By Lou Ellen Antonio

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte (PIA)--After winning the Great Man of the Universe- Philippines (GMU Ph) Ambassador 2022 last month, EJ Malik had a homecoming in the province and shared his advocacy in the Alternative Learning System under the Department of Education. 

As the ambassador of the newest national male pageant, Malik will also support the advocacies of the other nine winners such as tourism, sports, education, culture, and others. Malik said that ALS is close to his heart as he is also a licensed teacher.

He is the tourism consultant of Nunungan town and represented Lanao del Norte in the pageant. He will also compete in the international competition next year representing the Philippines. 

“It’s really important to highlight na meron tayong programa under the Department of Education na nagcacater sa out-of-school youths na pwede pa sila bumalik sa pag-aaral at matapos nila ang curriculum nila,” he said. 

(It's really important to highlight that we have a program under the Department of Education that caters to out-of-school youths so that they can go back to school and finish their curriculum.)

Malik also encouraged the youth to not lose hope and continue pursuing their dreams.

“Sa mga kabataan since napakalapit nila sa akin since nagteacher ako, Huwag lang silang mawawalan ng pag-asa. If tingin nila it’s the end of the road for them it’s not, their journey is just starting,” he said. 

(To the young people since they have been very close to me since I used to be a teacher, don't let them lose hope. If they think it's the end of the road for them, it's not, their journey is just starting.)

Malik said that challenges and hurdles in life are God's way for them to realize something new and something better. He said that these values in life guided him in growing up. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)