Delivered by

by Jo Jan Paul “JP” Penol
SB Member, Pavia, Iloilo
Alumnus, College of Arts and Sciences 2013

Delivered during the 5th Commencement Exercises of the University Senior High School last July 15, 2022.

Pavia Councilor Hon. JP Peñol delivers the Commencement Speech.

Before I begin, I’d like everyone here to give a big round of applause for all the teachers and staff who had a hand in the crafting and implementation of your curriculum amidst this pressing pandemic. They deserve a big hand.

I am also truly honored to stand in front of this class who I refer to as COVID Class of 2022. You are the only batch who endured two years of modular, online, and blended learning. This is the very reason why you deserve this face-to-face graduation today. You, too, deserve a big round of applause.

The years 2020 through 2022 has been very challenging to you on your life as Centralians. I’m not certain, however, if we should call this period as a blessing or as a curse. Perhaps some of your parents lost their jobs. Some of you lost your loved ones, worse, some of them were turned into ashes or lowered 6 feet below without seeing them for the last time. Some of you lost some good opportunities here and abroad. All of us were forced to stay indoors. Life was very hard over the past two years. But throughout this period, ladies and gentlemen, beloved graduates, you coped up by choosing new hobbies such as making “Dalgona coffee,” you discovered your hidden talents such as dancing to the beat of Tiktok, you leveled up your singing career on “We Sing,” you made Google, Wikipedia, as you friendly companion, and even mastered the beauty of videoconferencing through your Zoom online classes.

This I want to tell you: It amazes me to think that the same individuals I am talking about are the same individuals I am facing today, sitting in front of me and ready to take on the next chapter of their lives. You should be very proud of yourselves, COVID Class of 2022! Give yourselves a big round of applause.

Two years ago, at the start of this pandemic, we were hit without armors but the warrior mentality in all of us prevailed. We faced the battlefield head on. Look at where we are now, we are entering the era of new normal like as if nothing happened all because we are fighters!

So today, I ask you all to be like the symbol of this university. Be a brave lion. Be a warrior. Be a conqueror of your trials, and rejoice all your victory here today because you deserve it!

Nine years ago, right on this very stage at Rose Memorial Auditorium, I received my hard-earned diploma from Dr. Teodoro Robles, as a graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences. Life was very challenging because as a college student, I have to balance work and studies. During that time, I was already serving as Councilor of Pavia, as editor-in-chief of The Central Echo in the morning, and I worked as a layout artist, and a research validator at night while taking a double major course: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration. At first I thought it was a “walk in the park.” But I was wrong! It was a walk in the Jurassic Park! I had to endure sleepless nights just to finish my outputs for tomorrow. Ang tanong nga nila, “JP para kanino ka bumabangon?” Ang sagot ko naman, “paano ako babangon eh hindi pa nga ako nakatulog?” I had to attend to my work as councilor in the morning while possessing nearly-black eyebags, I had to attend classes in the afternoon, and I went home late in the evening from the printing press. My parents are living witnesses to that and allow me to thank them. Today, they are with us among this great crowd and I would like to request them to please stand. Mom and Dad, thank you. Your sacrifices have paid off. This time, AKO NAMAN.

During that time, I recognized that labor is honor. Mas kaaya-aya ang tagumpay dahil sa dinaanang paghihirap. The victory is sweeter when the road is difficult. Like you, COVID Class of 2022, some of you looked for part-time jobs, helped their parents do business while conquering the challenges of pandemic classes so that walang lalabas na “missing” requirement sa Canvas.

Sayang nga lang hindi niyo inabutan ang face-to-face classes – hindi niyo naranasan ang laboratory experiments para sa Science subjects; ‘yung feeling na kabahan sa pag-solve ng 2x + 3x + 2y na math problems sa blackboard; sa pagiging cleaners bago umuwi sa hapon; hindi niyo naranasan ang sampalan para makakuha ng mataas na grado sa role play.

Don’t worry, COVID Class of 2022, after this graduation, sasampalin kayo ng katotohanan. Yung katotohanang, hindi na experimento ang totoong buhay pagkatapos ng Senior High School. Yung katotohanang, true-to-life problems na ang dapat niyong hanapan ng solusyon. Yung katotohanang, lilinisan natin ang lipunang punung-puno ng katiwalian.

Beloved graduates, ang pagtatapos na ito ay isang pagtawid. Pagtawid papunta dapat sa magandang kinabukasan. Ayun kay Dr. Jose Rizal, “ang kabataan ay ang pag-asa ng bayan,” pero sa tingin ko, hindi sapat na tayo’y pag-asa lamang ng bayan. Dapat tayong mga kabataan ay tunay na maaasahan ng bayan.

In order to succeed in life, kulang ang baong talino. One must not only be intelligent, one must have the sheer determination, passion, and talent to do so. Intelligence may be a requirement, but it is not enough. Okay naman kung ikaw ay matalino, pero dapat samahan natin ang talino ng diskarte sa buhay. Kita nga kabataan dapat masaligan sang aton sosyodad.

Kadamo man da sang maalam. Pero ang masubo, ginagamit nila ang ila kaalam para tuntohon ang iban nga tawo. Dearest Batch of 2022, don’t add to that number. Use your CPU education and experience to advance your life and the life of others especially the less privileged.

Graduates of Batch 2022, I have a question: do you want to be successful?

Three words: CHOOSE GOOD DECISIONS. Pumili ng tama at wasto.
How to get good decisions? One word: EXPERIENCE. Experience is the best teacher.
How to get experience? Two words: BAD DECISIONS.

I’m sure Senior High School taught you so much. For some time, you had a bad decision and regretted it. Take it as an experience and use that experience to choose right next time.

In life, we may choose a lot of decisions. But this I want to emphasize: MAY HANGGANAN ANG ATING PAGKAKAMALI. Hindi sa lahat ng oras ay ma-coconvert natin ang kamalian into something good. HINDI UNLIMITED ang chances because some chances may only knock once.

Kon mamangkot gani si mama, “Nonoy, Nene, kumusta ang grades?” Iban sa inyo siguro ang sabat, “Nay, grades are just numbers. Ang importante buhi!” But let me tell you this.

Grades are just numbers but it is a reflection of your hardwork, dedication, passion, and vision towards your goal. Because I teach in a maritime school, some of my students told me, “diba sir, bisan 75 ukon 95 imo grades, pareho man lang kami maniltig sa barko?” Sabat ko sa ila, “it’s usually an isolated case. Because if 75 imo grades kag wala ka masyado nalung-ong sa imo subjects especially sa major subjects, basi mabunggo mo ang barko kag magkalamatay ang imo pasahero kag mabutang sa alang-alang ang inyo carga, te ikaw gid ang nagpasimuno sang Titanic 2nd Edition. Unahon mo gid tiltigon ang imo ulo mo.” To which my student agreed with me. Tandaan naton nga sa pag-apply naton sa trabaho, we present our resume, and attached to that is our transcript of records.

Pero on the contrary, ang kaalam indi man lang na abi sa pataas-taas result sa exam. Ang iban nga tawo ang ila kaalam ara sa practical side. Kon sayuron pa, sa pangamot nila sa ila obra. Pero di bala kon maayo ikaw mangamot sa imo pagtuon, gareflect man ina sa aton grado?

This is also the reason why we are honoring academic achievers today. You hardwork has paid off. Palakpakan man naton ang aton mga academic honorees.

“Te kami ya sir nga wala honors, Sir? Ano obrahon namon?”

Let me tell you, it’s not the end of your world. You can still be on top. You can still be successful. But I want to remind you that time is running out.

COVID Class of 2022, it was during this pandemic that you realized that YOU ARE YOUR OWN COMPETITION. You do not compete with others. You are the enemy of yourself. Now, do it. The best time to start fulfilling your dreams is NOW.

If you haven’t achieved what you want to achieve for Senior High School, don’t worry. Just don’t give up. God will give your perfect timing. They say that “good things come to those who wait.” My advise: DO SOMETHING WHILE WAITING.

Just last Sunday, a lone bettor from Iloilo City won the Lotto Jackpot of 400+ Million pesos. Nagdaog bala siya kon wala siya nagpatad sa lotto? Amo na bala nga gahambal ka, “baw tani madaog kita sa lotto.” Pero te paano ka magdaog kay wala ka man gapatad?

Ladies and gentlemen, life involves taking risks. Risks give us the chance to lose something and not all the time that it is sure that we will win our battles. But at the end of the day, we will be judged not just if we win battles but HOW we won it. The greater the risk, the greater the reward.

It’s wrong to day that if you lose battles, it’s the end of your career. Some losses are blessings too. Losing is not rejection, but sometimes losses are redirections – a detour to a better path. It is during our losses that we see our character.

I remember in 2007, I ran for SK Chairman of our Barangay. I then ran for SK Federation Presidency but lost by one vote, but when I ran for Municipal Councilor at age 18, I won with thousands of Pavianhons supporting me. In 2013, I ran for Vice Mayor of Pavia at age 21, I lost with a small margin of votes. But I was appointed by President Noynoy Aquino as Commissioner of the National Youth Commission at age 22 making me the youngest Presidential Appointee during the Aquino administration. My work focused on improving the Sangguniang Kabataan in 41,000 barangays across the country, and even became Deputy Youth Minister representing the Philippines to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Few years after it, here I am now, back in front of you with the overwhelming mandate as No. 1 Councilor of Pavia. I’m saying this not to brag but to allow you to visualize that not all losses are endings. Some losses bring us to better places and opportunities. Just don’t give up on your dreams, COVID Class of 2022.

As I end, allow me to offer you a song entitled, “Maghintay ka lamang.”

Kung hindi ngayon ang panahon
Na para sa iyo
Huwag maiinip dahil ganyan
Ang buhay sa mundo

Huwag mawawalan ng pag-asa
Darating din ang ligaya
Ang isipin mo’y may bukas pa
Na mayroong saya

Kabigua’y hindi hadlang upang tumakas ka
Huwag kang iiwas ‘pag nabibigo
Dapat na lumaban ka

Ang kailangan mo’y tibay ng loob
Kung mayrong pagsubok man
Ang liwanag ay ‘di magtatagal
At muling mamasdan
Ikot ng mundo ay hindi laging pighati’t kasawian
Ang pangarap mo ay makakamtan
Basta’t maghintay ka lamang

To all of you, congratulations! Ad astra per aspera, “our hardships will take us to the stars!”
God bless CPU! God bless us all!