To the respected Schools Division Superintendent

_______________, The school board under the leadership of Mr.

Jaime Nabua, one of the most _____________________, School
Director ___________, school principal ________________,
parents, teachers, guests, and to our dearest graduates, isang
mapagpalayang araw po sa ating lahat!

Allow me to preface my talk with a story shared by one of the

early Filipino writers in English, Ismael or more popularly known
as IV Mallari who was primarily an essayist and is ranked as the
leading literary and art critic in the Philippines. This was the tale
in the Philippine folklore of a mango tree and a bamboo tree. The
two were unable to agree as to which was stronger between them.
They called upon the wind to make the decision.

The wind blew its hardest. The mango tree stood high. It did not
yield because it knew it was strong and sturdy. The mango tree
did not sway. It was too proud, too sure of itself, but at last, its
roots gave way and it stumbled down.

The bamboo tree was wiser. Knowing it was not as robust as the
mango tree, every time the wind blew, it bent its head gracefully.
It made loud protestations, but it lets the wind have its way until
it finally got tired of blowing. The bamboo tree still stood in all its
beauty and grace.

The story expresses a lesson about humility and resiliency. Even

in the slightest breeze, the bamboo tree sways gently with the
wind. It is firmly rooted and does not break. Similarly, Filipinos
are known to be self-effacing and flexible. We are pliant like the
bamboo tree. We did bend a little, but still, we keep moving
forward even in little steps. Importantly, we continue, despite the
many uncertainties in life.

Filipinos deal with different types of people every day. We can

adjust to changing situations, be it bad or good. Do you
remember a long time ago when we were conquered by superior
countries? The Filipinos had been through a lot, but the Filipino
nation endured them all. Undoubtedly, we know that we are not
strong enough to fight back against stronger foes, so we yield and
have survived. We did not cower in the face of enemies. We are a
brave nation, having through lots of hardships, we know when to
step back and rethink our actions.

The Filipinos are very resilient people. We can recover from the
challenges that come our way. Despite countless problems, we
emerge victoriously. Unquestionably, the road to take was not
easy. In the end, the Filipinos withstand it all because we chose to
be optimistic and to stand our ground. We never give up easily.
We remain standing just like the bamboo tree. Indeed, Pinoys are
pliant like bamboos…

Hence, the 2022-2023‘s theme, ―Gradweyt ng K to 12: Hinubog

ng Matatag na Edukasyon (K to 12 Graduates: Molded through a
Resilient Educational Foundation) for the End-of-School-Year
(EOSY) rites in the country is a fitting tribute and a
commemorative event featuring the accomplishments and growth
of students throughout their educational journey. Truly, it is a
celebratory milestone and a symbol of how a robust educational
foundation can weather any challenge. It underlines the strength
and determination of Filipino learners in the face of challenges,
be it personal or external, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It also
put a spotlight to embodying resilience as vital in overcoming
obstacles and adapting to changes during these challenging times.

It highlights the importance of resilience (katatagan), grit (tatag

ng damdamin – puso), and determination (pagpupursige) in
shaping Filipino learners, further emphasizing the role of a strong
basic education system in ensuring their future success. The
coronavirus pandemic and the post-pandemic recovery and
transition have also served as a testament to the resilience of
every learner and the Philippine educational system. In
particular, it emphasizes that every learner‘s achievement mirrors
an education that succeeds amid all difficulties. To emphasize, the
theme communicates three (3) important attributes — resilience,
agency, and grit — that Filipino learners and graduates may
always use as they navigate through the post-pandemic and
uncertain times.

So I stand before you today as I am more than honored and

dignified to share this splendid moment with and to speak before
the graduating class of this esteemed educational institution,
every fighter and every victor, who has won the battles for
quality education and for a better life, and so are deserving today
of the highest recognitions and resounding greetings of
felicitations and heartfelt congratulations.

I am also bound by will and by tradition to render a

commencement speech centered on three things I believe are
worth sharing, three things that doubtlessly define and describe
this year‘s graduates, and three things that guide the learners to
win school and soon life summarized as 3R‘s— Rise up; Reach
out arms farther; and Ran and move forward ‗til the finish line.

1. [Resilience] We rise up.

We rise up from every stumble and fall. We rise up and adapt.

Yes, we are resilient, but time and again, this resilience is tested.

In our gradual transition from the onslaught of the coronavirus to

the post-pandemic new normal amidst the heavy emotional
baggage of losses, sufferings, and missed opportunities, the
Filipino brand of resilience takes on spotlight.

In classrooms filled with lukewarm air of academic tension and

pressure, it is resilience that makes the learners breathe courage
and confidence, stand, and talk once more every after a bad
experience. We know deep inside us and in the mutters of their
ego that bad experience is an understatement, but surrender is
never ever an option. Kahit ika'y tahimik lang sa umpisa, Kahit
'di ka pilitin… Sabi nga nila, ―Susuka pero hindi susuko!!!

Of course, how can we boost our morale to get up and advance

forward if we let sadness overcome us. I know many of us have
experienced that when we are sad, say, frustrated from the results
of our exams or perhaps brokenhearted, sometimes, we just don‘t
want to get up from the bed. Sometimes, we just want to sleep all
the time. And that‘s counterproductive! That just isn‘t Filipino.
Instead, we laugh at our problems. As the old adage goes,
―Laughter is the best medicine.‖ It energizes us as it allow our
hearts to pump blood enthusiastically. It exercises our muscles. It
releases our stress. It keeps us from ageing rapidly. It lets us feel
hope. It‘s one of our techniques to survival, especially, just like
during the COVID-19 lockdown and the post-lockdown periods.
So, laugh! There‘s nothing wrong with laughing at our problems.

But that doesn‘t mean we just keep on laughing even though we

feel hurt deep inside. If we feel like crying, then cry, but don‘t
forget to have some time to laugh. It‘s just a matter of balancing
things — the yin and yang. But that doesn‘t mean, as well, that
we only laugh at our problems. There‘s no truth to the
generalization that many Filipinos are poor because they only
laugh at their problems. No. Laughing at our problems is just our
coping mechanism but innate also in our nature as Filipinos are
our fighting spirit and our faith, strong faith, to seek solutions or
to overcome our problems.

Yes, we Filipinos are branded with a distinct capability to recover

quickly from calamities and disasters. We are capable of bouncing
back and adapting in the face of these challenging circumstances
while maintaining stable mental well-being.

That is no doubt resilience. But resilience alone is not enough, and

glorifying it with just sorry admission of our weaknesses and
vulnerabilities as a developing country, as human beings, and as
mediocre students, is even worse.

2. [Agency] So, we also reach out our arms farther.

We reach out and take control over our volitional actions and
their consequences. We reach out to develop our sense of agency.
Filipino resilience is sometimes questioned and doubted because
we tend to just accept and get used to the vicious cycle of loss and
suffering. We fail to turn this resilience into viable systems and
mechanisms of mitigation and prevention.

On many occasions, it is not a matter of if, but when. So, there is

no such thing as a surprise quiz or a surprise recitation for a
student who reviews his lessons after a thorough lecture. Di
pwede yang Boombastic side-eye; Criminal offensive side-eye…

Life is predictably unpredictable, but it does not always happen

just by accident. We also make it out of our choices. We‘re here
not by accident, and not because we don‘t have any other choice.
We, graduates, won‘t be wearing these robes and caps without
choosing hard work and dedication. Life is what we make it!!!

I won‘t be here speaking before you without accepting the

personal challenge, I did it by making good choices and doing a
lot of work for such choices.

When we voluntarily take actions and take a sense of agency, we

don‘t feel as though they simply happen to us, instead, we feel as
though we are in charge of them and so our life.

3. [Grit] Then, we continue the race, ran and move forward.

We move forward toward the achievement of our short-term

goals, the puzzle pieces of one big and ultimate goal. We move
forward with physical, mental, and emotional stamina.

People call it grit, and it comes with a simple two-ingredient

formula: passion plus perseverance. Without passion,
perseverance leads to burnout. Without perseverance, we give
up.

Many say, and so the theory gets more real that the best and
strongest performers in their respective fields are not always
those with the highest IQs, but those with the most grit — the
ones who are passionate, the ones who keep pushing themselves
until achieving their ultimate goals. So, we should be rooting for
not just the top students among the graduates but for all.

Grit grounded on ethical principles will feed the hunger of the

world for innovation and change. Grit with a noble purpose will
quench the thirst for social development. Yes, quench that thirst.
Pawiin ang uhaw…

Dumilim man ang paligid ay ikaw parin ang ilaw ko

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Bakit uhaw sa'yong sayaw? Bakit ikaw?
'Di bibitaw, sa'yong sa'yo, laging ikaw
… Mananatiling uhaw, uhaw, uhaw

Kahit pa matalisod, mapagod, at bumigay ang tuhod…'Di ka

hihinto…hanggang dulo – That is GRIT!

And grit with conscience and compassion will heal conflicts and
build better communities. For now, this four-letter word – grit –
will make these graduates take their first step and keep them
moving forward in this post COVID 19 pandemic period.

My dear graduates, it has been four years since infamous COVID-

19 struck our country and the rest of the world. If you have seen
the news clippings on the first few days up to the first 2 years of
the global health crisis (which, by the way, you can watch in
Youtube), you could not see Filipino survivors merely lying
down, feeling hopeless and helpless. No. Right after the
lockdown, we immediately ventured out to the streets to search
for ways to assistance and find means how to survive the
following days. You will recall that frontliners had took bold
steps and a lot of courage to brace themselves from the dreaded
virus in order to ensure that at least basic and much-needed
services and commodities reach our households including our
school frontliners – our teacher-heroes together with the support
staff. So let us recognize them now in commendation and
acknowledgment of their great works and laudable contributions
in ensuring quality, relevant and inclusive education are
delivered to you – the learners – against all odds.

(Let the school management/officials rise)

Bigyan po natin sila ng masigabong palakpakan …

Equally outstanding is the contribution of your

parents/guardians and support groups for having played
strategically supportive role in realizing the vision and mission of
your academic institution against the backfrop of the pandemic
guided by the mandates of the Department of Education, on top
of their fundamental responsibilities.

Itdan tayo pa ray ampeta-petang ya tipak.

Their sacrifices cannot be overemphasized. Their dedication is

simply beyond question. And so, I would like to request our
graduates to avail of this race chance to express your love and
affection, reverence and appreciation, respect and admiration to
all them.

(Enjoin graduates to approach and/or offer flower to their

parents/guardians)

Above all, praises and glory to the Almighty God for making the
impossible possible and all things possibles.

Let us offer our Lord the loudest clap and thanksgiving.

But of course, we likewise pay you tribute, dear graduates as we

admire your determination not to let the COVID hinder your
learning. I admire your perseverance so as not to let the virus
steal your dream of graduating this year. Just like other students,
I laud you for your persistence to catch up with your lessons no
matter what... I‘m sure some of you ay nagreklamo dahil mabilis
ang pacing ng iyong lessons after the lockdown kahit na super
bagal ng internet o mega dami ang mga modules, but here you
are now, graduating this year, today!

That‘s Fighting spirit! That‘s faith! — ‗yan ang tinatawag na

Pusong Pinoy.

In conclusion, the last vital reason that I would like to emphasize

kung bakit hindi natitinag ang Pusong Pilipino is also our innate
collective spirit —the Bayanihan spirit. An overused but still true
cliche says, ―No man/woman is an island, no one stands alone‖
or as one of my favorite Filipino song goes, ―Walang sinuman ang
nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang, walang sinuman ang
namamatay para sa sarili lamang.‖Collective spirit, my dear
friends.

Certainly, the Filipinos are fighters, survivors, and victors –

resilient, agent of change and full of grit.

To the graduating class of 2023, congratulations and God bless.

Mabuhay!

It has been an honor of my life to have been your commencement

speaker. Thank you.