The Philippine Institute of Quezon City [PIQC] Senior High School held its virtual graduation last Saturday, 5 June 2021. This year’s graduation theme of “Enduring Life’s Challenges Towards Success” is the same for grades 6, 10, and 12. This is a uniquely special occasion since this batch of graduates is the first batch who fully experienced online learning. The challenges, successes, pains, and joys of the Spartans [this is how this batch is fondly called] will finally come to an end.
This batch of graduates fits their name to a T. In Ancient Greek history, Spartans were considered the strongest army ever. In modern times, the word ‘spartan’ is used to mean “disciplined and rigorously simple or austere or undaunted.” Nothing can be more true than this. The school year was marked with such austerity that only essential requirements were expected from the students. And in spite of the challenges, i.e. poor bandwidth, lack of sleep, poor mental health, feeling of boredom and disconnectedness, these UNDAUNTED and mighty BRAVE PIQC Spartans will proudly graced the screens last Saturday.
At the forefront of these Spartans is none other than ABM student Lyra Sophia Tan who is this year’s English and Chinese Valedictorian. She is followed by another ABM student Neia Ng, this year’s English Salutatorian. Lastly, the program commenced with an Opening Prayer to be led by Ysabel B. Calderon, a STEM student who is finishing as this year’s English First Honorable Mention. The school is truly happy for and proud that this year’s Graduation Speaker is none other than the esteemed Chairman of the Federation of Chinese Chamber of Commerce QC – Mr Jose Go.
The virtual graduation also remembered the passing of two members of the PIQC community – Kuya Ferdie Manabat [from the Maintenance Dept] and Ma’am Zeny Clemente [Faculty—English subject Area]. We lost both members during this uncertain time of the pandemic. They will be sorely missed by the whole PIQC community.
Finally, as our beloved Spartans dauntlessly marched on, they sang their Graduation Song–an original song written by ABM student Genevie Cheng and composed by ABM students Queenie Ledesma and Ashley Gan, fittingly titled “Together, We Grew.”
The school, its faculty, and students continue to grow, to flourish amidst this pandemic because of a Higher Being who oversees everything.
