Photog Shares Touching Story Behind This Viral Graduation Photo Of Daughter And Her Dad

• We all know how Filipinos from all walks of life put a premium on education. For many, it is a ticket to a better life. So, it came as no surprise when the graduation photo of senior high school (SHS) graduate Jerdy Grace Araneta with dad, Rodrigo, a balut vendor, became viral.

  The photo showed Jerdy holding up a sign with the message, “Dahil sa balut, diploma ay naabot.” The photo has become a representation of every Filipino who wants the same achievement for their sons and daughters.

  The story behind the viral photo

  The photographer behind the trending photo is Carl Anthony “C-an” Salaveria Puño, the owner of Flash of Siniloan studio located inside the new municipal hall of Siniloan in Laguna.

  Carl shares his studio was commissioned to take photos of the graduates of Siniloan Integrated National High School. He and his group of creatives also happen to be alumni of the school as well.

  Carl shares they have known Kuya Rodrigo from way back because they often buy balut from him. At the time of the shoot, Rodrigo accompanied his daughter to the studio but stayed outside because of the heat and the limited number of people that were allowed inside.

  “Pero dahil po kilala namin siya at suki kami sa balut niya, pinapasok namin siya para manuod lang po,” recalls Carl.

  He observed how Kuya Rodrigo watched her daughter with so much pride. So Carl and his group decided to invite him to join the photoshoot.

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  “Naramdaman namin na proud na proud po siya, kaya kami na nag alok ng free photography session sa kanila with creatives. Ayun, dun po nag start after ma-upload, nag trending na po.”

  

  The inspiring message was written by the studio’s group of creatives, says Carl. “Yung creative staff po namin nakaisip, sinangayunan naman po ni Jerdy at ni Tatay.”

  PHOTO BY Carl Anthony Salaveria Puño

  Graduates carrying signs with messages   

  Checking out the studio’s other Facebook posts revealed photos of other graduates carrying signs with messages filled with, well, humor.

  One graduate is shown holding up a sign that read, “Tsaka na ako sasali sa With Honors, pag meron nang cash prize.”

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  Another male graduate had a message that said, “Sorry girls, study first.”

  One smirking graduate simply had a close and open quotation symbol on his sign — the message open to all sorts of interpretation.

  As more graduation photos are expected to surface on our social media feeds in the coming months, Jerdy’s and Kuya Rodrigo’s is standing out because it is resonating with parents who have worked hard for their children’s education — they do deserve to be part of the photo, right?

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  Thanks to Flash of Siniloan, for the foresight to get Tatay Rodrigo in the frame.

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