Lovella O. Maguad: A Promise Beyond Tragedy

Mrs. Lovella O. Maguad earned her Master of Arts in Education, Major in Educational Management, during the 79th Commencement Exercises of the University of Southern Mindanao. It was a quiet but meaningful victory, achieved in the midst of deep sorrow and unwavering hope.

For Lovella, this degree is more than a personal milestone. It is part of her healing, a steady step forward after losing her children, Boyboy and Gwynn, in a tragedy that changed their family forever.

In 2023, she made the decision to pursue a law degree. Still carrying the weight of her grief, she was determined to seek justice, not for herself, but for her children.

“It was the last card I had to play,” she said. She knew the road to justice would be long, but from that moment on, she committed to walking it for Boyboy and Gwynn.

With the support of her husband and the encouragement of friends at USM, she eventually chose to complete her master’s degree. It became her way of honoring a dream once held by her daughter, Gwynn, who was a first year BS in Nursing student before the tragedy.

“One of the many things taken from them was the chance to graduate,” she shared. “So I chose to carry her dream. I told myself I have to finish this for her.”

“It feels like more than just a coincidence that I did— because I witnessed and experienced something truly once in a lifetime, something I never thought would happen. I had the privilege of attending her clinical graduation, rehearsals for graduation, baccalaureate, and finally receiving a diploma, which I also celebrated with her classmates.” Lovella added.

She spoke of a quiet voice inside her—something she couldn’t explain—that kept urging her to move forward.

After the tragedy, life felt dark and heavy. Grief became a constant presence. Even work offered little comfort. Some people expected them to fall apart. But they didn’t.

Lovella is especially grateful to her husband, Mr. Cruz Maguad, who stood by her side through it all. He reminded her never to let others diminish her worth and constantly encouraged her to believe in her strength.

“Work has always been my second love, next to my children,” she said. “But the pain deepened when others couldn’t understand the weight of our loss.”

She knew she had the ability to finish graduate school. What she had lost was inspiration, and with it, a part of herself.

In time, she found renewed strength in an unexpected source. Dr. Paul John Ongcoy, a faculty member at USM’s College of Education and one of her former high school students in Roxas, became a steady source of encouragement. Along with his friends, Donnie and Riza, he helped her regain the confidence to continue.

Lovella now sees them as instruments of grace and one of the countless people who helped her find her way back to life.

Looking back, she reflects on how she and her husband poured all their hope and happiness into raising their children. They raised them with love, discipline, and strong values. They planned for everything their children might need, never imagining they would be the ones left behind.

Lovella also recalled her college years. She was active in community work and helped build a chapel in her hometown, an experience she still treasures. She joined several student organizations that shaped her leadership and strengthened her sense of purpose. “That was a gift,” she said.

“I honor my children. I will do everything for Boyboy and Gwynn,” she shared. “They may no longer be with us, but our love for them will always remain.”

When asked what message she would give to fellow parents, she replied:

“Let your children grow. Give them freedom. Let them make their own choices. But we must guide them. We must discipline them, nurture them, and respect their voices.”

She added, “Not everyone understands us. No one can truly measure what it’s like to lose children in such a painful way.”

Still, she and her husband try to carry the pain with grace. They get through each day one step at a time. They continue holding on to hope, holding on to each other.

Lovella has also spent time studying Republic Act 9344, the law that created the juvenile justice and welfare system in the Philippines. She believes the law, while well-intentioned, has serious flaws. Some cases remain unresolved, and many of its provisions are vague or difficult to enforce.

“My constant prayer was to be an agent of change,” she said. “But I never expected to become a victim. Maybe it wasn’t the right prayer. But if there’s one thing I believe, it’s that God always hears me. And only when justice is truly served will I begin to believe that their lives were taken for a purpose greater than any of us can understand.”

Lovella now stands at a crossroad. If progress is made in her children’s case, she may pursue a doctorate degree. But if nothing changes, she still feels called to study law. For her, the choice will depend on where the search for justice leads.

She and her husband are taking it day by day. They do not know what the future holds. But they find strength in the small moments. Sometimes she whispers to Boyboy and Gwynn, asking them to help her move forward.

Because for Lovella, continuing this journey is her way of keeping their love alive.