Salutatorian’s Address

His Excellency, Most Reverend Francisco San Diego, Bishop of Pasig, Reverend Msgr. Dr. Gerardo O. Santos, College President, Mrs. Virginia Cacananta, Executive Vice President, Dr. Rosalinda Natividad, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Asuncion S. Cansana, High School Principal; Members of the President’s Council, Members of the High School Principal’s Council, honorable guest, faculty members, parents, fellow graduates, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.  This moment is indeed a very significant one for all of us. It is our final curtain call as high school students. Today, we witness the fulfillment of our dreams, the passion of the times and the revelation of the anticipated unknown. Our very lives were intertwined; each one leaving a mark so unforgettable that the journey could not be imagined if without. Together, we learned from the masters. The greatest teacher of them all, our experiences, incessantly taught us at our own pace, from baby steps to potent strides. What an excellent teacher, don’t you think? Well, they teach best when we are willing to be taught. As Aldous Huxley once said, “Experience is not what happens to you, it is what you do with what happens to you.” Each one present at this gathering has a fair share of the bitter and sweet taste of experience. The serene moments and the arduous days, the pangs of disappointment and cheers of success; all these and more brought our batch to considerable learning and closeness.  We may not be the greatest but this batch endured hardships, surmounted fears, achieved the unexpected and developed bonds that will last a lifetime. Literally and figuratively, rain or shine, we made the most out of each instance; the memorable third year promenade with its unexpected downpour, the uplifting Life in the Spirit Seminar at Nazarene Catholic School and retreats at St. Michael’s and Maryhill, the instructive outbound trips at Cavite and Mt. Banahaw, trekking at Mt. Makiling and caving at the Tunay na Biak na bato, even the year round activities which unleashed innate abilities within us. Some of the unforgettable were the United Nations Classroom Diorama, the Physics Olympics, The TLE food festival, the Language Game show, the quizbees, writing contests, the MathTalino, even the Awit Interpretasyon and choral recitations. We have proven to ourselves and to others that if we give our best and do away with mediocrity, we can do so much including the spiritual and corporal works of mercy that we have performed through this scholarly undertakings. It is in doing such that we truly find self-fulfillment. Remember the Jail Apostolate, we are able to visit those in prison and comfort them. How about the Pondo ng Pinoy? Through a simple 25 centavo coin which seems worthless to some, we were able to feed, give drink, clothe and shelter others. When we participated in simple class discussion, did we not instruct the ignorant? In the Life in the Spirit Seminar, did we not learn to forgive offenses? Everything started here in school. The seeds were sown and we are the rich soil. It is up to us to nurture what has been planted and continue the road of becoming true servants of God. The grasp upon us were loosened at times so that we may falter on our own and rise again. In each day that passed, we were taught to decide for ourselves and be held accountable for all the adverse or favorable outcomes these may bring. We hold more power in our hands than what we think and we can use this power to bring forth the betterment of all. We cannot please everybody and we have to accept the things we cannot change but we must remember that we can succeed in our endeavors if we just believe in the strength within us and in the one true power, the Lord Almighty. Pasig Catholic College has provided us countless opportunities to burst forth from our shells, to enhance our skills and offer experiences that elevate social responsibility, enrich spirituality and become morally upright. Let us not fail our beloved Alma Mater.                         So much has happened in just a few years. It is hard to believe that the curtain shall soon close. After four indelible years, today is finally the moment, our graduation day. On behalf of my fellow graduates, I thank each and every one of you for being at this year’s Commencement Exercises. We are all delighted. We are all grateful. We are all here because of you and with that, PCCians… We are!                                                                                                                                                                             

~ by erulisse123 on April 4, 2008.