Heartful journeys: Ijan and Anne

For Ijan, the most memorable part of college didn’t happen in the classroom learning theories, but out on the streets, where these theories come to life. He believes that field work is the heart of Devcom. One particularly impactful encounter he had was during a DEVC 103 project (Visual and Audiovisual Media Production) involving a vendor in Halang, Calamba selling bottled water. He worked long hours, despite selling only about six bottles a day, to support his family, living in a shanty along railroad tracks. He saw the vendor again after five years, still enduring the same oppressive system.

Throughout his undergraduate years, Ijan had to face his own demons, including the pressure of academic demands and the diagnosis of a mental health condition. These struggles, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected his relatives and took his grandfather, led him to take a leave of absence from the university. However, with the support of family, friends, and professional counseling, he recovered, returned to his studies, and graduated cum laude, a testament to his hard work and willpower to succeed. 

Amid his adversities, his love for poetry and music inspired him to prevail. Fusing his artistic gift with his passion for serving the people, he wrote with his homegrown band Semi-Colon a song titled Hulagpos , which became the official theme song of the UPLB February Fair 2020.

“Sa panahon ng krisis at pananamantala, mahalagang panindigan ang makataong pamamalakad. Sa oras ng panlalamang at pang aabuso, mahalagang kumampi sa mga dukha at api. Ito ang oras para humulagpos sa kamay ng opresyon, at patuloy na lumaban para sa karapatang pantao. Nawa’y ang kantang ito ay mag silbing instrumento upang patuloy na umalab ang pusong makabayan at makamasa,” he reflected.

His experiences underscored the importance of self-care, seeking help when needed, and finding your passion – a message he now shares with fellow Devcom students. His journey solidified his understanding that the challenges faced by society are intersectional and that the skills learned in Devcom carry a responsibility to serve the community. (Miguel Victor Durian)

Nearly three decades after first enrolling in the BS Development Communication program at UPLB, Annabelle “Anne” P. Apruebo is finally graduating with the Class of 2024. Anne’s journey began in 1995, but financial difficulties forced her to leave school just shy of completing her degree. As the eldest daughter, she felt the urgency to support her family after her mother lost her job, taking on various roles to help her siblings finish college.

Despite achieving professional success, Anne was haunted by her unfinished degree. After two near-death experiences—thyroid cancer in 2019 and a severe bout of COVID-19 in 2021—she realized life was too short to leave her dreams unfulfilled. 

In 2023, she returned to UPLB, dedicating her weeknights and weekends to completing the thesis she had started 20 years earlier. With the unwavering support of her family, Anne persevered and is now set to graduate. Her story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and the enduring pursuit of self-actualization, embodying the UP values of honor and excellence.

Read her full story by Jessa Jael Anarna from the UPLB Horizon Broadsheet here.