On 18 August 2024, at 8:00a.m., the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) facilitated the Graduation Ceremony of this year’s graduates of its Pagharap sa Pangarap College Scholarship Program. The joyous occasion was held at the CFBCI 8th Floor Auditorium in Binondo, Manila and was graced with the attendance of CFBCI officers and members, dignitaries from the government, sponsors, current scholars, and parents of graduates. The program was hosted by two scholarship program alumni, Ms. Mex Bausa (Batch 2023) and Mr. Lester Dela Cruz (Batch 2022).

To officially begin the ceremony, Plenary Member Nixon Co introduced his fellow CFBCI officers and members to the crowd by calling them one by one. Afterwards, President Samuel Lee Uy delivered a welcome address through which he expressed CFBCI’s hope that its scholars will aim and continue working hard to fulfill their ‘dreams of depth’ so they can continue to prove that hope, love, and kindness remain as characteristics of greatness and not manifestations of weakness.

Then, Director Richard Alviar introduced the keynote speaker of the ceremony, Ms. Jocelyn Johanna See, Vice President of CFBCI and the President/CEO of Landlite Philippines Corporation (LPC). All attendees were marveled by her excellent speech in which she shared her humble beginnings and the three vital values that one must embrace to succeed: hard work, grit, and compassion (the heart of leadership). She also emphasized that success is not easily handed over to anyone, we must all strive for it.

As she ended her speech, a loud round of applause filled the auditorium and CFBCI officers awarded her a plaque of appreciation. Vice Mayor John Marvin “Yul Servo” Cruz Nieto of the City of Manila also gave a short message to congratulate the new graduates. After his message, the CFBCI Chorale performed two Chinese songs, “Zhen Xin Ying Xiong" (The Sincere Hero) and “Da Zhong Guo" (The Great China), to serenade the crowd. Then, the awarding of certificates to the graduates was held. This year, a total of 26 graduates received a plaque of recognition and tokens.

Those who graduated with honors received brand new smartphones and cash incentives from the organization as rewards to their hard work. CFBCI is delighted to announce that out of 26 scholars, 9 graduated cum laude, 9 graduated magna cum laude, while one graduated summa cum laude, the first time in the history of the scholarship program. The summa cum laude, Ms. Sharina Joy Bautista (BS Human Resource Management) from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila received a brand new laptop worth P50,000 as well as cash incentives worth P50,000 in total from CFBCI officers.

To express their gratitude to their benefactors, the graduates prepared a short tribute video which was shown by the screen. Two graduate scholars and a parent also delivered heartwarming speeches which made the attendees teary-eyed. Aside from the tribute video, the graduates also prepared simple yet well-crafted tokens to the officers of CFBCI to extend their immense gratitude. Nearing towards the end of the ceremony, Ms. Melonick Casipe (Batch 2012 Alumna) led the induction and oath-taking of the graduates as new alumni.

In closing, Director William Rogando delivered a speech in which he emphasized the importance of education in achieving someone’s dreams. He said that the organization trusts the graduates that they will continue striving for success not just for their own good but also for the betterment of the people around them including their families and communities. On September 19-22, 2024, Director Rogando will be sponsoring a special trip for the graduates in his hometown, the magnificent province of Bicol. After the successful program, everyone enjoyed a sumptuous buffet.

菲華工商總會訊：本會大岷區及依沙迷拉「點亮未來」助學方案的受助學生，本年度總共有廿六位學員以優異成績完成學業，取得學士學位。本屆畢業生Sharina Joy Bautista更是打破本會「點亮未來」助學方案的紀錄，成為有史以來首位獲得最高榮譽獎(Summa Cum Laude)學員；另有各九位畢業生獲得最大榮譽獎(Magna Cum Laude)及榮譽獎(Cum Laude) ，共十九位學員名列前茅，傲人成績，可喜可賀。本會為表揚畢業生們克服家境貧窮的困難，努力求學上進的精神，特於八月十八日（星期日）上午八時，假八樓大禮堂為畢業生們舉辦一場隆重又溫馨的慶祝會，同時邀請他們的父母和監護人出席參加。

馬尼拉市副市長尼耶道（Vice Mayor John Marvin “Yul Servo” C. Nieto）親臨擔任頒獎嘉賓並致詞；依沙迷拉「黃國棟、林春鳳教育基金會」董事長黃書企親自帶領當地七位「點亮未來」受助生來馬尼拉參加畢業典禮。本會出席的領導同仁有：理事長黃書瑋偕夫人黃美琳（Marina Samson Uy），副理事長楊良田、施茵茵，董事曾煥眉、杜祖蔭、柯仁義、黃志安，常務顧問許經綸，常務理事洪海濱、留牡丹、施惠萍、莊南文、黃愛儀、楊榮輝、王輝益，理事張其安、許純維、吳仲漁、王明雄，同仁洪瑞鴻等。本會大岷區全體「點亮未來」受助生及近二十位學友會成員，共兩百多人出席參加這場慶典活動。

當天的典禮，由「點亮未來」學友會成員梅西卡（Mexica Bausa）及萊斯特（Lester Dela Cruz）擔任司儀。活動在禱告和演唱菲律濱國歌後，由理事許純維向所有與會人士介紹出席二零二四年畢業慶典的貴賓及本會領導同仁後，正式拉開序幕。

黃理事長書瑋致歡迎詞時，首先祝賀所有應屆畢業生均以優越成績完成學業，希望學員們在畢業後繼續發揚菲華工商總會的理想，以身作則，將自己學到的知識與技能與他人分享，幫助其他有需要的人實現夢想。接著他分享了他的菲律濱語老師曾說過的一句話：「mangarap ng mataas at mangarap pa ng malalim」。他還強調失敗的好處，因為失敗讓我們謙卑、讓我們反省錯誤，並促使我們在生活中做得更好。即使跌倒也要學會如何反彈，以及如何讓自己從其他人的經驗中學習，並從他們的故事中拾取金塊，不要重蹈覆轍。

隨後，由董事兼文教委員會主任曾煥眉介紹主講人：菲律濱著名燈飾廠商Landlite Philippines Corporation （LPC）董事長兼總經理，亦是本會副理事長施茵茵女士。她講述了自己成為 Landline公司執行長的艱辛歷程，在她五歲時，她的母親就訓練她成為一名銷售員，這也是她創業訓練的開始。接下來，她分享了自身取得成功的三個重要價值觀：第一，努力工作，勇於超越自我。第二、Grit，在逆境中堅持不懈的韌性；熱情與毅力的力量。第三、慈悲，領導力的核心；關心他，並在艱難時刻伸出援手。她表示，身為企業家的責任是推動利潤，但同時也要對他人的生活產生正面的影響，這就是用力所能及回饋社會的原因。「成功不僅是一個目的地，也是一個推動我們前進的旅程；當你踏上旅程時，要有勤奮的精神和培養堅韌的毅力。這些特質不僅能引導你走向成功，也能讓他人也獲得更好的發展。」她的一席話俘虜了在場每個人的心，當演講結束時，全場響起了熱烈的掌聲。同時副理事長施茵茵以其外祖父母「楊人持、留翠賞賢伉儷慈善基金」之名再次捐獻本會「點亮未來」助學方案教育金菲幣十萬元。

接著邀請副市長尼耶道致詞，他向所有畢業生表示祝賀，副市長對本會「點亮未來」助學方案表示肯定與讚揚，並期盼本會能夠繼續幫助弱勢學生完成學業，尤其是馬尼拉貧困家庭的小孩。之後由本會點亮未來合唱團演唱「真心英雄」及「大中國」兩首著名中文歌曲，美妙歌聲博得滿堂彩。

隨後，本會領導及副市長尼耶道上台向廿六位畢業生頒發畢業證書，及刻有學員名字的保溫壺做紀念。其中十九位有名次的學員，第二、三名者獲本會餽贈智能手機及現金作為獎勵；史無前列，取得第一名的Sharina Joy Bautista，就讀於馬尼拉市立大學，主修人力資源管理學系，則獲本會贈送一台價值五萬元全新筆記型電腦，現場更是收到理事長黃書瑋，副理事長楊良田，董事柯仁義及理事吳仲漁餽贈的紅包，共獲得菲幣五萬元現金作為獎勵。會場一時充滿了歡呼聲和鼓掌聲，學員們都很激動和高興，同時受到很大的鼓舞，充滿動力，將更加努力地學習以期能受到表揚。
女狀元Sharina Joy Bautista及就讀依沙迷拉大學取得第二名的Rhonel A. Galutera代表畢業生致詞。應屆畢業生的家長代表Doris Tingson（學員Diosdado Gabrielle Tingson II，就讀PLM獲得第二名的母親）發言致謝，她本身是殘疾人士，又是單親家庭，只有這一棵獨苗，母子倆相依為命，她感謝本會多年來對她兒子的栽培與幫助，減輕了家庭沉重的負擔。樸實無華，感人肺腑的言詞，讓在場很多人熱淚盈眶。

本屆畢業生畢業於：馬尼拉市立大學（PLM），馬尼拉大學 UDM，菲律濱理工大學（PUP）及依沙迷拉大學（ISU）。畢業生們在典禮上放送了反映他們生活和學習方面的短視頻，每所學府的畢業生分別製作紀念品贈送予本會留念。最後在學友會幹部Melonick Casipe的監誓下，應屆全體畢業生集體加入學友會。

董事杜祖蔭致謝詞，他感謝所有嘉賓和家長出席慶典，強調了教育對於實現個人夢想的重要性，並表示，本會相信所有畢業生將會繼續努力爭取成功，不僅僅是為了自己，也是為了他周圍的人，包括家人和社區的進步。最後杜祖蔭董事應允將實現他去年的承諾：只要有半數畢業生取得名次，他將資助所有畢業生到他的家鄉—米骨省旅遊觀光，以作鼓勵。日期訂於九月十九日至廿二日。現場歡聲雷動，一片沸騰。

活動在所有與會人士享用豐盛的自助午餐後，在充滿喜樂和依依不捨的情感下結束。最後感謝所有為慶典籌備和佈置的幕後工作者，使畢業典禮得以順利圓滿成功。
本會自二零零九年啓動「點亮未來」助學方案以來，向家境清寒的菲律濱學子，提供教育輔助，讓眾多有心向學卻因家境貧苦、沒有能力繼續進修的學子得以完成大學學業。至今十五年，共惠及六百多位學生，其中有四百多位已畢業，並在各自的領域成為佼佼者；目前尚在栽培的有一百廿五名。

圖片說明：
上小圖：（左起）黃書瑋，副市長尼耶道，主講人施茵茵，曾煥眉，許純維，杜祖蔭，畢業生代表Sharina Joy Bautista，畢業生代表Rhonel A. Galutera，家長代表Doris Tingson，學友會幹部Melonick Casipe，司儀Mexica Bausa、Lester Dela Cruz，致詞主持之影。
中圖一：（左圖）向主講人施茵茵頒贈感謝盾牌。（右圖）向應屆畢業生頒贈證書和紀念品。
中圖二：本會「點亮未來」首位女狀元Sharina Joy Bautista獲贈筆記型電腦及獎金。
中圖三：（左起）馬尼拉大學（UDM）、馬尼拉市立大學（PLM）及菲律濱理工大學（PUP）代表贈送親手製作的紀念品予本會留念。
中圖四：（左圖）七位依沙迷拉畢業生合影。（右圖）本年度全體畢業生宣誓加入學友會。
中圖五：「點亮未來」合唱團成員演唱兩首中文歌曲。
下圖：今年度全體畢業生和本會領導合影。（前排坐者左起）莊南文，REHub & My Home Town房地產總經理黃淑賢，杜祖蔭，黃志安，施茵茵，副市長尼耶道，黃書瑋，理事長夫人黃美琳，楊良田，許經綸，黃書企，柯仁義，曾煥眉。