Reminiscing 9/11

September 11. I remember waking up after a short afternoon nap from 6p.m. to the sound of sirens in the television many years ago. I was going to complain to my father about how loud it was. But after seeing the thick smoke that emanated from the Towers, the first words that came out of my mouth were "Is that for real?" Then I sat there with my family with concerned and wondering eyes... "What the hell was going on?" 

Even now, even as investigations make sense of it all, I find myself still baffled as to how... I'm sorry. But I just can't find the word equivalent to describe how evil that act was. The word "evil" is not enough. It is not nearly even a quarter. 

I may not be an American. But every year, I remember and I mourn not only for the loss of thousands of lives but for the loss of good will, conscience and HUMANITY of Al Qaeda and the distrust towards the Muslim community. 

It is incredibly heartbreaking how one group has tainted the reputation and beliefs of a community which when seen through an untainted, unbiased spectacles is also God-fearing, family-oriented and people loving. 

I condemn Al Qaeda, I condemn their act. I condemn all those who thought and continue to think their act was just. But despite the great tragedy of it all, let no one forget what they have done and the heroism that sprung from that catastrophe. Rather, let it inspire us to be better. 

The victims of 9/11

Family and friends... I hardly ever pray. Because I believe that in life, you get what you get not from praying but from doing. But this is an exception. I hope that many of us could say a prayer tonight for those who lost their lives in 9/11 and the families that they left behind.

My First Speech as a Guest Speaker

To the magnanimous Prof. Virginia Ecat, Principal of this institution; to the benevolent Ms. Elizabeth Pitoy, Guidance Counselor; to the astute Mr. Nestor Badillos, OSS Coordinator; to the diligent faculty and PTA; and most especially to you the students, my future co-alumna, good evening.

I feel incredibly honoured to have been invited tonight as your guest speaker. It has been several months since I last stepped on the grounds of this school and before that it has been almost a decade.

I have many fond memories of my elementary and high school life in this school. Over there by that tree, while I was in my 3^rd year in high school, I had advised a friend on how to pursue the girl that he admired and has been going steady with her ever since then. By the left staircase leading to the computer room, my classmates in second year offered me a stray cat which I named Ceres and kept as a pet until I went to college in Manila. ON that pathway, I shed a tear after finding out I passed the University of the Philippines exam and four years before that, on that same path, I rejoiced as I won the mayoral elections. By the Girl Scouts of the Philippines monument beside the stage, my friends and I used to pretend we were Sailor Moon and the Sailor stars going, “In the name of the moon, I shall punish you!” I was the cute Chibi Moon, if you can imagine that. Now I’m more chubby than anything.

It was so long ago and I still have them in my head and in my heart. I have so many memories of this place – there are those in the four corners of the classroom that I used in my pursuit of higher studies; and there are those memories of my friends and I gallivanting about on the school grounds. All of these memories are dear to me and has helped in molding the person you see today.

But of all these memories, none if quite like those when I was a grade school kagawad, the mayor of the elemtnary students, the yaer level mayor and board member in high school, a writer and later on editor-in-chief of The Gold and as the high school governor. And that is because those are the memories I made serving my school – serving my fellow students. Those are the moments that I was able to give something back to friends and classmates who built memories with me, to teachers and administrators who built my confidence, skills and knowledge; to an institution that has given me so much.

I was in the position, with the opportunity, to say more than just a thank you.

I am certain that your newly elected officers feel the same way as I did, and understand what I mean when I say, “ It is a duty and a privilege to serve those that serve you every day.”

No matter how busy you get, how annoyed you get how utterly and completely stressed you get from everything you have to do as a student and as a leader, as a daughter or a son and as a friend, at the end of the day you know that you love it all. It gives you a sense of purpose and it just feels so good to finish and achieve something that benefits not just yourself but other people. Just remember that the other people is more important than yourself. And that when you do something for the, you don’t just do it. You do the right things in the right way.

Like, for example, sustaining the pride that echoes when we say, “ I am a product of Abaño!” You know what I’m talking about. Say it with me! “I AM A PRODUCT OF ABAÑO!”

Everyone knows that when you come from this school, you’re not just some plain student. You are one of the best that Camarines Norte has to offer – one of the best leaders, one of the best students, one of the best minds in the province. And you should be proud of this and maintain this reputation. And if you will allow me to be so bold to say, that we should allow ourselves to accept this reputation – embrace our greatness and inspire others to be one of us – to be a leader, to be great, to be a product of Abaño – to be who we are.

One day, I hope that some of you will have this same opportunity that I have now – to be able to reminisce on the beauties of high school life in this school and be thankful. But most of all to be beaming with pride.

I hope you all will enjoy this evening, because I certainly already have. Thank you once again and good evening.