01/08/2026
๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐ณ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐จ ๐๐ก๐๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ญ
Every victory has its moment of applause, but only a few become stories worth remembering long after the cheers have faded.
In the roaring chaos of the Palakasan 2026 championship announcement, Abdul Azis V. Pandi stood under the blinking spotlights. Clasping the hand of the opposing governor, the Governor of the College of Engineering (COE) waited in tense anticipation. He had spent his three years watching this moment from the audience, only wondering how that would feel. And now, the time has come to let him know.
When the victory of COE was finally declared, it was never about personal glory. It was about representing an entire college whose countless hours of preparation had finally paid off. It was a full-circle moment that symbolized the leadership journey he had spent years building.
Yet behind that unforgettable celebration lies a story that stretches far beyond one championship.
Affectionately known as "Bents" by the Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) community, his journey began as a confused freshman in BS Accountancy during online classes. He soon shifted to his dream course, Chemical Engineering, despite the price of becoming an irregular student and accepting a one-year graduation extension. He climbed a flawless leadership trajectory from a first-year undersecretary in JPIA, to Vice President for Creatives in JPiChE, to Editor-in-Chief of the college publication Thuโum, and finally, Governor of the COE.
Each role was never pursued for prestige alone but for the opportunity to serve sincerely. For him, leadership meant creating projects that eased people's burdens, organizing events that brought joy, and opening doors for others without expecting recognition in return. Seeing people smile because of his efforts became the greatest reward he could ever receive.
Despite carrying the weight of multiple leadership positions, he never allowed his academics to suffer. Graduating Magna Cum Laude became the crowning achievement of his college life - a testament that excellence in service and scholarship could coexist. Beyond the honors, he also completed an internship in Taiwan, won national journalism competition, and earned the prestigious DOST-SEI Scholarship. Still, among all these accomplishments, the Latin honor remained the one he treasured most because it represented the sacrifice his parents could truly appreciate and the promise he made to prioritize education above all else.
The foundation of this mindset was planted long before college.
He often recalls the advice of his Grade 6 teacher that guided him throughout: always aim for perfection. According to his teacher, there are only three levels - failure, pass, and perfection. If one always aims for perfection, even falling short still results in excellence. But if the goal is merely to pass, the margin for failure becomes much smaller. Thus, he refused to settle for work that was merely "good enough." Every task deserved wholehearted effort, believing output always equals input.
Yet, his journey was not without trials.
In his final semester, while drowning under his plant design manuscript, he faced his first-ever removal examination - completing the COE student package. And the possibility of falling short just before graduation frightened him the most. Yet instead of allowing failure to define him, he viewed it as another lesson in resilience.
Low scores, difficult subjects, and unexpected setbacks never discouraged him because he believed that every challenge simply meant there was room to improve. Rather than blaming circumstances or other people, he chose to trust himself, believing that no matter how difficult the situation became, he would always find a way forward.
When exhaustion threatened to consume him, he relied on simple but meaningful habits - sleeping, taking breaks from social media, spending time with friends, and enjoying his favorite caramel milk tea with coffee jelly. Sometimes, the smallest acts of self-care became the strongest sources of motivation.
Interestingly, this outlook mirrors the world of Pokรฉmon, a franchise that has been part of his life since childhood.
Growing up with limited entertainment, he repeatedly watched a single Pokรฉmon episode left behind on an old DVD until he became fascinated by its creativity and endless possibilities. As he grew older, Pokรฉmon became more than a game - it became a place of comfort, imagination, and escape during stressful times, even building a bedroom shrine to Mudkip.
However, he relates most to Turtwig, a calm, "in the moment" Pokรฉmon. Like Turtwig, he handles current responsibilities diligently but refuses to overthink tomorrow's problems until they officially arrive.
Just as Pokรฉmon trainers grow stronger through every battle, he believes people also become stronger through every obstacle they overcome. Every challenge becomes another opportunity to evolve into a better version of themselves.
And behind every success story, however, stands someone who inspires it.
For him, that person is Lornie Sabugaa, one of his earliest college friends. Watching her balance academics while working late into the night to support her family completely changed his perspective on perseverance. If she could continue excelling despite carrying responsibilities far heavier than his own, he realized he had no excuse not to maximize the opportunities he had been blessed with. Her determination constantly reminded him to never waste the privileges, scholarship, and support his own family had provided. She became living proof that discipline and commitment can overcome even the most difficult circumstances.
As graduation marks the end of one chapter, it also signals the beginning of another.
His immediate goal is to pass both the Chemical Technician and Chemical Engineer Licensure Examinations, before gaining industry experience and eventually contributing to food manufacturing. Beyond professional success, he dreams of giving back to his parents for every sacrifice they made and, someday, fulfilling a promise he made years ago - to contribute, even in the smallest way, toward research that could help fight cancer, inspired by the loss of a loved one.
Looking back, he realizes that college was not only about earning grades or collecting titles. It was about preparing for the uncertainty that comes after graduation. He admits wishing he had planned earlier for life beyond the university, realizing only now how quickly the world moves once the classroom doors close. Yet one lesson remains constant: celebrate every victory, no matter how small, because only you truly understand the journey it took to get there. Happiness should never be postponed until success arrives; sometimes, simply surviving another difficult day is already worth celebrating.
To students hoping to follow a similar path, his advice is both simple and profound: commit wholeheartedly. Leadership, academics, and extracurricular pursuits are all possible, but only if one genuinely chooses them and gives them the time and dedication they deserve. Passion transforms responsibility into purpose, and purpose transforms ordinary efforts into extraordinary achievements. Holistic growth, he believes, comes from embracing opportunities beyond the classroom while never losing sight of one's priorities.
Above all, he hopes his legacy will not merely be remembered through titles or awards. Instead, he wishes to be known as someone who gave his all in everything he pursued - someone whose passion created opportunities, inspired others, and left a positive impact on the lives of fellow students. Even if people forget his name someday, he hopes they will remember the difference he made.
And perhaps, like the Pokรฉmon journeys he has cherished since childhood, the greatest victories are never measured by trophies alone but by the lives touched along the way.
Written by Angel Faith Mirayo
Photo by Xander Cage Ycong
Layout by Audrae Gabriel Trumata
