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Schools Division Superintendent Gencaya, Principal Orquiola, teachers, staff, parents, friends, graduates, good afternoon!

Eleven years ago, I was in this very same spot during our graduation ceremonies. I was the emcee and our graduation speaker was former Schools Division Superintendent, Ms. Ida Endonila. And now I’m the guest speaker? Indeed it is very humbling for me to be in her place now. I have much to thank my former adviser and science teacher, Ma’am Ramos for inviting me to speak before you – believe it or not – more than 8 months in advance.

I have been cherishing that day, more than eight months ago, when SPED visited SEAFDEC in Tigbauan. FishWorld was filled with busloads of color-coded English-speaking grade school pupils running from one aquarium to another, very excited, and very amazed with the large turtles and the colorful fishes. In a few moments, I found myself trapped in a crowd of grade-schoolers, all trying to ask me difficult questions only about half of which I could actually answer. “What is the scientific name of this?” “What is the scientific name of that?” “What are the member countries of SEAFDEC?” “Give a name of a Filipino scientist.” Those were the easier ones which I could remember.  Amidst the storm of questions, the persistent tugging on my sleeves, and the demand for answers, I realized I was surrounded by truly gifted children, rightly trained to be inquisitive, curious, and always ready to learn. That’s a SPEDer!

My challenge for you today, as you sit there wondering what will happen to you as you proceed to high school or college, is to always live up to being a SPED graduate. But what’s with a SPED graduate?

When we graduated from SPED in 1999 and the Superintendent was our speaker, she repeatedly pointed out that SPED is the “show-window” of the entire Division. By that, I believe she meant that SPED is a school that Iloilo City can truly be proud of and can boast about. Little did I know while listening to her that, three years later, I would be in her place as Schools Division Superintendent.

In September 2002, I was sworn in by Mayor Treñas as Schools Division Superintendent. How can that be? It was only for five days during the Boys and Girls Week sponsored by the Rotary Club. For five days, I got to sit on the fanciest chair behind the nicest office table in the most well furnished room in the Division Office. However, I’m really not an office person who can sit all day in a room. Too boring for me. So I decided to go around and observe classes in some schools, and I even joined a supervisor in conducting evaluation. Of all the schools I visited in those five days, SPED-ISEC definitely stood out. I may be a little biased towards my alma matter but it was only in SPED where I saw pupils enthusiastically reciting in class in relatively fluent English. The SPED classroom I was in was also very well furnished compared to other schools where they didn’t even have enough chairs. SPED is indeed special. Not your ordinary school. And an extraordinary school produces – extraordinary graduates!

However, I would like to stress that it is not the tiles on your floor, or the television in your classroom that produces the extraordinary graduates. You see, the SPED facilities now were very different during my time.

During my early years in SPED, if I remember correctly, all the pupils shared only two rest rooms – one for the boys and another for the girls. Going to the rest room then was like entering a horror room with broken doors and junk along the way and vines creeping in through holes in the roof. It also didn’t smell very good. This social hall where we held our activities was much smaller then, and the ceiling seemed ready to fall on the audience anytime. In my early years in SPED, the only 2-storey building was the one for the hearing impaired high school. There were also times when our whole section would share only about seven copies of a certain textbook. Seven copies for thirty five pupils. And since we did not have photocopiers until much later, somebody would copy several pages of the textbook on the blackboard and the rest would spend the whole class period copying, and copying, and copying what was written on the board. Nevertheless, despite the sorry state of our books and our facilities during those early years, we had some of the finest teachers. Some of our teachers were so good they were promoted as principals in other schools. Others were so inspiring in their passion for teaching, such that I can clearly say that I have become what I am now, and I do what I do, because of them. My teachers from way back to my elementary years.

SPED graduates, you have been blessed with much better facilties compared to what my batch had. Much better than most other schools now. You have outstanding teachers. And of course, you yourselves are especially gifted.

Now, before our exceptional graduates proceed to their next stage of learning, whether be it in high school or college, I have a few lessons to share that might help you in living up to be SPED graduates.

When I graduated from SPED, I thought I knew almost everything. In grade 6, I could memorize all the enzymes acting on food throughout the alimentary canal from the moment your dinner enters your mouth until it leaves the body. But when I entered high school, I realized all the knowledge I gained in my 6 years in elementary was just the tip of the iceberg.

When I graduated from high school, I felt like I already knew most of the iceberg. I knew projectile motion equations like the back of my hand. I could use computer programming and animation to illustrate some cellular mechanisms. I even knew some calculus. But when I entered college, I realized the iceberg was just a point on the vastness of the oceans. And once you enter the real life, where nobody tells you to attend this class and do this project, when you are free to decide what to do this day and tomorrow and where to go, you will realize that the oceans are just a part of a bigger Earth located within an endless universe.

Never think you have learned enough or know enough. The more you know, the more you know that you do not know.

One of the things I learned in recent years is the value of teamwork. Up until high school, I always consider myself to be an introvert. Introvert in the sense that I prefer to be alone, I like doing things on my own, and I would rather not work with other people. But that has since changed.

Last year, I and two of my friends took a daring step to establish our own company that operates a fish spa in Antique. To date, several thousand guests representing about 15 different nationalities have visited the town of Tibiao to have the tickling experience of having hundreds of little fish nibble off their dead layers of skin. I tell you, Tibiao Fish Spa company would never have been established if we did not harness the power of teamwork. Individually, we could not have done it. Take my example.

Aside from the fact that I didn’t have enough money to start the company, I realized I am also too cautious. I like to have everything planned carefully, taking my time, and if there is risk involved, my tendency is not to bother risking at all. Meanwhile, my other business partner is very visionary, ambitious, and he likes to do things really fast. But on his own, plans could become impractical and unrealistic.

So we worked hard as a team. One would usually take the daring moves and mobilize people, while another would pull him back enough to keep things sensible and attend to the tiny but crucial details, and another will take care of the technical side of keeping the fish alive and healthy. If we worked individually, we would have been a mess.

Schools here in the Philippines are very competitive. We all try to be in the top ten and earn the most medals. Indeed during my time SPED was so generous in giving medals I sounded like a walking tambourine when going up and down the stage. It has become our natural tendency to try to be better than the others by studying hard and making projects by ourselves. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, we should also not forget to work together.

Sitting before me now are some of the brightest and most talented pupils and students. But each one of you is uniquely gifted. Just imagine what you can do together when you put your talents and skills together! Teamwork. Cooperation.

Another thing I’ve learned or relearned recently is the value of dreaming big, of aiming high.

After I graduated from elementary in SPED, it was time for me to choose which high school to enter. (We didn’t have SPED high school yet that time). Would you believe that I actually considered giving up my slot at the Philippine Science High School because many of my friends were going to enroll in a different high school in the city? After visiting the different campuses, it was clear to me that my friends would still be my friends, but giving up my slot in PSHS would have been an awful mistake.

Even as you enter college, dream big. Don’t settle for the dream of receiving a good salary after you graduate. Dream to be the one giving the salary to your own employees.

You will probably get nowhere if your dream is only the size of your bedroom. Let the universe be your playground.

Finally, as you live up to being a SPED graduate, may you reach success and find meaning and purpose in all that you do. The medals and diplomas you will receive today are very much deserved. But success in life is more than just academic achievement, financial status, or fame. All those things are cool, but they can also lead to disappointment and frustration.

As for me, I just put faith and trust in God. Despite all the difficulty in life, I am secure because I know my real treasure is not in this life and not in this world. No amount of diplomas, money, or good deeds could buy that. Good thing He died for me out of His love.

I won’t define success for you, but it is my hope that you will find guidance and true fulfillment and happiness as you tackle the next stage of your life. All I can say is, you can start by putting God at the center.

To close, I congratulate the parents and guardians! I am sure as your children went to school, a part of you also went to school with them. Now, a part of you is also graduating! Graduates, would you like to give your parents a big round of applause?

Congratulations also to our teachers! These graduates would not be here now if you flunked them at one point. May you never tire of doing what you do best, and that is inspiring and motivating these gifted students in the same way you have inspired and motivated me during my elementary days. Truly we have become what we are because of your dedicated service. Let’s give a big hand to our teachers!

Finally, graduates, you have made it this far because of the people we just applauded, and also because of your hard work, and diligence. May you proceed to high school and college always bearing in mind where you came from. You are no ordinary graduates. You are SPED-ISEC graduates! Let’s continue learning together and let’s dream together, work together, and succeed together in our service to God and country.

Thank you, God bless, and congratulations!

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