Pitong magkakapatid sina Efren Parale Cordez Jr., mas kilala bilang Jefjef, 22, ng Naga City, Camarines Sur.
Kuwento niya nang makapanayam ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last December 11, 2024, via Facebook Messenger, “Bilang youngest, ako ang natirang undergraduate.
“My older siblings are working already, and most of them ay may mga sarili na ring pamilya.”
Nasa elementary si Jefjef noong naghiwalay ang kanyang mga magulang.
“I was raised by my mother as a solo parent.
“Siya po ay housewife at hindi siya nakapagtapos, pero nagawa niya kaming itaguyod nung nagsimula kami ulit sa umpisa sa pamamagitan ng pagtitinda ng mga niluluto niyang ulam.”
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Nagtapos si Jefjef ng Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering sa Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology last July 5.
Isa na siyang ganap na engineer matapos makapasa sa October 2024 Electronics Engineering Licensure Examination, na kinuha niya from October 19 to 20.
Top 3 naman siya sa October 2024 Electronics Technician Licensure Examination, na kinuha niya noong October 21.
May rating siya na 90 percent.
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LOSING HIS MOM
Wala talaga sa plano ni Jefjef na maging electronics and communication engineer.
Aniya, “Hindi pa ako familiar sa course na ito dati.
“I initially applied for courses like Chemistry and Chemical Engineering dahil natural sciences yung naging interesting sa akin that time.”
Pero pinayuhan siya ng kanyang pamilya na sa malapit na schools na lang na may accredited courses mag-aral.
Mahirap kasi ang sitwasyon nung magsimula siyang magkolehiyo.
“Dahil na rin po sa challenges ng pandemic during that period.”
Tulad ng ibang college students, aspetong pinansiyal ang pangunahing problema ni Jefjef.
“Financial challenges were always present, lalo na noong pandemic at wala naman talagang stable source of income ang aking nag-iisang magulang.
“I relied on my scholarship for most of my expenses to lessen the burden.”
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Pero mas may mabigat at masakit pa palang haharapin ang kanyang pamilya pagkatapos ng pandemic.
Aniya, “Ang pinaka-naging challenge sa akin during college was when my mother died due to an accident last year.
“She was the one who held the family and our household together—and when she was gone—it was a really difficult moment that no one in our family was prepared for.”
Pinilit niyang magpakatatag.
“Despite her loss, minabuti kong maka-graduate at tapusin ang natitirang huling isang taon sa kolehiyo dahil isa sa itinatak sa amin ng aking ina ay ang kahalagahan ng edukasyon—and I know that’s what she would have wanted for me.”
Sa kabila ng mga siphayo at kakapusan sa pera, nairaos ni Jefjef ang pag-aaral sa tulong scholarship.
“I am very thankful to have been one of the Department of Science and Technology Undergraduate Scholarship recipients as it helped me sustain my academic expenses during college.
“It even helped me save up for my board exam.
“Masuwerte rin po ako dahil andiyan pa rin ang aking mga kapatid na hindi rin ako pinabayaan upang makapagtapos ako ng kolehiyo.
“Bagama’t hindi ako pinalad maka-graduate na may latin honor ay masaya pa rin ako dahil naka-graduate ako on time.”
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REVIEWING FOR BOARD EXAM
Nang mag-review na para sa board exam, panibagong challenges na naman ang nakaharap ni Jefjef.
“Isa po sa mabigat ay ang preparation, lalo na at mahirap talagang makabisado agad ang lahat in a span of few months, lalo na yung mga topic na bago sa akin.
“Kinailangan talagang magsakripisyo at pagdaanan ang pagod, puyat, gutom dahil most of my time nakalaan sa pag-review.”
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Nahirapan siyang i-manage ang kanyang resources, gaya ng budget at maging ang oras na gugugulin sa pagre-review sa isang araw.
Nakaabala rin sa kanyang pagre-review ang pagkukumpleto sa mga final requirements sa school.
“Nagsimula po kasi ang review towards the end of the academic year before graduation, so, I also had to manage my time and balance it with other academic responsibilities such as school projects and thesis.
“Hindi rin po maiwasan na magkaroon ng kaba bilang first-taker dahil hindi pa talaga familiar sa mga kaganapan during actual boards, at ang anticipation pagkatapos kapag naghihintay ng results.”
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PREPARED FOR BOARD EXAM, DREAMED OF BECOMING A TOPNOTCHER
Para kay Jefjef, hindi siya masyadong nahirapan sa board exam.
Ang paliwanag niya:
“Kasi po yung level of preparation ko was really intensive.
“I had reviewed and trained hard through my chosen review center, and nagawa kong ma-improve yung mga learning gaps ko before taking the boards.”
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Inamin naman niyang nangarap siyang maging topnotcher.
“Admittedly, yes po.
“Seeing other topnotchers from my home province made me think that it could also be a possibility for me.”
Ang isa pang motivation ni Jefjef para maging topnotcher, “Hindi rin po ako pinalad na maging latin honor graduate kaya naisip kong sa board exam bumawi—hoping na baka roon ako ay palarin.”
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THE REWARD OF HARD WORK
Nang lumabas ang resulta at Top 3 siya, hindi agad makapaniwala si Jefjef.
“At first, hindi po ako makapaniwaIa because I was mentally preparing myself for the worst case scenario habang naghihintay ng results.
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“Nasa Manila pa ako noon sa kapatid ko dahil hindi pa kami makauwi sa Bicol dahil kakatapos lang ng bagyong Kristine.
“Nagulat na lang ako nang sinabi sa akin na nakapasa nga ako at topnotcher sa ECT.
“Ang una kong ginawa ay nag-celebrate kami with my other siblings in Bicol through videocall.
“It was a really joyful moment dahil nagbunga lahat nang pagod at sakripisyo, and by God’s grace naging topnotcher pa rin nga ako.”
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Inihandog ni Jefjef ang kanyang tagumpay sa mga taong sumuporta at naniwala sa kanya.
“To my family, sa aking mga kapatid na nakasuporta sa akin, at sa aking namayapang ina na nagturo sa akin ng kahalagahan ng pagsusumikap at nag-push sa akin para pahalagahan ang aking edukasyon.”
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Inialay rin niya ang itinuring niyang “big win” sa kanyang sarili.
“For having the courage to aim high and continue taking on life’s challenges sa kabila ng lahat.”
Sa ngayon ay nagpapahinga muna si Jefjef at nagre-recharge habang pinaplano ang kanyang future.
“Nag-aaral din po ako ng mga in-demand na skills online bilang paghahanda sa pag-a-apply ng trabaho.”
Paalala niya sa mga kabataang gustong mag-ECE, “Mahirap talaga ang engineering at ang course na ECE.
“But as with any difficult matter, malalampasan mo rin ito kung malinaw sa iyo kung ano ang goal mo at kung ano ang mga dapat mong gawin to achieve that goal.”
Pagbibigay-diin pa ni Jefjef, “It’s also important to build good learning habits and systems, and to have the commitment to achieve them through discipline.
“Ultimately, have faith in your abilities, trust the process, and always have the courage to continue pursuing your dreams.”
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ED'S NOTE: Quotes are presented verbatim.