I can still recall the conversation that occurred 13 years ago between Ms. Nilda Cuasay, our class adviser and me during our graduation practice. I read that my mother’s friend was the guest speaker. I asked my teacher why there is a need for a ‘guest speaker’. The graduation is for the graduates and their parents. Why are there so many people giving speeches during the ceremony?
She responded in her most polite way (she is a known terror teacher) that the guest speaker is the person nominated by the Parents Teachers Community Association to give speech for the graduates. One of the qualifications is he/she must be successful in his chosen profession or has a big contribution in his/her field of expertise, or has a heroic act that made the name of the school known as his training ground. According to her, the speaker’s task is to inspire the graduates to soar to greater heights.
From her explanation, I concluded that the guest speaker is successful in his career, already a boss, has his/her own house and car, and working in a well-known company.
That moment, I promised to myself that I’d be a guest speaker someday. I will inspire the graduates and tell them my story how I became successful.
Thirteen years later, I might not be that successful, but the PTCA of my beloved alma matter invited me to be the guest speaker for this year’s graduation. I was hesitant to accept it because I felt like I am not yet worthy, but it was my teachers who asked, so I said yes.
The speech
March 31, Thursday, was the most awaited day of the graduating students and their parents of Marcos Catibog Memorial Elementary School of Mahabang Dahilig, Lemery, Batangas and also the day I was tasked to deliver my speech.
This year’s theme was “Kabataang mula sa K to 12 tagapagdala ng kaunlaran sa bansang Pilipinas.” I had no idea about K to 12. The only thing I know is I am thankful that it was not implemented during my elementary and secondary days. If I made my speech aligned with the theme, my dream of inspiring the graduates will not be successful. What I did is tell them a story.
The three trees
I heard the story in one of my trainings for Eagle Scout.. Since then, it has motivated me. The story is about the three trees with their own different big dreams. The dream of the first tree is to be the most elegant bed ever made for the most powerful person in their nation. The second tree wants to be the biggest and extravagant ship of the king when taking the cruise for his trips to other countries. The third tree wants to be the tallest house ever built for the king. He wants people who are passing by their area to look up to him.
But one day, a group of illegal loggers came and cut all the trees in the part of the mountain where the three trees were planted. They became very disappointed because their dreams will now never be a reality.
The first tree became ‘labangan’ or wood cabin of animal food. The second three became a small fishing boat and the third three became a log in the middle of the plaza where the criminals are tied and beaten until they die.
Every single day, the three trees cried and asked God what had happened to their dreams. They questioned God’s plan for them until they started to hate life and lose hope.
Then one day, the Son of God was born in the manger. The baby Jesus slept in the body of the first tree. When Jesus started travelling to places to spread God’s message, he used the small fishing boat made of the body of the second tree. And the last tree was part of the cross where He was crucified and died.
The moral lesson of the story is very clear. All dreams will come true, maybe not exactly the way we want, but the way God wants to be in his own perfect time. There are many times we are questioning his plan when we didn’t get what we want, when we didn’t fulfill our dreams. But God’s promise is a promise. He will bring us to the promised land.
I dreamt of becoming a CPA-Lawyer but I failed the qualifying exam for Accountancy and never had the chance to be a CPA nor a lawyer. But I am happy to where I am now. I am practicing my profession as Financial Analyst and Loan Officer of a quasi-bank. I received numerous awards, which I know I would never have if I had pursued Accountancy.
After my story telling, I reminded the parents of the importance of education. Education is the key to uplift our lives. There is no other greater formula for success other than education. I thanked my teachers in my elementary years – Rowena de Roxas, Arlyn Malabanan, Olimpia Orlina, Rufino Macatangay, Diomedes Carurucan, Marivic Macatangay, Nilda Cuasay and Adelia Razon. That is how special they are to me. I still know their middle initials. Everything that I know today is because of the basic education imparted to me by my teachers.
Better than what we can imagine
Dreams come in different sizes, shapes, color and taste but one thing is for sure. It will happen. It might not be the perfect picture we want but definitely better than we can imagine.
I am praying and hoping that our government will have enough resources and good leaders to provide quality education. May this K to 12 be successful in its objectives!
The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business. This essay is part of a journal he keeps in fulfillment of the requirements of the course, Lasallian Business Leadership with Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics. Visit his blog at https://abelreyes.wordpress.com/.
The views expressed here are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.