FIRE RECOGNITION DAY

School Administrators, Professors, Instructors, Teachers, PTA officers, Parents,

Friends, Students, Ladies and Gentlemen, a blissful and wonderful day to all.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the facilitators of this event for giving
me an opportunity to speak in one of the special days of this year at my Alma Mater.
Thank you very much, Sirs, Madams, for this privilege.

Though I am just a young man who just graduated last year still you've given me this
chance. It’s humbling to know that though there are other great men who will be able
to inspire the students more, still you did not hesitate to give me this opportunity.
This for me is a privilege and I am grateful.

At last, the day has finally come, especially for the graduating students with honors,
to reap what they have sown. This is the day that you’re going to receive the fruits of
your labor. The day that you’re going to remember the hardships, trials, sleepless
nights, out-of-this-world examinations, those seemed to be unending assignments,
plates, and projects, and many more.

I can still remember, and it’s still very fresh, those things that happened in my
college days. It’s nostalgic. It seems that everything that I’m seeing today brings
back old memories. (Matud pa sa engineering, looks-fam)

This recognition day, makes me remember the achievements I attained. The quiz
competitions, the ROTC loyalty award, being a dean’s lister, ambassador of the year,
etc. This day has come not just to recognize the achievements of the students, but
also to bring into the limelight the hard works of our parents, wisdom of our
instructors and the grace of our God.

This recognition's theme "Harnessing CTU's Polytechnological Capabilities for the

21st Century" is a message to make use of natural resources to enhance the
Technological capabilities of our beloved university. I believe that our university
possesses great talents. Our capacity to inspire young students is more than what
we could imagine.

One of our best assets is that we have is the capability to produce high-quality
graduates, engineers, educators, etc. I have been a witness to this. This is because of
the deeper foundation of our faculty. Our teachers, instructors have trained us well in
shops, laboratories, competitions, and lectures. Right now, we need to harness not
just the ability and prowess of our teachers and instructors but also pour more on
harnessing the potential of our students.

I do believe that every first-year student that enters the premises of this university is
brimming with untapped potential. It is our role to find that potential. it is our role to
find the key to unleash the potential of the students. For I do believe that every
student here possesses great ingenuity, engineering skills, mathematical prowess,
etc.
Second, we need to inspire them. We need to inspire them to keep reading, to keep
listening, to keep observing, to keep investigating, to keep researching and to keep
on experimenting. Letting them understand that disassembling something is the only
way to know its inner workings, engineering, and design.

Third, we need to make them understand the joy of discipline. Knowing that we
cannot reach our goal with no focus at all. Knowing that engineering is a disciplined
approach to creating something.

Our theme only means that we need to harness the “US”, I mean us. You and me, and
making use of our natural selves to enhance CTU's Polytechnological Capabilities for
this century. We must first be able to know the capabilities that are already within us
for this is a gift from above.

Without ourselves to harness the technology, technology would be just useless. The
industry's appreciation of CTU is not because of the existing technology that we have
but is how we make use of ourselves to think of a more productive way. Less
dependence on technology but more dependent on our minds to enhance more the
Polytechnological Capabilities this university has.

It is an honor to share my past scholastic journey. Let me backtrack and go to my

first senior high school year.

I was once addicted to computer games and because of this, I cannot understand our
mathematics teacher’s lesson anymore. I was really having a hard time
understanding/learning from her lectures and, so I received a failing mark during our
first grading period. I was so discouraged at that time that I decided to stop going to
school.

It was hard for my parents and, so I decided to help in our small business to
somehow ease their pain. I became known as a fishball and tempura vendor in our
place. During that time, I promised to my parents that when I go back to school I’m
going to strive hard, I’m going to put my heart on it and I’m going to make them
proud. By God's grace, the impossible was made possible. I finished the secondary
school as the most outstanding student in mathematics.

During my first year in college, it came to a point where I was hesitant to continue
taking the second semester because of our financial status. Here’s a confession, it
was during this time that I drew the plates of my batchmates in exchange for money
in our Engineering Drawing-I subject, handled by Archt. Uy, even if I knew that it was
illegal or wrong just so that I’ll be able to sustain/support myself during those
difficult times. It went on until the time when our instructor noticed my penmanship
and warned the whole class about the illegal thing. That warning was enough for me
to stop from creating any more plates for my batchmates.

I was able to continue my studies when that same instructor, Archt. Uy endorsed me
to be a student assistant to Maam Josephine Villa, in the guidance services center.
But before I can start working, our family needs to first settle my first semester’s
remaining balance which was around P5000. For me and my family, this is a big
amount to acquire in a short span of time because the second-semester class is
already starting. Though it was late, I was amazed by my mother who was able to find
a way to settle my dues in just a week. Now you guess how she did it? Walay lain pa
kung dili utang (No other else, but debt), I know many can relate to this. Haha.

But I never let this problem overcome us, and I would never let this stop me from
fulfilling my dreams. I kept on going. I studied in the morning and worked in the
evening. This went on Monday to Friday. duty on Saturdays, attend ROTC class on
Sundays. Until I endured my first year working in the guidance office.

My second year was the year when I started to dream as a quizzer. It was not because
of the prizes but I was focused on grabbing the honor and bringing this honor to my
family and my school. So I strived hard, and by the help of the Almighty God, I
achieved 7 championship titles, 3 of which are national competitions, thrice I became
1st and 2nd runner-up. I Experienced many travels for national competitions which
were supported by the university administration. My close classmate, also the
topnother Engr Arrabis said my award on recognition day should not be
"Ambassador of the Year" but it must be "Gastador of the year" because of the
expenses.

Though I achieved victory from these competitions, I also want to let you know that I
also failed about 8 times in these competitions as far as I could remember. In
addition, behind these achievements are sleepless nights, uncompleted
assignments, projects, and reports.

I can relate to your hardships, pains, trials, hunger and many more. These are not
new to us who strive for greater things. There are even failures, but what keeps us
going during these times when we are so down is the thought that "All things work
together for good, especially for those who love God".

When I turned my attention back to the things that I must do, my studies and my
work as a student assistant in College Of Engineering faculty office, (for I stopped at
guidance to focus studies but worked back in COE), it turned out that I was
terminated. I failed to comply some important requirements and failed to meet some
deadlines. It was the time when I chose to go with our classmates and our instructor
in our hydrographic surveying than to report.

It was one of the most painful experiences in my college days. But as what I have
said, all things work together for good. This situation gave me more time to study
and led me to review in the review center where I’m currently working. When the
owner and director of the review center Engr. Gillesania noticed that I was doing well
on my quizzes even though I was still an incoming 4th yr, he asked me to work for
him and be his working scholar. In addition to the training that I have undergone
under the hard work of Engr. Mayor, the review helped me to be a national quiz
champion.
Because of these situations/experiences, I was also given an opportunity to be a
scholar of Parents Teachers Association, on my 4th and 5th year. Without them, I
wouldn't be here today.

Without these instructors especially my coach Engr. Mayor, Dr. Ancheta, our beloved
president today, who once gave me an incentive after winning the PICE Students'
Quiz, Engineering Faculty, school administration, PTA, I wouldn’t be able to stand
here.

Students, we know that if we experienced hardships from our instructors, these are
always meant for us. These are made to build us up. To hone us. To strengthen us.
Though we cannot deny that they are painful and unpleasant, we know that our
characters are built. Hardships are also given by God as a way of disciplining us, as
what we can quote from the Bible,

"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children
are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone
undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at
all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected
them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They
disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our
good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the
time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and
peace for those who have been trained by it."

I wouldn’t be able to do these things alone, so cheers to all my friends who were with
me. And to my family, you know what you did. You were my backbone. I don’t know
where I’d be without you.

Students, without your instructors, your friends and especially without your parents
and guardians, you wouldn't be here to receive these awards. Can you give them a
round of applause as a sign of great debt of gratitude? or even hugs to your parents!
kiss them, tell them that you love them, and you are so thankful for them.

Most of all, without the Almighty God who can do exceedingly abundantly more than
anything we could ask or pray, WE couldn't have these things that we have right now.
Every good gift comes from our Father in heaven. So, all the glory, praises, honor
and adoration belong to Him alone.

Students, for the graduates God, bless in the next phase of life, for the non-graduates
strive more for His glory. To All, May the LORD God bless you and keep you always.
Congratulations!