best filipino graduation speeches tagalog

Browse Categories

Beyond Loyola
Vantage Magazine
Interactives

Take the Lede

Like reading The GUIDON? Subscribe to our newsletter

Magpahinga, magmahal, magpatuloy: A Valedictory Address

By tristan joseph alcantara, published july 4, 2023 at 7:47 pm.

The following is the full and unabridged valedictory address delivered by Tristan Joseph Arboleda Alcantara (AB POS 2023), Magna Cum Laude and Valedictorian of the Ateneo de Manila University Class of 2023 during the Loyola Schools Commencement Exercises.

To our University President, Fr. Roberto Yap SJ; members of the Board of Trustees; to our Vice President for Higher Education, Dr. Maria Luz Vilches; vice presidents, deans, administrators, faculty and staff; family and friends; at sa mga kapwa kong Atenistang magtatapos , magandang araw po sa ating lahat !

Sa tingin ko, lahat po tayo ay naghahanap ng kapahingahan. The last four or five years of our college journey have certainly not been easy. Marami sa atin ang napagod, marami sa atin ang naubos . Those of us who can relate know that I’m not only talking about physical exhaustion. Mentally, spiritually, and emotionally, we were all depleted. I may be speaking before you right now as your valedictorian, but let me be the first to admit that I myself have not been a perfect student. I have missed deadlines and have requested incompletes from my professors. I have not been the best student leader, the best son, or even the best friend. There have been times when I felt like the fire that once kept me going was no longer there. And I know that this feeling is not mine alone. Sa tingin ko, marami sa atin ang nakararamdam din ng pagod na ito .

It was also experienced by my fellow student leaders, such as Dani and Stanley and Nars, who endured sleepless nights and endless stress because we had to ensure that our organizations would carry out their goals and advocacies in this new normal.

It was experienced by the eldest child among us, like Gabber, who had to help keep their families strong and together through thick and thin;

It was experienced by students who commuted regularly, like Bea, and arrived home late at night but still had to work on their tasks even though they had to commute again early in the morning the following day.

It was experienced by queer students who sought to be free, to love, and to celebrate their identity. Mayroon akong mga kilalang ganito ang pinagdadaanan ngunit hindi ko maaaring mabanggit man lamang ang kanilang mga pangalan .

It was experienced by probinsyanos, like Presh and Mariel, who silently struggled and endured living separately from their families even though they longed for their warmth and embrace.

It was experienced by my fellow scholars, like Myra and Rae, and Antwa, who felt pressured to give back and tell the Ateneo that you made the right decision in choosing us.

It was experienced by student-athletes, like Marj or Geo, who had to wake up early in the morning to train and constantly improve themselves.

It was experienced by the artists in our midst, like Rome and Dwayne, who desired to express themselves through their work even if other people may not be able to appreciate it.

It was experienced by our fellow student activists, like Rian and Marco, who marched on the streets and denounced the injustices happening around us.

It was experienced by fellow students who struggled with their own health, like Lance. We, too, remember him today. So, too, do we recall those who continue to struggle and even their families. Some of whom, are unable to be with us today because of this.

At the same time, it was experienced by our parents, who worked tirelessly to provide for our needs, sacrificing their time or enduring the distance.

It was experienced by our professors, who had to endure the sudden move to online learning while struggling through the pandemic themselves.

Sa aking mga kapwa magtatapos, kahit sino ka man at ano mang kwento mo sa nagdaang mga taon, alam kong napagod ka. Marahil naibahagi mo na ito sa mga malalapit sa iyo, pero maaari ring sinolo mo lang ito. Sinolo mo ito sa pagkahaba-haba ng panahon. Gayunpaman, hayaan ninyong sabihin ko na wala namang masamang makaramdam ng pagod.

Our graduation, more than it is a celebration of strength and resilience, is also a recognition of our woundedness and brokenness. Sa likod ng mga ngiti’t tawa ay ang realidad na minsan hindi natin kayang tanggapin—na napapagod tayo at nangangailangan tayo ng tulong. Na hindi naman tayo laging buo. After all, we live in a broken world, and no one is expecting us to be whole or unscathed. I always believe that there is strength in accepting our vulnerabilities. It is because in acknowledging them that we are able to draw a little bit more courage to tell ourselves that we have to accept ourselves.

In my four years in college, all of which I spent a good amount of time as a student leader, I felt that I had become the one who always had to say to my peers, “ laban lang .” Noong nagbigay ako ng mensahe sa mga kapwa ko student leaders noong mga nakaraang linggo, ito mismo ang sinabi ko. “Laban lang!” Pero okay lang bang magpakatotoo ngayon? Sa kabila ng pagsambit ng “laban lang,” alam kong sa loob ko na pagod na pagod na ako, at kahit gusto ko mang ipilit, minsan hindi ko na alam kung paano pa lalaban.

Marami akong hugot pagdating dito. Una, hindi ko na alam kung may halaga pa ba ang mga ginagawa ko o ng Sanggunian na pinaglingkuran ko bilang pangulo sa nagdaang taon. Minsan iniisip ko, may nakikinig pa ba sa amin? Baka nagsasayang lang pala kami ng oras, nagsasayang lang pala kami ng enerhiya. Pangalawa, naramdaman kong nauubos ako sa kabibigay. Kapag may problemang kinakaharap ang student body, si TJ ang unang hinahanap. Si TJ ang unang humaharap. At sa mga nagdaang araw, mas lalo itong umigting kahit pa ang dami-daming dapat ipagpasalamat. Kung tutuusin, gustong-gusto ko na lang magtago.

So now, my fellow batchmaes, allow me to be the one to say, kailangan nating magpahinga. Kailangang-kailangan nating magpahinga . Sometimes when we hear magis or persons-for-and-with-others— mga walang katapusang mantra ng mga Atenista —we think that we are called to give everything to the point of burning out. To make it even worse, when we feel there’s nothing more to give, there is this guilt that creeps in and makes us question if we really are passionate about the things we’ve been fighting for. Hindi ito bago sa akin. Napakinggan ko ito sa aking sarili at napakinggan ko ito sa aking mga kaibigan.

Pero alam ninyo, mahalagang sabihin ko ito sa sarili ko, at marahil kailangan ko ring sabihin ito sa marami sa atin ngayon—na ang pagpapahinga ay hindi pagsuko. Hindi naman ibig sabihin na dahil napapagod tayo ay tumitigil tayong magmahal. Bagkus, sa ganitong sandali ng matinding kawalan, kailangan nating tingnan muli ang pagka-intindi natin sa magis. Because the truth is, we cannot be more loving to others if we are not more loving to ourselves. Kaya sa pahinga, nabibigyan tayo ng pagkakataong magnilay-nilay. Nabibigyan tayo ng pagkakataong itanong kung ano ang mahalaga. Kung babalikan natin ang ating natutunan sa DLQ, dito paulit-ulit na pumapasok ang pagpapasya o discernment. At tinuturuan tayo nito na kilatisin ang pinakamalalim na galaw ng ating puso. Pero paano nga ba natin mapapakinggan ang mga ito kung nalulunod tayo sa ingay at gulo ng mundo? Dahil minsan, kaya rin naman tayo nalulunod dahil nakakalimutan natin mismong tumahimik. Nakalilimutan nating bigyang puwang ang ating sariling mga emosyon at pangangailangan.

And so, during this time, when we ask what is really of value to us, we can now reflect on our previous choices, look at the bigger picture, and decide if any of them has given us life. By being honest like this, we may find the motivation to find the things that can nurture us and help us regain the energy to continue.

In my view, reflecting on what matters to us— kung ano ang mahalaga sa atin , what really, really matters to us—brings us back to who we are as Ateneans and to who we are as human beings. It is in this sense that we are all the same: we love, we are called to love, and we are called to take a risk for love. Sa tingin ko, kung mayroon tayong pagkakapareho, ito ay ang ating hangaring umibig. Naniniwala ako na kung ano ang mahalaga sa atin, iyon ang ating minamahal. At ang minamahal, patuloy na ipinaglalaban. To love means to continue despite our struggles. To love means to help others with their struggles despite our own struggles. This reminds me of Pope Francis’s Fratelli Tutti, in which we are reminded that to love is ultimately a political act: to be in solidarity with people who struggle. As he said, “Politics too must make room for a tender love of others.”

Mga kapwa ko magtatapos, kung titingnan nga natin at kahit bali-baliktarin natin ang ating mundo, tayong lahat na nandito ay bunga ng pagmamahal.

Nagmamahal ang student leader na napupuyat at nahihirapan dahil may unang nagtiwala sa kanya na kaya niyang mamuno at maglingkod. At sinusuklian niya ito ng paniniwalang may kayang gawin ang kanilang mga organisasyon para sa iba’t ibang sektor ng lipunan.

Nagmamahal ang isang panganay na anak na tumutulong sa kanyang pamilya dahil una siyang minahal. At ngayon ay pinapadama niya itong pagmamahal na ito sa iba.

Nagmamahal ang isang komyuter na nagtitiis sa kanyang bawat biyahe dahil alam niyang ang kanyang bawat pag-alis ay nangangahulugang mas papalapit siya kanyang mga pangarap.

Nagmamahal ang isang queer student na naghahangad maging malaya dahil nais niyang baguhin ang mundo para mas maging pantay at mas mapagmahal.

Nagmamahal ang isang probinsyanong napapalayo sa kanyang pamilya dahil bitbit nila sa kanilang mga balikat ang kanilang pinanggalingan at pagkakakilanlan.

Nagmamahal ang isang iskolar dahil naniniwala siya na ang edukasyong natatamasa niya sa Ateneo ay ang edukasyong dapat matamasa rin ng bawat Pilipino.

Nagmamahal ang isang atleta dahil alam niyang sa kabila ng pagod ay kaya niyang bigyang karangalan ang ating Pamantasan at ang ating bayan.

Nagmamahal ang isang alagad ng sining dahil sa kabila ng panghuhusga ay patuloy nilang hinahamon ang nakagisnan.

Nagmamahal ang isang aktibista dahil sa kabila ng panganib alam niyang ang ipinaglalaban niya ay mas malaki pa sa ating lahat.

Love—it is love that leads us to where we need to be and what we are called to do. Pagmamahal ang nagtutulak sa atin na huwag magsawalang-kibo, na huwag magbulag-bulagan, at huwag manahimik sa kabila rin ng mga problema ng lipunan—kahirapan, karahasan, korapsyon, at kawalang katarungan. Pagmamahal ang nag-uudyok sa atin na maging mas matapang na magtaya at manindigan kahit pa may takot at pangamba. Ultimately, it is also love that leads us to our authentic selves. It is love that leads us to our truest selves. Kaya sa aking mga kapwa magtatapos, huwag tayong matakot magmahal at huwag nating isipin na kailanman hindi tayo karapat-dapat mahalin. Ang pagmamahal ang nagpapaalala sa atin na laging may pag-asa. At sa tingin ko, habang tayong lahat ay nagmamahal, maaari nating tanggapin na nanghihina tayo. Habang nagmamahal, maaaring tanggaping na kinakailangan nating mapaghinga. Habang nagmamahal, maaari pa rin tayong mangahas at magpatuloy.

At ngayon sa paglabas natin sa ating mahal na pamantasan, baunin natin ang pagmamahal na nagsasabing ang ating pagod ay pansamantala lamang. Ang pagmamahal na bunga ng pagmamahal ng Diyos, na Siyang tunay nating pahinga. Na siya ring nadarama natin sa mga yakap ng ating pamilya at mga kaibigan. Sa aking mga kapwa ko magtatapos, narito ako ngayon kasi may mga nagmahal sa akin. Narito tayo ngayon dahil may nagmamahal sa atin. Bilang anak, bilang iskolar, bilang probinsyano, bilang mag-aaral, bilang student leader at bilang kaibigan . Salamat sa inyo dahil kasama kayo sa nagpatibay ng loob ko sa panahong pagod na ako. Kayo po ang nagpapaalaala sa akin, na hindi naman ako nag-iisang nagmamahal.

To our parents and everyone else who stood as our parents, thank you. Thank you for looking after us and looking for us, especially during the times that we were lost. To my Papa, there have been times that I didn’t want to be called “Tristan” because that is your name, and I wanted to make a name for myself. I don’t often say this, but I will always be proud to be your son. Sa aking Mama, na patuloy na nangungulit, bawat oras na lamang kung kumain na ba ako, kung nasaan na ako, kung nakauwi na ba ako, kahit pa hindi ako laging sumasagot sa mga message nila. Thank you for teaching me this stubborn and enduring kind of love.

Sa aking mga guro, formators, sa mga kawani, sa mga ate at kuya na sa bawat pagdaan namin ay babatiin kami ng “magandang umaga,” “good afternoon”, maraming salamat dahil parte kayo ng aming paglalakbay . Kina Sir Tats, Sir Jayeel, Ma’am Melay, Ma’am Julie, Sir Gino, Sir Leland, Ma’am Joy, Sir Rem, Sir Neil. Sa OAA– kina Ate Tin, Ate Lidel, Ate Joch, sa mga nakalimutan ko at hindi ko mamention, pasensya po. Nandito po ako dahil sa paggabay at alaga niyo rin.

Alam niyo, hindi naman perpekto tayong mga nagmamahal. Sometimes in our whole journey of loving, we may find ourselves making mistakes. Sometimes, in our loving, we may feel that we don’t even understand why we still love. And yet, all of us remain in love. One thing is for sure. Lahat ng ating pagmamahal ay may paroroonan. Hindi man natin agad makita ngayon, pero pagmamahal ang bubuo sa kinabukasang nais nating masilayan. Pagmamahal ang magsisilbing liwanag sa mga sulok ng mundo na nababalot pa rin ng kadiliman.

The message of this moment for all of us is clear. We may be exhausted, but this is not where it ends. The love we’ve been given is also the love that calls us to be in solidarity with one another. Mga kapwa kong magtatapos, mga kapwa kong Atenista, kahit saan man tayo mapadpad, kahit pa man saan tayo itanim, patuloy nating alalahanin at damahin ang pag-ibig na ito. Iba-iba man tayo ng paraan ng pagmamahal, ang mahalaga ay patuloy tayong nagmamahal. Tinuruan tayo ng Ateneo na magmahal kaya ang isukli natin sa paglabas natin sa mahal nating pamantasan ay ang pagiging mas mapagmahal, dahil ito ang nararapat, dahil ito ang kinakailangan ng mundo natin ngayon. Hayaan nating pagtibayin nito ang ating mga damdamin na patuloy tayong mangangahas para sa sarili, para sa kapwa, at para sa ating bayan—para sa Pilipinas—na patuloy na naghahangad ng pahinga’t pagmamahal.

Magmahal, manatiling nagmamahal, at ito ang magpapasiya ng lahat.

Para sa Batch 2023 na patuloy na nagmamahal! Maraming salamat at mabuhay tayong lahat!

How do you feel about the article? Cancel reply

Leave a comment below about the article. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * .

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

October 8, 2024

We are what the universe is made of

October 7, 2024

Carrying fragments

October 3, 2024

Niek! Countering counterfeit culture

From other staffs.

November 15, 2024

Jordan Brand introduces newest batch of Atenean Wings Scholars

Ateneo beach volleyball teams drop uaap season 87 openers.

November 14, 2024

Ateneo secures first Final Four spot after shutout win over La Salle

Tell us what you think.

Have any questions, clarifications, or comments? Send us a message through the form below.

Fill out our form in the Contribute page and write for The GUIDON! Click the button below to view our Take the Lede Crowdsourcing Form.

We Are FAITH Strong at 22

best filipino graduation speeches tagalog

Learning interrupted: Re-imagining education amidst pandemic

Buhay Ang Pangarap: A Commencement Speech

FAITH Colleges holds first F2F graduation after two years lockdowns

A builder of dreams and a transformational leader, Mr. Antonio “Tony” Meloto graced the institution with the honor of his presence and delivered his inspiring message at the 18th Tertiary Schools Commencement Exercises held last 04 June 2022.

I congratulate you young college graduates of this prestigious Christian institution and your mentors who patiently instilled in you the right values in addition to academic excellence. Ito ang katuparan ng inyong pangarap at pagsisikap na magkaroon ng College Degree na magiging susi ninyo sa isang maunlad at marangal na kinabukasan.

May I ask you graduates to give a standing ovation to your parents and family? Without their sacrifice, we would not be here to experience this moment of overflowing grace and happiness.

Now may I also ask you a serious question?

Why did you choose a white-haired 72 year old man to be your graduation speaker today?

I remember clearly when Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines invited me to talk to their graduates in 2006, I was at the prime of my life at 56 years old and the nation-building movement I founded, Gawad Kalinga, was at the height of its popularity that inspired millions of volunteers to build homes for the homeless and give food to the hungry. My bigger than life image was in every Shell station throughout the country and more than a thousand LGUs built colorful and peaceful GK villages in their town.

The graduates then were excited to hear my message of hope and the great adventure of nation-building.

But today how relevant am I to young people who are disciples of social media influencers and fantasy peddlers?

Maybe I am here because you need the hindsight of stubborn old Filipinos who will not allow their dreams for our country to die.

A valued friend and your Chairman of FAITH Colleges, Bong Belen, who is my age, believes like me that we are not too old to dream for our country.

We never stop dreaming because we never stop loving our country.

We are poor as a nation because many Filipinos do not know how to love our country and care for our people.

Honestly, how many of you consciously love our country?

How many of you want to make our country prosper?

It is ironic that we are poor because the Philippines has no excuse to be poor.

Let us not use corrupt politicians as a scapegoat. We voted for them. We believed their lies and we accepted their money when we sold our votes. We used poverty as an excuse to sell our soul.

Our only chance to prosper is to liberate ourselves from a poverty mentality and be part of the solution. If we just complain and not do anything, then we become part of the problem.

Look at the priceless gift that God gave us that we do not treasure.

We are blessed with rich natural resources and beautiful, intelligent and talented people, like you.

Look at once poor countries around us.

Vietnam sent their students to study agriculture and rice production in UP Los Baños and Central Luzon University. Now we import our rice from them.

We taught business to South Koreans and Singaporeans at AIM, UP, Ateneo and La Salle – now Singapore Singtel owns Globe Telecom and we buy Samsung, Hyundai and LG from South Korea.

They are rich and we are poor.

They are rich because they anchored their prosperity on their love of country. Koreans and Singaporeans left the alluring greener pastures of foreign lands to come home and make their country prosper. Filipinos left our homeland to make other countries prosper.

But this is the sad reality that your generation can change.

If they can make their country rich, so can you.

Young graduates, it is not your fault that our country is poor. Our generation plundered this nation, corrupted our institutions and squandered your future.

Many among your parents have to endure separation from loved ones as OFWs to give you your college education.

Many Filipinos left our country in tears to reside abroad because they could not see a future for their children in the Philippines with our corrupted culture and institutions.

You are young and we are old. You have the time and opportunity to change things that are wrong that we can’t.

You have boundless dreams, we have nostalgic memories of personal achievements but also a lot of regrets of what the Philippines could have been if we did not allow our dreams for our country to die.

But some of us are not too old to keep our dreams alive.

Dreams give us purpose, purpose gives us the passion and the energy to welcome every new day with joy. Passion to do good brings with it immeasurable pleasure and enduring peace.

So start your journey to happiness and success now anchored on love of God, country and family.

But first begin to love yourself.

You are a beautiful creation of God blessed with a college degree that most Filipinos your age do not have.

Always remember:

*that God did not make a mistake when he made you a Filipino;

*the Philippines is your home;

*the Philippines is your land of opportunity;

*as you prosper, you can help your country prosper.

*this is the best time to be Filipino.

It is in the worst of times that we can show our love for our country and make a big difference for the common good.

Many politicians of Korea were corrupt but their citizens were patriotic and proud so they worked hard to prosper until corruption had little power over them.

You already have a big head start with the quality Christian education that you received from Faith Colleges.

Make it your graduation vow to be the best engineers and technologists, educators, entrepreneurs and health practitioners in the Philippines. For those of you who chose a career in Criminology, make our streets peaceful so investors will feel safe in our country. If you must do graduate study or work abroad, please do not forget that the Philippines is your home and your country to rebuild and restore.

Start to build your big dream with small steps when you go home tonight. Set a high standard of excellence in the small things that you can do that will define your character.

*clean up your toilet and your room. Highly successful people have a high standard of cleanliness. Be clean, starting at home. Many foreigners often wonder why Filipinos have the most beautiful beaches and wear fancy branded clothes but do not have clean public toilets.

* fix your leaking roof, landscape your garden and repair whatever is broken in your home. Success in the bigger world outside will be more difficult if your house is not in good order.

* tell your parents and your siblings that you love them and that they are the principal reason why you want to succeed in life. No success outside can justify failure to love at home.

*stop lying to your family and friends so that integrity becomes the hallmark of your success.

After you leave this hall, your journey through life as an adult with the freedom of choice to chart your destiny will start.

*dream big for yourself and for our country.

*have the courage to fight for your dream.

*do not allow your dream to die.

*dream for those who have lost their capacity to dream.

*pass on your noble dreams for God, country and the poor to your children.

Let me tell you a story of a dream-builder from Batangas I deeply admire. He was born a poor boy in Barangay Burol of Sta Teresita who walked to school in slippers, got a college degree in Biochemistry in Manila against all odds due to a lack of finances, eventually built a huge business company in agri-chemicals, now lives comfortably in Ayala Alabang after passing on his dream and the management of his business to his children. He goes home to his barangay regularly and donates generously to improve the lives of the people there. The big activity center, the huge Chapel of St Therese of Lisieux and the ambulance in his barangay are a visible testament of greatness of a Filipino who reached the stars but did not leave the poor behind. He is my friend Ric Casabuena who was supposed to be here with me today together with fellow dream-builders from several towns of Batangas but begged off due to flu.

Graduates, you can be like them – mga Filipino na Buhay ang Pangarap para sa Bayan natin.

And we never stop dreaming and working hard to build our dream.

At 35, I dreamed of a better world for my family so I helped build Couples for Christ all over the Philippines and around the world, including Bacolod where I was born and Batangas, where I chose to retire.

At 43 years old, my dream was a good peer environment for my children who were becoming teenagers – so Youth for Christ and Singles for Christ were born.

In 1996, I started Gawad Kalinga to learn how to transform a community of gang members and drug users in a big slum In Caloocan City to make the world safer for my children. The rest as they say, is history.

Today at 72 years old, I feel a new surge of energy creating Seniors Faith Club to help care for the lonely and often neglected senior citizens, giving them joy in the remaining years of their life.

And like Bong Belen and Ric Casabuena, we have the freedom to continue helping others in need at this stage of our life because we have passed on the greatest legacy to our children – love of country and our less fortunate countrymen as a truly meaningful expression of our love for God.

I’m sure that your young President, Dr. Brian Belen, will fulfill the dream of his father – and his own dream now – to turn Faith Colleges into a University within 10 years.

On a more personal note, it was my dream that kept me alive.

I started life as a poor boy in Bacolod City, the land of rich sugar barons, without land, home or car to call my own. I walked to the public schools I attended in hand-me-down clothes without sufficient money for food. I had the added burden of being blind in my left eye and being taunted as cross-eyed. In our country, people call you duling when you are poor, banlag when you are rich. Social inequality was deeply ingrained in me early in life.

Poverty and my handicap gave me the added burden of a lot of insecurities and fear.

It was my dream of a better life for myself and my family that gave me the courage to study hard and not to give up.

Every day, I fought my Goliaths with faith like David. My slingshot was a brave heart that brought me to California at 16 years old as an American Field Service scholar, to Ateneo de Manila University for college on a full scholarship and a job as the youngest manager of Procter and Gamble at 21 years old.

In the US, I studied hard to get straight A’s to prove to myself that I was as good as any American.

In Ateneo, I excelled to prove that a poor boy like me from the province was not inferior to the rich boys of Manila.

FAITH Colleges gave you your slingshot. Be brave and use it well to hit your mark of success.

Let me end this Commencement Speech with hope and challenge.

Today you made your family proud of you.

Tomorrow, make your country proud of you.

Demand greatness from yourself as a Filipino.

Inspire greatness in other Filipinos.

Never stop loving our country.

Never stop caring for our people.

Mr. Antonio “Tony” Meloto is the Chairman and Founder of Gawad Kalinga, a movement that has spawned more than 2,000 communities all over the Philippines, and in other developing countries. He is recognized both by the local and international communities for his sustainable humanitarian works. In 2006, he was recognized as one of Asia’s prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Awardees under the category of Community Leadership.