Nanay, classmate: The story of Flor Edroso

MANILA, Philippines – Like most high students who graduated this summer, Flordeliza Edroso is excited about starting college.

But Flor isn’t just any high school senior. She’s also a 70-year-old grandma with a dream to finish college.

At first, it was hard to fit in. She would stow her uniform in her bag and change in school to avoid her neighbors’ stares. She found some of her classmates too rowdy. She found it hard to pay attention in class, especially during math.

It was difficult to focus on her dream. But she found help – through some of her classmates who welcomed her into their barkada. 

Even though Flor was more than thrice their age, they treated her as one of their friends. They did everything together: eat during recess, hang out after class, and even attend birthday parties at each others’ homes. They joked and shared stories with each other. According to her classmates, Flor was great at giving love advice. She became the “Nanay” (mother) of their group, in the truest sense of the word.

In return, they helped Nanay Flor review for her lessons, bought her blood pressure medicine, and defended her against the class bullies who poked fun at her circumstances.

For Nanay Flor, her classmates weren’t just her friends. They became her second family. The classroom, a place of learning, felt like home. – Rappler.com

Have you ever encountered a person who was closer to you than kin – even if you weren’t blood related? Jollibee invites everyone to share their own “paano kami naging pamilya (how we became a family” stories. Visit Jollibee’s Facebook page to submit your story.