DUMAGUETE CITY , Philippines — Orlando Paculanang Cabugnason, or Orlanz to friends, only wanted one thing: A Silliman University college diploma. It was a promise he made to himself and one that he wanted for his family, to be the first one to graduate from college.
But little did Orlanz know that God did not only answer his prayers; it was with an unexpected bonus: He placed 7th in the Agriculturist Licensure Exams, out of this year's 1,808 successful passers.
Five other passers from Silliman University were Edwin Cagas Aclo, Jedan Diputado Concepcion, Liezel Lanzaderas, Vernon Umbac Lumbania and Christian Joseph Limbaga Hernandez.
Passing the board exam would have been enough for Orlanz, especially because he thought he would never be able to take it. He had already passed up an opportunity to take the exam last year when he graduated from college. And the prospect of giving a shot at the next run seemed blurry due to lack of financial resources.
Genuine friendship however got in the way. In March this year, roughly a year after he graduated from college, Orlanz received a call from a friend, informing him that together with their former classmates, they pooled the needed money to enable Orlanz to take this year's Agriculturist Licensure Exam.
Orlanz is the third of four children and none of his siblings finished college. His parents, Alfredo and Felomina Cabugnason, are both farmers in the town of Sibulan. Orlanz first learned about Silliman from one of his teachers at Maslog Elementary School. Since then, he committed himself to becoming a Sillimanian one day.
When he graduated from the Negros Oriental High School, he did not waste time. He visited Silliman for the first time and went straight to the Student Scholarship and Aid Division. That day was no short of divine providence as it was the last day of filing for scholarship applications, and there a single slot left for a full scholarship for Agriculture majors funded by the Erap Foundation. He went for it.
His scholarship allowed him to enjoy full tuition for four years. Then for him to have an allowance, he worked as student assistant at the Robert B. and Metta J. Silliman Library. No regrets, he said, describing his college life as "a mixture of courage, downfalls and faithfulness."
Into his last two years Silliman, he recalled life wasn't all easy. "Every day I felt discouraged." But he drew strength and hope from his mentors, classmates, friends and the librarians who he said were always there to offer support.
In March 2013, Orlanz marched the stage at the Silliman Gymnasium with his gift to his parents: a Silliman college diploma. (FREEMAN)