Graduation
Speech
Holy Family
School
Brgy. Paraiso,
Sagay City, Neg. Occ.
18th
Commencement Exercises
29 March 2012
Theme: “Your
Gift of Learning, Our Tool for Nation Building”
Distinguished
guests, members of the faculty and staff, proud parents, graduates, ladies and
gentlemen, good afternoon.
The
thought of having to stand in front of an audience has always scared me, more
so if I am required to speak.
With
that, I have (quite an embarrassing) secret to tell. I remember when I was your
age; I intentionally went to school late almost every morning. Sir Rod, our
class adviser back then, can attest to that. For one reason: I avoided
attending the flag ceremony. I was worried that I might be asked to lead the
beating of the national anthem.
But
of course, I cannot avoid those things all the time. In fact, on the day of our
graduation, I was tasked to read the responsorial psalm during the
baccalaureate mass. As soon as we got home, my mom told me: “Kadasig sa imo
magbasa, daw ginalagas ka sang ido.”
So
when I got the invitation to speak today, I was anxious yet very honored and
overwhelmed that I cheerfully agreed. It was only then when I realized, this
opportunity to speak with the hope to inspire to my dear Alma Mater, has always
been my dream.
Writing and preparing
this speech was a great experience, one that did not come without its share of
trial and error. But more than that, it allowed for something truly
wonderful--a chance for me to reflect on a school whose lasting impact on me
did not end with the simple act of graduating here.
For all it's worth, and
even if no one else remembers the speech I gave today, it will forever live on
for me as the fulfillment of a dream, and the feeling that I could give back in
some small way to the place and the people who have made me who I am.
Today is Holy Family
School’s 18th Commencement Exercises. Congratulations! But look, I
still have here with me this little card which contains our graduation program
dated back in 1999, including even my Graduate Ribbon. Yes, I have been keeping
this in my treasure (shoe) box for 13 years now. Please don’t be too quick to
compute for my age though. Hehe
Indeed, I value my
gradeschool education as much as I value my college diploma. But I don’t mean
for you to take that literally. I want your young minds to understand that
although having access to education is each person’s right, having a Holy
Family School education is a privilege given to a few. And that includes ME,
and all of you, graduates.
Many say that high
school is the best and the most significant, others argue it is college. I
cannot debate on either of that. However, sometimes some people fail to
acknowledge the importance of elementary education wherein we first learned to
speak and write our ABC’s and count our 123’s. It is where we are being taught
of the right morals thru GMRC; where we first gained knowledge of the value of
family and friendship; where we initially developed both our interpersonal and
intrapersonal skills.
And as in your theme,
all these gifts of learning will be the basic tool for nation building. I know
or rather, I’m sure, this venue for today, holds the next teachers, doctors,
entrepreneurs, engineers, politicians, maybe even bankers like me. As
Tom Brokaw quoted, “You are educated. Your certification is in your
degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me
ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change
the world.”
I can say I am blessed
for having been a part of the Development Bank of the Philippines. Early on in
my career, it helped me to become more sensitive to different social needs, to
become aware of my moral obligations, and to embrace the demands of the
society. Most importantly it helped me, in one way or another, meet all these
moral and social expectations from me. However, having first-hand information
on these social needs has also its disadvantage. It was highly surprising how
some of the educated youth of today fail to display eagerness in nation
building. Have they really forgotten their
responsibility towards our nation or do they knowingly skip the tasks for fear
of the pains of accountability?
So my dear graduates, as
you become loaded up with weapons of proper education and moral and ethical
values, you are expected to become the armies of battles against societal
adversities. I appeal for you to be socially responsible and to work
collectively to help reshape our nation’s image to attain that developed status
and move forward from being a 3rd-world country.
In these trying times
where our country suffers from various socio-economic crises, our government
came up with the 4Ps or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. It was created
to help alleviate the condition of our poor countrymen. Being in the government
myself and as a development banker, I’ll end my speech by also sharing my 4Ps
to success and hopefully will aid you in your pursuit for knowledge and make
you catalysts for social change.
First is Perseverance.
Cliché as it may sound but always remember: Winners never quit and quitters
never win. Strive to be the best in everything you do.
Second is Play. Enjoy
your youth. You’re too young to be stressed. But at the same time, maintain a
proper balance between school and play or work and play.
Third is People. In your
lifetime, you will be meeting a lot of people. Cultivate relationships. Develop
friendships. Share laughter with those around you, rejoice on each other’s
triumphs, as well as learn from each other’s mistakes.
Lastly, Prayer. We don’t
always get what we want in life. We only get what we need and what we deserve.
If at times, everyone and everything in the world may seem to be against you,
pray for God’s presence. When all else fails, what could be more powerful than
a strong and unmoved faith?
Thank you and may we all
be instruments for nation building.
Again, my warmest
Congratulations graduates!
