~
VALEDICTION
by the Class Valedictorian, TNHS Batch 2011
(delivered during the TNHS Commencement Exercises on April 7, 2011)
Our Commencement Speaker, the resilient and versatile
Miss Janet Cemanes; the highly respected school adaptor and at the same time
the representative from the division office, Mr. Roy Ador, Education Program
Supervisor for Mathematics; our very own School Principal IV, the very dynamic
Sir Paquito Tegio; our outstanding Head Teachers of the different departments:
Ma’am Alicia Maga of the English and Filipino Departments, Ma’am Arlyn Ceblano
of the Araling Panlipunan and Values Education Departments, Ma’am Crisanta
Cosipag of the Mathematics Department, Sir Reuben Alido of the MAPEH
Department, Ma’am Amparo Alido of the Science Department, and Sir Pascual
Docena of the TLE Department; our active Administrative Officer IV, Sir Rodrigo
Ceblano; beloved teachers; other supportive members of the Taft National High
School Faculty and Staff, dear parents, fellow graduates; guests and visitors,
friends; ladies and gentlemen, GOOD EVENING!
GRADUATION DAY. This is it, batchmates. We’re here
already. We can’t back out and re-enjoy high school life anymore. It is now
time to leave and let go.
A long time ago, a man once said, “It is not the years
in a man’s life that matters but the life in his years.” My fellow graduates,
what does four years of Taft
National High
School
June 3, 2007. Who could ever forget this date? T’was
the very first day we entered the vestibules of Taft National High School not
as mere visitors but as 1st Year Students, as Freshmen. We were so
eager that time, very excited to make new friends, to meet new classmates and
teachers, and to cope up with the new environment – and we succeeded!
We were able to expand our ocean of knowledge and at
the same time fertilize our tree of friends with new acquaintances. So, as we
became sophies under fruit sections, the bond that was made the preceding year
grew even tighter and stronger. In fact, it was S.Y. 2008-2009 when different groups
and barkadahans started to come in to existence. The F4, 5 Star + 1, Kurimao
Goup, Inungkit Girls, and the Seven Dwarfs with Black Snow are but some of
them. There were much, much more. And these friendship gangsters may be one of
the reasons why the star section, II-Grapes, was crowned the Noisiest Class for
that year.
No wonder why, not only teachers but even some
supernatural creatures as well got mad at us. Remember the whispers heard from
the CR of room # 18 where the broken mirror was kept? What about the shadow
scare at room # 22 one time we were having a role play? And don’t forget the
rumored dark snake escape at room # 16. Hmmm. Our sophomore year really wasn’t
just about giving birth to various gangsters and barkadahans but also an
episode of spooky scenes. (But maybe
those were just “special effects” of some students’ obsession to Isabella Swan
and Edward Cullen.)
Anyway, one year later, things somewhat turned upside
down like a house with roofs underground. The scary experiences of the
Generous, Responsible, Auspicious, Peculiar, and Excellent Students of Taft
National High School or simply II-Grapes evolved into funny moments together as
Pamilya at Isang Grupo ng mga Estudyanteng Over sa Noise got created by the
III-Piglets. Remember when our salutatorian unintentionally broke a metal chair
at room # 33 and she got trapped in there for a few minutes? What about when
Mr. J26 slipped into a “lup-ugan hin Karabaw” one time we were gathering
bamboos from Calanyugan? And don’t forget the times we sneaked into Dangkalan
Pacific Beach Resort either with fake facsimile rubber stamps or through the
exit gate just to skip the entrance fee. And finally, one of my most embarrassing
moments in this school was during last year’s Recognition Rites when I saluted
after receiving a medal for being a Math Challenger thinking it was already for
the boy scouts of the year. J
And as we meet again last June, though the excitement
to graduate was mixed with sadness for we will be departed from each other,
still, we proved to everyone that together, we could stand proud and
victorious. Indeed, our senior year was full of triumphs and celebrations.
First of all, we were able to successfully defend the title as Champion in
Cheerdance Competition for 4 straight years. Secondly, following 3 years of
being 4th or last placers in School Intramurals, this year, we reigned supreme
as Over-All Champion.
And to add to these achievements are our Blazing
Warriors’ excellent performance in the Provincial Jamborette and Scout Venture
Camp for three consecutive years of being Over-all Champion garnering the first
place in all contests and events, as well as the magnificent job of our
Mathematics Wizards, Filipino enthusiasts and the Editorial Staff in the Math
Challenge, Damath, and Quiz Bee, Division and Regional Schools Press
Conferences, and in the Tagisan ng Talino.
Batchmates, these four years are filled with more than
just months and weeks of experience and learning. The last 1,461 days I have
spent studying here in Taft
National High
School
We were able to
hold on and grow until the last day of our stay here in the portals of our dear
Alma Mater. And here we are now, preparing to leave, to let go. But before we
finally depart from each other, let us not forget to extend and express our
sincerest gratitude to all those who, in one way or the other, have helped and
guided us as we go on with our high school journey.
First, to our Almighty Father, who showered us with
the intelligence and wisdom to continually trudge the path towards success and
who had always been there to watch over us in every step of our way. Thank you,
oh Lord.
Secondly, to our cherished parents, siblings,
relatives and friends for the moral and financial support they’ve exerted.
Indeed, they’ve devotedly and untiringly guided us and drove us to never give
up no matter what. Had it not been for their sacrifices, we might have not been
able to become what we are right now. So, to mommy, daddy, nanay, tatay, my
aunties and uncles, mga dada and bata, to my brothers, and to my cousins and
other relatives, thank you very, very much!
Mommy, these medals are the fruits of your pag-iinisog just to wake me up every
morning and make me sleep at night so I won’t be late for school. Daddy, this
diploma is the product of your constant waking up in the ungodly hour of four
at dawn just to be able to provide for our needs at home and in school. To my
siblings, your kakulitan and pagsisinamok whenever I had projects and
assignments to make had helped me build my character not to be swept away
easily by trails and challenges. Tatay and nanay, you trivias, riddles and
stories had been of great help to my studies as well as to my intellectual
formation. And to my other relatives, thank you as well for I know, whenever I
have projects to make or researches to do, the whole clan would extend whatever
help they could offer. You are all my inspirations, the motivating factors
behind my success.
To our dear mentors, I know we’ve been a flock of
noisy and naughty birds but to you do we also owe the happy outcome of our
dreams. Beloved teachers, please see us enjoy the fruits of your inexhaustible
patience in nurturing our young minds to prepare us for better tomorrows. Your
corrections and advices will serve as our template and guidance as we face
bigger obstacles while your encouragements will be the fuel which will boost
our engine and motivate us to continually move forward. Sir, ma’am, we will
never forget you! A grateful heart now bids adieu.
To our fellow graduates, classmates, batchmates, and
schoolmates, it is not easy to say goodbye after four long years of sweet and
memorable association, but go we must for the tenure of our stay here in this
institution is over. We have already shared 160 weeks of get-togetherness,
camaraderie, happiness, laughter, and even tears. It is with you and through
you that my high school life became as enjoyable and worth reminiscing as it is.
It was in this stage of our lives that we found people to trust, shoulders to
cry on, faces to remember, and memories to treasure. But it is now time to let
go. We also have to go on with our lives, to move on through the next step of
education, to meet new amigos and amigas. Surely, I would miss you all so much.
I hope that the bond that we’ve made would remain strong forever. Thank you
very much Batch Dos Mil Onse for the friendship and for the memories that we’ve
shared.
And finally, to our much cherished Alma Mater, the Taft National
High School
Four years has done to me what seemed like a lifetime
for some. I stand here today speaking to all of you as a monument of what this
class has become. I assure you all that we make others envy. I cannot but
express pride in being a member of this graduating class, my second family.
My friends, the future holds limitless possibilities.
Most of us would probably go into the world of business. Some perhaps would
enter the realms of engineering. Others in the line of literature. Even more
maybe in the field of medicine, but one thing I believe is a good outcome for
us all. We are not men of failure and together, we shall rise and overcome.
So as we step out of the portals of this great
institution, please remember that we are bringing with us the emblem of our
Alma Mater. Whatever we will do, whatever failures we will meet, and whatever
success we will achieve, the great Taft
National High
School
So, goodbye for now, ‘til then…
Congratulations and may God bless us all! #
~
04/07/11
