By
Prof. Rolando S. Dela Cruz
(Speech delivered before the graduating students of Darwin International School, Batch 2010. 28 March 2010, Sta. Maria, Bulacan)
Our distinguished Commencement Speaker, Dr. Elizabeth M. Perfecto; beloved parents; the officers, faculty and staff of Darwin International School; my dear students of 4th year and Grade 6 who will be graduating today; friends, guests, ladies and gentlemen; Good afternoon. Happy graduation day to all parents and students!
Before the establishment of Darwin, it is not a popular idea in Bulacan to enter the top universities, namely UP, Ateneo, La Salle, UST, San Beda and Mapua. Thus, was born the MISSION of Darwin of Darwin International School. This mission is to encourage students to dream big and to help them enter the top universities of the country. It is my honour to tell you the results of this mission, so far.
In 2007, 93% of our first batch of graduates passed in the top universities. In 2008, it became 96%. In 2009, placement improved at 97%. This year, 2010, we have finally attained the highest results of our mission: 100% of our students passed the top universities!
How are we able to do this at Darwin? We send our graduating students to the top schools through our enhanced curriculum. This means that we implement the Department of Education’s curriculum, but with added topics as well as added subjects. In this sense, Darwin’s curriculum is unique. To our graduating students, however, do not think that your having graduated from Darwin automatically makes you the best students of the best universities. It is not automatic. You need to work hard for that. You need to further develop your study habits.
Darwin is able to produce the best in you, because we innovate the Darwin system every year. We believe that change must always be constant. To name a few, these changes included instituting new subjects, implementing the centralized two-exam system, revising the honours program, requiring a high mastery grade, innovating the tutorial system, implementing the English Police system, providing free Summer Review for 3rd and 4th year students, offering free review for the Mock UPCAT exam handled by UP academics, institutionalizing new methods of teaching like the e-learning program, strict Code of Conduct, etcetera. More of such improvements and changes shall be implemented in the coming months and years.
Every year, Darwin improves its standards. But these changes are only slowly and incrementally being implemented because students in the higher levels, especially the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 batches of Darwin, are absolutely all transferees from other schools. These batches had to catch up on Darwin standards because of their deficient earlier foundations. For example, most, if not all, of them were not English-speaking when they entered Darwin. Most also didn’t have good study habits. Gladly, there is constant improvement, batch after batch of graduates – based on the Deped’s National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) and the annual college entrance exams. It is because the later batches, like this graduating batch, had more years of exposure to Darwin’s educational program and innovations.
While I talk about the accomplishments of our graduates, let this occasion be a venue for me to remind our beloved graduating students. Do not assume, for instance, that you, Gelo Buluran and Carmela Reyes, being the Valedictorian and Salutatorian of this batch, respectively, already know everything that every high school student in the Philippines must know. I admire, respect, and believe you and your intelligence, but you must be prepared to encounter the other Gelo Bulurans and Carmela Reyeses of this country when you go to the top universities this June. This goes true also to all members of this graduating batch, BATCH PAGBABAGO, who must not think that your being graduates of the number 1 school in Bulacan has given you the license in college to waste your time. Do not waste your golden opportunities! If you do, you will be the greatest loser of your own negligence.
In the NCAE, this year is the first time that the graduating students of Darwin have received all line of 9 grades, the lowest is 94% while the highest is 99+%. This means that you belong to the upper 6% to upper 1% of the whole country’s graduating students, based on the NCAE. Congratulations to all of you! You are able to defend the Darwin tradition of being Top 1 in the whole Bulacan and being one of the best in Region 3. But I need to remind you: more than ever, you need to be serious with your studies in order to sustain your momentum. There is a saying that goes: “Ang kutsilyo, kapag di hinahasa – pumupurol.” Darwin taught you to embrace suffering in order to succeed. Now, I add: Embrace the blessings you have already received. If you don’t, it will leave you – and it will leave you forever!
Darwin has given you a strong foundation to enter the country’s best universities. Be cautioned, though, that the goal of these elite schools is not simply to collect your tuition, but to give you the most difficult lessons and kick out those who will not meet their standards. Therefore, anticipate very demanding programs in college, focus, and be disciplined.
Ngayon na tinulungan na kayo ng Darwin para makapasok sa pinangarap nyong mga tanyag at pinakamahuhusay na unibersidad, nasa inyong mga kamay na ngayon ang inyong ikatatagumpay o ikabibigo. Di nyo kailangang mainggit sa kakayanan o kaalaman ng ibang mahuhusay na estudyante, ang dapat ay itanim nyo sa inyong puso at isipan na dapat nyong alamin at unawain ang bawat pahina ng libro na ipababasa sa inyo.
Sa oras ng mga pagsubok, di kailangang manghina ang inyong paniniwala sa sarili, sapagkat tinuruan kayo sa Darwin na magkaroon ng malaking pangarap at positibong pananaw sa buhay. Kung kayo ay magiging negatibo, negatibo din ang epekto. Kung kayo ay magiging positibo, positibo din ang aanihin ninyo.
Di dapat tumakas sa mga problema at isisi ang kabiguan sa iba, ang nararapat ay kilalanin ang mga kahinaan at mga pagkakamali, at bumangon kung saan kayo madarapa. (Si Manny Pacquiao nga na pinakamagaling ngayong boksingero sa mundo, tinatamaan ang mukha at katawan kapag sinutsuntok.) Di dapat lumaki ang inyong mga ulo at maging mayabang dahil sa angking talino; sa halip ay manatiling mapagkumbaba, bilangin ang inyong mga biyaya at matutong magpasalamat sa mga tumulong sa inyo – kabilang ang inyong mga mahal na magulang, kaibigan, guro, paaralan, komunidad at bayan. Dapat na lalo kayong matutong magtiwala at magmahal sa Diyos na nagbibigay ng awa, subalit huwag puro awa ang hingin, sa halip ay ialay sa Diyos ang busilak na gawa.
I expect you to win in many of your battles in life. But in order to win, always remember the saying: “Ang di marunong lumingon sa pinangglingan, di makararating sa paroroonan.” A very powerful Filipino value that you can use all throughout your journey in fulfilling your own mission in life.
Binabati ko kayong lahat na mga magulang at mga magsisipagtapos.
Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. Patnubayan nawa tayo ng Maykapal.
No comments:
Post a Comment