Testimonial

 

Jessica de Jesus Dogaojo

BANQUET (Speech)

When I first delivered a speech for the scholars last 2010, I opened with a quote from a French author, Anaïs Nin, which goes: "You have your brush, you have your colors, you paint paradise, then in you go." I always reiterate this statement because I believe that it's the way life is. I mean, we create our own paradise. We create our own fate. The famous masterpieces in literature and the arts are created by people who dared use the brush, the pen, and the colors. And we need not be an artist in order to create a masterpiece. Every life is a work of art. It's up to an individual to make it a masterpiece.

I was 12 when I first thought of a masterpiece I wish to create. I was 12 when I first dreamedbig. My vision of my masterpiece is myself holding a college diploma certifying that I finished a degree I love. Then, it was but a vision.

Of course, every creation of a painting needs colors and brushes. So the next thing is to worry where to get these paraphernalia – these brushes and colors. But someone whispered in my ear, 'Hey, you need not worry. Your brushes and colors have already been provided. ' And true enough, when I finally decided to pursue my studies at the University of the Philippines, which I equated to my first step in creating a paradise, colors and brushes just came rushing in.

The knowledge, skills, and experiences we had acquired for the past years served as our colors to paint a whole picture. The Advocate for Casiguranon, International (AFCi) and the Oberman Foundation provided, however, the brushes – guiding our every stroke, not necessarily for perfection but for polished edges.

For four years, I continued mixing colors and using brushes in an attempt to achieve my masterpiece. This April 27, my work art is almost complete. I could already see myself proudly holding a diploma from the country's premiere university, the University of the Philippines, saying that I am a graduate of the BA Communication Arts program. And I know that everything will just branch out from this single piece.

Hence, I guess this banquet means a day of gratitude for those people who were with me through the process of creating my masterpiece. Fortunately, these people are here today.

To my high school teachers who taught me how to dream; to Ma'am Gemma, Sir Ariel, Sir Bernard, who made me dream big; to Sir Tony, Ma'am Irene, the Oberman Foundation, AFCi, who made my dream possible. 'Thank you' is never and will never be enough for us to express our gratitude to you. But rest assured that my masterpiece is not just for me. It's for you as well. Because I know I couldn't finish it alone.

Hence, for the last time, I will quote Anaïs Nin. "You have your brush, you have your colors, you paint paradise, then in you go." We already have our brushes and colors, provided to us by AFCi and the Oberman Foundation, we just have to paint our own paradise, and in we can go.