On a typical day inside his STEFTI classroom, Marvin Pacuri was the unassuming, lanky boy seated at the back row ready to pounce on a Trigonometry question from his Math teacher. He had always been his classmates’ go-to guy for last minute tutorials in Math and Science. He was a known Math wizard on campus, such that he earned the moniker Pakaritay Daredevil from his peers. Today we catch up with Marvin to find out what exactly he’s been up to since graduating:
I finished High School in STEFTI as the Class Salutatorian of Batch 2015. After qualifying to the University of the Philippines-Diliman, I decided to pursue my college education in that prestigious university. My family and friends had reservations upon me entering UP because I did not make it into my first-choice course’s quota. But that didn’t stop me from entering my dream school. I shifted to my original choice, that is, BS Civil Engineering a year later.
BS Civil Engineering BS Interior Design UP ACES 1
In the university, I joined numerous organizations and I became one of the head organizers of UP Sidlangan’s Pakaritay, a regional competition of various types of events ranging from academic to literary proficiency, of which I was a consistent winner back in STEFTI.
In my course’s home organization, the UP Association of Civil Engineering Students, I also became one of the head organizers of the National Civil Engineering Webinar Series 2020, an online benefit event which talks about the importance of the Civil Engineering profession during a global pandemic.
I graduated in BS Civil Engineering as Magna Cum Laude last July 2021.
University of the Philippines-Diliman
Before I got caught in the lockdown in Manila, I had to rush and take the last flight back to Tacloban.
During the height of the pandemic in 2020, I formed Project Protect together with my high school classmates. Project Protect is a volunteer group which aims to provide personal protective equipment and other mitigation measures such as spray tents and portable handwashing stations to barangay health centers. I designed the handwashing stations and spearheaded its construction until completion while waiting for the schedule of the board exams in May 2022.
I finally took the Civil Engineering Licensure Examination last May 1-2, and passed!
When I was reviewing for the board exam, I put to use what STEFTI taught me: the skill of searching for answers to one’s own questions and taking down notes. STEFTI has an unconventional method of instruction wherein the students tackle cumbersome activity sheets every day, independently. We had to answer the guide questions as comprehensively but as concisely as possible by reading the textbook on our own; not by being provided with spoon-fed information from our teachers.
If I can turn back the hands of time, I won’t hesitate to go back to STEFTI again and relish the way it gives importance to the arts. In STEFTI, MAPEH and extracurricular activities were a very huge deal. I love recalling how we scampered to our special groups and interest clubs as soon as classes ended for training and academic contest review sessions. Moreover, our teachers often told us to do a stage performance at every opportunity possible, may it be Foundation Week, Holy Masses, English Month, Buwan ng Wika, or any random event.
NAMCYA NAMCYA NAMCYA Alumni with participants and staff Boy Scouts Eagle Scouts
Due to this holistic approach to education inculcated in us, STEFTI taught me the value of well-roundedness. STEFTI taught me not to shy away from having to learn new skills because in doing so, I can be adaptable, which is very important in college and in the professional world. Moreover, I learned that there is always something to gain in learning new skills.
I am a newly- licensed civil engineer and I am still learning the ropes of this trade. The piece of advice that I would like to give, especially for the ones like me who are about to enter their new chapter in life, may it be entering college, pursuing med school or law school, going into a new job, getting married, etc. is that which I got from my guidance counselor back in university:
“College is a whole different monster. Your high school achievements will not mean as much anymore when you enter college. You are going to start from a blank slate. I know the thought of having to learn new skills and having to make new connections, new achievements, and setting new milestones is scary. But learn to keep your feet on the ground and you’ll do just fine.”
MARVIN G. PACURI
Salutatorian, STEFTI HS Batch 2015
Cherish the lovely moments you have in this school that hones its students holistically.
