K to 12 Graduates: Molded through a Resilient Educational Foundation

To our Honored guests, our principal, Edgar P. Diñozo, distinguished faculty members, parents
and guardians, and most importantly, the graduating class of Pantay Integrated High School, good
morning and mabuhay! It is an absolute privilege to stand before you as we celebrate your moving
up ceremony.

First, I would like to congratulate the students for successfully completing your junior high school.
Senior high school naman ang susunod.

Ang tema ng moving up ceremony na ito ay “K to 12 Graduates: Molded through a Resilient

Educational Foundation". Bilang isang Civil Engineer, katungkulan kong siguraduhin na sapat ang
tibay ng pundasyon ng bahay na itatayo ko. Dapat madesign ko ang isang pundasyon nang may
sapat na reinforcements o bakal, tamang halo ng semento, buhangin, tubig, at graba, dapat din ay
tama ang sukat dahil kung hindi ay malaki ang posibilidad na gumiba ang bahay kung may
dadating na sakuna tulad ng lindol o bagyo. Bilang alumni ng Pantay National High School na
ngayon ay Pantay Integrated High School na (improving hehe) naniniwala ako na naibigay ng
school na ito ang “Resilient Foundation” na kakailaganin niyo para sa next journey niyo. And
here’s why:

In my time, after 4th year high school known now as grade 10, deretso college na. I took my
Bachelor’s degree at a private school named Lyceum of the Philippine University in Cavite. This
is to inspire and not to brag, before entering college, my university produced a topnotcher in
licensure exams proving that I got in a high quality university. Top 1 yung galling university ko
eh. In my mind, I was intimidated because, and I will say this with no intention of degrading our
school here, I was intimidated because I’m from a high school na nasa “bundok” and ako mismo
is “tagabundok”. Kinakabahan ako na kaya ko ba yung ganung level. So during first week of
classes sa LPU, grabe culture shock ako kasi nakasapatos na ako lagi eh dito kadalasan kung di
ako nakatsinelas eh nakayapak ako, sumasakay na din ako ng bus eh dati lakad lang ako papasok
at pauwi pag wala akong mga kaaway (shout out po sa mga teacher ko dati dyan lalo kay Ma’am
Leira hinahatid ako sa sakayan ng tricycle pag may nag-aabang sakin). Anyways, ang mga
classmates ko dun ay mga may awards nung high school sila, valedictorian, salutatorian,
matatalino in short. Lalo akong nataranta kasi “kaya ko ba to? Masasabayan ko ba tong mga to?”.
Then classes started, ang heavy subjects namin ay trigonometry at algebra. As I listen sa mga profs
ko, nasasabi ko sa sarili ko na “naturo na to sakin dati ni ma’am tapas, ma’am ave, at ma’am janet
eh, alam ko na to eh”. Then nakita ko na yung mga kaklase ko eh nahihirapan samantalang ako
chill na lang kasi alam ko na yung tinuturo eh. Naturo na sakin nung highschool. Dun ko
napagtanto na “ay kaya ko to”. And again, this is to inspire and not to brag, I became quiz team
captain ng LPU sa mga national competitions through out my college days. Lumalaban kami sa
iba’t ibang bigating universities like UP, La Salle, PUP and just to participate on that level of
competition, grabeng honor na yun sakin. And imagine, from “di ko to kaya” na thinking eh kaya
ko pala at naranasan ko na nga. And this is the story kung bakit I can confidently tell you, na
kayang makipagsabayan ang quality dito sa Pantay and you got that “Resilient Educational
Foundation” here. I’m a proud Pantaylandian as you all should be.

I admit I was not a perfect student here in Pantay. I experienced being sent to guidance counselor
and getting my grandmother called because I’ve been into fights and troubles. I experienced being
punished because I’m involved in gambling (ang dahilan dati bakit maaga kami pumapasok ng
mga kabatch ko, para makapagsugal hehe). I’m not telling you these things to show you na “astig
ako”, “maangas ako”. I’m telling these things to show you that your past will never define your
future. Despite my past, I’m now a registered civil engineer standing in front of you giving this
speech. Nung andito pa ako sa Pantay, wala siguro makaka-imagine na uy si Jhei magiging
engineer yan dahil sa kapasawayan ko. Sa mga katulad ko dyan na naging pasaway sa high school
nila, you can still catch up (2x). My advice is to start by asking God to help you and to change you
just as I did. Surround your self with people na ang gusto ay umunlad ang buhay nila. Help your
self. May pag-asa pa. You got a good foundation here in Pantay, so start building good future on
it. And sa mga students dyan that gave their very best, sa mga graduates na nagtino during junior
high days, you have a great head start. Wag niyo sayangin. Remember this, the journey will not be
easy. I repeat, the journey will not be easy. It may take all you’ve got, but it will be worth it if you
get through all of it. Build a great future on your resilient foundation.

While I was studying in university, I experienced two different student lifestyles. During my 1st to
2nd year of being a college student, I’m always so focused studying. Ang mahal ng tuition para
magbulakbol sa isip isip ko eh. However, my classmates can always find time to go swimming,
yan bonding bonding. Pero ako? Hindi ako sumasama kasi iniisip ko lagi pinapaaral lang ako ng
tito at tita ko nakakahiya. Kailangan ko magpursige. Tama naman yun kaso hindi siya madali.
Based on my experience, nakakaubos din ng energy yung puro lang pag-aaral iniisip. Kaya
dumating yung 3rd year, sinubukan kong sumama sa mga tropa ko sa computer shops. Online
games ganyan, basketball. Nakakawala nga ng stress. Mas naging close ako sa mga tropa ko. We
shared good memories, and yes, bad memories din with them. I can say that I enjoyed student life
significantly more nung dinagdagan ko ng onteng time sa mga tropa ko. I bonded with my friends
more but I never let those things interfere with my studies. Nag-aaral pa din akong mabuti, promise
As I reflected on these things while writing this speech, I remembered a one line of a character
in one of my favorite TV shows. It goes “Whatever you do in this life, it’s not legendary unless
your friends are there to see it.” So my advice to you, incoming seniors, and eventually college
students, is to give value to your relationships (2x). Value your friends. And most importantly,
value your parents, your family. Life is very short to spend it holding grudges, and being angry. In
my opinion, you need them as much as they need you. But don’t get me wrong, there are different
type of friends. I’m just blessed because I can say that my friends are the right type of friends. So
choose your friends wisely. I think these things are really important factors for you while building
a great future. You can build big things more easily if you have people to accompany and help
you.

For a short summary of this speech,

1. You got a resilient educational foundation here in Pantay, trust me.
2. Build a great future on that foundation.
3. Value your relationships while building your great future.

Before I end this speech, ibibigay ko sa inyo ang sikreto ko kung paano ko naabot ang pangarap
kong maging engineer. Here it is, ready na ba kayo? Always secure a good relationship with God.

Again, I’m Engr. Jhei Afable, alumni here in Pantay batch 2014. Thank you and may you have a
great day ahead.