Kapamilya Snaps: These 9 celebrities inspire, delighted us on their graduations

We, Filipinos, grew up being reminded by our parents or guardians to work hard in order to finish our studies because it’s one of the intangible things that they could pass onto us and that no one could ever take away from us. And it is also the case with celebrities, who, despite already having the fame and fortune that many people are dreaming of, they still opted to prioritize their education, and eventually succeeded in moving up to the next level or achieving that diploma they’d been yearning for.

Meet the stars who recently marked an important milestone in their life – their academic graduation – in this Kapamilya Snaps features!

Zaijian Jaranilla

Even through he’s been in the local entertainment scene since he was three years old and went on to become one of the most bankable young stars in the country until today, Zaijian made sure to still have time for his studies. And just last May 30, the Mars Ravelo’s Darna star finally finished senior high school at the Colegio de San Juan de Dios Inc under the HUMSS (Humanities and Social Studies) strand and posted two photos of him in light blue toga and cap to mark this new feat. He captioned it, “Late pero ga-Graduate (sic).”

Sam Cruz

She may have already begun her showbiz career, but Sam made sure to still prioritize her studies. Last May, she was able to complete high school at the De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, which was, of course, attended by both her proud parents Sunshine Cruz and Cesar Montano. And Sunshine takes pride on her daughter being a consistent honor student.

Sharlene San Pedro

Being in the industry since she was 5 didn’t hinder Sharlene from reaching one of her goals in life, which was to graduate college. In May 2022, she posted her graduation pictures, which she captioned “what she tackles she conquers.” Prior to accomplishing her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the AMA University Online Education, the Goin’ Bulilit alumna shared snaps of her during her virtual thesis defense held at the comfort of her home.

Donny Pangilinan

Aside from making us kilig with his television and movie appearances, Donny further inspired his ardent fans when he revealed through an Instagram post in October 2022 that he took up a degree in Leadership from the College for Global Deployment during the pandemic. And what motivated Donny to finish college was he did it alongside her sisters Ella and Hannah, as well as the support they got from their doting parents Anthony Pangilinan and Maricel Laxa.

Alexa Ilacad

Alexa proved that she indeed doesn’t only have the beauty, but the brains as well, after earning a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Treston International College and even became a Dean’s Lister by the end of her last year. Her graduation pictures were actually captured by her fellow housemates, since she was already inside the house during the last days of her final term in college. She captioned those pictures: “To my parents & supporters, I hope I made you proud.”

Heaven Peralejo

While not busy with showbiz commitments, Heaven made use of the pandemic by accomplishing one of her goals – to get that diploma! To those who haven’t known yet, she studied Business Management from Southville International School Affiliated with Foreign Universities. Since her graduation in December 2021 was held at home, Heaven decided to vlog the unique experience with her beloved family.

Michelle Vito

Amidst the slew of projects that kept her busy in the recent years, Michelle was still able to earn a degree in Human Resources Management from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and graduated in March 2021. The The Iron Heart actress shared her graduation picture on IG and wrote in the caption: “My college life is not only about graduating, getting my diploma, and having a degree but also about the unforgettable and irreplaceable experiences in between.”

Jodi Sta. Maria

Jodi is one of the living proofs that age is just when it comes to achieving your dreams in life. At 39, she was able to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the Southville International School and Colleges (SISFU). Jodi posted her gorgeous graduation picture in 2021 and wrote in the caption: “I dreamt of finishing my schooling ever since I entered show business and today, after more than a decade, marks the fulfillment of that dream.”

Neri Naig

Another inspiring woman and mother is Neri, who still chose to continue her studies despite already being a homemaker and entrepreneur. In April 2022, she shared her graduation picture with her supportive husband Chito Miranda as her wacky photobomber. She disclosed through the hashtags she used that she got her degree in Business Administration through the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program of University of Baguio.

Two months later, the Star Circle Quest alumna posted pictures from her graduation, through which she thanked Chito for his support. She wrote in the caption: “Thankful ako sa asawa kong palaging andyan for me to support me. Masaya lang siya kahit nasa gilid lang at pinapalakpakan ako sa mga achievements ko. Mas magaan ang buhay kapag may nag eencourage sa'yo at naniniwala sa kakayanan mo. Thank you, asawa ko. Mahal na mahal kitaaa.”

These celebrities are proof that whatever achievements we obtain, getting a diploma is one of the greatest milestones that could ever happen in our lives.