Throughout mid-July of this year, multiple instances of graduation, leveling up, and recognition rites took place in schools across the country, and different students and pupils of varying attitudes and backgrounds successfully made it through the entire school year 2022-2023.
For full disclosure, here is a speech made by your very own in his alma mater, where he graduated with highest honors (school valedictorian) belonging to the batch 2008. So, without further ado, here is the speech made throughout the ceremony that took place on 10th of July, 2023.
The Entire Speech
Good afternoon to each and everyone, especially the Elementary School Principal II Joseph Luania, and the faculty of Talisayan Elementary School, first and foremost I would like to say, ‘thank you’ for inviting me to be the Guest Speaker for this memorable event, especially for our little pupils who are now attending this memorable event of your lives, which is your Recognition Day.
I can still see and recognize my other teachers and former advisers when I was still in grade school. These people were my mother’s colleagues when she was still alive, teaching within the corners of this very institution. It’s been a great honor to be here and once again, thank you for having me at this event.
Sa ating mga estudyanteng na nandito ngayon sa Recognition rites na ito, gusto kong sabihin sa inyo na “congratulations”, for a job well done, lalo na’t nakapag-proceed kayo sa mas mataas na baitang. Congratulations on your recently-gained achievements regarding on your studies. You really made your parents proud in this day’s event, At deserve niyong mag-celebrate at mai-treat nang inyong mga magulang.
It means that another step has just unlocked for you to take a step higher, and it also means that you are up to the next phase of getting tougher lessons as you enter a higher grade level at the turn of a new school year.
Pwede na nating sabihin na “finally, another school year has ended”. Natapos na rin yung natungtong niyong grade level at makapag-relax muna pagkatapos makinig sa lessons ni teacher at makapagkuha ng passing mark sa periodic tests and other different quizzes that they provided to you, taking a source of strength and motivation to study more for the next school year.
This is good na may oras kayong makapag-handa sa ikinaharap ninyo once humantong tayo sa mas mataas na baitang. Just keep on studying untilyour dreams are fulfilled, eventually.
But it does not mean that things will go easy from here. As I said, there will be more challenges for you, little pupils, to see what’s ahead of you. Itong napag-aralan na nakuha dito sa mga guro natin ang siyang makakatulong sa atin para makuha ang ating mga pangarap, at ang pangarap ng mga magulang niyo sa inyo.
So, let me seize this opportunity to inspire you who are part of this fully memorable Recognition ceremony, for everyone who made it this far regardless of varying achievements.
Speaking of achievements, pwede kong masabi na itong ceremony na to, ang pagkuha ng mga awards, ay isang bagay na nagbibigay saya sa mga nakapag-achieve ng mataas na marka sa isang o iilang ‘subject’, subalit napag-daanan ko rin to.
Opo, nakatatak pa rin yung masayang alaala na umakyat sa stage and get pinned. It shows that studying hard enough bears fruitful results na siguradong ikatutuwa ng ating mga guro at mga magulang, that you did very well with what you are doing, na ipinakita niyo ang kahusayan bilang isang mag-aaral, the potential to become a productive citizen in the future, kapag naabot niyo na edad namin.
You will really appreciate the hardwork that your teachers spend time in bringing out the best in you. Yung may nadiscover na talent na magaling pala siya sa Mathematics, sa Science, sa English, or sa ibang aspeto na masasabi nating ‘sulit’ yung pasensya ng mga guro niyo.
Gawa lesson plan, crafting the exam types, paano to ituro sa inyo while getting your full attention, or pag may instances, going creative sa pagtuturo para maging interesting yung pag-aaral.
Being in this institution brings a lot of memories back to me. I remember the things such as participating in recitations pag lesson time, then here are some activities that a pupil is interested in, pa-contest between grade levels, and other extra-curricular activities that go hand in hand with the usual classroom academics.
But, of course, not everything is sunshines and rainbows. May oras talaga na hindi talaga makuha ng lessons nang maigi, medyo nahihirapan sa concept or kung paano to siya nakuha o naisagot. Naalala ko nga, umiiyak ako pag mababa ang grado ko eh, saying that I might be a disappointment to my mother, who was a teacher, or my grandmother who was a district supervisor (may they all rest in peace).
From that point, there was a realization na, not everything is perfect. Sa iilan, makapasa lang ok na ok na. So, it is nice to see if almost lahat, if not lahat talaga nakapag-recognition to get on a higher grade level. Masaya talaga kapag kasama pa rin si classmate sa next school year. No one should be left behind.
Let me instill to you the idea of what it means to be ‘inspired’. To be inspired more to do your studies, to be active in academics with your friends, and of course, to make friends. Iba ang motivation kapag meron tayong pinang-huhugutan ng lakas, a source of inspiration for us to do our very best, or get the best version of ourselves. Yung makinig sa mga gabay ng magulang at mga guro ay isang bagay lamang. Ang isa-puso ito at pag-iisip kung anong tama at mali ay nagbibigay-timbang sa kanilang gabay, sapagkat ito ay sa ikabubuti nating lahat.
There are many ways to stay inspired. First, are your parents and close relatives within your family. Sila ang nagbibigay-motivation to bring out the best in you. Gusto nila na, paglaki ninyo bilang isang tapat na mamamayan ng ating bansa, nakuha niyo na rin ang mga pangarap niyo sa buhay, at para sa mga magulang at sa ibang miyembro ng pamilya tulad ni lolo at lola na nandyan parati para makasuporta sa efforts na ginagawa sa loob at labas ng silid-aralan, at nandyan din si tito at tita na nagbibigay gabay sa anong kailangang gawin ng isa’t isa sa buhay.
Sa mga parents natin diyan at guardians na nagbabantay sa mga bata na nandito ngayon at nakikinig, be always inspired to see your kids doing ang being the best version of themselves. Let them be guided always, magbigay gabay tayo sa ating mga anak na maging mas masunurin, yung magiging mabait, at siyempre, maging masayahin sa magagandang gawain sa loob at labas ng paaralan. A good-performing student or pupil gives us a full peace of mind and full inspiration to strive more.
Second, there are your classmates and friends that you’ve made in school. Yung lahat na may interest sa pag-aaral, ha? Kasi masayang pakinggan na lahat kayo nakapag-proceed sa mas mataas na baitang na walang naiiwan. All the way, until you’ve grown up, it is nice to see you, little pupils, getting your respective dreams while your friends and closest of peers are doing the same. Nakakagaan ng feeling. Pagsikapan at kumuha ng inspiration sa kapwa mag-aaral para maging mas mabuting tao.
Kung merong di pagkakaunawaan, mas mainam na ring i-settle down na yan and instill the idea of team work. Parang naglalaro ng sports like soccer or basketball, lahat nagtutulungan para maging mas mabuting estudyante na walang mag-iiwanan. While things get competitive with awards, it is a better idea to help one another kasi at the end of the day, iisa lang din ang objective ng isa’t isa, which is para makaproceed to higher grade level, and to finish studies. Let this be the way, and stay inspired with one another.
And finally, there are your teachers and school advisors na nagtuturo sa inyo, gumagabay sa inyo. Kapag nagagalit sila, they do it because they want to see the best in you. Mas lalong inspired sila mag-turo kapag nakita nila kayong may interest, at the same time you have the full inspiration to participate in classroom discussions. For example, kapag may nag-report, you may ask curiosity-based questions, that at the end of the day the teacher explains it all and all of you fully understands the lesson. Lahat may natutunan at the end of the day.
Sa ating faculty, keep up your good work. Always make yourselves the source of inspiration for your pupils to be the best version of themselves. Kung anong pagkukulang ang meron sa kanila, help them fill it out. If there are some issues with their studies or kapag may problema sa pag-uugali, please help them out. I can bet that you will be more ‘inspired’ to do the teaching if your students, or pupils for that matter, showed their full interest to engage in a classroom discussion.
I also want to say that always remember, “Education is the best investment to success.” In my story, I know some of the teachers also know this because they were my mother’s good friend. I remember na nung nagkaroon siya ng sakit, hindi ko alam kung saan ako huhugot ng lakas. Kayo mga mag-aaral, always keep your parents, your teachers, at kahit yung mga classmates na naging kaibigan niyo as a source of strength para makapag-tapos ng pag-aaral, and eventually, to graduate from this institution.
Kami ng kapatid ko. Nag-aaral pa kami nun pero parang ang bigat. Ayaw naming iwan nanay namin sa bahay, in general, ayaw na naming mag-aral knowing na malala yung sakit niya at may possibility na anytime, iiwan niya na kami. Pero knowing her, grabe yung disiplina na binibigay niya sa amin lalong-lalo na sa pag-aaral. This is just one of main fundamental things sa pagiging estudyante. Ang disiplina na pinapayo sa inyo, it should not be ignored, as they really give this advice para sa ikabubuti niyo, at sa kinabukasan niyo.
At gaya ng sabi ko kanina, ayaw namin siyang madismaya since grabe yung effort at support na binigay nila samin ng papa ko para makapagtapos lang kami. In other words, I just want to say that kahit nahihirapan man tayo sa buhay, patuloy pa rin ang pangarap. Mga mag-aaral, you still have many years to go to fulfill your maximum potential and who knows may maka-discover sa mga skills and talents na meron kayo that will make you succeed along the way. Only time can tell.
Mahirap man ang buhay, mahirap man tayo, madami man tayong problema na hinaharap, pero always remember that God will not give us problems we cannot handle. He will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing, he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. Isa rin itong fundamental thing sa isang estudyante, ang madasalin. Kahit anong relihiyon o paniniwala pa ito, we always pray to our Lord Almighty na maipasa at makaproceed sa mas mataas na baitang as you get closer into fulfilling your dreams. We keep on praying for strength and motivation to get things done.
To end my speech, let me quote the South African anti-apartheid activist and former president Nelson Mandela, who said that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” You, little pupils, have a bright future ahead of you. Let it not be a waste for you or for your parent’s efforts. Show them your worth and make them proud. Always remember to stay inspired more.
Once again, thank you for listening. Maraming salamat, y buenas tardes con a todos.
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(c) 2023 Bern Orpiano, The Pitzviews.
