Today I stand in front of you on a matter of importance of why we at PASS College

give honor to PASSians who exceptionally bring recognition to their Alma Mater. But
let me congratulate first the honorees of todays celebration. To the 16 LET passers,
38 Deans Listers, to their parents who have been sacrificing a lot just to send their
children to college and of course to the faculty members of this institution, my
warmest congratulations. Truly this moment gives joy to my heart as well as with
the members of the Board of Trustees.
PASS College is true to its commitment in delivering quality services to its clients. It
had started carving its name in the glittery competitive world of employment when
the first batch of graduates landed jobs fitting to their degree in 1999. With this
flock of young professionals, the market of various careers had welcomed young
generations from Western Pangasinan who eventually proved their names by an
excellent work ethics and performance. A strand of fulfilment then had started to
grow.
In the past 17 years, PASS College celebrated numerous highlights. Active extracurricular participations and useful social responsiveness, and academic excellence
have become instruments for us to continually become agents of change, a change
that inspires not only PASSians but also our outside stakeholders. As we reaped
peoples praises, we also built bridges to other linkages.
My dear students look at these young professionals sitting onstage. With their
smiles carved on their faces, traces of sacrifices when they were still studying are
physically manifested. These are what they call battle scars, or the mark of
dedication and hard work. They have reached a milestone in their lives that like
them, we believe is worth celebrating.
Personally, I consider teaching an honorable and important profession. My parents
are both educators and they believe in this creed, If you work with buildings, it will
crumble someday, if you work with paintings, in due time it will fade away, but if
you work with mans immortal mind, your legacy will live on for generations and
beyond.

Every time we talk about the teaching profession, it is often associated with a noble
job. I believe the best to describe it is a profession of heroes but without medals.
That seems to be the appropriate trademark of teachers. The profession of teachers
is considered as the hero without medals. Why do we call them like that? The
answer is, is because of teachers services in educating people. The teachers
dedication cannot be measured with the symbols or trophies, just like gold, silver or
bronze medals. But, even though there are no medals for teachers dedication, we
realize that the profession of teachers has given a great contribution to the
development of our country, especially in education sector. Let us imagine what
are we going to be, if there is no teacher in our lives? Because of teachers, we are
able to read, write, and speak. Because of teachers, we can get knowledge and
skills that we need to face the competition in this life.
I have seen their dedications in this vocation. They have implanted this creed and
in my mind that teachers should be treated with the dignity that we award to other
professionals in the society. I also learned from them that motivating students is
also a way of building relationships with them from a variety of backgrounds and
with a diverse array of needs. I was trapped in a moment when I realized these
things. It was then that I appreciated the challenge that lies on the profession itself
and the skills involved in the work.
To our dear young professional teachers, it is now your time and turn to accept
these challenges and the skills. Your momentum has already started. Never let
anyone or anything kills it or removes it from you for by it you would also build your
reputation. Your professors and instructors in this institution had surely inculcated in
your minds the core values that your Alma Mater follows. And soon as you put into
practice what you have learned, be an instrument that education is really the key to
billions of unique human beings fulfilling their unique potential. Stand firm and show
convictions that you as teachers are the only key to education. For all we know we
can have a school, college or university without a building, without books and pens,
without desks and blackboards, and even without computers. But we cant have a
school, college or university without teachers. That simple logic signifies how
important teachers are in building and moulding communities.

For our Deans List who have shown great academic endeavour, you all have the
chance to continue this merit. Being a Deans List offers one a personal
achievement, increase an employability factor, and even prestige and recognition.
Be a student of dedication. As you finish your degree, we want you to leave with the
qualifications, the confidence and the character to be able to decide your future for
yourselves. With that you will become authors of your own life story.
To the academic family of this institution, to honorees LET passers and Deans
Lists, again congratulations. Thank you.