Good Evening Honored Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen and the Graduating Class of 2011.
As you stand on the brink of moving into life beyond Polytechnic University of the Philippines, change will be inevitable! It is inevitable and indeed gratifying to see that our Graduating Class of 2011 matured and became skills proficient ready to tackle and further their life-long education.
It is inevitable that structures and processes and relationships will change in their day-to-day lives. It is inevitable that they will face new challenges and it is inevitable that things may seem a little different in the year ahead.
I would like to pay tribute to each and every one. You have all left and will continue to leave an indelible legacy of excellence, achievement and a fine ethos and tradition for generations to come. I would also like to pay tribute to to the wonderful teachers, the parents, past pupils and indeed the board of governors - you have all guided, molded and shaped the Ladies and Gentlemen standing here tonight. Your role has been hugely instrumental in molding our youth...our hope for the future.
So Ladies and Gentlemen, as you face and tackle the inevitable changes, hold true to yourself. Remember to hold onto your value system, your work ethic and most importantly, your humanity. It is these qualities that will guide you further on your journey.
Today's achievements may fade or even be forgotten. The applause may become a distant memory and your certificates and medals may gather dust on a shelf or in a drawer. But, you will always be remembered for caring enough, for helping someone, for making someone feel special and appreciated and for being the kind of person that others enjoy spending time with.
Your life is a remarkable occasion and I have no doubt that you will rise to it!
Congratulations Graduating Batch of