To
our beloved president of Laguna Northwestern College, Mr. Rolando Entila, our
adept commencement speaker, Mr. Apolinario Bocar, to all the members of LNC
administrative staff, to all the teachers, students, to my fellow graduates,
parents, friends, relatives, visitors, ladies and gentlemen...GOOD EVENING!
Today
marks the realization of one of our big dreams in life. To earn a masteral or
bachelor’s degree is one of our ambitions. Isn’t it? And it really takes a lot
of sacrifices and sufferings before we could receive our diploma and be proud
of it. Years ago, the thought of finishing in College was somewhat impossible
with all those financial obligations, brain-cracking examinations, time-demanding
researches, paper works, books to read, or in a word- challenges! However,
because Filipinos are known of their flexibility (as what our theme says) and
that attitude of being a fighter, we have come this far. We are able to surpass
all those trials and difficulties we encountered in our academic endeavour.
That’s why, I would like to congratulate each one of us for not giving up
despite all those challenges, for your perseverance and faith and for your
continued effort until you reach the finish line. Because of that, I believe we
deserve to hear a thunderous applause from the crowd. Thank you!
You know there are many reasons for us
to celebrate and be joyful today. And one of those reasons is the truth that we
are loved by God and those people who are behind this particular scholarly
achievement. God is the very reason why we are able to gather today with this
memorable occasion. It is not only because of our own efforts but also because
the ever-loving and generous God allows us with His bountiful blessings to
materialize this activity. For me, graduation is not
about human acknowledgment, it has nothing to do with the Latin translation of
praise which is laude, it is not about certificates or diploma but rather it is
about being grateful to the very reason why we still breathe at this very
moment and feel the joy which is brought to us by these human accomplishments.
Through our loyal friend and Lord Jesus Christ and with the prayers of our
Lady, the Heavenly Father bestows us this opportunity to experience all these
things, the source of our temporal happiness. Thus, we earnestly thank the
most-powerful and generous God for every grace He has showered upon us. Real
talk, we can do nothing without Him! What we have today is not for our own
glorification but instead for the praise and glory of God. The Bible tells us
that God does not want us to be successful but to be faithful always to Him.
Palakpakan po natin ang Panginoon!
Of
course, we should not forget to thank our parents, guardians, benefactors and all
those generous children of God who have unceasingly supported us in our moral
and financial needs. They have been with us in our sorrows and happiness. We
are so thankful to these people who serve also as our inspiration and because
of your help and encouragement, we saw hope even at times of disappointment.
Your big-heartedness has really inspired us to study well and do our part.
Knowing the truth that many youth today are not given the chance and are
deprived of their right to education even if they really want to study, we are
reminded how fortunate we are because of you - the instrument of God’s
goodness! We pray that the Lord of harvest will pay you a hundredfold. Let’s
give them a marvellous applause.
We
also thank our teachers who had faithfully and responsibly fulfilled their
duties as facilitators of learning, formators of values and catalyst for
transformations. They are not only our living heroes but also they are our role
models. Definitely, this success is something that we owe from our teachers or
mentors, and so these people really deserve our sincere gratitude. Ladies and
gentlemen, let’s give them a round of applause!
My
dear co-graduates, in my four years of philosophical journey to the pursuit of
wisdom, I would love to share to you one of my favourite philosophical tenets
that is of Socrates’. He says, “An
unexamined life is not worth living for.” Ang Buhay na walang pagninilay-nilay ay buhay na walang saysay. What
does it mean? It simply means that we need to reflect on our life every single
day. If today we are happy because we are recognized by our fellow human beings
for our rewarding performance in school, it might be that the Lord is not happy
for we neglected some of his teachings. He might not be happy for the kind of
life we have. Therefore, we need to examine our life, every now and then, if we
still do the will of God in spite of the many activities that we are involved,
in spite of the several commitments and responsibilities to be carried out
every day and make sure that the kind of life we are living is pleasing to the
eyes of God.
I
know that you have so many plans in life. Many of us, I think, are now planning
to land a highly-paying job right after graduation. Perhaps, some of us are
planning to further their studies. Some of us are planning to seek for
political office. Maybe, others just want to take a long vacation after those
tiring years of study (ang sarap na pong
magbakasyon). However, my point is whatever our plans in the future, they
must help us to become more human and to
be holy for that is what matters most. Sad to say, that in our present time
some of the educated people are becoming immoral, acting like unlearned
individuals and the worst is they become selfish
and attached to worldly allurements. They are so obsessed to the word
practicality to the extent of neglecting what is morally right and ideal. I
believe, this is a big challenge for us newly graduates. We must serve as role
models to our younger generations. Hand in hand, let us work together to
restore our tainted dignity as Filipinos. With this academic victory, we are
expected to create a just and humane society where everyone lives peacefully
and morally, everyone enjoys the blessings of God, and is nourished by the
love, unity and friendship which is being shared among the children of God!
Today,
we make history. We share the same joy, aspirations and perhaps, hope. We are
now conceived as someone who is successful in his pursuit of knowledge and
wisdom. But there is one thing that we should not forget, that is to remain
humble for Jesus Christ, the greatest philosopher of all philosophers, urges us
to be humble so that the Heavenly Father will exalt us. It is said in the book
of Sirach, “however great you become, humble yourself more, and
you will find favour before the Lord, and He is
glorified by the humble.”
Once again, congratulations and May God
bless us and this institution always! Thank you.
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