Originally posted on March 30, 2009 via Multiply.com
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In our high school days, more than 4 decades ago (my apologies for reminding you of our age), I often heard the saying "There is no place like home", or "Home Sweet Home". Or if you are religious, they tell us that "Ano mang haba ng prosisyon, sa simbahan din paroroon.". But at that time we didn't really understand what these mean. For we were young then, and eager to go out to the world, to explore our destiny, pursue our dreams, and find our place under the sun.
Forty-one years after high school, it is fitting to pause from our journey through life and find time to go back home, perhaps to take stock of ourselves, our achievements, our destination from here on. Most importantly, today I invite you to take a walk through memory lane, as the theme of our reunion says, to celebrate the 41 years of camaraderie and friendship, as we now move closer to the sunset of our lives.
Some of our classmates are not here with us anymore, because destiny willed that they complete their life's journey ahead of us all. Today we remember them, in prayers for their souls, even as we also pray for the well-being of their loved ones left behind. So may I ask few moments of silence to pray for our departed classmates.... May the good Lord grant them eternal rest and all the souls in purgatory.
For us fortunate to be around still, a gift of life we always cherish, we need to re-group as a class, re-charge our lives, and continue the legacy of class 1968. That is why part of our program of activities later today is to get your views and suggestions on the direction our class should take in the future. We hope you will help us plot the course of our journey as a class in the years to come. Because we believe that it is better to travel the remaining path of our lives in the company of dear friends, than to travel alone.
Today, Easter Sunday, the Resurrection of our Lord, we also celebrate the re-birth of class 1968 of Tabaco National High School (TNHS). And as we walk through memory lane, let me share with you some thoughts on "Re-Birth":....
I lost a childhood toy... but have the memory of the person who gave me that gift with unconditional love.
I lost the privileges and fantasies of childhood... but had the opportunity of growing and living free.
I lost a lot of people whom I loved and still love... but had the affection, and now have model from their lives.
I lost moments of life because I cried instead of smiling... but I discovered that: it is from planting love that love is harvested.
I lost many things many times in my life. But in that "loss", today I aspire for the value of "gain".... because there is always time to start all over again.
It is not important the time of life when you tired. Important is that it is always possible and necessary to re-start. Re-birthing is a new opportunity; it is renewing the hopes in life; and more importantly, it is believing in oneself.
Did you suffer greatly sometimes?... that was a time of learning.
Did you feel spiteful?... it was a lesson of forgiveness.
At times, were you alone?... it was because you closed the door.
Were there times you believed everything was lost?... it was simply the beginning of improvement.
Did you feel lonely? Look around you and you will see people waiting for your smile, just to get closer to you.
This is the essence of "Re-Birth".
So today is an excellent day to start again. Where do we want to go as a class? Let us look higher, dream higher, desire the best for ourselves and for our class of 1968. Because I believe life brings us what we aspire.
Life continues to call each one of us; it invites us to a new adventure, a new journey, a new challenge. This day, let us promise ourselves: that we will do everything possible to achieve our objectives, individually and as a class, to trust in life, and trust in ourselves.
Happy Easter and I wish you all a beautiful day.
Forty-one years after high school, it is fitting to pause from our journey through life and find time to go back home, perhaps to take stock of ourselves, our achievements, our destination from here on. Most importantly, today I invite you to take a walk through memory lane, as the theme of our reunion says, to celebrate the 41 years of camaraderie and friendship, as we now move closer to the sunset of our lives.
Some of our classmates are not here with us anymore, because destiny willed that they complete their life's journey ahead of us all. Today we remember them, in prayers for their souls, even as we also pray for the well-being of their loved ones left behind. So may I ask few moments of silence to pray for our departed classmates.... May the good Lord grant them eternal rest and all the souls in purgatory.
For us fortunate to be around still, a gift of life we always cherish, we need to re-group as a class, re-charge our lives, and continue the legacy of class 1968. That is why part of our program of activities later today is to get your views and suggestions on the direction our class should take in the future. We hope you will help us plot the course of our journey as a class in the years to come. Because we believe that it is better to travel the remaining path of our lives in the company of dear friends, than to travel alone.
Today, Easter Sunday, the Resurrection of our Lord, we also celebrate the re-birth of class 1968 of Tabaco National High School (TNHS). And as we walk through memory lane, let me share with you some thoughts on "Re-Birth":....
I lost a childhood toy... but have the memory of the person who gave me that gift with unconditional love.
I lost the privileges and fantasies of childhood... but had the opportunity of growing and living free.
I lost a lot of people whom I loved and still love... but had the affection, and now have model from their lives.
I lost moments of life because I cried instead of smiling... but I discovered that: it is from planting love that love is harvested.
I lost many things many times in my life. But in that "loss", today I aspire for the value of "gain".... because there is always time to start all over again.
It is not important the time of life when you tired. Important is that it is always possible and necessary to re-start. Re-birthing is a new opportunity; it is renewing the hopes in life; and more importantly, it is believing in oneself.
Did you suffer greatly sometimes?... that was a time of learning.
Did you feel spiteful?... it was a lesson of forgiveness.
At times, were you alone?... it was because you closed the door.
Were there times you believed everything was lost?... it was simply the beginning of improvement.
Did you feel lonely? Look around you and you will see people waiting for your smile, just to get closer to you.
This is the essence of "Re-Birth".
So today is an excellent day to start again. Where do we want to go as a class? Let us look higher, dream higher, desire the best for ourselves and for our class of 1968. Because I believe life brings us what we aspire.
Life continues to call each one of us; it invites us to a new adventure, a new journey, a new challenge. This day, let us promise ourselves: that we will do everything possible to achieve our objectives, individually and as a class, to trust in life, and trust in ourselves.
Happy Easter and I wish you all a beautiful day.
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