Reverend Father Joel Tabora SJ, our School President, Attorney Avelino Sales, Jr., our honored guest, Mr. Gregorio Re Abonal, our principal, Father Rueben Reyes SJ, our school chaplain, dear Jesuits, members of the administration, faculty and staff, beloved parents, fellow graduates, friends, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon!

It was four years ago since we first set foot on this ground. And in those four years, many things have happened. We learned, we laughed, we cried, we studied, we prayed and we grew. In all of these, the sense of drama washed over us, as we experienced the highs and lows of our emotions: There is the feeling of being tortured whenever we were given difficult projects and assignments, the feeling of joy whenever our hard works were recognized, the feeling of satisfaction after every end of school year knowing we have survived yet again another year. And finally, there is the feeling of triumph and euphoria as we are here today – on the day we have been waiting for, the day we get to see the fruits of our hard works – our Graduation Day.

As we march down the aisle and receive our diploma, we will look back with a smile in our four years in Ateneo. We will say the words: “Dito nagsimula ang masasayang araw ko,” the words of Dr. Jose Rizal as he passed by the Ateneo. Likewise, this institution is the place where our cherished memories were made, where many of our firsts happened – our first JS Promenade, first Pistaym, first class mass, our first CAT drills and many other firsts. Because of these, Ateneo has become the place that we will keep coming back to.

However, the path towards the realization of our goals has never been an easy one. Sacrifices have to be made to realize our dreams… We had to wake up early to go to school, sleep late at night or not sleep at all to finish a project; we had to sit down the entire day, listening to the discussion of the teacher, getting bored, and feeling sleepy.  We were also besieged with difficulties and problems along the way which almost pulled us down. But being able to make it through all these deserves not just recognition but reward. Today, we reap the reward – we are part of the graduating class of 2009! And for that, let us, therefore, give ourselves a round of applause.  Bravo to us all!

However, we could not have done it without the many people who are behind our greatest accomplishments. On behalf of the graduates, it is my honor to thank our beloved parents and families who have been with us throughout our journey. Had it not been for their unwavering support and unconditional love and inspiration, we would not be graduating here today. So to our parents and families, from the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!

We also take this opportunity to thank our dear teachers, for their patience, time, and understanding, for sharing with us their gift of knowledge, and for imparting to us words of wisdom. We shall be forever grateful to them for being instruments of our quest for knowledge and change. Salamat po, Sirs and Maams!

To the Ateneo, and to everyone who works for the betterment of this institution, our sincerest gratitude. Ateneo has become our second home and the people behind it, our second family. This institution did not fail in bringing us up, the graduates, equipped with necessary tools to survive the real world. For all these and more, we are proud to be Ateneans and forever grateful to Ateneo de Naga University, our dear Alma Mater.

Borrowing the words of President Barack Obama and putting it into our context, I quote “Today, change has come!!” True enough, change has come into our lives, and Ateneo, along with our families, teachers and friends, has been instrumental to this change. This institution has made us who we are now and made us the proud BATCH of 2009, not only because of the major changes in us but also because of the simplest achievements of the batch, like being the pioneers of the new IDs and PE uniforms.

Who could also forget the overwhelming display of unity of the seniors, which had made a great impact to the Ateneo community? Our batch has the courage, the determination and the desire to cause a change for the better. With that, we emerged as a UNIFIED BATCH with the simple purpose of having our views heard.  In the end, however, we were not just heard… we also learned to listen to other views.

Unity – is the word that defines us as a batch. Many people have said that we are not united. But we proved them wrong. We have gone through thick and thin and we have emerged victorious because we worked together, with willingness to listen, to compromise, and to share. As the saying goes, “two heads are better than one”. In our case, it was 316 heads put together. And the result is this momentous occasion.

As one, we move. As one, we learn. Let this be our mark now and in the future, as we work for the greater glory of God. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam. Thank you and good afternoon again.

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