The BOT, our Guest Speaker, dear parents, my colleagues in the academe, the Graduating Class of 2010, friends, ladies and gentlemen--

Part of St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians declares,

 "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any EXCELLENCE, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.  Then the God of peace will be with you."    

                                                                                               Philippians 4:8-9

          It is heartening to see that despite the difficulties of the times, we have the Graduating Class of 2010 finally making it this graduation day. I believe it is because of the collaboration and partnership of all the stakeholders—students, parents, teachers, school administrators and staff—impassioned to provide quality Christian education despite the odds, by the grace and power of God.

           As a Christian school, we are mindful that beyond employment generation and skills development, we always have in our hearts and minds the development of the next generation of godly leaders and socially transformative citizens, the molding of servant leaders, and whose passion is EXCELLENCE.  Yes, excellence, in a spiritual sense—the pursuit of righteousness, and to borrow the line of one educator, to “make our students heroes with halos.”

           On this note, I congratulate the Graduating Class of 2010.  May you, indeed, become “heroes with halos” as you step into the world of work or continue with the next phase of your education, pursuing whatever is worthy of praise and glorifying to God.

           I wish you God’s best.

           Since this is election year, allow me, in a few words, to steer the idea and practice of excellence into the electoral process.  Let us all be resolved to ELECT EXCELLENCE or the pursuit of righteousness in all that we do and bring this resolve in the political arena in the process of choosing our national and local political leaders in the upcoming elections.  We must be vigilant to hidden agenda of those running for key positions.  We have to relentlessly advocate eradication of corruption, sustainable development, love of country and righteous governance.

Speaking from the standpoint of a private educational institution, let us all the more be determined to bring quality Christian education to the forefront of national transformation; hence, to quote the slogan of Education Nation, an advocacy group for educational reform, “We need an education president! We need an education government! Must be a priority, must be the priority!”

 Thank you very much and, again, welcome to this year’s Commencement Exercises.