Do you remember the summa cum laude who went viral in June 2025?
Many netizens were moved by her valedictory address, which did not focus on her own journey.
Instead, she chose to shine a light on the hardships and triumphs faced by her classmates, their parents and guardians, and the unsung "heroes" of their university.
Her name is Tricia Ann Guarin Anda, 23, and she graduated at the top of her class with a degree in BS Psychology from the University of St. La Salle – Bacolod City.
In her exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Tricia revealed she grew up in a family far from perfect—in her own words, "broken"—but filled with love and selflessness.
Her life is a testament to the fact that, despite challenges, anyone can weather any storm when surrounded by a nurturing and supportive environment.
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TRICIA ANN ANDA’S VIRAL SPEECH
Tricia’s heartfelt speech honored students who, despite their struggles, persevered just to stay in school.
Part of her speech went: “If I could remove this medal from my neck and give it to someone else, I would.
“I would hand it to my classmate who worked online jobs and part-time shifts, between classes, some with cracked phones, borrowed laptops, selling food, art, anything just to make ends meet...
“To the ones who caught jeeps at dawn, who walked under the heat or in the rain, who paid their own tuition because no one else could...
“To those who showed up with tired eyes, but hearts that refused to quit.
“To the ones who studied through tears, who cried in silence but still made it to class with a smile.
“They never complained and they never asked to be seen. But I saw them.
“Because maybe I earned the highest GPA but they earned my deepest respect.”
In contrast to her peers. Tricia admitted that she had lived a life of comfort.
From preschool to college, everything was provided for her.
“All I had to do was to show up,” she said.
And she saw those who struggled wealthier in life experiences.
“Their strength humbled me. Their quiet resilience taught me.
“Though I may not have lived their story, I saw them, I admired them, and I carried their courage with me."
Furthermore, she acknowledged the parents and families of the graduates for their sacrifices.
She also honored the campus janitors, security guards, and maintenance staff who ensured clean classrooms and a safe environment for all students.
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TRICIA ANN ANDA'S BACKGROUND
In an email exchange, Tricia, who hails from Talisay, Negros Occidental, revealed that she and her older sister were raised by her mother’s older sister, Tita Thess, and her husband, Tito Raul.
Her mom was an overseas Filipino worker.
“I may have grown up in what many people would call a broken home, but I was never actually broken.”
Tricia chose not to hold a grudge against her mother, but instead be grateful for her sacrifices.
“She gave up the heart of being a mother: her presence, her embrace, her guidance, so that my sister and I could have a future she had to set aside.
“She chose distance over comfort, pain over presence, because that was the only way she knew to love us wholly.”
Tricia made sure to thank her Tita Thess and Tito Raul, from whom she learned that “true parents are not always those who gave you life, but those who give you love.”
She added, “They embraced me with such profound love that I never felt the absence of anything."
And she feels blessed for being surrounded by people who showed her the true meaning of family.
“Every single day, my Tito would wake up early just to drive me to school from preschool to college, never once complaining.
“My Tita, the eldest among her siblings, sacrificed greatly, delaying her own dreams of having her own family to ensure she could send her brothers and sisters, my mom included, to school.”
Tricia stated, “That kind of enduring love, that kind of selfless sacrifice, was what I grew up witnessing.
“And if there’s one lesson that stands out above all, it is that real greatness comes not from how much we receive, but by how much we give.
"This truth was planted in me at home, nurtured by love, and it has grown into the person I am today.”
Tricia also thanked her older sister, saying, “She gave me strength, laughter, and motivation.”
Beyond her immediate family, Tricia also mentioned her healthy and loving relationship with their house helpers.
“I was taught to respect, to share, to be kind, to be empathetic, and above all, to put God at the center of my life.
"My family may not have been complete in the traditional sense, but I was raised in a home filled with love: a love that was never measured by ceilings or walls, but rather by the warmth of the people around me.”
Though she had always been an achiever, Tricia said she eventually realized that life is about more than just medals and grades, but about more meaningful things like friendship, faith, and purpose.
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HOW TRICIA's speech focused ON OTHERS
When she was assigned to deliver the valedictory address, Tricia was already clear on the message she wanted to convey.
“I didn’t want to recreate what others before me had already spoken about so beautifully: stories of broken families, of sacrifice, of parents who had to work overseas. (I can also relate, because I, too, am a product of it.),” she said.
“Deep down, I knew this was not just about me. This graduation is not solely mine.
“It was the collective journey of many, the ones who were part of it, and the many who walked with me.”
Tricia decided to focus on “what inspired me.”
“I wrote what my eyes saw,” she revealed.
“And in my speech, I uttered the words: I saw them. I witnessed classmates shouldering quiet struggles, balancing work and studies, enduring struggles no medal could measure.”
Many people praised her for delivering such an inspiring speech.
But in her mind, she felt that she was the one who had been inspired first.
She went on to reveal that she grew up with everything handed to her—everything was prepared for her—implying that she never had to lift a finger when it came to the comforts of life.
“I woke up each morning to everything prepared: my meals, my uniforms, even my ride to school, all because my mom, Tita, and Tito ensured I had all I needed.”
Witnessing the contrast between her comfortable life and some of her classmates’ hardships left a deep mark on Tricia.
“I was quietly observing them. Their resilience and strength left me in awe.
“That’s why my speech was never truly about me; it mirrored the greatness I saw in my classmates.
“Truly, I wanted to remind everyone, myself included, that success is not just about medals or titles.”
ON VIRAL VIDEO
Tricia admitted that the warm reception to her valedictory address was completely unexpected.
She thought it would be just “an ordinary speech—one that would be quickly forgotten after graduation.”
Soon after, messages started pouring in, along with interview requests and heartfelt thank-you notes from people deeply moved by her words.
“They said my words were simple, yet they hit deep. It hits home. And that was exactly what I intended: to make the ordinary extraordinary, so everyone could feel seen and understood,” explained Tricia.
“People saying I was raised right felt like the best compliment of all, because ultimately, I truly wanted to honor the people who raised me with so much unconditional love.”
But the most rewarding compliment she received for her speech was not the applause or the virality.
“It was knowing that my words gave comfort to the unseen, and courage to the weary.”
Doors of opportunities have opened for Tricia after she went viral.
“Suddenly, well-respected companies and big names I once only admired from afar were reaching out. Some invited me to exploratory conversations; others even offered career opportunities.”
She described the experience as “overwhelming, yet in the most humbling way.”
Still, Tricia emphasized that the opportunities that came her way because of her viral speech only reinforced what she had always believed in.
“That one honest story, one sincere voice, can ripple far beyond our anticipations. That realization is worth more than any offer or title,” she said.
“It reminded me how beautiful life is when we share it with others, and how success becomes more fulfilling when it is celebrated together.
“Above all, it deepened my faith in God…”
WHAT'S NEXT FOR TRICIA ANN?
As for her next undertakings, Tricia said she is leaving it up to God.
She expounded: “Whether it means pursuing further studies in medical school, or taking my master’s, or gaining real-world experience first, I trust that God will lead and place me exactly where I am meant to be.”
This time, she wants to focus on gaining real-life experiences that can only be attained by stepping out into the world.
She stated: “I want to pair that academic excellence with real-world experiences.
"I want to step out of my comfort zone, to embrace independence, and to finally live beyond the four walls of a classroom.
“I want to venture beyond those walls. I want to connect with more people, hear their stories, and experience life to the fullest.”
She hopes that people will remember her not as Tricia as the "Viral Valedictorian," or Tricia the "Summa Cum Laude."
“What I truly hope is for them to remember Tricia who made people feel truly seen, heard, and valued.”
Because, “[O]ur truest legacy is never in the fame or accolades. It is the light we brought into others’ lives, the love we poured out, and the hearts we’ve lifted along the way.”
While she describes herself as a constant achiever, Tricia recognizes the fact that life is more than the medals and accolades.
She interjected, “But I hope we never equate our worth with titles, awards, or recognition alone.
"True success, for me, is living with humility, kindness, and wisdom; choosing to uplift others, to touch hearts, and to courageously follow and pursue our dreams.”
And this is the example that Tricia wants show to others through the life that she lived.
At an early age, despite her "brokenness" she is a testament of how one's life can be transformed positively because of the care and love from others.
She may have come from a broken family, but the unconditional and selfless love of she received from her guardians made such an impact on Tricia's life, that she now lives her own paying it forward.
She ended her message by saying, “I hope my life becomes proof that broken beginnings can still transform into beautiful endings, because love and faith can fill the cracks and make us whole; just like they have for me.”