VALEDICTORY SPEECH

Ive spent almost 16 years existing in this pejorative world, 191 months living elegiacally, 831 weeks
wandering but with destination, 5,817 days touching others lives, 139,608 hours searching for the right in
the darkness of times, 8,376,480 minutes discovering knowledge but with pure judgment, 502,588,800
seconds breathing and about 4 hours doing and 2 hours practicing this speech not because I just need to
memorize it but to deliver this from the bottom of my heart.
The President and COO, Mr. Francisco P.V. Cayco, Vice Presidents, Assistant Vice Presidents, Deans,
Principals, other school officials from the different branches of the Arellano University, to our
hardworking principal, Mrs. Maria Lourdes G. Mudlong, beloved teachers and staff of AU-Malabon,
Parents, Visitors, Fellow Graduates and Friends.
A pleasant evening
It has been four years. It seemed only yesterday when I delivered my Welcome Address in the
commencement exercises for I graduated as the Elementary Valedictorian in this same campus. It was
overwhelming.
It is my vision to deliver a Valedictory Speech in our Graduation Rights. Thats why I tried hard, I
pursued my dreams, I continued what Ive started. And alas, I harvested the fruits of my endeavours. I
cannot describe exactly the feelings I have at this very moment standing before you.
Four years have passed with flying colours but my lifes journey is full of trials, pains and conflicts, but
still I have the courage not only to continue my life but also to let the spotlight shine for others. There
may be uncertainties beyond those challenges but I took all the risks for I dont want to regret in the end
and eventually learning as I grow. There may be mistakes but I am not ashamed of it, instead, I am proud.
Because from those mistakes, I learned the essence of life, I am ready to face what lies ahead.
Truthfully speaking, I dont really know how and where to start this speech. Different emotions were
stirring the moment I was told to do this. I want this day to be memorable. I want to enjoy my last hours
in my beloved Alma Mater. I want to express my feelings and to show who I am through this. And lastly, I
want to thank all the people around me who moulded me for who I am right now.
I can still remember someone telling me that I must be humble at all times that I should be considerate
and I should reach out to my batch mates. In fact, I tried, so many times. But every time that I am trying,
it seems that they are pushing themselves away from me. They may be thinking why I am close to others
in spite of their negative attitudes. It is just that I accepted who they are and I tried to help them to change
for the better. The assertion that I am proud? Yes, I am but being proud has its own different definitions
and I chose the positive one. I am proud in a way that Iam happy of what I have accomplished and I am
just expressing my feelings in my own little way that I know I cant harm others. I also make it to a point
that others are benefiting from what I have and what I did. I still believe in the famous leaders pledge,

constituents first before your own happiness. And I know deep within that it is coursing through my
veins for I am not only just a born leader but also a developed, reformed and a stronger one.
I was born unexpectedly and the fact that my mom was pregnant to me doomed my parents and their own
families. I was like a dirt in a white linen tried to remove like a mess. But my mom, my lola and my
ninong declined. They still considered me as a gift, thus, must be treasured and must be loved. I never
saw my dad since birth and I grew up believing that he is gone. It is a kind of a joke that I half-heartedly
believe. It took my mom 10 years before to explain me the real thing about her and my dad. And I was
left pondering, is there really true love in this world? For if it is true, how come that he is not here? I have
a lot of questions in my mind left unanswered.
I went swiftly through my childhood. But I was challenged with so many conflicts which my young mind
battled and fought for the principle which I thought to be righteous. It all started when I became a High
School Student.
The pain serves as my inspiration. I want to prove to all the people around me that I am worthy of this.
Madalaskasinananahimikna lang ako. But then I want to show to everybody here that I am someone who
had already proven herself. Yes, I am also an ordinary person with weaknesses but I used it the
constructive way to make it through, this battlefield called life.
As a High School student, I tried to act normally I studied a lot, joined in youth organizations inside and
outside the campus of Arellano University. I was told that I am a gem, a pride of Arellano University, my
alma mater, for giving a lot of honours, bringing home the bacon from various competitions and acting as
an Ambassador of Goodwill for I used to compete with the most active students and achievers from other
schools in the Division of Malabon City.
You may call me a perfectionist though theres no such a perfect thing or a perfect person. Well, practice
makes perfect according to the saying itself. But for me, practice makes close to perfect. It means doing
things accordingly. You dont need to be smart, just try and do your very best and plan consequently. And
that, for me, is perfect. I know in myself that I am not perfect though a lot of people are judging me that I
am one both negatively and positively. There is someone whom I idolized much. She is also a
perfectionist. But I learned from her how to do it easily. All we need is to have some common sense and
of course perseverance in our field. We must love what we are doing, eventually turning it into passion,
therefore it is no longer work. Thus, doing things simultaneously and seeming everything is in perfect
condition. That is the secret of success.
Before I accepted the responsibility of being the President of Supreme Student Council, I gladly opened
my door for the future consequence that I my face. Aside from being the Valedictorian, I once dreamt of
this. And I know, believing in the concept of bipolarity, which I must give up something that is precious to
me, something that I cannot live without, I gave up my happiness, I did not live a carefree and a blithe
life. I need to focus to my SSC in order to serve you, students, and our school.I need to sacrifice. I need to
know my priorities. But happiness is persuasive, and I find myself answering to its call. I thought I can
balance it. I thought I can handle it. But I was wrong. Panandalianlangpala yungkasiyahan na yun.
Masyadoakongnagpabulagsakasiyahangnadama ko. And just as I was reaching the climax, parangDooms

Day, nawala ung lahat.Parangbulangnaglahosakawalan. At naiwanna lang akong nag-iisa, sa isangsulok,

umiiyak, lost for words. Feeling ko nga guguho na ung mundo ko eh. but I need to stand up, for after my
greatest fall, a new me will be formed, stronger than before. And thats what I did. And thats why I am
still here standing in front you.
To my beloved teachers, thank you for sharing your knowledge and your experiences to us. We need to
say goodbye to the daily sermon, weekly quizzes and monthly exams. Sa mga advice na binigay niyopo
sa amin. And of course to those teachers who have really touched my heart, who have stood as my second
parents and took care of me. who have trusted my abilities and helped me in every decisions I made.
Thank you for loving me, loving us all as your own. And I will surely miss those moments with you. At
kahitsaanpo ako makarating, I will cherish all those times.
To this very institution, Arellano University Jose Rizal High School Elisa Esguerra Campus, thank
you for imparting your knowledge to us. For giving us a great foundation for our future.For honing my
skills and abilities that made me a productive citizen of our country. The Dynamic Learning Program also
known as the DLP made us ready for the future and what lies ahead in College. Actually, weve
constituted a new meaning for DLP, as in damilagipagawa. Araw-arawwalangtigil ung sulatnamin, and
every hour seems like eternity. Lalonapagumaga, parang basketball, everybody was really shouting
tambakan. Physics and Trigonometry computations fused for four hours, then walang calculator? To be
followed by reading comprehension, writing paragraphs and analysing about what we so-called ridiculous
literature. Di uso recess at lunch sa Pioneer. Working break. Tapos tambakannanaman sa Ekonomiks,
Filipino at TLE. Especially on TLE, almost everyday surprise quiz! Well, di kotaalgamakakalimutan ung
Bermuda Triangle sa room naminsa mga panahon na yan. Really, it developed our critical and thinking
skills and will definitely help if executed fine. It developed our creativity and of course,
angpinakaipinagpapasalamatko, gumanda ung sulat ko. Everyday concept note and exercises? Who would
have not changed their penmanship for the better?
To my very own section, section Pioneer, thank you for the four years youve spent with me. Though we
had a lot of problems. Hindi nagbabago ung pagmamahalko sa inyo. Mami-miss ko ung kulitan, mga
kalokohan, ung mga takas nating gala. Lalong-lalonakapaginaaway ung section natin, buo tayo.
Lumalaban tayo parasaisanglayunin. Para patunayan natin na section one tayo. Kahit may mga batikos, di
tayo nagpabuwagsa mga panahon na un.Always remember nalahatngginawa ko, para sa inyo
yunkasimahal ko kayo.
My DFSSG Family, thank you trusting me a lot of things. Napatunayanko sa sarili ko na kakayanin ko
talaga. Thank you for staying by my side when I was on my biggest down fall and helped me to regain my
strength. For the love, companionship, and knowledge weve shared to each other
And to the persons, who have stayed by my side through my ups and downs, section Gladiola. For
accepting me as your ate. For loving me as your own. Ung kahitnahindinamandapat ako kasama,
sinasamaniyo pa din ako. Ung pagmamahalngisangtunaynapamilyanaramdaman ko sa inyo. Even
yungpagplanosa birthday ko, kayo pa din un. I know nawalangmakakapantay sa pinagsamahan natin and
you will always be in my heart forever.

To my Council Family, maramingmaramingsalamatsapag-intindi sa kin ng sobra-sobra. Sa mood swings

ko. Alam niyonamangaano ako ka-perfectionist satrabaho. Thank you for staying by my side, supporting
me especially when I want to give up. For cheering me when I felt like crying. To those encouraging,
overwhelming and loving messages. Kayo na ung pamilya ko, kasamang Gladiola na
tumanggapngbuong-buo sa akin. Thank you so much.
And of my course, I wont be here without my family. to my lolo, who helped my mom raised me, thank
you for understanding me and loving me though I stole the opportunity of raising our family. Thank you
po talaga.
To my Ninong Andy, thank you for all things youve done for me. Though it is not your duty to take good
care of me, ginawa mo pa din yun.Salamatsapag-aalaga nung wala si mama. Sapagtuturo sa kin kahit di
mo obligasyon. Imagine learning numbers 1-75 and the alphabet at the tender age of 2? Even now that
you have your own family, hindi mo ko pinabayaan. You play the role as my big brother and a father.
Ikaw ung pumunong mga kulangsa akin. Yung pag-uuwi ka, lagiakongna sayo. Salamatpokasi di ka
nagsawanasawayin ako pagmatigas ung ulo ko. Ganitolang ako peromahal na mahalpokita.
Salamatsalahat.
To my nanay, thank you posapag-aalaga sa kin. Sawalangsawangpag-intindikasinagigingpasawaypo ako.
For loving me unconditionally and for thinking of my sake.Sapagsalo sa pangangalaga sa akin and for
accepting me when I was born. I wont be like this kunghindipodahil sa inyo. Utangko ung
bawatarawngbuhay ko sa inyo.
To my ever dearest mom, I know that it will come as a bit of shocked for you kasiikaw ung nasahuli.
Youve always told me to love my ninong and lola first and let yourself be left behind. Kasisila ung
nagpalakisa kin. But then, I wont be here in this world kunghindidahil sayo. I know nalagitayong nagaawaykasimadamitayongpinagkaiba. Hindi ko man naipapakita, pero ma, mahal na mahalkita.
Salamatkasibinuhay mo kokahitanglakingnawala sayo. Sinikap mo kongbuhayinkahit mag-isa ka lang.
nakita ko ung hirap mo. I may be like this peroayokongsinasaktan ka. There are a lot of intrigues about
you but I dont care. Ako na lang ung saktannila wag lang ikaw. Kasi di namannilaalam ung totoo di ba?
Salamatsalahatlahatsaka sana di ka magsawa sa kin. I love you po.
And lastly, to our Almighty God, I thank You for giving me a lot of blessings and trials that made me
stronger. Thank you for bringing the sunshine to my life and the will to carry on.
My dear friends, my last words for you. We may always seek the price of our hardships but we must not
forget that our time will come to us eventually. Lets accept the problems given to us for He will not give
it to us if we cant surpass them. Always do your best and live life to the fullest. Quit everything bad and
youll see yourself winning and contented. Aim high and go for the gold. Let the spotlight shine for
others. Do things right and lets make it happen!
Again, Congratulations and may the good lord bless us all.