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9 Memorable Pinoy Graduation Speeches

We have heard inspiring commencement speeches from the world over, but no one can pierce the Pinoy heart deeper than fellow Filipinos with their well-chosen words of wisdom. In honor of the toga-tossing season, here are some of the wittiest, fiercest and most heartfelt local graduation speeches that we should all listen to– whether you’re fresh out of school, or a professional meant to write your own such speech someday.

1. Manny V. Pangilinan

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, 2015 The PLDT, Meralco and TV5 Chairman shares the secret recipe for success: that there is none.

“What accounts for success? There is no magic, no mystery, no secret recipe. Success springs from values as basic and old-fashioned as being honest and truthful, working hard, playing fair, setting goals, discipline, and determination to pursue them. Most of all, success is about passion. Passion to succeed. Passion to compete. Passion for excellence. Commitment to succeed can overcome poverty.

A spirit of purpose can give impetus to human energy, ambition can set heroic goals and achieve them. But let me add this – you can’t succeed if you’re afraid to fail. I’ve known how to lose – not just once, but many times. Boldness to take risks, guts to decide and act – these are strengths. Paano ka makaka-score, if you don’t shoot that ball?

Remember that you can afford to fail because you’re young. Successes tell you that you can attain more successes in the future. But failures tell you that you can survive and move on. Sabi nga ni JK Rowling: “It’s impossible to live without failing at something, unless you’ve lived so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all.” Read the full speech here .

2. Lisa Macuja-Elizalde

Ateneo de Manila University, 2015 The world-renowned Filipina ballerina gives eight lessons inspired by the “eight counts” used in ballet.

Decide and commit to something that you are passionate about.
No pain, no gain… Nothing can take the place of hard work – not even talent.
Whatever your goal, get good at it!
Honor your emotions and acknowledge your fears.
Treat every time you get to practice your profession as a performance. Don’t save your best effort for another day… Always give 100% so you never have to regret anything. But BE PREPARED.
Do something crazy. Do something that defies all logic at least once in your life. You never know what could happen from there.
One of the hardest decisions you’ll ever face in life is choosing whether to walk away or try harder.
Serve. Offer yourself to a cause bigger than your own needs or ambition.

Read the full speech here

3. Winnie Monsod

last lecture to her UP Economics class, 2010 “Please don’t cheat” whether in school or in life, warns the fierce economist, because you will only be contributing to the problem, instead of being part of the solution..

“Can you assure me that, as a leader, you are going to, right now, until you finish your courses, are you going to act with honor and integrity? Because I’m going to tell you class, you think cheating is something that is very unusual? It’s very usual in the University [of the Philippines] and this is what bothers me so much.

Because you do not have to cheat. And cheating in the small things is going to lead to cheating in the large things. And all these people that you have contempt for, because they are corrupt, because they are cheating, are people who may have in fact, been part of the university. As a matter of fact, if you think about it – I keep on telling this because we are always so proud, UP tayo, ha ! I think 6 of the, the majority of presidents of the Philippines came from UP.

The majority of the Supreme Court Chief Justices come from UP. The majority of the Speakers of the House come from UP. The majority of the Senate Presidents come from UP. Eh, saan tayo ngayon? [Where are we now?] “If they were so good, why are we where we are now? And so you have to ask yourselves that. And part of the reason is that we have always looked at excellence, and not at honor and integrity.”

4. Jose Dalisay, Jr.

University of the Philippines Baguio, 2005 The award-winning writer and former chairman of UP Diliman’s English Department, who took 14 years to finish college, leaves the students with five life lessons.

“Let me end with five brief exhortations, of the kind we’ve been hearing since elementary school: First, read a good book. Not another novel, if you’re already a writer, nor another paper on the molecular theory of turbulence if you’re already a physicist. Perhaps we should exchange books, for the purpose of – using one famous definition of education- turning an empty mind into an open one. Second, learn how to play the guitar. By this I mean find some form of artistic expression, or some source of artistic pleasure.

The solace of art is often the truest and the most enduring. Third, learn how to swim. Be independent, and learn how to fend for yourself. But also learn how to swim so you can save others from drowning. Lord knows this country needs all the lifeguards it can find. Fourth – and they didn’t say this in grade school – have fun.

Too many academic papers deal with the sources of our sorrows – as if we didn’t know them already. Give us something to feel good about, and find us the way to happiness, now and forever. It doesn’t sound like a scholar’s task, but if happiness isn’t worth our minds and labors, what is? Lastly, get a life – and get a good one.” Read the full speech here .

5. Lourd de Veyra – University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication, 2012 The multi-awarded writer and “Word of the Lourd” host delivers a humorous and unconventional graduation speech.

Tumigil na akong maniwala sa pagpaplano ng buhay. Corny mang pakinggan, mas naniniwala ako sa tadhana. Kung totoo na talino at galing ang sekreto sa tagumpay, dapat wala ako dito ngayon. Hindi ako ang pinakamahusay na manunulat sa aming kolehiyo. At higit na mas marami ang mas magaling mag-isip kesa sa akin. May paborito akong kasabihan mula sa idolo kong nobelistang si Kurt Vonnegut.

“Unannounced changes in life’s itinerary are like dancing lessons from God.” Napakagandang ideya. Napaka-akmang metapora. Dancing lesson. Sa dancing lesson, wala kang ibang pwedeng gawin kundi sumunod. Pag hinila ka dito, sunod ka na lang. Pag binaba ka, bumaba ka rin. Pag hinagis ka, magpagaan ka ng katawan. Susugan din ito ng isa pang quote mula kay Voltaire: “I refuse to believe in a God who does not know how to dance.” Ang pagsayaw ay isang ekspresyon ng ligaya, ng laro, ng kalayaan ng katawan at diwa na mayroon pa ring sistema.”

6. Archbishop Antonio Luis Cardinal Tagle

Ateneo de Manila University, 2013 The archbishop offers a God-centered advice for all of us to heed.

“If we look at the three keywords — to praise God, to reverence God, to serve God — the purpose of the human person is to get out of our confinement, to get out of our shells, to get out of ourselves, and to reach out to God in praise, in reverence, and in service. And it is only by losing ourselves that we find our true selves.” “If your purpose is clear, and it is not directed to self-promotion and self-propagation then you can really be an asset to society and to the world.”

7. Ryan Cayabyab

University of the Philippines, 2005 The Maestro does not only compose beautiful music and lyrics, but is also capable of crafting a memorable speech with witty school and life analogies.

Ito ang pitong mga bagay-bagay tungkol sa buhay na natutunan ko sa U.P.:

Ang buhay ay parang Ikot jeep. Ang iyong patutunguhan ay siya ring iyong pinanggalingan.
UP lang ang may Toki, sa buhay wala nito. Pero nasasaiyo na yon kung nais mong pabaligtad ang takbo ng buhay mo.
Sa Ikot, pwede kang magkamali ng baba kahit ilang beses, sasakay ka lang uli. Sa buhay, kapag paikot-ikot ka na at laging mali pa rin ang iyong baba, naku, may sayad ka.
Sa UP, lahat tayo magaling. Aminin nating lahat na tayo’y magagaling. Ang problema dun, lahat tayo magaling!
Kung sa UP ay sipsip ka na, siguradong paglabas mo, sipsip ka pa rin.
Sa UP, tulad sa buhay, ang babae at ang lalake, at lahat ng nasa gitna, ay patas, walang pinagkaiba sa dunong, sa talino, sa pagmamalasakit, sa kalawakan ng isipan, sa pag-iibigan; at kahit na rin sa kabaliwan, sa kalokohan at sa katarantaduhan.

At ang panghuli:

Sa UP, tulad sa buhay, bawal ang overstaying.

Read the full speech here .

8. Roselle Ambubuyog

summa cum laude, Ateneo de Manila, 2001 The visually-impaired BS Mathematics graduate shows us “the light in the darkness by the light of the stars” in this inspirational speech.

“We thank our mentors for being good teachers from whom we learn a lot. But I am certain that each of us has encountered teachers who helped us best by becoming students themselves: open to learning new things, developing better methods, nurturing our true potentials.” “Even if fears persist to hinder us from achieving something, what really matters is the shift from “I can’t do it,” to “I can try”.

I went beyond my impairment by doing not only what sighted people can do, but also what they sometimes are too frightened to try.” “Everyone experiences disabilities one way or another; mine is just more obvious than yours. We are all fortunate to have loved ones, who help us bear the burdens brought about by our weaknesses.

We may find ourselves in the dark, but we should not be afraid to move forward, because we have the light of our stars to count on, and to be thankful for.” Read the full speech here .

9. Anna Kristina Arce

magna cum laude, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, 2009 The Applied Deaf Studies graduate, who majored in Multimedia Arts, speaks to our hearts with a message worth more than words could ever explain.

https://youtu.be/dh_Qjbe4r1Y

“We may be Deaf persons but we can also do anything you can do, except hear. Communicating with our hands should not make a difference. We live in one country, one world. That means we also long for respect, inclusion in accessibility, and acceptance with dignity.

We are not a different breed because of our disability. We also want to live in a society where people will not stare or frown at us or treat us differently. We are also human beings and we are similar regardless of our disability. Please allow us to show you what we can do, please believe in us too. Let us prove to you that, yes, the Deaf can!”

About The Writer

Hello, my name is Karina and I work as a freelance contributor at Kalibrr. I enjoy reading self-improvement books and working out. More about Karina

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Magpahinga, magmahal, magpatuloy: A Valedictory Address

By tristan joseph alcantara, published july 4, 2023 at 7:47 pm.

The following is the full and unabridged valedictory address delivered by Tristan Joseph Arboleda Alcantara (AB POS 2023), Magna Cum Laude and Valedictorian of the Ateneo de Manila University Class of 2023 during the Loyola Schools Commencement Exercises.

To our University President, Fr. Roberto Yap SJ; members of the Board of Trustees; to our Vice President for Higher Education, Dr. Maria Luz Vilches; vice presidents, deans, administrators, faculty and staff; family and friends; at sa mga kapwa kong Atenistang magtatapos , magandang araw po sa ating lahat !

Sa tingin ko, lahat po tayo ay naghahanap ng kapahingahan. The last four or five years of our college journey have certainly not been easy. Marami sa atin ang napagod, marami sa atin ang naubos . Those of us who can relate know that I’m not only talking about physical exhaustion. Mentally, spiritually, and emotionally, we were all depleted. I may be speaking before you right now as your valedictorian, but let me be the first to admit that I myself have not been a perfect student. I have missed deadlines and have requested incompletes from my professors. I have not been the best student leader, the best son, or even the best friend. There have been times when I felt like the fire that once kept me going was no longer there. And I know that this feeling is not mine alone. Sa tingin ko, marami sa atin ang nakararamdam din ng pagod na ito .

It was also experienced by my fellow student leaders, such as Dani and Stanley and Nars, who endured sleepless nights and endless stress because we had to ensure that our organizations would carry out their goals and advocacies in this new normal.

It was experienced by the eldest child among us, like Gabber, who had to help keep their families strong and together through thick and thin;

It was experienced by students who commuted regularly, like Bea, and arrived home late at night but still had to work on their tasks even though they had to commute again early in the morning the following day.

It was experienced by queer students who sought to be free, to love, and to celebrate their identity. Mayroon akong mga kilalang ganito ang pinagdadaanan ngunit hindi ko maaaring mabanggit man lamang ang kanilang mga pangalan .

It was experienced by probinsyanos, like Presh and Mariel, who silently struggled and endured living separately from their families even though they longed for their warmth and embrace.

It was experienced by my fellow scholars, like Myra and Rae, and Antwa, who felt pressured to give back and tell the Ateneo that you made the right decision in choosing us.

It was experienced by student-athletes, like Marj or Geo, who had to wake up early in the morning to train and constantly improve themselves.

It was experienced by the artists in our midst, like Rome and Dwayne, who desired to express themselves through their work even if other people may not be able to appreciate it.

It was experienced by our fellow student activists, like Rian and Marco, who marched on the streets and denounced the injustices happening around us.

It was experienced by fellow students who struggled with their own health, like Lance. We, too, remember him today. So, too, do we recall those who continue to struggle and even their families. Some of whom, are unable to be with us today because of this.

At the same time, it was experienced by our parents, who worked tirelessly to provide for our needs, sacrificing their time or enduring the distance.

It was experienced by our professors, who had to endure the sudden move to online learning while struggling through the pandemic themselves.

Sa aking mga kapwa magtatapos, kahit sino ka man at ano mang kwento mo sa nagdaang mga taon, alam kong napagod ka. Marahil naibahagi mo na ito sa mga malalapit sa iyo, pero maaari ring sinolo mo lang ito. Sinolo mo ito sa pagkahaba-haba ng panahon. Gayunpaman, hayaan ninyong sabihin ko na wala namang masamang makaramdam ng pagod.

Our graduation, more than it is a celebration of strength and resilience, is also a recognition of our woundedness and brokenness. Sa likod ng mga ngiti’t tawa ay ang realidad na minsan hindi natin kayang tanggapin—na napapagod tayo at nangangailangan tayo ng tulong. Na hindi naman tayo laging buo. After all, we live in a broken world, and no one is expecting us to be whole or unscathed. I always believe that there is strength in accepting our vulnerabilities. It is because in acknowledging them that we are able to draw a little bit more courage to tell ourselves that we have to accept ourselves.

In my four years in college, all of which I spent a good amount of time as a student leader, I felt that I had become the one who always had to say to my peers, “ laban lang .” Noong nagbigay ako ng mensahe sa mga kapwa ko student leaders noong mga nakaraang linggo, ito mismo ang sinabi ko. “Laban lang!” Pero okay lang bang magpakatotoo ngayon? Sa kabila ng pagsambit ng “laban lang,” alam kong sa loob ko na pagod na pagod na ako, at kahit gusto ko mang ipilit, minsan hindi ko na alam kung paano pa lalaban.

Marami akong hugot pagdating dito. Una, hindi ko na alam kung may halaga pa ba ang mga ginagawa ko o ng Sanggunian na pinaglingkuran ko bilang pangulo sa nagdaang taon. Minsan iniisip ko, may nakikinig pa ba sa amin? Baka nagsasayang lang pala kami ng oras, nagsasayang lang pala kami ng enerhiya. Pangalawa, naramdaman kong nauubos ako sa kabibigay. Kapag may problemang kinakaharap ang student body, si TJ ang unang hinahanap. Si TJ ang unang humaharap. At sa mga nagdaang araw, mas lalo itong umigting kahit pa ang dami-daming dapat ipagpasalamat. Kung tutuusin, gustong-gusto ko na lang magtago.

So now, my fellow batchmaes, allow me to be the one to say, kailangan nating magpahinga. Kailangang-kailangan nating magpahinga . Sometimes when we hear magis or persons-for-and-with-others— mga walang katapusang mantra ng mga Atenista —we think that we are called to give everything to the point of burning out. To make it even worse, when we feel there’s nothing more to give, there is this guilt that creeps in and makes us question if we really are passionate about the things we’ve been fighting for. Hindi ito bago sa akin. Napakinggan ko ito sa aking sarili at napakinggan ko ito sa aking mga kaibigan.

Pero alam ninyo, mahalagang sabihin ko ito sa sarili ko, at marahil kailangan ko ring sabihin ito sa marami sa atin ngayon—na ang pagpapahinga ay hindi pagsuko. Hindi naman ibig sabihin na dahil napapagod tayo ay tumitigil tayong magmahal. Bagkus, sa ganitong sandali ng matinding kawalan, kailangan nating tingnan muli ang pagka-intindi natin sa magis. Because the truth is, we cannot be more loving to others if we are not more loving to ourselves. Kaya sa pahinga, nabibigyan tayo ng pagkakataong magnilay-nilay. Nabibigyan tayo ng pagkakataong itanong kung ano ang mahalaga. Kung babalikan natin ang ating natutunan sa DLQ, dito paulit-ulit na pumapasok ang pagpapasya o discernment. At tinuturuan tayo nito na kilatisin ang pinakamalalim na galaw ng ating puso. Pero paano nga ba natin mapapakinggan ang mga ito kung nalulunod tayo sa ingay at gulo ng mundo? Dahil minsan, kaya rin naman tayo nalulunod dahil nakakalimutan natin mismong tumahimik. Nakalilimutan nating bigyang puwang ang ating sariling mga emosyon at pangangailangan.

And so, during this time, when we ask what is really of value to us, we can now reflect on our previous choices, look at the bigger picture, and decide if any of them has given us life. By being honest like this, we may find the motivation to find the things that can nurture us and help us regain the energy to continue.

In my view, reflecting on what matters to us— kung ano ang mahalaga sa atin , what really, really matters to us—brings us back to who we are as Ateneans and to who we are as human beings. It is in this sense that we are all the same: we love, we are called to love, and we are called to take a risk for love. Sa tingin ko, kung mayroon tayong pagkakapareho, ito ay ang ating hangaring umibig. Naniniwala ako na kung ano ang mahalaga sa atin, iyon ang ating minamahal. At ang minamahal, patuloy na ipinaglalaban. To love means to continue despite our struggles. To love means to help others with their struggles despite our own struggles. This reminds me of Pope Francis’s Fratelli Tutti, in which we are reminded that to love is ultimately a political act: to be in solidarity with people who struggle. As he said, “Politics too must make room for a tender love of others.”

Mga kapwa ko magtatapos, kung titingnan nga natin at kahit bali-baliktarin natin ang ating mundo, tayong lahat na nandito ay bunga ng pagmamahal.

Nagmamahal ang student leader na napupuyat at nahihirapan dahil may unang nagtiwala sa kanya na kaya niyang mamuno at maglingkod. At sinusuklian niya ito ng paniniwalang may kayang gawin ang kanilang mga organisasyon para sa iba’t ibang sektor ng lipunan.

Nagmamahal ang isang panganay na anak na tumutulong sa kanyang pamilya dahil una siyang minahal. At ngayon ay pinapadama niya itong pagmamahal na ito sa iba.

Nagmamahal ang isang komyuter na nagtitiis sa kanyang bawat biyahe dahil alam niyang ang kanyang bawat pag-alis ay nangangahulugang mas papalapit siya kanyang mga pangarap.

Nagmamahal ang isang queer student na naghahangad maging malaya dahil nais niyang baguhin ang mundo para mas maging pantay at mas mapagmahal.

Nagmamahal ang isang probinsyanong napapalayo sa kanyang pamilya dahil bitbit nila sa kanilang mga balikat ang kanilang pinanggalingan at pagkakakilanlan.

Nagmamahal ang isang iskolar dahil naniniwala siya na ang edukasyong natatamasa niya sa Ateneo ay ang edukasyong dapat matamasa rin ng bawat Pilipino.

Nagmamahal ang isang atleta dahil alam niyang sa kabila ng pagod ay kaya niyang bigyang karangalan ang ating Pamantasan at ang ating bayan.

Nagmamahal ang isang alagad ng sining dahil sa kabila ng panghuhusga ay patuloy nilang hinahamon ang nakagisnan.

Nagmamahal ang isang aktibista dahil sa kabila ng panganib alam niyang ang ipinaglalaban niya ay mas malaki pa sa ating lahat.

Love—it is love that leads us to where we need to be and what we are called to do. Pagmamahal ang nagtutulak sa atin na huwag magsawalang-kibo, na huwag magbulag-bulagan, at huwag manahimik sa kabila rin ng mga problema ng lipunan—kahirapan, karahasan, korapsyon, at kawalang katarungan. Pagmamahal ang nag-uudyok sa atin na maging mas matapang na magtaya at manindigan kahit pa may takot at pangamba. Ultimately, it is also love that leads us to our authentic selves. It is love that leads us to our truest selves. Kaya sa aking mga kapwa magtatapos, huwag tayong matakot magmahal at huwag nating isipin na kailanman hindi tayo karapat-dapat mahalin. Ang pagmamahal ang nagpapaalala sa atin na laging may pag-asa. At sa tingin ko, habang tayong lahat ay nagmamahal, maaari nating tanggapin na nanghihina tayo. Habang nagmamahal, maaaring tanggaping na kinakailangan nating mapaghinga. Habang nagmamahal, maaari pa rin tayong mangahas at magpatuloy.

At ngayon sa paglabas natin sa ating mahal na pamantasan, baunin natin ang pagmamahal na nagsasabing ang ating pagod ay pansamantala lamang. Ang pagmamahal na bunga ng pagmamahal ng Diyos, na Siyang tunay nating pahinga. Na siya ring nadarama natin sa mga yakap ng ating pamilya at mga kaibigan. Sa aking mga kapwa ko magtatapos, narito ako ngayon kasi may mga nagmahal sa akin. Narito tayo ngayon dahil may nagmamahal sa atin. Bilang anak, bilang iskolar, bilang probinsyano, bilang mag-aaral, bilang student leader at bilang kaibigan . Salamat sa inyo dahil kasama kayo sa nagpatibay ng loob ko sa panahong pagod na ako. Kayo po ang nagpapaalaala sa akin, na hindi naman ako nag-iisang nagmamahal.

To our parents and everyone else who stood as our parents, thank you. Thank you for looking after us and looking for us, especially during the times that we were lost. To my Papa, there have been times that I didn’t want to be called “Tristan” because that is your name, and I wanted to make a name for myself. I don’t often say this, but I will always be proud to be your son. Sa aking Mama, na patuloy na nangungulit, bawat oras na lamang kung kumain na ba ako, kung nasaan na ako, kung nakauwi na ba ako, kahit pa hindi ako laging sumasagot sa mga message nila. Thank you for teaching me this stubborn and enduring kind of love.

Sa aking mga guro, formators, sa mga kawani, sa mga ate at kuya na sa bawat pagdaan namin ay babatiin kami ng “magandang umaga,” “good afternoon”, maraming salamat dahil parte kayo ng aming paglalakbay . Kina Sir Tats, Sir Jayeel, Ma’am Melay, Ma’am Julie, Sir Gino, Sir Leland, Ma’am Joy, Sir Rem, Sir Neil. Sa OAA– kina Ate Tin, Ate Lidel, Ate Joch, sa mga nakalimutan ko at hindi ko mamention, pasensya po. Nandito po ako dahil sa paggabay at alaga niyo rin.

Alam niyo, hindi naman perpekto tayong mga nagmamahal. Sometimes in our whole journey of loving, we may find ourselves making mistakes. Sometimes, in our loving, we may feel that we don’t even understand why we still love. And yet, all of us remain in love. One thing is for sure. Lahat ng ating pagmamahal ay may paroroonan. Hindi man natin agad makita ngayon, pero pagmamahal ang bubuo sa kinabukasang nais nating masilayan. Pagmamahal ang magsisilbing liwanag sa mga sulok ng mundo na nababalot pa rin ng kadiliman.

The message of this moment for all of us is clear. We may be exhausted, but this is not where it ends. The love we’ve been given is also the love that calls us to be in solidarity with one another. Mga kapwa kong magtatapos, mga kapwa kong Atenista, kahit saan man tayo mapadpad, kahit pa man saan tayo itanim, patuloy nating alalahanin at damahin ang pag-ibig na ito. Iba-iba man tayo ng paraan ng pagmamahal, ang mahalaga ay patuloy tayong nagmamahal. Tinuruan tayo ng Ateneo na magmahal kaya ang isukli natin sa paglabas natin sa mahal nating pamantasan ay ang pagiging mas mapagmahal, dahil ito ang nararapat, dahil ito ang kinakailangan ng mundo natin ngayon. Hayaan nating pagtibayin nito ang ating mga damdamin na patuloy tayong mangangahas para sa sarili, para sa kapwa, at para sa ating bayan—para sa Pilipinas—na patuloy na naghahangad ng pahinga’t pagmamahal.

Magmahal, manatiling nagmamahal, at ito ang magpapasiya ng lahat.

Para sa Batch 2023 na patuloy na nagmamahal! Maraming salamat at mabuhay tayong lahat!