The Letters to the President is an annual pre-commencement tradition of FAITH Colleges delivered after the Baccalaureate Mass.
Colleagues, friends, and most importantly, the Graduating Class of 2025, to whom I wish to address my remarks: How are we all doing today?
After give or take four calendar years or approximately 823 schooldays, you are now three days away from your college graduation. For you, this is a once in a lifetime event. For us—the “olds” who have seen you through some or all of those 800-plus days—you are yet another graduating class. And if there’s anything we olds have learned from the privilege of that perspective, it’s that every graduating class is different.
Here at FAITH, it has been our tradition to invite the top 100 students from the
graduating class to write to the school president on the occasion of your graduation, and to receive a response in return after the Baccalaureate mass. For me, this is my third season reading and responding to these letters, and as always there were a few common themes.
In general, I gather you are a mess of emotions right now. Your letters were shorter than any I’d read previously, as if you were each struggling to process what you were going through and what the past four years have meant. I can understand: more than one letter reminded me that your batch ended high school in the pandemic and began at FAITH Colleges without seeing your new classmates in person.
You’ve been through a lot, and for some of you this will be the first real graduation
you’ll experience as adults. So I feel you, and I hope we don’t disappoint.
Now, I think your letters have told me a lot about you and your stay here at FAITH Colleges. When most of you look back at the persons you were before you became Bravehearts, I’m sure you remember being teenagers filled with doubt and uncertainty.
Julianne Rivera (BAComm) put this into words quite succinctly. She writes, “There was a time in my life, not too long ago, when everything felt uncertain. I was a teenager with no clear plans, no direction, and no idea what kind of future I wanted for myself. The pandemic had drained [me of] my spirit, and all I carried were questions, fears, and a heaviness I couldn’t shake off.
“Then came a turning point: I received a scholarship from FAITH Colleges. And FAITH gave me more than just a space to study. It gave me a space to begin again. Here, I found people who would become friends, mentors, and partners. I discovered skills I never knew I had. I learned how to tell stories—not just my own, but others’ too. Stories that matter. Stories that move. Stories that make us human.”
Healing and transformation
FAITH was never just about academics. It was about transformation. About healing. About growing into someone you never knew you could be. That last point on personal transformation is one that I found in many letters.
David Martin Butabara (BSCE) writes, “As I close this meaningful chapter of my life, I do so with a full heart and immense pride in being a Braveheart. The journey was not always easy, but it was always worth it. FAITH has taught me more than lessons inside the classroom—it has taught me courage, perseverance, and compassion. I walk forward with confidence, knowing I was shaped by an institution that values character as much as competence. I look forward to the day when I can return, not just to reminisce, but to give back to the school, to the students, and to the mission that molded me into who I am today.”
Dean Hailey Villanueva (BSE-English) shared a similar sentiment in his letter as
follows: “Let me start this letter [with] a short story about a boy who was lost four
years ago. He had no plan, bewildered and full of uncertainties as pandemic days were going. One day, he received a message to his group chat about a scholarship. Without any ideas about this, he started to fill out the Google Form. A day after, he received a message stating that he was granted a scholarship. He was puzzled, a complete blank slate of what he needed to do. He [had] no idea what FAITH Colleges is, and [had] no relatives in Tanauan. With all of this in his head, he took the risk.
“Fast forward, he is now a graduating student and one month after today a part of the Fidelis faculty—an English teacher. From a boy who has no direction, no idea of what life would be like to a man who has learned, became competent and compassionate through the help of this institution.”
Safe space
A number of you noted that, in the course of your studies here, FAITH had become your safe space.
Veronniecka Tolentino (BSECE) writes about how she overcame the initial apprehensions I’m sure many of you had as Freshmen: “When I first stepped into the Engineering Building as a 1st Year BSECE student, I was intimidated. The equations, the deadlines, the unfamiliar faces—it was all overwhelming. But somehow, through the shared pressure of late-night labs, org activities, and honest conversations with our professors, FAITH began to feel less like an institution and more like a training ground for life. I have not only gained technical skills, but I’ve learned resilience, patience, and quiet leadership. These are lessons that go beyond the classroom and into who I am becoming.”
In a similar way, Garchelle Jardinico (BEE) wrote about how her impression of the school changed through the years: “Looking back at my journey at FAITH, I would say that it is far from what I imagined on the day of my enrollment application. FAITH provided and supported me with all the things I needed to grow, and served as a bridge to reach my dreams. I would say that each of us is in good hands and safe places. My journey at FAITH was unforgettable, from the institutional and organizational events that opened for us to discover myself more and do things out of my comfort zone. It is really a privilege to study at FAITH because you are giving us opportunities not just at school but even outside and even within other communities.”
Facing challenges
A number of you saw fit to write about the hardships you had to overcome just to be here. The letter from Cristina Cabrera (BSHM) included the following missive: “There were moments when I questioned whether my family could continue supporting my education. But because of [my] scholarship, that burden was lifted. I strongly remember enrolling during senior high school with only a ten-peso coin, and again in college with just PhP100. For many, that may seem small, but for us—it was life changing. Studying at FAITH was more than just an academic pursuit. It became a home filled with warmth, community, and inspiration.”
For their part, Francis Nichole Salcedo (BSP) wrote about her own challenging personal trauma. Allow me to read from that letter at length: “To be honest, FAITH was not my first choice for college. I dreamed of studying architecture at a university in Manila […] but I also knew our family’s financial situation might not allow it. My father, who had been raising us alone for may years, was always honest about he possibility that college might be out of reach for us since we only had ourselves. My mother had already passed away when I was eight years old, so my late father sacrificed everything for us, even on his last breath. So I applied for the Ad Astra Scholarship […]. When I learned I had been accepted, which I truly believe was a prayer heard by my angel mother above, I was filled with both joy and hesitation. I was not sure that choosing FAITH was the right path but with Dr. Ren’s encouragement and 5support I decided to take the risk. Looking back now, I can say it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
“During my first examination period, tragedy happened—my father, the very reason I worked so hard to get into college, passed away. I was not able to take my first exams at FAITH—the first exam of being a college student. It was one of the darkest times in my life. […]
“Despite everything, I promised myself I would become the person my father and I dreamed of. FAITH become more than a school—it became a home. It gave me hope. I met friends who became family and [was] given opportunities that changed my life […].
“Thank you for believing in students like me. Thank you for helping me not only pursue my dreams but also fulfill the dreams of my family. This institution saved me from the pain I was carrying and gave me a reason to keep going.”
Unexpected
And then there were stories from students who originally didn’t expect to even be here, such as this one from Charles Arlan Ramilo (BSP): “I dreamed of attending schools in the city like many others. I wanted to create memories, explore life, and start preparing for my future. “Gusto ko ganito, gusto ko ganyan, gusto ko ma-experience ‘to,” and many other “gusto ko ‘to.” But due to some circumstances, I couldn’t attend those dream schools or fulfill all my “gustos”. Instead, I was given the opportunity to enroll at FAITH Colleges.
“To be honest, I didn’t expect much when I started because I carried some disappointment. I told myself to just go with the flow and pass my courses […] It was in my third year when things started to change. I was elected as an academic officer, and this role pushed me to step out of my comfort zone. It gave me new experiences and taught me valuable lessons. That’s when I realized that growth isn’t just about getting into your dream school but about finding a school that truly gives you the chance to grow and bring out the best in you.
“FAITH Colleges gave me not just good memories, friendships, and connections, but also skills I can use in real life. Now that graduation is just around the corner, I want to say thank you […] not just for letting me study and learn the theories and applications, but also for making many of my ‘gustos’ come true.”
For her part, Twinkle Ann Bonsol (BSE-Mathematics) shared a somewhat similar story:“Before I entered FAITH Colleges, I was already enrolled in another school. But then a friend encouraged me to take a chance on FAITH, even though it was far from our home in Taal. My heart was drawn to learn more about this institution. I started researching, and little by little, I became more captivated by what I discovered. With no hesitation, I decided to try—and to my joy I was accepted. My heart was filled with so much happiness. I thought maybe this was my chance to finally study in a private school […] . I asked my parents if they could support me in studying at FATIH Colleges, despite the distance and the additional expense for dormitory, food, and daily needs. Without a second thought, they said, ‘Yes, we will do our best so you can finish your studies. We will support you until the end.’ As time passed, I learned so much from my experience at FAITH Colleges. I learned how to stand on my own feet while being away from home. I grew so much emotionally and mentally and I became braver in facing life’s many trials. During my second semester, I went through a particularly difficult time when my father lost his job. I was in the dormitory with no food and no allowance. When the faculty of the College of Education found out what I was going through, they didn’t hesitate to help me. For that, I am deeply grateful. At FAITH Colleges, I was never left alone—people were always there to help in any way they could. What they told me before I entered the school proved to be true: “We are your partners, and we will always be here to guide you and help you grow.”
Finding a second home
Growth was also on the mind of Sharissa Franci Platon (BS Entrepreneurship), who had the following unique take on the matter: “FAITH Colleges has been my second home for the past nineteen years, almost my entire life. From my first steps as a preschooler to my final year as a graduating student, this institution has witnessed nearly every stage of my growth. And while I have technically been in the same school all these years, what I truly appreciate is how my environment continued to evolve with me. Through each transition—new buildings, updated policies, changing classmates, and growing responsibilities—I learned how to adapt while staying true to who I am. This is what FAITH taught me: to remain grounded, even as I embraced change. I have the rare blessing of studying here because of my mother, who has been working in this institution for many years. Through her, I experienced firsthand how FAITH is not just a school, but a family.”
Sharissa was not the only one who grew up with the school in that way, as I learned
from the letter of Yvan Gabriel Redondo (BSMLS): “As I prepare to graduate, I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude and share my personal journey within the institution that has become more than just a school to me—it has been my second home.
“Eighteen years ago, I first set foot on this campus. I would roam the halls with wonder, never realizing that this same place would one day shape me into who I am now. From my earliest memories as a young student in basic education to now […] this school has been a constant part of my life—a place where I have grown, learned, stumbled, and thrived.
“Isa sa mga ‘di ko makalimutang alaala noong grade school ay ‘yung tuwing uwian, diretso akong naghihintay kay Nanay sa admin building ng campus natin hanggang alas-singko ng hapon—habang siya’y nagtratrabaho roon. Habang nag-iintay sa aking Nanay, doon ako nakakatulog, nag-aaral, at minsan pa nga’y magpanggap na empleyado—parang maliit na tagabantay ng opisina. Dito ko din po sa campus nakilala ang mga katulad ko na anak din ng empleyado na nag-aaral sa FAITH Colleges. Ngayon po, graduating na at magkaibigan pa din po kami, nasa iisang campus at second ‘home’ pa din. Ito po ang isa sa mga mahahalagang napulot ko sa FAITH Colleges—and may makasama mag-grow sa campus na ito.”
Serving and Giving Back
I did want to give a shout out to one of the most “chill” letters I have ever received.
Allan Fajiculay Jr., (BPE) expressed both appreciation for his scholarship and
understanding for the fees that are charged by the school: “Malaki po ang naging impact ng scholarship program sa akin. Bilang isang working student, hindi naging gaanong mabigat sa bulsa ang pag-aaral ko. Nakatulong po ito para makapag-focus ako sa academics habang nagtratrabaho. Yes, may mga times po na kailanganag bayaran ang miscellaneous fees, pero naiintindihan ko po na mahalaga ito lalo na para masuportahan ang operasyon ng school at mga needs ng ating mga guro.”
That may be the first time I’ve ever had a student tell me that they understood why the school has to charge fees at all. Often, as was the case with your batch, most students just write asking the school to provide mode scholarships without regard to the fact that the school will be unsustainable unless enough benefactors or students pay the right cost of education. I hope that can be you someday.
Which brings me to the letter Kyla Soroy-Soroy, which certainly left an impression, and not just because she was one of the rare few who wrote expressing her intent to somehow, someway, give back: “As I look forward to the future, I carry not only the lessons learned but also the vision of what FAITH can continue to become. […] Should there be any opportunity in the future where I can give back to you or to your organization—whether through employment or in any other capacity—I would gladly and humbly welcome it. It would be an honor to contribute to the same community that helped shape who I am today. I have also
enclosed a copy of my resume, should you find it useful or relevant.”
Nag-aapply pala! Kyla, any company will be lucky to have you; but that being said, we’ll be in touch.
Now that we have come to the end, I wanted to conclude with the words of Arabella Grace Austria, (BSTM), who penned a letter that I felt captured this moment you find yourselves in as you prepare to leave this institution: “Since senior high school, FAITH has been more than just a place of learning for me. It has been my second home, a space where I was able to grow not only in knowledge, but in strength, character, and purpose.
“Throughout my journey, I faced numerous challenges—financial, hardships, academic pressures, and personal struggles that often made me question my ability to continue. There were days when the weight of it all felt overwhelming. But in those quiet, difficult moments, I always found strength in remembering why I started, and who I wanted to become.
“To the students who may be going through hardships of their own, I offer my story as a reminder that their challenges do not define them. With perseverance, faith, and a heart willing to grow, anything is possible. The journey may not always be easy, but it is always worth it.”
Graduates of the Class of 2025, you came to this school as individuals knowing little about one another but you leave it, together, with a shared history, shared experiences, and a shared identity as Bravehearts. What lies ahead of you are new experiences, new challenges, and new opportunities. You may face them apart, but in a very real sense you will still be together. And should you lose your way, or need to reconnect with each other or yourselves, your alma mater will always be here waiting.
Thank you for your letters, for your reminiscences, and for your suggestions for
the school. We will take them to heart.
May the stars always be within your reach.
And never forget: the journey may not always be easy, but will always be worth
it.
Ad Astra!
