When Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte graced the graduation of a school in Mangaldan, Pangasinan, it was to ask students there to honor their parents, whose sacrifices made possible the fruits of their labor.
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte at the graduation ceremonies of Mangaldan National High School in Pangasinan. (OVP photo)
Speaking as keynote speaker during a commencement exercise, the official gave tribute to parents for supporting their children and providing them with the means to achieve their dreams.
“This journey would have been unimaginably impossible if not for your parents, whose unconditional love for you they may have shown in a thousand different ways — one of which was the unbelievable amount of sacrifice they had to make to give you the best kind of life,” she told graduates.
Duterte credited the parents for the success of their children finishing senior high, saying that the milestone was also an achievement for them.
“Ang graduation ninyo ngayong hapon na ito ay hindi lang para sa inyo, kundi para sa mga magulang ninyo at sa mga guro ninyo (Your graduation this afternoon isn’t only for you, but for your parents and teachers, too),” she told graduates who braved the rain during the ceremony on Wednesday, July 12.
“Ang araw na ito ay para sa kanila dahil sila ang naghirap. Ang kanilang luha, dugo, at pawis ang rason kung bakit kayo nakaupo dyan ngayon (This day is for them because they were the ones who worked hard. Their tears, blood, and sweat are the reason why you are seated there now),” she added.
Similar to her earlier messages to graduates, the Vice President also advised them about how to face challenges and failures.
“Ang tao na dumanas ng sakit, dumaan sa challenges, failures — yon ang may matututunan (Someone who went through pain, went through challenges, failures — they are the ones who learn),” she said.
Duterte reminded graduates to be open and optimistic as unfulfilled dreams are avenues for much greater opportunities.
“But there are times that even with hard work, even with determination, a dream slips through one’s fingers, causing disappointment and despair,” she said.
“I learned that sometimes, instead of aspiring for the impossible, we should follow the path that leads us to a place that allows us to reach our full potential,” the official added.
