Gina Lopez graces STI Grad rites

Last October I blogged about the Run for Pasig River which was a major event spearheaded by the ABS-CBN foundation. If there was one person who was responsible in making that event a monumental success it would have to be the foundation's managing director Gina Lopez. I remember watching an Ateneo - La Salle game and seeing her talking during halftime inviting everyone to run for pasig. Same goes with the opening of the 10th NAASCU. All her efforts were rewarded since the Run for Pasig event is now in the Guinness book of World Records with 116,086 runners.

Just lately her new project is NO TO MINING in PALAWAN wherein her group needs 10 million signatures to be able to pass a petition and make a difference in lives of Palaweños. As she said, the foreigners take away the minerals while the Filipinos are left to suffer because of the effect of mining in Palawan. The project was launched last february and has reached 1,117,903 signatures as of today. It will only be a matter of time when they reach the signatures needed to put a stop to mining in Palawan, known as the Philippines last ecological frontier.

Gina talked about many things but stressed on five key points. First is the simple truth that Life is not easy so make it a challenge. It's the truth and something we should always consider. Next is a commitment to Integrity, compassion and sense of reflectiveness to be able to see what is wrong with thyself. She also said that we should make each situation may it be good or bad an opportunity to grow. Live healthy and do not desecrate the environment which she is now pushing.

One of the most important thing she shared to the STI graduates is the thought to never think you are small. This message is very apt to graduating STIers who are content with whatever comes their way and will just fade away in the background. She said that by doing that we are accepting mediocrity and not enhancing our true potential to become what we dream of. Truly a remarkable lady, her insights will forever be embedded in the hearts of our STI graduates. Congratualtions graduates and good luck.

STI Graduation 2011

The graduation team

Of all the STI Graduations I have handled and helped out this one seems to be more meaningful to me. I was like a stage father loud and proud at the backstage cheering on some graduates who I have worked with the past four years and some graduates who I have remained close up to this day. I was just lucky I kept my tears form falling after seeing some student friends accomplish their ultimate goal.

Spent four happy years with Kathleen

Ron Hermida of STI College Makati, Charlon Untalan of STI College Quezon Avenue, Lester Sangalang of STI College Novaliches and Robert Ordonez from STI College Fairview are all first time and only one time Olympians who I was happy to see lead the STI Teams in Chess, Juniors Basketball, Badminton and Table Tennis respectively. Unfortunately we only had a year to bond and at the same time it was already late in their college life that the sport they so love gave them an opportunity to compete against other schools.

One of my reliable and loyal friends Che

Add to that other Olympians who have also graduated with Cheerdancer Nikka Quiogue of STI College Global City, Men's Volleyball's Ace Yumul from STI College Quezon Avenue and a pair of Volleybelles in Rachelle Cruz and Eliza Nuevo from STI College Global City who also helped out in maintaining the NAASCU website.

With Apple Dolorfino

Among the crop of graduates who have been very dear to me the most are my two former All-Star dancers Kathleen Tacuban and Apple Dolorfino. They are the two remaining members of the STI All-Star Dance team that I formed in 2007 and was at that time the talk of the town for their one of a kind dance moves and ethereal beauty. The two endured a lot of problems in their college life and I am was a witness to how they overturned all those problems to eventually graduate on time. Of the two, Apple is the one who is gifted academically as she also graduated Cum Laude with an average of 1.34. I was just like a proud father and so proud for her getting her medal and seeing her graduate. All I wish is for my Olympians to continue to become role models so that others can follow their lead.

I have seen this girl since she was 9 years old

now she's a graduate

Congrats to the New STI Graduates

The New Graduates from 11 STI Schools in Metro Manila singing the STI HYMN

The event was held at the Crossroads 77 in Quezon City.

Good luck on your job hunting guys!

STI Network Graduation

The new graduates from

11 STI Schools in Metro Manila

singing the STI HYMN

The event was held at

the Crossroads 77 in Quezon City.

Good luck on your job hunting guys!

A familiar face among the graduates is action star ACE ESPINOSA who is

a Diploma and Computer and Electronics Technology Graduate

of STI College Las Piñas.

STI CHED Graduates

CONGRATULATIONS TO 

THE STI COLLEGE CHED GRADUATES

WELCOME TO THE CORPORATE WORLD!!!

(This video was shown during the STI Graduation @ Crossroads 77)

STI TESDA Graduates

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE

TESDA GRADUATES OF

STI!!!

GOOD LUCK GUYS!

(This video was shown after the Graduation Ceremonies at Crossroads 77)

Mike Enriquez wows STI Graduates

Pasok!!! Thus goes the line popularized by veteran Broadcaster Mike Enriquez as he addressed more than 700 graduates from 12 STI schools who took two-year TESDA courses.  I was quite taken aback by what Mike shared to the STI community which seemed to have inspired all the graduates that listened.

He started his story with current events and what was more fresh than the one sided win of Manny Pacquiao against Ricky Hatton.  He said he has met Manny and Aling Dionisia and he was quite happy to be a friend of the one and only unifying force in the Philippines.  He said that Manny’s sensational win got him more than a hundred million pesos with just almost 6 minutes. Impressive as it may look, the most important thing with Pacquiao is that he always looks at himself as a person who improves everytime he goes to the ring. His determination to improve and become better is unmatched. He then mentioned that with all that talent and money, Manny had to start somewhere.

 

Mike then related his experiences in Broadcasting specially when he was a neophyte and trainee that didn’t get much money but settled for the experience that he got from the people who were more senior than him.  One startling story was his story about how GMA became the No.1 network in the Philippines.  It was not about hiring good people or getting new and better equipment, it was all about the 7 core values that all of them live by heart.  That story really struck me since it just proves that the direction they took made them what they are right now.  Eventually everything else fell into place.

 

Mike had other stories but he still ended with Manny Pacquioa and the showbiz person that he is took place. (Even though he is from the news sector he still rocked the place) He brought with him a cd of Manny Pacquiao’s new song and sang it with the audience. He was given a rousing standing ovation by the inspired graduates of STI.  With all the experiences he had, Mike Enriquez’s success can be attributed to the fact that he paid his dues by going through all the motions needed to become who he is today. In closing he said “Share your success, the more you share success the more it happens in your life!” Thanks Mike I hope that “hindi ka tatantanan ng Success in your life

STI Graduates ready to face the world

One thousand Five hundred STI students from twelve STI schools in Metro Manila gathered together for the graduation rites of school year 2008-2009.  To make things easier, the STI graduation had the TESDA graduates do their ceremonies in the morning while the CHED graduates had theirs in the afternoon.

Two different personalities were invited as guest speakers with GMA 7's Mike Enriquez doing the honors in the morning and Ortigas and Company CEO Rex Drillon III doing speaking in the afternoon. Mike shared many stories to the graduates most specially his own story when he was starting out. Rex on the other hand gave a great example of a person that the graduates should emulate, and that is STI President Nick Jacob.

Parents and Guests flocked the Crossroad 77 Convenarium as various emotions were on the air for the four hour ceremony.  The event is a fitting end for the efforts that every STIer had in their years of stay in their STI campus and a signal of bright things to come. TO all the STIers, congratulations and welcome to the corporate world.