Valedictory Address
By
Bianca Joy L. Tallafer
CSI High School Graduation
April 12, 2007
Our Distinguished Guest of Honor, Dr. William Padolina, Our School Director, Reverend Emilio Puerto, Mrs. Evelyn Malenab, Mrs. Nilda Barleta, Fellow graduates, Beloved parents as well as teachers and staff of CSI, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.
There’s an old quote that says, “All endings are also beginnings.” Well, today is an example of it. Today, we end a chapter of our lives and begin writing a new one.
It seems like it was only yesterday when we entered the gates of CSI as freshmen. All excited, we waited impatiently for the things that were before us. Time does fly fast. Now, we are standing here in this gymnasium, wearing our togas and receiving certificates for finishing the high school course.
Truly God has blessed all of us during the past four years. Yes, there had been many twists and turns but we know He had a purpose for all of those. He helped us, through our teachers and mentors, to learn basic facts about various topics as well as the basic facts about life. He helped us, through our school events and activities, to discover our talents, gifts and skills. He made it possible for us to establish relationships with different people; once only acquaintances, now a family. It’s like what we usually say to each other in our barkada, “halos magkakapatid na rin tayo eh.” Most of all, God helped us know ourselves better. I’m sure my batch mates can relate to what I’m saying. We’ve all shared the feelings of happiness during joke times and laugh trips, panic and hysteria during project deadlines and exams, victory and loss during sports competitions and quiz contests, and self-importance as we took care of one another.
I could talk all day about the many things we have learned and the experiences we’ve shared but these things are now but memories. As my mother tells me, yesterday is already a part of history. Now, we must face the things ahead of us, whatever the future may bring.
Talking about the future makes my mind race with imagination about the various possibilities and opportunities that could happen to us. As students here at CSI, we had been nurtured, taken care of like little seedlings of various species in small pots. Now, it’s time to give these seedlings away for now, they are ready to be planted in other places where they can grow to maturity and bear fruit for the nation, for God.
I think that is what our batch is meant to do: make a difference. Start doing simple acts that in time can turn into revivals which is definitely what our country needs—what our world needs. It is our turn to undo some of the mistakes past generations before us have made. We should do this; it is our responsibility since we are the hope of the nation, the hope of the world. We must be beacons of change. I think that we deserve a better world therefore, we must start making it a better place. It is time to uphold morality and good values, justice, responsibility. It is time to trust God and let Him lead the way.
Ten years from now I wish to see all of us successful in our chosen endeavors. We have stated so many dreams and ambitions in our class prophecy that it seems as if we’ve covered all fields. I just pray that when we have reached our stars someday, we won’t forget to firmly put our feet on the ground.
In behalf of all the graduates, I would like to thank all the people who have supported us all the way. Thank you to our teachers who have taught us and learned with us these past years. Actually, it’s the small things that you do to us that we really are thankful for; for all the prayers, for the jokes and smiles, for the free food, for the free advice, for the free parlor services, for the care that you showed to us sick or not. Thank you for all the lessons you have taught us; not only science, math, english, filipino, social studies, computer, TLE, PE, music and the arts but the basic facts of life and God as well. Thank you for being a friend, a shoulder to cry on especially during our weak moments. Thank you for being patient with us even if we had not earned it. I know our batch had caused you headaches and sleepless nights but please know that all of you are dear to us. This graduation program ends a wonderful school year shared together inside the classroom but I pray that the relationship between a mentor and a student continues on.
Thank you to our parents. Thank you for everything; for patiently waiting for us during nights when we went home late; for understanding us whenever we become moody and cranky; for the baon. Thank you for the unconditional love. Thank you for that feeling of importance that you give us. Thank you for the assurance that even if we don’t succeed in everything, you will still be behind us, helping us stand up again. Deep in our hearts we know that in the end, you will always be there for us with hugs and kisses. We just want you to know that you are the most influential people in our lives and we thank you for helping us be molded to the persons God has meant for us to be.
Thank you to our batchmates. Thank you for all the memories. Thank you for all the moments that I know we’d be cherishing forever. We helped each other to be the best person we all could be. We bridged differences. Though we all have different personalities, we have united hearts. And even with our eyes closed, we know that we’ll be there for each other.
Most of all, I’d like to thank God. He has made all these things possible. He had a unique purpose for each one of us the moment He brought us here in this school. There had been so many storms in our journey but He helped us through with His unconditional love. And I know the moment we leave the portals of our school, as we embark on another journey, He will still be with us every step of the way.
If there is one thing that this school is different from the other schools in Los Banos—and it’s not the huge covered court; it’s the Christian values that CSI teaches its students. Somehow, these differentiate CSI students from the rest. We may not be showing it always, but I believe, these values are stuck in our hearts and minds forever. And thanks to all those Bible studies and Values Education lectures, we know what to do whenever we feel empty, when we feel wrongly accused or when challenges face us: call on God. For sure we won’t remember all those enumerations on how to deal with all those problems but somehow, we’ll know how to start, we know who to run to in the face of difficulties.
Finally, it has sunk into me that we’ll be separating and saying goodbye-for-now soon. There’s a sudden rush of memories that’s happening; memories making us both laugh and cry; memories that will connect our lives forever. But this event won’t put an end to the memory-making since I know there will be lots of parties, “farewell” parties kuno. Lots of cellphone load will be needed as we update each other. And thanks to technology, there’s friendster, ym and all those blogsites. Some of us will be seeing each other during the summer, some of us won’t. But we will be seeing each other after this…when? Soon. Some face to face; others via cyberspace. High school days are over but life isn’t. A part of us doesn’t want this day to end. Why? It’s because we don’t want to leave this place; because it holds so much memories and comfort for us. But we all have to move on for bigger things await us. As much as we’ve enjoyed our high school days, I’m sure we will also enjoy the life ahead of us. Sooner or later we all will be meeting once again and we will all laugh as we remember how teary-eyed we were at graduation or how it seemed like the end of the world for us, as if there was no tomorrow.
So I guess this is goodbye for now.. It has been a long road consisting of bumpy and smooth areas but I am thankful and privileged that I had the chance to ride with all of you on this particular bus of life. At some point, one by one, we will have to say “para” as we reach our destinations. One of these days, we will be coming to the same bus stop again but this time, we will be riding different buses. I just pray that whatever particular bus we ride on, we will have the same driver, God, and each of us will have a memorable ride, just like what we had in high school at CSI.
Congratulations to all of us, graduates. I wish us all a successful life. And may CSI be blessed and used more by God in the years to come. Thank you and God bless.
By
Bianca Joy L. Tallafer
CSI High School Graduation
April 12, 2007
Our Distinguished Guest of Honor, Dr. William Padolina, Our School Director, Reverend Emilio Puerto, Mrs. Evelyn Malenab, Mrs. Nilda Barleta, Fellow graduates, Beloved parents as well as teachers and staff of CSI, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.
There’s an old quote that says, “All endings are also beginnings.” Well, today is an example of it. Today, we end a chapter of our lives and begin writing a new one.
It seems like it was only yesterday when we entered the gates of CSI as freshmen. All excited, we waited impatiently for the things that were before us. Time does fly fast. Now, we are standing here in this gymnasium, wearing our togas and receiving certificates for finishing the high school course.
Truly God has blessed all of us during the past four years. Yes, there had been many twists and turns but we know He had a purpose for all of those. He helped us, through our teachers and mentors, to learn basic facts about various topics as well as the basic facts about life. He helped us, through our school events and activities, to discover our talents, gifts and skills. He made it possible for us to establish relationships with different people; once only acquaintances, now a family. It’s like what we usually say to each other in our barkada, “halos magkakapatid na rin tayo eh.” Most of all, God helped us know ourselves better. I’m sure my batch mates can relate to what I’m saying. We’ve all shared the feelings of happiness during joke times and laugh trips, panic and hysteria during project deadlines and exams, victory and loss during sports competitions and quiz contests, and self-importance as we took care of one another.
I could talk all day about the many things we have learned and the experiences we’ve shared but these things are now but memories. As my mother tells me, yesterday is already a part of history. Now, we must face the things ahead of us, whatever the future may bring.
Talking about the future makes my mind race with imagination about the various possibilities and opportunities that could happen to us. As students here at CSI, we had been nurtured, taken care of like little seedlings of various species in small pots. Now, it’s time to give these seedlings away for now, they are ready to be planted in other places where they can grow to maturity and bear fruit for the nation, for God.
I think that is what our batch is meant to do: make a difference. Start doing simple acts that in time can turn into revivals which is definitely what our country needs—what our world needs. It is our turn to undo some of the mistakes past generations before us have made. We should do this; it is our responsibility since we are the hope of the nation, the hope of the world. We must be beacons of change. I think that we deserve a better world therefore, we must start making it a better place. It is time to uphold morality and good values, justice, responsibility. It is time to trust God and let Him lead the way.
Ten years from now I wish to see all of us successful in our chosen endeavors. We have stated so many dreams and ambitions in our class prophecy that it seems as if we’ve covered all fields. I just pray that when we have reached our stars someday, we won’t forget to firmly put our feet on the ground.
In behalf of all the graduates, I would like to thank all the people who have supported us all the way. Thank you to our teachers who have taught us and learned with us these past years. Actually, it’s the small things that you do to us that we really are thankful for; for all the prayers, for the jokes and smiles, for the free food, for the free advice, for the free parlor services, for the care that you showed to us sick or not. Thank you for all the lessons you have taught us; not only science, math, english, filipino, social studies, computer, TLE, PE, music and the arts but the basic facts of life and God as well. Thank you for being a friend, a shoulder to cry on especially during our weak moments. Thank you for being patient with us even if we had not earned it. I know our batch had caused you headaches and sleepless nights but please know that all of you are dear to us. This graduation program ends a wonderful school year shared together inside the classroom but I pray that the relationship between a mentor and a student continues on.
Thank you to our parents. Thank you for everything; for patiently waiting for us during nights when we went home late; for understanding us whenever we become moody and cranky; for the baon. Thank you for the unconditional love. Thank you for that feeling of importance that you give us. Thank you for the assurance that even if we don’t succeed in everything, you will still be behind us, helping us stand up again. Deep in our hearts we know that in the end, you will always be there for us with hugs and kisses. We just want you to know that you are the most influential people in our lives and we thank you for helping us be molded to the persons God has meant for us to be.
Thank you to our batchmates. Thank you for all the memories. Thank you for all the moments that I know we’d be cherishing forever. We helped each other to be the best person we all could be. We bridged differences. Though we all have different personalities, we have united hearts. And even with our eyes closed, we know that we’ll be there for each other.
Most of all, I’d like to thank God. He has made all these things possible. He had a unique purpose for each one of us the moment He brought us here in this school. There had been so many storms in our journey but He helped us through with His unconditional love. And I know the moment we leave the portals of our school, as we embark on another journey, He will still be with us every step of the way.
If there is one thing that this school is different from the other schools in Los Banos—and it’s not the huge covered court; it’s the Christian values that CSI teaches its students. Somehow, these differentiate CSI students from the rest. We may not be showing it always, but I believe, these values are stuck in our hearts and minds forever. And thanks to all those Bible studies and Values Education lectures, we know what to do whenever we feel empty, when we feel wrongly accused or when challenges face us: call on God. For sure we won’t remember all those enumerations on how to deal with all those problems but somehow, we’ll know how to start, we know who to run to in the face of difficulties.
Finally, it has sunk into me that we’ll be separating and saying goodbye-for-now soon. There’s a sudden rush of memories that’s happening; memories making us both laugh and cry; memories that will connect our lives forever. But this event won’t put an end to the memory-making since I know there will be lots of parties, “farewell” parties kuno. Lots of cellphone load will be needed as we update each other. And thanks to technology, there’s friendster, ym and all those blogsites. Some of us will be seeing each other during the summer, some of us won’t. But we will be seeing each other after this…when? Soon. Some face to face; others via cyberspace. High school days are over but life isn’t. A part of us doesn’t want this day to end. Why? It’s because we don’t want to leave this place; because it holds so much memories and comfort for us. But we all have to move on for bigger things await us. As much as we’ve enjoyed our high school days, I’m sure we will also enjoy the life ahead of us. Sooner or later we all will be meeting once again and we will all laugh as we remember how teary-eyed we were at graduation or how it seemed like the end of the world for us, as if there was no tomorrow.
So I guess this is goodbye for now.. It has been a long road consisting of bumpy and smooth areas but I am thankful and privileged that I had the chance to ride with all of you on this particular bus of life. At some point, one by one, we will have to say “para” as we reach our destinations. One of these days, we will be coming to the same bus stop again but this time, we will be riding different buses. I just pray that whatever particular bus we ride on, we will have the same driver, God, and each of us will have a memorable ride, just like what we had in high school at CSI.
Congratulations to all of us, graduates. I wish us all a successful life. And may CSI be blessed and used more by God in the years to come. Thank you and God bless.
1 comment:
hey bianca. :D I liked your speech. Haha. I linked you, by the way. See you here sa Diliman! :D
Post a Comment