op@clsu.edu.ph (044) 940 8785
CLSU Logo

Central Luzon State University

Science City of Muñoz, 3120 Nueva Ecija, Philippines

University

Silver Lining along the Railways: The Story of an Optimistic Statistician

Jul. 12, 2023

Stratcom | SCO

"It doesn't matter how tough the goal is, as long as you are persistent enough to learn, you’ll achieve that impossible goal." This is the personal mantra of Gerome B. Jacinto, a BS Statistics student of Central Luzon State University (CLSU), who will lead the graduating class of 2023 during the 71st Annual Commencement Exercises on July 14 as Summa Cum Laude - the highest academic honor. Being born and raised in an abandoned comfort room of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) in Talavera, Nueva Ecija, Mr. Jacinto learned to be consistent and optimistic as he always sees the bright future ahead of him despite the limitations surrounding him. "Akala ko talaga nung bata ako mayaman kami, kasi yung pader namin naka tiles pero yung sahig sementado lang, walang tiles. Yun pala ang bahay namin ay banyo ng PNR noong araw," Jacinto narrated. For his family to make ends meet, his father, Mr. Roberto Andaya Jacinto, tried several jobs to sustain their household needs while his mother, Ms. Eleanor Bernabe Jacinto, at the age of 27 decided to leave the country and work abroad to finance his studies and his sibling. "Malaki yung pasasalamat ko sa kanila, kasi nung pinanganak nila ako 23 years old lang sila parehas noon at marami pa sana silang pwede makamit at magawa sa edad na yun. At alam ko nung ipininanganak ako, sinakripisyo nila yung mga pangarap nila para sa akin. Kaya sabi ko, gagalingan ko at papatunayan ko sa kanila na hindi masasayang yung mga paghihirap nila Mama at Papa." Seeing the sacrifices and hard work of his parents, Gerome made it a goal to help his family in every way he can. Despite his academic achievement, his attempt to apply for a scholarship was denied, nevertheless, Gerome always looked for the silver lining in every situation. He used this as his motivation to excel in his studies, leading him to earn flat one grades in almost all of his subjects." "By continuously doing good things, opportunities will arise, hindi man agad-agad but it will, and true enough, dahil saking magandang academic performance during my 1st and 2nd year, nakapag-qualify na ako sa DOST Scholarship nung mag 3rd year ako." Jacinto added. With his consistent grades, he obtained the highest GPA of 1.05 and will be awarded as Summa Cum Laude, but despite being the valedictorian of his batch, he believes that it's not just pure intelligence but his grit, positivity, and perseverance that made him accomplish this difficult colossal academic feat. Hardships always happen to us but if we can keep looking at the bright side of every situation like Gerome who always stays optimistic even in the hardest situation, consistency in our actions will make us limitless.

Other Stories

CTEC Kicks Off its Career Caravan in Guimba, NE

Following the official opening of the College Admission Test (CAT) application period, the Central Luzon State University (CLSU), through its Testing and Evaluation Center (CTEC), officially kicked off its 2025 Career Caravan dubbed as LIPAD (Learn & Live your Interests, Passions, Ambitions, and Dreams) today, September 12 at the Bartolome Sangalang National High School (BSNHS) in Guimba, Nueva Ecija. Faculty members from the College of Arts and Social Sciences, who introduced their undergraduate programs, and the Office of Student Affairs, which facilitated career planning sessions, joined the CTEC in this initiative. The event concluded with the launching of the Mobile CLSU-CAT Online Application, which allowed BSNHS senior high school students to begin their application process onsite, providing a convenient and concrete first step toward their academic future at the university. The LIPAD" Career Caravan is a series of events in different high schools that aims to help students make informed decisions about academic and career choices by focusing on their individual strengths and interests. It further emphasises the importance of aligning academic paths with personal passions, skills, and long-term professional goals. Through this initiative, CLSU reaffirms its commitment to guiding and empowering young learners, helping them to soar toward their dream course.

Sep. 12, 2025

CLSU Strengthens Community Outreach Efforts in NE with New Partnerships

The Central Luzon State University (CLSU) is enhancing its commitment to community outreach by establishing new partnerships. On September 9, 2025, the University signed several Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) to bring its research-backed technologies and expertise to more communities in Nueva Ecija. The first MOA was signed between the University Extension Program Office (UEPO) and the Local Government Units (LGUs) of Nampicuan and Talugtug. Led by Dr. Emmanuel M. Vera Cruz, Vice President for Research and Extension, and Dr. Aldrin E. Badua, Director of the UEPO, along with the respective mayors, Hon. Mario G. Lacurom of Nampicuan and Hon. Pacifico B. Monta of Talugtug. This agreement aims to establish "techno-hubs" in these municipalities where farmers can adopt technologies developed by CLSU. Additionally, the Municipality of Nampicuan has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the UEPO to access other services, including training related to agriculture and various other fields. The second MOA was signed between the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS), led by their Dean, Dr. Jay C. Santos, and the Municipality of Talugtug, represented by Mayor Monta. This agreement focuses on the project "Community Engagement: Social Capacity Building, Civic and Gender Awareness, and Cultural Mapping," aiming to utilize CLSU's expertise to tackle key social and economic challenges in the area. The series of signing ceremonies was led by Dr. Evaristo A. Abella, University President, along with key representatives and witnesses from CLSU and the partner Local Government Units (LGUs) that highlighted the significance and potential impact of the new partnerships.

Sep. 10, 2025

CLSU, AWB USA Conduct Training on Water Evaluation and Adaptation Planning

Central Luzon State University (CLSU), in partnership with Academics without Borders-United States of America (AWB USA), commenced an important training session on Water Evaluation and Adaptation Planning (WEAP) from September 8 to 11, 2025. Over 30 participants attended the training, which is a collaborative effort between the Institute for Climate Change and Environmental Management (ICCEM), the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (DABE), the College of Science (CoS), and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). The goal is to equip students, faculty, and staff with the necessary tools to manage water resources effectively in the face of climate change. During the opening program, University President Dr. Evaristo A. Abella emphasized the significance of this workshop for the university. “Remember that as an agricultural university, it is important that we should be able to connect every detailed factor that will improve the productivity and the food sustainability and security of our country,” he stated. Additionally, Dr. Gella Patria L. Abella, Head of the Institute for Climate Change and Environmental Management (ICCEM), introduced Dr. Samuel S. Solis, a professor from the University of California, Davis, USA, and a volunteer from AWB USA, who served as the resource person for the session. Dr. Solis is expected to discuss various water evaluation and adaptation planning topics and will guide participants in hands-on activities to build a WEAP model for CLSU. AWB USA is a non-profit organization based in Davis, California, that supports building capacity in institutions of higher education in developing nations. #SievingForExcellence

Sep. 09, 2025

View More