𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 2025 𝘞𝘝𝘚𝘜 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘌𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦
Interviews by Forum-Dimensions
Growing up in Cabatuan, Iloilo, Feb Anthony G. Rizano found his foundation in a household shaped by love and service. His late mother, Fe Rizano, a teacher, and his father, Ruben Rizano, a former jeepney driver, instilled in him values that quietly anchored his life: faith, diligence, and resilience. He would carry those values into the halls of West Visayas State University, where he would later rise to become its 2025 Most Outstanding Graduate in Academics and University Valedictorian with a GWA of 1.09 with a degree in Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Mathematics.
“I am proud of how much you have grown,” Feb writes in a letter to his younger self, recalling the beginning of his college journey. “From your knowledge and skills to your character and resilience… even though you still struggle with mouth sores and pronouncing the letter ‘s,’ know that these small hurdles will not stop you.”
Finding Grace in the Grind
Feb’s academic record sparkles with achievement, but his path was never smooth. He often questioned if he was enough, especially during daunting challenges like his mathematical modeling project. “It challenged not just what I knew, but who I was as a learner,” he shared. But it was in those moments of near-surrender that he learned the most vital lesson: you don’t have to face challenges alone.
He credits his groupmates, mentors, and friends for helping him push through. “College teaches you many things,” he said, “but one of the most important lessons is that you do not have to face challenges alone.”
For Feb, growth meant learning how to navigate the tension between joy and responsibility. Even while juggling a demanding academic load, he allowed himself space for the things he loved—like attending K-pop concerts. “Those concerts weren’t escapes,” he said. “They reminded me that growth does not have to mean giving up the things you love.”
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲
Ironically, Feb didn’t always love mathematics. “In elementary, I used to dread it,” he confessed. But a Grade 7 teacher helped transform that fear into fascination. He began to see math as more than numbers—it became a language of patterns, a tool for beauty and insight. “There’s something meaningful in those raw, unfiltered moments when logic meets intuition.”
To those who struggle with the subject, Feb offers this reassurance: “Struggling in math doesn’t mean you’re incapable. It means you’re learning something meaningful. Practice makes permanence—not perfection.”
Throughout college, Feb served as classroom chairperson for four years. But as his close friend Kaye Ann Etabag shared, “He wasn’t just a leader in name—he was the kind who carried not just responsibilities, but our trust.”
She adds, “Feb has never been the friend and leader who simply hands you the answers. Instead, he’s the kind who calls you out when you’re slacking, reminds you what you’re capable of, and challenges you to rise.”
𝗔𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲
According to his friends, Feb’s “lifeblood is coffee” and his demeanor walks the line between serious achiever and unexpected comic. His classmate Julie Ann Dela Cruz described him as “extraordinary… not just because of his intelligence, but because of the way he carries himself with kindness, humility, and heart.”
Even Feb’s juniors, like Vince Elumba, were moved by his example. “He never made us feel inferior. He remained humble and approachable, treating everyone with respect,” Vince said. “We were able to become good seniors ourselves because we had your leadership to look up to.”
On June 9, 2025, during the University Recognition Program, Feb Rizano was honored with multiple distinctions that celebrated his academic excellence, leadership, and global engagement. He received the Senator Manuel B. Villar Academic Excellence Award, recognition as Champion of the CBRC Teacher Education Quiz Bee 2025, and a Service Award for his role as Vice Chairperson of the University Senior Curriculum Council. Feb was also conferred the President’s Recognition for International/National Awardees for representing West Visayas State University in the Pre-Service Student Teacher Exchange in Southeast Asia Batch 10, held at Universitas Ahmad Dahlan in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from January 30 to February 2026.
𝗔 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳
Feb’s story is not one of perfection, but of persistence. “Inspiration,” he said, “is not something I wait for. It is something I choose to nurture within myself every day.” He reminds us that even the best students are not immune to self-doubt—but what sets them apart is how they respond.
West Visayas State University, with its culture of excellence and support, provided Feb with more than academic tools—it nurtured his identity. “Choosing WVSU-COE BSEd Mathematics out of all the opportunities you had was the best decision you could have made,” Feb says to his freshman self. “Trust that this path will shape you in ways you never imagined.”
His class adviser, Dr. Roberto Sagge says this of this year’s class valedictorian, “As Feb’s adviser, I can confidently say he is an exceptional student—diligent, respectful, and intellectually sharp. He consistently submits high-quality work, engages actively in class, and approaches learning with genuine passion. Feb’s integrity, humility, and strong problem-solving skills make him both a joy to teach and a standout in academics and character.”
And shape him WVSU did. Into a mathematician. A leader. A friend. A future educator who sees numbers not just as calculations—but as windows into the wonder of the world.
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