Reverend Joel Tabora of the Society of Jesus, our school president, honored guest Attorney Avelino Sales, Jr., Mr. Principal, dear Jesuits, members of the administration, faculty and staff, batchmates, friends, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon!

Speaking in front of an audience is always a tough task, and speaking in behalf of the batch, adds pressure to the situation. I must admit, I feel euphoric but at the same time apprehensive at this moment.

However, I should say that I am not afraid to speak to the expectant crowd here today – after all Ateneans are known to be “mayong supog” – in the positive meaning, of course, which is to be confident and ready to take on challenges. 

What I am afraid of is to somehow let down my class – the Ateneo de Naga High School Class of 2009 – who has accorded me the honor of speaking in their behalf to all who have gathered here today to watch us commence from the portals of Ateneo de Naga High School out into the world.  Thus I shall keep my message short and simple.

If there is one word I would choose to describe this time of our life, our Graduation Day, it would be the word verb. Our teachers in English taught us that a verb is an action word which has a past, present, and future forms.

Our commencement exercises today have the element of the past tense. I am sure all of us feel a sense of accomplishment and nostalgia after 4 difficult yet enjoyable years in the Ateneo de Naga High School.   Who could ever forget the times when we were all praying that our dear teachers would forget our assignment or project?   Who could not remember the first stirrings of our hearts when we became infatuated? The feelings of joy and tension when we succeeded and when we feared that we would fail? It’s all funny and sad looking back after all of these years.

All of us here are now part of the history of the school and for all of us, the school is now part of our history.   As we go along in life, we will cherish the memories of our time here, and keep to heart the lessons that we have learned.

Our graduation ceremonies today also have the element of the present tense,. Now is a time for celebration. We are graduating after all our hard work. This is a good time to acknowledge those who have been part of our success –  our beloved parents,   our precious teachers    and administrators,    our cherished Jesuits,   our dear friends  and classmates -  all the others who have been part of our high school life.   Carpe Diem!   Let us seize this day,  this moment and enjoy its significance in our life’s journey.  Today, we all deserve an applause. Let us give ourselves,   our families,   all of us  a round of applause for a job well done!

Lastly, our commencement exercises today have the element of the future tense.   Even as we are here now, I am sure some of us have already spent so much time reflecting on what lies ahead and have already laid plans for their future careers.   Some of us may be staying here in the Bicol Region.  Others may be pursuing their life goals in other places.

However, I do have one dream for all of us, friends and batchmates, here today.   I dream that one day, we shall all come back here to Bicol and share with Bicol and our fellow Bicolanos what we have become – whether we have become teachers, lawyers, doctors, engineers, public servants, entrepreneurs or any other kind of career person.

We are part of the future of Bicol and it is in this spirit that the Ateneo de Naga High School exists. We are Ateneans not for ourselves alone.

We are men and women for others.

We are men and women for Bicol.

When the future comes,   I hope our paths shall cross,  not in a distant place,  not overseas, not anywhere else but in one of the streets of Naga City,  or in one of the markets in Camarines Sur,  or in a far flung barangay in Albay, trying to make a difference in the lives of Bicolanos. I hope that we share the same dream.

Dios marhay na aldaw po saindo gabos.

Salamat po.

Related Article: Valedictory Address of Eulalie Noreen Severo