Words of Gratitude

by: Rio Jay S. Pontejos

“Our esteemed guest speaker, Dr. Luz A. Allam, (insert names of DepEd officials present), our
ever supportive High School Principal, Dr. Gloria C. Luz, faculty and staff, parents, other guests,
fellow graduates, ladies and gentlemen, Good Morning!”
#WEDIDITPIONEERCLASSOF2018! We finally graduated as the pioneer batch of K-12
program. We all walk across this stage with the biggest smiles in our faces and receive our
diplomas at this momentous event that has been 12 years in making. For the record, it has been
1,209 days from when I finished my first day of high school on Monday, June 4, 2012 to
graduation day, Thursday, April 04, 2018. It’s surprising, isn’t it? I speak for most of us when I
say that those 1,209 days went by faster than we could ever imagine. I still remember myself as
a freshman having a tight grip on the straps of my bag as I enter this institution and now, I’ve
grown up, saying goodbye to this place that I called second home. I’m honestly still loss in
words because I can’t believe that I’m about to graduate and harder to believe that I’m
standing behind a rostrum in front of everyone here today. The years we have spent in K-12
basic education has led up to this day that we never thought would come so fast.
A chapter in our lives is coming to a close today, and I just wanted to say few things.
First, let me talk about potatoes. I know it’s a bit crazy to talk about potatoes right now but
please bear with me. Do you know potatoes are pretty amazing? Mag-uumpisa sila bilang mga
ugat, pagkatapos ay lalaki, at saka sila huhugutin sa lupa. Doon na magsisimula ang journey
ng isang potato. Ilalagay siya sa isang basket kasama ng iba pang potatoes at isasailalim siya
sa tuloy-tuloy na quality check. Dumadaan siya sa masusing pagsusuri at tinuturuan siya na
pwede siyang maging isang bagay lamang, isang kalidad na potato. Kailangang siya dapat ay
potato-shaped, walang sira at dapat fresh kasi kung hindi siya quality potato, wala siyang
choice, papabayaan siya at maiiwan na siya. Pagkatapos ng napakaraming proseso, ang
potato na ito ay dadalhin na sa market. Doon niya malalaman na pwede pala siyang maging
kahit ano! Pwede siyang maging fries sa McDo na paborito mo, chips na kinakain mo tuwing
recess niyo or baked potato na niluluto ng nanay mo. Endless ang possibilities para sa potato
na ito. Parang tayong mga tao. Papasok tayo sa paaralan kasama ng ibang estudyante at
sumasailalim tayo sa consistent quality checks mula sa mga tao sa paligid natin. Na-ja-judge
tayo sa mga ginagawa natin at hindi natin kayang gawin. Dumadaan tayo sa masususing
pagsusuri sa paaralan at tayo ay tinuturuan na dapat ay sumunod tayo sa isang landas
lamang, ang magtagumpay. Hinuhubog tayo ng mga guro sa paaralang ito na maging mga
mapotensyal na estudyante upang paglabas natin sa institusyong ito ay kaya nating maging
kahit sino at makipagsabayan sa ibang tao.
 We are all united here towards one goal, graduation. And now, we have achieved that goal.
Getting here was a bumpy ride, but thanks God for all the lessons, the guidance, the
knowledge, skills, and the joy, that everyone shared with us combined with the values
inculcated in us. Our mentors, parents, friends, and colleagues have constantly been our
roadmap in this open road of life.
To our dearest teachers, thank you for always believing that we could do better and for
expanding our potentials to be an achiever. Today, we show you our sincerest gratitude for
molding us to be righteous individuals and showing us that there is so much more to learn in
this world. The learnings you’ve thought us, love you made us feel, and care you showed to us
are essential things we will never forget.
To our beloved parents and families, thank you for always being there through ups and
downs. This success will never be tangible without you. You always stand by us in whatever
challenges and trials we have gone through.
To our indefatigable High School Principal, Dr. Gloria C. Luz, thank you for allowing us to
participate in many school events and competitions, exposing our talents and abilities and for
being supportive in all school activities. You’ve made this school a better place for everyone.
To our dearly beloved Alma Mater, Gosi National High School, thank you for being our
second home for the past six years. Thank you for allowing us to grow and to enable us to
become better individuals today.
Penultimately, this journey would never be complete without our friends, peers, and special
people who helped and motivated us to push through hard and tough times in school. To my
batchmates, Class of 2018, thank you for making the sacrifices worthwhile, for making every
school day a party, for all the stories, laughter and tears we shared and for all the love and care.
I will forever cherish our memories together.
Lastly, I would like to thank our Almighty God for giving me all these great people around
me. Thank you for the bountiful blessings and opportunities you have bestowed upon each one
of us. We have accomplished these because of your divine guidance and enlightenment in all
endeavors. All glory is offer back to you Lord.
Before I end this spend of mine, may I invite my fellow graduates to face at where your
partners, teachers, friends and peers are, close your eyes and give them a short breath prayer
— a prayer of gratitude. This is the best gift that we can give to them in exchange of everything
they have done for us.
My dear comrades, it has been a great run. We need to equip ourselves to meet the
challenges that this world of competition presents. These challenges are package of obligations
expected from us, as the stakeholders of the future. I wish everyone of us a success in whatever
endeavors we choose to undertake.
 Batchmates, let’s be guided with these gems of thoughts, “Excellence is not a skill. It is an
attitude. No man ever reached to excellence in any art or profession without having passed
through slow and painful process of study and preparation,”
So, Pioneer Class of 2018, Cheers! We have made it through the trials and challenges that life
and school have manifested to us. Now, the world is wide open to us. Let’s make the best of it.
Let’s not stop learning for education is a vital key that will open doors to opportunities for a
better life for us. Like a potato, we can be anything. Personally, this potato wants to achieve
such great things that the worlds tremble in awe.
Congratulations everyone! Godspeed and Magandang Buhay sa ating lahat!