This is the speech delivered by the High School Principal during the HS general assembly last September 27, 2005. 

 

      Good morning.

      First of all, let me thank you for the wonderful display of appreciation you showered on us last Friday. I believe I speak on behalf of the entire HS faculty and staff when I say how touched we were by your gestures of thoughtfulness and service. Truly, it was a day like no other. And so at this point, I would like to give special thanks to the different people and committees who worked so hard to make the celebration possible: Brian Ong – head of the Appreciation Day Committee and his members: Theodore Efann, Charles Yu, Geraldson Chua, Christopher Yu, Sherwin Su, Carl Cue, Earl Tanmantiong, Victorino Floro, and Pancho Nibungco. I would also like to give special thanks to the brave souls who volunteered or were assigned to switch roles with the faculty and staff.

      Once again, our heartfelt thanks.

      Celebrations and other important events in school, when fun or unusual, will always be remembered fondly. But when events are not only fun but also meaningful, they can be life altering, too. And I think what we had last Friday – the Switch Program – was just that. Remember Freaky Friday, 13 Going 30, Hot Chick, and Vice Versa? – the main characters’ understanding and appreciation of the person they turned into had their ‘aha’ experience and they became better and more mature people only after they had switched roles with someone else or lived in the shoes of another person for some time. Really, there seems to be no faster way of letting someone else understand your joys, pains, pride and problems than by letting him go through your life as though he were you.

      Last Friday’s Switch was an attempt to let the students experience the world of the adults at Xavier School . You saw how your classmate-subject teachers felt the burden of making an entire class listen to them for 50 minutes. Evan Cheng as the AP for Formation got to join an important discussion group to decide on important student matters. Filbert Tiu got to observe classes and sign documents on behalf of Ms. Apolinario. Casey Lim saw first hand what it meant to carry the burden of being Principal. Penguin, Little Sparrow, Jumbo, Big Bird, Crouching Tiger and Flying Pig all felt the pressure of maintaining order and discipline in and out of the classroom.

      Based on informal feedback from both teachers and students, Switched seemed to have been a success. However, I hope that Switch was not just a fun activity where students enjoyed seeing their teachers participate in games and activities. I hope that Switch did not just give the participants an intellectual peek at what it means to work in a school – I pray that Switch, albeit short, bore a hole of understanding and empathy into the hearts of all the participants’ so that they will be our allies into winning the cooperation and support of all students in school.

      It is so easy to relegate Appreciation Day 2005 to a fun memory which we’ll unearth during homecomings and reunions decades from now. But once again, I throw you another challenge: Let your experience last Friday serve as your guide in the infinite number of decisions you’ll have to make in your life today and in all the tomorrows to come.

      Today, the future seems bleak and hopeless because of the problems caused by man. Daily news features an abundance of crime, violence and greed. The young are made to idolize personalities who boast of nothing but superficial beauty or people who do anything for money. Given these, how can we expect a better tomorrow?

      If we truly want change, then even our role models should change. Society’s role models should be men of character and integrity – people who we can trust to do what is right. At this point, it is my honor to present to you three men who have significantly displayed honesty by surrendering money despite the hard times. Even if it were easier to say ‘finder’s keepers’, these men did the right thing and reported what was not theirs. Ladies and gentlemen, please help me in honoring: Mr. Erjun Moran and Mr. Jerry Odi of the DIARS and Mr. Conrado Pasilan of the Leopard Integrated Services, Incorporated. May I request our SC President, Mr. Casey Lim to hand the certificates. In this bad-news polluted atmosphere of ours, such display of character is very much needed.

      Once again, let’s us put our hands together in recognition of our three models of character.

Mga Ehemplo ng Katapatan

Bb. Aimee Apolinario, Punong Patnugot ng Web sa Mataas na Paaralan

Naaayon at Napapanahong Parangal

Bb. Aimee Apolinario, Punong Patnugot ng Web sa Mataas na Paaralan

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