A UNITED EFFORT… BY ANY EQUATION THE COMBINATION OF THREE IS BEST THAN ONE OR TWO

Realistically, parents seek a good school which can provide their children the highest quality education experience possible. Some parents usually decide to enroll their children to a school patronized by the rich and well-known personalities. They conclude if these well known and rich people are sending their children to this school the same must be “good.” Admittedly, parents have different reasons in choosing the right school for their children. For me, I choose the school that can inspire and motivate my children to open their minds and store in their subconscious that education is a continuing process that whatever we embark into there is only our knowledge, experience and skill accumulated throughout our lifetime serving as our guide. They must become thinkers and know how to make right decision that is attuned with the situation and circumstances obtaining. So, education is preparation of yourself for an ever changing world in the future. When it comes to the education of my children my humble position is what I stated in my acceptance speech as President of the Parents, Teachers, and Community Association (PTCA) of the Capitol University Basic Education Department, or CUBED for short, located at Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Philippines. The induction of officers was attended by the parents, teachers, students, the President of the Capitol University, and guests, on August 14, 2009, at 3:00 o’clock P.M. I have three (3) children who are studying at the CUBED, namely: VANESA, 13 years old, Second Year high school, MARS, twelve (12) years old, Grade 6, and STAR, nine (9) years old, Grade 4. The contents of my acceptance speech came wholeheartedly from my conviction and judgment which I stand on solid ground.

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Thanks for the applause which I richly deserved but rarely get. I feel like the cow, which, on a cold winter day, turned around to the person milking her, and said, thanks for the warm hand. You know it is an invigorating and satisfying experience for me to speak in front of the great icons and the pillars of the Capitol University. I would not be standing here today without the unyielding support of all the teachers and the parents. For this, I thank you and I am forever grateful that my admiration for all of you is beyond measure. My vision is to recognize the need for creating a family-friendly school environment by planning regular events to bring families and school staff together for positive interaction in a highly collaborative and inclusive manner to promote the educational goals of this school. In this way, we can build strong working relationships among parents, teachers and school, in support of our children. It is only apropos then to speak about building complete trust and cooperation where each of us resolves to pitch in and help this school develop in our children attitudes and skills and live by international standards of human rights and equity, appreciate cultural diversity, and respect the Earth and each other. It should first focus on behavioral modification on the part of our children to equip them with positive attitudes and authentic character. These values are important because without positive moral values, others may resent your actions and may not radiate positive energy in your direction. Remember that when you try to point to something that makes you happy there are three or more fingers pointing back at you. We cannot achieve what we want for our children if we do not help and support the teachers and the curriculum. Study shows, if you put strong trust and cooperation to the teachers and the school, students experience highest levels of academic success and have a greater sense of well-being. Our children are the future. Teach them right and the future will be all right!

Thank God the world is made up of infinite varieties of wonderful people who are all able to do different things. We must unite our diverse talents and expertise under a shared and common objective—to gently help our children onto their rightful path of learning and growth, a path that leads to a safe and peaceful future. These are our concerns and the university founder, the late Madame Laureana S. Rosales, our President Atty. Casimiro B. Juarez Jr., and the formidable principals, then and now, have been working towards this since the first day of their administration. It’s not about making one big leap to perfection, but tiny little changes every day, until we get where we want to go. You know its little steps that will eventually get us to the promise land. It’s kind of a “trek to the stars” keep reaching.

Peace is what life is all about. Conceivably, the United Nations has launched for the 21^st Century a global movement for a culture of peace so there will be world peace, the place free from the scourge of war and violence, the place where things flow, where dreams become reality, the place where fulfillment lies. It has been revealed that a better approach to building peace is through the minds of the children starting in the basic education which our children are in such level and category. Our Children are like mirrors they reflect who we are as parents. Children start out in life looking up to their parents because parents are all they have – the parent’s example is all they see. Research has shown that throughout our children's lives, we parents really are the strongest influence on our children's behavior. Our kids are listening and learning from us. What we say and do as parents is heard and retained by our children. So let’s start showing our children the idea that despite our different faiths and beliefs we can live side by side and work together to build a society rooted in the values we treasure, that is, a culture of peace. With our differences of talents and expertise, we can learn from one another and discover new truth in raising our children in a way that they grow up with a culture of peace.

So, for the sake of our children, let’s inspire each other to do more for peace. Let us be something like a star whole and radiant and link to other stars within the shimmering and glorious constellation of community. We’ve only got one life so we may as well accomplish something that the world will be benefited more than can be conveyed and give ourselves something to remember and be truly proud of when we look back in our old age and reflect on our life. What better way to keep the fabric of society together than to plant a seed of friendship and cooperation that will never die. That said, we can be sure that those who come after will say of us that in our time we did everything that could be done. We finished the race; we give them peace of mind, we give them the true value of unity. So, let’s start by greeting each other with a smile all the time. One tidbit can kick-start us in a new direction. Then this can be bolstered by great follow through. Remember, “Life should be measured in smiles per hour, not miles per hour or dollars per hour.”

Finally, we must learn to see ourselves as one and not be so concerned with our nationality, race or religion. When it comes right down to it we are all human. Think what we could accomplish if we all worked together. We all have needs and wants but let’s not get carried away. Be mindful not to get so caught up in making a living that you forget to make a life. Remember, no matter what you’ve done for yourself and humanity, if you can’t look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished? But if you’ve had wonderful family relationships, you will be able to call yourself a true success in life no matter what else you’ve achieved. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start. If you have too much, be it time, money or love, start sharing it with others that can benefit. If you think that seeing a smile or a tear on a thankful face isn’t one of the best rewards in life then you haven’t truly experienced this feeling recently.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. This has to be so because We humans are social beings. We come into the world as the result of others’ actions. We survive here in dependence on others. Whether we like it or not, there is hardly a moment of our lives when we do not benefit from others’ activities. For this reason it is hardly surprising that most of our happiness arises in the context of our relationships with others. Nor is it so remarkable that our greatest joy should come when we are motivated by concern for others. So, in the spirit of brotherhood, our vision is to develop and support partnerships between parents, on the one hand, and the teachers and the school, on the other hand, each equally sharing the responsibility of providing our children with the highest quality education experience possible. We believe it is essential that all of us accept joint responsibility in the education of our children and empowering them to meet the challenges of the ever changing world in which they live. ALL OF US shall do it, ALL OF US should do it, ALL OF US will do it. WE promise that WE will do it definitely.

Thank you very much and good afternoon to all of you.