Valedictory Speech of Rene Mark Steven Masias (High School Class

2012)

To our honorable guest speaker__________________________________. To the board of

trustees, to our principal, Dr. Annabelle b. villaruel. members of the management,
distinguished guests, faculty and staff, our dear parents, fellow graduates, friends, ladies
and gentlemen, good afternoon.

Today, I have mixed feelings of delight and sorrow. Delighted because I can see how happy
my fellow graduates are. After the seemingly endless homework, quizzes, long tests and
stress, we managed to survive without any casualties. Seeing each of my batch mates faces
somehow gives me a little flashback of the many different memories with every one of you.
I know we have all shared amazing memories with each other, cried on each others
shoulders or handkerchiefs, laughed till that Pepsi spilled through our noses, and even
argued like crazy but still, I see that the bonds between us will never break and that this will
be something we will always have. I also see eyes slowly tearing up, which makes me feel
sad because we must say our temporary goodbyes. We have grown up together and have
come to know each other as siblings. But just like in most families, one way or another,
siblings must say their goodbye eventually.

Being able to talk to all of you and share my thoughts is really a great privilege. I worked
hard and probably a bit harder than some of you for many reasons. One of these is
because I want to show the school that allowing me to study here in pcs was not a
waste. I wanted them to know that I can be a model student and one does not
have to have so much money to be able to achieve success.

When I was elected vice president of the student council last year, I had fun experiences
because of the people I met. The council works together and sees to it that things are

accomplished, not just accomplished but accomplished beautifully. We had so many

problems along the way and sometimes we need to be creative in finding solutions. My
fellow graduates, dont let the solutions come to you, go and find it. Having a high
position was even tougher because I had to show everyone that I am a role model. This was
not hard to do since I was raised in an environment that taught me good values and
manners.

To my grade school teachers namely: Ms. Gladys Mintu, Ms. LaniCachapero, Ms.
MyleneBotalon, Ms. Jan Gutierez, and MsChiqui Reyes, thank you for always believing that I
could do better, and for still looking out for me even when I was already in high school. You
are all so approachable and always willing to give me pieces of advice that helped me
become more responsible and open to new things. I learned that opening up to new ideas
and new experiences intensify the knowledge that I gain in the classroom and for that I
thank you very much.

To our former English teacher who gave us mental exercises every session to help develop
our intellect and gave us difficult challenges to show how much we are capable of, thank
you Ms.RisaPangilinan. Though you are not here, in behalf of the whole class of Integrity
and Compassion, thank you for showing us that to be able to excel, one must learn to
challenge ones capabilities to experience growth. To Sir Erwin Ragadio, who shows so
much kindness that you cannot help but give back even more love.Thank you, for showing
us that we are a set of unique students who have different areas of specialty. Thank you
also for giving me the opportunity to join the JAPI FedEx business plan competition because
along with your mentoring, I was able to learn a lot there.

To Mr. Ian Tapuro, thank you for honing my skills in math during MTAP reviews. They really
helped a lot especially in the math section of the entrance examinations that I took in the
different universities. To Ms. VioliAlducente, thank you for the love and care you showed to
our class and more thank yous for the great help you extended in my pass research.
Despite the long hours of typing unexpected mistakes during the experiment, we were able
to develop an outstanding research paper. To Ms. Icka Santos, thank you for the laughs and
for making me and the other members of the student council a set of great student leaders,
As my current sponsor, thank you for allowing me to bother you when I needed your advice,
and most of all, for believing that despite my wrong turns and de tours, I can still be a great
student leader.

To our class adviser, Ms. Melanie Mendoza, thank you for being a teacher, a friend, and a
mother to all of us. Thank you for bearing with us and caring for us like we are your own
children. To all the other teachers who were part of my and all the other graduates journey
in Southville, thank you very much. As the saying goes, A good teacher explains, a
superior teacher demonstrates and a great teacher inspires. You truly inspired all
of us.

Also, I would like to thank all my Titas, the parents of my close friends, who allowed me to
enter their homes when we have activities that end late at night most especially to Tita Beth
Rapisura, who was always my fan. Thank you for always being so supportive.

To my closest friends and batch mates, thank you for making the sacrifices worthwhile, for
making every school day a party, for sharing your lunch with me, for talking nonstop about
the Vampire Diaries, for being supportive, for caring, and for the love.

Now, to those who I owe the greatest thanks of all, mom, dad, grandma and my brother,
you were always there for me when I felt like I wanted to give up. You always have a way to
put a smile on my face and you instill lessons in my head that continuously develop me into
a fine young man. Thank you for supporting me morally and financially and most of all,
thank you for bringing me into this world. Lastly, to the One above all of us, thank you for
all the blessings you have given me and everyone else.

Independence is one of the most important values to have in order to become a

good decision maker and being a good decision maker helps one become a good
leader and person. We cannot just have fun all the time but at the same time, we cannot
just study all the time. I think that if my life was a short story, my mom would be the
cheerful character because it was her who would push me to go out, socialize, make friends,
have fun and enjoy, while my dad would be the serious character. It was him who reminds
me to focus on my studies and give as much effort in studying as when Im playing. What I
am trying to say is that we should find a balance. Balancing fun and work creates an
even better individual and I suggest that everyone should learn to do this.

Lastly, enjoying something that you do makes achieving things

effortless.Sometimes it pays not to worry so much about where you ranked but rather
think about the joy you get with what you do. I know that everyone feels extremely happy
and our parents are proud that we are able to secure a diploma after all these years. Always
aim for excellence. Even if you enjoy what youre doing, the hardships will still be present. I
know a lot who strive hard for success and a lot as well who, unfortunately, just settle for
mediocrity. Now, I would like to challenge you to push yourselves harder and always
aim higher because in doing so, you will be successful.

My fellow graduates always remember this famous quote by David Frost, Dont aim for
success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.

Thank you all, good luck and congratulations!

Valedictory Speech of Svetlana Riguera (Grade School Class 2012)

Dr. Marl Ferenal, our President; Ms. Avic Suarez, our Principal; Mr. Paolo Reyes, our guest
speaker; the administration, faculty and staff; parents and guests; my fellow graduates;
good morning to all of you!

March 30, 2012. I think we will all agree that this day is definitely not ordinary. Today, we
acknowledge the people met, the lessons learned, the tears shed, the laughter relished, and
the memories made in our six years as elementary students. Today, we show our teachers,
our parents, and most importantly ourselves that were no longer children. Today we show
the world that we are ready to take on the next stage of our academic life: High School.

Im very honored to stand before all of you today as the Valedictorian of Class 2012, not
only because of the awards that I have garnered but more so becauseIm part of a truly
outstanding batch - a batch that has achieved so much, a batch where everyone is
talented in different fields. With this, let me thank some of the people who have made
my achievements possible. I might not be able to mention all of you by name, but rest
assured that Im infinitely grateful to everyone who has put me on this stage today.

I would like to thank God first and foremost. Without Him, none of these would have been
possible. I would also like to thank my parents, Atty. Manny Riguera and Atty. Hazel
Riguera. All of my achievements are not only mine, but also theirs, because without their
hard work and encouragement, I would not be standing here and speaking to all of you
today. Thank you, Dad and Mom, for letting me be, but always under your supervision and
guidance. Thank you for giving me the opportunities to explore and to discover my full
potential, not only inside but also outside the four walls of Southville.

To all the teachers I have had in my life, thank you. All of you have contributed to
who I am today, and although I am far from perfect, I believe that Im a much
better person than the person I would have been had I not met all of you. To Ms.
Jen Gaddi and Ms. Gladys Mintu, my advisers for grades 3 and 4 respectively, at Munich
campus, thank you for guiding me while I was still adjusting to a new environment. To Ms.
Icka Santos and Mr. XanderSiose, my advisers for grades 5 and 6 respectively at the

Luxembourg campus, thank you for helping me go past my comfort zones, and giving me
inspiration when I needed it most.

To all my friends, classmate or not, thank you very much. Andrea, Kelsie and Yifei, thank
you for sticking with me through thick and thin. Thank you for believing in me even when I
didnt believe in myself. Yoojung, Eggy, and Russell, thank you for consistently reminding
me that I am not perfect, and that I will never be as awesome or as tall as you guys are.
When others were all praise for me, you never failed to remind me that I am not perfect.
Kim and Maija, my two fangirl buddies, I thank you for bringing me into the new world of K
Pop. To the cast and crew of Seussical Jr., thank you for giving me one of the most
unforgettable moments of my life. It has been an honor to get to know all of you. It was
great spending three months of rehearsal and recording hours with the cast who were from
different levels in Southville, from preschool to college. To our Seussical director, Ms. Icka
Santos, her sister Ms. Kookee and her mother Ms. Lena Santos, thank you. I learned not
only the rudiments of acting. I further learned the essence of my sections name PERSEVERANCE. And to the rest of my classmates and friends, thank you for making my
four-year stay at Southville a memorable one.

I can still remember the days when I was a new student at Southville. That was when I was
in grade three. As a new student I was on academic and disciplinary probation, which meant
that if I failed in any subject, I would be asked to leave.Back then, all I wanted was to
stay in Southville. But as I slowly adjusted to my new environment, I realized that
I wanted to aim higher. I couldnt aim for just a green certificate, or a gold medal.
I wanted to be the valedictorian.

Henry Ford said that obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes
off your goal. To my mentors and friends, thank you so much to all of you for
straightening my perspective when I fearfully glanced to the side. You have made
me realize that the only true limits are those that we impose upon ourselves.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said: Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where
there is no path and leave a trail. My batch mates, when we walk out of Gym 1 today with
our diplomas in hand, we will no longer be elementary students. As soon as the summer

ends we are going to have to take on heavier responsibilities, learn new lessons, and reach
for more goals.

Let us never allow the worlds definition of what is possible keep us from
achieving what we want to achieve. Let us not only dream big, let us dream
grandly. Let us not only reach for the mountaintop, let us reach for the stars.

Batch 2012, let us blaze a trail and make a difference!

Valedictory Speech
Patrick Hidetaka Yamane
May 21, 2005
Alma Bryant High School

The journey through life is one that nobody goes through alone. Whatever people may
accomplish, those accomplishments were achieved only through the combination of
their own personal drive and motivation and the love and support given to them from
the people around them. Therefore, I must begin by acknowledging all those that have
been so instrumental in bringing me to where I am today. Most importantly I have to
thank God and Rev. Moon, my spiritual guidance counselors, and my parents,
grandmother, and other family that have been there supporting me all my life, I could
not have done anything without you and you have taught me so much. I must thank all
the Alma Bryant teachers and staff who have invested so much into all of us, know
that all your time and effort was appreciated, and also all the teachers we had through
elementary and middle school. Thank you to all my teachers outside of school, my
academic coaches, music coaches, and sports coaches, who have also invested so
much. And finally to all of my friends, you have really made these years so enjoyable
and memorable.
High School will always have been a very unique period in our lives; we came in as
children and according to the standards of society most of us are leaving as adults.
Many of us may feel excited or even overwhelmed and fearful at the prospect of
"finally being finished" and being able to "go out on our own" as adults. However,
though society may now consider us adults, we of course still have so much to learn
about what it means to be an adult. Most of us are probably not ready to "go out on
our own." The good thing, though, is that we don't have to. While all our teachers and
parents have been working all our lives to equip and prepare us for this stage in our
lives, it's not like when we get to this point and go off to college or whatever you may
plan to do now that they will all be gone; these people along with all the friends we've
made over time will still be there, maybe not right where you can see them everyday,
but nevertheless there to talk to and support you when you may need. Thus, there is no
reason to feel as though you are alone or on your own at this point.
Up until this point in our lives, we have been receiving and receiving from the people
around us. Yet, to truly become an adult, you have to realize that you must stop
receiving all the time, and you must begin giving back to your community and to all
those that have served you throughout your life. Though most of us will not become
self-sustaining right out of high school and may still be dependent on our parents for
things, we now must truly begin to show our appreciation to all those who have
brought us to where we are.

As this chapter of our life comes to a close, we have learned something of the past,
have seen how things in the world are now, and will have a say in how the world may
be in the future. As young adults, we must now learn how to take responsibility for
our actions and for the society and world we live in. With the knowledge we have
gained about the world today, we must decide whether we are satisfied with the
immoral, self-centered society we live in today. We are a generation with amazing
potential for change, but only if we can be a generation of people with the heart, drive,
and desire to want to force change to occur. Whether for God, yourself, your family,
or for future generations, you owe it to somebody to find the motivation to work for a
change in this world.
My journey to where I am now all began with a goal I made four years ago, to be the
valedictorian. While it seemed unrealistic at the time, it gave me a direction and plan
to work toward. I encourage all of you to set goals for yourself and to strongly stand
for something that can give your life a direction and purpose. As a fellow member of
the graduating class of 2005 I love all of you guys and wish you the best of luck in
your lives.

Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin, Fr. Anthony Pabayo, Mr. Gabriel F. Mallillin, members of the Board of Trustees,
administrators, teachers, parents, guests, and fellow graduates, a pleasant evening to all of you.
Its quite surreal to think that after four years, dozens of projects, hundreds of long tests, and over a
thousand quizzes, we find ourselves here today, about to formally close this chapter of our lives. To use a
math analogy, for four years, we were like asymptotes, getting closer and closer to the axis but never
really reaching it, and today, we finally cross that axis. Its a testament to who we are as people that we
are here today, about to walk up the stage. Its not about the diploma, but its about what the diploma
symbolizes that we completed the seemingly Sisyphean climb, and we did it together.
Its hard to believe that after tonight, we will no longer be students of the Ateneo de Manila High School.
We all know that letting go was never meant to be easy, and once we exit these covered courts, these
halls and classrooms that have become such a big part of our lives will soon be reduced to memories.
Jean-Baptiste Massieu once said, Gratitude is the memory of the heart, and as we look back on our
journey throughout high school, well always be grateful for everything for the lessons we learned, for
the experiences we underwent, and for the relationships we formed. How can any of us forget the
madness along EDSA during our KFD, or the Palig competitions where everyone suddenly rose to the
occasion, or the class retreats when people opened up and shared secrets that will never see the light of
day? These memories are what define us as a batch, and I know that once we all go our separate ways,
well always have these memories to hold on to.
Theres a certain duality between goodbye and thank you; we even acknowledge this duality in the
classroom every day when we say goodbye to our teachers. Today, as we bid our final goodbye to this
school, I know that we also feel a deep sense of gratitude, one that tries to encompass all four years of
high school. I think I speak for everyone when I say that I am absolutely overwhelmed by this gratitude,
and I know that each and every person we encountered here in high school contributed in a big way to
who we are today. Truly, we are all blessed to have been given this opportunity to study in this school, and
I know well always be thankful for it.
Before I end, I know that we all feel the need to acknowledge everyone who played a big role in our
journey over the past four years, so on behalf of the entire batch, Id like to thank all of them. First, Id like
to thank God for leading us down this road. Everything that happened in the past four years was part of
His divine plan; every day, I continue to be amazed by His wonders, and I think I can say that for all of us.
Id like to thank our classmates; these people have been our brothers over the past four years; and I know
that our bond is one that will last a lifetime. Id like to thank the other people we attended classes with, like
the different sections in PE, and the pull-out classes for certain subjects; we spent many, many happy
days with each other. Id like to thank the Sanggu-HS and all the councils and committees we joined; you
guys really taught us what service is all about. Id like to thank all the people we were grouped with for
different events the groups for the Freshmans Day and the summer CAT flights to name a few - for
helping us gain a new appreciation for this wonderful batch that we are graduating with. Id like to thank

our teammates on the various academic and sports teams for helping us represent this school that we
love so dearly. Id like to thank our orgs, for giving us the chance to express and discover ourselves and
to learn about leadership, and Id like to thank our teachers for always guiding us and giving us extremely
valuable life lessons that I know well never forget.
Finally, I think the ones Id like to thank the most are the 570 other people that make up this graduating
batch of students. Its been an absolute honor and a privilege to go on this journey with you, and when it
comes to friends, to borrow a line from the band Vertical Horizon, you guys are truly the best Ive ever
had.
I know that wherever our lives may lead us in the future, well never, ever forget what it truly means to be
an Atenean. I know that well always be proud of this amazing school, and I know that well always be
thankful for the opportunity we received; that opportunity to wear that seal on our chest each and every
day. Above all, however, I know that well never lose the meaning of those four letters that we scribbled at
the top of every test paper: Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.
Maybe, one day, well all meet again; I hope and pray that when that happens, well flash each other a
knowing smile, a smile of appreciation for everything that weve been through. I hope that the memories
will come flooding back, and I hope that well think back to the four wonderful years that we spent
together. However, until that day comes, I cant help but remember a prayer I learned from Mrs. Rica
Bolipata-Santos last summer, a prayer inspired by a particular passage from the Bible, and a prayer Id
like to share with all of you today. Until we meet again, I pray most of all that the Lord may keep us
together, even when we are apart.
Goodbye, good luck, and Godspeed. Congratulations, thank you and good evening to all of you.