here’s the speech i delivered during our graduation. wooooo… ang hirap isulat nito. 
Address of Thanks
By Clarice Sarao
To our guest speaker, Honorable Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi, to the president of Olivarez College, Dr. Pablo Olivarez, to our Vice-president for academics and services, Dr. Eric Olivarez, To our College Dean, Mr. Conrado Vidal Jr, To the Dean of College of Nursing, Ms. Rozenie Flores, to our registrar, Ms. Margret Javier, To the head of Student Affairs, Ms. Lynn Solis, Parents, Guardians and my fellow graduates, a pleasant afternoon.
I was given a very difficult task today. Even I did not know where to start. I have this medal on me that say, Journalist of the Year Award. But I came into deep struggle writing on this stuff. Well here it goes. I’m going to read this before I cry.
I thought there was nothing on my life that I should be thankful of. For it has been cruel to me – stealing away my parents at the age of ten was truly unfair. Switching houses, asking for education sponsorship, having no photos for the annual family tree project, and having the fact that you have nobody to call tatay or nanay at the end of a stressful day. Life is tough. Life is cruel. I am bitter. I am angry. I am ungrateful. But seeing me today on this stage is a product of those uncertainties.
I thank the Lord for stealing away my parents, I’ve learned how to stand, fight and be tough. Finally, I’ve met my grandmother that trained me to cook. My uncle that thought me how to be quiet and patient. My aunt that thought me how to be responsible for myself. My cousins that thought me how to share. And my brother that thought me to be just me.
I thank the challenge of having an education sponsorship for driving me this crazy about school. If it isn’t about that challenge, I would not end up studying this well. I tell you if I had a stable educational plan, maybe it will take me years and years before I finish college. I never considered myself as an academically intelligent person; I just have that need to have education.
I thank the day that I don’t have any pictures for the “family tree” school project. It led me in finding a new family to compensate for that missing link. Knowing them day-by-day and trapping all the memories that I may have. Now the only problem I have is where to show those photos now that school is about to end.
I thank the moments where I don’t find my dad and mom to rescue the day. For that very moment I found my friends that helped me pass thru that stressful day. I had them listening to my most boring stories and to my most dull jokes. But still laughing and crying with me. They accepted me as I am and loving me for what I am not.
Yes, life is tough. Life is cruel. I am bitter. I am angry. But I thank life for doing her part of teaching me the most incredible lessons of it. Letting me realize that there are more beyond my loses that I should be thankful of.
A million thanks to my family for the endless support and unconditional love. To tito and tita for the gift of knowledge, to my cousins for the understanding and acceptance. To my dear brother for the inspiration to push thru life even without tatay and nanay.
To my Olivarian Family: Dean Vidal for the endless reminders about our thesis, for the patience in checking it and for your unmeasurable smiles. Dean Flores for the guidance and motherly love. Thank you for opening your office to students, handling their situation one by one, gracefully offering your hand to solve their creases.
Ms Lynn Solis for the serenity these past few days of our practice. And for the four-year friendship you’ve given us. I will forever admire your sense of humor and diligent stand.
To Olivarian Echo its past advisers Ms. Almy, Sir Guimba and Mam Klaris that helped me grow as a writer. And more beyond the published newspaper.
To the Nursing Council, thank you for the new built friendship.
To the teachers, clinical instructors and preceptors for nurturing and guiding us all through the way. To Sir Alvin, for the laughs and dedication for the graduating class.
To the parents of my fellow graduates, thank you for letting me know your children. To the fathers that worked hard for their education. To the mothers that always supported their way. To the OFW parents that can’t be here today, congratulations here are the products of your hard work. To the guardians and sponsors, thank you for your generosity.
To my dear friends, I cannot elaborate more. But thank you. Drama is not my stuff; you know what I’m trying to say now.
To my batch mates through all the laughs and cries of this roller coaster ride, thank you for holding on the loop, for screaming out when in doubt, for laughing out when it is right and for letting me join this fun, fun ride.
Walang katiyakang ibinibigay ang buhay. Ngunit paniguradong may patutunguhan ito. Nasa iyo na ang manibela, sa puntong ito dapat alam mo nang imaneho ito at ang direksyong gusto mong tunguhan.
Hindi porke Sarao ang apelido ko at maraming medalya ang nakasabit sa jeep ko, nangangahulugang mauuna ako sa karerang ito. Mas maganda sana kung sabay-sabay tayo sa biyaheng papunta sa tagumpay.
Maraming salamat po. Mabuhay batch 2008!
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yes, i did cry while delivering this. i dunno what happened but the tears fell down. but its all good. i also found my classmates crying when i came down the stage.
i did not receive the cum laude distinction, nonetheless they gave me the academic area award, my most awaited journalist of the year award (after being the editor in chief for three consecutive years) and to my surprise, (its really a surprise award because we didn’t rehearse this) the most outstanding olivarian award (which by the way was the highest distinction ever given in the college, tagaytay campus. i was the first to have that in the college.yehey!) so, there. i deeply thank the Lord for the endless blessings.
