JUSTIN lOPEZ, FAFQ INC GRANT- IN- AID SCHOLARSHIP, BACCALAUREATE SPEECH...Our University President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Atty. Von Lovel D. Bedona; Members of the Board, our Vice Presidents and members of the Administration; Deans, Department Heads, alumni, faculty, staff, proud parents, fellow graduates, and to all who are watching this virtual baccalaureate service, a pleasant and joyful day to all of you.

First, I would like to thank God for this day and for the opportunity to stand here to give a response on behalf of all the graduating students this Second Semester of Academic Year 2020-2021. My heart is filled with joy, but to be honest, I was overwhelmed when I was asked to give the response because I know I’m not really used to delivering speeches, but right now, I will do my best.

This is it! It’s the day that we’ve all been waiting for.  Today, we have accomplished one of the major milestones of our lives: college graduation. This is a major step in the journey of our lives, one that should be recognized and honored for its immense significance.

For some of us, graduating from college is an act of personal commitment, but for most of us, finishing a degree gives us a sense of pride. It’s not only a personal pride but also the pride of our families, friends, and all other significant people in our lives. We all worked hard to get to this day, and our work did not go to waste.  A college diploma is an essential tool in this world, one that opens many doors of opportunities to anyone who is privileged to have one. However, graduation is not an end goal in itself; rather, it is an integral part of the larger journey of life. Wherever our future takes us, let it take us somewhere. Life is a journey, and all accomplishments we achieve during its course should be taken as starting points for further achievements.  Our graduation should serve as a launching point, projecting us to wherever our futures are meant to take us, whether we land ourselves a career in the corporate world or in the academe, open our own business, work for the government, or continue our education in graduate school.

This past year has been a challenge for all of us. The COVID 19 pandemic has brought about drastic changes in our routines, both in the personal and academic aspects of our lives. All of a sudden, face-to-face classes became a thing of the past and were replaced by online or virtual classes. Whether we admit it or not, the change in the delivery of learning has taken its toll on us and has affected us in many different ways: physically, mentally, and financially, to name a few. Some of us have thought about giving up. And, sadly, a few already did. Yet there are those, who, like us, carried on and did what we could with what was given to us. 

Our graduation is a testament to our capacity to accomplish our goals when we commit ourselves to them. I hope all of us graduates can take this personal accomplishment as an example of how anything is truly possible when we put our minds to it. As we all continue with our lives, let us take each new problem head-on with confidence, knowing that we have achieved great heights and are equipped with the necessary tools to tackle our respective futures.

Allow me please to share with you a very special life verse, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 “ Therefore, if anyone is in the Christ, He is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come. This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person, the old his gone, a new life has begun, and all of these are blessings from God. His Mercy and Grace alone are what can sustain us and see us through the challenges we face.   Knowing this, let us continue to become channels by which blessings are passed on to others; let us also become sources of inspiration to people around us. By doing so, we continue to keep the Central Spirit alive in us and live by the Christian principles and values that our Alma Mater has taught us. Above all, let us continue to live according to the will of God. All of us will carry the badge of honor to strike our limits and go beyond our comfort zones.

Six years ago, I never thought that I would ever graduate. Education was an elusive dream because it is costly. But here I am. CPU’s Work Student Study Program was instrumental in helping me pursue the elusive dream of graduating from college. This program provided me with some valuable principles in life such as managing my time more wisely by balancing work and studies. I also learned the value of hard work, as it was my work that paid for my tuition and fees. Indeed, Labor is Honor. My life wouldn’t be the same without the people who have shaped and molded my character. They have given me everything I needed and helped me succeed, and for that I am truly thankful. I think it is very important to be humble and remember all of the people who have helped us and have prayed with us so that we can reach our aspirations.

Another one of my favorite verses is Isaiah 43:19-21 “See, I am doing a new thing! Now its springs up: do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness”

This verse tells us that seeking God's will can at times be difficult, but if we put our trust in the Lord, it is at this point that our faith is awakened. When we put our trust in the Him, we allow Him to work in our lives in ways that keep us in awe. He is able to make the impossible, possible. Our life is a gift from God, and for that, we are thankful to know Him. He has always provided us with all that we need so that we never have to worry because He takes care of everything.

My dear fellow graduates, let us be the best that we can be so that we may fill our lives and the lives of those closest to us with joy and pride. We’ve already taken the first step by making it to this ceremony today, it is now time to take the next steps in the journey of our lives and begin to build our future - one that is pleasing in the eyes of God.

Working hard is important, but there is something that matters even more - believing in yourself and having faith in the Lord.

Let us all be ready to face the next chapter of our lives. May we never forget why we started in the first place. Every step, every struggle brings us closer to our goal.

In closing, may we always be guided by the Word of God found in Deuteronomy 31:8, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” 

Thank you. To God be the Glory!