Thank you Dr.
Dante. That was a generous introduction. Ma’am Nel, by the way, was my good Science
teacher and adviser in Grade 6 almost seventeen years ago. Bilang isang alumnus
ng UNC Elementary Class 1995, malaking karangalan po na tanggapin ang imbitasyon
na maging speaker sa importanteng okasyon na ito, at tanggapin ang hamon na
mabigyan kayo magandang mensahe sa inyong pagtatapos.
Executive Vice
President Dr. Lourdes S. Anonas, again Elementary Principal Dr. Nelia R. Dante,
faculty, staff and administrators, graduates, parents, guests, ladies and gentlemen,
good evening.
One day during the Linggo ng Wika in 1990 (hindi pa kayo
pinapanganak), Ma’am Fe Valenciano asked me to give an intermission number in a
small class program. I sang the nationalistic song Isang Lahi before my Grade
2-A classmates. Ma’am Fe was happy with my performance that she brought me with
other singers in the Elementary to a popular local radio station here in Naga
to sing on air. That time, AM radio-listening was a popular habit of Naguenos
so many of our neighbors, my friends and relatives tuned in to the station to
hear me sing.
Yun ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na may isang tao,
maliban sa aking pamilya, na nakitaan ako ng potensyal, naniwala sa aking
kakayahan at nabigyan ako ng ‘break’ para ibahagi ang aking sarili sa ibang tao.
From then on, I was inspired to hone my talent by memorizing song after song
and practicing hard with my mother as my mentor, Ma’am Fe as my talent manager,
and our old karaoke as my constant companion. The next time I sang, I stood on
this same stage before UNC and Naga City public during a Foundation Day
outreach. And in the succeeding four years, I sang in many other venues and
occasions here and outside the campus. I can still recall the feeling every
time I sang before the public. It was beautiful.
My life has never been the same because of these experiences
which began on that single moment of inspiration when someone believed in me. That
moment happened in Elementary. I should also tell you that I was one of the fastest
runners among the boys in my class. This fact was obvious during our
aragawan-base. I used to win in the games of text/card games and marble games –
you know jolens quick or touch quick. But our teachers Like Ma’am Maritess Taday
were also quick in confiscating our cards. I am not sure if you still play
these traditional games. Baka puro na lang PC games.
I am sure that you also have your own stories of success,
dreams, friendship – your first ambition, your first group, your first crush,
your first fistfight, your first educational tour, your first moment of
inspiration. Sa inyong pagtatapos, napapanahon lamang na inyong alalahanin ang
mga makukulay na karanasan sa elementarya.
As you remember your experiences, you may also go back to
the lessons you learned in Elementary. Tandaan ninyo parati ang mga natutunan
ninyo sa Elementarya sapagkat magagamit ninyo ang mga aral na ito nang
pang-habangbuhay.
Let me explain this. When a high school student has poor
study habits (tamad mag-aral), that student must have been lazy in Elementary,
and was not properly motivated to be serious in studying. Or, when a college
student is a bully (mahilig mang-away), more likely that student has been a
bully back in elementary and was not well-disciplined by teachers or parents.
Or when a politician cheats in the elections or steals money from the people
(mandaraya sa eleksyon o kurap), that politician must have forgotten an old
saying which is first learned in elementary: Honesty is the best policy. (Sana
‘pag tumanda na kayo, kabisado ninyo pa rin ang linyang iyan sapagkat hindi
naman yan magbabago sa high school, sa college o kahit graduate na kayo.)
I gave you these examples of possible consequences if one
is not well-formed, disciplined or motivated in elementary, or if one forgets
the lessons in elementary. Pero sino ang hindi nakakalimot? When you grow old,
you may forget which the hottest planet is in the solar system, who the
characters are in children’s stories, or the short and long methods to solve
math problems. But keep in your hearts the lessons which are more important
than these knowledge or grades. True, it is impressive for a person to have a
college diploma and many awards, to be knowledgeable, to wear decent clothes,
and to speak English and Filipino fluently and convincingly in public (Mataas
ang pinag-aralan, maraming alam, magaling magsalita). Are these the most
important things in life? Ito ba ang mga pinakamahalagang natututunan ng isang
mag-aaral sa Elementarya?
The novella The Little Prince says no. (Have you read The
Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery?) The book says that “What is essential
is invisible to the eye.” Ang mahahalagang bagay ay yaong hindi natin nakikita
o nahahawakan. It invites you to see with heart the more important things in
life like time with family, friendship, attitude. Hindi iPhone or iPad. Hindi
mamahaling rubber shoes.
Harry Potter agrees with the Little Prince. For Harry,
Hermoine and Ron, love of family, loyalty to friends, the good and the truth are
more important than any amount of popularity and magic or power.
Finally, Doreimon shares his own opinion. (Kilala ninyo
ba si Doreimon?) He told Nobita: “Hindi mo kailangan ng superpowers para magkaroon
ng kaibigan”, para maging mabuting tao, para maging tunay na masaya.
The truth is, the most basic and important values are
learned in Elementary (meaning at school and at homes- sa eskwelahaan at sa
tahanan). It is in this level that young people are taught about basic values: honesty,
discipline, love of country, care for the environment, love of God. Tinuro ba
ang mga ito ng inyong mga guro sa elementarya? Pwes, huwag ninyo itong
kalilimutan.
After summer this year, you shall be in high school where
some things shall be different. In high school, you may become more conscious
of materials. You may realize, for instance, that your classmates are rich, and
you are poor. They have more baon than you have. They have iPhone or iPad, and
you do not even have a cellphone or desktop computer at home. There are
conditions in your family that you cannot change and you just have to accept
for now. But your material inadequacy, yung kakulangan ninyo sa material na
bagay, should not be a source of your insecurity or a reason for envy. At para
sa mga nakaaangat sa buhay, the good financial status of your family should not
give you the privilege to belittle or put other people down.
Meron akong kaklase noon na laging tinutukso kase Grade
Five na kami pero naka-shorts pa rin siya kase hindi pa kayang magpatahi ng pantalon.
Nung mag-first year high school kami, lahit kami bagong-bago at puting-puti ang
aming unipormeng polo, ngunit ang kanyang polo ay second-hand, medyo punit pa
nga ang kwelyo. Pero hindi niya ikinahiya ni minsian ang kahirapan ng kanyang
pamilya, bagkus naging inspirasyon niya pa ito para makapagtapos siya ng high
school at kolehiyo at magtagumpay sa buhay. Remember, in succeeding in your
studies, these material things are not the most important. Your hardwork,
determination and resourcefulness would be the key to overcome the challenges
and achieve your goals in high school. Hindi naman kayo kayang ipasa sa exam ng
iPad ninyo o ng baon ninyo. Neither would these materials matter in your
relationship with other people. Hindi naman kayo makakahanap ng tunay na mga
kaibigan dahil sa pera ng magulang ninyo.
Remember this: Hindi kayo ang parents ninyo. Hindi ninyo
pera ang pera ng magulang ninyo. Hindi baon ninyo ang sukatan ng kagalingan at
pagkatao ninyo. You are what you do. You are your values.
I am not saying that you should be poor. Siguro ngayon pa
lang naririnig niyo na ang magulang niyo na “Anak, magtapos ka ng pag-aaral
kase ikaw lang ang pag-asa namin baling araw.” Eh talagang kailangan niyong
makatapos ng pag-aaral at magkaroon ng magandang trabaho. Hindi ko rin sinasabi
na that you have to deny yourself of the joys and convenience of new technologies.
Kung kaya, walang problema, ‘di ba? Kung hindi kaya, huwag pilitin ni Mama o si
Papa.
Here is the bottomline: In the future, you can be rich,
but not greedy. You can achieve many things in life, but not through cheating
or stealing. You can be happy without having to hurt other people.
I know that as young as you are, you have already seen
enough on TV and internet the social realities in the country and in the world:
unkindness, greed, corruption, environmental destruction, war and many others
that are not the ideal world presented to you in elementary. In high school,
you will become more aware of these realities. Sa high school, ang mga leksyon,
ang mga relasyon, ang inyong mga nararamdaman, ang buhay ay magiging mas
makulay, ngunit mas magiging mahirap at sabi nga sa Facebook, magiging complicated.
As you experience these, remember elementary and the
lessons taught to you by your elementary teachers. Bear in mind, however, that
being a UNC graduate entails the challenge to be BETTER than you are today.
Hindi lamang kayo ordinaryong graduate; graduate kayo ng UNC. I believe that much
was given to you; therefore, much more is expected from you. Sabi nga ni
Spiderman: With great power, comes greater responsibilities. Be MORE.
Nung first year high school na ‘ko dito sa UNC, sabi ko
sa sarili ko, hindi lang pag-awit ang kaya kong gawin. Kumakanta pa rin naman ako,
ngunit mas nilawakan ko na ang aking mundo. Naging masipag akong estudyante.
Nagbasa ako ng maraming libro. Sumali ako sa ilang organisasyon. Hinamon ko ang
sarili ko bilang isang campus journalist o manunulat at public speaker. Sa
palagay ko, nagtagumpay naman ako sa high school. In this University, I finished
high school as one of the most awarded graduates in my batch. I became MORE in
high school. This is also my challenge to you: if you think you did good in
elementary, then you can do so much better in high school. Kung nagging medyo
pasaway, maraming pagkakataon naman na bumawi sa high school.
This is my personal mission-vision which I would like to
share with you: Today is a chance to be better than yesterday. Ang bawat araw
ay pagkakataon na mas maging mabuting tao, estudyante, anak, kaibigan. The same
challenge goes to you: Paano? Uulitin ko – ito ang unang hakbang: alalahanin
ninyo ang mga karanasan at mga aral na natutunan sa elementary sapagkat
magagamit ninyo ang mga ito nang pang-habangbuhay.
Finally, have a grateful heart. Always thank the people
who have helped and accompanied you in your young journey: your parents,
friends and teachers. As a fitting tribute to your elementary teachers, may I
propose that all students stand and give your teachers a round of applause for
their hardwork, patience and services. May I also request you to hug or kiss
your parents in thanksgiving for their guidance, support and selfless love.
Hanggang dito na lang po. Salamat sa pakikinig. Mabuhay
kayong lahat.
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