To our honorable guest speaker, Governor Grace

Padaka; our Chief Executive Mentor, Dr. Genevieve

Ledesma Tan; School President, Dr. Marl V. Ferenal;
Vice President for Academic and Research, Ms Marjorie
Guttierez Tangog; Principal for Basic Education, Ms.
Marie Vic F. Suarez; members of the management,
distinguished guests, faculty and staff, our dear parents,
fellow graduates, friends, ladies and gentlemen, good
afternoon.
According to Ralph Marston, “Excellence is not a skill. It is
an attitude.” No man ever reached to excellence in any
one art or profession without having passed through the
slow and painful process of study and preparation
(Horace). If you are going to achieve excellence in big
things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence
is not an exception; it is a prevailing attitude (Collin
Powell). Excellence should be exhibited in everything that
we do. Excellence is an attitude, an unconscious desire to
accomplish things excellently that would make us not
meet the expectations but surpass it.
Today, I have mixed feelings of delight and sorrow.
Delighted because I can see how happy my fellow
graduates are. After the seemingly endless homework,
quizzes, long tests and stress, we managed to survive
without any casualties. Seeing each of my batch mates’
faces somehow gives me a little flashback of the many
different memories with every one of you. I know we have
all shared amazing memories with each other, cried on
each other’s shoulders or handkerchiefs, laughed till that
Pepsi spilled through our noses, and even argued like
crazy but still, I see that the bonds between us will never
break and that this will be something we will always have.
I also see eyes slowly tearing up, which makes me feel
sad because we must say our temporary goodbyes. We
have grown up together and have come to know each
other as siblings. But just like in most families, one way or
another, siblings must say their goodbye eventually.
Being able to talk to all of you and share my thoughts is
really a great privilege. I worked hard and probably a
bit harder than some of you for many reasons. One of
these is because I want to show the school that
allowing me to study here in Southville as a scholar
was not a waste. I wanted them to know that I can be
a model student and one does not have to have so
much money to be able to achieve success. I am a
scholar because my dad works here so I try my best to
act properly and perform well to flaunt to everyone the
product of loving, caring and disciplining hands.
I remember the saying “We cannot direct the winds but
we can adjust the sails”. I experienced this last year when
Nathan Alarcon and I participated in the JAPI FedEx
competition. We had 15 days till the dead line. We had a
load of work to do in school and we had the option to just
give up. We did not as we were taught not to easily give
up. We collaborated and in exactly 15 days, we were able
to create a business plan that was able to make it to the
finals. My fellow graduates, this proves that what we will
be in the future will depend on what we do with our
lives today. We may depend on many other people
like our parents and teachers but at the end of the
day, the one who would “adjust the sails” would be
us. Doing bad things may hurt your loved ones but they
would haunt you even more. Likewise, doing great things
and knowing that you worked very hard for them makes
an achievement even sweeter because you know those
are the fruits of your labor. I feel very fulfilled because I
know I worked hard for this and I always aimed for
excellence. Getting here was a bumpy ride but thanks to
all the lessons, the guidance, the knowledge and the joy
that everyone shared with me combined with the values I
have learned to develop, I was able to reach where I am
now.
When I was elected vice president of the student council
last year, I had fun experiences because of the people I
met. The council works together and sees to it that things
are accomplished, not just accomplished but
accomplished beautifully. We had so many problems
along the way and sometimes we need to be creative in
finding solutions. My fellow graduates, don’t let the
solutions come to you, go and find it. Having a high
position was even tougher because I had to show
everyone that I am a role model. This was not hard to do
since I was raised in an environment that taught me good
values and manners.
I learned many different values from many people and
situations. At the earliest part of my stay here in
Southville, I remember so well a well defined voice that
was so full of enthusiasm and joy, it influenced me to be
enthusiastic in everything I do. She was there to guide me
during my early years and for that, I thank teacher Avic.
Thank you for showing me that I shouldn’t only do what I
have to do but also inject enthusiasm to make it even
more worthwhile.
To my grade school teachers namely: Ms. Gladys Mintu,
Ms. Lani Cachapero, Ms. Mylene Botalon, Ms. Jan
Gutierez, and Ms Chiqui Reyes, thank you for always
believing that I could do better, and for still looking out for
me even when I was already in high school. You are all
so approachable and always willing to give me pieces of
advice that helped me become more responsible and
open to new things. I learned that opening up to new
ideas and new experiences intensify the knowledge that I
gain in the classroom and for that I thank you very much.
To our former English teacher who gave us mental
exercises every session to help develop our intellect and
gave us difficult challenges to show how much we are
capable of, thank you Ms.Risa Pangilinan. Though you
are not here, in behalf of the whole class of Integrity and
Compassion, thank you for showing us that to be able to
excel, one must learn to challenge one’s capabilities
to experience growth. To Sir Erwin Ragadio, who shows
so much kindness that you cannot help but give back
even more love. Thank you, for showing us that we are a
set of unique students who have different areas of
specialty. Thank you also for giving me the opportunity to
join the JAPI FedEx business plan competition because
along with your mentoring, I was able to learn a lot there.
To Mr. Ian Tapuro, thank you for honing my skills in math
during MTAP reviews. They really helped a lot especially
in the math section of the entrance examinations that I
took in the different universities. To Ms. Violi Alducente,
thank you for the love and care you showed to our class
and more thank yous for the great help you extended in
my pass research. Despite the long hours of typing
unexpected mistakes during the experiment, we were
able to develop an outstanding research paper. To Ms.
Icka Santos, thank you for the laughs and for making me
and the other members of the student council a set of
great student leaders, As my current sponsor, thank you
for allowing me to bother you when I needed your advice,
and most of all, for believing that despite my wrong turns
and de tours, I can still be a great student leader.
To our class adviser, Ms. Melanie Mendoza, thank you for
being a teacher, a friend, and a mother to all of us. Thank
you for bearing with us and caring for us like we are your
own children. To all the other teachers who were part of
my and all the other graduates’ journey in Southville,
thank you very much. As the saying goes, “A good
teacher explains, a superior teacher demonstrates
and a great teacher inspires.” You truly inspired all of
us.
Also, I would like to thank all my Titas, the parents of my
close friends, who allowed me to enter their homes when
we have activities that end late at night most especially to
Tita Beth Rapisura, who was always my fan. Thank you
for always being so supportive.
To my closest friends and batch mates, thank you for
making the sacrifices worthwhile, for making every school
day a party, for sharing your lunch with me, for talking
nonstop about the Vampire Diaries, for being supportive,
for caring, and for the love.
Now, to those who I owe the greatest thanks of all, mom,
dad, grandma and my brother, you were always there for
me when I felt like I wanted to give up. You always have a
way to put a smile on my face and you instill lessons in
my head that continuously develop me into a fine young
man. Thank you for supporting me morally and financially
and most of all, thank you for bringing me into this world.
Lastly, to the One above all of us, thank you for all the
blessings you have given me and everyone else.
Of all the values that I learned and will continue to learn, I
find independence as the most important. I first learned
this lesson when I was in second grade. I was taught how
to commute alone from Southville Elizalde campus to our
home in Bacoor, Cavite. I always felt scared but in time I
got used to it. My parents really did their best to make me
an independent kid. Another example of this was when
my dad would ask me to study. At first he would force me
to study but as time went on, without me even noticing it, I
was already studying on my own. I learned to develop an
initiative to study. From then on, I have been
independently studying and that is all thanks to my
parents.
Independence is one of the most important values to
have in order to become a good decision maker and
being a good decision maker helps one become a
good leader and person. We cannot just have fun all the
time but at the same time, we cannot just study all the
time. I think that if my life was a short story, my mom
would be the cheerful character because it was her who
would push me to go out, socialize, make friends, have
fun and enjoy, while my dad would be the serious
character. It was him who reminds me to focus on my
studies and give as much effort in studying as when I’m
playing. What I am trying to say is that we should find a
balance. Balancing fun and work creates an even
better individual and I suggest that everyone should
learn to do this.
Lastly, enjoying something that you do makes
achieving things effortless. Sometimes it pays not to
worry so much about where you ranked but rather think
about the joy you get with what you do. I know that
everyone feels extremely happy and our parents are
proud that we are able to secure a diploma after all these
years. Always aim for excellence. Even if you enjoy what
you’re doing, the hardships will still be present. I know a
lot who strive hard for success and a lot as well who,
unfortunately, just settle for mediocrity. Now, I would like
to challenge you to push yourselves harder and
always aim higher because in doing so, you will be
successful.
My fellow graduates always remember this famous quote
by David Frost, “Don’t aim for success if you want it; just
do what you love and believe in, and it will come
naturally.”
Thank you all, good luck and congratulations!