UP’s summa is also an activist

Raoul Danniel A. Manuel, with his 1.099 general weighted average (GWA), can certainly do the math as the first Summa Cum Laude of the University of the Philippines (UP) Visayas and the highest among the graduates of class 2015 of the entire UP system with its campuses nationwide.

A Bachelor of Science (BS) in Applied Mathematics degree holder, Manuel may be a bookworm but his dapper looks have certainly made a lot of hearts swoon on campus.

And he had served as student council president of the College of Arts and Sciences too, proving that social involvement (read: activism) and getting grades of flat 1s do mix.

"As a Iskolar ng Bayan I had to open my eyes to the realities around me and look for ways to become active in the affairs inside and outside of the University. My UP education instilled in me a desire to use my potentials to advance genuine social change," Manuel told CNN Philippines.

He said he could have not made it without the support of his family, friends, classmates, teachers and fellow members of student organizations.

“To be an achiever in UP is really difficult if one is alone so I am blessed to have people who have always been supportive of me even in my college life, Manuel said.

Manuel was class valedictorian of UP High School in Iloilo in 2011 and class valedictorian    of the Integrated School for Exceptional Children (SPED) in Iloilo City in 2007.   -30-

  

Image by: CNN Philippines