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ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews / 10 June) – The Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University (ZPPSU) presented a posthumous award to a graduating student, who gave up his life months ago to save two fellow students, during the graduation ceremony last Friday, June 7.Dr. Roy Valesco , ZPPSU academic dean, said in an interview that the award, the highest given to a graduate, was befitting because the awardee, 22-year-old Sammy Bryle Gonzales, died during his on-the-job training at the Weesam Express in Iloilo City.Gonzales was on his senior year serving his apprenticeship as a Marine Engineering student when he died. He saved from drowning fellow intern Aira Salcedo, 24, and another unnamed ZPPSU student, who fell from a docked Weesam Express vessel.He swam and brought them to safety one after the other.
Aksyon Radyo Iloilo reported on June 1, 2023 that Gonzales died of drowning after a 20-minute search and retrieval operation conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard.The posthumous award recognized Gonzales’ “heroic act and bravery” in saving his fellow cadets “from the catastrophic sea accident.” Aside from Valesco, it was signed by university President Nelson Cabral and College of Maritime Education Dean Jeoffrey Mojana.The family was informed that the university will confer the highest award to Sammy Bryle Gonzales during graduation day, Valesco said.“When the mother received the award, the crowd rose, gently and slowly applauding, most of them crying to include all of us on stage,” Valesco said.Susan Gonzales, Sammy Bryle’s mother, cried when she received the award from the university president, as her daughter held the graduate candidate’s photo.“It’s so hard to see the mother receiving the award for her son. Masakit tingnan,” Valesco said. (Frencie L. Carreon / MindaNews)