A 59-year-old mother in Muntinlupa achieved her dream of finishing high school and is setting her sights on going to college.

Jacky Medel of Barangay Tunasan was one of the 229 senior high school graduates who finished studies through the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System (ALS).

“It is a parallel learning system in the Philippines that provides a practical option to the existing formal instruction. When one does not have or cannot access formal education in schools, ALS is an alternate or substitute. ALS includes both the non-formal and informal sources of knowledge and skills,” according to DepEd.

Medel, an employee of the Muntinlupa City government, was congratulated by Mayor Ruffy Biazon.

Jacky Medel, 59, at the 2nd Commencement Exercises for ALS Senior High School at Tunasan National High School in Muntinlupa on April 15 (Photo from Mayor Biazon's Facebook account)

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon attends a graduation ceremony in Muntinlupa (Photo from Mayor Biazon's Facebook account)

“Congratulations, Jacky Medel! More than a job well done! Nakakaproud ka! Nalulungkot lang ako na hindi ako nakapag abot ng diploma sa iyo...reenact na lang natin! Masyadong maraming graduation ang mga nagsabay-sabay kasi. Sumakses ka na! Senior Sigma! (You are prideworthy! I'm just sad that I wasn't able to hand you your diploma...let's just reenact it! There were too many graduations at the same time. You achieved success. Senior Sigma!),” Biazon posted on Facebook along with Medel’s photo.

Medel attended the 2nd Commencement Exercises for ALS Senior High School at Tunasan National High School in Muntinlupa on April 15

In an interview with Manila Bulletin, Medel said she took the chance to study again and didn’t expect that she would finish high school.

“Hindi ko naman po ini-expect na ako ay makakarating doon (I didn't expect to get there),” she said.

Medel is a widow with six children. Before enrolling in ALS in 2022, Medel said she finished third year high school many years ago.

“Nag-try po ako sa ALS ng Grade 10, nagtuloy-tuloy na po. Naging Grade 11 tapos naging Grade 12 na po (I tried ALS in Grade 10, and it continued. It became Grade 11 and then Grade 12),” she said.

Medel faced challenges when she was completing Grade 12.

“Nung umpisa mahirap kasi ang tagal mong hindi nag-aral. Iba po yung curriculum nung nag-aaral ka sa ngayon. Parang kaya ko ba but with the support of my family, my boss and kasamahan sa trabaho, na-engganyo ako, nagtuloy-tuloy po (At first it was hard because you hadn't studied for a long time. The curriculum was different when I was studying compared to now. I didn't think I could do it, but with the support of my family, my boss, and my work colleagues, I was encouraged and continued),” she revealed.

She said Mayor Biazon gives all employees the chance to study.

Medel said she supported the studies of her children first before she decided to enroll in ALS. Two of her children have finished college while the youngest is in second year in college.

After ALS, she will pursue further studies.

“Aalamin ko po yung mga courses na nararapat sa trabaho ko. Yun po ang ite-take ko (I will find out the courses that are appropriate for my job. Those are the ones I will take),” she said.