By Bryan Eric T. Cerebo, MOSSS AY 2009-2010
I found myself looking at a compilation of photographs. When I turned to the first page, there was an image of a little boy wearing a fascinating grin. His smile could write thousands of stories and could paint wonderful artworks. Then I also smiled. I began to know him more with his chronicles of excellence.
He is a young man who lives a humble life yet dreams to achieve extraordinary things. He pursues to climb the mountains and surf the deepest oceans, then triumphantly rises above to see the beauty of the horizon. Some said that he is gifted… but for me, he is not. It is his brilliant character that makes him extraordinary. He never fails to dream and aspire. He believes that if he does his damn hard, he can surely land in the moon if not in the stars. And finally, HE is ME.
Then I turned to page 2. It was a gallery of pictures of the experiences that led me to this podium and to speak in front of you as the Most Outstanding Secondary School Student of Iloilo.
I have a wholesome life in a public school system. I am proud to say that I am a true product of a public school. I am a leader. I became a leader because I was made to be one. I was not a born leader. I did not wake up in the family of politicians, of the rich and the famous, of extravagance and arrogance. I am just a simple boy, with a bizarre dream - that is to become excellent out of my hardships and determination.
Being the president of the National Federation of Supreme Student Government, plays a special role to my development as a leader. My ambassadorship will never start, if I wasn’t given this extraordinary task. But looking back, the days before I was elected were a nerve-breaking campaign period. As a result of the executive session of the regional presidents, I was to compete with the regional president of the National Capital Region. Though he belongs to the biggest region and is a son of a congresswoman in one of the districts in NCR, I did not give up. I considered it to be my inspiration to continue and finish victoriously the battle that I started. And I have proven to them that nothing is impossible if you just believe in the beauty of your dream.
I was also blessed to be one of the 60 young Filipinos to go to Japan for a two-week intercultural program. I cannot deny the fact that I found a hard time adjusting among the students coming from prestigious and exclusive schools all over the archipelago. But an opportunity opened which I did not expect - I was granted the title as Ambassador of Goodwill for American Field Service- Philippines and was able to speak in front of the leaders of Japan representing my beloved country.
And this led me to another challenge - which was to be in the pool of the Outstanding Students of the Philippines. I thought the time I delivered my speech in Malacańang, was my last to speak as a recipient of an award. But it was a total mistake. Not until the results for this year’s OSCI search were released.
I believe that excelling in elementary is a different battle compared to excelling in high school. High school life is a more complicated field where all of us experience ups and downs just like a roller coaster or a blizzard ride. There are so many distractions along the way. There are turmoil and bumpy roads. It is another challenge for a pupil who was once known to be outstanding to live with the title as part of his being and maintain the brilliance of being one.
Receiving my first medal in the OSCI when I was in elementary taught me already the concrete definition of the words “Making a Difference”. I learned to devote my time in developing myself to become an effective and efficient leader that this country is in dire need of. Then I expanded my wings to soar the sky high without any hesitation to help people in my own little way.
Thanks to Executive Director Joey Peláez and Atty. Buboy Sotto of the Department of Education-Center for Students and Co-curricular Affairs for the opportunities they gave me; to my Green Horizon and Supreme Student Governments family from the school up to the national level for the trust and encouragement. Thank you so much.
Let me also grab this opportunity to thank all my teachers for the consideration and understanding for the classes I missed because of being the National President of the Supreme Student Government. I may scratch my head when someone talks about figures and formulas about Math every time I come back to school, but Math is just a “subject”; there is still the word “verb” that refers to the action that a person needs to take to acquire complete learning. As they say, learning is useless without application.
Let me also mention the names of those who extended their extraordinary efforts before I reached this: to Mrs. Zenaida Sudario, and Mrs. Milagros Somosa, my Supreme Student Government advisers; to Mrs. Eufemia Sonza, my class adviser and coach; to Miss Oliva Suelo, our Special Science Class Coordinator and to Mr. Rogelio S. Oscares, our school principal, thank you so much.
And also to them, I may not name them one by one but I would like to thank all of my classmates…who have always been my number 1 followers since I started my leadership journey.
Lastly, to the great coaches of this team play, my Nanay and Tatay and most especially my Mama and Papa, a million thanks to you.
After taking a glance at those pictures, I realized that I have really gone this far. I cannot imagine that I became successful and stood tall amidst life challenges. I entered a battle carrying no armors except for my extraordinary character as my only weapon.
Then I finally turned to page 3, the last page.
Now, at this podium, I already knew where I am heading. I knew it’s about the grave battle of politics. But I am more prepared of the challenges. No mountains will remain uncrossed as I continue my journey as a leader. Stars may reach my hands and brim with pride, but I will always be BRYAN, the leader who dreams and who believes.
Lastly, I should thank Him at the start of my speech but I preferred to save the best for last. Thank you Heavenly Father for all these. You are the greatest leader of all times.
Now, what does it take to be an outstanding student? I believe it’s not our teachers for they only give advises, it’s neither also our school nor our parents. All of them won’t matter, as long as you dare to dream and make every possible way to fulfill it, you will always have the guts and the extra factor to be outstanding. I believe what makes a person outstanding, is himself.
It is only yourself that can determine where you are heading and how you will reach your destination. Even destiny depends upon your choice and it’s up to you if you will make or break yourself. Let us all dare to make a difference and believe in our own chronicles of excellence. Long live Outstanding Students Circle of Iloilo!@
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