Tonight marks another milestone in the history of the Philippine educational system. A new beginning confers an ending from an unsounded dilemma of uplifting our standard in educating the future heroes of our country.
It’s almost six years ago when my parents got a big problem on how they can send me to high school. My father is a farmer while my mother is a nanny in Manila. Despite all difficulties, they are trying so hard to send their four children in school and get an education, which will be our weapon to face the challenges in the society. I remember when my father told me, while we are having a “candlelight dinner” sharing four pieces of “tuyo” and “labay tubig at asin”, Rose Anne, isang buwan na lang at magtatapos ka na ng elementarya, napag-usapan namin ng iyong ina na bilang panganay, igagapang ka namin upang kahit high school ay makatapos ka”. I immediately replied, ”Opo itay, gagawin ko po ang lahat para makapagtapos at maiangat ang ating kabuhayan”. My father smiled, and I noticed him wiping his tears, trying to hide from a little light of the candle.
A month before another school year opens, my mother told me that they cannot enroll me in high school because of the K+12 Program. The additional 2 years in high school will add burden and prolong our problem on how can I get a job after four years of studying. With that, my mother decided, to bring me in Manila and work as a maid for their neighbor.
That bad news, made all my dreams turned into nothing. I cried a lot the whole night. Still, I told to myself that I should do something to pursue my dreams. In the next morning, I talked to my parents and told them that I will do everything to study in high school and fulfill my dreams. I also explained to them that K+12 Program will be a big help for me to hone my knowledge and skills. That after high school, even though I will not pursue my college degree, I will be equipped enough to find a good job with higher compensation.
At that moment, their answer does not really matter much for me. I instilled in my mind, that in my hands, lies the greatest challenge to prove them that studying in high school under the K+12 Program will be a great answer to my dreams.
After a month, I embraced my high school life with open arms. I faced the challenges with the help of my classmates and teachers. My parents eventually supported me in my studies. True enough to prove them that I made the right decision.
After six years of studying, what lies ahead of me? Now, I am very much certain with my answer. I can be a big help to my family because I know deep within me, that I can find a good job through the training that I got during my junior and senior years. Eventually, I can pursue my college dreams while I am working. What awaits me after this? Now, I know the answer that most of you will agree with me that there will be lots of opportunities that will knock on our doors and we will be highly competitive when we land a job.
The transformation of our educational system will help to prove our neighboring countries that we will not be left behind in terms of technical skills. W e can produce professionals that can soar high in any part of the globe.
Ladies and gentlemen, standing in front of you is not just a valedictorian but a very proud product of the K+12 Program. Today marks a new beginning for every Filipino student. Education is not merely information but formation as well. Formation becomes significant only, when we direct and move leading to progress to free us and to help us to aid reconstruction. We must aspire, at attaining the best for we are aiming at national development.
To my parents, I know our life may be stiff, the way to progress may be narrow, even the mere trying is tough and discouraging. But we should not fear no one. Despite the difficulties and frustrations, despite the trials and failures, we are still holding on to dreams that one day, we will rise and transform into an oasis of abundance and priceless rewards.
To my fellow students, I now challenge you to fight for a world. The knowledge that we gain under the K+12 helps us now to become ready to face the world. We now have lots of chances to a better noble life. We can now guarantee to have security and make our society moving forward on the road of “TUWID NA DAAN”.
By: Jayson Suarez Castro | Teacher I | Bonifacio Camacho National High School | Abucay, Bataan
