Dr. Marvin M. Flores
(We are re-posting this inspiring feature story published in 2009 about one of our students, Marvin M. Flores, who graduated summa cum laude with an undergraduate degree in Physics. This is a story of perseverance, passion and resilience; it affirms the value of hard work and strong faith in God in the pursuit of excellence, despite hardships in life. In 2017, Marvin obtained his PhD in Physics from the University of the Philippines and was awarded Most Outstanding Ph.D. Graduate of the UP Diliman College of Science.)
“The more you achieve something, the more you give your best to maintaining the quality of your performance,” says Marvin Flores, who graduated from Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental with a Bachelor of Science in Physics, summa cum laude, last month. This highest academic distinction was last awarded by the university in 1988.
His academic distinction is even more remarkable considering the economic obstacles that Marvin overcame throughout his student years.
Marvin grew up understanding that his parents did not have much to support him. His mother earns P100 per day stuffing longganisa (native sausage), and his father is a carpenter who gets paid P150 a day when contracted for construction work. He never questioned why other children had toys or could go to movies and hang out. It did not even bother him that he had to sell sliced mangoes at the park when his father’s pay was delayed for a month.
“I never pitied myself. I was born to this kind of life, and I am able to adjust to it. If I were rich, I likely would not be able to find fulfillment in my achievements and appreciate the value of my struggles,” he says.
While other kids had their family’s material wealth to back them up, he explains, “I had my determination to excel in my studies as my driving force. Even if I had less, I knew I could do more.”
Marvin recalls how he had to study without electricity in a small nipa house when he was in elementary, relying on the glimmer of light from a gas lamp. He laughs as he shared how his classmates teased him that his notebooks smelled of kerosene.
“Perhaps because I am left-handed, my hand always hit the lamp and kerosene spilled on my notebook. There were also times when my brother accidentally kicked the lamp while sleeping,” he explains.
The opportunity to have electricity came when Marvin was in Grade 6 and won a national quiz competition in Philippine history held in Tagaytay.
“When I came home, then Mayor Ipe Remollo asked me how I wanted to be honored by the city. My teacher suggested to have electricity installed to our house,” he recalls.
A computer set was part of the prize in the national tournament, but it never reach him.
“The sponsor had a problem shipping it, so my mother had to borrow money to come to Manila to claim it,” he says. Because of the debt they incurred, Marvin agreed to sell the computer to a family friend in Manila. The balance from the sale was used to buy a television set.
“Growing up as a teenager, I did not know about those bands and performing artists my classmates were talking about, until we bought a TV. So I was happy to have sold the computer,” he says.
From that time on, Marvin had practical use for his winnings in tournaments. In high school, where he also graduated valedictorian, he used a portion of his prize money from a regional tournament in Philippine history to buy a VCD player and the rest, to cement the walls of their house.
Just this year, he committed his Bank of the Philippine Islands Science Award cash gift to repairing their toilet.
“Our CR (comfort room) is in a bad shape. I promised my parents to help them repair it. It is good enough though compared to when I was in elementary, when we had to use our neighbor’s CR because we had none,” he shares.
Looking back, Marvin points to how he translated his family’s economic condition into a challenge to be excellent. “I was convinced that I had to do my best. I had a goal, and I set out to fulfill it.”
Graduating summa cum laude was never part of his plan. There was a time when Marvin did not even think of studying in major universities, since his family’s limited income made studying in good private schools a near impossibility. But he was determined, and he took the entrance exams of Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines and Silliman University. He passed all three, and decided to stay closer to home.
Marvin worked as a student assistant at the Office of Student Affairs and in the laboratory of the Physics Department. This, plus his scholarship from the Department of Science and Technology and the academic scholarships from the university, put him through college.
“I did not envy those who spent their free time lounging around. I learned a lot as a student assistant and developed discipline and hard work,” he says.
His positive attitude towards work and commitment to his studies generated scholarship endorsements for him. His perseverance also paid off when a Silliman alumna and the university administration shouldered the balance of his tuition in his last semester of college.
But it is not all work for Marvin. He also finds time to play and has a long list of computer games among his favorites. He loves reading, and interestingly shifts to physics and history books when he gets bored. A rock music aficionado, he explains: “Rock music is more intellectual than love songs. If only you pay attention and interpret the lyrics in rock music, you will realize consequences of certain actions and hopefully decide to avoid them.”
Marvin dreams of being called “Dr. Marvin Flores” and becoming a noted a physicist. He dreams too of receiving a Nobel Prize in Physics. While distinctly nationalistic, his concept of patriotism is one that views discoveries and inventions as benefiting not only Filipinos.
“Of course, Filipino scientists want to make the country proud. But it is a sad reality that there is lack of support for their inventions. You cannot blame great Filipinos for bringing their inventions outside the Philippines, especially when they have done their best to get government support and recognition.”
As Marvin joins thousands of Filipino college graduates, he is confronted by a tough question: “Should I pursue what I want or what I need?”
Marvin wants to go to graduate school, but he weighs this option against an offer of a managerial post in a bank.
“My family needs money. I have plans for them,” he says, but adds, “I know He also has plans for me. I am strong in my faith and my constant question about God makes me know Him more.” (Published in The Philippine Star, by Mark Raygan E. Garcia)
