mmalabanan
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
Perhaps this was Jesus Peralta Martinez’ mantra when he decided to get a college degree in his 60’s. At 70 years old, he is the oldest person to graduate from the Pangasinan State University (PSU) this year.
An accomplished man, Martinez decided to stop schooling 40 years ago to live the American dream. Initially, he worked as insurance agent and eventually became an insurance broker. Through hard work, Martinez was able to establish his own agency, the Jess Martinez Insurance Agency in 1970.
Most of his life, Martinez spent great efforts in ensuring the future of his 7 children, who grew up to be professionals.
Indeed, Martinez found his success in the US.
However, the dual US and Filipino citizen decided to return to the Philippines to pursue a lifelong dream.
“To me it was others first before self. But now that my children are professionals, it’s about time I also go back to school and earn my dream degree,” he told The Philippine Star.
With the help of CHED’s Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), Martinez was able to get a college degree at the PSU’s Lingayen campus. He also earned his as well as Masters in Development Management at the university’s Urdaneta City campus.
An assessment and accreditation program at the tertiary level, the ETEEAP is designed to give credit and equivalencies to an individual who gained knowledge, values, attitudes, and skills from relevant work.
Filipinos who can benefit from this program must be a high school graduate, at 22 years of age, and have work experience of at least five years in the field related to the academic program desired.
Learn more about ETEEAP by visiting CHED’s site.
