GRADUATION SPEECH

Engr. Cesar M. Del Rosario Jr

Balud Elementary School April 6, 2017 8:00 am

I. Introduction

Thank you for the overwhelming introduction!

A pleasant morning to District Supervisor, Mr. Albert Castro; School heads; to our Brgy.
Chairman, Hon.

Danilo Getigan and Brgy. Councilors.

A more pleasant morning to our dear teachers, parents and relatives of the graduating
students.

And a most pleasant morning to graduating students sitting in front of me.

And, before anything else, I would like to extend my gratitude to the teachers, and most
especially to the Principal

of Balud Elementary School for these privilege to be your guest speaker on these graduation.

II. Body

(facing the students) How are you? What are you feeling right now? Excited? Happy? You
should be! This is

a special day for you and a very good reason to be happy. Before, when I am graduating in
Grade Six, I am happy

too, not because I have honors, but because I have passed the six years of making assignments
every night,

periodic/summative tests, and activities that are constantly being given by my teachers. I am
not different from

you. I have experienced most of what you passed through, and that was 24 years ago. I also
listen to graduation

program, and same as you sitting there. And, afterwards, will receive a diploma from DepEd
which is called

DECS before.

After this graduation, what will be next? Vacation? Yes! You must enjoy your time as an
elementary

graduate. Because by the month of June you will be in the Junior Highschool, another four years
of assignments,

projects and tests again. Even if your lessons will be getting more and more challenging, please
do not stop and

procrastinate. Do not stop studying. And do not stop going to school because not all children has
the chance to go to

school.

Your graduation day, is a part of reaching the fulfillment of your dreams. A famous quote
says that: A

journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. A very long journey is an
interconnected steps, remove
just one step and you will not reach your journey. To achieve your dreams, your future dream,
you must

be persistent, industrious, there are no shortcuts, take the hard way. But, there are ways that
will get you faster.

And ways that will get you slower. I want to share with you this illustration and please analyze
the situations.

(Illustration) A boy was told by his mother to by a medicine from a store in the city. Along
the way, one of

his friends invited him over to gamble in a card game. If you are him, Will you say yes or no? As
he go on his

way, he saw his relative riding a bike and he invited the boy to ride with him to the store? Will he
go with him or

not? But, then again as he continue his journey on that road, he meet his uncle with a
motorized vehicle and

ask him to come with him? Will he ride with him or not?

On the way of achieving your goals in life, my dear graduates, there are obstacles and
there some things

that will help you to achieve it. You must focus on your dreams and avoid the obstacles.
Gambling in a card game

symbolizes a hindrance on reaching your goals. A bicycle symbolizes an option to reach your
goal. And, the

motorized vehicle is another symbol to help us understand that there are some faster ways that
will help us

achieve our goals. But, it should be the right way. As another saying goes, from Marcus Aurellius,
in his book,

The Meditations, If it is not right, Do not do it. If it is not true, Do not say it.

Education is the fastest way to reach your dreams. There is no better way. Even the
Almighty God wants us

to be educated. What is the evidence that He wants us to learn? Because, He give us a book, his
book for us to read,

comprehend, gain knowledge, and ultimately, achieve wisdom. Wisdom of His purpose.

Your teachers, your Principal, the supervisors, they finished elementary. The owner of
Super Metro,

Gaisano, the businessmen, the President of the Philippines, they graduated also from elementary.
Why did they

reach their goals? They definitely did not waste their time. And, they study earnestly.

During my school years, I am not quite sure what would I become when I grow up. I dont
like to be a

teacher. I do not want to be an engineer because I do not like Math. I still remember during my
first Grade that I
often weep because I do not know how to solve a problem in Math. And one of my classmate
would come and help

me. Just after I finished high school, I do not have any course in mind. But, I knew what I should
study. I need to

challenge myself, and study what I do not understand. And that is one of the reasons why I
studied engineering.

Graduated March 2002, and passed the board exam November 2002. In a single year, I hit two
targets.

And those school years are not easy, but with the help of my beloved parents, I finished my
studies. I can testify

that even if you dont know something, you hate one subject, you do not have a goal right now,
JUST go to school.

Just study. I know several friends, that even if they did not graduate with honors, but they did not
stop going to

school they become accountants, engineers, doctors, and teachers. So, my dear graduates,
strive for your dreams.

Sa mga kag-anak nagpapasalamat ak sa iyo, ngan congratulations sa iyo nga

gipaningkamutan gud niyo nga

makahuman sa elementary ini nga mga bata. Diri madali an pagpailob san unom ka tuig. Kada
adlaw mamata

trempano , mahatag balon para sa ira, magba-budget para sa ira kinahanglanon, diri madali an
mamiling kita.

Sanglit, salamat gud sa iyo.

To the graduates, my last words are: You can not reach your destination if you throw a
stone at every dog

that barks. Thank you and congratulations!