Raoul Danniel A. Manuel, First Summa Cum Laude Graduate of UP Visayas
The country's premiere tertiary institution, University of the Philippines, recorded hundreds of academic achievements including the first Summa Cum Laude of UP Visayas. The fresh graduate who earned almost perfect general weighted average (GWA) of 1.099 received praises on social media last week.
Raoul Danniel A. Manuel, 20 years old, who just recently completed BS Applied Mathematics in UP Visayas became the first alumni to secure the spot of Summa Cum Laude in the said campus. This rare academic accomplishment was immediately recognized by the university council. Being the recipient of the highest Latin honors, Raoul was also featured in the portal of UP Visayas.
For years, UP Visayas professors mentored thousands of students whose intelligence quotient (IQ) are way above the normal IQ level, but only in 2015 that these mentors successfully developed a graduate who reached the GWA quota for the Summa Cum Laude category.
In a short interview, Raoul Danniel admitted that he became the first Summa Cum Laude in UP Visayas not because of his own efforts alone but also with the help of the people around him.
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.
When asked "what inspired him to get an almost perfect GWA?", the humble maroon replied;
Ang kwarta nga ginagamit sa amun education is fund halin sa Filipino people. Ga tuon ako mayo para sa ulihi ma share ko man ni sa iban.
The money being used for our education is the fund from the Filipino people. I study well so that in the end, I would be able to share what I know to others. - Translation by ABS-CBN news
On a side note, Raoul clarified to the journalists that he really didn't spend too much time in reading books.
Netizens admired Raoul not just simply because of his academic achievement but as well as his extracular activities where he performed certain demanding roles and responsibilities. Some of the duties he had while in college includes:
- vice-chairperson of the UP Visayas (UPV) OIKOS Ecological Movement (2013 – 2014);
- secretary of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) - UPV Chapter (2013 – 2015);
- treasurer of the UPV Mathematics Circle (2011 - 2013);
- member of the Internal Affairs Committee for Elektrons (2012-2013); and,
- a member of the UPV Delegates of Untainted Commitment to Effectuate Service (2011 to 2015).
As of press time, the first summa cum laude of UP Visayas hasn't planned yet to work in a corporate world but he is already planning to pursue a master's degree.