Page 54 - The Flame

Faces

ROM being one of the sought after their home.
comedians in the showbiz industry
Fduring his time, television and film Short recollections
actor Dennis Padilla makes an unexpected At a young age, Padilla already ex-
comeback in the Faculty of Arts and Letters pressed desires to become an actor like his
(Artlets). father, Dencio.
Despite his busy schedule, Padilla’s “Since elementary gusto ko ng mag-ar-
burning desire to finish his studies took tista,” he said. However, he was restrained
over him as he decided to take his back to become a full-time child actor and was
subjects after 26 years of being active in only allowed to attend acting commit-
show business. For Padilla, education must ments during weekends out of his father’s
be prioritized for it functions as “a tool to fear that it might affect his studies.
improve one’s living.” “Our father wanted us to finish study-
ing,” he said, adding that his father’s strict-
The comeback ness eventually paid up.
It was last June 2010 when Padilla en- He finished his elementary and sec-
rolled in the Faculty to complete his back ondary education from the Notre Dame
“Anyone can be successful, but being
educated makes you worthy to impart your
knowledge to other people...Masuwerte kayo

na may mga magulang kayong napag-aaral
kayo sa kabila ng hirap ng buhay,”

- Actor Dennis Padilla
subjects namely the Reserved Officer of Greater Manila in Caloocan City. When
Training Corps (ROTC) and Thesis courses. he was about to enter college, his options
A Political Science major, Padilla failed were San Beda College, University of the
to defend his thesis paper in 1984. “Tapos East, and the University of Santo Tomas
ko nang isulat, ‘di ko lang na-defend,” he where he passed all the entrance exami-
said. nations.
Despite his desire to complete his edu- “Nakapasa ako doon sa tatlo pero
cation last year, Padilla still failed to defend pinili ko sa UST,” Padilla said, adding that
his thesis because of having “difficulties in the University’s large environment and
time management.” refreshing atmosphere contributed in his
Still, Padilla showed optimism by keep- decision to become a Thomasian.
ing a positive attitude and expressing ex- Furthermore, he took Political Science
citement to return to school. “At least, the- because of his interest to become a lawyer
sis na lang,” he said. in the future.
With his endeavor to finish his course, Padilla considers the block system im-
Padilla plans to enroll again in 2012 and posed by the University as one of the most
hopefully finish all the requirements. remarkable things it offers. As part of a
Even as an undergraduate, Padilla ad- block, he was able to build strong ties with
mitted that he was able to apply the po- some of his batchmates, with whom he
litical science lessons he learned over the still has connections until now. Dennis Padilla
years especially when he became coun- Being active in the show business in-
cilor of Caloocan in 2001. dustry during his college days, Padilla said A comedian’s comeback
Nevertheless, he reiterated that the that he learned how to blend with every-
real reason for his decision to come back one inside the campus not as a celebrity,
was because of his principles, and not out but as an ordinary person. However, he ad-
of using them for his political interests. mitted that his tapings and showbiz com-
“Iba pa rin ang may pinag-aralan,” Pa- mitments caused conflicts in some of his “Upon the education of the people of this country, the fate of this country depends.”
dilla said. He added that there were also school activities. - Benjamin Disraeli
times when his children would ask him He shared that one of the worst experi-
why he does not have a college degree, a ences he had back then was the difficulty in Padilla’s perspective towards education
situation he finds difficult to explain. juggling his time for academics and show- is more than just finishing the degree as
Padilla admitted that he was really biz, further narrating that his thesis mates a societal norm. For him, the real bearing
looking forward in getting his diploma so felt upset every time he was not able to of education is to know how to effectively
he could finally show his children the real contribute in their group work. It was then relate and communicate with people while
importance of education. when he decided that he should set his pri- giving them due respect.
“That would do the explanation need- orities straight for everyone else’s benefit. “It trains you how to treat your friends,
ed,” Padilla said, anticipating the time to professors, family, and even your enemies
have his diploma framed and displayed in Educational philosophy properly,” Padilla said, adding that moral

54 | FLAME