act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.” —Anatole France
Congratulations to all Graduates! Today is your
special day. Today is the accomplishment of all your dreams. Today is the beginning of a new life, a better life outside Nazareth. But before you go, Graduates look at your school principal, say thank you “Sir Jojo.” Look at your teachers. Say, “Thank you teachers.” Then, graduates look at your parents. Say, “Thank you Mother, thank you Father, thank you brothers and sisters and relatives and guardians.” Then look around and thank your Nazarette staff. Say, “Thank you Ate Susan, Kuya Cris.” thank you, Ate Vicky, and all the cook assistants, thank you utility workers and cleaners like Nanay Naning, Ate Elcie and Dondon and thank you driver, Kuya Edwin and thank you Security Guards. Say “Thank you to all of them.” THANK YOU! Last but not the least, look at the Founder, the Director of Nazareth, Director Sandra Cam of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office or the PCSO, say thank you Director Sandra Cam. Say thank you Kuya Macmac the son of Director Sandra Cam. THANK YOU! Director Sandra Cam does not need to venture into running a school, because it calls for a lot of time and effort and money. It calls for a lot of people to serve the school and attend to students’ needs. But Director Sandra Cam did her best to put up and keep this school amidst time, effort, and fund difficulties, because this school is her “best legacy” to you people of Alfonso, Cavite because Director Sandra Cam “cares.” Director Sandra Cam has never made you feel “alone.” Even in the darkest moments of her life, she has always been the stronger lady who functions 24 hours just to make both ends meet during the infancy period of Nazareth. And even up to this period, Sandra Cam has always put Nazareth first in her heart. Just like Director Sandra Cam, the people around you are the people who never made you feel alone. They are the people who have educated you and have made your stay at Nazareth easier and more comfortable. The Nazareth community is a small community that “cares,” a small community that believes in you. Nazareth has provided you not only your “diploma” but your “good moral character.” As Aristotle said, “Good moral character is not something that we can achieve on our own. We need a culture that supports the conditions under which “self-love and friendship” flourish.” Nazareth might have not been a perfect school. But at Nazareth, you always feel that you are important and at Nazareth you know you always come first. “Sa Nazareth una ka, sa Nazareth bida ka.” (At Nazareth you are first and at Nazareth you are the starring role.”) The goal of Nazareth is “integrity.” And according to Aristotle, “Integrity is your destiny. It is the light that guides your way.” INTEGRITY is the quality of being “honest” and “having strong moral principles.” INTEGRITY is “moral uprightness.” Integrity leads to happiness which is the quality of the soul, and not the function of one’s material consequences. And with happiness, you will believe in yourself, you will dream big, and you will plan big. Dear Graduates, believe in yourself, as Nazareth believes in you. As Anatole France said, “To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.” A pleasant good afternoon to all of you!