This was the speech delivered by Englebert during the thanksgiving lunch for the Xavier benefactors held at the Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club in Laguna last February 17, 2007.

      When I was asked by Fr. Zuloaga to prepare a simple thanksgiving speech for today, I really wanted to say “No” to Father since I’m not really used to giving speeches especially in front of a very large crowd of people; but suddenly it hit me. This is the first and probably the only time I will be able to express my profound gratitude directly to the people who have helped me get this far.

      Good day! I am Englebert Josef Go Chua, a senior, and a product of your selflessness and service.

My stay in Xavier School in San Juan has spelt “life” for me. Not only because I have stayed there since I was only 5 years old, but also because there, I’ve seen my life unfold right before my eyes.

      Never in my entire life did I imagine that I could actually do a lot of things in a span of a very limited time. It never occurred to me that I could lead an entire class as its class president, nor did I imagine that I could be part of Dance X, the team that revolutionized the dance troupe of Xavier School by winning the recently concluded national Skechers’ Streetdance Battle. Never in my entire life did I imagine that I could act, that I could model, that I could stage a play, that I could write, that I could be the head of our grade school yearbook, that I could be a volleyball varsity player, that I could serve my batchmates as their Grade 7 Batch Representative and that I could do all of these things while still balancing them with my studies.

      But all these would never have happened if it weren’t because of you, our dear benefactors. Your help has really gone a long way in helping students, like me, explore the endless possibilities their lives have to offer. The door that led to a bright future was shut right in front of our faces because of some unfortunate circumstances, but you, you unhesitatingly forged the key that will help us open that door.

      More than the financial help, you have also helped us become more confident, confident that there are people who believe in us and who are very much willing to sacrifice for our education. Furthermore, more than the money, you have given us the gift of security, the security of a brighter future because of our Xavier education.

      I really don’t know what would have happened to us if such a scholarship program was not present in Xavier School . A lot of students would have been deprived of the holistic formation, I believe, only Xavier School can offer.

      I have been constantly active in our school activities because of my passion to return what you have shared with me. I know that my efforts are not enough compared to what I have received, but I promise that I will give everything back when the right time comes.

      I have friends who are also Grant-in-Aid students. They are actually somehow envious of me because I have this wonderful opportunity to talk with you. Like me, they too are very grateful for all the things you have done for us. You just don’t know how thankful we really are. Words are simply not enough to capture the whole essence of what we want to say.

     Now that I am about to leave Xavier, I think it is just timely to present and humble myself before you, to you whom I offer a great part of myself. Let your light shine! Luceat Lux!

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