Graduates of Centro Escolar Integrated School (CEIS) Malolos celebrated during the 5th Commencement Exercises of the institution following the Department of Education’s (DepEd) graduation rites theme, “K to 12 Graduates: Pursuing Dreams and Fostering Resilience in the Face of Adversity,” at the CEU Centrodome last July 19. 

The program featured speakers who highlighted the hurdles that the completers overcame and learned from Rev. Fr. Arnold Bungay, Dr. Herminio Coloma Jr., and Valedictorian Laurice Franzel Belgica. 

After the Academic Procession, a thanksgiving mass was headed by Rev. Fr. Arnold Bungay, who emphasized three important disciplines: listen, obey, and put into practice whatever your teachers and parents taught you.

He reminded the graduates that following these virtues allowed them to focus their minds and hearts, dream big, and set goals despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic.

“Accompany your goals with plans, for goals without concrete plans becomes wishes,” Fr. Bungay said towards the end of his homily.

After the mass, the ceremony was then formally opened by Dr. Ma. Cristina Padolina, followed by Ms. Abigail Espineda’s introduction of the guest speaker–CEIS President Dr. Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. 

Upon learning that the majority of the completers were female, he featured Jose Rizal’s famous essay “to the women of Malolos,” which served as a letter of praise to the ladies who demanded their educational rights during the Spanish Colonial Era.

They invoked their freedom to learn Spanish by petitioning for a night school to be opened, and their persuasion prevailed.

“Dapat ang mga binibini o mga dalaga ay mapagmahal din sa kalayaan. Freedom should be valued by them,” Dr. Coloma said, pertaining to the movement. 

In the essay, Dr. Rizal raised five salient points to remind the parents, especially Filipino mothers, of their responsibility to implant and shape the values of their children.

Mr. Coloma recalled his growth when he was the same age as the graduates, noting that his character and personhood were inspired by his early education and the unending affection of his parents, which he carried on to the latter part of his life.

He hoped that the students appreciate their school for transforming their character and for preparing them to face the future with hope and determination.

Towards the end of his speech, he bestowed upon them his confidence that through the youth, a bright future for the country is assured. 

“Dare to jump into your future with enthusiasm. Dare to place no limits on what you hope to accomplish. Dare to dream big and realize it’s not just a cliche. Dare to dream excellence to everything you do. Dare to succeed beyond your wildest expectations. May God bless all of our endeavors,” said Mr. Coloma, concluding his speech with encouragement. 

After receiving their certificates and diplomas, Laurice Frenzel Belgica took the stage and began her speech with “Sailing without a map is marvelous,” describing how her journey in CEIS went. 

Belgica asked her fellow graduates to imagine themselves as the main character in a Korean Drama who encountered an unexpected twist that impacted change upon their lives and what would happen once they had adjusted to the said challenge.

She then dropped a question for them to ponder: How will the remaining episodes unfold now that the main character is at ease?

The Valedictorian strayed from the question and recalled how she enrolled in the institution, noting that she began Senior High School (SHS) without a plan in mind, nor did she think about transferring schools.

Through the help of her friends, she became part of CEIS a day before online classes started, a choice out of impulse, which she emphasized as “one of my impulsive decisions I never regretted.”

Her second year in CEIS came, and she had to decide which specialization she would take. Once again, the batch valedictorian finds herself sailing without a map by choosing Computer System Servicing (CSS).

“Para dito ba talaga ako o pinipilit ko lang panindigan ang mga mali kong desisyon?” she said, describing the struggle she had to face, which she soon overcame thanks to her friends, family, her teachers, and most especially God, who had their own contributions to her success. 

Towards the end of her speech, she once again brings up the question, “how will the next chapters unfold?” encouraging her classmates to pick up their pens and write a destiny of their own.

She excitedly told them that she would watch their next episodes unfold, hoping that they, too, would find themselves reaching the unreachable.