VALEDICTORY ADDRESS - Don Bosco Technical Institute

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS
Thomas Anthony Capobianco
Our beloved Rector, Rev. Fr. Anthony Paul Bicomong, SDB, our school Administrator,
Rev.Fr. Rufo Zarate Jr., SDB, our Institutional Pastoral Affairs’ Head, Rev. Fr. Renato de
Guzman,SDB, our Principal, Mr. Lito Tenerife, Our Assistant Principals, Mrs. Wilma Gamo,
Mr. Hernando Los Baños, and Mr. Michael Millanes, our Area Heads and Shop Heads, Members
of the Faculty, Parents, my Batchmates, guests, ladies and gentlemen, good evening!
Life is a series of moments and small occurrences. In one moment, with one small
occurrence, everything can change. Life is a gift, an array of opportunities, a challenge, a neverending
fight, a mystery, a mission, a calling.
My fellow graduates, we are finally here; we’ve done it. This is it. This is the moment
we’ve all been looking forward to for the last ten months. We are here, now, heads held high,
hands side by side, united in one voice, one heart and one spirit in celebration of this momentous
event that marks the end of a truly unforgettable chapter in our young lives – High School.
We remember now all those moments we were together as the Nomadikos, the singing
batch, SENIORS: Class of 2012, all the trials we had to face, all those deadlines we needed to
beat, all those nights we stayed up late and sometimes never got to sleep at all. We
commemorate the loud laughter in the hallways, the playful shouting in the basketball courts, the
rigorous studying in the MIC, the joyful activities in the fields and auditoriums, the solemn
experience of the Holy Eucharist, and of course, the humorous teasing and memorable moments
in our very own classrooms. These are the moments, the small occurrences, the memories that
we will treasure for the rest of our lives. The hardwork we’ve put into everything we’ve done in
the past four years truly bear fruit in this one special occasion.
We are not alone in this evening of triumph and splendor; the glory of our Graduation is
shared by our beloved parents. We are truly blessed because not only are our efforts rewarded,
but also the selfless sacrifices that our parents have made for us. For some of us whose parents
are working abroad; they live a lonely life in exchange for a promise of a brighter tomorrow for
his or her son. For the single parents who withstand financial difficulties through the comfort and
love of his or her son; for the loving couple, who have built a strong foundation of love and
happiness for their son to grow and develop holistically, today is indeed a magnificent day; a day
worthy of celebration.
Not only is Graduation gratifying for us students who have overcome the hardships and
trials of High School, but also to the Salesian Educators who in one way or another have directly
or indirectly touched our lives, and guided us in this important chapter in our journey through
life. In behalf of the batch, I would want to express our deepest and most sincere gratitude to
Rev.Fr. Anthony Paul Bicomong, SDB, the Rector and head of this institution, for upholding the
quality of the educational system that Don Bosco Makati offers to its students. We would want to
thank the Salesians, to whom we owe the nourishment of our souls, our moral and our character

development; to Sir Lito Tenerife together with Mrs. Wilma Gamo, Mr. Hernando Los Baños,
Mr. Michael Millanes and Rev.Fr. Renato de Guzman, SDB, together with all subject area and
shop heads for playing key roles in allowing us students to grow academically, technically,
emotionally and most importantly, spiritually; to our first year teachers, who put up with all our
nonsense and child play; to our second year teachers, for helping us realize our potential, naming
us the Nomadikos, leaving their mark forever in our batch’s history; to our third year teachers
who have watched us change and have taught us values that influenced us to grow more
maturely; and to all our fourth year teachers who have stayed with us, suffered with us, laughed
and cried with us, and most importantly, believed in us. With you we share the glory of this
graduation; without you, none of our dreams will be realized.
On a personal note, I would want to thank God for answering my prayers and showering
me with so many blessings. Without Him, nothing is possible; by His hand, I was able to get
through the good and the bad times.
I would also want to thank Fr. Junji, Fr. Degz, Fr. Paul, Fr. Dindo, Fr. Noel, Fr. Ritchie
and Fr. Rey, from whom I’ve learned so much concerning my faith in God and my belief in the
teachings of the Church. I would want to thank Ma’am Myra Fabic, my first adviser in High
School, the first person who believed in me, to Ma’am Rosie Jane Mosquera, Sir Gregg
Querubin, Sir Jerson Villar, Sir Ares Gonzales, Ms. Jocelyn Nufable and Ma’am Lilibeth Antoya
from whom I learned so much in my second year, to Sir Mel Asuncion, my third year adviser, for
teaching me that lost time can never be found, to Ma’am Raquel Tesorero, Ma’am Lilia Mortiz,
Ma’am Charo Mae Lampad, and Ma’am Imee Quitasol, my close friends and avid supporters, to
Sir Jay Tauyan, my fourth year adviser, for teaching me that I can always do better, to Ma’am
Cora Yumol, Ma’am Malou Brutas, Ma’am April Joy Cruz, Ma’am Karen delos Reyes, Ma’am
Brenda Perez, Sir Jano Prado, Sir Dave Inocencio, Sir Alvin Paulin, Sir Peter Didulo, Sir Darwin
Buensuceso, Sir Sonny Tan, my Lipunang Akademya Animator, and Sir Alfred Lozanta, for
giving me so many opportunities to grow, excel, serve and lead, and for seeing in me the special
qualities that I did not see myself. These educators of mine have been with me from the start,
inspiring me to strive for excellence, sharing with me a sacred friendship that I hold very dear to
my heart. Who would also forget our ever forgiving, and supportive guidance counselor, Sir Gel
Clavero. He’s watched us turn from small kids to young men. To all my educators, thank you.
To my Lipunang Akademya Family: I could not have done it without you guys; thank
you for all the memorable experiences. To my Computer Technology I Family: you’ve been with
me every step of the way; I treasure this bond of brotherhood we have; I promise you that we’ll
do everything to make it stand against the test of time.
Furthermore, I would like to thank my brothers, Drey and Aaron. They have put up with
all my study rituals, from bad to worse to unimaginably unreasonable. They have shared in my
dream, and they share in this victory. Grandpa Nonoy, thank you for being the fatherly figure I
deeply longed for. Masakit nga balakang mo ngayon pero okay lang. Pag pinanood mo yung
video sana marinig mo ito. Grandma Salud, I hope you’re happy and proud of me in heaven.
Salamat at binabantayan mo kami dito. I would like to show my appreciation for those who
helped my mom and supported our family during the four months of her unemployment. Thank

you for keeping our hope alive. To Ms. Ruby Afable, Ms. Marissa Uguil, Mr. Emline
Concepcion, Ms. Beth Ilagan, Tita Eva, Kuya Alex, and Tita Cecil, thank you very very much.
And lastly to my mom, who has been my saving grace, my champion, my fan. Though
sometimes she is my enemy, she’ll always be my best friend. It’s you and me, together against
the world. This is for you mommy. I love you mommy.
To my dear batchmates, as we go our separate ways, to take the different paths that God
has laid out for us, let us bear in mind the mission; the challenge that our Alma Mater has given
us.
We are the youth. We are the future. We must work hard for our motherland, our country
the Philippines. This is our mission. This is our challenge. This is our calling. This is our
vocation. Let us remember these lines from El Filibusterismo, written by Dr. Jose Rizal:
“Nasaan ang kabataang maglalaan ng kanilang ginintuang mga sandali, ng kanilang
mga pangarap, at ng kanilang mga pagsisikap para sa kapakanan ng kanyang tinubuang lupa?
Nasaan ang kabataang may masaganang dugong maghuhugas sa ating napakaraming
kahihiyan, kasalanan, at kinasusuklaman? Dalisay at walang bahid ang gawin ninyong alay
upang iyon ay lubos na matanggap! Nasaan kayo kabataan na gigising ng bagong sigla ng
buhay na lumamig sa ating mga ugat, ng kalinisan ng isip na nadumihan sa ating utak at lagalab
ng sigasig na pumatay sa ating puso? Hinihintay naming kayo, kabataan! Halikayo at
naghihintay kami.”
All those retreats, recollections, games, gatherings, competitions, barkada get-togethers,
group projects, and all those moments and small occurrences, though little in magnitude, are
large in worth and are truly dear to every graduate in this Dome. We promise to keep in touch,
change for the better, work together to realize and live the dream that St. John Bosco has for each
one of us, and embrace the journey that God has paved way for us. If we get lost in our path, and
go out of our way, remember Don Bosco Makati, remember the smiles on our faces today,
remember the glory of this moment, and remember that you are not alone. Don’t give up; just
keep on fighting.
As Walt Disney once said, “If we can dream it, we can do it”. Nothing is impossible if we
work hard to reach goals. No wall is too high, no river too deep, no current too strong, no forest
too dark; nothing is impossible if we have God on our sides, and if we always keep dear to our
hearts everything that has happened in our lives.
With hopeful hearts, enlightened minds, big dreams, and still a long journey ahead, we
bring with us, in our hearts, all those memories, all those opportunities, all those failures, all
those small occurrences and all those moments. Ready to face the world head on, we proudly call
ourselves: The Graduates of Class 2012, ready to serve God, our neighbor and our society:
loving our land, helping all men; youth of today, forward march.
Ladies and gentlemen, it has been truly an honor and a privilege speaking in behalf of the
Graduates of Class of 2012. Thank you very much and to God be all the glory. Once again, to my
fellow graduates, congratulations!