WHERE DOES PASSION begin? Often, it is mistaken for certainty-a sudden clarity that illuminates the obvious future. But for those who truly commit to a path, to those whose mind, body, and soul know nothing but the intense, intoxicating need to arrive; passion begins where exhaustion is sustained by meaning and deepened through struggles.
In a culture that celebrates ambition only when it looks effortless, the quieter truth is often overlooked: passion is born from persistence. It grows not in moments of triumph, but in days when showing up feels heavier than quitting. Their paths are not merely courses but commitments that shape who they are in quiet, relentless ways.
Their journeys trace the arc of commitment-from the first spark that drew them in, the grind that confronts their resolve, and finally to the reason they stay despite all.
The road less travelled by
Angelo Lobo, a third-year Department of Legal Management student, may seem to have decided to become a lawyer suddenly from the outside looking in—but to him, it was a slow, introspective realization. Growing up alongside family members who were engineers, teachers, and bankers, he felt a quiet dissonance.
“I chose being a lawyer as my profession because for most of my high school days, I think I didn’t really belong there,” he confided. “Most of them are studying to become nurses and engineers,” he continued, reflecting on how different his path felt from the expectations around him.
His decision was born from curiosity and instinct. “Whenever our teachers have taught us different subjects about science and math, although I studied it, I wasn’t really fond of being deeply interested in those subjects,” he recalled, hinting at the inner compass that led him elsewhere.
“And so, when I chose legal management, I felt that this program and eventually if I’m successful here I would be able to become a good lawyer someday,” he added.
Yet, his path was far from smooth. Facing exams and getting low grades demanded resilience. “Even though you’re feeling down or you’re sad about it, you just have to keep moving,” he noted, a testament to persistence over ease.
Time was the most tangible sacrifice. Hours with friends, family, and leisure were quietly traded for focus and study. As Angelo notes, “I think the biggest sacrifice that I would really have to make… is about time,” he admitted, the bitter cost of commitment.
“During my first year, my style of studying was passive… But now, I would have to get up and continue studying. I have to focus throughout the day,” a daily oath to passion fulfilled without fail.
For Angelo, “loving the game” manifested in his cheerfulness when he received word about his cousin’s partner passing the Bar Exam. “I really felt something na l was cheering for him because I hope that someday that will be me,” he shared.
Moreover, he emphasized that sacrifices were necessary investments: “When it comes to time, studying a lot, and things like that. And for me, those are necessary sacrifices.”
“So that one day, perhaps six years from now, seven years from now, I would be, I would also be in a position where I can be proud of myself, my parents could be proud of me, my family could be proud of me,” he said.
Curiosity that won’t quit
For Luela Olivera, a sophomore from the Department of Psychology, taking up her course was a lens to understand the human mind and the people around her. “There were a lot of factors why I chose psychology. I have always been fascinated with how the mind works,” she shared.
Her curiosity about why people do what they do and act the way they act was a constant question waiting to be answered, focusing on the choices people make in unfair situations and trying to understand instead of passing judgement.
However, a defining moment presented itself unexpectedly, through a story she read in high school. Two characters debated a psychological concept-whether consequences were caused by antecedents or by human behavior itself.
“It came to me that it depends on the factors,” she deduced. “Kasi there were times na antecedent talaga yung magiging cause ng consequences ng actions mo. Like kapag sobrang desperate ka na dun sa situations, you tend to do desperate actions.”
The course presented its own challenges. Overlapping workloads, deadlines from different professors, and group projects required focus and discipline. “Every subject may iba’t ibang professors and iba-iba yung mga pinapagawa,” she shared.
Nonetheless, she learned to approach group work with perspective, valuing completion over perfection and progress over frustration.
Her focus has shaped her lifestyle. Most of her time is spent between school and home, leaving little room for socializing. “Lagi na lang akong school and then bahay… nawawalan na rin ako ng energy to… to socialize with other people,” she said.
Looking ahead, Luela hopes to integrate her interests in law and psychology. “I planned kasi na pre-law talaga vung psychology… But there’s a courage to be a psychologist din… I want to juggle law and, for the future, I want to be a psychologist,” she explained, seeing both paths as interconnected avenues to understand and advocate for people.
For Luela, loving the game means dedication to growth and purpose, even in exhaustion. and doubt.
“Siguro yung accepting the fact na yung path na pinili ko isn’t easy and still choosing it anyway… loving the game means to keep learning, improving, and also to keep showing up despite the exhaustion and the doubts and trusting the process,” she reflected.
February draws attention to love, yet the kind of love worth noting is not always the easy or celebratory kind. Luela and Angelo show that true passion demands presence, patience, and persistence. It grows through effort, deep attention, and commitment, extending beyond fleeting excitement or obvious victories.
Their journeys reveal that dedication shapes character. Showing up consistently, embracing challenges, and remaining focused on growth are forms of love in themselves. In recognizing their experiences, we are reminded that passion thrives in the deliberate, the enduring, and the intentional choices that define both work and life.
(with Alexandrea Narbasa)