Awarded second in the search for ten Jose Rizal Model
Students of the Philippines (JRMSP) last 30 December 2012, Senior AB Philosophy
student Javier Leonardo V. Rugeria stressed out that “education should not be taken for granted.”
Conducted annually, the search aims to recognize model students
throughout the country who best depict the qualities of the national hero.
The candidates were judged in terms of their academic
excellence, leadership skills, and involvement in extra-curricular activities which
cater to the needs of the community as a whole.
JRMSP was
under the sponsorship of the Order of the Knights of Rizal (OKR), a private
non-stock and non-profit fraternal group that upholds the ideas and teachings
of Rizal and instills them to others.
Catching the Triumph
Rugeria was chosen among the four student applicants within the
university and competed against 67 others in the national level. They went
through paper screenings and panel interviews. On 28 December, only 20 were
chosen for the final selection.
The finalists faced the board of judges led by the OKR
Supreme Commander Reghis Romero II. Other judges were the OKR Council of Elders,
Rizal’s direct descendant Gemma Cruz-Araneta, JRMSP Chair Lutgardo Barbo and
former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.
Students from University of Cebu – Banilad Campus, Jezreel
Erzer Archival and Far Eastern University – Manila, John Michael Lava got the
first and third posts, respectively.
Rugeria shared in an interview that the final selection was
thrilling yet he enjoyed the question and answer portion.“I must say magayon ang Philosophy program ta, ta without Philosophy dae mo masisimbagan si mga intellectual
questions duman,” he said.
The Ateneo offers four core philosophy courses and for
Rugeria, that gives the Ateneans an edge in JRMSP.
Previous JRMSP candidates from the university never failed
to win for eight consecutive years. Aspirants in the said search were first
ranked in 2010. Since then, AdNU candidates secured the first and second posts.
When asked what advantage he got for being a JRMSP awardee,
Rugeria said that he does not take his recognition as an advantage or to the
disadvantage of another.
He furthered, “I don’t
work for recognitions, dae ko ‘yan sinasakat, dae ko ‘yan kinakanap.” Rugeria
explained that he does things because he loves doing them, not because he will
be awarded afterwards.
He hopes that the students would develop a culture of
learning. He also stressed the need to make changes in the society just like
what Rizal did.
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