K to 12 Graduates: “Pursuing Dreams and

Fostering Resilience in the Face of Adversity"

INTRODUCTION
CONGRATULATIONS! (Congratulate each and every student for achieving
another year, for the second year of online learning classes, for being strong, for
enduring and being courageous to continue learning.)
Anong bago? What’s new? Anong nagbago sa atin, mga pagbabagong nangyari
sa atin sa buong mundo, sa Pilipinas, dito sa FUMCES? Ano ang mga napansin niyo?
(Let the children answer).
- Physical Health
- Education
- Mental Health
- Relationships (family, friends, school, community, media, and self).
Recall previous lectures. Ngayon malalaman natin ang goal natin bakit may
ganito pa tayong lecture. Kung sa war, sa mga battles, hindi lang tayo basta-basta
nakikipagdigma or sumusugod, alamin natin kung ano ang kalaban, mag plano tayo
para matalo natin ang kalaban. Goals:
1. New Normal. What is New Normal? What to expect and how does it affect you
as an individual?
2. New Challenges. What are the possible same challenges and new struggles
ahead? Why should we be aware of these?
3. New Plans. How can we overcome these situations? What are the ways to cope
up?
4. New You. Ang bagong ikaw. Malalaman pa po natin ito mamaya.
“The future depends on what you do today.” – Mahatma Gandhi, Indian lawyer, one
of the greatest influencers in the world on politics, leadership and he is also a spiritual
leader.
BODY.
 1. NEW NORMAL
I am worried for everyone. When Ma’am Claire and Sir Yuzon told this, I thought
about your health, and whether you’re doing okay, whether you are holding on tight
during a time when nothing seems to go as planned, whether your body and mind are
all safe and sound. I hope you are all doing well. I hate to start this article on a
negative note, but we are not going to back to normal after this extended period of
lockdown. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed,
and will continue to change, the world and the way we work, rest and play. We cannot
re-write the chapters of history already past, baka kung gustuhin natin na bumalik sa
dati ay mangyari ulit ang lockdown [gcq, ecq, alert level 1, bawal lumabas ang 18
years old pababa, etc.], but we can learn from them, evolve and adapt. Maaari tayong
matuto sa ating mga nakaraan.
A. Uncomfortable – kahit tayo ay sanay nasa facemasks, medyo awkward pa rin sa
feeling, minsan tiring na okaya hindi tayo makahinga nang maayos; things such
as physical contact, we’re afraid to touch or shake hands with people, kailangan
magalcohol agad.
B. Worrisome – very bothering, it is annoying, no? Kapag gustong gumala, sa iba
kailangan pa ang waiver, ang iba naman may mga restrictions, mahigpit ang
mga security nila, kaya nalulungkot tayo minsan kasi hindi pa natin magawa
ang gusto nating gawin freely. We tend to worry that leads us to feel anxious,
anxiety.
C. Uncertain – we do not know what is going to happen next, kahit naman nung
“normal” pa, hindi naman natin alam kung anong mangyayari sa kinabukasan,
hindi rin natin expect na magkakaroon ng pandemic, what if ngayon pa na “new
normal”, diba? Many people like things to be settled, organised and placed into
a comfortable routine. Others thrive on uncertainty and love the opportunities it
brings. Wherever you sit on this continuum you will need to embrace rather
 than fight the uncertainty. Think about using this uncertainty to consider what
could be possible in the new normal.
We can not go back to the past, we certainly cannot change the past but we can do
something in our present for our future.
2. NEW CHALLENGES
Life has ups and downs. Ikaw bilang anak, bilang kapatid if may kapatid ka, bilang
kaibigan, at bilang mag-aaral – hindi ka nawawalan ng mga struggles, problema. And
those problems sometimes make you laugh, cry, they give you stress, they cause you
to stay late up night, they do not let you sleep peacefully. At hindi naman lingid sa
ating kaalaman na maraming taong na-stress, nalungkot noong nag-start ang
pandemic. Ang problema, hindi ‘yan nawawala. Tanungin niyo man ang mga
magulang, guardians, grandparents or anyone way older than you, hindi nawawala ang
mga problema. And what are the challenges that you have faced as students and you
will always be facing?
 RELATIONSHIP (family, friends, classmates) nagkakamustahan ba kayo?
Nag-uusap ba kayo? May magandang relationship ba kayo sa kanila? Sa 2 years
and almost 3 months na pag-stay niyo sa mga bahay, sa online class, did your
relationship with them went well?
 HEALTH (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) health is wealth, kumakain
ba kayo ng maayos at mga masusustansyang food? Baka naman forever na kayo
nagsi-milktea or kape. Okaya hanap niyo puro pizza and pasta? How is your
mental health & emotional health? Nakakayanan niyo ba ang mga problema na
pinagdadaanan niyo? Do you pray? Since we are in a Christian school, I believe
we all pray. And I hope when you pray, you’re happy because you’re talking to
Jesus.
 FINANCE – kalaban talaga natin ang pera when it comes to achieving the
dreams of your life. You want to be a doctor pero mahal hindi kaya, you want
 study in Manila pero malayo at kailangan pamasahe, mahal pa naman ang gas
ngayon, taas ang bayad sa bus.
 MEDIA – TV, PC, gadgets such as ipad, table, phones… these things when too
much are distractions! Hindi namamalayan na nauubos na ang time
mo kakastream or scroll, hindi mo na nagawa ang mga dapat mong
Gawain like gawaing bahay ang homeworks. Hindi mo na
nabigyan ng time ang mga tao sa bahay kasi pati sila busy sa
gadgets nila.
 DECISION-MAKING – mga pala-desisyon. Iba’t iba tayo ng mga desisyon.
Pero what I can tell you right now is that you have your own pace. I hope your
parents, guardians and soon to be teachers/professors will realise that you are
your own. Yes, there is pressure coming from the family, but don’t be too hard
on yourself, okay? May iba kasi sa inyo mabibilis silang kumilos at mag-
decide, ang mga iba naman they need time to decide on what they want to do in
life. Never compare yourself to others, you need to realise that their pace is not
your pace. If too fast is too much for you, take it slowly but surely. Dahan-
dahan ka, step by step. And in decision-making, the struggle here in when you
decide, you are free to choose, you are free to decide, but you are not free to
choose the consequences of your actions. Kapag may decision ka, may kaakibat
‘yun na either good thing or bad thing, that’s why think twice.
So now, how can we face these challenges of life if forever na sila? As I have said
earlier, life is full of challenges. There will always be a problem, but the problem will
not be the end. And here are some ways, dear students, on how you can achieve your
dreams in life, continue being successful.
NEW STRATEGY
Here are some tips on how you can focus on your goals rather than worrying, ways
on how you can solve your problems rather than avoiding them.
1. Be accepting of the situation. (Give yourself time to process new information.
Remember we cannot control what’s happening around us, you can only control
yourself. Allow yourself time to adapt to change. Everyone reacts to new things
differently. Do not stay on the situation, learn to move on, learn to move
forward.)
2. Be flexible and open. (When things don’t go your way, inhale, exhale and think
of another way. If plan A didn’t work, it’s okay to be sad but don’t remain
being sad, be open. Create plan B. Hanggang letter Z pa iyan.)
3. Set goals. (Ano ba talaga ang gusto mong gawin sa life? Saan ka ba magaling at
masaya? 5 years from now, saan mo nakikita ang sarili mo? Kung hindi mo
alam, ipag-pray mo na hindi moa lam ang iyong gagawin. Kung may goals ka
ngayon sa life, ipag-pray mo pa rin! Para guided kayo kay God. Para manalo ka,
maghanda ka. Sa game, para manalo ka, dapat may plano ka.)
4. Focus on what you can do. (Do not pressure yourself. Focus ka sa kung ano ang
mga kaya mong gawin, huwag sa hindi mo kaya kasi sobrang mafrufrustrate ka.
Develop your passion, your talent. But continue to learn new things.)
5. Time management. (Set routines. Gigising ka ng 6am, kakain ka, maliligo ka,
pagdating ng 8am, mag-aaral ka ng maayos, and so on, pagdating ng 11pm,
matutulog na. Nung chaman-chaman ka, alang malyari. Tandanan yu, alang
malyari king taung tamad, masayng ing oras. Time is important, ikan ga time is
gold. When you use your time wisely, you’re using life wisely.)
6. Be disciplined. (You are behaving well. You are controlling yourself on the
things you can do. You think of your decisions. Study says that when you are
disciplined, you will be happier.)
7. Prioritize your own self-care. (Take a time out. Don’t forget to rest. As you
want to do your best, dapat hindi mo pinapabayaan ang sarili mo. Maligo ka,
kumain ka ng mga masusustansya, magpahinga ka kapag pagod ka, matulog ka
ng enough time, appreciate mo ang sarili mo, reward yourself.)
 8. Stay connected. (Social distancing can feel very isolating. It doesn’t mean you
are alone. Baka naman sarili mo lang kausap mo, mamurit ka. Talk to others, it
is healthy. It can also be helpful especially if you’re talking to the people, you
trust the most.)
9. Practice patience. (Be patient with yourself; be patient with others. While we
encourage you to remain positive and hopeful, we acknowledge that this is a
significant disruption to many and being able to adapt may be difficult. You are
enduring, you are not giving up, you are being stronger and wiser. Be patient
and know that what you are experiencing is valid and that others may be
experiencing it differently. We are all doing the best we can.)
10.Be grateful. (In everything, give thanks. In small things, give thanks. In big
things, give thanks. In all things, give thanks. And even when you receive
nothing, give thanks. Being grateful to your family, to your teachers especially
to God is one way in order to achieve your dreams in life, because you practice
humility and humility displays a strength of character and a level of honor.)

NEW YOU
As new challenges arise, new goals and new opportunities arise, too. Remember
that things will never be the same. Just like a seed planted, you will not remain as a
seed, right? You will grow, you will struggle, you will have those windy days, you
will face storms, you might feel like giving up, but you will grow into a much more
beautiful and stronger tree. And I want you to remember this promise, things will
change but God remains the same. The same God who was faithful to your ancestors,
the same God is good to your family right now and the same God who is able, who
will carry you kahit ano pa ang mararanasan mo.
Read the verse, Hebrews 13:5. That’s the promise of God, hindi ka Niya iiwan,
hindi ka Niya papabayaan. Malalampasan mo ang lahat ng mga pagsubok mo dahil
kasama mo Siya. Matutupad mo ang mga pangarap mo kapag nanalig ka sa Kaniya.
Magiging maganda ang kinabukasan mo kapag nagtiwala ka sa Kaniya.
END.
I pray you will remember our strategy kapag may challenge ka. I hope you’ll
always remember to talk to God and listen to Him when you pray. Again,
congratulations sa inyo! God bless you on the next chapter of your life.