Single mother Julie Perez Gonzales won an iPad2 when she topped AHEAD Tutorial and Review Center’s essay writing contest on the value of education in getting ahead in life. Her winning piece, the only entry written in Filipino, was unanimously chosen as the best out of more than 300 entries.

“The panel of judges agreed that the entry answered our question best and to the point,” said Rossana Llenado, president of AHEAD Tutorial and Review Center.

But while it was Gonzales’ name that was written on the entry, she admits it was really her son, Kany Vic, 20, who is the brains behind the essay.

Kany Vic suffers from Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpurathree (IPT), a condition whereby a person has too few platelets in his blood. He wrote the winning entry while recovering from a kidney transplant that temporarily interrupted his studies and drained the family coffers.

“I learned about the contest through the AHEAD website,” said Kany Vic. “I chose to write in Filipino because it goes straight to the heart,” he added.

“My son has been having sleepless nights thinking of the iPad 2,” said Julie. “He told me he might as well do something to get it since I can’t buy him one. Our priority is his medication.”

When they went to the AHEAD office in Quezon City to claim their prize, Julie and Kany Vic were very thankful. He said, “Since the iPad 2 fonts are bigger, it will be very useful for me when reading books and other school requirements. Unfortunately, my cataract problem has taken a toll on my vision. I will also teach my mom how to use it.”

Kany Vic will resume his studies as a BS Accountancy sophomore at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in November 2011.

AHEAD Tutorial and Review Center has eleven branches all over the country: Katipunan (2 branches), UP Village, Global City, Robinsons Galleria, Greenhills, Alabang, Masangkay, Dagupan, Batangas, Bulacan.