To our SPC Sisters, distinguished guests, enthusiastic faculty and staff, supportive

friends, proud parents, relatives, and guardians, and to my fellow graduates, naimbag
nga bigat, magandang umaga, and a blessed morning to all of you.

Standing here in front of you today is a testament and a manifestation of the hard work,
perseverance, and dedication for six years or should I say, thirteen years of education
ever since I started studying in Saudi Arabia. Hindi man ito kalimitan sa lahat, but I was
an ordinary student during my elementary years, kumbaga introvert na nonchalant
ganon.

Still, I was silently expressing my skills and talents, eventually getting a top stop. I was
never an overall top achiever, I was never an achiever who pushes himself to strive
because—

I've never been a natural

All I do is try, try, try

—not until I was sitting on my graduation chair during our Grade 6 Commencement
Exercises back in 2018.

I was staring at our batch valedictorian back then, laughing with her and giving her an
enthusiastic applause since I was so proud of her. 13 year old Alfred wouldn't believe
me if I would say I was in the position he dreamt of.

Going to the Philippines, not oriented on what would take me, what would be my future,
and what would be my life here. Yet, the line of my mother ringed to my ear saying,
"Just be confident, balong. Kayang kaya mo 'yan", and so I did. I participated actively in
class, outside the class — joined journalism from division to the regionals. I excelled in
different activities but I pursued my heart’s desire in leadership—eventually being the
Senior High School Executive Council President in my last year of high school.

It was a hard decision to make but I stand firm and steady to take the responsibility for
the student body. The balance of academics, leadership responsibilities, being a son
and sibling in the family was hard. From paperworks, execution of projects, meetings
and gatherings, and unending inquiries. Still, I am finishing my term fulfilling our projects
and programs that the student council fighted for. Dahil I, we rather, made it, kinaya
namin to, nakalayo na at andito na tayo—sa ating huling destinasyon ng hayskul.

These experiences occurred here in this institution, St. Joseph’s Institute, Inc., have
curated tons of memorable experiences and lessons from the four pillars of SJI to the
four corners of the classrooms. This place can never be forgotten because this is where
we grow, flourish, and find their true potential in our life.

One of the memorable experiences is in our classroom where non-stop bickering

parang magkapatid na gusto laging mag asaran at hindi mawawala ang out of nowhere
sigawan dahil sa sobrang tahimik ng classroom.
Another is the Paulympics. May bagwa, may pating, may dragon, may nag jump split,
may hawak ng kanilang bandera, may naghahagisan ng props. Mapa-teachers,
students, and outsiders were all there. It was chaotic, but fun kasi dun mo talaga
makikita kung paano naging masaya ang mga Paulino.

The Senior High School life in SJI opened opportunities that will create a pathway for
students in the career from the educational curriculum—on their desired tracks and
strands. The lessons and inputs from ABM, whether bad debt expenses or depreciation,
unending balancing of accounts, ethical conditions of the business or how to handle a
business has been a great help to me as I decide my final course for college, and I
thank the school for that.

Also, the school expounded the competencies they applied to us, students, and
especially the affirmations that we will engraved into our hearts. Students, kindly recite
the LPO 1. [As a Christ-centered Paulinian….]. These lessons were enough to remind
us of what a Paulinian is, what a Paulinian should stand for, and what a Paulinian can
offer to others.

With that being said, I would like to share three things from this that I hope you would
bring to your future endeavors.

First, to pause and to never quit. Your passion stays, your energy can’t. Learn to
breathe, learn to socialize, learn to engage. In short, wag magmukmok sa acads.

Mapapatanong nalang yung iba sa akin “Bat nakakaya mong gawin lahat ng yon?
Paano mo nabbalance yung acads at social life mo?” Ang answer is, mag cram po.
MAG CRAM?!?!? The right answer is to track the time when you will do this and when
you will do that. Pag ginawa niyo yon, you can manage your time easily and eventually
have more time resting and taking leisure.

Second, to expose yourself outside your comfort zone. You cannot find your true
potential if you keep yourself hidden inside the box. Failure makes us vulnerable, I know
that. We are scared to fail when we do something new.

But for me, mas maganda if you will avoid failures, but when it comes, you must accept
it for you cannot learn if you will always succeed in life. New things are very hard to
accomplish but as we learn and explore outside the box, we tend to gain new learnings
and new achievements that we will bring ahead.

Third, love one another. Hindi lang pwede na you are studying to graduate. You must
be graduating with knowledge, experiences, and lessons with the people we have
encountered in the different parts of our lives.

Balance kumbaga. Tulad ng sabi ko, hindi pwedeng aral aral na lang ang ginagawa
pagdating mo sa college because you're missing a lot if you do so. Learn to explore
your heart on where it goes because you never know what God has planned for you in
every decision you make, but make sure to focus also on what is your main goal in life.
Our journey for two years is impossible without the people behind our achievements
and success.

To our SPC sisters, Sister Nela A. Ramirez, SPC our school directress-principal, Sister
Jonah B. Gutang our Finance Services Head, and Sister Marie Zyra Tano, SPC our
Christian Formation Officer. Thank you Sisters for the lessons and teachings of Christ
you have bestowed to us and made our educational journey filled with spiritual and
holistic learning that we will bring to the next chapter of our lives.

To the administrators and the whole SJI-an family who treated the school as if it was
their own home and to us also. You have made our school days even more exciting,
safe and sound as we experience the different services offered by the school. Thank
you for the bond and moments that we have cherished and I hope you will remember
those as we leave this institution.

To the whole faculty, thank you dear teachers for the gift of knowledge, gift of love, and
give of support that you have given to us and giving your best in providing the
education and love for us your mga anak. The teachings, lessons, and memories you
have imparted to us are forever treasured in our hearts.

To our parents, guardians, and relatives, the pillar of strength, hope, and love in the
family. On behalf of the graduates, we thank you for being with us, supporting us in
everything we do. Your sacrifices, efforts, and perseverance are always appreciated as
we offer our achievements to you.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following who have really contributed to
my support system during my Senior High School years.

To Maam Marinella and Ma’am Janvi, my advisers, our adviser in ABM, thank you for
being with us with your anak kahit na pasaway kami. Thank you for the support,
guidance, and strength of hope that you have given. Also, thank you ma’am for the
unwavering support in all my achievements in life. Sinabi lang ni ma'am Marinella noon
nung distribution of report cards during the first quarter, "Baka malay mo forda speech."
Manifested and slayed, pakak. These manifestations were pushed through hard work,
dedication, and motivation to soar high and to strive more for the future.

To sir Casuga o sir Pogi ng SHS Faculty, my council adviser and to my kuts, ma’am CJ
for journalism, thank you po sa mga encouraging messages mo in every decision and
action I do. Laging sinasabi nila saakin, “Kayam ata anak”, “Ay go lang bi. I support you.
Kayang kaya mo yan. Ikaw pa.”. Thank you ma’am and sir kasi alam niyo ang tama and
I am grateful as you have given me full trust on the responsibility and assurance that I
can do it.

To my ever independent family group, the Senior High School Executive Council. Thank
you for being the pillars of hope, change, and positivity in the institution, the light that
shines within the truth, the passion burning sets the path towards great achievement
and that is more memorable than anything.
Special mention to my Vice President, Lore Angel Rose Lockey. Thank you Lore dahil
you are keeping up with me since I was recruiting you since campaign season or even
before the campaign season. I never and would never doubt you because you are the
right person for the job.

To my favorite geng geng, the Accountancy, Business, and Management Strand. Dito
lang sa strand na to ako na mapapasabi na “these were my best years in SJI”. Thank
you for the 638 days of creating memories with me. Salamat sa pagtitiis sa aking boses,
sa aking ingay, sa aking sermon, sa aking mukha, ibaga dan to manen nga mauma nk
kenyamon ah nu siyak, at sa walang katapusang “hui ammo yo ba” sa bawat chismis na
mahahagilap ko. Thank you is an understatement how grateful I am to all, no caps no
joke. Ngayong we have different courses na, let us treasure every minute we hold until
we separate ways.

Sa mga anak ko Jade and Dyrene, my friendship circles since high school, Maris,
Aleyah, Vanessa, Mica, Yasmin, Vienna, Lore, Isid, and Glynis and marupix, thank you
for being with me through ups and lows of my life, mga unli kulitan, iyakan, mga rants at
hinaing sa araw-araw na ginagawa natin. Mamimiss ko kayong lahat and I am always
here for you all just like you are always there for me too.

To my bloodline and lifeline in what I do. My passion and my love—CIX and

TREASURE! My motivation in what I do in life, specifically acads. “Mag aaral ng mabuti
para makita sila,” yan lagi sinasabi ko sa sarili ko. As a sign of gratitude, let me express
myself in Korean.

hyeongdul, 안녕하세요! 공부하는 동안 영감을 준 음악을 주셔서 감사합니다.

사랑하고 곧 만나요. 안녕!

(Hello, guys! Thank you for your music as it was my inspiration while studying. I love
you and see you soon. Good bye!)

To my relatives, who have been supporting my dreams, aspirations in life, and

achievements— thank you po sa inyong lahat. To my tita Amie, ang aking nanay
habang nasa abroad si mama at papa, thank you tita. Thank you at nandyan ka palagi
para sa amin. Thank you sa paghihirap at pagod mo para makapag-aral kami.

To my family, mama Jeanny, papa Alfon, and to my ate Ivannah, thank you sa tiwala at
tiyaga para makapag-aral ako dito sa SJI. Things are tough along the way while I was
studying, but I thank God for being with us along the way, guiding every path we
embark with. Thank you for the support and guidance, and sacrifices you have made.
Finally, I can proudly say for the whole world to hear that: "Mama, Papa, ate, graduate
na ako! I made it because of you".

To the persons recognized and distinguished this day—my fellow graduates. Senior
high school ends here, but this is just the beginning of a new reality we will encounter.
Finally, your hard work, sleepless nights, tons of coffee and energy drinks just to finish
endless activities, and silent cries have paid off. Know that I am proud of you as 137
Grade 12 students have graduated at this moment. You have made this far and owe
yourself a deep breath, tap your shoulders and say to yourself "I made it." Now
tap the shoulder of your seatmate and tell them, "I am proud of you".
Lastly, I would like to give my most grateful and sincerest gratitude to Almighty God, the
Father of All. Your guidance has given us strength, faith, and motivation to achieve our
dreams and aspirations in life. Thank you for the protection from all harm that made us
safe, gathering here all together on this momentous occasion. All of our achievements
are all Yours, the glory of success are bestowed upon You.

As I end my speech, graduates, as we leave this institution, with our diplomas, medals,
certificates, tassels being placed on its right side, and memories turned to videos and
pictures, remember the vision you had as future doctors, nurses, accountants, flight
attendants, pilots, lawyer, attorney, economists, and other professions that you will
pursue in life, let your wings soar high as you reach to the top, the dream you have
been aiming. Know that no one is stopping you, live in the moment and enjoy every
moment of your life in college. My dear graduates, this is the end of the 638th day of
being Senior High School students.

In Arabic, we say “maasalama” when we say goodbye. But for me, this is not a
maasalama but a marakum maratan ukhra, which means see you again in Arabic. See
you Batch 2024 after 10 years at the same place we ended our senior high school
years, here at SJI.

Once a Paulinian, Always a Paulinian!

Once again, congratulations Batch 2024!

Agyaman nk la unay, SJI!
Diyos ti Agngina! Caritas Christi Urget Nos!