MRHS ALUMNI: MOVE FORWARD, GIVE BACKGood evening alumni of batch 8T2! Happy 25th Anniversary of your graduation! Happy Silver Jubilee! I hope everyone’s feeling great. I could see from up here that all of you are excited and are all prepared to celebrate the occasion. Definitely, this is a special day and we can consider this get together as yet another shift amid the changes in our lives. After tonight, most of us here will have created new acquaintances or friendships or any state of affairs we could ever think of. This is very true because my relationship with my four classmates have already gone beyond being classmates. I know these names are familiar to you, Anthony Arindaeng, Victor Masongsong, and Brian Parado. They are my batchmates who currently reside in Canada and are now the godfathers of my youngest daughter. And one who is in Australia, Alice Gregorio is the godmother of my first born. We have already organized lots of get togethers and barbeques since the very first day we connected, (I remember that was during my oldest daughter’s first birthday) and I know that we’re going to continue our get togethers for the rest of our lives.
Now that I have greeted the comunity of batch 8T2, of course, it’s just proper to recognize the presence of the outgoing principal of MRHS, Dr. Luningning Milan, and also the incoming principal, Dr. Melanio Austria. I would like to extend the same greeting to my former teachers, to and of course guests and friends of batch 8T2.
The events during the past 48 hours had been so overwhelming but I believe I already felt overwhelmed when I first thought of flying back here. It’s been 13 long years that I haven’t seen the light of Manila. I should’ve returned in 2001 but the plan got held up…because that was the year when i had my first child. A plan came on in 2003, but it got held up again because that was the year when I had my 2nd child. And then I rescheduled the trip in 2006 and it got postponed again. So with all these delays and reschedulings and what not, I wished Manila is just around the corner so I can return to it anytime at will. But as we all believe, in reality, Philippines is far from being a turn around the bend and of course there will never be an easy trip back home. And then came 2007, I told myself that it’s high time for me to return home and it so happened that I got reasons why I should.. and of course, one of the reasons was to be a part of your batch’s 25th anniversary of graduation.
Allow me to personally acknowledge the following.
1. To the officers and members of the reunion committee, particularly to Grace Bagorio Paule and Joy Panlilio Baltazar, thank you so much. I would like to commend you for pulling through amidst the many drawbacks along the way. Hats off for all the hard work and for keeping the team spirit. I really felt complimented and pleased on the invite and I thank you for the challenge of addressing you today.
2. Again, to all members of batch 8T2 who are here and as well as to those who didn’t make it. They are with us in spirit.
3. I also want to recognize our alumni who have come from afar that despite location, have shown involvement in organizing the reunion. I would like to special mention Joel Garcesa who for two years has sponsored the forum of MRHS’ unofficial alumni website which is the Milestones. I created the site in 1999. That site sparked a lot of reunions and get togethers. Sincerely, I thank him for his generosity and support. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make it to the reunion because of seniority reasons at work.
4. I would like to thank Edgar Ortiz, batch 8T5 for doing the graphics on the site.
5. To Rodel MartineZ, batch 8T2 and Joy Velasco, batch 7T9. Thank you for the photos and information I needed for the site.
6. To Jeffrey Diccion batch 8T2 and Jerry Diccion batch 8T1, for offering the service of bringing me and my daughters here at the venue. I appreciate the effort and kindness. Thanks to you both.
If there is someone that I miss thanking, my apologies for forgetting, but you know how grateful I am.
Welcome back to Manuel Roxas High School. When I say welcome back, I was telling that to myself as well cuz I’ve never been back here in 26 long years. After the school year, I juz took off, didn’t even attend the graduation ceremony and didn’t come back anymore. You are all gathered today wearing a badge which you earned in 4 years attendance to MRHS and that badge says, “batch 8T2” and nothing else. We are here as time travellers and we are going to trek back to what and where it had been in the past. And right at this building, which is the multi-purpose hall, is going to be your special place. You are going to resurrect all the memories you could ever remember which as you know, is the major preoccupation in reunions; to revive memories that we always describe as “precious” or “treasured”. At the same time, we are going to look at how far we have come since graduation, and again, reflect as to where we are heading. We are going to chat and get together with our past acquaintances and teachers; to catch up with the many unheard life’s stories since graduation with a purpose of re-establishing old ties and at some point, I believe, meet new family members.
Let us not forget that we are also in reunion with our MRHS, our alma mater. This will give us a chance to visit familiar places at roxashi; the school, the surrounding premises, the neighbourhood which will evoke nostalgia. Am sure that you have already noticed changes in the structures which somehow, will compliment to the changes we had in our lives and in ourselves.
I gave the title of my talk “MRHS ALUMNI, Move Forward, Give Back”. The main point of the subject speaks on what is being an alumna or alumnus all about. What are the roles of alumni in the school and in the community and what are the ways to give back.
So now... we finished our 4 years stay in the school, we graduated, moved on to our lives, found a job, established a business, raised a family. Now what? If we’re out of RoxasHi, does that mean that our ties have also ended up? If the answer to this question was NO, then that only means that we former students, graduates or alumni, believe that we have a role to play to our school and that in some point of our lives, we are going to look back, and think back and eventually or somehow give back.
We, have an important part in shaping the school and the community in a distinctive and significant way. If we’re going to define ourselves as full members of MRHS, then we really do have an extensive role to play, which is much more than just a source of funds. Alumni, as you know, are typically thought of only in fundraising; you know, we give back to the school through monetary means. Please note that our commitment is more than that. After moving out of MRHS, we come back to this institution to “give back”. Having said that, clearly, we can see, that “giving” is the relationship that exists between alumni and the school and as well, “giving” is the reward for the relationship.
Why is it important for MRHS alumni to give back to the school?
One answer to that is to make us remain connected with our school that continually strives for quality and endeavours to make a lifelong influence by producing talented and decent students. This is an exciting project to which alumni can make key contributions. Further, alumni engagement demonstrates a commitment that benefits both MRHS and our graduates. Alumni giving is an indication of the school’s condition. Alumni support a school in response to the quality experience that they had. Alumni are important to keeping MRHS as good as it is and making it even better.
So what are the roles of alumni?
1. Serve as school supporters or advocates or volunteers; we can be involved and consulted about the on-going life of our school. We can share our service Not everyone is going to be a volunteer but through alumni to alumni connection and mini-reunions, we are contributing to connections with MRHS
2. Mentors; We have the first-hand knowledge of the school so we are the best mentor that the school can have for the current students. We can mentor them about career paths. Give them advice on the many topics of life. We can assist them in some personal enrichment courses which can be organized by the alumni association. We can also provide leadership in various activities. We can share our knowledge and experience to them, and inspire them by speaking at various student functions or school events, like career day. We can be advisors to various student bodies, helping them to obtain sponsorships and resources.
Since high school education is all about preparing for life and living, we can help prepare these students for a lifetime of careers rather than a single career for life. We can help them anticipate and meet future challenges. Whether it's Coaching for Leadership, providing help with internships and jobs, mentoring, offering time as guest speakers in class or as participants on panels forums, fundraising, planning or hosting regional activities to get other alumni involved -- these are just a few of the many ways that alumni make a huge difference.
3. Give and generate financial support – donation which could either monetary or in the form of gifts-in-kind like books, computers, supplies and others.
4. Participate in governance of the school which could be either be done directly by us through a plan or a proposal or this could be done through the alumni association.
Now that I have greeted the comunity of batch 8T2, of course, it’s just proper to recognize the presence of the outgoing principal of MRHS, Dr. Luningning Milan, and also the incoming principal, Dr. Melanio Austria. I would like to extend the same greeting to my former teachers, to and of course guests and friends of batch 8T2.
The events during the past 48 hours had been so overwhelming but I believe I already felt overwhelmed when I first thought of flying back here. It’s been 13 long years that I haven’t seen the light of Manila. I should’ve returned in 2001 but the plan got held up…because that was the year when i had my first child. A plan came on in 2003, but it got held up again because that was the year when I had my 2nd child. And then I rescheduled the trip in 2006 and it got postponed again. So with all these delays and reschedulings and what not, I wished Manila is just around the corner so I can return to it anytime at will. But as we all believe, in reality, Philippines is far from being a turn around the bend and of course there will never be an easy trip back home. And then came 2007, I told myself that it’s high time for me to return home and it so happened that I got reasons why I should.. and of course, one of the reasons was to be a part of your batch’s 25th anniversary of graduation.
Allow me to personally acknowledge the following.
1. To the officers and members of the reunion committee, particularly to Grace Bagorio Paule and Joy Panlilio Baltazar, thank you so much. I would like to commend you for pulling through amidst the many drawbacks along the way. Hats off for all the hard work and for keeping the team spirit. I really felt complimented and pleased on the invite and I thank you for the challenge of addressing you today.
2. Again, to all members of batch 8T2 who are here and as well as to those who didn’t make it. They are with us in spirit.
3. I also want to recognize our alumni who have come from afar that despite location, have shown involvement in organizing the reunion. I would like to special mention Joel Garcesa who for two years has sponsored the forum of MRHS’ unofficial alumni website which is the Milestones. I created the site in 1999. That site sparked a lot of reunions and get togethers. Sincerely, I thank him for his generosity and support. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make it to the reunion because of seniority reasons at work.
4. I would like to thank Edgar Ortiz, batch 8T5 for doing the graphics on the site.
5. To Rodel MartineZ, batch 8T2 and Joy Velasco, batch 7T9. Thank you for the photos and information I needed for the site.
6. To Jeffrey Diccion batch 8T2 and Jerry Diccion batch 8T1, for offering the service of bringing me and my daughters here at the venue. I appreciate the effort and kindness. Thanks to you both.
If there is someone that I miss thanking, my apologies for forgetting, but you know how grateful I am.
Welcome back to Manuel Roxas High School. When I say welcome back, I was telling that to myself as well cuz I’ve never been back here in 26 long years. After the school year, I juz took off, didn’t even attend the graduation ceremony and didn’t come back anymore. You are all gathered today wearing a badge which you earned in 4 years attendance to MRHS and that badge says, “batch 8T2” and nothing else. We are here as time travellers and we are going to trek back to what and where it had been in the past. And right at this building, which is the multi-purpose hall, is going to be your special place. You are going to resurrect all the memories you could ever remember which as you know, is the major preoccupation in reunions; to revive memories that we always describe as “precious” or “treasured”. At the same time, we are going to look at how far we have come since graduation, and again, reflect as to where we are heading. We are going to chat and get together with our past acquaintances and teachers; to catch up with the many unheard life’s stories since graduation with a purpose of re-establishing old ties and at some point, I believe, meet new family members.
Let us not forget that we are also in reunion with our MRHS, our alma mater. This will give us a chance to visit familiar places at roxashi; the school, the surrounding premises, the neighbourhood which will evoke nostalgia. Am sure that you have already noticed changes in the structures which somehow, will compliment to the changes we had in our lives and in ourselves.
I gave the title of my talk “MRHS ALUMNI, Move Forward, Give Back”. The main point of the subject speaks on what is being an alumna or alumnus all about. What are the roles of alumni in the school and in the community and what are the ways to give back.
So now... we finished our 4 years stay in the school, we graduated, moved on to our lives, found a job, established a business, raised a family. Now what? If we’re out of RoxasHi, does that mean that our ties have also ended up? If the answer to this question was NO, then that only means that we former students, graduates or alumni, believe that we have a role to play to our school and that in some point of our lives, we are going to look back, and think back and eventually or somehow give back.
We, have an important part in shaping the school and the community in a distinctive and significant way. If we’re going to define ourselves as full members of MRHS, then we really do have an extensive role to play, which is much more than just a source of funds. Alumni, as you know, are typically thought of only in fundraising; you know, we give back to the school through monetary means. Please note that our commitment is more than that. After moving out of MRHS, we come back to this institution to “give back”. Having said that, clearly, we can see, that “giving” is the relationship that exists between alumni and the school and as well, “giving” is the reward for the relationship.
Why is it important for MRHS alumni to give back to the school?
One answer to that is to make us remain connected with our school that continually strives for quality and endeavours to make a lifelong influence by producing talented and decent students. This is an exciting project to which alumni can make key contributions. Further, alumni engagement demonstrates a commitment that benefits both MRHS and our graduates. Alumni giving is an indication of the school’s condition. Alumni support a school in response to the quality experience that they had. Alumni are important to keeping MRHS as good as it is and making it even better.
So what are the roles of alumni?
1. Serve as school supporters or advocates or volunteers; we can be involved and consulted about the on-going life of our school. We can share our service Not everyone is going to be a volunteer but through alumni to alumni connection and mini-reunions, we are contributing to connections with MRHS
2. Mentors; We have the first-hand knowledge of the school so we are the best mentor that the school can have for the current students. We can mentor them about career paths. Give them advice on the many topics of life. We can assist them in some personal enrichment courses which can be organized by the alumni association. We can also provide leadership in various activities. We can share our knowledge and experience to them, and inspire them by speaking at various student functions or school events, like career day. We can be advisors to various student bodies, helping them to obtain sponsorships and resources.
Since high school education is all about preparing for life and living, we can help prepare these students for a lifetime of careers rather than a single career for life. We can help them anticipate and meet future challenges. Whether it's Coaching for Leadership, providing help with internships and jobs, mentoring, offering time as guest speakers in class or as participants on panels forums, fundraising, planning or hosting regional activities to get other alumni involved -- these are just a few of the many ways that alumni make a huge difference.
3. Give and generate financial support – donation which could either monetary or in the form of gifts-in-kind like books, computers, supplies and others.
4. Participate in governance of the school which could be either be done directly by us through a plan or a proposal or this could be done through the alumni association.
After enumerating these roles, it just shows that alumni have a place in the school and are definitely a critical part of the community. If we want our alma mater to be outstanding, it is going to involve all of us.
As I mentioned before alumni can support the school not only through monetary means but also in the form of service, or corporate connections which can produce sorts of opportunities that can be beneficial both for students and faculty. Alumni can also present insights about the best way to prepare the students for leadership roles.
Giving, on the other hand, should be collaborative, or in its simplest terms “a two-way street”. Somehow, the school has to give something back. It is sort of a trade and there’s something more than that I believe. There is an important emotional aspect attached to all these. Alumni often talk about the special experiences they enjoyed in the school and, of course, they remember the people, the teachers who came their way to create those experiences even better. Somehow, alumni have this pride that they personally know the people in the school, especially the teachers with whom they want an ongoing connection - - and correct me if i’m wrong, I believe we pride ourselves on these personal connections, right?? What I was trying to get at here was, the school should also know their alumni and must deliver personal touch like identifying individuals “who” are there for them.
Perhaps some of you have this question in mind. What’s the secret to make alumni engage more? The answer, there isn’t any secret. As I see it, there hasn’t been any full blown campaign that has happened in asking MRHS alumni for support. At this point, this is where the alumni association and the school should work together. The association and the school should be proactive and shouldn’t wait for alumni to do the first move. The association and the school must approach them, must ask and must explain why there is a need for support. So far based on the information I received through emails, some of our alumni have proven themselves to be exceptionally talented and passionate and supportive. The school need those alumni on its journey and the support that they gave should be renewed.
I am sure that we are considering MRHS as a centre for continued ties with our classmates and our teachers but I hope our school will be more than just a place for random social interaction. What I also want to emphasize tonight is that alumni volunteerism is a real differentiator for MRHS and I hope our involvement will not centre on social activities. I believe that we can give back in substantive ways, especially something that could give a high impact in the lives of the current students.
Among those stepping forward to make a difference are the officers and members of the committee of the newly established MRHS Alumni Association who give immeasurable hours bending their heads in coming up with ideas that can help build and sustain the important networks for a variety of rich opportunities for the school and for the students. Currently, I believe, the association has been targeting total computerization of the school with a $ 240K price tag attached to it. This is just one of the projects to consider and there are more to consider I believe.
Giving back to MRHS is important because it is a way of helping to ensure that future MRHS students will have the same wonderful experience as we had. I firmly believe that when we have been given an opportunity in life, no matter what it is, we have a moral obligation to help someone else have the same opportunity. I encourage everyone, no matter how long it has been since you were physically at MRHS, to support our school, in whatever way we can and help share the gift we were given with current and future students.
That ends my alumni 101, and now, I shall move on to a much more exclusive aspect of my talk. This time I am going to share some personal thoughts and sentiments about high school, and after high school and life in general. I’ll start it off by telling you about my first born Cerniel, when she was about 4 ½ years old.
She was about 4 ½ years old, when she told me that she wanted to be an astronaut when she grows up. Of course, I was surprised, when she told me that because I felt that, it was such an ambitious thing to dream about. Pero alam naman nio ang mga bata, once in a while, they would say outlandish stuff but of course they’re also witty at times. Anyway, me deciding to take the flight of her thoughts, I started loaning and buying books about planets. I use space books when I first taught her how to read; even subscribed to a science magazine. If there’s anything that comes on on tv about space and planets and rocketship and astronauts, I would put her attention to the program. And whenever she sees one, I could see her eyes lit up and would babble words saying, “it’s cool”, or “I want to be like that someday” or “ I don’t want to go to the sun because it’s hot, it’s going to burn me.”
At 4 ½ years old, she’s got this big dream brewing up in her mind… something, I believe, that we all had when we were young. For sure, there were some of you here who said “gusto ko pong maging doctor, para matulungan kop o ang mga may sakit” or “gusto ko pong maging teacher” or engineer.
After high school, my future seemed so blurry. I didn’t have any plans laid out on what course am going take or what I really wanted to be after university. So blurry that I found it hard to see myself where I was heading although I have some little plans, and goals for what I wanted to happen despite not knowing for sure what life is going to throw at me. I believe I either wanted, not really desperately tho’, to become a journalist, or a newscaster on TV or to be in the performing arts. Those were the two careers that I could see myself doing. I did have lots of interests tho’ so it was just a matter of choosing among the many careers available out there.
The experiences I had been very positive. I remember encouraging teachers and i believe, I dunno if all of you have sensed it the same, that there were a sort of overall closeness in the school community. MRHS was the place where I learned and I do know, deep in my heart, how my high school has shaped my life up until now. I got into high school with these things in mind: to be able to finish each year with flying colours and to graduate and I was steadfast with that... well except with couple of petty glitches I believe but those didn’t stop me from my journey through that four-year time frame. Each year brought variety of surprises and each year I thought of ways how to cope and how to become more genuine from among the entire population of MRHS students. It was all about discovery and victory and defeat. . I also remember all the efforts I made in digging and weeding my plot of friendship to appease my desire to be accepted in a certain peer group. If I felt I wasn’t accepted, I recognize those feelings. Cry at some point. Learn from the situation, try all over again by taking another route. The good and bad experiences I had during high school prepared me to my university life. I wasn’t saying that high school already made me tough. It gave me tho’ the much needed push to be able face life’s next trials.
There was one thing that I discovered about myself as I meet joys and adversities after the other. I discovered that I have this passion for learning which spans from the very petty to the essential. I noticed that I always find myself excited about everything. I could see how my views change as soon as I started embracing a new concept or idea which of course, gives me the driving force to move forward. I guess, my love for learning was the reason why I chose to find employment in an academic setting rather than assimilating myself to the corporate world. There was something about seeing students and being with students. There was something about the physical structure of a school or a university. There was something about the library, the smell of the books, the excitement and challenge of finding a book among the enormous stack of books. This will strike you funny, but I guess there was also something about school supplies. Anyway. . . . I also found conversations with teachers and professors very fascinating. I love education. I just love to learn and learn and learn.
My great turnaround in life was all self-inspired and I did it for myself for the benefit of others. Although I did not become what I wanted to be for reasons which I need not elaborate here but I had a taste of the things I love doing. I did not become a journalist by profession but I did write articles and poetries in magazines, newspapers and books. I did not become a newscaster on tv but i had experiences in speaking in front of people. I didn’t make it to the performing arts but I did appear on stage at some point of my life. But what’s really amazing was that I ended up with a career that is a fusion of the many activities that I really love. Just like everyone else here, I did a lot of compromises in life but I always place hope where it should be.
Dreams, that’s what we have in our minds when we were little kids and when we became an adolescent, and until now we do dream a lot of dreams, to be someone someday or to be in a certain place. As long as we breathe, we still have time to pursue those dreams.
Our education at MRHS has prepared us to run life's endless marathon. I hope during our time here, you had discovered your talent and found your passion. I am sure that many of you have realised that when you combine your ability and enthusiasm with ingenuity, kindness, and sensitivity, your life's marathon will be absolutely fulfilling.
Thank you very much. It’s really great to be here and have a wonderful rest of the evening.
At 4 ½ years old, she’s got this big dream brewing up in her mind… something, I believe, that we all had when we were young. For sure, there were some of you here who said “gusto ko pong maging doctor, para matulungan kop o ang mga may sakit” or “gusto ko pong maging teacher” or engineer.
After high school, my future seemed so blurry. I didn’t have any plans laid out on what course am going take or what I really wanted to be after university. So blurry that I found it hard to see myself where I was heading although I have some little plans, and goals for what I wanted to happen despite not knowing for sure what life is going to throw at me. I believe I either wanted, not really desperately tho’, to become a journalist, or a newscaster on TV or to be in the performing arts. Those were the two careers that I could see myself doing. I did have lots of interests tho’ so it was just a matter of choosing among the many careers available out there.
The experiences I had been very positive. I remember encouraging teachers and i believe, I dunno if all of you have sensed it the same, that there were a sort of overall closeness in the school community. MRHS was the place where I learned and I do know, deep in my heart, how my high school has shaped my life up until now. I got into high school with these things in mind: to be able to finish each year with flying colours and to graduate and I was steadfast with that... well except with couple of petty glitches I believe but those didn’t stop me from my journey through that four-year time frame. Each year brought variety of surprises and each year I thought of ways how to cope and how to become more genuine from among the entire population of MRHS students. It was all about discovery and victory and defeat. . I also remember all the efforts I made in digging and weeding my plot of friendship to appease my desire to be accepted in a certain peer group. If I felt I wasn’t accepted, I recognize those feelings. Cry at some point. Learn from the situation, try all over again by taking another route. The good and bad experiences I had during high school prepared me to my university life. I wasn’t saying that high school already made me tough. It gave me tho’ the much needed push to be able face life’s next trials.
There was one thing that I discovered about myself as I meet joys and adversities after the other. I discovered that I have this passion for learning which spans from the very petty to the essential. I noticed that I always find myself excited about everything. I could see how my views change as soon as I started embracing a new concept or idea which of course, gives me the driving force to move forward. I guess, my love for learning was the reason why I chose to find employment in an academic setting rather than assimilating myself to the corporate world. There was something about seeing students and being with students. There was something about the physical structure of a school or a university. There was something about the library, the smell of the books, the excitement and challenge of finding a book among the enormous stack of books. This will strike you funny, but I guess there was also something about school supplies. Anyway. . . . I also found conversations with teachers and professors very fascinating. I love education. I just love to learn and learn and learn.
My great turnaround in life was all self-inspired and I did it for myself for the benefit of others. Although I did not become what I wanted to be for reasons which I need not elaborate here but I had a taste of the things I love doing. I did not become a journalist by profession but I did write articles and poetries in magazines, newspapers and books. I did not become a newscaster on tv but i had experiences in speaking in front of people. I didn’t make it to the performing arts but I did appear on stage at some point of my life. But what’s really amazing was that I ended up with a career that is a fusion of the many activities that I really love. Just like everyone else here, I did a lot of compromises in life but I always place hope where it should be.
Dreams, that’s what we have in our minds when we were little kids and when we became an adolescent, and until now we do dream a lot of dreams, to be someone someday or to be in a certain place. As long as we breathe, we still have time to pursue those dreams.
Our education at MRHS has prepared us to run life's endless marathon. I hope during our time here, you had discovered your talent and found your passion. I am sure that many of you have realised that when you combine your ability and enthusiasm with ingenuity, kindness, and sensitivity, your life's marathon will be absolutely fulfilling.
Thank you very much. It’s really great to be here and have a wonderful rest of the evening.
copyright © bc july 14, 2007
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