Ring Hop, Hooding and Pinning Ceremonies 2019

Valedictory Speech Alvin Velasquez

Good morning, fellow graduates. It is my honor to give a speech to this graduating class of 2019. At the end of this ceremony, we will be leaving our footsteps in our alma mater and taking another step towards our dreams in life.

Despite we have encountered lots of challenges during our days in college; we are here today, wearing togas and caps. It is remarkable to remember how we have overcome those challenges because those make us strong and defined us as who we are today. Challenges make us discover more about ourselves and our capability to respond to hardships in life. And I know you would agree with me, that each of us sees it differently. Personally, I see every challenge, as difficult. Probably, some of you would share my thoughts, others see the other way around.

Whatever challenges and problems we faced, we always have these questions in mind. "How can I overcome it?" “What will I do to solve it? These will always be the questions that come out first.

"How can I overcome it?" Every time we ask this question, doubts will follow. Some people would say, I cannot do this or that because of these and those. What if I will fail? What if I will be scolded? Sometimes, these doubts prevent us from proceeding to the next step. It locks us in, making an imaginary prison. However, negative thoughts or doubts can be turned into positive ones. You just have to find the cause of what hinders you to do this or that. Next is to find ways in overcoming these challenges or problems.

Every challenge and problem has its own ways to be overcome. We should seek for these ways and we shall find them. We are the ones who should seek solutions. If we act and make a move, we will accomplish something.

Similarly, during our college days, sometimes we seek some help from our classmates or other people in order to finish a task. Seeking solutions together makes the challenge to be easily completed. In the same manner, some of us here might have experienced college life differently especially if they are experiencing financial difficulty. For example, they worked part-time in fast food chains, engaged in small businesses, or worked as working scholars. Despite all odds, they have made the right choices and have done sacrifices to continue pursuing their dreams in life. And I praise them for doing that. And now, we are here in this ceremony, celebrating the culmination of what we have accomplished. Today’s event propels us in moving forward. It serves as the fuel that keeps us running in facing our challenges and problems.

Special thanks to my parents who unselfishly offer their sacrifices just to send me to school. Thank you ma, pa. 

Valedictory Speech (Mr. Lester Rasonable)

Distinguished Guests, CHED Director, Dr. Freddie Bernal, CTS

President, Ms. Candice Gotianuy, CTS Vice President, Atty. Nendell Hanz Abella, Exec. Asst. to the Vice President, Ms. Ana Lou Navaja, TechVoc Director, Dr. Eugene Ynclino IV, faculty, fellow graduates, parents, friends, ladies, and gentlemen, good morning.

“ Should I give up? Or should I just keep chasing pavements even if it leads nowhere”? My life was once compared to this famous song. Everything seemed to be uncertain and full of questions.

I didn’t have a normal childhood. I learned to walk at two years old due to my clubfoot, and it saddened my family so much. But, with God’s love, he allowed me to walk normally.

In my elementary years, I was never serious in my studies just like any other ordinary kid. I had uncountable truancies not to mention other offenses in school. In short, I never had a dream. So, it was like traveling on pavements that lead to nowhere.

However, after my high school graduation, I started to form that dream and I felt the need to do something to make that dream a reality. Thus, I started to step foot on the first step of my journey.

From my hometown in Leyte, I traveled alone, trying my luck here in Cebu City, a place that is a total stranger and unknown to a 16-year-old kid.  I was almost empty-handed back then, with only a 500 peso allowance in my pocket. Yet, it didn’t stop me to reach my goal because I knew that I was not literally ALONE… I had my family on this journey.  

My father was an alumnus of CTS-C and he wanted me to get my degree from the same school. Without hesitation, I made a decision. And this DECISION makes a lot of difference in my life now.  

Fellow graduates, we may be living a life full of uncertainties but what matters most is to set goals to make things certain. But, if we will not put a deadline to our goals, it will just remain a dream, beyond our reach.

However, being here now on our graduation day shows that we set goals and we successfully met its deadline. So, I extend my sincerest congratulations to all of us. Only, we need to be steadfast and to continue what we have started because the real challenge in life is yet to come.   

Graduation brings mixed emotions. It is a time to put an end to our hard life in school: no more promissory notes, no more stretching of allowances just to sustain for the next days, no more project deadlines, no more research, no more group works, no more SAFETY FIRST signage, no more terror professors. Yet, all of those shapes us to become better individuals, well prepared to face challenges in the real world.

Graduation is also a time of tremendous joy and overwhelming happiness: parents cry seeing their children marching on stage with pride receiving their diplomas, teachers take pride watching their students develop holistically, classmates smile feeling fulfilled for the uncountable memories they shared together with their classmates. All of these are great highlights in our lives that help us become what we have become today.

Life can also be compared to sailing. I remember the saying “We cannot direct the winds, but we can adjust the sails.” Adjusting our sails means making choices. Often, these choices are not easy, but ultimately, it’s easier than trying to change the direction of the wind. In life, we make choices every day. Sometimes, we make them consciously with a good thought, but more often than not, we make them without solid thought.

Fellow graduates, this proves that what we will become in the future, will depend on what we are doing with our lives today. We may depend on others, but at the end of the day, the one who would “adjust the sails” would still be US.

I would also like to thank the people behind my success. I am forever grateful for the contributions you made in my life.

Special thanks to my mentors, teachers, and fathers, Engr. Ferdinand Batayola and Mr. Peter John Rosario. Thank you for the knowledge and guidance.

To my CTS family, thank you for providing me quality education to make me globally competitive. Without a doubt, I can say that Father knows best.

To my classmates and friends, thank you for the memories. I am forever indebted to you especially that you provided me when I had nothing. Thank you for correcting me at times as well. It made me realize that I am not perfect.

To my relatives, thank you for the support and inspiring words which motivated me to strive more.

To my family, my parents, and my siblings, thank you. You are the reason why I am here today in front of you. Your continued support, undying love, and generosity pushed me to continue my journey even if I was about to give up.

To all those who are not mentioned here, my heartfelt appreciation. Everything that you did will never be forgotten.

Above all, I would like to thank God for His generosity and Love.

 Fellow graduates, at this point, we may have already found the right path; yet, we should not just sit, we have to walk then build.

Thank you very much and may our ever-gracious God bless us even more.