To our Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Elsie T. Barrios.

To the District
Supervisor of Narra Del Sur District, Dr. Mario T. Solatorio, to the school head of
Princess Urduja National High School, Principal III Mam Joy E. Galgo.
To all the faculty and staff of Princess Urduja National High School, guest, to the
proud parents and to the completers, Good Afternoon.
I am so honored to be invited to such a momentous occasion in your lives. First
and foremost, I would like to congratulate every one of you today. Congratulations
to our dear 2024 completers who, are now starting to harvest the fruit of their
labors.
Of course, congratulations also to all the parents and guardians who fully
supported and provided the needs of our completers today.
May I request everyone to please stand and together, let us honor the people behind
your success. So kung nakikita ninyo ang inyong mga magulang or guardians, your
teachers. Look at their faces, wave a hand and give your sweetest smiles.
Let us give a big round of applause for your dearest teachers and proudest parents.
Kung hindi dahil sa knila, we will not be here today celebrating you success.
Thank you, you may now take your seats.
Before I proceed with my short speech this afternoon, I will ask first some
questions. If you know the answers, you may raise your hand.
Then if you get the correct and complete answers of course you will receive an
envelope, enclosed here are my simple graduation gift.
1. First question is When is my birthday? OCTOBER 18, 1987
2. I graduated college at Western Philippines University with a degree of
Bachelor of Elementary Education. In what major? Major in Science
3. What is my first job after I graduated in college? PARA TEACHER
4. When I graduated from high school? March 2004
5. Complete the sentence: _________ is the most powerful weapon which you
can use to change your life and never be afraid to try something new.
Education
Congratulations completers for actively participating. You may claim you prizes
later. Approach lang kayo.
Siguro lahat kayo nagtataka bakit may pa question and answer. Basically, Mam
Villacruz who introduced me, represents our mother, your guardians, your
teachers.
Usually, your teachers or even your parents always give pieces of advice, pero
anong nangyayari? Papasok sa tenga, lalabas sa kabila? This is the reality? Tama
ba dear completers?
That’s the first thing that I want to highlight. I want you to realize dear
completers the importance of listening. Always listen to your parents, guardian
and your parents, sabi nga di ba Mother knows best. Lagi nating isipin yung
sasabihin nila. Kasi yun ang makakabuti sa inyo. I am proud to say na nakinig ako
sa parents ko kaya ako naririto sa inyong harapan.
Ano bang pangarap mo sa buhay?” o “Ano ba talaga ang gusto mong gawin?”
Most of the time, alam natin kung ano ang gusto ng ating mga puso. Pero mas
maraming takot na may masabi ang iba, kaysa sa takot mangarap at biglang
madapa. Now, let me ask you dear completers, are you ready to go out there and
face life’s challenges?
Good. Okey, twenty years ago, I was just like you. Nakikinig din sa aming guest
speaker: andito din siya, Sir Ernanie Saranilla.
I was happy and excited pero natatakot din. Natatakot sa anong future na
kahaharapin ko, kasi new routine, new school with new faces.
Actually hindi ko pinangarap maging guro. Noong bata ako gusto ko lang maging
doctor. But as time goes by, nakilala ko yung computer when I was in high school.
Third year kami that time 6 pa lang yung computer and then kami yung unang
tinuruan para ituro din namin sa iba naming classmate. From then sabi ko gusto ko
na lang kunin sa college ay course related sa computer.
Pero lahat nagbago after I graduated in high school. Start na ng admission test, that
time kasi sobrang bata pa kami noon, I was only 16 years old when I entered
college. Dahil both of my sibling and relatives graduated din sa WPU, doon ko na
din naisipang mag-aral. Tapos naaya na lang na mag education kasi andon yung
mga iba kong friends.
Hindi siya naging madali, siguro noong una kasi ayaw ng puso mo ung ginagawa
mo. After 1st semester, I decided to stop na lang kasi sobrang nahirapan na ako
noon. Pero isa sa nagparealize sa akin at tumatak sa isip ko. Kung hihinto ako ano
ang magiging trabaho ko sa future? Then naalala ko non, 14 years old ako, sinama
kami nila tatay at nanay sa basakan. Pinatanim kami ng palay, sa akin dahil bata pa
parang laro lang, and then kinabukasan hindi na ako makatayo kasi sobrang sakit
sa likod. Yun agad naisip ko, magtatatrabaho na lang ako sa basakan? Inisip ko
hindi ko ata kaya. Pero sobrang saludo ako sa mga magsasaka natin, tinitiis ang
init, gutom at pagod. At saludo din ako sa tatay ko kasi yun ang bumuhay sa amin
at napagtapos nya kaming tatlong magkakapatid. From then, minahal ko na yung
course ko, niyakap ko nang buong-buo.
But because life is full of twists and turns, hindi naging madali ang lahat. Lot of
sacrifices, hard work and dedication. Even financial matters. Naranasan ko din sa
college yung kakain ka lang isang beses sa isang araw kasi sobrang magtitipid ka.
Daming photocopies ng mga lessons then yung allowance ko lang noon ay 200 per
week. Tapos wala pa kaming cellphone that time. Talagang school boarding house
lang.
And God saw the desire of my heart and He made my way to finish my college.
Kailangan itong makagraduate kasi magastos ito (just kidding). May misyon ako
lalo na sa teaching job ko.
Akala ko kapag graduate na, okey na! Daming struggle din, after I graduated 2008
nagprepare naman ako para sa board exam, but because of lack of fund, hindi na
ako nag enrol sa review center, tamang self review lang basa lang araw-araw and
thanks God I passed my board exam the same year.

I started my teaching job as Para Teacehr, 3000 ang sahod. Then dumating sa point
na akala ko binigay na sa kin. I still remembered that was June 2009 pinakilala na
ako sa PTA na ako yung adviser ng Grade 5, then after noon walang bumabang
appointment, disapproved daw. That time I was devastated. But I prayed hard,
trusted God has always better plans always.
I received call from my former elementary teacher and she offered me a job sa
Rizal Province. First time ko yon lumabas nang palawan at sumakay eroplano.
Akala ko doon na tutuloy ang suwerte ko.
Pero minsan gagawa talaga si Lord ng better plans. I got another offered mula sa
Palawan, from Rizal Province lumipad ako ulit pauwi ng Palawan. At doon na
nagtuloy tuloy ang suwerte, from Princess Urduja ES to San Isidro ES and now my
second home for 12 years ang Burirao Proper ES.
Overall my journey was indeed a great experience and it has taught me a lot that
made me the person I am now. Madami kamg makilalang tao na handang
sumuporta sa iyo. A strong support system is very important in our life and in
our success. Your parents, family, loved-ones, friends, classmates, and even your
social media followers or subscribers, play an important role in our life. Sila yung
puwede mong maging sandigan. Minsan kailangan mo talaga pagdaanan muna ang
maraming steps bago mo makamit ang tagumpay.
Fast forward, after many tiring year and sacrifices. God indeed doubles and even
triples His award if He sees our hardwork and faith in Him.
And I was starting to give back to my parents, buy the things that I want, and even
travelled to places like in Iloilo, Cebu, Bohol, Manila, Baguio, La Union, Siargao
and manifesting to travel abroad na dati ko lang nakikita sa libro pero ngayon
napupuntahan ko na because I was already earning on my own. And it was one of
the most fulfilling stages of my life wherein I am starting to reap what I have sown.
InaanO na ang lahat ng itinamin. Masasabi mong sulit ang lahat ng hirap at pagod.
Our dear completers, you don’t need to compete with anyone else, but
yourself. Gawin mo lang ang best mo.

Most of you will go to senior high and college and soon to aim for that diploma as
your next goal. Get a part time job if financial resources are not enough. Mahirap
mag-aral but you need to give all your 100 percent best and focus on your studies.
Isipin ninyo yung paghihirap ninyo na mag-aral two years sa senior high, four
years in college yung kapalit noon ay lifetime reward once naka graduate ka. Hindi
lang sarili mo matutulungan mo pati na din ang mga mahal mo sa buhay.
Always think about your parents. Try your best not fail them. Doon naman sa
magtatrabaho ng maaga maniwala ka lang sa sarili mo. Don’t ever think that you
deserve little, dahil hindi ka college degree holder. Your options are actually
endless. Maraming options and opportunities na darating sa bawat isa.

With the theme “Kabataang Pilipino Para sa Matatag na Kinabukasan ng

Bagong Pilipinas” ay nagpapahayag na kayo dear completers ang susi sa pagbuo
ng isang mas matatag at maunlad na bansa. Sa panahon ng malalaking hamon at
pagkakataon, ang temang ito ay isang ilaw na nagpapaalala sa atin na ang susi sa
mas malakas at mas progresibong Pilipinas ay nasa kamay ng ating mga kabataan
tulad ninyo. Anumang pagsubok na inyong kinakaharap mga kabataang Pilipino ay
kinakailangan ng sapat na determinasyon. Let us unite behind the theme and let us
move forward with renewed purpose and determination. The future of our nation is
bright, and it starts with each and every one of you.
Brace yourselves for many challenges and marami ka ditong matututunan. Always
follow your heart’s desire.
Again, congratulations to all the completers as you reach this milestone of your
academic journey. Thank your parents, teachers and friends for giving their time,
effort and sacrifices.

Thank you to my family, friends and my former teachers for everything. Part of
who I am now is because of you. Mabuhay po kayong lahat!

I’m Ruel G. Manzano, proud graduate of Princess Urduja National High School,
batch 2004.