RECOGNITION SPEECH

To our Officer-in-charge, Office of the URS President, Dr. Olivia F. De Leon, our

Chancellor, Cluster II, Dr. Renecilla B. Paz de Leon, the Dean of College of Education,

Prof. Marilou C. Pantaleon, our Academic Coordinator, Laboratory Schools, Prof.

Jocelyn S. San Juan, the members of the faculty, parents, friends, and fellow students,

it is an honor to speak to all of you today.

 These words you’ll hear now may be one of the last I may deliver here at the

portals of University of Rizal System. So I shall include here the words I longed to say.

 Ten years ago, I also attended a recognition like this one and I am also one of

the top in my class being in the Top 10. Then, I graduated from Kindergarten, walked on

this stage for the very first time not knowing why, and received my diploma. A year later,

I was in Grade 1. I was not that interested with studies, school and all but I remembered

my papa said that, “ Alam kong mas pagbubutihin mo pa ang iyong pag-aaral dahil alam

kong mas higit pa dyan ang kaya mong gawin”.  I was inquisitive then, so I asked father

what the point was in being the First or Second. He just said, “Siyempre ah, para mas

maganda.”

 I did not understand what he said then. But as I matured, the meaning of that

“mas maganda” in my father’s statement had dramatically unfolded. It means that being

at the top provides a wider window to greater opportunities. It’s a fact. So that was the

start. I strove hard to be there, and in my desire to be there, I digested the learning

process that this institution has offered.

 My experiences as student taught me a lot. I learned to cope with the ever-

changing world. I changed my perception about life—from a hostile world to a world

filled with challenges just trying to teach me. Before, I couldn’t understand myself, but

through experiences I slowly glimpsed at my inner self. It made me strong and willful.

Quitting is not my line. Instead, it made me more determined.

 My dear audience, sa labing-isang taon kong pagiging mag-aaral ng University

of Rizal System, mayroong mga pangyayari na nagtulak sa akin upang matuto ng ilang

mahahalagang bagay na kailangan ko tungo sa tagumpay:

 FIRST, Put God first in everything that you do.

SECOND, The purpose of life is a life of purpose. 

Many people live their lives without ever reflecting on life itself or its meaning for them.

But life should be seen as an eternal process of joyous spiritual discovery and growth:

in the beginning stages of earthly life, the individual undergoes a period of training and

education which, if it is successful, gives him or her the basic intellectual and spiritual

tools necessary for continued growth. So, it means the purpose of life is life itself.

THIRD, To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to

risk failure, but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.”

FOURTH, Do your best.

 Kung gagawin natin lahat ng ating makakaya sa mabuti at makaDiyos na paraan,

siguradong makakamit natin anuman ang ating mithiin. I am not the best but I can do

my best not to prove something but to be the best I can be.

 FIFTH, Live life with a goal.

We must have a theme, a goal, a purpose in our lives. If you don’t know where you’re

aiming, you don’t have a goal. My goal is to live my life in such a way that when I die,

someone can say, she cared.

Gladys Bronwyn Stern said 'Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.' and I

agree. So, I wish to grab this rare chance to thank the following: to the teaching forces

of University of Rizal System who have been to us, a very effective and very efficient

facilitators of learning. You, teachers are one of the greatest people whom we can

across in our lives. You are not only the selfless givers but also the mentors of our lives.

You devote your entire lives in the enlightenment of students like us. For sure, the

teachers’ definition can’t be limited to a subject teacher because anyone who guides us

in our lives is a teacher. Without you, we would have been lost. Thank you teachers for

guiding us, inspiring us and making us what we are today. For all your efforts I thank

you for being the guiding light in my life.

To my friends, classmates, and batchmates who always make me smile and

enrich my experiences, I am grateful to all of you for walking with me until we reach this

point in our lives where we need to leave, grasp our dreams slowly but firmly and head

down a path leading to eternal success.

In behalf of my fellow students, I thank all our parents for all the tender loving

care you’ve given us and the hardships you’ve gone thru to provide for all our needs.

This day is your day also. Congratulations to our dear parents! This day is one of the

fruits of all your labor.

 Espesyal ko ring pinasasalamatan ang aking pamilya, for all their love, support

and being just right beside me whenever I need them. To my parents, you taught me to

walk the righteous path, you do not merely point the way – you lead the way.

And most especially I am most grateful and thankful to the Lord Almighty who

provides me in everything I need. Panginoon, lubos akong nagpapasalamat sa iyo.

Wala ako dito sa aking kinatatayuan ngayon kung hindi dahil sa Iyo. All praise to our

redeeming Lord, who joins us by His grace; and bids us, each to each restored.

I have a few words I'd like to address to the graduating class. We've always been

a very diverse group of people; we have a broad range of interest, talents and activities.

After these following important events, we'll all be going in different directions. As we

leave our dear Alma Mater and the pillars behind it, and as we forward one step closer

to our dreams, let us not forget how we began. Yet, hindi ito ang katapusan. Focus on

what you need and not on what you want. We pray that God shall always bless us and

guide us and that we may resist the temptations of the world. At kahit pa tayo ngayon ay

malapit ng maghiwa-hiwalay, mananatili pa din tayong magkakaibigan na tumulong sa

isa’t isa para maging tayo kung sino man tayo ngayon.

Thank you and congratulations.