It might seem strange to start a story with an ending.

But Mitch Albom, in his novel Five People You Meet in Heaven once wrote: All endings are beginnings. We just dont know it at the time. And today, ladies and gentlemen, just like what the classic song sings, weve only just begun. To our supervisors, heads, principals, teachers, parents, and co-graduates, good morning. Today is a fairy tale were all living. And this fair y tale is real inside our hearts. Today, let us all believe that we are Princes and Princesses living in a castle which is our school. In our six years of existence in this kingdom, we slay dragons and fought different forces which are the challenges that hinder us to be at this grand ball, our graduation day. Let us all rejoice, shout for joy and celebrate this moment. This day might be temporary, but its memories will forever be treasured, cherished and remembered. As we gather, let us once more ride our chariots and time travel to the very first day we all met. Everything is a blur. We do not know each other. We all came from different kingdoms with different attitudes and different beliefs. And suddenly, a fairy godmother came in sight our first grade teacher. She taught us melodious songs and alphabets and numbers. She taught us magical spells which our found in our textbooks. We learned to live together, to love our family and above all, we learned to say thank you and Im sorry. Days passed us by so fast that we didnt notice we are all growing up. And just like any other fairy tales, we all had our wicked stepmothers and stepsisters who want nothing but bring us down. They are the hardships we all experienced as we traverse in our magical journey. Sometimes, our mothers needed to borrow money to send us to school. Our fathers needed to work 24 hours a day just to make both ends meet. They all do that for the love of their children, for the sake of giving nothing but the best - to pamper us, to support us and to help us achieve this momentous event. With all that, I believe that this is the best time and opportunity for us to look back and give what is must to our beloved Kings and Queens, our dear parents. Nanay and Tatay, thank you for raising me the best way you can despite the many challenges and hardships in life. Thank you for the coins you gave me for my baon. Thank you for the days and nights you didnt stop working just to provide what I need. Thank you for everything, for the love and care you showered upon me everyday. In like manner, Id like to thank our fairy godmothers, our teachers, who regardless of our naughtiness and noisiness stayed with us. Thank you for continuously molding us into the persons we ought to be. Thank you for instilling in us the values we should all possess. Thank you for bringing out the best in us. Thank you for supporting us everytime we joined in different contests. Thank you for the knowledge and the wisdom. Above all, thank you for giving us the opportunity to learn. Most of all, I thank the Lord God Almighty for my existence. For without His divine providence, it is impossible for me to stand here before you today. I thank Him for my life and my talent. I thank Him for the experiences, be it good or bad.
Jacqueline E. Alan Batch 2013 Lucena East VI Elementary School

To our dear teachers, rest assured that we would always remember the kindness and goodness that you have taught us. Our gratitude will not end here but simply, this is the beginning of our utmost recognition of your life that you have shared with us. My dear classmates, this may be the end of our magical journey, but there are many more to come. There will still be dragons and wicked stepmoms. So we should not stop persevering, we should not stop learning. Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen, Peter Pan taught me not to say goodbye. Because goodbyes mean theres no turning back. So let me say farewell and I hope that we see each other in Neverland, where we can fly, where we wont grow up and where dreams are turned into reality. But before I leave, let me quote Giovanni Boccaaccio. You must read, you must persevere, you must sit up nights, you must inquire and exert the utmost power of your mind. If one way does not lead to the desired meaning, take another; if obstacles arise, then still another; until, if your own strength holds out, you will find that clear which at first looked dark. Thank you and good day!

Jacqueline E. Alan Batch 2013 Lucena East VI Elementary School