Excellent Wisdom Christian Academy San Pedro Laguna Inc

EWCA’s Grade 1 Student of the Year delivers a heartfelt message on what it truly means to expand one’s reach—even at a young age.

—
Mateo’s full speech

Speech: Expanding Our Reach

Good evening to our School Administrator, Mrs. Cecil Mercado, our Principal, Sir Frank Mercado, our teachers, parents, and my fellow students!

My name is Mateo Jef Andrei Urcia Flores, and I am so happy and thankful to stand here today as the Grade 1 Student of the Year.

We may ask, “What reach can a Grade 1 student have?” We are small, but God can use even small children to do great things.

In the Bible, there was a young boy named Samuel. God called him while he was still young—and he obeyed. In 1 Samuel 3:10, he said, “Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.” This shows us that the dreams God puts in our hearts can begin even at a young age.

But for those dreams to grow, we must learn to obey God. And we learn this by listening to His Word and doing it every day.

For me, as a Grade 1 student, I may be small—but I can still reach.

I can reach up to God in prayer—because my knees are close to the ground, it’s easy for me to kneel and talk to Him.

I can reach out by being kind, helping others, and sharing. My small hands become big when I help consistently.

I can reach forward by learning, trying my best, and not giving up. Ears may always look open—but learning happens when they truly listen.

First, we thank God for helping us finish Grade 1 with happy hearts.

To our school, Excellent Wisdom Christian Academy, thank you for helping us grow in faith and learning.

To our teachers, Ma’am Tricia and Teacher Lida, thank you for your love and patience.

To my parents, thank you for your hugs, your guidance, and your love. This is for you too!

To my classmates, we did it—we passed Grade 1! Let’s keep being kind and shining for God.

As we go to Grade 2, let us remember: even small hands can reach far when we listen to God and obey Him.

To God be all the glory!

Thank you, and congratulations to all of us! 🎉

Eli delivered his speech as Student of the Year for Grade 2 with courage and determination. Though it was his first time speaking on stage, he overcame his stage fright and stood with confidence—surprising the crowd, and making his parents and grandparents especially proud. He demonstrated that true success is not just in achievement, but in the courage to grow.

—-

Eli’s full speech

Good day everyone!
My name is Elijah from explorers class.
I am here to say my gratitude to the following people who helped me survive another school year.
To God - thank you for everything
To EWCA - thank you for giving us our safe space. Where we can be our own selves without any judgement.
To teacher charry and teacher cathy - thank you for being our 2nd parents
To daddy john - thank you for working so hard for our family
To mommy - thank you for always reminding me that being different is my super power.
To my fellow ausome classmates - we can do this with Gods grace.

Thank you and to God be the glory!

EWCA’s Riyu Hashimoto is Student of the Year Grade 1 Explorers!

Riyu delivered his speech with confidence, clearly sharing his story and highlighting the strength of his God-given difference—reminding us all that what makes us different can also be what makes us strong.

—-

Riyu’s Full Speech

Good evening everyone
I am Riyu T. Hashimoto
I stand before you this evening not just as a student, but as someone who has learned to see the world a little differently.
As a student with Autism Spectrum Disorder, my journey has not always been easy.
I sometimes learn and communicate differently, but I’ve discovered that these differences can also be strengths.
This school became a place where differences were not just accepted—they were VALUED.

To my teachers, thank you for your Patience and Love.
To my mommy and Nanay Joan, thank you for your LOVE and CARE.
To my classmates, thank you for the Happy times.

As we move forward, I hope we carry this with us: that being different is NOT a weakness—it is an Influence!

Congratulations to all of us. We made it—not by being the same, but by being ourselves.

To God be the Glory!

Thank you.

Riyu T. Hashimoto
Student of the Year
Grade 1 Explorers

The Challengers render a song.

The EWCA Trailblazer boys render a song!

Playing instruments together brings us together.

A special number, Go now and reach the world!

The Explorers Department renders a song during EWCA’s 17th Awards

Good evening to our dear parents, teachers, guests, and most especially, our students. Welcome to the 17th Awards Night of Excellent Wisdom Christian Academy.

Tonight, we gather not just to give awards—but to define what excellence truly is.

Because if we are honest, the world today is becoming uncertain about that. Standards are being questioned. Some suggest removing honors, rankings, even distinctions—because they see inconsistency, favoritism, or unfairness.

And to a certain extent, those concerns are real.

But that leads us to a deeper question: Is the problem the standard—or the foundation of the standard?

Because any standard built on human opinion will eventually shift. But a standard grounded in truth does not move.

And that is the difference.

POINT 1: Excellence Requires the Right Foundation

The issue today is not the existence of standards—it is the foundation of those standards.

If standards are based on opinion, they will change.
If standards are based on comparison, they will confuse.
But if standards are grounded in truth, they will guide.

That is why at EWCA, we do not remove standards—we anchor them.

POINT 2: Excellence Requires Structure and Clarity

The real challenge in education today is not simply grading—it is consistency, capacity, and context.

Teachers carry many responsibilities. Even with the best intentions, it becomes difficult to measure every student deeply every single day.

That is not a failure of intent—it is a limitation of capacity.

That is why structure matters.

Through the School of Tomorrow system, learning is defined, measurable, and progressive—allowing each student to grow at a pace that fits them, while remaining accountable to clear expectations grounded in biblical principles.

And this is also what makes our recognition tonight different.

The awards you will see are not based on opinion or preference. They are carefully curated based on measurable performance—particularly through our students’ PACE tests—where comprehension, mastery, and consistency are clearly evaluated.

These awards are not arbitrary—they are the result of defined standards applied consistently.

POINT 3: Excellence Is Formed Through Discipline

Even before we arrived at tonight’s Awards Night, something already spoke of excellence.

Some of our students had fallen sick—but despite that, they continued preparing. They made sure their speeches were memorized. They practiced. They persisted.

That is not just effort—that is discipline.

Later this evening, you will hear the speeches of our Students of the Year. And as you listen, you will not only hear well-prepared words—you will hear something deeper.

You will hear how thinking is being shaped.
How truth is being formed in the mind.
How maturity is developing alongside academic mastery.

Because true education is not just about knowing more—it is about thinking right.

POINT 4: Excellence Is More Than Information—It Is Formation

A student may have high grades and still lack discipline.
A person may receive recognition and still lack integrity.

And in the long run, it is not knowledge alone that sustains success—it is character shaped by truth.

That is why we speak of excellent wisdom.

Not just knowing what is right—but living it.

POINT 5: Excellence Is Seen in Growth, Not Just Recognition

Now tonight, as we recognize our awardees, we acknowledge something measurable—your diligence, your effort, your progress.

But we must also understand what these awards are—and what they are not.

They are indicators, not the destination.
They are milestones, not the full measure of your future.

And for those who may not walk up this stage tonight, this is important: your story is not behind—it is still unfolding.

Because growth is not always visible in a moment. But given time, truth reveals itself—through consistency, through conduct, and through results.

POINT 6: Excellence Is Proven Over Time

And tonight, you will see that lived out.

You will see Christian Temprosa—who, step by step, reached 100% comprehension in his Readmaster assessment—a picture of how growth happens when truth is patiently applied over time.

That is not merely an academic result—that is evidence of development.

That is excellence.

And that is why we do what we do.

Because we believe that every student, when guided properly, can grow—not just academically, but in understanding, in discipline, and in character.

CLOSING: A CALL TO SEE TRUE EXCELLENCE

So tonight, as you watch, as you listen, and as you observe, I encourage you to look beyond the awards themselves.

Look at the process behind them.
Look at the growth that produced them.
Look at the standards that shaped them.

Because that is where true excellence is found.

So tonight, hold your breath in anticipation, pay close attention, and enjoy this evening’s awards.

Because what you will witness is not just recognition—it is the result of truth applied over time.

So tonight, we do not simply celebrate achievement—we affirm a standard.

A standard not based on comparison, but on truth.
A standard not shaped by opinion, but by principle.
A standard that produces not only capable students, but grounded individuals.

Congratulations to all our students of Academic Year 2025–2026.

Continue in what is right. Continue in what is true. And let your life—not just your awards—be the evidence of excellence.