An executive of a local chamber of commerce in Valenzuela City is encouraging the newly graduated to not settle on being an employee and take an entrepreneurial career instead.

“Don’t be an employee all your life. Make your own business out of all your experiences. Mag-sipag ka lang and learn to become competitive, may patutunguhan ka,” (Work hard and be competitive; you’ll go far) said Ricardo R. Yu, the executive vice president and incoming president of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Valenzuela, Inc., in his keynote speech during Valenzuela Polytechnic College’s 18^th Commencement Exercises held on April 12 at the Valenzuela City Astrodome in Barangay Dalandanan. The theme for this year’s program was “Excellent Technical Instruction Towards Producing Quality Graduates for the Demands of the Modernized Millennium.”

Speaking to 608 graduates, Yu added that one must continuously go through a process to achieve success. “Earn experience, work hard, and learn while you’re young.  When you see an opportunity, you go there para unti-unti, you go where you want to go,” (When you see an opportunity, seize it and you step closer to your goals) he said.

Yu also addressed the parents and reminded them of their roles even after their children have graduated. According to him, just as education doesn’t stop when one graduates, so does the role of parents as motivators, guide and provider of help. “Ang kanilang pagiging estudyante is just the first level; the second level is their career. You still have to continue guiding them until you see them that they’re okay na. Hindi tayo dapat umasa sa ating mga anak dahil ang mga panahon nila ay gugugulin naman nila sa paghahanda sa kanilang sariling kinabukasan. At tayo bilang magulang ay dapat patuloy na magsumikap dahil tayo ay pa-retire naman.” (Their education is just the first level. The second level is their career. You still have to continue guiding them until you see them that they’re settled in. We should not rely on our children for our welfare as they have to prepare for their future, too. Meanwhile, we parents should also strive until we reach retirement)

Meanwhile, John Kenneth C. Goyal, who graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Bachelor of Technical Teacher Education major in Electronics Technology, gave the valedictory address, in which he reminded his fellow graduates of the importance of working hard and the importance of continuous learning even after graduation. He also received a REXponsableng Lider Award for being an outstanding student of Valenzuela City.

Joewie A. Flores, who graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Technical Teacher Education Major in Food Service Management Technology, received the Vice-Mayor Eric M. Martinez Leadership Award.

This year, ValPoly had 309 graduates in formal courses, 57 in two-year exit courses, and 140 in nonformal or short-term courses.