Jireh Bautista Valedictory Address

Proverbs 3: 5 and 6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. To our dear principal, Mrs. Marites V. Patio, respected department heads, Mrs. Alpia M. Goyongco and Mr. Jonah D. Bacalso, general PTA president, Mr. Jospeh T. Enario, Alumni Foundation president, Mr. Saad, public schools district supervisor, Mr. Rey B. Lanete, authorized representative of schools division superintendent Dr. Rhea Mar A. Angtud, Mr. Danilo Gudilusao, honorable guests, inspiring teachers, supportive parents, fellow graduates, friends, ladies and gentlemen, a pleasant afternoon. I look back to the month of June 2009 when the gates of Cebu City National Science High School opened for us as new members of Sci-Hi family. Now, after four long years of burning the midnight candles, working on various projects and assignments, the hardships that we've been through and the different sacrifices that we've made, those gates shall close as we soon open other gates to pave the way for new sets of challenges and opportunities for higher endeavors. Right now Im in front of this large crowd, speaking to you from the abundance of my heart. Please allow me to use this chance to thank the One who has helped not just me but all of us in achieving and reaching this point of our lives. We would not be able to attain this success without the Almighty God. Thank you, Lord, for all your blessings: the gift of knowledge, the gift of our individual talents, the gift of strength to carry on despite lost opportunities. And most especially the gift of love and life! Today, we have fulfilled one dream and as we go back to our respective homes, we start to dream bigger dreams. However, this is that particular moment where we look back to thank those who made our dreams now a reality. In behalf of my batchmates, let me address this to them. To our beloved parents, for being our steadfast support when we need you most 24/7. Financially, mentally, emotionally, morally, and spiritually. To our dear teachers, what would we have been without you caring for our educational growth despite our immaturity and sometimes irresponsible behavior. To our sponsors who have contributed in one way or the other to fill in the gap when the need had become too heavy to carry, our salute to your selflessness. To the PTA officers and members, thank you for sharing your precious time to make the ambiance of the school a great place for learning. The Almighty Lord has chosen you to be His living instruments in carving His image in each of us. Thank you all. After this ceremony, we will not be seeing each other again as high school classmates and batchmates. However, we shall be facing and conquering new worlds, armed with enlightened and scientific minds, more alert bodies, strong and loving hearts, and souls molded to fight all the temptation that may come our way. We shall never waver in the purity and singularity of our purpose to serve God, our country, our community, and our family. The task of nation building is quite daunting. But then, as I watch the graduating class as well as those from the lower years soon to advance to a higher level, these things I predict: I know we will overcome all the challenges thrown our way, we will continue to sharpen our minds as we face the demand of all the cyber corridors in our global village, and we will become a very important cog of our national machinery. Then, and only then, shall we have accomplished our mission to make our country safe,

secure, hunger-free, and for this new batch of graduates to walk hand in hand on our President's envisioned "tuwid na landas". How can we fail with the Lord as our lamppost! On this note, I would like to specially extend my deepest gratitude to our government, more particularly the City of Cebu and all the public schools most of us have attended. Despite the recent uproar on the suicide of a scholar ng bayan, my classmates and I could not have achieved what has been indicated in our beings to be better citizens without the vision of our government leaders as well as the public educational system who have placed a quality premium on poor but deserving students like us. Success and failures are part of living. Life has its ups and downs no matter how well we plan for our future. Here and now we pledge that we will render our just share to help the poor and the downtrodden. Here and now we promise to be the best family member we can ever be. Here and now we will help fulfill the vision of our forefathers for a better Cebu and a greater Philippines. Here and now we will start to hitch our wagons to the highest star. Lastly, now that were about to take our first step to attend our respective college programs, we offer to the Lord our honors, our future challenges, our higher dreams. With emboldened hearts, we know we shall overcome! Ladies and gentlemen, put God first in everything you do and He shall crown your efforts with success. This is not a prediction but a reality: the best is yet to come. Thank you and may God bless us all!