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<div dir="ltr"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171998853329401.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=" Photo courtesy of the Batayo cousins"/><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"> Photo courtesy of the Batayo cousins </div>Three cousins from Bacolod City strived to pursue their late grandmother’s wish to see them graduate in college and earn a degree.Last June, Joan Batayo completed her Juris Doctorate degree, Loren Nicole Batayo graduated Bachelor of Technical Vocational Teacher Education - Major in Electrical, and Anthony John &quot;AJ&quot; Sapalo finished Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology - Major in Computer Technology.&quot;Gusto ko sabihin sa kanya na ito na po &#x27;yung pangarap niya, na natupad na po namin,&quot; AJ said.&quot;Masaya po [ako] kasi alam ko nakikita &#x27;yun ni Nanay,&quot; Loren added.Joan, for her part, said: &quot;&#x27;Yung pag-graduate namin, dedicated namin sa kanya (grandmother). Wish namin talaga na [sana] grabe &#x27;yung smile niya sa heaven tulad ng last picture na iniwan [niya] sa amin. And hoping na proud siya sa &#x27;min.&quot;In an interview, the Batayo cousins reminisced about Nanay Carmelita and their hopes to make her the proudest lola in heaven.&quot;Last year, parang naghahabilin na siya sa amin. Ever since na nakapag-college &#x27;yung dalawa [si Loren at AJ] and noong nasa law school na ako, palagi niya tinatanong kailan kami ga-graduate,&quot; Joan shared.&quot;Parang hinihintay niya talaga. Parang alam namin na minsan gusto niya ring magpahinga kaso hinihintay niya talaga &#x27;yung ma-witness &#x27;yung moment na &#x27;yun,&quot; she added.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171998856059302.JPG" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Nanay Carmelita. Photo courtesy of the Batayo cousins"/><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Nanay Carmelita. Photo courtesy of the Batayo cousins </div>According to the Batayo cousins, Nanay Carmelita&#x27;s last will was filled with apologies as her presence at her grandchildren&#x27;s graduation is not promised due to her health condition.&quot;Actually last year was supposed to be our graduation. Pero parang hindi talaga [nangyari], hinold back ni Lord,&quot; Joan said.&quot;As for me, kasi may subject ako na may sequence violation &#x27;yung subject ko sa law school. So need ko i-retake &#x27;yung subject. Parang may back subject naman sina [Loren at AJ] sa kanila, so they need to wait another sem para mag-attend sa ganoong class,&quot; she added.In May 2023, the Batayo cousins encountered delays in graduating, Unfortunately, it was the same year Nanay Carmelita passed away. Despite their grandmother’s absence, the three took it as a motivation to bounce back and continue their studies while carrying the words that Nanay Carmelita imprinted within them.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171998859351303.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Photo courtesy of the Batayo cousins"/><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Photo courtesy of the Batayo cousins </div>&quot;Siya pa ‘yung most excited na for example, siya &#x27;yung tipong nagpapaganda talaga &#x27;pag may okasyon when it comes to mga apo niya,&quot; Joan said. &quot;If isa po ay may failure sa school, sinasabi niya na, &#x27;you can always try again.&#x27; Bawiin mo lang kasi hindi pa siguro time. Magaling siya mag-comfort. Pumapasok sa mind ko na ayaw niya maranasan &#x27;yung hirap na dinanas niya before dahil hindi siya nakapag-aral,&quot; she narrated.Being the lola&#x27;s boy and girls, the Batayo cousins found the love and support in Nanay Carmelita. Until her last breath, they were all in her mind.Regardless of life&#x27;s circumstances, the three remain optimistic and aim to thrive in their next endeavors — Loren is reviewing for her licensure examination in professional teaching, Joan is set to take the Bar Exams in September, and AJ will venture more on his degree and dream business.

Three cousins from Bacolod City strived to pursue their late grandmother’s wish to see them graduate in college and earn a degree.

Three cousins from Bacolod City strived to pursue their late grandmother’s wish to see them graduate in college and earn a degree.

'Para kay Nanay': Cousins fulfill late lola's wish with grad pic

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'Para kay Nanay': Cousins fulfill late lola's wish with grad pic

ABS-CBN News Intern,

Kris Anne Mendoza

Published Jul 03, 2024 02:37 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 03, 2024 03:10 PM PHT

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