Feature: Upholding honesty, integrity: Six young heroes from Ozamiz return P60,000

Six grade school students from Dimaluna Integrated School in Ozamiz City have become local heroes by returning a significant amount of cash found near a highway.

The incident has captured the hearts of the community and showcased the admirable character of these young individuals.

Aron Tomial, a Grade 9 student, discovered a wallet filled with P1000 and P500 bills near Lim Ho Chuan Seng Village. Overwhelmed by their discovery, Aron shared the news with his classmates Marky Caballero, Kenneth Gomolon, John Rey Barroga, Niño Ezekiel Qen Atad, and Grade 8 student Clyde Pepito, who were all part of the same group.

Together, the students planned to approach a police patrol car to responsibly turn over the wallet. Their class adviser, Job Cavales, initially had doubts but was later surprised upon realizing the substantial amount of money involved. Cavales assured the students that he would safeguard the money until the rightful owner claimed it.

To the astonishment of everyone, the owner arrived, choosing to remain anonymous, and expressed gratitude for the students' honesty. The students, under Aron's direction, explained that it was the first time they had come across such a large sum of money and that their first instinct was to act morally.

Cavales, in an effort to instill values of honesty, revealed that the school had established an honesty store where students could purchase school supplies and pay using an honor system.

The incident serves as a testament to the success of their efforts to instill values of truthfulness and integrity in the students.

Acknowledging the students' exemplary behavior, both Cavales and school head Maida Garnada expressed pride in the students, their parents, and the teachers at Dimaluna for nurturing such values from the early years of education.

The students' act of returning the substantial sum not only showcases their individual integrity but also reflects positively on Ozamiz City.

These young individuals, through their actions, embody the spirit of Padayon Asenso Ozamiz, contributing to the city's reputation as a community with admirable values. (Asenso Daily News/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)