THEME: PAGKAKAISA SA PAGKAKAIBA-IBA: KALIDAD NA EDUKASYON PARA SA

LAHAT (UNITY IN DIVERSITY: QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL)

To start, I would like to greet all of you a pleasant morning, magandang umaga sa
inyong lahat, most especially to our dearest Principal Sir/Maam Luscares, to the members
of the school board, mga minamahal kong guro, parents and students, it is an honour and
privilege for me to be invited and stand here in front of you as your commencement
speaker for today, sino nga ba naman ang mag-aakala na isang araw ako ay tatayo sa inyong
harapan at magbibigay ng kahit kaunting inspirasyon sa inyo, sa aking mga naging
karanasan.

Noon, ako rin lamang ay katulad niyo, nakaupo diyan sa kinauupuan niyo at
nakikinig sa aming guest speaker, pero ngayon andito ako bumabalik sa aking paaralang
nakagisnan at magbibigay na rin ng mensahe upang kayo ay magabayan sa inyong
susuunging pagsubok sa paglabas ninyo rito sa ating mahal na paaralan, at tatahakin ang
susunod na kabanata ng inyong buhay pagka-estudyante.

As I continue, we all know that the Philippines is divided into 7,641 islands with
different tribes and dialect we speak but through education; We Filipinos are never really
divided. We merely stand facing each other from various points and distances at the
crossroads of unity. Our spirit of communal unity has never gone colder but has kept on
flaming through time. In its sustenance, education serves as the fuel and hence the
continuous delivery of quality, accessible, relevant, and liberating education of all Filipino
learners irrespective of profiles and stereotypes.

As I stand here today, I will share to you some of my experiences during my high
school days, and how did I apply those experiences as I took the challenge on achieving my
future career as an Electrical Engineer. Way back in high school I am not a type of student
who is eager, driven and very competitive. I am just a student who go to school, asked for
my mother a “baon” and excited as always during recess time, and even more excited when
it is already 5 o’clock in the afternoon. I like to play games together with my classmates and
walked going home because as we were traveling going home, we stopped by in a
basketball court and without realizing the time; we played until it gets dark. I am just a
typical and simple student way back I don’t even know how to dance, but back then for
compliance purposes I need to learn how to dance. It’s very normal in high school, right?
Who agrees with me, especially to the boys? We experienced these kinds of things because
we are afraid of not getting any points from our teachers. Tama ba ako? Marami sa atin
kapag nasa high school e takot tayo hindi mabigyan ng plus points ni teacher? (Haha) I also
felt the same before and it’s very normal.

So much for those experiences, ako bilang isang mag-aaral, sa kabila ng pagsasaya
kasama ang aking mga barkada hindi ko rin pinabayaan ang aking pag-aaral. I did my part
and my best para makatapos ng pag-aaral at masuklian ang hirap at sakripisyo ng aking
mga magulang. Ipinagsabay ko ang pagsasaya sa barkada at ang pagpapahalaga ng
edukasyon, sapagkat ito ay hindi naibibigay sa lahat ng mga batang katulad niyo. Ito ay
nangangahulugang tayo bilang nakapag-aral ay maswerte dahil tayo ay hindi pinabayaan ng
ating mga magulang. Hindi bat sa eskwelahan mayroon tayong mga kaklase na masasabi
nating maykaya o yung para sa atin ay mayaman, mayrron ring isang kahig isang tuka,
ngunit hindi nagpapatalo sa kahirapan makapunta lamang sa paaralan at matuto, mayroon
rin na hindi natin kapareha ng tribu o relihiyon, mayroon din hindi natin kaedad na mas
matanda sa atin an ating kaklase, pero sa kabila ng lahat ng ito pareho kayong nag-aaral at
natututo sa parehong leksyon na itinututo ng inyong guro, pareho kayong may pangarap at
pareho kayong naghahangad na makapagtapos ng pag-aaral, and that makes us UNITED,
that despite of our differences we are still united because of the so called, education.

Noon, hindi ako humangad na maging isang honor student, at malaki ang aking
pasasalamat na ako ay mapabilang pa rin sa mga nagtapos na may medalya at ribbon. I used
those as my inspiration to move forward and achieved my dream profession. In the present,
I am now a registered electrical engineer and a master’s electrician and currently studying
my master’s degree in electrical engineering, these titles in my name are rewards of my
perseverance and persistence to finish my studies and have a goal for myself.

Remember this, do not let others steal your dreams, you must choose your own
dream and you must work for it. I did not become an electrical engineer by chance, but I
become one because I chose to become one, I study hard to achieve it and work for it to
pass the board examination for electrical engineering. I know that not all of us love to study
and go to school every day, it’s normal because every person has its own way of success
stories. Like the owner of Facebook, he was a dropped out student, but now one of the most
popular and billionaire of the whole world. But, it doesn’t mean that we should also become
a dropped out from school to become successful, because there is no more fulfilling on the
part of our parents to see their children graduate from an elementary school, high school,
senior high school, college or university or even in the masters or doctorate degree, as they
see that their responsibility as a parent has been fulfilled and all their sacrifices to send you
to school are being paid off. They are the ones who are the proudest other than any other
person. So make yourself achieve something that can also bring smile to your dear parents.
Because our parents are always supportive and are always happy every time their children
achieve something that they themselves never had done such things. That’s why be more
thankful to your parents and appreciate what they have done for you to send you to school
and attend today in your commencement exercises, and dressed you beautifully just to look
handsome and beautiful in this very important day of your life.

In addition, let me share with you my little experience when I was a graduating
student, I’m scared and confuse what to take up as my course in college and what awaits
ahead after my high school graduation. Then, I know in my self that I’m quite good in math
and science so i took up electrical engineering and here today speaking in front as your
speaker and as a Registered Electrical Engineer. I know someday you will experience what
I’ve experienced before so just know who you are, your strengths and weaknesses, and
most importantly you should always ask for guidance to our dear Almighty Father that He
will guide you in choosing the right path for your future career.

That’s why today, in your recognition day I am encouraging you to finish your
education, whatever your status in life. Lumad man ta or Kristyano, Bisaya man or Muslim,
maski kung unsa pa atong tribo basta tagaan nato ug importansya ang atong pag-eskwela.

Never to get discourage of failures, make it your tools to success and use it as your
motivation, like, if you think that you can’t excel like your school top student, then make
him or her your motivation to strive harder to live your own life more unique and suitable
for your own self. Just imagine, soon when you can graduate of college and already had your
life story to tell, and you will also be invited to become the commencement speaker of our
beloved school. What could be your story to tell to the listeners? Of course I know you have
your own funny, happy and sad story to be told. For now, just don’t be discourage and love
one another.

Today, I am congratulating you, who successfully completed the additional years of

learning High School; I am also congratulating your proud parents and relatives who have
been waiting for this very special academic achievement and your teachers who are very
patient in teaching all of you. I suddenly remember my recognition day and graduation day,
I had all those mixed emotions of excitement and fear, which is I’m sure you are also
experiencing today. I’m neither a very good writer nor an experienced speaker, but I hope I
inspired you and motivated you today before you leave your almamater. Congratulations to
all of you! Thank you so much and Mabuhay ang (unsa name sa school?).

Once again good morning!