A Journey Of Grace And Grit:Uplift Cares 7th Moving Up And Graduation Ceremony

God is blessing our education beneficiaries with new beginnings in their lives!

Last July 29, we joyfully held the UPLIFT Cares 7th Moving Up and Graduation Ceremony at the CCF Center. This served as a culmination of a remarkable journey of grace and grit shown by our Alternative Learning System (ALS) Junior High School completers and ALS Senior High School graduates, along with our graduating Senior High School and College scholars for Academic Year 2024-2025.

As they celebrated together their latest academic milestones and achievements as one big family, they are also becoming an inspiration for others to also pursue education. With God’s help and guidance, they also showed that no hardship could hinder them from reaching for their dreams through their perseverance and dedication.

Ceremony Opening

Marking the start of the ceremony was a processional following this sequence: our ALS Junior High School completers, ALS Grade 11 completers who garnered honors, ALS Senior High School graduates from CCF General Trias, our graduating Senior High School and College scholars, and special guests and UPLIFT Cares staff. The completers and scholars were accompanied by their parents and guardians.

The attendees sang the Philippine National Anthem; then joined the opening prayer led by fresh information technology graduate and then-homegrown UPLIFT Cares scholar, Philippe Jake Morales. He is now working at UPLIFT Cares as Data Analyst.

UPLIFT Cares ALS Program Director Denny Dinsay delivered the program’s opening remarks. He first acknowledged the special guests present.

“Today, we celebrate not just an end but a powerful new beginning. To our dear Junior High School completers, and [graduating] Senior High School and College scholars, you are a living proof that no background, no hardship, and no label can stop a determined heart. You rose above every challenge. And today, you shine,” Pastor Denny said.

Pastor Denny urged the completers to be proud and move forward with courage, because the world needs their strength, story, and hope – all for the glory of God.

UPLIFT Cares ALS Assistant Program Director Irene Dinsay led the Presentation of Completers, while Department of Education (DepEd) - Schools Division of Pasig City ALS Education Program Supervisor Dr. Dulce Santos held the Confirmation of Completers.

The learners composed of our 162 ALS Junior High School completers, who passed DepEd’s Accreditation and Equivalency Test; together with our 22 ALS Senior High School graduates.

Rep. Roman Romulo’s Message

Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, who co-authored Republic Act 11510, otherwise known as the “Alternative Learning System Act,” gave his congratulatory message to the completers and graduates, along with their families.

He shared about the reality that many Filipinos face: leaving their studies for a short time due to being busy or fulfilling various household tasks.

In his message, Romulo also shared with the audience about the latest developments regarding the country’s high school system. “We need to help our fellow Filipinos continue their studies,” he said.

Presentation Of Graduating Scholars

UPLIFT Cares Scholarship Head Christine Chuca headed the presentation of UPLIFT Cares’ 36 graduating Senior High School and College scholars for Academic Year 2024-2025. A total of 15 college graduates were nurtured as our homegrown scholars, who underwent our ALS program before going to Senior High School.

Congratulatory Remarks

UPLIFT Cares Chief Operating Officer Pastor Ito de Jesus addressed the audience with his congratulatory remarks. He opened his message by telling the audience that there are two happiest occasions that we celebrate: weddings and graduation ceremonies.

He stressed the importance of education in a person’s life. “When I was a very young boy, a young man, my father told me that the best inheritance he could give us was a good education. Because it’s something no one can take away from you,” he said.

Pastor Ito said that from his own personal experience, and those from his children, it is very important for a person to obtain the best education that he or she can receive. He also likened our choices in life to windows and doors.

“Big doors will open more opportunities for you. Big doors that can lead you to better jobs, so you can have a better life,” Pastor Ito said.

“If you invest your life in a good education, you can choose to open those big doors. Just do your part, study hard, finish well, and graduate. But most importantly, you need to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. It is the best decision of your life,” he added.

Towards the end of his message, Pastor Ito urged the attendees to obey Jesus in all things.

Inspirational Message

In his inspirational message, CCF Elevate Director Marty Ocaya stressed the importance of commitment in attaining success in daily life. He first shared that the challenge with most young people in the corporate world is the lack of commitment. Some “would give up easily” not just at work, but also in relationships and within the family.

“I have realized, majority of people, regardless of [their] walk in life, regardless of status… many are struggling when it comes to commitment,” Pastor Marty said partly in Filipino.

According to Pastor Marty, the reasons why most young people in the corporate world are struggling with commitment are instant gratification (desiring success immediately), economic instability, access to many options, fear of missing out, and the influence of broken homes.

The proofs of a committed person are excellence, self-discipline and self-control, growth, accountability, helpfulness, endurance, and faithfulness.

Pastor Marty presented the five secrets to being committed: “get it,” grit, gratefulness, guidance, and God. He added that in a team, members must all practice commitment to reach success as a group.

He told the story of a doctor who failed a board examination twice. However, before the third attempt, a friend encouraged him to review with the goal of understanding the lessons rather than passing. On the third attempt, he finally passed.

According to Pastor Marty, grit is the ability to endure. A person’s staying in a company depends on his or her “Adversity Quotient,” or the ability to stand firm in spite of adversities. Milton Hershey, who was poor at age 26, eventually founded his own successful chocolate company. Walt Disney was rejected from securing a loan for 302 times, before he successfully received funding and established Disneyland.

“It’s easy to stay committed when we are grateful. It’s impossible to stay committed when we compare and complain a lot,” Pastor Marty said.

Pastor Marty urged the attendees to be thankful for the things and opportunities that God has blessed them with, and practice an attitude of gratefulness.

He opened up about the story of his father, who persevered as a working student until he graduated with an accountancy degree. Through his diligence, he became a Certified Public Accountant.

Regarding guidance, Pastor Marty stressed that we need monitoring from the right people and be mentors to others. He told the attendees about apostle Paul’s message found in 1 Corinthians 15:33, which states that bad company corrupts good morals.

Pastor Marty encouraged the attendees to not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind (as found in Romans 12:2).

Giving Out Of Certificates, Special Awards

In sequence, marching to the stage were the ALS Junior High School completers from Brgy. Sta. Cruz and Brgy. Sumilang, Pasig City (under Learning Facilitator Vea Alexandra Pineda); CCF Commonwealth and CCF Marikina (Marilou Salamida); CCF Payatas and CCF Fairview (Jesusita Pelenio); Learning Center at the New Taytay Public Market (Donna Sta. Singh); Brgy. Pag-asa, Binangonan, Rizal (Ronnie Pagdatu); CCF Upper Antipolo (Ronnie Pagdatu); and CCF General Trias (Jerick Remoyan).

Following them were our ALS Senior High School graduates from CCF General Trias (Jerick Remoyan); and ALS Grade 11 students from CCF General Trias with honors.

Also called were the names of ALS completers from our provincial Learning Centers: CCF Bacolod (Princess Lee Mondreal); CCF Cagayan de Oro (Juana Jane Barro); CCF Cauayan (Julius Malsi); and CCF Manolo Fortich and Brgy. Alae, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon (Emily Malinao).

Special awards handed out to deserving completers were “With Honors,” “Perfect Attendance,” “Perseverance Award,” or the “Achiever Award.”

Our graduating Senior High School and College scholars also marched up on stage and were recognized. Special awards given to selected scholars were “Academic Excellence Award” or the “Servant-Leadership Award.”

Graduating College Scholar’s Testimony

Cristina Esmeralda, an elementary education graduate and then-homegrown scholar who now works at UPLIFT Cares as an Assistant Learning Facilitator, touched the hearts of the attendees through her heartfelt testimony of hope.

She grew up in a large family in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. Her father worked hard as a farmer to provide for their daily needs.

“Even as we lacked material things, we have learned to value loving one another and perseverance. I went to school without uniform or shoes… Sometimes, I did not even have my own allowance,” Cristina said in Filipino.

Cristina graduated from elementary with honors, but no one from her family was able to attend her graduation due to their tough situation then. She eventually stopped studying, and the following year, traveled to Manila and worked as a kasambahay (“household helper”). She thought that money and freedom would grant her happiness.

She remembered that while she was sitting at a corner of their house, she cried while enduring hunger. To shoulder their needs, she worked as a laundrywoman, and her husband became a family driver. One day, while she was watching the news, she learned about an inspiring story of an elderly woman who completed ALS.

“Her determination touched my heart. Someone told me that there is an ALS program at the CCF Center, through UPLIFT Cares. And I enrolled right away. This simple step became the start of the large transformation in my life,” she said.

In 2018, with God’s help, she passed the ALS Accreditation and Equivalency Test. She also found out that UPLIFT Cares was already offering scholarships for underprivileged Senior High School and College students.

“God is indeed very good. Along with this, UPLIFT Cares sponsored for a True Life Retreat. While I was listening to a message, I understood more deeply the power of forgiveness through Jesus,” she said.

Cristina experienced a breakthrough from her life struggles, and opened her heart and accepted Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior. In college, she took up elementary education to help people like her who also stopped schooling due to various reasons.

In 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, UPLIFT Cares supported its scholars through livelihood programs. They also received gadgets for their online learning, such as laptops and cellphones.

“But the greatest transformation I experienced wasn’t just in my academics, it was in my spiritual walk with Jesus Christ. Through UPLIFT Cares and CCF, I came to know God’s love in a personal way,” Cristina said.

Cristina is now leading her own discipleship group, guiding others in their walk with Jesus. She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to UPLIFT Cares for the seven years of support to her as a homegrown scholar. She thanked her Learning Facilitator, the entire staff, and her family who believed in and supported her in every step of the way.

“From a person who did not finish high school, now, I am the first in our family to graduate from college… I will now be someone who will guide and disciple the learners whom God has entrusted to me,” she ended.

Closing Segments

The attendees lifted their hearts and voices in worshipping God as they sang the official graduation song, “Dakilang Katapatan” by Papuri! Singers.

Pastor Marty held the event’s closing prayer. ALS completers and graduating scholars enjoyed group photo opportunities and threw their togas into the air.

As our education beneficiaries witness their brighter future taking shape by God’s grace, may their lives shine and bring light in their communities!

To support an UPLIFT Cares scholar, you may send us a message on our social media accounts or kindly send us an email at sponsorship@upliftcares.com