may you always be willing and united in providing the students of CNCHS quality education. Of course, we members of Class 2002 proudly salute the persons who have never stopped supporting us to realize our ambitions and. aspirations—no other than our dearest parents. Without your genuine support, financially, morally, emotionally and spiritually, we have not grown up into learned, confident and useful members of the society. Traditionalists would usually seize on an influx of "evil" craze and fashion like MTV, texting and revealing dresses, but our parents have tried to embrace such effects of world's modern transformation because they always want to understand us. Thank you to our parents for still believing that, despite the advancement of today's technology, we are still the young people that are hoped to save this nation's future. Surely, the education you gave us will be a big help in creating and nurturing a nation with newfangled skill. Fellow graduates, let us clap our hands for our loving parents! Our schoolmates in the lower years - we salute you for cooperating with us in making this institution of learning a shelter for quality education. Let us altogether aim for learning conditions that encourage critical thinking with desirable values meaningfully inculcated. Let us uphold this school as a true advocate of learning—always responsive to issues concerning the welfare of the students, advocate of a just and truthful education. Certainly, we salute you our Alma Mater, Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School, for your enduring aim for excellent learning. May you continue helping our country prepare for a bright future by giving your students the education they need to succeed in an increasingly borderless world. For 58 long years of producing competitive and brilliant students, you have contributed to the human and economic development of our nation. Personally, I would like to express my gratitude to my classmates. Guys, after four years of making, unmaking and remaking, we cannot deny that we have learned not only from each others goodness but also from our lapses. We earned reputations when we either topped or flopped. But despite the individualist nature that we have, for all intents and purposes we could work together for unique and creative solutions. I am very proud to say that we are not only a bunch of youth who know only to sing and dance to the songs of Destiny's Child, Britney Spears and Boy Bands, but we are global students who know how to thrive in competitive and diversified environments. In this age of borderless electronic commerce, free-flowing information and effortless global communication where physical distance is no longer a barrier to innovation, our world faces challenges and opportunities worthy of our collective talents and resources. My fellow young people, let us be highly involved in the sharing of ideas and solutions for our growing global community. Solutions not only for today, but for the future as well. Good luck and see you at the Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings sequels! Seeing much, suffering much, and studying much, are the three pillars of learning. A student has no other alternative but to study. He has to study because he has to learn so he can live comfortably and meaningfully. And yes, studying requires perseverance and determination, especially in solving those ",_-~Jraordinary" science and math problems. There were times we felt giving up memorizing several historical names, dates and places fora 100-item quiz in Social Studies, but we have to pass the subject. There are certain lessons that a student really has to memorize so it would be easier for him to answer examination questions. Besides, if we are planning to go to medicine or law school, tons of law provisions or medical terminology are to be memorized, and it would not be for a 100-item mere identification type of exam. So capability to memorize lessons with comprehension plus analytical competence in solving science and math problems, which we learned from our teachers, would surely help us making it to college. However, I would personally say that my true accomplishment today is not the high grades I earned and the medals I would be receiving as Salutatorian. More than anything else, in my four years in high school, I valued HONESTY—and this is what I call achievement. Honesty is one essential thing in a student's life that would make him independent, confident and credible. Teaching is a work of heart. As the advocate of universal human compassion, Mohandas Ganhi put it: "There is a limit to the development of the intellect but none to that of the heart." A teacher should be reminded of these words as they perform their mission of kindling the minds of their students. It is forgivable when an English teacher mispronounces English words or when a Math teacher miscalculates math solutions because we know, everybody has imperfections. Indeed, we look at our teachers beyond their expertise in solving math problems, adeptness in explaining the history and scientific discoveries, and mastery of the English grammar, Essentially, we treasure the admirable values and attitudes that you radiated to us. To my fellow graduates, whatever your labors and aspirations are, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shame, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful! Strive to be happy! Good day and welcome to our commencement exercises. the GLOW april 2002 31