GREETINGS!

It is always a great pride and honor to be given the task of introducing a

person who is not only worthy of emulation because of her achievements in life,
but mostly because she was once like us. She built her dreams inside this very
school. She walked the same halls, entered practically the same rooms, and
played on the same grounds. Today, she comes home to us to grace us all with
her presence, to share with us her story, and inspire us to work hard to achieve
our dreams, no matter how difficult the road may be.

Our guest speaker for today is a native of Barangay New Isabela. She is
the second of the eight children of the late Mr. Victoriano B. Ruña, a
hardworking carpenter and Mrs. Marilou D. Casador, a humble housewife.

She had her elementary education at New Isabela Central School, and
graduated on March 1993. On April 1997, she finished her secondary education
at the Sultan Kudarat Polytechnic State College, Science Laboratory
Highschool, with Honors.

Prior her graduation from high school, she was told that, being one of the
elder children in the family, she had to sacrifice for the benefit of the younger
ones. Since her family could not afford to support her college education
anymore, she was told that she might have to quit school. Fortunately, after
passing the rigorous qualifying examination, she became a Department of
Science and Technology Scholar, which allowed her to go to College at
Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology. She took up a
Diploma Course in Electronic Engineering Technology, Major in
Communication Electronics.

Shortly after graduating, she was employed as a Statistician Aide at the

Provincial Government of Sultan Kudarat. While working there, in pursuit of
further studies and self-betterment, our guest speaker enrolled at the
University of San Jose-Recoletos, under its Expanded Tertiary Education
Equivalency and Accreditation Program, taking up Bachelor of Science in
Electronic and Communication Engineering. She graduated from the said
program on April 2011.

At present, she is working as Project Development Officer I, with a

special designation as Division Youth Formation Program Coordinator of the
Department of Education City Schools Division of Tacurong. She is happily
married to Mr. Joan D. Po, and a proud mother of three cute sons named Victor
Alfonso, Vaughn Adrian & Vance Aaron.

Today, she comes back to the arms of New Isabela Central School,
already a full-fledged professional, with a lot of experiences up her sleeves. Her
life was not a walk in the park, but the hardships she was able to overcome are
the main reasons why she is with us today. May we be inspired by her life, with
the hopes that ten or twenty years from now, it will be one of this year’s
graduates who will be inspiring those who will come after us.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please help me welcome with a warm round of

applause, our guest speaker for today, Ms. Leonora C. Ruña-Po!