Melanie Marquez graduates cum laude from IAME

This may surprise people who have been used, and usually amused, to hearing Melanisms like: "Don't judge my brother, he is not a book." On Monday Actress Melanie Marquez, 1979 Miss International, graduated cum laude in Business Administration from the International Academy of Management and Economics (IAME). The graduation took place at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel with Sen. Edgardo Angara as guest speaker. "We are talking management and business here," Melanie said in an interview with the Philippine Entertainment Portal (www.pep.ph) after the graduation rites. "I know exactly what I'm doing when it comes to businesses especially dahil involved ako sa showbiz, sa filmmaking, sa fashion. Kahit nakapikit ako, alam ko na ang gagawin ko." "So I think nag-excel lang ako because they [her professors in IAME] were really impressed sa last project na in-implement ko," she added. "It only took me two weeks to present a very successful project in Rockwell where we touched my major—‘yung accounting and financing saka advertising." She took some business modules offered by Warnborough University in New England through IAME. "It's a learning program naman through modules din at correspondent nila ang IAME, so eight months lang talaga at natapos ko ang aking course. Yung lahat ng curriculum units ko, na-fulfill ko through modules. But then, the one that I really attended here are the major ones." Melanie's brothers Totoy and Joey Marquez also attended the ceremonies. Unfortunately, her husband Adam Lawyer couldn't make it as he had to fly back to the US on some urgent business. Still the proud graduate was also happy mother that night because all her six children saw her get her diploma. Her eldest — Manuelito, 24, her son with actor-turned-senator Lito Lapid —even flew in from the US last Friday just to see his mother graduate. - GMANews.TV