May 6, 2025

Good afternoon to our beloved School President, Engr. Derek Malibiran, our dedicated school Principal, Dr. Leonora Malibiran, dedicated admins, faculty and staff, proud parents, and most importantly, my fellow Grade 11 students! What a privilege it is to share this special day with all of you.

My name is Allyn V. Butihan of ABM 11-Charity, it’s an honor to stand here and achivied this distinction.

First and foremost, I want to offer our sincerest gratitude to God for guiding us, for giving us strength, resilience, and the opportunity to reach this milestone. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

To my beloved parents, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Kayo po ang aking inspirasyon at lakas, maraming salamat po sa inyong walang kapantay na pagmamahal at suporta. I am eternally grateful for your presence in my life.

Nelson Mandela said that education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. Kaya naman lubos po kaming nagpapasalamat sa school, staff, admins, at sa mga gurong nagbigay sa amin ng kaalaman upang harapin ang mundo.

Ma’am Val, Charity and I, thank you deeply for your guidance and patience as our adviser and teacher. Ma’am Areane, thank you for your unwavering support. I am also grateful for your endless patience and understanding during the Foundation Day preparations. ABM’s victory would not have been possible without you. Ma’am Jena, Ma’am Kath, Ma’am Gail, Sir Carlo, Sir Edriel, Sir Aljon, Ma’am Wena, Ma’am Weng, Ma’am Areane, and Ma’am Ella, thank you for making learning accessible, enjoyable, and less daunting. Your support, inspiration, and understanding have shaped us, teaching us not only to learn, but also to persevere. We appreciate your passion and dedication. I’m grateful to Sir Dominic and Ma’am Pau even though you weren’t my subject teacher, your words have always been a source of motivation. Thank you for your guidance!

To Ma’am Michelle, our SSG adviser, thank you for your patience, for being there for us, and for supporting us, making our responsibilities easier to manage.

I also want to acknowledge my fellow SSG officers: Marian, Felix, Yesha, and Dane. And to our senior ates and kuyas: Marianne, Raine, Ally, Zy, Mae, and Erjay. You’ve been more than just seniors; you’ve been friends, and role models. You were the seniors every junior dreams of having. You led us with grace and shared your knowledge. Thank you for not leaving us behind or making us feel pressured.

Last year, I came to GMC hesitant, directionless after the pandemic disrupted my strand choices. Others doubted my decision, but a year later, I knew they were wrong. They call it a mistake, but it’s a joyful one, and my experience proves them wrong.

This year was challenging, but Charity made it enjoyable. I once hesitated to join, but now it’s a place I cherish. Thank you for the wonderful memories, especially to Marian. I’m grateful for her belief in me, encouragement, guidance, and support throughout the year. She’s become my walking dictionary. I want you to know I’m always grateful to have you.

Looking back, I realize I wasn’t undecided about my path; I was just scared. I let the fear of judgment dictate my choices, leading me to prioritize honors over my true interests. I chose the “easy” strand out of fear of losing my “With Honor.” But now that I’m an ABM student, I know that it’s not. There’s more to it than just plus and minus. It requires careful thought and consideration.

Moving forward, I’ve learned this: don’t let others’ expectations silence your inner voice. let fear dictate your path or diminish your passions. Remember, your worth extends beyond achievements; you are defined by your potential and dreams, not just awards or grades. Believe in your ability to achieve greatness, even when you feel inadequate.

I’m done excelling for the sake of it; I want happiness, not just relief. I want to learn for the sake of learning, not just for the honor roll. I’m not saying I will neglect my studies; I just want to learn. I’m just freeing myself from pressure, not of effort. The kind of studying that is not just focused on getting honors to the point that we forgot that we are studying to learn, not to be the best.

Care and respect aren’t tied to your grades. If someone judges you, remember they don’t know your struggles. Don’t listen to them, ‘cause what do they know? “Fall seven times, stand up eight because no matter how hard this is going to be, education and dream will always be worth it.”

You are talented, capable, and deserving of happiness. Be proud of yourself. Be proud of your journey. Incase no one told you, with or without honor, you did a great job. Pat yourself on the back. You all deserve to pass. Congratulations to all of you!!! Thank you, and have a wonderful day! May god bless us all!