The season of new beginnings and bittersweet endings transcends into victory for every individual who conquered the waves of academia.
The 79th Graduation and Moving-Up Ceremony of Urdaneta City National High School held at the Urdaneta City Cultural and Sports Complex on May 31, 2024,celebrates the students’ milestones as they step on the ladder of higher education with the theme, βKabataang Pilipino Para sa Matatag na Kinabukasan ng Bagong Pilipinas.”
Rejoicing with them is UCNHSβs notable alumnus – Pangasinan State University President Dr. Elbert M. Galas who went back to his alma mater – his home for four years during his Secondary schooling.
βπ»ππ ππ πππππ πππ ππππ πππ πππππππππππ ππ πππππ ππ ππππ ππππ πππ π ππ πππππππ ππ ππππ ππππ ππππππ πππππ πππ πππ πππππππππ ππ π πππππππ ππππππ π πππππππ π ππππππππ ππππππππ ππ ππππ ππππ ππ πππππ ππ ππππ, ππ πππππππππ πππππππ ππππ ππππ πππ ππ πππ ππππππβπ ππππππ ππππ πππ,β Dr. Galas said in his speech as Guest of Honor and Speaker.
He also urged them to remember that the challenges they have faced during the pandemic have only made them stronger.
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The University President then recounted his experiences and academic journey to the graduates as he himself sprang from humble beginnings. A variety of βsaluyotβ dishes sustained their family’s appetite for a month. During summer, the young Elbert together with two male siblings, accompanied their father to do carpentry works. They saved up their salary for the next school year.
Financial constraints kept him from studying in his dream school but he said God has other plans as he then applied for a scholarship at Pangasinan State University- Urdaneta Campus, and got accepted into the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) program. Driven by his passion for learning, he pursued his Master of Information Systems degree from UP Los Banos in 2010 as a CHED scholar and earned his Doctorate in Information Technology degree at the Technological Institute of the Philippines.
The value of education is reflected in his perseverance to finish his requirements. Since difficulties still manifested even after obtaining a scholarship, he grappled with the insufficiency of equipment and had to activate his resourcefulness and resilience. He experienced sleeping at the school premises to finish all his schoolwork.
The young president decoded the ingredients of success – resiliency, adaptability, and strategic mindset, with a mixture of grit. Furthermore, he added that the ability to rise above failure and the continuous thirst for knowledge and skills will surely mold one’s character. He said that when he graduated, he started to work for PSU as Instructor I in a contractual capacity. He then rose from the ranks and eventually became the first alumnus of PSU to become its president.
He expressed his gratitude to his former advisers and teachers and congratulated the parents and guardians of the graduating class.
βππππ πππππππ πππ ππππ πππππππππ πππ ππππ ππππππππ ππππππππ ππ ππππππ πππ ππππππππ πππ π ππππππππ πππ πππππππππ πππ ππππ. π»π πππ πππππππ, πππ ππ ππ π πππππππππ ππ ππππ ππππππππππ ππππ, πππππππππ, πππ π ππ πππππππ. ππππ πππ ππππ πππππππππππππ πππ ππππ ππππ ππππ ππππππ ππ ππππππππ ππππ ππ πππππππ πππ ππππππππππ πππ ππππ ππππ πππ πππππ ππππππ ππ πππ ππ,β he added emotionally.
Concluding with a call to arms, Dr. Galas said the world expects so much from the youth. βThis country wants you to be fearless in the pursuit of your dreams, relentless in the face of adversity, and firm in our commitment to building a better and stronger Philippines despite all the adversities,β he quipped.
Dr.Galas also led the distribution of certificates to the graduating students along with Schools Division Superintendent Aguedo Fernandez and Principal Hilda Lumague.
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