To our dear graduates and completers, you might not feel like

celebrating as you graduate and move up to the next level of the

education ladder because of the CoVID-19 pandemic, but we hope you
feel the pride, care and good wishes surrounding you right now. Your
talent is still your talent. Your hard work is still your hard work. Your
dreams are still your dreams. You are all significant citizens of the world
with whom the future belongs, because you are all amazing.
Hard work, talent, drive and vision will always outlast through times.
That’s how your parents and teachers know you, that you’re going to
make the world the way you want it to be – because you have reached
this far.
The coronavirus pandemic has caused moving up exercises and
graduation ceremonies to be replaced with virtual and other alternative
ceremonies. And so, the tradition of giving graduation messages is a
little different since last year. But anyway, education must still continue
amidst the crisis because education is the first step for people to gain
the knowledge, critical thinking, empowerment and skills they need to
make this world a better place.
Let me share with you these wonderful words from B.B King, “The
beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you”
– meaning, education is a long-term investment. The time and
resources you put in, the courage you possess to move through
challenges and the perseverance that pushes you to keep going… will
pay off for the rest of your life.
Ang tema sa araw ng pagtatapos ngayong taon ay, " Kalidad ng
Edukasyon, Lalong Patatagin sa Gitna ng Pandemya." Ang temang ito
ay naglalayong pasiglahin at hikayatin ang kooperasyon ng bawat isa.
Magtulungan po tayong lahat upang maisulong, maitaguyod at
maipagpatuloy ang edukasyon gaano man kahirap ang sitwasyon. Kasi
kapag nagsara ang mga paaralan, hindi na matututo ang mga bata.
May posibilidad na mawala ang kanilang interes sa paga-aral kasi
madaling makalimutan ang mga natutunan sa paaralan. Kung kaya't
napakahusay po ng ginagawa ng ating pamahalaan na suportahan ang
programa ng DepEd na ipagpatuloy ang edukasyon sa gitna ng
pandemya. Ito'y napakalaking hamon hindi lang sa mga kawani ng
gobyerno at ng DepEd kasama ang mga guro, opisyales ng baranggay,
kundi sa ating lahat lalo na sa mga magulang na nag sisilbing gabay sa
modular-distance learning sa panahong ito.
Now let me ask you one question my dear completers and graduates,
why "gratitude" is the most important word today? We’re living
through unusual and trying times. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought
public panic all over the world. The health crisis has brought
extraordinary challenges and has affected the education sectors, and
no one knows when it will end.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health
(DOH) are presently implementing plans and procedures on how to
contain the virus, and yet the infections are still continually rising. That
is why it is more important than ever to focus on gratitude — the
practice of noticing and being thankful for what is valuable and
meaningful to you. It is good for your mental and physical health; it can
help you relax and its effects can help you stay well amid the
coronavirus pandemic and beyond. Yes, gratitude is good for your
health. You focus on silver linings and count your blessings. And today,
your graduation day is one of your blessings and one of the GREATEST
PERFORMANCES OF YOUR LIFE.
On behalf of the office of the Assistant Schools’ Division
Superintendent, I'd like to express my sincere congratulations on your
hard-earned success.