---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our beloved president, Mrs. Marguerite Michelle Villanueva Padua - Hornby, the
Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees, Officers of the Administration,
Faculty and Staff, parents, guests, my dear graduates, ladies and gentlemen…
GOOD AFTERNOON!
Our guest speaker came from a well-known family of educators in Naga City. His
parents were both public schools principal. He is the 4th Son of Dr. Domingo
O. Balares and Mrs. Genara Alvarez-Balares. His brothers and sisters were
also graduates of this institution with flying colors. He celebrates his birthday
every 11th day of the month of November. He is a media practitioner, journalist,
musician, sportsman, and an educator….
He was happily married with Niña Zagada-Balares in 1996. A Father to two
children: Tyrone Yanci, 2nd year High School and Trizia Yvon, 4 years old.
He is one of those graduates of this institution who had kept the torch of his
Alma Mater shining through in his life for not losing momentum in achieving his
goal and in shaping his dreams into reality by making things happen …and is
still gaining momentum for greater heights of achieving successes in the field of
work and professionals…
His achievements in the field of work he had chosen are truly inspiring and
encouraging. He is a true reflection of what an NCean is.… the impact to the
community of his achievements would always speak out the greatness and pride
of his Alma Mater, the Naga College Foundation. His presence in this
afternoon’s 64th Commencement Exercises of the Basic Education Department
has made all the difference…
Bringing back the hands of time, our guest speaker was one of the NCF
Elementary and HS graduates going through the same experience you are
having today. He was also rendering a crowd like this for his valedictory
addresses during his elementary (1985) and high school graduations (1989)…
As student, he was active and energetic. He joins both academic and non-
academic related school activities. His teachers described him as friendly, a
thinker, an achiever, and a principled leader. He worked as student journalist
and served the school publication from being the Assistant News Editor in 1985
to Editor-in-Chief of the Green and Gold in 1988-1999. As student leader, he
held various positions in high school. He was the president of the Naga College
Historical Society and the Supreme Student’s Government. He was a member of
the famous Naga College Foundation Concert Band from 1985-1989.
As youth leader, he had served as President of the Naga City Working Youth
Club (1992 – 1993), and President of the Bicol Regional Federation of Working
Youth Clubs (1992 – 1994); During his term, the BRFWYC was awarded as
Outstanding Youth Organization by President Fidel Ramos in the Malacañan
Palace; He also had served as the Chairman of the Technical Working Group,
Naga City Youth Federation 1991 – 1992; Delegate to the 1st National Youth
Parliament in 1996 representing the Working Youth Sector; and Finished the
Basic Entrepreneurship Development Course conducted by the National Youth
commission and the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.
From 1990 – 1999, he had worked as news writer, reporter, talent announcer
and program host of various newscasts and programs of Intercontinental
Broadcasting Corporation (DWNW Radio), Peñafrancia Broadcasting
Corporation (DZLW Radio), and Caceres Broadcasting Corporation (DWAR
Radio).
As journalist, he had worked as staff Writer of the Bikol Daily, the first and only
daily regional newspaper in Bicol from 1996 – 1998; served as Correspondent of
the Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1998 – 1999; Staff member of the Naga City
Journal, the official publication of the city Government of Naga from 1999 –
2001; and was the Coach of the pupil of Naga College Foundation who won 6th
place in the National Schools Press Conference in Mandaue City, Cebu in 2003.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Candidates for Graduation of Class 2011, please join
me in giving a warm welcome and loud applause to our Guest of
Honor and Speaker, a Distinguished Naga College Foundation Alumnus, an
achiever in his chosen field of endeavor, the principal of San Isidro Elementary
School, Naga City …… HIS HONOR…MR. NOEL A. BALARES….