Ms. Ma. Josefina Bueno-Luna, our school head, administrators, co-teachers, parents,
students, a blissful and wonderful day to all.
First, I would like to express my gratitude to the committee of this event for giving me an
opportunity to speak in one of the special days of our school.
At last, the day has finally come to reap what you all have sown. Today you are going to
receive the fruits of your labor. This is the day that you are going to remember the
hardships, sleepless nights answering modules and worksheets, difficult examinations, eye
constraints and headaches staring at your gadget’s screen while attending online classes,
and many more.
The COVID 19 pandemic has challenged all of us, financially, our social connections, our
mental health and most importantly our education. For two years now, we all must adjust
to the new learning setup not familiar to us, even for us teachers. But we remained resilient
despite the adversity (katulad ng nasa tema sa tarpaulin). Resilience is one that completes
our being Filipinos. “Makuha pang magbiruan kahit pa bagyuhin” “Nagagawan ng paraan
ang problema”. Just like what you all did all throughout the school year. You continued to
persevere, diligently complied with all the school requirements, and what’s more awesome
is that you made it with flying color! You excelled despite that schooling right now is much
costly, physically, and mentally exhausting, and relatively lonelier than the schooling 2 years
ago. I know some of you went through very difficult life trials other than school-related
problems but at the end of the day, you did it!
Aside from you, achievers, let us also recognize the resilience fostered by all the teachers
and non-teaching personnel of our school who showed not just skills and wisdom but more
so, the love and compassion towards their work and their clients, and that’s you, our
beloved students.
Let us also bring into the limelight the hard works of your parents. Sa mga magulang na
naririto, marami pong salamat at nais naming ipaalam sa inyo na nagagampanan ninyo nang
tama at mabuti ang inyong responsibilidad bilang magulang sa inyong anak dahil
sinusuportahan ninyo ang kanilang pag-aaral. Totoo pong edukasyon ang isa sa mga
importanteng maipapamana natin sa kanila. I remembered when I was in high school, isa
akong batang sakto lang, nag-aaral naman pero may kapilyuhan din. My teachers would call
up my mother for I would cut classes, for having grades on the brink of failing, for being not
so eager to learn. There was a time na nag-absent pa ang nanay sa trabaho para lang
magconference sa school. Nahiya ako sa nanay ko. Bilang isa siyang solo parent, hindi
nakatapos ng elemntarya, pasideline sideline sa Avon, Natasha, Boardwalk, binigyan ko pa
siya ng sakit sa ulo dahil nagbulakbol ako. Kaya sabi ko mula noon sa isip ko “Nay, sa
susunod na taon ipapatawag ka ulit sa school.” The next year recognition, napatawag nga si
Nanay dahil nag first honor ako sa klase. To cut the long story short, came college
graduation at si Mayor Lim na ang nakaharap niya dahil nagsabit sya ng medalya dahil
sinikap kong grumaduate with Latin honor. Kaya kayo, sikapin nyong ma-bring mother din.
Not to bring plastic cover, but to let them witness your success. Because your success is also
theirs.
Resilience would also mean “to look at the brighter side and hope for a better tomorrow.”
In other words, to dream. To aspire for something different. Sino bas a Aguinaldians ang
nangangarap na maging abogado? Doctor? Pulis? Engineer? Architect? Designer? Etc.. We
all would dream of those positions because we believe that those will give us the
comfortable life that everybody wants, right? Sab inga ng ating mga magulang “Mangarap
ka ng mataas” or in English “dream high”. And there’s really nothing wrong about it. But let
me share the gist of the article I read saying that “dreaming high is not enough but we also
have to dream deep”. Dream deep, in Filipino “Mangarap ka nang Malalim”. Mangarap ka
nang Malalim would ask for your “CAUSE” or “DAHILAN”. “Gusto kong maging doctor…para
magamot ko ang mahihirap na may sakit.” “Gusto kong maging abogado, para
maipagtanggol ang malilit na hindi nabibigyan ng hustisya.” Isama mo ang iba sa
pangangarap mo, sa madaling salita.
But how can you start working on your dreaming deep, eh studyante pa lang naman kayo.
Remember kayo ang cream of the top, the best among the rest. This privilege not just puts
you at the top of your classes, but at the same time, challenges you to do something even
greater. And that it to inspire your classmates to do better. Be an inspiration to your
classmates so that next year, more medals and certificates will be served. More students
will be seated together and wait for their names to be called to go up on the stage. More
happy and satisfied faces of parents and teachers. And more like you who will dream high
and dream deep to become more productive, concerned, and responsible members of our
community. And by this, we can build a better country for everyone.
So, to the resilient and dreamer Aguinaldians, my warmest congratulations!