When Kim Buñag arrived on-the-dot for his 3 pm interview, he was wearing a no-nonsense black-collared shirt, jeans, and slippers. His expression was neutral; no hint of a smile could be found.

To people who know him only for his aptitude in class and his involvement in orgs, Buñag appears serious and somewhat intimidating. He is many things to different people. But for this year’s graduating batch, he will always be remembered as the valedictorian.

The serious façade lasted only 30 seconds. When the self-proclaimed frustrated Loyola Mountaineer began to talk about his life, every statement had to be coupled with a joke, triggering laughter all over the room.

“[Buñag is] very different once one gets to know him. Most people perceive him as a serious type of person but he’s really not,” said Council of Organizations of the Ateneo (COA) Secretary-General Mina Reyes. “He’s just very, very sincere in what he says and what he does.”

Graduating magna cum laude, Jose Ma. Joaquin Buñag is a BS Psychology major. He was an active member of Ateneo-Kythe and the head of the COA sector-based cluster. Last November, he also entered a Jesuit seminary. He is a scholar.

Sheer determination

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Eduardo Calasanz has known Buñag since his bahag-wearing days as an Igorot in the play “Sinta”, back when the valedictorian was still in high school. Calasanz also taught Buñag in Philosophy of Religion.

For Calasanz, Buñag is a modest and quiet student. “He’s not the sort of person who plays at being a star in class but he’s a very hard worker,” he said.

COA President Miggy Zaballero shared the same sentiments about Buñag’s dedication and passion. “He took care of his cluster well and at the same time, he extended his work and passion beyond the cluster and shared it with our council.”

But while he performed well in his undertakings, Buñag doesn’t pretend to be superman, admitting that he found it difficult to balance academics, extracurricular duties, and time for pre-seminary activities.

Buñag’s trick is knowing his priorities, focusing especially on academics.

“I study for deadlines, not for fun,” he said. And while he tries to do his parts earlier than the deadline, Buñag’s study habits also include “either staying up real late or waking up in the wee hours of the morning.”

For Calasanz, Buñag knows how to set his time, efforts, and energy apart to focus on certain goals. “When he focuses on things, he gives himself entirely.”

A priest-in-the-making?

Reyes heard a Jesuit priest say how Jesuits are very sweet on the outside but very different on the inside. “In that case, [Buñag] would make the perfect Jesuit,” she said.

Queen Lee-Chua, Ph.D. describes Buñag as exemplary with a strong calling to do service to others and his country. Lee-Chua taught Buñag in psychology and math.

“[Priesthood] is something I repressed fiercely because it was not cool to other kids,” said Buñag. It was a retreat during the semester break that made him realize that he couldn’t deny the call to priesthood.

On March 25, Buñag, the youngest applicant in the seminary, will know if he gets into priesthood. He said that if he gets rejected, he would pursue a career in medicine.

But regardless of what Buñag chooses to do, Calasanz is confident that he will be successful. “He can do many things but I would like to think and certainly hope that whatever he does, he will continue to be that dedicated person I know him to be… and [be] available to others and to God.”

Batch valedictorian

In her blog, Lee-Chua wrote, “The Ateneo valedictorian is someone who embodies the university ideals… excellence in academics counts but so do service and commitment in nation-building and in this case… also remarkable personal growth.”

After a batch vote, submission of grades, letters, curriculum vitae and an essay, and a panel interview, Buñag was declared the valedictorian.

Out of the seven or eight candidates shortlisted, Calasanz said it was difficult to pinpoint just one edge Buñag had. “There are different angles but if you take a look at his academic achievements, his extracurricular activities… his vision of Ateneo, the nation… That and other personal qualities tilted the consensus towards him.”

When Buñag learned about the prestige, he was so happy that he “was even trying to force tears out of [his] eyes.”

“I celebrated [by] eating isaw and fishball in UP,” he joked. But on a more serious note, he added that his family was especially happy and surprised since he did not talk about it with them.

For Buñag, his prize as a valedictorian was a consolation for his family. “It’s an affirmation that [my parents]” did something right.”