Petron’s Tulong Aral Program brings out the best in its scholars
Gexel Rose Gonzales, a Petron Tulong Aral scholar is part of a team that won 5th place in the Hyundai New Thinkers Camp, besting 20 other schools in the country. Beyond excelling in school, he is also thankful for Petron’s Best U Can Be (BUCB) life skills workshops that inspired him to carry on amid his struggles
In his freshman year at the Pateros National High School, 16-year-old Gexel Rose Gonzales experienced the lowest point of his life – the death of his mother.
During that time, the Petron Tulong Aral scholar since Grade 2 found it hard to excel in class as he dealt with this great loss.
“Sobrang malapit kami sa isa’t isa. Siya ang nakakausap ko sa lahat ng bagay, (We are very close to each other. She is the one I talk to about everything.),” said Gexel of his mom who succumbed to complications brought about by diabetes.
However, like a true Petron scholar, he pushed himself to strive more because he knew he had to keep his life going.
Gexel and his three other siblings grew up learning about the value of education. Their father, a tricycle driver admirably sends them all to school despite his meager salary. Gexel, for instance, graduated valedictorian from his class from Captain H. Francisco Elementary School-Main, a Petron partner school. His brother is now a Psychology student while his two sisters are both in elementary.
Apart from getting free education, Gexel also receives school supplies and transportation allowance through the Petron scholarship. Indeed, these benefits have been helping his family in so many ways.
“’Yung kuya ko, college na pero hindi scholar, ‘yung dalawa kong kapatid ganon rin. Sa akin umaasa ‘yung tatay ko para mabawasan nang kaunti ang gastos niya. (My brother is already in college but he is not a scholar. My two siblings are not scholars as well. That’s why my father relies on me to help in the family expenses.),” he said.
MORE THAN EDUCATION
Last June, Gexel and his team won 5th place in the Hyundai New Thinkers Camp, a Hyundai-sponsored contest, besting 20 other schools in the country. The contest required them to present a project proposal related to climate change.
He shared that the scholarship from Petron helped him garner the confidence in joining contests. He also tried his luck in the various division contests such as dama, journalism, Best in Physics, Current Events Quiz Bee, and the Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge. While he did not win in all of these contests, the experiences were priceless and much more rewarding.
More than academic excellence, Gexel said he also gained emotional development through the Tulong Aral Progam. He revealed that the Best U Can Be (BUCB) life skills workshops helped him a lot, especially in moving on from his mom’s passing. One of Gexel’s favorite BUCB memories was in his third year. His favorite activity in the event was when their group was asked to close their eyes and recall all their good memories.
“Naaalala ko lahat ng mga magagandang bagay na nangyari sa buhay ko…na dapat ipagpatuloy ko lang ‘yung ginagawa ko. ‘Yan rin siguro ang hiling ng nanay ko (I remembered everything good that happened in my life.. that I should continue what I’ve been doing. I think that is also my mom’s wish.),” said Gexel who is currently running for class valedictorian.
He added that the BUCB workshop activity has also prepared him for his imminent future. The commitment setting they were asked to write is displayed on his study table at home. It is the first thing he sees in the morning. Whenever he feels tired from all the schoolwork, Gexel said all he does is to look at the commitment he set for himself, Petron, and his country, and immediately he feels a renewed sense of commitment to do well again.
The Petron Tulong Aral Program also helped Gexel gain more friends. His close friend, Charls Felices, also a Petron TAP scholar, are running against each other in the honor roll but this does not affect their friendship. They still look out for each other.
“Maraming salamat sa Petron talaga. Hindi lang ‘yung allowances or supplies ang ipinagpapasalamat ko kundi ‘yung mga experiences na na-share ko sa kabuuan ng pagiging scholar ko ng Petron. Ang tatay ko ang laki rin ng pasasalamat sa Petron. Hindi ko man kaya ibalik sa ibang pamamaraan ang aking utang na loob, pero maipapakita ang pagpapasalamat ko sa paraan ng good grades. Hindi ko sasayangin ang oras ng Petron sa akin (Thank you so much to Petron. It’s not only the allowances or supplies that I am thankful for, but the experiences that I am able to share throughout my scholarship journey in Petron. My father is also very grateful to Petron. I may not be able to repay them in other ways but I can show them my gratitude through good grades. I will not waste the time that Petron has given me.),” he said.
Indeed, Gexel is doing well and making his benefactors proud. This March, he is graduating from high school and looking forward to take his college studies at the University of the Philippines and fulfill his dream to become a civil engineer or a marine scientist someday.