22/07/2025
To everyone here today, to our very active Social Work program head, (Doc SindyPearl P. Melencio, RSW,MPA, MSSW), to our Vice President for Student Affairs and Services Sir Jestone P.Palate, LPT, MBA-HRM to the Instructors to all the students who
are here to witness our pinning ceremony, a very pleasant day to all of us. It is with a great privilege to stand here infront of you to deliver a speech that will inspire life, and I hope it will inspire all of you. With that being said, allow me to share with you what I
have prepared on my speech presentation. I hope to have your ears and let me deliver my speech.
Life has full of surprises; you'll get to know it somewhere, somehow, if you step up, move out to your comfort zone and live the best life you could ever be. It is indeed a quite rooler coaster journey where we are riding upside down. In this life, we will be facing ups and downs. There will be moments in our life where we can experience worst things we wish we could never experienced. A life composed with hardship, difficulties, and problems that burdened us throughout the journey. And there were times in our life where we can experience to be on top. It is with joy, contentment, blessing, and favor
that brings happiness to life. It may see complicated, but one thing is for certain, life is truly surprising.
Recalling the life that I've had years ago before I get to where I am today hits really different. I was once a dreamer, carrying the future life I want to have, holding on to dreams I wanted to do in the future, and lifting the thoughts of helping my family someday, giving them a comfortable life where they could live without any thing to worry. But surprisingly, life to me was not fair. I lost my mother, the only person I had since my childhood, the one who took care of me and love me unconditionally. I would say, isa yon sa pinakamasakit na pangyayari sa aking buhay. Ang magpatuloy knowing na wala na lahat ng iyong nakasanayan is really hard and getting harder along the way. I stopped, and it seems like everything stopped. My life was about to fall and it keeps on falling. Until one day, nagbago ang lahat. Ang dating puno ng pangarap, matapang na humarap sa hamon ng buhay para sa inaasam na pangarap, naging bigo at tuluyang naging duwag
para abutin ang mga ito. I came to many to places trying to escape to the unfairly treatment of life. I want to do anything. "Living my life to the fullest" Ika nga. But in my way of living my life to the fullest, I found myself completely lost. I don't even know the
direction of my life anymore. I struggle a lot. I've been through in the worst situation I really wish I couldn't. I stumbled most of the times and the fear of loosing, fear of trying, fear to continue and keep on moving forward haunted me so much. Life really is a
disappointment. Only when I realized it all needs to happen. Life has no exemption to everyone. We only need to be still and endure the journey.
I was too focused on the worst situation where it leads me to the wrong direction. I failed to notice that life may sometimes worst but it always been so good. It may seem complicated but it is amazingly surprising. There was one moment of my life where I
doubted myself so much. I was lost and I wanted to make things right. I want to continue to where I stopped and finish what I started years ago. It clears my mind that everything happens for a reason, and behind that reason there's a purpose. God sets His purpose to everyone. He allows everything to happen because He has a better plan to each of us. It may seem unclear for us to understand, this means His ways are far beyond our understanding. We never know the future but God knows everything. He knows our journey so well even to the very inch of our story. He holds everything together. And everything started to make sense. I was reminded that throughout my journey I am not alone. I have my family who helps me along the way. I have my friend who sits beside me when the storms come. I have people who shares laughter and memories that I will cherish. My inner child was healed by love and realizing the value of what was with the present.
My family and friends encouraged me to continue my studies. I am with confident to answer them "NO" because I am old enough to go to college and earn a deegre. I will be an old fashion person 'cause for me I was too late to study anymore. But they pushed me
and lift my confidence to take some risks and fight the fear I have. There were no late for
someone who has dreams to chase and is very determined to achieve it. Age is not the basis to earn a deegre and chase for your dream, it is the will to do so. I took some risks and enroll to college, taking up Bachelor of Science in Social Work studies. Years has passed and look where I am today. Standing in front you, sharing my story hoping to inspire many not just to brag but to help you see that life is amazingly surprising. Marami man tayong mapagdadaanan, hiindi tayo nag-iisa sa paglalakbay. May mga tao mang umalis ngunit mayroon paring mananatili hanggang sa meron tayong matutunan at mahubog tayo sa reyalidad ng buhay. It was never easy, it is quite hard to be honest, but I am happy and proud to say that I made it! To all my classmates and friends, closest
friends, teachers, you all play a big part to this journey. Thank you.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank all the people behind this journey. To my family and friends who stood beside me and help me every step of the way, thank you is not enough to express how blessed I am to have you. You all have been so good to me Thank you for your love and unending support. I am what I am today, and it's all thanks to you. And most especially to God who sustain me with everything I needed to keep on standing, to keep on growing, to keep on learning, to keep on fighting. Indeed, He is the God of blessing, favor, and the God of the harvest. He is everything to be exact. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord; a plans to prosper you and not to harm you, a plans to give you hope and a future".
In this life where we can experience ups and downs, may we all stand firm and keep on moving forward. The journey might be very uncomfortable but at the end of the day it is all worth it. May we have the courage to face our battles. Please know that we will
never be alone. God is with us. May hope will always find us and the love of all the people who believes in us, who put so much effort to 'brings out the best in us will never go unnoticed. May we never stop on learning not just in school but also in life. Let us all be the product of change and transformation. May we learn to be kind to all human and keep our foot remain on the ground. Everything in this life is temporary, let's not waste our energy chasing the wrong things. Let's live our life with no regrets.
My heart was filled with gratitude to get to experience this milestone. I know there's so much to be grateful for, but this will be remembered to life. It is not the end but a fresh beginning. And I am more confident to face what's ahead and surrendering
everything to God alone. Bilang future social workers, bitbitin natin ang ating mga kwento, ang
ating empathy, at ang ating puso-dahil yan ang tunay na kakanyahan ng ating propesyon..
Ladies and gentlemen, I am Cosme Masalon Manduli, Jr and I am honored to share with you my story. I hope this inspire you a lot. May the good Lord bless you all. Thank you!
Cosme M. Manduli, Jr.
Social Work Intern-Block 2
