What in the world?
That was my first reaction when I received an sms invite from a friend. I was too sleepy to answer so I just replied and said “please email me…”
Now several emails and sms later, the details are set. I will be a GRADUATION SPEAKER on March 26, 2009.
I had 3 immediate personal questions when the thought finally hit me:
1. WHY ME?
2. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO TELL THE GRADUATES AND THEIR PARENTS?
3. and most importantly… AM THAT OLD???!
Commencement speakers as many would attest, have been notoriously JURASSIC – errr looking! This really cracks me up. Am I that old? This is the first time that I had been asked to be a commencement speaker. Maybe if I was going to speak at my alma mater .. .it would be different.
So here I am racking my brains how to complete the speech according to the theme set forth by DepEd “my education, my contribution…”
If you got any passionate ideas – just leave me a note! I need to be as fresh and as relevant when I deliver my commencement address.
Will tell you how it goes….
COOLEST THEME EVER.
Thanks Bi. Though I liked the Titan better but it would not allow permalinks on the homepage … Thanks for your great help!
I dont have the answers for questions 1 and 2. But for 3, my answer is YES!
Haha.
But seriously, it’s about time for the graduates to hear a speech that are not so out of reach with regards to the generation gap. When old people stand on stage and say somethings, the young people will just ignore it. But when a middle-aged man is at front, they will listen to it.
You’re still in the bracket, Tito Rex. Don’t fret.
Post a video of your speech soon.
PS: Ideas: If I were the fresh grad, I want to be reminded to follow my OWN dream, and not my PARENTS’ dream.
Middle-aged man… whoaaa.. thanks for the vote on my age-confidence!
Will post some pics maybe…I heard some of the parents of the children were the showbiz stars in the 80s.
First of all, ‘want you to know that i added your url to my blogroll – whether you approve of it or not. :0)
The comment of Andoi made me laugh. Kuya Rex = middle-age?!? Anyway, you’re such a good and interesting speaker – yakang-yaka mo yan!
Wow Gay! I did not know you are in Australia already. Your blog is awesome…and the music that it plays happens to be my favorite.
I will be adding your blog to my blogroll and thanks for approving! hahaha
Enjoy – nakakatuwa naman… I will read your blog tomorrow so I could get updated on what is happening in your life.
Take care and God bless!
Hi Rex!
Thank you very much for dropping by my web nook and for dropping such an inspiring note.
‘Tis wonderful to know you were invited us commencement speaker, why not?
Reading your profile allowed me to take a ‘lil peek of yourself and I thought, you were invited because you are a picture of success and among the many achievements you have and the dreams you still have to fulfill, the accomplishment that stands out and is still on going is your marriage.
Perhaps you could touch that in your speech.
All that we are and we do prepares us for something, and one of them is to prepare us for that moment when we met the other half of our hearts, for that union, and ultimately to prepare us to build a family of our own to bring to this world another generation who may continue our life on and on.
Education prepares us for all these. Being fulfilled and achieving something for our self makes us whole and ready for commitments in life and that includes marriage. It is safe therefore to say that education is a new ingridient to becoming ready for a commitment and in building a family to met the challenges of the present time.
Education could be a new element in the success of marriges of the new millennium. And your marriage is concrete example for that. I really admire couples like you and your wife. It is wonderful to read such great love stories like that, a still on going happily-ever-after kind of thing, an on going happy ending. That is inspiring! With all the sad realities around us, it is a breath of fresh air to know there are still great love stories. It would help reassure this jaded generation that it is still possible.
I would like also to share with you a poem I wrote:
BE THE BEST THAT YOU COULD BE
Here’s an excerpt from the poem:
If you are a tree
Be the best tree that you could be
Allow the hands of time
To mold your body
Be a sturdy seasoned tree
That you could be.
Click this link for more of the poem . . .
http://jeques.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/be-the-best-that-you-could-be/
The poem aims to encourage and I believe it’s timely and apt for a commencement speech you are preparing.
I hope with your words, you can bring out the best in the students. We humans are maybe imperfect, but we could always choose to become the best versions of our self – and that for me is more important.
I wish you well.
~ Jeques
Hello Jeques,
Thanks for the compliment on our marriage. We celebrated our 10th Year last year! And fame and wealth may be elusive, but I will never be able to say, that I have not been loved.
I just got done with the speech. I pray that it will be smooth and that the students will find it relevant.
May I put your blog on my blogroll? I just moved to my dotcom so I am still arranging the site.
take care. Will visit your blog again when my speech is done. I think I have read that poem earlier – let me see how I can fit that toward the end.
Rex