Noong bata pa si Jigo Labuga Biyoyo, 24, ng Sta. Cruz Placer, Surigao del Norte, taun-taon ay nababago kung ano ang gusto niyang maging paglaki niya.
Nakapanayam si Jigo ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last October 28, 2024, via Facebook Messenger.
Kuwento niya, “I was a typical, and innocent child back then full of dreams—which changes almost every year, lol!
“All I knew was that I found science and mathematics fascinating, and fairly enough, I was able to consistently earn decent grades from elementary to high school.”
Paglalarawan niya sa sarili, “I was one of those ‘go with the flow’ people with no clear passion in life at that time.”
Nang magkolehiyo na, pinayuhan si Jigo ng isang relative na kumuha ng kursong may board exams.
Ang paliwanag sa kanya, “As they provide exposure and recognition, along with more job opportunities in both academia and industry.”
Kumuha siya ng Bachelor of Science in Chemistry sa Caraga State University-Main Campus.
Nagtapos siya noong 2023 bilang summa cum laude.
Top 3 naman siya sa October 2024 Chemists Licensure Examination with a 91.35-percent rating.
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Jigo Labuga Biyoyo on Being A Student in the Time of Pandemic
Kabilang si Jigo sa mga nagsimulang magkolehiyo noong kasagsagan ng pandemya.
Online ang kanilang naging klase pagsapit ng second semester ng first year hanggang third year.
“This was a particularly difficult time for me as I struggled to adjust to the new mode of learning.
“I often found myself procrastinating, even when exams were fast approaching, because it was hard to stay focused while studying from home.”
Ramdam din ni Jigo na maging ang kanilang mga instructors kahit sa major subjects ay nahihirapang mag-adjust sa sitwasyon.
Hindi niya maiwasang laging mag-worry.
“I kept thinking how am I going to pass the boards if this how it’s going to be for the rest of the years?
“Am I on my own from now on?”
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Inamin niyang ikinonsidera niyang magpalit ng kurso o lumipat sa ibang university kahit third year na siya.
Madalas din siyang makarinig ng mga panghuhusga gaya ng: “Naka-graduate lang or naka-latin honors dahil sa online class, which felt highly invalidating and insensitive
“Nevertheless, I guess it wasn’t all bad.
“These criticisms became one of my driving motivations to excel even further, proving them wrong.”
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Jigo Labuga Biyoyo "not a genius by birth"
Ang isa pang naging challenge para kay Jigo, dahil academically inclined siya ay iniisip ng mga tao na easy lang sa kanya ang pag-aaral.
“While there’s some truth in it, it’s far more complex than just getting high scores or topping exams.
“This assumption overlooks the immense amount of hard work, pressure, and nerves required to reach those goals.”
Pagtatapat niya, “I’m not a genius by birth.
“I am simply someone who dedicates time and effort to learning. My knowledge is directly proportional to the effort I put in.
“It may sound obvious, but academic success isn’t something you acquire instantly, it takes consistency and perseverance.”
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Dagdag pa niya, ironically, may misconception na ang matatalinong tao ay hindi na kailangang mag-aral dahil natural silang mahusay.
“In reality, it’s often the opposite.
“Intelligent people study more frequently, either because they are passionate about learning or because they find it enjoyable.”
Madalas din umano siyang ma-ridicule ng mga kaklase kapag feeling disappointed na 45 over 50 ang nakuha niya sa exams, o kaya ay nung nakatanggap siya isang beses ng 1.50 grade.
“I’ve had my fair share of disappointments, and I’m sure other academic achievers can relate.”
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Jigo Labuga Biyoyo on TRUE VALUE OF ACHIEVEMENT
Ang isa pang demotivating remark na madalas marinig ni Jigo: Para saan pa ang honors-honors kung pagdating ng panahon at nagtrabaho ay pare-pareho lang naman ng suweldo?
Aniya, “While I understand where this notion might come from, it trivializes the true value of achievement.
“Life is so much more than just getting a job.
“Everyone has their own dreams and goals, and each one is valid.”
Paliwanag ni Jigo sa may ganitong pananaw, “If your goal is simply to be employed, then sure, you might not need to excel academically.
“But if someone’s aim is to graduate with honors or achieve more, why not?
“If it gives them a sense of identity, purpose, happiness, or fulfillment, there’s no reason to invalidate or belittle their efforts and achievements.”
Jigo Labuga Biyoyo on BOARD EXAM
Anxiety and pressure ang naging mahigpit na kalaban ni Jigo noong kumuha siya ng board exam.
“The fear of failure combined with the high expectations I had for myself, as well as from others, was overwhelming.”
Hindi siya nakatulog bago ang unang araw ng exam at nakaapekto raw ito sa kanyang concentration.
Hindi naman siya nakapag-almusal sa ikalawang araw dahil napasobra ang kanyang tulog.
“During the exam, I found myself overthinking my erasures, as we were strongly advised to avoid making any.
“But I was confident in the answers I changed, and despite the anxiety, I chose to trust my instincts.”
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Na-realize naman niya ang benefit ng intensive preparation.
“It doesn't eliminate the anxiety, but it gives you enough confidence to push through.”
Payo niya sa mga kukuha ng licensure exam, “Having the right study strategies and staying disciplined with your review really made a difference.
“That’s how I handled the stress of the exam days.”
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Jigo Labuga Biyoyo on becoming a TOPNOTCHER
Aminado si Jigo na nahirapan sa board exam.
“Especially on the first day of the exam, which covered Inorganic Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry.”
Marami aniya sa mga tanong ang hindi familiar.
“After finishing that part of the exam, I remember thinking, maski pasa na lang siguro.”
Aminado naman siyang nangarap na maging topnotcher.
“Graduating as class salutatorian with summa cum laude honors brought about high expectations from my department, classmates, family, and, perhaps most significantly, myself.
“Initially, my goal was simply to secure a spot in the top 10.”
Pero dahil nag-Top 2 siya sa kanilang mock boards, “This achievement boosted my confidence and made me realize that I could aspire for even more.
“Also, I never allowed myself to become complacent.
“I understood that mock exams—while helpful—do not guarantee performance on the actual board exams.”
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Nung araw na lumabas ang resulta ng board exam, refresh nang refresh si Jigo ng official website ng Professional Regulation Commission.
Pero isang kaklase ang nagbalita sa kanya na isa siya sa topnotchers.
“When I saw my name in the Top 3, I was filled with a mix of disbelief and joy.
“The first thing I did was message our family group chat on Messenger to share the news.”
Tuwang-tuwa ang kanyang mga kapamilya at napabulalas ang kanyang ina ng: “Maka letson ta ani!”
Meaning, magpapalitson daw.
Bumuhos ang mga pagbati kay Jigo.
“Ultimately, the entire experience was surreal.
“It reminded me that the journey is as important as the destination, and the support from those around me made this achievement even more meaningful.”
Read: Meet Ricamhel Villamayor: summa cum laude and topnotcher
Inihandog ni Jigo ang kanyang tagumpay sa pamilya.
“To my mom, Imelda, my brother Jay, and my late father Jonathan who is no longer with us.
“I also want to include my adorable little sister, Qiyanah, our pug pet, in this dedication.
“I can’t express enough gratitude for their unwavering support and the wonderful genes they’ve passed on to me.”
Nagpasalamat din siya sa Quantum Review Center.
“Without their guidance and resources, I truly believe I wouldn’t have made it to the top. Their dedication to my success was invaluable.”
Inialay rin niya ito sa kanyang sarili.
“It’s been a long jouney since I’ve genuinely credited myself for the hard work I've put in.
"I’ve doubted and disappointed ‘you’ several times but it turns out ‘you’ still never fail to amaze me in the end. I am truly grateful.”
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Sa ngayon ay plano ni Jigo na maghanap ng scholarship grants para sa kanyang Master’s degree, at kalaunan ay mag-pursue ng PhD.
“My primary focus will be engaging in various research opportunities, which I am particularly leaning towards the field of computational chemistry, and of course teach and inspire the next generation of scientists.”
Ang payo niya sa mga kabataan na gusto ring magkaroon ng career sa field of chemistry, “Stay curious and, most importantly, enjoy the learning process.
“Trust me when I say, it’s much easier to grasp and retain lessons when you are genuinely engaged and having fun.”
Paalala niya, “Chemistry is a math-heavy subject.
“You will encounter subjects like Calculus I and II, Differential Equations, and Physics I and II, along with various branches of chemistry especially Physical Chemistry.”
Pampalakas-loob naman niya sa mga ito, “I wasn’t a huge fan of chemistry at the beginning, and I still managed to ace it.
“If I can do it, so can you.”
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