Student Brought Life-Size Cutout of His Late Mother to Grad Ceremony to Pay Tribute to Her

This is a story about pride and joy, hardship and dreams.

Get ready for the feels people.

Paulo John Alinsog graduated with a degree in Business Administration from the Lyceum of the Philippines University in July 2019.

But at the graduation ceremony in the Philippine International Convention Centre (PICC) in Pasay City, his mother wasn’t with him.

Instead, a life-sized cutout of his mother was beside him in all his graduation photos. On 15 July, he tweeted the following:

SA PINAKA MAGANDA KONG NANAY! MA, GRADUATE NA PANGANAY MO SANA HAPPY KA JAN SA PILING NI GOD. ITO ANG GUSTO MO KAYA TINAPOS KO. MAHAL NA MAHAL KITA. 😭💕

ALINSOG, PAULO JOHN
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Business Management
SANA CUM LAUDE pic.twitter.com/FxVmXUZQ1K

— Paulo John (@paudaexplorer) July 16, 2019

“To my most beautiful mother! Ma, your eldest has graduated I hope you’re happy in the presence of God. I finished school because this is what you wanted. I love you very much.

ALINSOG, PAULO JOHN

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Business Management

CUM LAUDE HOPEFUL”

His mother’s dream to see him graduate

Paulo’s mom passed away in 2016 due to complications from pneumonia. He was raised by his single mom where she would struggle just to make ends meet and send him to private school. Even when she remarried, she wouldn’t ask her new husband for money.

“She was a single parent. She sent me to private schools. And we were very close to each other. My mother didn’t ask my stepfather to send me to college. All of the money came from her and my aunts who helped out.”

And like any mother, it was her lifelong dream to see Paulo graduate and succeed in life. Knowing that, Paulo had a company make a styrofoam cutout, and was very insistent on the measurements to be 157 cm in his request.

“I had that standee made so that I could at least feel my mum’s presence on graduation day because my graduation from college was our dream.”

“I ordered the standee two weeks ago because I’ve always wanted her to accompany me on my graduation day. When the standee was delivered to me, I cried because I thought it was real. I thought it was beautiful and creepy at the same time.”

The cutout was made by Josiah’s Event Styling and Catering Services in Marikina, costing PHP1,500 (S$39.90) including delivery fee.

Even though his mom might not physically be there, I’m sure she’s watching Paulo with pride.

“When I brought it (the cutout) to my graduation, I was so happy because I really felt I was with my mum.”

Netizens touched

His tweet received more than 4,700 shares and 47,900 likes, with netizens praising him for his love for his mother.

Needless to say, we’re all proud of you, Paulo. Your mom is sure to be watching.

And this guy can go far. We’re sure of that.