Anihan's 29th Commencement Exercises: Individuals who touch our hearts

Anihan's 29th Commencement Exercises was held on 4 March 2016. The Closing Remarks were given by the School Director, Herminia Gabutina.

Herminia Gabutina, Anihan School Director

To our graduates today, strive hard to always work well, and always do what is good and what is right. And with each step that brings you success, always remember and pray for all the people who helped you. More importantly, when you can, extend the same help to those will follow you as students in Anihan. Paano natin malalaman kung gaano na kataas ang ating nararating kung hindi tayo marunong YUMUKO at TUMINGIN SA BABA?

Below is the rest of the message:

...For the graduating students...it moves you to see sweetly summarized in today’s affair all that happened in the last two years: all your hardships, all your efforts to fulfill all the requirements and to fight against laziness, all the sacrifices you had to make, all the moments when you felt like rebelling against the demands and expectations made on you, and perhaps for some, there were also moments of sadness and pain in your families. Lahat ito, parang isiniksik, in-edit at pinapanood niyo ngayon tulad ng isang pelikula – na may happy ending. Happy ending kasi nakatapos na rin kayo. Higit sa lahat, ito’y isang happy ending kasi nakadungaw and istorya ng buhay niyo sa isang magandang kinabukasan: merong magandang trabaho na nagihihintay sa inyo. Magandang trabaho na magagamit niyo para makatulong sa mga pamilya niyo. Today is more than just a feel-good movie. This is the story of your life.

Para sa ating mga magulang, maaari nating sabihin na lahat ng pinagdaanan ng inyong mga anak ay sampung beses o higit pa dun ang sa inyo. ...Sa tulong ng ating mga sponsor at donor, libre ang tuition fee sa Anihan. ...Gayunpaman, dahil ang patakaran natin dito ay kailangang may kontribusyon sa edukasyon ang mga magulang, kung kayat may mga ginastos pa rin kayo. Yung mga panahon na nag-aalala ang mga anak niyo sa pambayad sa miscellaneous fee o pangbili ng ingredients, siguro kayo binalewala niyo na lamang ang pagod, at ang sakit ng likod o ng dibdib para makakayod pa. Siguro may mga araw na parang bibiyak na ang ulo niyo kasi di niyo maisip saan o paano pa kikitain ang kailangan nilang pera. At pag nakikita niyo sila minsan na parang walang gana o parang tinatamad, siguro puspos ang pagdarasal niyo na sana hindi sila umayaw sa pag-aaral para di masayang ang lahat. Kaya naman napakalaking tuwa para sa inyo ang araw no ito. Sulit, sulit ang lahat ng sakripisyo niyo.

For our industry partners...the evidence of your pleasure is in your commitment to hire Anihan graduates, especially those who trained in your respective establishments. ...Our industry partners are inspired to realize that their involvement with Anihan gives them the opportunity to give concrete assistance to less privileged young women by providing them with professional training and eventually, employment. It’s a win-win thing: you get the kind of personnel you want and in turn you help not only them, but also their families, get out of poverty.

For our patrons, sponsors and donors...it is not only your financial resources which you share – this is a lot and it helps us continue granting scholarships year after year. But more importantly, with your assistance, you also share a part of your life and of yourselves. Your help is different each year because each year, there are different individuals whose lives you touch: each one unique and with her own story to tell of how your assistance helped them overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams. We know you are moved because you continue with your support and, not only that, you tell your families and friends about Anihan and encourage them to help too. Many of the patrons, sponsors, and donors are unknown personally to the students they help because there is not much of a chance for a personal meeting. Others want to remain anonymous. It is this absence of self-interest that makes your contribution to Anihan even more precious.

And for our Anihan staff and mentors...wala namang tutoong pasaway sa mga estudyante ng Anihan, pero nandyan yung inulit-ulit mo nang pinaalala ang deadline ng submission ng requirement, makakalimutan pa rin. Nandyan yung lahat na ng klase ng orientation at pagpapaliwanag ang binigay mo, iba pa rin ang gagawin. Nandyan yung, magtatanong ka tungkol sa isang bagay, iba naman ang isinasagot. Yung mga mentors, liliban sa trabaho para makausap ang estudyante, tapos tataguan lang sila. Kaya pwede nating isipin na malamang, sawang-sawa na ang mga teachers, staff at mentors sa graduation. Pero hindi po. Every year, I see them working hard to make sure that the commencement exercises run smoothly. Every year, I see them getting excited over this affair. Every year, I see them getting teary eyed seeing the students graduate. ...Natutuwa sila kasi sa araw-araw na nakahalubilo kayo, alam nila ang kuwento ng mga buhay niyo. Alam nila ang mga problema niyo, ang mga kahirapan niyo. Kaya alam din nila gaano kahalaga ang araw na ito sa inyo. Masaya sila kasi dahil sa trabaho nila at pakikipag-kaibigan, nakatulong sila sa inyo.

This coming June 7, Anihan will celebrate its 30th anniversary. And whenever we celebrate a milestone anniversary, we have a natural tendency to look back. Nakakalaki po talaga ng puso kapag iniisip na napakaraming tao ang tumulong at patuloy na tumutulong sa Anihan. It fills our heart with joy to listen to the success stories of our graduates and how they are able to help their families. To our graduates today, strive hard to always work well, and always do what is good and what is right. And with each step that brings you success, always remember and pray for all the people who helped you. More importantly, when you can, extend the same help to those will follow you as students in Anihan. Paano natin malalaman kung gaano na kataas ang ating nararating kung hindi tayo marunong YUMUKO at TUMINGIN SA BABA?

Thank you to each and every person who has helped Anihan all these years. And to our dear graduates, congratulations once more and good luck in the next step of your journey.