MANILA, Philippines – Celebrity twins Joj and Jai Agpangan recently shared the secret to how they managed to juggle their careers with earning their respective college degrees from the University of the Philippines (UP).
At 23, the twins managed to earn a degree from UP Open University in Los Baños, Laguna even while juggling busy careers that involved photoshoots and tapings even on days when they were supposed to go to school for their classes. They struggled with time management yet the two finally managed to overcome the challenges to graduate together.
The twins entered the showbiz scene at Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) in 2012.
With many celebrities choosing to focus first on their showbiz careers as they “strike while the iron is hot”, so to speak, Joj and Jai decided to go back to school to complete their college education.
The two had to take a break from showbiz in their first year in college, but as they were able to adjust to the hectic schedule of their entertainment career, they managed to squeeze in time for both their studies and their jobs.
“Nung nag-Araw Gabi (show) ako, ang class ko ay Monday, Wednesday, and Friday tapos ang shooting din MWF. Sobrang sagasa. So may times na ang ginawa ko, sinabi ko sa teacher ko, ‘Teacher, puwede ako makisingit, kahit pumunta ako sa Tuesday and Thursday classes para lang makapasa?’ Nakaya naman!” Jai shared.
“I was doing The Good Son and Bagani. May days ako na 7 AM pumupunta sa school kasi early class ako. So 6 AM na pack-up from shoot, deretso ako sa school. Laban lang!” Joj added.
But one thing the twins had as advantage over all the other students who had to juggle careers and school? They look the same! So, there were times when the other twin had to cover for their roles on TV shows or on photoshoots.
“Magkamukha naman daw kami! Hindi naman halata!” Jai half-jokingly shared.
Although the two were serious with their respective careers, they were also serious with their studies. Proof of that is the time when they had to climb a mountain, literally, in Baguio City just to look for cellphone signal so they can complete a thesis they were both making.
Both had also experienced having to resort to technology to complete school requirements because they can’t physically be in school due to showbiz commitments.
“I remember one thesis of mine, report kasi tapos hindi ako makapunta sa school so nag-FaceTime nalang ako with my teacher. Kailangan ko mag-interview ng director and pioneer sa craft, and buti nalang si Direk Cathy nag-agree sa akin so mataas yung grade ko dun!” Joj recalled.
“Ako naman, na-interview ko sila Tatay Joey Marquez para sa thesis ko din. Super maalaga sila sa amin. Tinulungan nila kami kaya naka-graduate kami,” Jai added.
Despite the challenges, the two were able to finish their college degrees.
“Kahit walang tulog, walang excuse excuse kasi there’s always a time for everything. Kahit one hour or two hours, not bad, you can read books for school! We pull each other up. Kami ni Jai talaga, sabay kaming hindi sumusuko. Ang life kasi, isang malaking challenge, pero ang saya!” Joj said.
Congratulations to you both!
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
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| Congratulations, Joj and Jai Agpangan! |
At 23, the twins managed to earn a degree from UP Open University in Los Baños, Laguna even while juggling busy careers that involved photoshoots and tapings even on days when they were supposed to go to school for their classes. They struggled with time management yet the two finally managed to overcome the challenges to graduate together.
The twins entered the showbiz scene at Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) in 2012.
With many celebrities choosing to focus first on their showbiz careers as they “strike while the iron is hot”, so to speak, Joj and Jai decided to go back to school to complete their college education.
The two had to take a break from showbiz in their first year in college, but as they were able to adjust to the hectic schedule of their entertainment career, they managed to squeeze in time for both their studies and their jobs.
“Nung nag-Araw Gabi (show) ako, ang class ko ay Monday, Wednesday, and Friday tapos ang shooting din MWF. Sobrang sagasa. So may times na ang ginawa ko, sinabi ko sa teacher ko, ‘Teacher, puwede ako makisingit, kahit pumunta ako sa Tuesday and Thursday classes para lang makapasa?’ Nakaya naman!” Jai shared.
“I was doing The Good Son and Bagani. May days ako na 7 AM pumupunta sa school kasi early class ako. So 6 AM na pack-up from shoot, deretso ako sa school. Laban lang!” Joj added.
But one thing the twins had as advantage over all the other students who had to juggle careers and school? They look the same! So, there were times when the other twin had to cover for their roles on TV shows or on photoshoots.
“Magkamukha naman daw kami! Hindi naman halata!” Jai half-jokingly shared.
Although the two were serious with their respective careers, they were also serious with their studies. Proof of that is the time when they had to climb a mountain, literally, in Baguio City just to look for cellphone signal so they can complete a thesis they were both making.
Both had also experienced having to resort to technology to complete school requirements because they can’t physically be in school due to showbiz commitments.
“I remember one thesis of mine, report kasi tapos hindi ako makapunta sa school so nag-FaceTime nalang ako with my teacher. Kailangan ko mag-interview ng director and pioneer sa craft, and buti nalang si Direk Cathy nag-agree sa akin so mataas yung grade ko dun!” Joj recalled.
“Ako naman, na-interview ko sila Tatay Joey Marquez para sa thesis ko din. Super maalaga sila sa amin. Tinulungan nila kami kaya naka-graduate kami,” Jai added.
Despite the challenges, the two were able to finish their college degrees.
“Kahit walang tulog, walang excuse excuse kasi there’s always a time for everything. Kahit one hour or two hours, not bad, you can read books for school! We pull each other up. Kami ni Jai talaga, sabay kaming hindi sumusuko. Ang life kasi, isang malaking challenge, pero ang saya!” Joj said.
Congratulations to you both!
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
