Gratitude and honor

To the guest speaker of our commencement exercises Professor Solita Monsod, our beloved rector-president Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. Maranan, OSB, Rev. Fr. Rafaelito Alaras, OSB our vice-president for Finance, vice-president for Services Rev. Fr. Anselm Manalastas, OSB, Vice-president for Academics Professor Ricardo Palo, CAS dean Dr. Napoleon Juanillo, Jr, our vice-dean Dr. Christian Bryan Bustamante, dear administrators and members of the faculty, our hardworking parents and guardians, fellow graduates, ladies and gentlemen, a pleasant afternoon to all.

            I would like to tell you a story. People would often laugh at me because I have a funny speech defect. You see, I am a tongue-tied person and I cannot pronounce my letter “R” very well. Amidst this speech defect, it is ironic this will be the third time that I am going to deliver a Valedictory address. It just shows that in life, you are not weighed by your peculiarities or oneness with the norms of the society. You are judged by how you made a difference in yourself and in the society as a whole. You see, the best has many imperfections too.

            I would like to give my warm thanksgiving to San Beda College for giving me the academic scholarship. Without this scholarship, our family can never afford to pay for my tuition fees. I just hope that someday, San Beda would consider paying for the miscellaneous and other fees of academic scholars as well.

            Thank you Fr. Maranan for the humble conversations we had. You are a great rector-president. San Beda College is blessed to have you. Dean Juanillo, thank you for the support and guidance you have given me. Dr. Bustamante, thank you for being a true person. You are a good example of a Bedan exemplifying Benedictine core values. To the other administrators of the College who have helped me during my four-year stay, the ever-supportive Drs. Fedeliz Tuy, Marvin Reyes and Jennifer Ramos, Fr. Manalastas, Kuya Ian Abrias and the people from the Accounting Office, what more can I say to express my appreciation?

            To my Bedan Scholars’ Guild family, to my very good friend Biboy and every scholar who shares this day with me, cheers to our success. When I entered the College, BSG is a dying organization. I would like to take pride that during my presidency and with the immense help of my officers, we revived her. Big thank you to my moderator and mother Karen Rimando. If you think you are blessed because BSG chose you as its moderator, no ma’am. We are more blessed to have you. To the Guidance people, Ms. Thess and Majay, I love and thank you. I will declare that if there are any real people in any office at San Beda, it is the Guidance Office. To my co-scholars since first year, Adrian, Kristine, Sherlyn, Red, Blue and our junior scholars, thank you very much for the friendship and support.

            To the Department of Psychology and the Psychology Society of San Beda College, please accept my warm thanksgiving. Prof. Bengco, thank you for your unfailing support. I know I have made you proud, Mama B. To my professors Reiza Salinas, Violy Reyes, Magdalena Jocson, Don Santana, James Piscos, Jesster Fonseca, Alvin Nieva, Vincent Lugtu, and Kim Guia, I owe this accolade to you. To Ms. Annelyn Nacionales, there is no one that I can compare to when it comes to your support for us, your students. Even if I connect hundreds of positive adjectives to your name, it will never ever suffice the friendship that you have offered us. Thank you and I love you. To my most favorite Psychology professor Dr. Annabel Quilon, thank you for being a mother to us. People wouldn’t know how you helped me achieve this award. Mam Q, mananatili kang nasa aking puso sapagkat napakadakila mo po. Salamat po at mahal na mahal po kita.

            To my ex-girlfriend, the official student publication of San Beda College, The Bedan, kailangan man natin maghiwalay na, taos puso ang aking pasasalamat sa pagkupkop at pangangalaga mo sa akin. To the previous volume, I would like you to see my success in this stage. The inhumane treatment that we have received made me fully aware of how we should handle our people. The mistakes of volume 69 have developed me into becoming a human. I partly thank you for your losses have been my gain. To my co-editors Gary, Borj and Enzo, thank you for supporting me in all of my endeavours. Jonath, maitim ka man sa paningin ko, napakaputi naman ng iyong kalooban.  Jeck, I entrusted you the Managing position because I know you are really capable in doing so. And you did. Thanks for everything. To Bes Jenny, I simply love you because we strengthen each other. To the next volume, kayo na ang bahala sa mahal nating The Bedan. To Nevin, Edith, Joel, Ian, Christel, Raffy, Aly, Julius, Karina, Polet, Elianne, Numark, Jose, Jayson, Jed, Chbelle, Dr. Moses Angeles, and the rest of The B pips, thank you so much.

            To my dorm mates, Go, Rod, Dave, Kenneth, my SOC friends AJ, Marianne, Gelli, Jenina, Ces, Sherwin, Juju, and JD, my friends over the Student Council, the ever-reliable Francis Bayona, Chard, and the gorgeous Grace Hicban, my friends in 4BPS, Rachelle, Kim and Pau, thank you very much for the friendship we had.

            I will never ever forget my dear 4APS. Guys, sorry for my imperfections. As I have said before, you are my stress-relievers, the cream to my bitter coffee, and the cure to my irritable day. You are my true love. Without you, I would never enjoy San Beda. If I would have to repeat everything all over again, I would choose to be by your side because you are the best bunch of people that I have been with so far. Let me show my love to Pamela, Lai, Lorenz, Kricia, Juliene, Dwayne, Gan, Earl, Tristan, Roan, Jemo, Jam and Jeremy. Thank you for the awesome support. To Claire, Otla, Paula and Alyssa, madalas man akong bullied sa grupo nyo, lagi ko namang nararamdaman na mahal na mahal niyo ako. Mahal ko rin kayo.  To Monica, Carla, Mariz, April, Lovelyn, Marielle, Ardy, Jose, Luis and Miguel, I would not survive college without your help guys. I sincerely thank you because you accepted me for who I am. Wala ako rito kung wala kayo sa piling ko.

To John, salamat sa pagtulong mo sa akin. I will declare in this hall that you are the most helpful person during my stay at San Beda College. To Mhadz, I love you and I know that we will never lose this wonderful friendship. To Karina, thank you for the honest conversations. My love for you is overflowing. Veronica, you are my closest friend na babae and we went through different struggles in life. But know what, every day that I spend time with you, it seems like we have known each other since we were young. Thank you. To the Dre, I may not be part of your group but thank you still for accommodating me. There is something about you guys that fulfills me. Basta ang alam ko, pag kasama ko kayo, napakasaya ko.  JP, I will always remember our conversations. You are one of the kindest people I have ever met. Nikko, please accept my gratitude. You got that persevering spirit inside that you can show to inspire people. Gio, my unexpected friend, thank you for opening up to me about your problems. Please know that I am always willing to help. Niño, alam mo bang hindi makukumpleto ang buhay ko sa San Beda kung di kita nakilala. Nagsisisi ako na ngayong taon lamang tayo naging close. Kung alam ko lamang na napakabuti mong tao kahit hindi halata, edi sana nakipagkaibigan na ako sa iyo noon pa man. Ang mga sinasambit mong salita ang kalimitang nagbibigay sa akin ng lakas. Sana wag tayo magkalimutan pagkatapos ng lahat ng ito.

Let me tell you, I am happy to be the Valedictorian, but I am happier that my partner Benedict became the Salutatorian. Hindi po totoo na wala kaming kumpetisyon. In fact, nagkaroon din po kami. But after understanding each other, we found out common interests and from there, we built a strong friendship that I can never describe through words. Benok, I simply thank you for everything. And that is my APS family. But I won’t forget my best friend Moses Carlos Arceo. Hindi lamang tenga ang malaki sa iyo, malaki rin ang pusong mong nagmamahal para sa iyong mga kaibigan. Hindi matatawaran ang ating pagkakaibigan. Sa totoo lang, wala nang iba pang tao maliban sa aking pamilya ang makakalagpas sa suportang ibinigay mo sa akin. Ganyan ka ka-importante Moski. Salamat. APS, I can never equate any word in the dictionary to describe you other than the word ‘family’.

            Sa aking totoong pamilya, walang salitang makapagpapahiwatig ng pagmamahal ko sa inyo. Kayo ang aking naging sandigan sa tuwing ako ay binabayo ng matitinding bagyo. Kayo ang aking kasama sa katuwaan, sa kalungkutan, sa kapayapaan, at sa kaguluhan. Para sa aking minamahal na lola, Nanay, eto na po ako ngayon. Nagsisisi ako na hindi ako nakapunta sa iyong libing dahil inuna ko ang academics ko. Kaya nanay, sana proud ka po sa akin. Salamat din sa aking mga titos at titas, kay Tita Inday, Tito Bert, sa mga pinsan ko, kay Ninong Dexter, maraming salamat sa pagmamahal at suporta. Sabi nila, hindi mo raw maaaring piliin ang iyong mga magulang. Buti na lamang at ibinigay ng Diyos si Daddy Boyet at ang napakaganda kong Mommy Sarah. Mommy at Daddy, hindi nyo naabot ang aking tinatamasa ngayon pero sa inyo ko inihahandog ang diploma at mga medalyang ito. Salamat at hindi nyo ako pinabayaan. Kahit kailan, minahal nyo po ako. Gusto kong ipagsigawan sa buong mundo na mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal ko kayo. Sa mga kapatid ko, salamat dahil kayo ang aking naging mga kapatid. Shayne, ako naman ang magpapaaral sa iyo. Mahal na mahal kita. Kapatid, Nolan, bakit kaya ikaw ang aking kasama noong nasa sinapupunan pa lamang tayo ni Mommy? Bakit kaya ikaw ang binigay ng Diyos upang maging kakambal ko?  Wala akong kasagutan sa mga tanong na ito pero bakit ko pa siya kailangang sagutin? Ang mahalaga, nandito ka sa aking tabi upang suportahan ako, pasayahin ako, galitin ako at mahalin ako. Kapatid, hindi ako si Norman kung wala ang isang Nolan. Pasensya na sa lahat at I love you Kapatid.

            To the God Almighty, I can never thank you enough for saving me and giving me this success. I am just a sinner saved by Your grace. I am just a dirty person cleansed by Your Holy Spirit. Thank You Lord for finding me.

            Before I conclude, I would like to repeat what I have said in my column at The Bedan. It is sad to say that education becomes a lonely personal exploration, rather than a social responsibility. As Filipinos, we should be tasked to become good and skilled citizens of our country. What happens tomorrow? Are we ready to take the responsibilities of a fully-grown individual? Are we ready to serve our country? Are we ready to make a name in the world’s stage? Education does not stop here. It is a lifelong endeavour. My dear graduates, are we credible enough to make San Beda famous around the world? Do we carry her ideals, her missions and visions? The future is indeed clouded but we already have the tools in our hands to carefully plan for it. Please, let us not forget what our mighty red school has taught us. Let us be eager to continually learn life’s biggest lessons. Let us make our school proud.

            This is the end of my speech. Tomorrow, we shall all rise to meet the expectations of the ever-changing world. Let us conquer this freakin’ world, Bedans. And this is our farewell, but definitely not our last. We will now leave our dear school and roar for the new jungle that we will be taking over. I am proud to be a Bedan. Animo Batch 2013! – Rappler.com

Norman recently graduated as the batch valedictorian with a degree in BS Psychology (cum laude) from San Beda College. He was also the editor-in-chief of The Bedan, the official student publication of San Beda College.