EVEN if he was rehearsing for the stage adaptation of Jun Robles Lana’s “About Us But Not About Us,” theater, film and TV actor Epy Quizon managed to finish his college degree and graduated from De La Salle University (DLSU) early this week.
Based on the 2022 film, “About Us But Not About Us” now goes onstage and runs until March 8 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater in Makati. Others in the cast are Elijah Canlas, Romnick Sarmenta and Andoy Ranay.
Epy dedicated his personal milestone to his parents and to his younger self, who was unable to finish college because of “survival.”
Sharing photos of himself posing by DLSU’s facade on Instagram on Tuesday, February 17, the 53-year-old actor said he was “just a thesis away from graduation” when he put his education on hold due to circumstances.
“Dear Self, thirty years ago, in 1996, you walked the halls of De La Salle University just a thesis away from graduation,” Epy said. “Fear and circumstance pulled you away and survival became more important than ceremony. But you made a promise. Through work, loss, responsibility and time, that promise stayed quietly in your heart.”
Even though his father Dolphy didn’t live to see his graduation, Epy is nonetheless fulfilled to complete his degree as a steadier version of himself.
“Dad didn’t get to see this day. Mama, turning 80 soon, will. Today, you return – not as the young man who left, but as someone steadier, stronger and faithful to his word,” he said.
“This diploma is more than paper. It is a promise kept. A prayer answered. A legacy for your children. It was never too late. Congratulations. Animo!!! You finished what you started, and never did you fail,” he added
In a separate post, Epy said that, despite the three-decade delay, his graduation is a culmination of his personal achievements, honoring his goals and those of his parents, siblings and children. He earned his diploma from DLSU’s College of Liberal Arts
“You did not just graduate,” Epy said in his post. “You fulfilled a promise. You honored your father’s memory. You gave your mother the gift of completion. You showed your siblings that perseverance runs in your shared blood. You proved to your children that a vow, no matter how delayed, is sacred.”
Epy said that graduating from college is also his way of honoring his late father, comedy king Dolphy, as well as a gift to his mom.
He added that his college diploma is the fruit of his endurance and a reminder to his children that “it is never too late” to finish what was started.
“This diploma is more than paper,” Epy insisted. “It is integrity made visible. It is endurance framed on a wall. It is the legacy you leave to children and that it is never too late to finish what you start, never too late to rise again, never too late to become the person you once promised to be.”
“Today, you return not as the young man who left, but someone steadier, stronger and faithful to his word.”
He thanked DLSU for being patient and welcoming him back into their halls. He thanked God, “the Author of this long and beautiful story.”
“Thank You for a life filled with second chances, for strength when fear was loud, for grace when time felt lost and for the gift of seeing a promise bloom after thirty years,” Epy shared.
The “Pulang Araw” star went on to take pride in his diploma, which, he said, is “a promise kept, a prayer answered and a legacy for your children.”
He also expressed his gratitude to his alma matter and God for “the gift of seeing a promise bloom after 30 years.” He joins the list of shwbiz personalities who earned their college degrees while working in the industry.
Epy’s followers and fellow celebrities sent their congratulatory messages in the post’s comments section. “Yey!! Congratulations,” director Andoy Ranay commented.
“Congratulations bro,” actor-director Michael de Mesa wrote.
“(I’m) so sure Tatay is sooo proud of u! (I’m) so proud of you bro,” actress Claudine Barretto also commented.
In the past, Epy is known for his roles in big screen films like “Markova: Comfort Gay,” “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral,” “Dirty Linen,” “Firefly” and “Greed.”
Other stars who managed to successfully persevere and return to college amid their success, fame and hectic schedule in the entertainment industry, were Ruffa Gutierrez (who is now pursuing even her masteral degree), Dingdong Dantes and more recently, even Geneva Cruz, who returned to the college to finish her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the Philippine Christian University (PCU).
Diana Zubiri also earned her applied arts degree major in theater from the Miriam College.
Kapuso actress Yasmine Kurdi finished college with flying colors and graduated magna cum laude from the Arellano University with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Her hubby, Rey, as well as her daughter Ayesha attended her graduation ceremony at the PICC.
Singer Ronnie Liang pursued his master’s degree in 2022 from the PCU with a master’s degree in management (major in national security and administration. He accomplished that after earning his bachelor’s degree in elementary education (major in general science) from the Holy Angel University.
The post Epy, 53, honors father Dolphy with a college diploma appeared first on Journal News Online.
