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'I belong': Muslim grad shares inspiring experience in Catholic school

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James Amante, ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA – A Muslim who finished her undergraduate degree in a Catholic university recently made waves on social media when she shared her inspiring story about her stay in college, encouraging people to &quot;look at our similarities rather than our differences.&quot;</p><p>Unfazed with what others would say about her choice, Jomana Lomangco was firm in pursuing a degree in Accountancy at the University of Santo Tomas (UST).</p><div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10211018330893456&amp;set=a.1263637050279&amp;type=3&amp;theater" data-width="auto"> </div><p>&quot;I did not mind what other people said,&quot; she said in an online exchange with ABS-CBN News.</p><p>&quot;I found out that UST was one of the best accountancy schools in the Philippines. There was no reason to let it go.&quot;</p><p>Indeed, she exerted all efforts and eventually finished cum laude.</p><div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10211089873561978&amp;set=pcb.10211089971684431&amp;type=3&amp;theater" data-width="auto"> </div><div><strong>Muslim in a Catholic school</strong></div><p>In her viral post, the 21-year-old recalled her decision to enter the Catholic university as a Muslim.</p><p>She said that despite the differences in religion, she never felt like an outcast in the university.</p><div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10211089926843310&amp;set=pcb.10211089971684431&amp;type=3&amp;theater" data-width="auto"> </div><p>&quot;Never have I felt less just because I&#x27;m a Muslim. Never did they leave me out just because of my faith,&quot; she reminisced in her post that has garnered over 26,000 reactions on Facebook as of writing.</p><p>She said that being respectful and accepting despite differences are among the qualities she have imbibed throughout her stay at UST. She vowed to carry these for the rest of her life.</p><p>&quot;To be of a certain faith, may it be Christianity or Islam, is to be human,&quot; she said.</p><p>She also stressed that people must focus on each one&#x27;s similarities because &quot;that’s exactly what this world needs.&quot;</p><p>&quot;As a Muslim who took up a few Theology courses, I’ve learned to look at our similarities rather than our differences,&quot; she said.</p><p>She capped her post by thanking UST for making her feel that she belonged.</p>

'I belong': Muslim grad shares inspiring experience in Catholic school

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'I belong': Muslim grad shares inspiring experience in Catholic school

James Amante,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 05, 2019 05:04 PM PHT

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Updated Jun 05, 2019 05:22 PM PHT

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University of Santo Tomas

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Bachelor of Science in Accountancy

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