Good Afternoon graduates, parents, teachers’, and guests.

I am very pleased to be invited to such a memorable occasion in

your lives. How are you dear graduates? My speech won’t take long so don’t worry, can you lend your ears to me? Please
listen and hopefully you’ll learn something after I talk. Mga 2 minutes and 2 hours malang ni ah. Pati, joke lang.
This day is as much an achievement for the parents as it is for the graduating students. So graduates; take a look at your
parents / guardians and say “Congratulations.”
When my aunt told me that Ma’am Pinos is considering me to be the guest speaker today, naisip ko agad, halah? Bakit
ako? Ano akon e hambal man? Ang alam ko kasi, ang mga naiimbitahan lang na guest speaker sa mga graduation are
those who are already successful in life. I question myself, am I? But then again, what’s the definition of being
successful? Success?
According to the dictionary – Success is attainment of position, honors, wealth, goal and the like. Maybe in a way, I am.
Not in being wealthy or having high position, but because I have found my passion, my mission, my calling – and that is
to mould young minds. Being a teacher in high school. I have found happiness and satisfaction in sharing my knowledge
to my learners.
Around 10 years ago, kagaya niyo rin ako na excited dahil sa wakas ay gagraduate na ako. As what you heard earlier, I am
an alumna of this institution. Some of you may know me, siguro. And my graduation is so memorable for me. Di ko yun
makakalimutan. But I won’t share it why, kasi hahaba pa to. Haha. Basta my elementary days is a happy one.
Graduates, your graduation is not the end of everything, it is just a beginning of a new journey. You are going to be a high
school student, a junior high student specifically, dito nabubuo kung ano ang mga pangarap ninyo sa buhay. Kung anong
propesyon ang gusto ninyong tahakin. And ito ang highlight ng speech ko sa inyo. About dreams, about your goal, some
tips on how can you achieve it.
Meron daw limangzź importanting bagay para matupad ang pangarap or to be successful, iisa-isahin ko: (my teachers’
taught me this)
Number 1: Be specific
Kung mangagarap kayo, gawin ninyong detalyado ang pangarap ‘nyo. Hindi ‘yung parang nag-drawing kayo sa tubig.
Walang nabubuo. Ibig sabihin, kung gusto mong maging teacher, linawin mo: teacher sa elementarya, high school o sa
college? Kung gusto mong magka-kotse, anong klaseng kotse? Anong kulay? Anong brand? Kung sariling
negosyo naman, siguraduhin mong legal ‘yan. ‘Wag kayong papasok sa mga illegal na Gawain.
Number 2: Dapat may target
“Ang pangarap, libre lang. Pero ang pangarap, dapat may timeline.” Huwag nyong sundin ‘yung nakasanayan na ng
Pilipino na paraan ng pangangarap. Sasabihin, “paglaki ko, gusto ko maging mayaman!” Ang problema sa ganitong
pangarap, ang labo! ‘Wag literal na paglaki ah. Di kasi ako lumaki. Haha. What I mean sa may target is, Halimbawa,
sasabihin mo sa sarili mo “Ngayon, with honors ako. Pagdating ko sa grade 7, mag aaral akong mabuti para makuha ang
With High Honor, kapag nag grade 8 ako ay with highest honor naman” You have your timeline. Pero wag naman sana
‘yung ganitong pangarap o timeline “dapat pag 18 na ko, may asawa na ko!”
Everyone has their own timeline. But then, kapag medyo natagalan, do not ever think you are a failure. May mga bagay
minsan na matagal mapa saatin. Just keep on trying and keep going. You’ll get there. Makakarating ka rin.
Magtatagumpay ka rin. In God’s perfect timing.
Number 3: Ang pangarap, hindi tinititigan, inaaksyunan!
Sabi ng isang businessman, “Dream Big. Start Small.” Ibig sabihin, lakihan nyo ang mga pangarap nyo. Pero simulan
nyong buoin ‘yon ng paunti-unti. Kung baga one step at a time. Dahil walang magic sa pagyaman o pagiging matagumpay
ng isang tao. Pero syempre, hindi nagtatapos ang pangarap sa pag-iimagine lang. Dapat, sasamahan mo ng aksyon.
Tulad ngayon, isang step ang nakumpleto nyo -- ang makapagtapos ng elementarya. Marami pang susunod na hakbang
pagkatapos nito, pero sana, wag kayong tatamarin. Kasi kahit anong tumbling at flip-top battle ang gawin ninyo, sa huli,
ang pag-aaral pa rin talaga ang susi para matupad ninyo ang inyong mga pangarap.

Sabi nga ng author ng libro na si Bob Ong: “Humigit-kumulang sampung taon nalang kayo mag-aaral. Kung hindi kayo
magsisikap, mahigit 30 years nang kahirapan ang magiging kapalit. Sobrang lugi, di ba? Pero ngayong alam nyo na yan,
sana wala na sa inyo ang gugustuhing umiwas pa sa eskwela.”
Do something to make your dreams came true. Hindi ‘yong hanggang pangarap o imagination nalang lahat. One more
thing, 8do not make excuses in achieving your dreams. Kasi sabi nga nila “kapag ayaw maraming dahilan ngunit kapag
gusto ay maraming paraan.”
Number 4: Huwag mag-shortcut
Madalas kasi, mahilig tayo sa madaliang paraan. Kumbaga sa kape, ‘yung instant, ‘di ba? Gusto natin ‘yung mabilis na,
panalo pa. Kasi ayaw natin matuto sa mahirap at matyagaan na paraan. Pero kailangan, matuto tayong puntahan ‘yung
gusto nating marating sa buhay ng may plano at gabay, para hindi tayo naliligaw sa inaakala nating shortcut. Tandaan,
there is no shortcut to success. There is a saying that “No pain, no gain.” Lahat ng bagay na gusto nating makamit ay
pinaghihirapan.
Number 5, at ang pinakamahalaga: Ang pangarap, hindi pansarili lang.
“Ang tamang bagay daw kahit nasa tamang panahon, wala na ring saysay kapag wala na ‘yung mga tamang tao sa buhay
natin.”

“Kasi mabalikan mo man ang lugar, hindi mo naman mababalikan ang panahon at pagkakataon na pinalampas mo para sa
mga taong mahalaga sayo.”
Kaya sa araw-araw na kasama ninyo ang inyong mga magulang, matuto kayong pahalagahan sila. Aanhin mo ang
katuparan ng pangarap mo kung wala ka namang kasamang mag-eenjoy sa lahat ng pinaghirapan mo? Hindi sapat na
naging honor student ka ngayon tapos sasabihin mo “para to kay Mama at Papa” tapos di pa nakakatapos ng high school
at college, mag-aasawa. Hindi dapat matapos dun ang pasasalamat sa kanila. Pahalagahan niyo ang mga sakripisyo ng
inyong mga magulang. Give them everything they deserve. Patuloy kayong mangarap, at siguraduhin na kasama ang
buong pamilya, at ang kagustuhan na makatulong sa iba - sa binubuo ninyong mga pangarap.
Dear graduates, education changes lives, value it. Believe in yourself. You became what you think. Paniwalaan niyo ang
sarili niyong kakayahan at makakamit niyo ang anumang pinapangarap niyo. In addition, respect one another and love
what you are doing. Kapag may respeto sa lahat at pagmamahal sa ginagawa ay walang imposible. Dahil from the word
itself, IMPOSSIBLE kapag tinanggal niyo ang I at M ay nagiging Possible. Makakamit niyo ang ano mang pangarap niyo
sa buhay.
Again to achieve your dreams and be successful : you have to be Be specific, Dapat may target ka, Ang pangarap
mo, huwag titigan lang, samahan mo ng aksyon, Huwag mag-shortcut, at ang pinakamahalaga: Ang pangarap,
hindi pansarili lang.
I hope you will remember those tips.
Now, let me end my long speech with a short poem, I wrote last year.

“If you believe in yourself you will reach high

You will have that hope to touch the sky
For self-belief will take you a long way
Your belief can only help you to reach for the star
And you will reach very far
So believe that you are truly the best
Yes, you are the best in your every test
Beleive that you can excel through
In your every way of life and through
Have that belief in you.
Study hard, work hard, work smart and you will succeed,
Don’t follow the rest of the world, take the lead.”

Dearest graduates, may you have people who listen and spend time with you, encourage you, believe in you and push you
in greatness. May you embrace learning, always taking action, develop your strengths and may God watch over you.
Congratulations graduates, parents, and to the teachers’ too. Thank you everyone and Have a nice day.