Several years ago huwag na po nating hulaan kung ilang taon na yon - I was just like you.

. I sat on one of those chairs, and listened carefully as the speaker squandered fifteen minutes of talk, which, unfortunately, struck me as too profound for my youthful mind and too tedious for my impatient ears. Members of the faculty, parents, guests, and graduates, have no fear. Huwag po kayong magalala. Iiwasan ko pong magdaldal forever dito sa harapan. Therefore, to avoid such scenario, I shall try my best to be a speaker of brevity, and render you ultimately engaged in this concise expression of my experiences and my perspectives - once as a young, idealistic member of this academic institution and now, as a committed member of the highly revered legal profession. Looking back, I was no different. I was a student like you, in this same school. Everytime I recall my childish memories as I graced the quaint halls of Aguilar Central School, I cant help but smile. I smile because the memories I have of this school, in a span of six years border on a sheer string of humorous experiences and life-changing moments. I can still vividly recall my first day of enrollment: singa agew a tinda - iraramay maestra ya manatawag ed sikami di mamak ya manpaenroll ababalang yo nu managlakoy karne baboy tan sira tan sika kami ran manpaenroll may suki ya pambibingawan da. Ay makapapalek. I can even remember the long list of punishments I got from my terror teachers: araramay makapatagtakot ya mamaestra nankarokarot ed el el ko misalamat ak ta atalusan koy konsepto ya discipline angano ansaki sakit ko ra may pekpek tan lewet yo. >>>> add memories Certainly, dear graduates, I consider myself blessed for being a part of this academic institution. This institution has instilled in me tough but valuable lessons on hardwork, perseverance and motivation. My former teachers, my former classmates and all the other individuals whom I have luckily bumped into during my six years of stay here in ACS have helped nurture my then young mind and inspired me to grow on a holistic, deeper level in the years to come. I therefore encourage you dear graduates to feel this rare sense of pride in the same way that I do, not only because you have graduated but because you have become an indelible part of Aguilar Central School, a reputable academic organization which prides itself in its pursuit of excellent education. Tulad nga ng nakalagay sa arko ng gate ng school, in case youve noticed, it says there...this is where excellence begins. In this momentous occasion, I want to highlight one simple idea: time cannot simply erode and downplay what this beloved school stands for: quality education. The pursuit of excellence, the relentless efforts of every teacher, the remarkable learning experiences of every student certainly keep this academic venue a stand out amongst its peers. The gradual integration of the K-12 academic scheme, ladies and gentlemen, should surely raise the bar of academic learning to a whole new level. This new program, aimed at honing the skill sets of students, can definitely produce well-rounded competent individuals who are ready to take on whatever the outside world throws and hurls at them. Dear graduates, when you leave the halls of ACS and move on to face the challenges of higher level of education, I only ask one thing: strive for excellence. Never content yourself with mediocrity. Never settle for the ordinary. Look into the mirror and ask yourself what you can do to contribute to this society. Ask yourself what you can do to make sure your Alma Mater takes pride in what you choose to become. Ask yourself what

you can do to make your parents and your family happy. At the end of the day, ask yourself what you can do to be the person you want to be. To be the person God wants you to be. Several years ago, I asked myself these very questions. The answers, mind you, were neither easy to find nor discover, but they did come in the right time to help me learn lifes most valuable lessons. At some point in time, dear graduates, each one of you will ask these questions. I got one advice for you: be ready for the answers. Life is all about making decisions, both the right ones and the wrong ones and its when you go through this trial and error experience that lets you end up with lifes most interesting answers answers that you may never understand at first but youll eventually discover - are uniquely crafted to lay the foundation for your destiny. My sincerest congratulations to the batch 2013 of ACS. May you find the answers you are looking for, and have the courage to walk, despite a few road bumps along the way, a few steps closer to your dreams....and your very own destiny. Thank you.