07/06/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ฆ๐ญ๐ช๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐บ ๐๐ถ๐ญ๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐๐ข๐บ๐ฆ ๐. ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐บ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐จ, ๐๐ถ๐ฎ ๐๐ข๐ถ๐ฅ๐ฆ, ๐๐ ๐๐ด๐บ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฐ๐จ๐บ
To the University President, Rev. Fr. Franklin G. P***o, MS, Ph.D; our Vice President for Administration Rev. Fr. Pedro Q. Dolar, MS, MA; our Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Madeilyn B. Estacio; our University Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Joseph Christian M. Pilotin, MS, MA; directors, deans, teachers, proud parents, friends, my fellow graduates, ladies and gentlemen, a pleasant afternoon!
โI have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
Standing before you today, as the representative of Batch 2026, is both an honor and a privilege. Today, we thank everyone for being here with us as we celebrate and witness a new milestone, signifying the end of a chapter and the beginning of another. This event is not only for us graduates but also for everyone who supported us, inspired us, and shaped us to become who we are today.
First, to the Almighty Father in heaven, our creator, waymaker, and protector. We give the highest glory to Him for his mercy and grace. Hindi natin mabilang kung ilang beses natin sinabi, โLord, sana makapasa po ako,โ โLord, sana walang pasok bukas,โ o kaya naman, โLord, sana mapansin ako ng crush ko.โ Every answered prayer and blessing reminded us of His unconditional and unending love for us.
Second, to our parents, guardians, and family, we are deeply grateful for your love and care. Especially to my family who are with me, thank you for accepting me despite the mistakes I made in the past. Kayo ang nakakita ng aming mga breakdowns, puyat, at pagod sa tuwing may exam, project, o school event. Agyaman kami launay iti panag-ayat ken panag-suporta yu kadakami!
To our teachers, thank you for the learnings and the guidance you gave us. Makalimutan man namin ang inyong mga lessons, pero hinding-hindi po namin makakalimutan ang binigay ninyong grades. Joke lang po, we are thankful to those who made learning fun and bearable. You did more than educate our minds. You taught us lessons that extend far beyond the classroom.
To the deans, directors, and administrators, we give our thanks for creating an environment where we could learn, grow, and prepare for the future. Through your leadership, you have helped create an institution where students are encouraged not only to excel academically but also to grow in character and service. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and for somehow keeping thousands of students organized despite our endless concerns and last-minute requests.
To our friends and classmates, thank you for the memories. Together we cried, we laughed, and we cried some more. Some of us entered this university as strangers, unsure of where we belonged. But along the way, we found people who became our support systemโfriends who shared their notes, listened to our worries, encouraged us when we wanted to give up, and reminded us that we were never alone. Sabihin mo nga sa katabi mo, โSalamat sa lahat ng memories!โ
Last but not the least, to the organizers, non-teaching staff and volunteers of the university, the hidden figures whose works are often unseen. From the stage decors, ushers, the choir, and all the little details that contributed to the success of this program. Salamat po sa lahat ng paghahandang ginawa ninyo upang maging espesyal at hindi malilimutan ang aming pagtatapos.
Throughout our years in this institution, we were educated, formed, and transformed through the experiences we had. We have studied during a time when the world constantly reminded us of the importance of education. We witnessed the rise of artificial intelligence, the reports on low literacy rate of Filipino students, and the spread of misinformation on social media. These realities taught us that education is not simply about passing examinations. It is about learning how to discern the truth and to think critically.
But the Salettinian education does not end there. We are also called to be humane and understanding of others. Everyone standing here today came from different places, backgrounds, and circumstances. Some of us are fortunate enough to have a family who supports us financially and emotionally while others have to juggle being a breadwinner, a parent, a caregiver, and a student.
Some quietly fought battles that no one else knew about. Some had a support system that kept us going through the nights while others were constantly belittled and discouraged. โHindi โyan makakapagtapos, hindi naman โyan matalino,โ โAy baโt โyan ang kinuha mong course? Yayaman ka ba dyan?โ โHuwag ka na mag-aral, mag-asawa ka na lang!โ These are hurtful words that some of us have heard. But today we proved them wrong.
Last year, we lost some classmates. They were beautiful souls who loved wholeheartedly, faced problems bravely and carried their burdens silently. They were just like us - cramming school works, crying during quizzes, and laughing their hearts out with friends. Their death left a mark we will never forget. For this reason, I personally doubted everything I know. It was even more heartbreaking to know how much their parents wanted to see them graduate.
So let us have a moment of silence for the people we have lost as we remember their life and their impact on us. We may never see them again until we leave this earth, but we will hold their memories close to our hearts. As reconcilers, this experience reminds us that life is precious, that every moment is a gift, and that our success becomes even more meaningful when we remember those who helped shape our journey.
Today we are graduates, tomorrow we are unemployed. But soon, we will be lawyers, accountants, journalists, teachers, social workers, criminologists, engineers, psychologists, doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, public servants, and leaders in our own fields. The world we will enter after graduation is a nation filled with both challenges and opportunities. Our country needs individuals who are willing to help build stronger communitiesโprofessionals who will uphold integrity, leaders who will choose service over self-interest, educators who will inspire future generations, and citizens who will care not only about their own success but also about the welfare of others.
The knowledge we have gained has educated our minds. The values we have embraced have formed our hearts. And now, through our actions and service, we have the opportunity to transform society. If these past years have taught us anything, it is that we are stronger than we think, braver than we know, and capable of more than we imagine.
So in a world where it is easier to judge, to cheat and to be selfish. Choose to be kind, to be honest, and to be empathetic of others. Piliin natin ang kapwa, wag ang "maleta." Piliin natin ang katotohanan, wag ang magbulag-bulagan. Pumili tayo ng wasto at wag magpapa-uto.
And someday, when our paths cross again, we can proudly say, I have finished the race, I have fought the good fight, and I have kept the faith.
Congratulations and Padayon, Batch 2026!
