THE University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City has honored students with extraordinary academic achievements (Dean’s listers) and feeder schools which collaborated with the university for school year 2018-2019 in rites held at the University coliseum on September 19, 2019.
Br. Joaquin Severino Martinez FCS, D Min., USLS Bacolod president and chancellor, instilled in their students that success is not an accident because while there is intelligence coming from their genes, they can be able to translate intelligence into actual output.
“It is not just memorization of content but skills that are different from content that shows that you are better than the rest not only in terms of what you know but what you can do. More and more, when we look at life today, we need to look at success and intelligence from a broader perspective which means success is not just intelligence, but skills and wisdom to translate what you know, couple with experience, emotional intelligence to be able to come up with some forms of decisions and solutions towards the challenges that we face on a day to day basis,” he said.
He urged the students to be open-minded, flexible, resourceful, and articulate, “Because if you are not articulate, people will decide for you. People will solve the problems for you and before you know it, you are outside of your comfort zone.”
Br. Martinez urged the students to continue to take up the challenge of day to day events and feel comfortable with the fast-changing world.
“The success of an individual like you is the success of a parent like them. How were they able to bring you to school, feed you and take care of you up to this moment if they did not work hard and in some way succeed in themselves? And if you are to ask yourself, if you will be successful, can you afford in the future to send your child to La Salle Bacolod without scholarships? That means that you will have to be successful as much as your parents have worked hard to send you to this school. Isn’t it right? And if you truly love your parents, you will do your best to remain in good standing. That is also the secret of my mother who just celebrated her 96th birthday last September 11. She told us that she was able to live longer because her children are good. No one is a disadvantage. So, if you want your parents to succeed and last long, try to succeed and show how good you are,” he said.
On the other hand, Alyssa Ronah Ayco, a student of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Major in Business Economics & Operations Management, responding in behalf of the USLS students said, “We are all gathered here for a great harvest, a reap for joy for all our efforts for the first and second semester of 2018-2019.”
“I am greatly honored for this opportunity to speak on behalf of the students. Success is a wide and deep sea. Indeed, it is an ocean. Sometimes, life may bring us troubles and burdens as heavy as a boulder. Just don’t ever lose hope. Always believe that only those people who choose to continue despite everything that can only meet the real success desired. Success is not only limited to what you have achieved, how much power and influence you have, what is your status in life, how big is your house or how healthy is your bank account. Success is true happiness, contentment, and satisfaction.
Pursue your dreams and your passion. Choose to dream for yourself and don’t follow other people’s dreams. Instead, set and follow your own goals at your own pace for you are like the others. You are your own person and you have your own capacity. Work accordingly in order to achieve real success. If you fail initially, don’t be dismayed. Just keep on trying. Remember that failures give us valuable lessons in the end and also help us in choosing the right path. After all, we can see the word “fail” as the first attempt in learning. It is just a matter of perception.
I would like to thank the school for recognizing the incomparable efforts of students to be part of this ceremony and I am honored and proud to receive this recognition together with my fellow La Sallian achievers. Our utmost gratitude goes to the parents, faculty, and staff for the collaborative efforts and support in enhancing the development of each student today (September 19), grooming them to become competent leaders someday and most of all, raising these fine persons to have a compassionate mind and a caring heart. And to the one who deserves the highest praise and honor - I thank God above all whose grace and blessings overflow to anyone who puts Him first. Indeed, we are who we are today by the grace of God.
This is just the start of our college education. More obstacles that await us, more challenges to conquer, more part of ourselves to be given up but may serve as our stepping stones in reaching for our goals. Life is not about being No. 1 in the race and drop others just to win. You must learn how to fly with both feet on the ground while seeking for wider horizons. I congratulate all the Dean’s listers for the Academic year 2018-2019 on their outstanding achievement. I have no doubt that every one of you will be successful in your chosen careers and contribute to the future well-being of our society, our nation and the world at large. The key to success is not about getting ahead of others but getting ahead of ourselves,” she said.
Meanwhile, the top feeder schools were also recognized by the said university in their collaboration in the implementation of the Junior and Senior High Education. These schools were Rafael B. Larson Memorial High School, Sagay National High School, La Consolacion College - Bacolod, Ramon Torres High School, Doña Montserrat Lopez Memorial High School, Bacolod City National High School. St.Joseph School-LaSalle, University of St. La Salle-Integrated School Negros Occidental High School, Bacolod Tay Tung High School, VMA Global College, Silay Institute, Riverside College, Colegio San Agustin Bacolod, University of Negros Occidental Recoletos-Bacolod, STI West Negros University, USLS-Liceo De La Salle.
The Best Performing Schools include Binalbagan Catholic College, LCC Bacolod, Silay Institute, Riverside College, Inc., Dr. Vicente F. Gustilo Memorial National High School, Emiliano Lizares National High School, Ramon Torres National High School, STI NNU, Rafael B. Larson Memorial High School, Kabankalan Catholic College, St. Joseph School - La Salle, Himamaylan National High School, NOHS, St. Scholastica’s Academy - Bacolod, UNO-R, Hinigaran National High School, USLS-Integrated School, Doña Hortencia Salas Benedicto National High School, USLS-Liceo De La Salle and Bacolod City National High School.