“AH, PWEDENG MANGOPYA”

CHEAT | To break a rule to gain advantage at something

By: Ma. Joanna Mabunga

Ma. Joanna Mabunga’s “Ah, Pwedeng Mangopya” is a short film/story about a student
named Roy Dela Cruz who broke a classroom rule of their teacher to pass his exams. The
author highlighted Roy’s experiences in school about cheating to gain advantage at something,
specifically to pass the exams.
Roy has a secret to pass the exam, and that is because of his seatmates inside the
class to get a high grade. In his perspective, cheating is a natural way of survival, and it is better
to cheat than to review. Cheating is a skill in which it needs a lot of patience, creativity and
timing. Because of that, Roy successfully cheated during their examination.
For their next exam in high school, their teacher reminded everyone including Roy to do
not cheat and don’t look into their other classmate’s paper. Upon administering the exam, Roy’s
teacher caught him cheating. Because of that, the teacher of Roy reached and talked to him to
avoid cheating especially during exams because it is better to learn the lesson or concepts than
merely just copying his classmate’s answers. Their teacher also told them to believe in
themselves because they are the only person that can help themselves in the future.
As the time goes by, Roy finally graduated in high school. He worked a year before he
entered college. As he is studying in college, he experienced the difficulty in writing a simple
letter. By that, he then realized that in real life, you cannot easily cheat. It is better to listen and
understand the lesson rather than just copying your classmate’s answer. Also, you are the only
one person that can solve your own problem. And so, no one can help you in the future, except
yourself.

Meaning or message of the short story/film:

 Cheating is a choice or cheating is always an option.
 It is better to listen and understand the lesson because cheating is being dishonest or
being unfair to others. Once you got caught cheating, you will be punished.
 Don’t rely on someone’s ideas or answers especially during an exam.
 Always believe in your skills and abilities because no one can help you in the future,
except yourself.