In the glitzy world of entertainment, red carpets and dazzling performances, some Filipino stars have also excelled in their academic pursuits, earning prestigious Latin honors during their college years. From summa cum laude to magna cum laude and cum laude, these celebrities have demonstrated not only their talent under the spotlight but also their dedication and intellect in the classroom.
Below, let's take a closer look at these accomplished individuals who prove that beauty, brains, and talent can go hand-in-hand!
Summa Cum Laude
Benjamin Alves
English Literature, summa cum laude
University of Guam
Nanette Medved-Po
Finance - Entrepreneurial Studies, summa cum laude
Babson College
Prior to transferring to the Massachusetts institution, Medved-Po took up Business Administration for a year in De La Salle University
Anna Theresa Licaros
Broadcast Communication
University of the Philippines Diliman
The former Bb. Pilipinas Universe has always been an honor student, graduating valedictorian from Assumption Antipolo and salutatorian from the University of the Philippines College of Law.
Elizabeth de Padua Cravens
Biology, summa cum laude
University of the Philippines Diliman
The winner of Bb. Pilipinas Universe in 1976 is known in pageant circles as the first summa cum laude beauty queen in the Philippines (as well as one of the first to have completed a college degree). After topping the medical boards, she took up her residency in the U.S. where she currently lives as a neurologist.
Magna Cum Laude
Agot Isidro
Fashion Buying and Merchandising, magna cum laude
Fashion Institute of Technology
The outspoken celebrity also has a master's degree in Communication from the Ateneo de Manila University.
Shamcey Supsup Lee
Architecture, magna cum laude
University of the Philippines Diliman
In June 2010, the Miss Universe finalist topped the Architect Licensure Exams.
Giselle Sanchez
Broadcast Communications, magna cum laude, valedictorian
University of the Philippines Diliman
Paula Peralejo
Philosophy, minor in Tourism, magna cum laude
University of the Philippines Diliman
Jeanne Therese Hilario
Chemical Engineering, magna cum laude
University of Sto. Tomas
The '80s beauty queen also earned a doctorate in environmental engineering from Cambridge.
Yasmien Kurdi
Political Science, magna cum laude
Arellano University
Cum Laude
Carla Abellana
AB Psychology, cum laude
De La Salle University
Myrtle Sarrosa
Broadcast Communication, cum laude
University of the Philippines
Bernadette Allyson
BS Psychology, cum laude
De La Salle University
Venus Raj
Communication Arts, cum laude
Bicol University
The pageant queen turned host also has a master's degree from the University of the Philippines.
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