FEATURE: “Seeing the situation of my mother on the farm, I was always inspired to double my efforts”: Ifugao’s son ranks 5th in PNPA "Silang Paglaom” class of 2026

Hingyon, Ifugao – Before wearing the uniform of a police cadet, Daryl Calingayan Lunag of Ifugao was once a young boy helping his mother on the farm just to make ends meet.

Born the fifth child of farmer-parents David Lunag Sr. and Corazon Calingayan, Daryl grew up witnessing firsthand the hardships of life in the fields. Under the heat of the sun and amid uncertain harvests, he learned early what it meant to struggle—and to persevere.

Those early experiences would later shape his determination. Driven by a desire to lift his family out of poverty, Daryl turned to education as his path forward.

In an interview with Guru Press Cordillera, he shared that he began his journey through the Alternative Learning System (ALS), eventually graduating as valedictorian of Riverview Polytechnic Academy in Kiangan.

Determined to go further, he pursued a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at Saint Mary’s University in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. But earning a college degree came with even greater sacrifices. To support his studies, Daryl planted tomatoes, relying on each harvest to help pay his tuition.

“It was the time I was planting tomatoes, praying that I could have a good harvest so that I could pay my tuition fees, bareng adda kuma presyo,” he recalled.

Among the memories that stayed with him was the sight of his mother tirelessly cultivating the land—an image that would later inspire him to choose a different path.

“Seeing the situation of my mother on the farm, I was always inspired to double my effort so that I could provide my family a better future,” he said.

That desire eventually led him to the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), where a new set of challenges awaited. Adjusting from civilian life to the academy’s disciplined environment proved difficult, but Daryl remained steadfast. Whenever doubts crept in, he drew strength from his family—especially his mother.

“It’s difficult to become a PNPA cadet. The transition from civilian to a regimented way of life challenged me to adapt and accept my fate. I knew it would be hard, so I prepared myself for whatever might come. It was always my mother who motivated me. Wearing the PNPA uniform reminds me that I must not quit—that I should excel in all endeavors I take. ‘Eto na ’yun, andito na ako, I must prove I can,’” he shared.

Through perseverance and discipline, Daryl earned spots on both the commandant’s and dean’s lists during his training.

From an ALS learner and a farmer’s son, his years of hard work are finally paying off. On March 27, 2026, the 25-year-old is set to graduate from the PNPA, ranking 5th out of 326 cadets of the “Silang Paglaom” Class.

After graduation, he will serve in the police service—carrying with him the lessons of the fields, the sacrifices of his family, and the promise of a better future.