ANG ALAY NINYONG KAALAMAN, GAMIT NAMIN SA PAG-UNLAD NG BAYAN

“VALEDICTORY ADDRESS”

(Charles G. Lim)

High school life…isang landas na tinahak natin sa loob ng apat na taon,ginugulan ng oras at panahon,at nagbigay liwanang sa lahat ng ating mga tugon…Parang isang napakagandang panaginip na tila bumalot sa ating buong katauhan…Dito natin nakita ang mga tinuturing nating kaibigan, mga kaklase na lubos ang kakulitan, at mga gurong walang sawang nagbibigay ng katalinuhan…Dito rin natin natutunang maging responsable sa mga gawain,maging aktibo at mabuksan ang talento, makipagsapalaran sa bawat pagsubok na ating pinagdaanan, at syempre, ang magmahal …

Sino nga ba ang makakalimot sa ating mga pinagsamahan?...sa mga tawa at halakhak?sa ating walang-tigil na kadaldalan…?sa mga walang-sawang kwentuhan…?at sa mga bagay na dito lang sa ARAYAT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL natin naranasan…?---iyon ang mga bagay na nagsilbing inspirasyon ko sa pagkamit ng susi na bumukas sa pintuan tungo sa aking tagumpay…at dahil doon, naghanda ako ng isang tula at ito ay aking handog sa lahat ng nagsilbing inspirasyon ko…

                                 I

                              Sa aking pagtahak sa mundong ibabaw

Itong paaralan ay naging ‘sang saklaw

 gabay at liwanag na nagsilbing ilaw

at itong landas, ginunita ang tanglaw

II

Mga kamag-aral, aking nakilala

Nagkaroon ng kaibigang labis ang tuwa

Inspirasyon ko sa pag-abot ng tala

Hindi malilimot, samahang barkada

III

Mga alaalang may ngiti sa mukha

Walang kapantay kislap ng mga luha

Dito sa buhay ay umaagos pa nga

Lungkot at kasiyaha’y ‘di maipinta

IV

Sadyang mabilis ang mga pangyayari

At napakakulay nitong bahaghari

pinagsamahan natin, sa puso’y itatali

 dito sa isipan ay aking ikukubli

Minsan tayong nangarap at nagsikap…kaya heto tayo ngayon, magmamartsa sa isang seremonyang nagpapatunay ng ating tagumpay na dadalhin natin habang buhay…

Ngayon ay ang araw ng pagtatapos, maghihiwaly na tayo ng landas. Iba’t-ibang tao na ang ating makikilala at iba-ibang landas ang ating tatahakin. Darating ang mga panibagong problema na susubukan nating lampasan. Ngunit kahit saan man tayo dalhin ng tadhana…ito ang aking maipapangako sa inyo, HINDI KO KAYO MAKAKALIMUTAN AT MAHAL KO KAYONG LAHAT!!

Kaya,mga kapwa ko magsisipagtapos, ,maging bukas ang ating isipan para sa makabuluhang pakikialam at pakikibaka sa malaking hamong ito. Magsikap tayo, magsipag pa tayo sa pagtuklas ng bagong karunungan…sapagkat matindi ang hamon sa atin---na tayo ay may mahalagang papel na dapat nating magampanan…ito ay ang pag-abot sa ating mga pangarap.’Wag tayong mawawalan ng pag-asa dahil tayong lahat ay biniyayaan ng katalinuhan upang magamit sa ating kinabukasan…

 Sa lahat ng aking mga naging kaibigan …mga ENGXTERXZ!maraming salamat sa inyong lahat…sa inyong suporta, sa lahat ng maga alaala…at sa ating mga pinagsamahan,hindi ko kayo malilimutan kahit na paghiwalayin pa tayo ng tadhana…kayo ang kumumpleto sa aking high school life…at hindi ko pinagsisisihan na naging parte kayo ng aking buhay…kahit saan man tayo magpunta ay mananatiling matatag ang ating samahan . Sana ay ‘wag niyong malimutan ang aking kakulitan…

Sa bumubuo ng “C.A.T family”—oras na para mamaalam tayo sa isa’t-isa…sana ay hindi natin makalimutan ang lahat ng ating pinagsamahan … Sa bawat araw na kapiling ko kayo, ako’y naging masaya at naging maganda ang pakikitungo natin sa bawat isa…sa bawat pagmartsa natin ay natutunan ko ang mga bagay na ngayon ko lang naranasan…maraming salamat sa mga alaala!Hindi ko makakalimutan ang lahat ng ating pinagsamahan.

Sa aking mga kaklase at kay Sir Ryan na bumubuo ng klase ng IV-Einstein, maraming salamat sa inyo dahil kayo ang nagbukas kung sino ang tunay na ako,salamat sa mga tulong na ibinigay niyo sa akin,sa mga pag-unawa at pakikisama ninyo …dito sa batch na ito ay naramdaman ko ng lubusan ang inyong suporta sa akin…kayo ang nagbigay-kaalaman sa akin upang makamit ko ang karangalan na ito, dito nagsimula ang aking tagumpay…sa apat na sulok ng ating kwarto…”walang limutan!sana ay hindi ninyo makalimutan ang ating mga pinagsamahan…at kahit na tayo ay maghihiwalay na, kahit tayo ay magkakaroon na ng kanya-kanyang landas…sana ay dalhin pa rin natin ang mga alaala…nawa’y magsilbi itong inspirasyon tungo sa maganda nating kinabukasan ”

Sa mga gurong walang-sawang sumusuporta sa akin…inihahatid ko po sa inyo ang aking pasasalamat dahil tinulungan niyo ako sa pagtuklas ng aking mga talento at abilidad, nagbigay kayo ng mga pangaral na nagsilbing inspirasyon ko sa pagkamit ng kinatatayuan ko ngayon. Naging patnubay kayo hindi lang sa akin kung ‘di  pati na rin sa lahat ng magsisipagtapos ng BATCH 2012…hinding-hindi ko po kayo makakalimutan dahil narito kayo sa isip ko,narito kayo sa puso ko at narito kayo sa mga kamay ko sapagkat kasama kayo sa pag-abot sa aking mga pangarap---hindi mawawala sa aking isipan ang mga aral na ibinigay niyo sa akin dahil gagamitin ko ito sa pagtuklas ng bagong talino at ito ang magsisilbing gabay at liwanag ko sa landas na aking tatahakin. Sa inyo pong lahat, “aalis na po kami sa paaralang ito…magpapaalam na po kami sa inyo…masakit mang isipin na kami ay lilisan na ngunit ito na ang nakaguhit sa ating mga palad…salamat po sa apat na taong pamamalagi ninyo sa aming klase… ”

Sa mga kapwa ko magsisipagtapos, ngayon ay mamamaalam na tayo sa ating mga kaibigan, sa ating mga guro, at sa ating paaralan. Ngunit sana, kahit saan tayo magpunta ay wag nating kakalimutan na minsan ay nag-aral tayo sa paaralang ANHS at may mga guro at kaibigan tayong nakasama sa loob ng apat na taon at gumugol ng mga alaala…at sana, kahit na umalis na tayo dito ay wag tayong mawawala.

At higit sa lahat, nagpapasalamat ako sa aking pamilya na walang-sawang sumuporta sa akin, lalong-lalo na sa aking Inay, dahil hindi niya ako pinapabayaan. Alam ko na wala na siyang higit pang maipamamana sa akin kung ‘di itong edukasyon.Siya ang nagbigay sa lahat ng aking mga pangangailangan dito sa ating paaralan.Walang-sawang nangaral at nagbigay payo sa akin upang makamit itong aking tagumay…kung kaya’t itong aking karangalan ang regalo ko sa kanya,ito ang magiging tanda ng kanyang ginugol na oras at panahon para ako’y maging edukado. Taglay niya ang katangian ng isang mabuting ina sapagkat lahat ay kinaya niya upang ako ay makapagtapos kaya naman hindi ko siya binigo dahil pinaghusayan ko ang aking pag-aaral at narito ngayon. Bilib na bilib ako sa kanya dahil siya ang nagsilbing ina at ama ko…ipinakita niya na hindi hadlang ang pagiging “single mom” upang matustusan ang aking mga pangangailangan.Lahat ng oras niya ay kanyang ibinuhos sa kanyang pagtatrabaho upang bigyan ako ng magandang kinabukasan.At sa puntong ito, hindi ko ikinakahiya sa inyong lahat na siya ang naging Mama ko…siya ay aking ipinagmamalaki dahil kahit mag-isa lang siya ay napalaki niya ako ng maayos, hindi ko makakalimutan ang kanyang pag-aaruga sa akin…IPINAGMAMALAKI ko na siya ang aking nanay na nagturo sa landas na tatahakin ko…  Kaya sa lahat ng “single mom”---SALUDONG-SALUDO  PO AKO SA INYO!…at sa lahat ng mga magulang ng mga magsisipagtapos…binabati ko po kayo sapagkat natapos niyo na ang ikalawang yugto ng pagiging magulang sa inyong mga anak!...MABUHAY PO KAYONG LAHAT!!

At bilang panghuli, sana ay ‘di niyo makalimutan na minsan ay may isang CHARLES LIM na dumaan sa buhay ninyo…sana ay ‘di ninyo makalimutan ang CHARLES na aktibo at responsableng estudyante…sana ay ‘di niyo makalimutan na may isang CHARLES na ubod ng  kakulitan at kadaldalan, si CHARLES na sadyang enerhitiko at puro kalokohan,si CHARLES na laging nagbibigay ng payo sa anumang problema niyo , si CHARLES na naging kaibigan at kaklase niyo, si CHARLES na naging totoo sa inyo, naging kasama niyo, nagpatawa sa inyo, at si CHARLES na ‘di sumusuko sa anumang daanang pagsubok, …at sana, hindi ninyo makalimutan na minsan ay napatawa at napahalakhak kayo ng inyong lingkod na makata na walang-sawang nagtutula sa tuwing may programa…Nawa’y ang CHARLES na nagsasalita ngayon ay nag-iwan ng mga alaalang hindi malilimutan …’Wag niyo sanang lilimutan ang mga panahong magkakasama tayo…dahil ako, HINDI KO MAKAKALIMUTAN na naging parte kayo ng buhay ko…

Ngayong oras na ito ay nakamit na natin ang diplomang ilang taon din nating pinagpaguran…Ngayong oras na ito ay nasuklian na ang dugo at pawis na ating pinuhunan upang makarating sa ating kinalalagyan…at ngayong oras na ito ay nagbubunga na ang itinanim nating karunungan sa ating isipan…

Sa oras na ito, ang yugto natin bilang mga estudyante ng High School ay magsasara na…at may bagong yugto naman tayong papasukan…mas mahirap…ngunit dapat ay mas determinado tayo sa pagpasok sa yugtong iyon…Nagpapasalamat ako sa POONG MAYKAPAL dahil binigyan niya ako ng pagkakataong makasama ko kayong lahat…BINABATI KO KAYONG LAHAT SA INYONG TAGUMPAY!!

Nagwakas na ang 197 araw na pagsasama natin sa taong ito…natapos na ang 1,773 oras ng ating tawanan at kwentuhan…nagsara na ang 106,380 minuto ng ating pagsisikap at paghihirap…at naglaho na ang 6,382,800 segundo na ating pinagpaguran kasama ang ating mga kaklase at kaibigan…ang lahat ng ito ay mapapawi lamang sa isang araw na pagpapaalam sa isa’t-isa…ngunit hindi ito nangangahulugan na mapuputol na ang ating koneksyon sa bawat isa…sapagkat kahit mamaalam tayo ay mananatili tayong magkaibigan at magkabarkada…

 Ito na siguro ang pinakahihintay nating araw…ang umakyat sa entablado at tanggapin ang katibayan ng ating pagsisikap…sa inyong lahat…sana ay ipagpatuloy niyo pa ang magandang simulain!

“Ang lahat ng ating pinagsamahan ay hindi mahihimlay,ang ating pagkakaibigan ay panghabang-buhay…”—muli ,ako si Charles Lim na nagsasabing “PAALAM AT MARAMING SALAMAT----HIGH SCHOOL LIFE!!”

PSYCHOANALYSIS: A Daydream Journey

(CHARLES G. LIM)

Kring…Kring…Kring…!!!—my alarm clock rings again. It’s 6:00 in the morning, time to prepare for school. The morning was so cold that it makes me feel frozen, longing for hot chocolate drink. Spending 45 minutes in preparing myself for school is enough time for me.

I went to Arayat National High School with a smile, straight to our room and greet my classmates “GOOD MORNING!”. I sit on my chair while waiting for our adviser to come. After few minutes, The bell resonated and our adviser came and as usual, welcoming him “Good Morning, Sir!” was the first thing we did. Afterwards, he began checking the attendance. While having the discussion, some strange things happened---the room was tripled in size and I suddenly noticed myself holding an INVITATION LETTER that says:

WHAT: Alumni Homecoming Reunion Batch 2011-2012

WHERE: Arayat International University (A.I.U)

WHEN: March 15, 2025

7:00 p.m.

I was amazed and fascinated with the printed memorandum. I began painting a smile with tears flowing on my eyes—but wait!” What day is today?” I looked at my calendar and was surprised. “Oh! It’s already March 14, 2025!”---it’s been 13 long years since I progressed high school. I missed my former Alma Mater Arayat National high School, now known worldwide as the ARAYAT INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY. Who could imagine that after 13 years of struggle, my former Alma Mater has now began reaching triumph?

Motivated in manner, I started looking at our class photographs—I miss my colleagues so much! Who could forget our years of friendship, years of hardship and years of craziness? Those moments that I consider inspiration in reaching my success.

I was overwhelmed with eagerness as my tears continue to flow. My mind was invigorated with some questions like what they have accomplished and how is their life after 13 long years.

…

The day came and I was in urgency! It’s approximately 7:oo in the evening! I drove my luxury car which is a black limousine when I decided to full-load my tank at a gasoline station, owned by Mech. Engr. DARWIN. He also owns one of the leading auto shops in Banawe which is an opposition of ALQUIN’s auto shop in Quezon.

Across the station, one can see profitable buildings and shops of high-end clothing line managed by KC and her corporate partner CHRISTELEIGH which is premeditated by the most well-known innovative designers in Philippines, CANDY and MARIZ.

At the end of the boulevard was a “Game and Software Shop” owned by NINO ANGELO. He is the most prominent game designer in different gadgets such as “MULTIPLY BOX” conceived by Engr. LESTER and the ”SOFTSNOW TOUCH” which is designed by Computer Engr. EULLYSIS.

When I opened the television in my car, I saw the accustomed face of the newscaster—oh! I remember! It’s ANNE COREEN! She is broadcasting about a philanthropist’s discovery. But wait…! That was MARCO!! He had discovered the “missing link” of the evolution of man and named it after his name—“Marcopithecus Pinedisus Absentis” which means “logical thinker”. I was shocked with that news! When I altered the channel, I also saw the familiar face of the visual reporter, it’s PRINCESS! She is reporting about a famous astronaut. I was also shocked with that news because it was JOSHUA who as the first astronaut to live 15 consecutive days planet Neptune. He had just landed back to Earth safe yesterday. With that, I salute him for having a successful mission. When I switched the television again to another channel, I saw a familiar face having an intermission number on the dance floor. With his dazzling moves, I knew that it was MARVIN who gained popularity after winning 1^st place in Pinoy Little Sister“ which is a show of ANGELA.

I am continuously driving along EDSA when I noticed the mega billboards. I was shocked when I saw SHEENA LYN, JUDY LOU and DONNA bannering “Bench’s 2025 Fiery Summer Collection Line”. With their dashing looks, well-projected positions and finely crafted body curvatures, they are now set to entice every man’s eyes. Another billboard caught my attention; it was the proposed Urban Development Project by Ayala Lands which is the 16^th branch of Marquee Mall established by renowned high-end architects ANGEL, RONNEL and JERRICK.

After 30 minutes of driving, I finally arrived at AIU---everything seems changed. As I stand in the front gate of the university, I saw a “Plaque of Recognition” for those who designed the university---I was shocked with the carved names of Engr. JESUS BELTRAN III, Engr. ADRIAN GALANG, and Engr. NOEL RYAM GALANG together with their architect, JOSEPH LUIS. Who could visualize that some of my former classmates designed a prestigious university?

As I walked inside the university, I heard a Praise Song and I guess it comes from the chapel of the university. As I walked through, I found a very nice chapel where the priest is having a homily---but wait! I know that priest! It’s …It’s…It’s ROLLY! Now I remember! He is now known as Msgr. Fr. ROLLY---one of the well-known healing priests in the Philippines. I went inside and I saw my favorite choral group singing “HALLELUIAH”. Their lead singer was also my former classmate, CAMILLE CABRERA. She is now gratified with her own life and her marriage to RICHARD JAMES, a psychometrician at DSWD.

After the mass, I went to the school canteen where I saw other of my former classmates. CHERRY, VERONICA, SHEILA and ANGELICA C. told me that they are now high-paid nurses and they are having their vacation from their respective overseas work while ANGELICA B. is working at St. Luke’s Medical Center as a radiologist. As I walked through the corridor, I saw EVANGELYN and told me that she is now a successful dentist and now has her own clinic at San Fernando, Pampanga with seven more branches located at Manila. I also saw GEMMADEL who is now working as a high-paid Certified Public Accountant Lawyer at San Miguel Corporation Headquarters in Pasig City. She also worked as a secondary Math teacher but stopped when she decided to switch as an accountant.

I went outside and all I saw in the university were buildings of six floors excluding the rooftop of each building. ROOFTOP?! Let’s see what’s in the rooftop. I used an elevator to reach the rooftop and there I saw 15 choppers. I was impressed when I saw a landing helicopter. Shocked in expression, I saw the familiar face of the pilot with one another familiar face sitting beside him. ---oh! That pilot! It’s NORMAN! And the one beside is…Oh! It’s CHRISTIAN! I knew that Norman is one of the outstanding pilots in Asia. He told me that he owns an airport named, “Asian Intercontinental Airport” wherein the main branch is located in Hong Kong. On the other side, Pilot Christian now owns two flying schools in the Philippines namely “Pilot’s College Academia” and “Christian International Flying School Inc.”.

After few minutes, we heard the beat of drums, sound of an organ, and chords of electric guitars played at the same time with a lively tune coming from the THEATER HALL. We went there and found at that the heard instruments were played by DAICHI, JESSA, and MARVIN ALLEN. I also heard the familiar voice of the lead singer---it’s CAMILLE PANGAN! They are now internationally popular because of their dynamic masterpieces that made them grab the award for the “SUPERLATIVE BAND COMPOSER” in 2021 and “ULTIMATE VENERATED BAND OF THE YEAR” for three sequential years.

While watching their intermission, I turn attracted with the smell of foods being cooked from the kitchen. I followed the smell and found out that the chefs were WENCESLAO, ANDREW and JOSEPH ---also known nationally as the CHEF TRIOS who gained popularity after winning 1^st place in TRIO MASTER CHEF hosted by LYNETTE GUIAO.

As I strolled through, I saw my former classmate JOHN CHRISTIAN  which is now known for making wines worldwide. Famous among his wines are “Vino de Juan Cristiano” and “El Vino Rosa” which he dedicated to his wife ROSE ANN , the Vice President of their establishment.

I returned to the Theater Hall when I heard giggles and cackles. As I entered the hall, I was happily shocked when I saw some of my former classmates grouped at one outsized table. We joint and exchange conversations. AEDRI ANNE is now a fulltime owner of a casino named “FORTUNE CASINO” in Hawaii. JERVIE is owns the enterprise of a signature bag named “CLIFFTONS”.JHAZEL AND CRISELDA were now Hollywood Models. Criselda got the title “MISS UNIVERSE” in 2022 and Jhazel got the title “MISS WORLD” in 2023. LHESTER GUIAO owns a seafood restaurant which had just successfully opened last month. Dr. BIANCE MAE I now a well-respected psychologist and a Counselor at Women’s Abuse Action Center of the DSWD. ALVIN and IVANHOE are now both specialized veterinarian. MARILOU and JUDY ANN are both working as interactive media technologists at a US-based cosmopolitan corporation. JORDAN is now appointed as the prime chemist of the Department of Science and Technology in the research scheme about alternative foundations of renewable energy. ADRIAN VITAL, a 5-Star General and RENE DAVID JR., who is a 3-star general are now employed at an aircraft force. JONEL is a robotics engineer at Kabigting’s System Inc. SHERRA is now a Hollywood actress and expanded prominence after captivating best actress at “OSCAR’S Award”. YouTube sensation RUTH is now known as the PERFORMER OF THE GENERATION. JAY ANNE is now a director and at the same time, a writer and an author. She became successful after her movie “A NIGHT OF MOURNING” became a box office. She also clutched the award for the best director because of her best-selling movie-“A CATASTROPHE BETWEEN INFERNO AND PARADISE” where in MIKEE played the main role in the story.

After few minutes of catching up on each other, we heard screams and yells of people---“I Love You, IDOL!! Autograph please!”---Then emerged this very tall, lean and handsome man waving confidently to the crowd---“It was ORLANDO!!!The MVP player for four consecutive years.” He went near us and exchanged conversations. Subsequently, I left them and wandered outside. What I can say now is that time passed by so quickly for us, it’s just very easy to reminisce our high school days, but impossible to return. My former classmates are now professionals in their own respective fields and I thank God for giving me such honor of spending my most wonderful times with them.

It was about 11:30 in the late evening when I decided to go home, but before I left, someone called me, “Charles! Don’t go yet… ”. When I looked at her, I smiled. It’s DIANA, one of my friends during my high school times. She told me that she is a dean of Harvard University’s College of Engineering and a Master Professor in Science. She also did a part in inventing gadgets and modern devices.

By that time, two familiar voices called us, we looked upon them and was shocked---it’s ROBILYN together with CLARISSA---it’s been 13 long years since we last met. I missed my friends so much. We catch up on each other and they told us that they are sea women. They also own the most popular shipping line in Asia and one of the best Resorts in Philippines. Tears flow on my eyes when I hear from them their achievements.

After a while, they asked me if what my achievements are. “Well, I am now an inventor and at the same time, a scientist. After six years of studying different deadly illnesses, I have found effective medicines for the cure to cancer, diabetes, and other forms of illnesses. And believe it or not---I am the one who cured RODEL’s illness and he is now a survivor. I also won the Nobel Prize in Physics for solving the Unification of forces and inventing a human-like robot that knows how to transfigure energy to other form of energy”. They were captivated with my accomplishments and we congratulated each other.

Haaayyy!!... This night has been full of enthusiasm! I withdrew into the background and watch the faces of my colleagues with whom I spent four years of my superb high school life. I spent numerous times with them; we laughed, cried, and celebrated joyous and triumphant moments. I can’t help but shed a tear for I feel tremendously contented about the success of my graduating class. I express gratitude to the Lord for bestowing us with blessings we are experiencing today and wished all the teachers saw what we have become.

By this time, I heard a finger snap and a count of 10…9…8…7…6…5… a strong wind is blowing me away!!! “Help me!! I’m being slurped into a dusky hole! Anyone?! Please!!” 4…3… “I don’t wanna go yet!” 2…1…Blaaagg!!!---I woke up to the genuineness and found out that we are just having a discussion about PSYCHOANALYSIS, a reverse hypnotism that transports you to the future. The excitement tricks me down my face. Reality boosts in and I’m still a senior student. All of what I saw is still in the future … a psychoanalytical daydream---waiting to be found, wanting to be realized.