By Ana Rufa Padua

The Ateneo de Manila Senior High School (ASHS) graduation for Batch 2021-2021 was held via the University’s Youtube channel on June 19, 2021 and was presided by Student Activities Coordinator, Mrs. Inez Crisostomo.

Welcoming remarks were given by the batch salutatorians, Aaron John G. Cacas (12-Navarro) and Carl Robin G. Saluta (12-Oldcorne).

Cacas defined the importance of time during his speech, mentioning that it is not measured by diplomas or the graduation march, but through the two years of honing our knowledge and making connections with each other.  

“Hindi naging madali ang paglalakbay ngunit sa tulong ng mga taong naging malapit sa atin at ang tiwalang binigay natin sa isa’t isa, nahubog tayo sa kung sino man tayo ngayon,” Cacas states.

On the other hand, Saluta focused on reliving their memories as senior high school students during their two years in the Ateneo de Manila Senior High School, he also thanked parents and teachers for staying with them throughout their journey.

“Hindi maikakaila na sa loob ng dalawang taon ay marami na tayong pagsubok na hinarap, subalit humayo tayo’t matagumpay na inabot ang rurok ng ating mga potensyal at pangarap,” Saluta mentions.

The recipients of the Special Academic Awards were presented by Sir Noel Miranda, the current ASHS principal.

• Jose A. Cruz SJ Award (ABM) – Jilian Kay Madison S. Fernandez from 12-Acquaviva
• James P. Dunne SJ Award (GA) – Maria Francesca T. Manalo from 12-Geronimo
• James J. O’ Brien SJ Award (HUMSS) – Luis Ricardo I. Francisco from 12-Miki
• Prudencio F. Macayen SJ Award (STEM) – Ninna Beatrice V. Rivera and Carl Robin G. Saluta from 12-Oldcorne

Batch Valedictorian, Ninna Beatrice V. Rivera, also gives her welcoming remarks to all the viewers and her fellow graduates.

Rivera introduces “goodbye” in a new light, saying that it is a gift, no matter how painful it is. 

“It is a gift of saying goodbye that provides us the opportunity to take a courageous reckoning of ourselves and the future,” Rivera says.

She concludes her speech with, “Saying goodbye becomes our gift to ourselves. It is a gift of starting over, the beginning of a new, perhaps an even challenging journey that will lead us to the next chapter of our lives.”

The graduates were introduced by their class moderators one by one, starting from ABM, followed by GA, HUMSS and concluded with STEM.

Numerous speeches were given by invited speakers and prominent people from the University such as Benjamin Gerardo T. Tolosa, Jr., PhD– Loyola Schools Associate Dean for the Core Curriculum, Fr. Jonjee Sumpaico– Vice President for Basic Education, Fr. Bobby Yap, S.J.– University President, Ryan Cayabyab– National Artist for Music, Atom Araullo, Reinabelle Reyes– Astrophysicist and Alumnae, and Fr. Arturo Sosa, S.J.– Superior General of the Society of Jesus.

Mr. Jason Cabrera, member of the Board of Trustees of the Ateneo Alumni Association, led the oath-taking of the graduates as new members of the Ateneo Alumni Association (AAA), followed by the singing of the Ateneo hymn, A Song for Mary.

Special tributes were also given to the Batch of 2020-2021 such as a poem from the faculty and a song tribute from the graduates themselves to commemorate the countless irreplaceable memories they made during their two-year stay in the ASHS. 

Photo Source: Ateneo de Manila University on Youtube