16/04/2025
๐๐ฌ๐ค ๐๐ค๐๐๐๐จ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ง๐ช๐ฉ๐
๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐๐ผ, ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ผ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐๐น, ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ-๐ณ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐
It is not a regular occurrence that two incredible students get to stand in front of their entire graduating batch and address them with their own words of inspiration and gratitude. Yet, this school year 2024-2025, it is an occurrence openly welcomed by its graduates.
โOnce again, fear comes, but so does hope. Because the truth is, the obstacles taught us to dream, and live life the way we want to.โ
These were the lines of Alihya Dominique Lanuzo, graduating With Highest Honors, as she and her fellow highest honors graduate, Anthea Florence Portacio, each delivered incredible messages as their words of gratitude at the 8th Senior High School Graduation Ceremony of Nabua National High School on April 15, 2025.
Lanuzo and Portacio, standing proud in their uniforms adorned with multiple medals, recalled how Grade 12 challenged them and their fellow graduates to test their limits and rewrite what it meant to be intelligent and worthy. Instead of letting fear and doubt win, they highlighted how they rose above it.
โ12th grade was uncomfortable not because it was scary and long, but because it taught us to be better, and to have the courage to face our future head-on,โ Lanuzo declared. Her words captured the weight of their shared journey, one filled with academic hurdles, sleepless nights, and silent battles no one else could see.
Following Lanuzoโs heartfelt speech, fellow highest honor student, Anthea Florence Portacio took the stage and delivered her own stirring call to action.
โSana sa pag-alis natin sa paaralang ito, tandaan natin na hindi nasusukat ang talino base lamang sa galing sa akademiko. Matalino rin ang may pagmamahal sa sining, sa isports, may kabutihang loob, at marunong manindigan sa tama.โ
Portacio challenged her batchmates to rethink what it means to be intelligent and to be worthy. Beyond academic achievement, she emphasized the value of empathy, creativity, and moral integrity โ qualities often overlooked in conventional definitions of success.
Throughout both of Lanuzo and Portacio's speeches they both honored their own families, teachers, and organization advisers, for their unwavering support, and gave a proud salute to their friends and fellow student journalists.
As their speeches wrapped, both Lanuzo and Portacioโs speeches were met with resounding applause, not just for their excellence, but for the values they championed. Their words served as a reminder that education is more than grades and medals; itโs about growth, character, and the courage to walk into the unknown with integrity. Their messages have redefined what it meant to graduate.
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| Words by Joey Marthyna Baldoza /ThePencil
| Pubmat by Jared Stephen Aballa /AngPanulat
