On Graduation Speeches

Naranasan mo na bang maging isang guest speaker sa isang commencement exercise? Ako, oo. Kahapon lang. At eto ang speech ko.

To the School Administrator, Mrs. Natividad Crystal, Brgy. Captain Liztowel Chavez, Teachers of VCLC, graduating class of 2012 of Villa Crystal Learning Center, to the Kinder and Nursery, most especially the parents of these hopeful children, friends, ladies and gentlemen, isa pong napaka gandang umaga sa inyong lahat.

First of all, I would like all of you to know that I am deeply flattered that the administration of VCLC chose me to be your speaker for today. It is not every day that someone is chosen to speak in front of these hopeful young minds. Syempre tuwing March lang naman ang graduation. I already made several talks on different occasions but this will be my first time to talk for a graduation ceremony that is why I am as equally excited as all of you here. I’ve been on your shoes for a number of times already. I was able to listen to graduation speeches for more than 5 times already and now I understand that talking to the graduating class could indeed be very exciting. It is so because this is a good opportunity to imbibe inspiration to the graduating class. On this day, everyone feels happy. Everyone is excited to wear their togas, every parent is excited to wear their best outfit, and every kid is looking forward to receive their diplomas and medals. Most of all, I am sure that everyone is excited to see what will happen next. Graduation is also called commencement exercises mainly to highlight that this occasion is not an end but instead a start of a new beginning. Lalo na sa mga graduating class sa preparatory. Hindi pa ito ang katapusan ng pag-aaral, this is just a start. Unless gusto nyo na agad mag-apply ng trabaho pagkakuha nyo ng diploma mamaya.

Our Theme for today is “Your Gift of Learning, Our Tool for Nation Building”. This is a relatively profound theme, if I may say, for a pre-elementary graduation but I think that it is but right that this kind of theme is to be shared to the youth who are just about to start on their educational and academic journey. I will try to make this message as interesting as possible, and as relatable as possible so as to keep the attention of our kids and the attention of the other audience as well.

First of all, what is a gift to us? What does it mean? Hindi ba’t ang isang regalo ay sa atin ibinigay? So, what else should we do with this gift but to own it. Cherish it and be thankful for it. This gift of learning is given to us so let us not take this for granted. Regalo sa atin ang karunungan kaya wag nating hayaang mawala ito sa atin. Meron bang regalo na hindi natin dapat alagaan? Hindi ba’t wala? Dahil lahat ng regalo ay dapat inaalagaan. Alagaan natin ang regalo ng karunungan na ibinigay sa atin. Gawin natin ang lahat ng bagay para linangin pa natin lalo ang regalo ng karunungan na ibinigay sa atin. This is a gift that we should be thankful for. We are given the chance to be educated, to be taught with the knowledge that not everyone has access to. Let us give the greatest value to this gift just like how we give value to the material things that we are receiving as a gift. Ituring natin ang regalo ng karunungan kagaya ng pagturing natin sa mga regalong natatanggap natin mula sa ating mga mahal sa buhay.

Second of all, keep in mind that since this learning is given to us, and only us, we should learn how to utilize it – how to utilize this properly. This gift of learning is very important and so we should not just take it for granted. Hindi ba’t kapag may natatanggap tayong regalo kapag birthday, o kaya pag graduation, eh dapat na gagamitin natin ang regalong iyon at hindi basta itatapon na lang? Ganun din, mga bata, ang gawin natin sa regalo ng karunungan. Hindi natin dapat basta na lang kalimutan ang mga natutunan natin. Dapat lahat ng natututunan natin sa eskwelahan o sa labas man ng bahay, lahat ng karunungan na ito ay dapat na ginagamit natin at importanteng ginagamit natin sa tamang bagay. Hindi porke’t may dunong na tayo o may pinag-aralan ay gagamitin na natin ito sa masama. Sabi nga sa pelikulang Spiderman, with great power comes great responsibility. Ganun din sa karunungan. Mas marami kang natutunan, mas marami kang responsibilidad. This is too early to tell you kids but your gift of learning should be utilized in such a way that it becomes a tool for nation building. Para saan pa ang sinabi ni Rizal na nasa kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan kung hindi naman ninyo, nating mga kabataan, gagamitin ang regalo ng karunungan para tulungang mapaunlad ang ating bayan.

Thirdly, remember that the gift of learning will not perish. Hindi ito mawawala sa atin at lalong hindi rin ito maaagaw ng iba. Kaya anuman ang karunungan na meron tayo ngayon at sa mga susunod pang panahon, hindi yan maaagaw sa atin. Samakatuwid, walang dahilan para makalimutan natin ito. There are no hindrances into keeping this gift of learning. We are so fortunate that this kind of gift is something that cannot be removed from us. So there should be no reason or any excuse which should hinder us from using this gift. Walang dahilan para hindi natin gamitin ang regalo ng karunungan para sa ikauunlad ng bayan. Masyadong mabigat ang mga katagang yan pero sana ay wag ninyo itong tingnan sa ganyang paraan. Maraming paraan para gamitin ang regalo ng karunungan para sa ikauunlad ng bayan. Kahit sa simpleng paraan, makakatulong din iyan. Sa simpleng bagay naman nagsisimula ang lahat ng pag-unlad. Kung natutunan mo na sa paaralan na nakakasama sa ating kapaligiran ang pagtatapon ng basura o ng balat ng candy sa kalsada, dapat hindi lang sa loob ng paaralan ginagawa ito. Alangan namang nakalimutan mo na agad yung natutunan mong iyon pag labas mo pa lang ng paaralan. I hope I was able to make my point here that since this gift cannot be taken from us, let us apply them to our daily lives. (adlib: dapat nga wala ng mga mababala na bawal umihi dito o bawal magtapon ng basura dito kasi alam na naman natin na bawal iyon di ba? dapat hindi na lang natin ginagawa kung bawal.)

Now let us compare the gift of learning to the gifts that we receive every year on Christmas day. Di ba taon taon nakakatanggap tayo ng regalo tuwing pasko? Taas po ng kamay yung mga nakatanggap ng regalo noong nakaraang pasko? Similar to the gifts that we are receiving every Christmas, we are also receiving the gift of learning not just every year but every day as we go to school. We are so fortunate and blessed to be given this gift. Tanggapin natin ang lahat ng regalong ito at pangalagaan.

We are likewise fortunate that we have VCLC - a center that continuously nourishes the young minds of the kids of Indang, Cavite through the years. They are one of pillars, or as I say givers, of the gifts of learning to you, the graduating class. Do you see where I am now? Nasa harapan nyo ako. That is not to brag but I just want to highlight that I was once like all of you kids. 17 years ago, I was like you, seated there on your seats on my pre-elementary graduation day. I also received the gift of learning that this center provided me. I utilized this gift, kept it, acknowledged it, made it grow, which is the reason why I am here in front of you today.

So kids remember that this gift of learning is given to us. Not everyone is fortunate enough to receive this gift so let us use it, and use it well. This is a gift that will never be lost so let us not put it to waste. Every day, every year, you will be receiving this so be thankful and soon, in the future, use it to help build our nation. Kahit dito na lang muna sa Indang, o kahit sa Barangay nyo lang muna gamitin ang karunungan na ito. Sa simpleng bagay lang naman talaga nagmumula lahat ng malalaking pagbabago.

At this point, I’d like to send my message to the parents of these kids. I know very well that even if today is just a pre-elementary graduation, you are proud of your kids and yourselves. You should be. This is your child’s first ever graduation. I know you all love them and this education is the best gift you can give them in this world. Sana huwag kayong mapagod sa inyong pagsisikap para mapag-aral nyo sila hanggang sila ay makatapos. I hope that you never tire of sending your kids to school. Also, please send them to school not with the thought of them paying it back to you in the future. Let them study and learn for themselves. Yung pagtulong sa inyo ng mga anak nyo eh nakadepende na sa kung paano nyo sila pinalaki. Pero dahil kayo ang mga magulang, at mahal nyo sila, sana maibigay natin sa kanila hanggang makatapos sila sa kolehiyo, yung suporta na kailangan nila para makatayo rin sila mag-isa.

My big congratulation also goes to the Villa Crystal Learning School, its administrator, and teachers. A new breed of kids is about to prosper. New seeds are planted today which I hope will be eventually reaped by our town, by Cavite, by our Nation. Congratulations for the success of your continuous effort in creating the right foundation to the young minds of Indang.

My message to the kids. I know excited na kayo pumunta sa Jollibee. Nung panahon ko Dimples pa lang ang uso kapag nag-totop one ako, ngayon Jollibee na. Hindi ko sigurado kung matatandaan nyo lahat ng sinasabi ko sa inyo ngayon pero sana naman kahit man lang 20% matandaan nyo or ma-instill sa mga mura ninyong mga isipan. Kahit kalimutan nyo na ang pangalan ko. Lagi nyo lang isipin na importante ang pag-aaral. Marami na ang makakapag patunay sa inyo nyan, isa na ako. Kung hindi ka man mag top ngayon, bawi ulit next year. Pag hindi pa rin, bawi pa rin next year. Kinder at Prep pa lang kayo, marami pang next year para sa inyo. Ako nga top 7 lang ako nung nagtapos ako ditto sa Villa Crystal. Nag valedictorian naman ako nung highschool at cum laude nung college. Pero hindi ako nag first honor dito sa VCLC at nung elementary. Ibig sabihin lang nun, bukod sa medyo nagyabang ako, gusto ko lang sabihin na napakahaba pa ng tatahakin nyo. Minsan mahirap, minsan masaya, pero overall, exciting ito.

Congratulations sa inyo. Sa mga magulang. Sa teachers. At goodluck sa mga susunod na hamon sa inyong mga buhay. Ayan konti na lang pupunta na kayo sa Jollibee. Salamat po.

March 27, 2012 Allan Cris D. Ricafort