By Bohol Chronicle
"Poverty will never be a hindrance to one's success if he diligently works while anchoring his faith in God," according to Dr. Manuelo O. Andot, a former newsboy of The Bohol Chronicle who ranked 3rd in the recent optometrists' board examination given by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC). He got 88.40%.
Andot, now 23, recalled that since he was 11 years old, a 4th grader of the Lourdes Elementary School in Panglao, he was selling this paper in the streets of Tagbilaran in order for him to have his weekly allowance. Early Sunday morning, he wakes up so to catch a jeepney ride to the city to sell and deliver the Chronicle to his many "suki". Of the P100 he made as profit every Sunday, he spends P40 his allowance while the P60 he gave to his parents, Bartolome, a carpenter and his mother, Leonila who was selling "ukay-ukay."
He looked forward to Sundays as he would again be earning his living by selling the newspaper. He did this for five years until he was 3rd year high school.
He graduated valedictorian at the Lourdes Barangay High School while he bagged 19 awards, to include the Pres. Gloria Arroyo Academic Excellence Award, Phjl. Senate Gold Medal, Junior Chamber Int'l Philippine Youth Leadership Excellence Award, and BSP Leadership Award. Under his stewardship, the Lourdes High School emerged as the provincial jamborette champion.
Bringing the valedictorian medal of a public school in Bohol, he applied and passed the scholarship exam at Centro Escolar University in Manila where he was afforded full scholarship until he graduated cum laude and a recipient of the Gold Leadership Award given by CEU to exemplary student who excelled in both academic and extra-curricular activities. He was adjudged as one of the 10 Outstanding Students of CEU while elected twice as vice president of the Optometry Student Council.
"Everything I lifted up to God," he said while narrating his devotion to visit Quiapo Church every Sunday.
"God's generosity and goodness can never be outdone," he said when barely 10 days after the release of the board results, he was hired as lens consultant at Essilor International Co. in Manila and a visiting doctor at Cyber Vision Optical.
Asked who inspired him to take up optometry, he attributes to the inspiration of his elder sister, Pablita, who used to work in an optical clinic in the city.
Now as professional, his objective is to help his parents by sending his financial support to the family considering that he is the youngest of a brood of nine.
As he banners God's mighty blessing on him, he candidly said that "life is just simple as it only would require, two things: hardwork and faith in God." (with reports from Nice D. Fudolin)
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Topic: Bol-anon Newsboy Top Notcher in Optometrists Board Exam (Read 6257 times)