Valedictory Address

      To our Secondary Principal IV, Mrs. Cynthia P. Sotacio; Parent-Teacher Association President, Mrs. Ida P. Romero, members of Duenas General Comprehensive High School community, honored guest, faculty and staff, teachers, parents, friends and my fellow graduates, a pleasant morning to all of us.

      Speaking in front of an audience is always a tough task, and speaking in behalf of the batch, adds pressure to the situation. I must admit, I feel euphoric but at the same time apprehensive at this moment. However, I should say that I am not afraid to speak to the expectant crowd here today. What I am afraid of is to somehow let down of my class - the Duenas General Comprehensive High School, Regular Class of 2012. Thus, i shall keep my message short and simple.

       It was four years ago since we first set foot on this ground. And in those four years, many things have happened. We learned, we laughed, we cried, we studied, we love and we grew. In all of these, the sense of drama washed over us, as we experienced the highs and lows of our emotions: There is the feeling of being tortured whenever we were given difficult projects and assignments, the feeling of joy whenever our hard works were recognized, the feeling of satisfaction after every end of school year knowing we have survived yet again another year. And finally, there is the feeling of triumph and euphoria as we are here today – on the day we have been waiting for, the day we get to see the fruits of our hard works – our Graduation Day.

       However, we could not have done it without the many people who are behind our greatest accomplishments. In behalf of the graduates, it is my honor to thank our beloved parents and families who have been with us throughout our journey. Had it not been for their unwavering support and unconditional love and inspiration, we would not be graduating here today. I also take this opportunity to thank our dear teachers, for their patience, time, and understanding, for sharing with us their gift of knowledge, and for imparting to us words of wisdom. We shall be forever grateful to them for being instruments of our quest for knowledge and change.

      To the DGHCS, and to everyone who works for the betterment of this institution, our sincere gratitude. It has become our second home and the people behind it, our second family. This institution did not fail in bringing us up, the graduates, equipped with necessary tools to survive the real world. For all these and more, we are proud to be Duenasanon and forever be grateful to Duenas General Comprehensive High School, our dear Alma Mater.

      And to my fellow graduates, borrowing the words of Socrates, "The unexamined life is not worth living." true enough, because we have to open the gates of our Alma Mater and discover another life. As we move on, we must recognize that the relative prosperity of our generation’s childhood is gone. The more challenging, crucial, ardous and demanding College Life we must survive. But there is one thing more difficult than College Life. The life outside the school campus. The soaring gas prices and global decline of respect for our nation are indicative of a deep problems that’s plaguing it: a lack of dicipline and leadership. Now, it’s our turn to guide the Philippines. We should be a model of a responsible citizenship. Restore our Nation - Financially, Technologically and Ethically. The problems in our path include poverty, war and a climate in crisis. But despite the enormity of these issues, by looking at our track record, I’m certain that we can overcome them.

        Because together, as a class, we endured many crises and always found a way to emerge stronger than before. We’ve taken strenuous exams, played hard in the Intramural and performed on-the-spot but nice play. We have built relationships, taking trips, going out-of-town or to a baranggay fiesta and harvesting experience wherever it's found. If that's what we could do in our High School Life. Imagine how much more we can, if we have choose our own careers. Just let our passions guide us and there's nothing we can't do. Fellow graduates, find what you love doing in life and go for it. That is my only advice. Because it is by working with this talent, potential or skill that you'll find true happiness and create and better Philippines.

       No matter where life takes you, go forward and make this community and people in your life proud. And along your way, never let anyone tell you that you’re not good enough. We’re more than ready, each and every one of us, to make our dreams come true.