Valedictory Address (delivered during the UPVTC graduation ceremony in April 2008)

I am torn between saying goodbye and staying behind. Much as my heart can not even tell whether I should laugh or I should cry. Beneath this emotional confusion I am confronted with, I am but certain of one thing—I am filled with pride and great honor to be part of this brilliantly incomparable batch!

My respect to our University of the Philippines Visayas Chancellor Dr. Glen Aguilar and the UPV officials, to our UPV Tacloban College dean, Dr. Virgildo Sabalo and the UPVTC officials, to our distinguished commencement speaker Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera, UPVTC faculty and staff, parents, fellow graduates, ladies and gentlemen good afternoon.

When my right foot touched the very last step of that stair I have remembered the UPVTC Centennial opening salvo where I mentioned to a friend that one day I will be behind this podium delivering a speech to a number of people. I can’t believe that it would be this soon. This would not be possible without God whom we dedicate this achievement for the guidance towards the right path.

This is indeed a joyful moment but a painful one at the same time.
Victorious but sad at the same time. Sad knowing that we will be leaving behind people we have learned to value and love. Our mentors—to you we owe this achievement. You have unselfishly shared your knowledge with us and freed us from the bondage of ignorance and to all the administrative to the staff for the relentless effort and patience. Forever we shall be grateful.

Mirthful yet sad. Sad because it is the time to say goodbye to some of my friends and classmates. The persons I can consider to be not just friends but brothers and sisters whom realized the essence of mushawaraj mufakat, “unity in diversity”. The “mags sessions”, the bloodbaths, and the cramming will leave an indelible imprint not only in my mind but also in my heart.

Victorious and grateful of course. To our loving parents whose love and sacrifices can never be equated. Your encouragement and selflessness we know, we are very thankful that a plethora of words could not express the euphoria that we feel right now.

With being members of the 32nd batch of graduates of UPVTC and as part of the UP centennial graduates come a Herculean task. Let us therefore make this day a beginning for a greater challenge, of a bigger responsibility. We are all aware that the world is beset with great economic, social and political turmoil. We are affected by global warming and climate change, we are distressed by inflation and the energy and food shortage, we are terrified by armed conflicts and human rights violations. All of which are not pandemic to the Philippines but a global crisis, a global fight.

We the graduates could not stand nonchalant to this sad scenario. Instead we should keep awake, stay in active vigil, through the use of the knowledge and learnings that we have successfully acquired in our four-(or more) year struggle in this institution. And one way of showing it, my fellow graduates is by rising to the challenges of time and become part of this global fight. Wherever we may go, whatever path we may choose, by heart we shall always think highly of the legacy and good name of our Alma Mater. I remember one of our professors would always say “pamoro bo-ot kamo”. Since we are already equipped with the knowledge, skills and values that would eventually become our strongest weapon to face the world, realize our goals and dreams, and make a difference, at this point we should make a decision, we should make a stand. Taking it from the commencement speech of Dr. Lumbera, we should not forget the essence of the UP oblation. We should become responsible individuals and continue excellence, leadership, and service in our respective communities and help rebuild a progressive peaceful nation, and a better peaceful world.

It maybe painful to depart but our memories will always be present here. This is not the end of our journey but a start of facing the challenges of the real world. We strongly shout our yell to everyone FAREWELL but not GOODBYE!
May the good Lord shower us with love, prosperity, unity, and understanding through all our life and all the years to come. Again, thank you and good afternoon!