AS A POLITICIAN, Rommel T. Labasan is used to attending commencement ceremonies in different schools. He is usually a guest of honor. Today, however, it is his turn to wear a toga and march, this time as a graduate.

Labasan, the number one Sangguniang Bayan member of Pinili town, is one of nine candidates for graduation for the degree Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.

He was actually admitted to the university in 1983 as a BS Biology freshman. Halfway through the program, however, he had to quit school when his father Avelino, an engineer, successfully petitioned him to migrate in the United States and work as a machinist in a multinational corporation.

But the land of milk and honey’s lure were no match to the treasures he left back home: his wife Janette and their kids Jerome and Crystal. Labasan said he felt so homesick, especially because there was no telephone system in Pinili yet at that time, snail mail being their only means of communication. And so, in 1992, he decided to come home, for good. He then worked full time as a farmer, planting garlic, onion, and tobacco. He also bred hogs and drove a tricycle on the side to augment their family income.

The call for public service inevitably came. As grandson of the late Luis Tamayo, a well-loved politician in Pinili in the 80s, politics is not really new to him. In addition, his mom Cleofe, who served as dentist in the rural health unit for over two decades until her death in 1994, also imbibed in him the value of service.

With the prodding of his fellow farmers, Labasan started his political career as a kagawad of Barangay Pagdilao in Pinili in 1999. Two years after, he was elected as a municipal councilor, ranking number two in the polls. He was later reelected, in 2004 and 2007, on both occasions on top of the heap.

Though a college undergraduate, he is well-respected among his colleagues that they handed him the chairmanship of the Committee on Laws along with the Committee on Agriculture.

Despite his success in politics though, Labasan felt deep inside him a vacuum waiting to be filled. He wanted to finish college.

In 1994, he then applied for readmission to MMSU, but was informed that he had to start from scratch as the curriculum had been revised many times over during his two-decade leave from the university. This did not dampen his spirit.

Among his teachers in the 80s were Dr. Ritha Reyes, Dr. Perla Ulit, and Prof. Constante Salasac of CAS. He was under their tutelage again twenty years after. \"It felt a bit odd\", Labasan confessed, \"but it was a meaningful and humbling experience\".

Believing in the value of education, he juggled time between his studies and his job as a legislator. Asked why he chose the BA Sociology program, he said, \"It is the course that could best equip me with knowledge and skills to understand the plight of my constituency, and to work on programs that will serve their best interests.\"

But Labasan did not only pursue his studies with zest, he was also actively involved with the Sociology Guild, and had no qualms taking orders from student leaders younger than his own children.

\"Congratulations, Daddy!\"

One of the good things brought about by his studies, Labasan shares, is the closer bond he established with his children. He recounts that they would do assignments and review for examinations together.

Labasan stored in his mobile phone text messages sent by his kids after he reported to them that he was graduating, finally. His eldest son Jerome, who recently earned a degree in nursing from a Laoag college, was particularly elated. He can now call his dad, \"batchmate\".

On March 13, the three-term councilor successfully defended his thesis entitled, Perceived Effectiveness of Gender and Development (GAD) programs in Pinili, Ilocos Norte. He was under the advisorship of this writer who describes Labasan as \"very humble and receptive\".

In his thesis’ acknowledgment page, an emotional Labasan wrote, \"The author’s journey through college had been epically long and uphill, but dedicated mentors were always on his side, and to them he expresses appreciation, to whatever extent words can embody how grateful he feels\".

Asked what his next plans are, the 42-year old graduate intimated that he wants to concentrate in public service and in taking care of his six children, although he gave hints he might eventually apply for admission to the College of Law. (Herdy L. Yumul)