There was a time when I wondered in the past why all valedictory addresses and messages seemed to sound so traditional and predictable. The text flowing with memories and future dreams. Sometimes one can even predict nooks and crannies.
Yet despite that impersonal and technical observation from a young boy like me, I did not fail to notice why the audience are kept raptured and enthralled, seemingly going hand in hand with the speaker’s various emotions, each one in unison with him as he reminisce the past and look forward to the future.
Today, as I stand before you-our mentors, our school administrators, our parents, our friends amidst my batch mates, reality is sinking in me. The profoundness of this occasion engulfing my being, consuming my emotions – passion and intellect.
Now, I know and fully understand that what seemed to be plainly traditional is not at all that constricted simple concept but tradition rooted to humanity of man.
Now, I believe graduation means more than tradition, it’s a picture of life, a metaphor of birth… now I feel graduation time is indeed very special and memorable!
Today batch 2002, my batch mates and I feel the essence of this tradition and my speech today is the collective message from the heart of class 2002.
Like those who passed these hallowed grounds and portals ahead of us, we feel that today is forever etched in our own life’s history. Indeed High School graduation is magical. Comparing it to digital technology, our life is on freeze frame monitor simultaneously showing the multi-dimensional matrix of our past, our present and our tomorrow.
Personally committed, socially transformed.
This past frame brings us back to year 1998 when this group of more than a thousand wide eyed insecured young adolescence entered this honorable institution. There were many questions in our minds… expectations and honestly-fear of uncertainty.
Four years later-that is today, this thousand strong young men and women are ready to face the challenge of the bigger world.
We are leaving this institution with a well-equipped personality founded not only with knowledge but wisdom, not only with values but with solid character. This is the INHSIAN way. What you see today in us is the result of the productive partnership of home and the school, two pillars of society, and the cooperation my batch mates gave to them.
Graduation time is the time to look forward. In such a way we remember the good times, the funny times and even the petty quarrels and misunderstanding. This is the time to say thank you to each and everyone. Gratitude must be extended to our parents, teachers and this school and even among us classmates.
In the open, I now quote my Mom “Albert, mag-aral kang mabuti, ‘yan lang kasi ang maipapamana namin sa iyo ng Daddy”. I guess this sentiment of my Mom is shared by all parents here today. This thousand strong batch mates have heard it as well. But of course I just wondered how many fathers have also stated what my Dad have uttered “anak, mag-rest ka naman, alam ko pagod ka na sa pag-aaral. Today I still wonder the wisdom of that statement, but no doubt it was an eloquent expression of love.
Ladies and gentlemen these were priceless words that brought me to where I am now. As I am sure same words brought my batch mates too.
Allow me then to ask my batch mates to offer a standing ovation to the heroes of our lives, our parents.
Be proud you are a teacher! The future depends on you!
Our alma mater, its administrators and teachers deserve to be acknowledged for delicately molding us intellectually and morally-into better persons.
You made us to be and become the persons you had always wanted. Personally committed, socially transformed.
Now everything comes rushing back-we remember the dignity of your steps, the beauty of your lectures, the richness of your expertise. Without minding our imperfections, which were part and parcel of the learning process of growing up!
You really belong to a very noble profession. Be proud you are a teacher! The future depends on you!
Thank you so much Mesdames and Sirs… So long alma mater, beloved bastion of our dream. Thank you for making us beautiful human gems with dazzling array that will shine in the galaxy of life.
They say that last is reserved for the best. Last but not least is the gratitude we give to our classmates, friends and fellow graduates. In retrospect how boring and colorless could have been the four years that passed without you. Never can we forget the precious moments we have shared in this institution.
Batch mates, as you are sitting down there I urge you to reach out and hold each others hand to fill once more the warmth of youthful, careful friendship and re-live our life’s happiest moments. Let us thank one another for touching each other’s lives-for the love, joy and pains of growing up together.
Now fellow graduates, let us be armed with education that is adequate. Let us transform this world into a better place to live in.
Believe that each one of us has a role to play in the tremendous task of building a better world that is waiting for us. We have so much to offer the world-our time, our talents, our best. And as we now embark to sail forth to find our desired places in the sun, let us remember GOD and put Him as steward on the succeeding phases of our lives. Remember our source of strength is our belief in the tremendous power of prayer and the omnipotence of God.
Finally I declare, there are no good byes to be said on Graduation day.