Congratulations, our dear Grade 12 Claretian Graduates! We share with your joy today as you are recognized by the Filipino people and the world to have satisfactorily accomplished your basic education, equipping you with the basic knowledge and have acquired the fundamental skills that you can make use of in pursuing the many dreams of your life. Continue to get educated and make your dreams come true, journey on, and rest if you may, but do not quit in your noble pursuits.
Your graduation day is a new beginning in a new normal situation. Your situation is very unique and has not been like this before as you virtually graduate and be recognized with your accomplishments not because you simply dare to be mavericks or different or in-trend, but to live with your creativity, resiliency and defiance not to simply fold up amidst this ongoing onslaught of COVID-19 pandemic. Claretians never crumble with pressure!
I thank all the administrators, faculty and staff of Claret School of Zamboanga City who have helped you prominently or furtively make through and reach this far significantly and memorably at this stage of your life.
I thank you most especially our dear Claretian parents and guardians for the unquantifiable but qualitative and untiring sacrifices you have made for your sons and daughters or wards. You hope, believe, partner and entrust your sons and daughters or wards from the very start to this institution for basically preparing who you want them to be, as good and productive citizens of our society and the world. These are all we humbly can do and sorry for our many limitations.
Claretian Graduates bring with you wherever and whatever circumstances you may be into your graduation theme: “The Claretian Graduates: Shaping the Future for Human Fraternity through Dialogue and in the Ways of Peace!” Fire up your hope of living with this theme by always remembering the line from the “Angelus Prayer” that you regularly pray or hear every 6:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. in San Antonio Maria Claret Parish: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).” God became man in Jesus Christ through the Blessed Virgin Mary and he lived with us in our history even after his resurrection from the dead saying: “I will be with you until the end of time (Matthew 28:20).” You are very much part of this history of the God who journeys with us because he shares with our humanity. We acknowledge that we have plenty of differences because of our orientation, tribe, subculture, religion, economic status, political stance, family background and many more that socially distance or keep us apart or even drift us away from our common and shared humanity. We cannot continue to live being violent and mean with one another because of our differences and disagreements, after all we are human beings and capable of reaching a consensus through dialogue and in many peaceful means possible, living with our common and shared values from the humanity of Jesus Christ as brothers and sisters in God’s family. Always remember, live and share with others the vision of Claret School of Zamboanga City in which you are molded to become as catalysts to live and establish a community of disciples that is academically excellent and faithful Servant of the Word. God is with us in all these challenges and opportunities for a better world, our dear Claretian Graduates.
As you bid us all farewell in this institution, bring with you our blessings from God. Connect with us here in your Alma Mater anytime and anywhere! Thank you.
