A Journey of Privilege, Pivot, and Purpose

Five years ago, I entered the University of the Philippines Los Baños as a BS Economics student. The pandemic had just begun, and if you asked me then, I would have confidently told you I had already found my calling. I loved Economics. I enjoyed every lesson, and I was good at it.

Then reality caught up.

When face-to-face classes became inevitable, I knew my family would struggle with the costs. I had passed the DOST undergraduate scholarship, but it only covered specific science and technology programs. Staying in Economics meant giving up that crucial support.

So, I made one of the hardest decisions of my life. I left the degree I loved and shifted to Computer Science.

I barely knew what I was getting into. I loved technology, but beyond that, I was stepping into completely unfamiliar territory. Yet, when life gives you limited choices, you learn to love the path that’s available.

What followed were four years of learning from scratch: countless projects, impossible deadlines, and debugging sessions that stretched until sunrise.

Simultaneously, I chose another heavy commitment. I became a cadet officer of the UPLB ROTC Unit and eventually a member of the UP Vanguard Inc. There were weeks when academics and military training violently collided. I endured camps under makeshift tents with creeping floodwaters, drills that pushed me past exhaustion, and days when comfort felt like a distant luxury.

Many people see the medals, the honors, and the diploma. Few see the version of you who questioned whether you could keep going.

People often say, "Kinaya mo." (You managed it.) Looking back, I don’t think that’s the right phrase. Hindi ko lang kinaya. Kinailangan kong kayanin. (I didn't just manage it. I had to manage it.)

Studying in UP is a privilege. Being a DOST Scholar is a privilege. Becoming a Vanguard is a privilege. And every privilege comes with the responsibility to give your absolute best.

This achievement was never mine alone. It stands on the foundation built by my parents, Ina and Tatay, through years of sacrifice and unconditional support. It belongs to my UP Vanguard brothers and sisters who taught me resilience; to my Yungib family who turned a temporary house into a home; to my CS friends who made the grind a shared adventure; and to my communities at START-DOST and ACSS-UPLB for trusting me to lead.

To my adviser, Sir Reg, thank you for challenging me to become a better engineer. And to the Filipino taxpayers—maraming salamat. I hope to repay your investment through the work I do.

Somewhere along the way, amidst the heaviest days, I came across Albert Camus’ The Myth of Sisyphus. His words stayed with me:

"One must imagine Sisyphus happy."

Not because pushing the boulder is easy, but because there is dignity in choosing to push it anyway. Looking back now, I realize the summit was never the point. It was about becoming the kind of person who refused to stop climbing.

It has been a few days since July 4, and the boulder is finally at the top. The degree is finished, the thesis is defended, and the scholarship has fulfilled its purpose. But more than any title attached to my name, I am grateful for the people who walked beside me.

Para sa bayan. Para sa pamilya. Maraming salamat.

MAPUTE, Andrae M.
2021-*****
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Magna Cum Laude
University of the Philippines Los Baños, Class of 2026

Academic Excellence & Scholarships

• DOST-SEI Merit Scholar
• Recipient, UP Presidential Medal for Academic Excellence
• Recipient, DOST Science Education Institute Medal for Academic Excellence
• Recipient, CAS Medal of Merit for Academic Excellence
• Recipient, ICS Medal of Merit for Academic Excellence
• Member, Honor Society of the Philippines
• Nominee, Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society

Military Service & Vanguard Achievements

• Battalion Commander, UPLB Corps of Cadets
• Member, UP Vanguard, Inc.
• Recipient, UP ROTC Duty Medal & Loyalty Medal

Leadership & Technology Communities

• Deputy Chief Technology Officer for Technology Education, START-DOST
• The Innovation Lab Pioneer Head, Alliance of Computer Science Students - UPLB