Golden Harvest holds 15th commencement rites

Golden Harvest International School students toasted their hard work and accomplishments during their Recognition Ceremony on May 24, 2014, at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center.

Inspirational speaker Senior Airman Chris Daniel T. Divino congratulated the awardees for a job well done and imparted a compelling message to the students. “Successful people have one thing in common—they do what they love, and love what they do. …You will soon see that happiness, hard work, and dedication breeds success. You will begin to understand that opportunities really do come once in a lifetime. So take every chance you can get, continue to improve yourselves and be the best you can possibly become. Be, creative, be innovative, and be imaginative. Be everything you have always seen yourself to be. Shoot for the skies. Aim for the best and make an impression.

“Like the great Yoda from Star Wars said, ‘There is no try, only do or do not.’ Inspire yourselves and inspire others. …Find something you love, give it your all, and most importantly, give it to God.”

Daycare director Aida Viloria, principal Marilyn T. Divino, and Sr. Airman Chris Daniel T. Divino handed out certificates, medals and trophies to the young achievers.

All the students also got the chance to showcase their talents in dancing and singing.

The 15th Commencement Exercises began right after the Recognition Ceremony, also at the Multi-Purpose Center.

Dream Jayna A. Mariano, the Kinder 5 valedictorian, said in her speech, “I am very pleased to stand before you today, not because of the awards but because I am a part of an exceptional class—a class who achieved so much, a class of talented people.”

She offered thanks to her parents and teachers, saying, “All of our achievements is not ours alone, but yours.”

Kristel Andrea R. Lubi, the Kinder 5 salutatorian, told her classmates, “There will be new challenges, and new opportunities to learn. Some of us will meet new friends. Some of us will stay, and some of us will go somewhere else. But one thing will surely remain, the spirit of friendship we developed, the memory of a joyful year, the wisdom we got from our teachers and mentors, and the pride we shared as students of Golden Harvest International School.”

School principal Divino thanked all the parents for their undaunted sacrifices, unwavering patience, and for inculcating in their children their ambitious spirits. She also gave thanks to the faculty “for teaching them these first few steps. We know that it is not perfect, but missteps are not missteps at all. They are opportunities for learning new perspective.” For the graduates, she urged them to be always passionate to attain their goals, citing their theme, “Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievements.”

Guest speaker Escolastica T. Iguel, a retired public school teacher and currently teaching under the Title 1 Federal Program, shared a quote from Hellen Keller: “Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.” She said that every child “is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. That depends on how much time we give and how patient and understanding we are with our children.”

Awardees were presented with medals and trophies by Daycare director Viloria, Divino, Golden Harvest spiritual adviser Samuel Ramirez, and Iguel.

The event concluded with a prayer and the community singing, Mighty to Save. (PR)