There was a time when Evangeline Basilio became worried about the future of his son Genison due to his addiction to DOTA or Defense of the Ancient, a multiple player online battle area.
Maybe it was because of the nagging that Basilio finally realized what his mother would always tell him about the importance of education.
(Photo courtesy of the PCG)
"Hindi siya nakag-focus sa pag-aaral kasi puro DOTA lang ang ginagawa, hanggang sa nagpursige siya sa kanyang pag-aaral (He cannot focus on studying at first because he was focused on playing DOTA computer games, until he persevered on his studies),” Evangeline said in an interview over local radio Radyo Natin Bayombong.
From being an online gamer before, Basilio is now set to graduate with high marks from the prestigious US Coast Guard Academy (USCGA).
According to Evangeline, Genison first took a Bachelor of Science in Management Accounting before entering the Philippine Coast Guard. He later succeeded in getting a slot for a PCG-sponsored cadetship program at the USCGA.
As he entered the USCGA in 2017, Genison became one of the Top 2 among the three selected international cadets.
"Mahirap din sa anak ko noong una lalo na ang height niya ay 5 feet 5 inches kumpara sa mga iba pang lahi pero nang nakakapasok siya sa top rank ng klase nila, dun na bumilib ang mga kaklase niya sa kanya, syempre galing ng Pinoy (It was also difficult for my son at first, since his height was 5 feet 5 inches compared to his foreign classmates, but when he entered the top rank of their class, his classmates admired his skills and abilities, of course he is a proud Filipino),” Evangeline said.
Meanwhile, Genison expressed his gratitude to the PCG and USCGA for the “opportunity to learn and develop my leadership capabilities.”
“The rigorous and demanding environment in the Academy molded me to be a leader of character. These learning experiences serve as my foundation in becoming a well-rounded PCG officer," he said.
In 2015, the PCG has started sending young Filipinos to the USCGA “to give them the best Coast Guard education and training,” in preparation for the establishment of a first-class Cadet Corps in the Philippines.
On Wednesday, May 19, Basilio, together with their fellow PCG-sponsored cadets Eric Joseph Noble, Daisy Anne Atayan, and Dianne Shaira Basuel will formally graduate from the Academy.
Their commencement exercises will be graced by US President Joe Biden.