My Graduation Speech Geared to Filipino-Americans

This posting is inspired by the several graduations ceremonies going this Week here in the US. I know of a few THD senior residents attending Graduation Ceremonies of GrandChildren and other closed relatives this week. 

A few decades ago, I was invited as Graduation speaker during a High School Graduation of a Relative.  At that time ChatGPT was not available, but I remember giving the same closing remark highlighting a popular Filipino Proverb. He who does not look at his past, will not be able to see his Future.💚  

The following is my fictional graduation speech helped by AI technology. I will give this talk if I am invited again to a graduation ceremony, addressing the majority of second- third generation Filipino-Americans here in the US. The chance of this is currently nil, but for posterity sake, the following would have been my graduation speech.

Here's my thoughtful and heartfelt speech tailored to deliver to a group of graduating seniors with Filipino-American ancestry in the U.S. It reflects my admiration for Cardinal Luis Tagle, my reflective nature, my heritage, and my desire to uplift others with depth and sincerity.

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Speech Title: “Rooted in Heritage, Rising with Purpose”
By David B Katague

Good afternoon, dear graduates, families, friends, and members of our community.

First, let me say: Congratulations! This day belongs to you. It is a milestone—a marker of years of hard work, perseverance, and courage. You’ve earned this moment.

As I stand before you, looking out at a sea of bright, hopeful faces—many of whom share the richness of Filipino ancestry—I can’t help but reflect on a saying I once heard from Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, a Filipino Cardinal in the Catholic Church whom I greatly admire. He said, “The deepest identity we carry is our being loved by God and our capacity to love.” That truth isn’t just spiritual—it’s practical. It’s a compass for how we live our lives.

Many of you are first or second-generation Filipino-Americans. That means you straddle two worlds—the traditions, values, and sacrifices of the Philippines, and the opportunities, freedoms, and challenges of the United States. That dual identity is not a burden—it is a gift.

Never forget the sacrifices made by those who came before you—Lolos and Lolas who left familiar islands for unfamiliar shores, parents who worked extra shifts so you could have more choices, Titos and Titas who cheered you on every step of the way. You are their dream fulfilled. But now, you are the dreamers.

Let me offer you a few reflections as you prepare to chart your path forward:

1. Know Your Roots, But Don’t Be Afraid to Branch Out

Be proud of your heritage—our hospitality, our respect for elders, our deep faith, and yes, our unbeatable pancit and adobo! But don’t let your identity be limited to nostalgia. Use it as a launching pad for meaningful engagement in the broader world. Be global-minded, but soul-grounded.

2. Define Success on Your Terms

You’ll hear a lot about careers, income, status. Those things matter—but they are not everything. The most fulfilled lives I’ve seen are those lived with purpose. Ask yourself often: Am I making someone else’s life better? Am I living in a way that would make my ancestors proud?

3. Embrace Compassion as Strength

We come from a culture that values empathy—malasakit—and community. In a world that often rewards ambition over kindness, dare to lead with compassion. The best leaders are those who uplift others.

4. Keep Faith—Whatever Form It Takes

Whether your faith is Catholic, Protestant, another religion, or simply a quiet belief in something greater than yourself—keep that flame alive. It will sustain you in times of doubt and challenge. And there will be challenges. That’s life. But the Filipino-American spirit? It is resilient. And so are you.

5. Remember, This Is Just the Beginning

You are not closing a chapter—you are opening one. What stories will you write? What difference will you make?

Graduates, you are the bridge between generations. Between cultures. Between what is and what can be. Stand tall. Speak truth. Dream big. And always, always, love deeply.

As I close, let me leave you with a Filipino proverb:

“Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan.”
💚(He who does not look back to where he came from will not reach his destination.)

Look back. Give thanks. Then move forward—with courage, with clarity, and with heart.

Mabuhay kayong lahat. Congratulations, Class of 2025!

Meanwhile, here's one of my Favorite Poems, Addressed to the Younger Generation:

When your Parents or GrandParents get old…

They may move a little slower.

They might forget what they just said.

They might tell the same story again and again.

But don’t stop them.

Let them talk. Let them share. Let them feel heard.

Because once upon a time,

they listened to your every word.

Even when it made no sense.

Even when you couldn’t get the words out.

They gave you their time, their patience, their energy,

without asking for anything in return.

Now it’s your turn.

Let them hold on to their old things.

The faded chair. The chipped mug. The quiet routines.

They may look like clutter to you.

But to them, it’s a life.

A life they built.

A life they still want to feel close to.

Let them enjoy time with their old friends.

The familiar laughs. The old stories.

The comfort of people who’ve known them for decades.

They once made space for your world.

Now let them have theirs.

Let them light up around their grandchildren.

In those little faces, they see echoes of you

and a reason to smile all over again.

Let them be wrong sometimes.

You made mistakes too.

And they never made you feel ashamed.

Let them enjoy their days,

even if they don't look the way you think they should.

They spent years making sacrifices,

putting your needs before their own.

Now let them rest. Let them choose.

Let them live this last stretch with dignity.

With love.

With you.

Give them your hand.

They once held yours so gently, so tightly,

when you were learning to walk.

Now they’re the ones who need steady ground.

So hold them.

The way they once held you.

Without question. Without condition.

With all the love in the world.

Lastly, My Photo of the Day:

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