PRINCIPAL LET A GRADUATE OUTSIDE THE GATE BECAUSE HIS SCHOOL’S SOCIAL GRADUATION RITE WAS BEING FILTHY, NOT KNOWING THAT THIS OLD MAN WAS THE FATHER OF THEIR VALEDICTORIAN WHOM HE HONOURED HIMSELF ON THE ENTABLADE

The sun was shining at St. Jude Thaddeus International School, one of the best and most expensive schools in the city. The parking lot was full of luxury cars—Mercedes Benz, BMW, and SUVs gleaming with cleanliness. It was the graduation day of High School Batch 2026, and all the parents were wearing expensive Barong Tagalog and Filipiniana. The air smelled of expensive perfume, and each one was holding a bouquet of flowers for their children.

Amidst this splendor, an old man was trying to peek through the crack of the school’s high gate. He was Mang Karding. He was wearing a faded blue polo shirt, with a stain of syrup on the hem, and his pants were clearly old. He wasn’t wearing any shoes, just a pair of flip-flops with worn-out heels. Next to him was his bucket of taho that he carried every day.

“Manong! How many times do I have to tell you to get out of there?” shouted the security guard Ompong, holding his baton. “You’re blocking the way for visitors! You stink!”

Dean Aragon, the school’s principal, known for being strict and impoverished, approached. He raised his eyebrows as he fanned himself. “Guard, what’s that? Why haven’t you sent that beggar away yet? Look at him, he looks disgusting! The board members might think we’re letting someone in here. This is an exclusive event!”

“Excuse me, Ma’am,” Mang Karding replied, his voice trembling as he bowed. “I just wanted to see my son. He’s graduating today. He’s the valedictorian.”

Dean Aragon burst out laughing. His laugh was shrill and full of contempt. “Valedictorian? The son of a valedictorian? Are you delusional, Manong? The students here come from quality families. There are no squatters here. Leave before I drag you to the police!”

Mang Karding burst into tears. He wanted to defend himself, but he was used to being oppressed. He slowly raised his taho stick. “Okay, Ma’am. I’ll just stay here from a distance. Just take a peek.”

“No! I said get out! I don’t want to see your face on the perimeter of my school!” the Dean shouted before turning his back on the old man and entering the air-conditioned gymnasium.

The ceremony began. The stage was decorated with gold and blue decorations. One by one, the honor students were called. When the name “Joshua Hernandez, Valedictorian,” was called, everyone applauded. Joshua walked onto the stage, tall, handsome, and full of talent. Dean Aragon presented the medal to him with a big smile.

“Congratulations, son. You have a bright future ahead of you. Your parents must be proud, where are they?” the Dean asked as he handed over the microphone for the speech.

Joshua accepted the microphone. He looked at the sea of ​​faces in the audience—wealthy parents, well-dressed classmates. His eyes searched for his father, but he was not in the parents’ seat. He knew his father would not be allowed in.

He began to speak. “Good morning to our distinguished guests, teachers, parents, and fellow graduates…”

His introduction was good. English, polished, and full of wisdom. But in the middle of his speech, he stopped. From the large window at the back of the gymnasium, he saw a familiar figure outside the gate, under the hot sun, carrying a taho.

Page: SAY – Story Around You | Original story

“I prepared a speech about success and ambition,” Joshua said, his voice changing tone. It became serious and emotional. “But I realized that true success is not about medals, grades, or money. It is about sacrifice.”

Everyone was surprised by his sudden departure from the script. Dean Aragon was surprised and gestured to the teachers.

“Earlier, as I was entering here, I saw an old man being turned away at the gate,” Joshua continued, his voice trembling. “He was told he was dirty. He was told he had no right to be here. He was laughed at because he was the only one reporting.”

Joshua looked straight at Dean Aragon. The principal’s eyes widened.

“That old man,” Joshua pointed out the window, “woke up at three in the morning to cook syrup and sago. He walked ten kilometers every day, rain or shine, just so I could have something to wear. He didn’t have new clothes because he gave me the money to buy them to buy books. He went hungry just so I could eat.”

Joshua got off the stage. Everyone was shocked. “Where is he going?” the crowd murmured.

Joshua headed straight out of the gymnasium. The spotlight and cameras followed him. The eyes of the confused audience followed him as well. He opened the big door and ran to the gate.

He saw Mang Karding about to leave, bowed and crying.

“Father!” Joshua shouted.

Mang Karding turned around. “Son? Joshua? Why did you go out? Your speech?”

Joshua hugged his father tightly. He didn’t care if his gown was stained with sweat and syrup. “Father, I won’t go on stage without you.”

Joshua pulled his father inside. The guard tried to block them but Joshua glared at him. “Try to stop my father, I will return all the awards this school gave.”

The guard did nothing. They walked back to the gymnasium. Holding hands. The Valedictorian and the Reporter.

When they entered, the entire gym was silent. Every step of Mang Karding’s slippers was heard on the shiny floor. They climbed onto the stage. Joshua took his gold medal and put it around his father’s neck. He took off his robe and placed it on Mang Karding’s shoulder.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Joshua said into the microphone while holding his father, “I present to you, the real Valedictorian of my life. My father, Mang Karding. He is the reason why I am here. The dirt you saw in him? That is the dirt of a noble job. That is cleaner than the behavior of people who judge based on their clothes.”

Everyone looked at Dean Aragon who almost sank into his seat in shame. His face was red and he could not look at his father and mother.

A few moments of silence prevailed. After a while, one parent stood up and applauded. Another followed. Until the entire gymnasium gave a standing ovation. The applause and cheers thundered. Many parents were in tears.

Mang Karding cried, not because of sadness, but because of joy and honor. He hugged his son in front of thousands of people.

After the ceremony, many came up to Mang Karding to shake his hand. The board members apologized for the principal’s behavior. I heard that the next day, Dean Aragon resigned due to the social media embarrassment. Joshua, on the other hand, became a scholar at a famous university and is now a successful engineer, but he never forgets that the foundation of his success came from a simple taho boat.