquet Jr. Foundation, Inc.: The best lesson I did not learn in school is that life is a journey. At a certain point in our lives, we choose the road we will walk – and a few of us are daring enough to take the road less traveled. And this is what counts most because it is this road that will spell the difference in the lives of others.
ROCK DRILON, artist: The longest distance where you can be is where you are.
ATOM HENARES, businessman: The best lesson I didn’t learn from school is that not everything is learned in the classroom, and that life is a continuing process of education and growth.