DepEd officials, dear parents, beloved teachers, fellow graduates, friends, ladies and gentlemen,

Good day.

Wow! Seems like everyone has big smile on their faces! What made you smile like that?

A famous quote I strongly believe, "Success doesn't happen overnight, it is a product of long-
term diligence and perseverance.” Year 2019 is really devasting. People lost opportunities,
homes, careers, and even loved ones while forced to stay indoors, and it was painful. Mentally
draining. Some people survived by picking up a new interest, such as crafting jewelry, art pieces,
and more, but many people battled with their inner thoughts and family circumstances, causing
them to lose motivation, develop depression, and even self-destruct. And sad to say, mode of
learning has been changed. From physical interactions to having it in a modular way.
Going back to my life experiences before the pandemic happened. It was a tough journey indeed;
waking up early from bed for me not to be late, sometimes skipping meals, walking from home
for about 1 hour and more to school campus. Seems everyone here have experienced that! Not
just that but also experienced the feeling of being looked down by others which causes me to
doubt myself and about to give up. But what hinders me the most is poverty. Yes, you hear it
right. Being financially unstable made me think to stop schooling. But I cling to a saying that
“Poverty is not a hindrance to success”, which motivates me to do better each day and stick to
my core. It blows my mind that the people which struggles are still around sitting right in front
of me and ready to go on to the next phase of their lives and the battlefield. In other words,
YOU, my classmates, have every reason to feel proud of yourself. We were blindsided by this
unexpectedness before we had time to brace ourselves, and it was disconcerting; nevertheless,
the same warrior mindset we had throughout the entire epidemic to keep pushing and grinding
will serve us well once we enter the real world.

Allow me to extend my gratitude to each and every one of you. I'd like to extend my gratitude to
each and every person that attends this institution. I would like to express our gratitude to Mrs.
Marissa Cabug, our kind Teacher-in-Charge. We would want to express our gratitude to our
teachers, parents, relatives, and friends. You have all contributed to making us into the people
you see before you today, and I can state with absolute certainty that if it weren't for you, we
probably would have turned out quite differently. A lot of people wonder how I've managed to
keep going through everything that's happened to me, but I can tell you with absolute certainty
that it's all thanks to the grace of the wonderful God I serve.

I anticipate seeing you conquer life in your own unique manner. Until recently, I felt anxious
anytime I considered graduating from school and beginning a new chapter. But as I stand here
now, having completed my senior year, I am filled with delight and eagerness to venture into
another world and provide everything I have.

Again, thank you, and I hope to have good news for you in the near future.

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2022!!