Samboy Lim’s daughter soars as U.P. summa cum laude

MANILA, Philippines – The daughter of the basketball legend dubbed “The Skywalker” graduated summa cum laude from the University of the Philippines Diliman – a milestone made all the more special as her father, now wheelchair-bound, was able to make it to the commencement rites.

Jamie Christine Lim, 22, daughter of Philippine Basketball Association icon Samboy Lim and former Pag-IBIG Fund chief Darlene Berberabe, obtained a general weighted average of 1.073 for her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics degree.

She stood as the College of Science valedictorian and also received the Joker Arroyo Award for Outstanding BS Graduate in Mathematics.

“My parents always taught me to keep my eye on the ball, to stay focused, disciplined, and to show effort,” Jamie said in her valedictory address.

It was their home “filled with love, support, and kindness,” added Jamie, that pushed her to fight for her dreams.

Sharing dad’s love for sports

Jamie’s graduation was the first event that Samboy attended since he suffered cardiac arrest in November 2014. He can no longer see, speak, or move, but can hear.

“Sobrang mahal na mahal ni Samboy si Jamie. Si Jamie naman sobrang makapamilya ‘yan. Patuloy parin ang respeto ni Jamie sa tatay niya,” said Berberabe.

(Samboy loves Jamie very much. Jamie is also a family-oriented person. She’s respectful of her father.)

It’s like father, like daughter, too, when it comes to sports. Jamie holds a black belt in karate and has won a number of karate bouts since she was 6.

Every now and then, she would update her father about NBA games and tell stories about her karate competitions.

In her valedictory speech, Jamie shared that “discipline, grit, focus, and excellence” – values she honed in her karate practice – guided her journey in the state university.

Value of science

Jamie also reminded her fellow graduates to give back to the nation by “maintaining utmost integrity in [their] work” and by actively engaging with the government.

“Let us remind our leaders of how science, research, and technological innovations are critical to improving our programs on health, security, and quality of life,” she said. (READ: UPLB graduate wants to help farmers like his grandfather)

Jamie also emphasized the importance of practicing empathy in science-based work.

“Let us understand the issues, participate in community activities, volunteer for our advocacies,” she said.

“We owe it to the discipline of science to maintain the highest standards of objectivity, honesty, and accountability.” – Rappler.com

Elijah Allen Macaspac is a Rappler intern. He is pursuing a journalism degree at the University of the Philippines Diliman.