City of Dasmariñas Arena
September 23, 2022

Assalamualaikum!

Maraming salamat sa Lungsod ng Dasmariñas para sa pagkakataon na binigay ninyo para makasama ko kayo ngayong araw.

Espesyal ang araw na ito para sa inyo kung kaya ikinararangal ko na bahagi ako ng inyong selebrasyon.

Sa mga kikilalanin ngayong araw at bibigyan ng Gawad Karangalan ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Lungsod ng Dasmariñas — ang akin pong taus-pusong congratulations sa inyong lahat.

You have achieved and brought honor not only for yourself and your family but also to your beloved city.

But more than that, thousands of Filipino children and youth all over the country will be looking up to you with eyes full of admiration for what you have achieved academically.

And they will also be looking at you with eyes of curiosity over what you possibly could do and will become in the coming years.

You are here because of your sacrifice, persistence, diligence, and hard work in your academic pursuit. This is a recognition as much as it is a validation of the efforts you had to put in to be on top of your game.

Today’s event is a seedbed where culture of excellence that inspires people to excel, achieve, and succeed is propagated and nurtured — to get that dream job or career, to build that dream house for your family, to have that dream life.

Let me commend the leadership of Mayor Jennifer Austria-Barzaga for an initiative that advances the value of excellence in education — and for promoting the endless possibilities and opportunities awaiting those who are academically competent and successful.

This is also an initiative that creates a community of people we would possibly later see at the frontlines — leading our country’s growth and development through their chosen professions and career paths.

To the awardees, aminin natin — may mga maiinggit sa inyo. But you deserve to be here, you deserve to be recognized, and you deserve to celebrate because you worked hard for this.

At marami rin ang titingala sa inyo. Marami ang susunod sa inyo. At marami ang mangangarap na sana ay kagaya sila ninyo.

And that’s one of the best parts of being recognized as among the best in your community.

One of the best parts, I would say, because the award will not only allow your academic competence and accomplishments to shine, but it will also bring to light your character as a person — how you would inspire others to follow your path, to chase their own dreams, and work really, really hard to get the life that they want for themselves.

Because your award comes with a responsibility and a challenge — and this is to do more, to be more, and to serve other people, your communities, your city, and our country.

Some of you are just about to start the journey. Some are still halfway through, while some have just reached the finish line of success.

And yet there are also some of you who, despite having reached the finish line of success, are again embarking on another journey. They are restless. They are unstoppable. They are motivated by an ambition that must be fulfilled.

To all of you, congratulations.

And I wish that you become successful in the pursuit of your dreams.

And maybe, some of you might take the road of public service and make that ultimate decision to give back — I wish to see your brilliance shining through our communities and our country.

Shukran. Daghang salamat.