Saktong Buhay: Sa De-kalidad na Edukasyon Pinanday, 2015 Graduation Veledictory Message

            To the most respected district supervisor, to our beloved school principal, to our invited guest speaker who will be introduced later, to our dear teachers who are surely be missed, my dear classmates who are very happy now just like me because at last we are now in our graduation toga, and of course to our most treasured parents- mother and father, our guardians! Good afternoon everyone!

            I am deeply honored for the chance you have given me today- to speak in front of you during this memorable moment- our high school graduation. In everyone’s life, high school graduation is considerably one of the most memorable events. I know you would agree with me.

           Every morning, when you open your eyes on your bed to the so called “new day”, you feel like closing them again, and not getting up yet. It’s so nice to sleep even more. But to a responsible student, he or she will never do that. He or she would rise up from bed. That is because he or she wants to really go to school every day, to learn new things from his or her teacher, to joyfully acquire good education. Could you say that you are this responsible student?

           Today, we can proudly say and show to anyone else that we have hurdled so much challenges and even hardships to finish our high school education. Aside from the mentally agitating lessons in trigonometry and calculus, the brain twisting assignments in subject-verb agreement, misplaced  modifiers and erroneous uses of prepositions, the grueling memorizations of various technical and historical terms in physics and history classes, there are of course the so called hassles brought by irate peers and some inconsiderate teachers plus the so many familial issues and problems. So sometimes we want to give up. But we didn’t. We knew well that these are just real life tests for us to become stronger and better persons.

           This year’s graduation theme prescribed by the Department of Education is “Saktong Buhay: Sa De-kalidad na Edukasyon Pinanday”. Exact Life: Molded through Quality Education. This theme highlights the importance of quality education in shaping a decent future for every Filipino youth. School as the anvil of quality learning.

          We are in a better place in the world. We have a better government that is continuously making reforms and polishing our curriculum to give and to serve better kind of education. Education is the ultimate investment of every nation. The quality of education it will require the teachers to give us- the youth, will bear ample fruit for the country’s future. Today’s youth are the leaders of the future. These youth are us, my fellow graduates.

           Kto12 is a curriculum that is synonymous to quality education. Quality education equals quality life. Kto 12 opens new doors not just for national but even global opportunities. With this new curriculum, we are not left behind anymore by other neighboring Asian countries who have embraced already the 12 year schooling for their youth before going to the final ladder in the colleges or universities. Kto12 is restructuring a better path or road which is suited to your talent, inclination, capacity and desire.

           DepEd’s commitment is to hone us with the 21^st century skills which are required to every graduate in this continuously changing society. It wants us to actualize our life goals and dreams which when we gain will not only benefits for our selves but to our family and our country too.

            Go on dear graduates! Continue acquiring quality education. Strive to finish your schooling. Acquire a college degree. Dream big and make your dream so real. Education is your ultimate best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth that we have now. Both qualities in some people’s life last with the fading of time, but if you get quality education you will flourish and succeed continuously. When you're beautiful now, it will fade later on. When you are young now, don’t grow old unsuccessful. Youth will never come back in our life. Grab the opportunity at hand. Getting quality education is now, don’t ever say never!

            I would like to take this opportunity to say my utmost gratitude to my magnanimous parents, my dear mother and father, my family. It is because of them that I am in delight speaking in front of you now. Thank you for your indefatigable supports and love. Thank you for understanding me in some times of my tantrums and misdemeanors. Thank you for granting some of my petty whims and caprices which sometimes are irrelevant upon further self-realization. I knew you have granted them to me because you love me so well. And to that, I promise that I would strive harder to reach your great dreams for me- to get a degree and finish my college education. My dear fellow graduates let us give our parents a standing ovation! And lets give them a big round of applause!

           Thank you my dear teachers. You will be remembered in some times of our lives. The lessons you have taught to us will serve as our guiding torch towards our maturing and continuous grow. You have became our second parents, or brothers and sisters sometimes. You have shared to us not just scholastic lessons but real lessons as well that we can use to our so called teen age life. For these, let us give our teachers a big round of applause.

           Thank you!

           A famous education philosopher John Dewey once shared, “Education is not preparation for life. Education is life itself”. What would you become if you don’t have complete education? Life is a continuous acquisition of education. This means that life is dark if we lack or stop acquiring education. Job is elusive, opportunity is scarce and happiness is limited too.

          Five or more years from now, I hope you could still remember our school, our alma mater. And you have the courage to step back on its portal with great pride and honor. Because during that time, you are already an accomplished alumna or alumnus and an important person in your community.

         Saktong Buhay: Sa De-kalidad na Edukasyon Pinanday. Exact Life: Molded through Quality Education. I don’t intend to wrong the DepEd but let’s not forget God, the source of all the blessings, wisdom and all these knowledge that we learned. Thanks God for the never ending graces and glory. You are the fountain and well of all these good tidings and eventuality. We appreciate and glorify Your great name. Should I say now, Saktong Buhay: Sa De-kalidad na Edukasyon at Pananampalataya sa Diyos Pinanday. Exact Life: Molded Through Quality Education and Faith in God. The fullness of life will never be the same and possible without God.

          My fellow graduates, every morning, when you open your eyes on your bed to the so called “new day”, you feel like so blessed, and you stretches your arms in great joy. Because that time, that very morning, you are in your college days already. Let us enjoy our college days ahead. Another rough road to the fullness of our life.

         Good afternoon and happy high school graduation day to all of you! May the good Lord bless us all!