This is indeed a momentous occasion for all of us marking the beginning of a journey towards a new career. We have achieved a milestone in our lives which is truly a reason to celebrate.
You see, this was not an easy journey since day one. I must say I didn’t know I was in for a really big challenge, physically and mentally. At first, I wasn’t sure if I made the right decision to change careers during the peak of my life, leave my job and study again. I wasn’t sure if I could handle the pressures of being a student again after so many years of working in the corporate world. I was asking myself if I will be able to cope with the stress of being reprimanded in front of the class – much less being shouted at inside the kitchen.
Oh yes, this is an entirely different world for me. Where I came from, I was the boss. I was the one giving orders, I reprimand my subordinates, I point out their mistakes, I give them memos.
But here, my entire universe has turned upside down. I may have stood out and excelled in my batch in the end ( due to sheer determination to learn and succeed), but I too, like you, had a hard time with Chef Gerry’s world-renowned exams, my sauce also coagulated, and I could never forget my undercooked chicken wing. I still bear the fruits of my labor in the form of scars from burns on my arms, but it was worth it, as well as the entire experience.
You all know I belonged to the infamous Batch 3 (you know what that means), but amidst all the late night sermons of Chef Gerry, which by now, I already know by heart, I realized that this whole experience is all worth it. I think I became an even better person after this extraordinary ordeal. Funny, but until now every time I hold a knife and a cutting board, I can almost feel Chef Gerry hovering behind me (as if ready to pounce). Every time I fry a chicken, I can hear Chef Faith’s booming voice inside my head.
All of these are the results of the kind of rigid training and quality education I received from this institution. In the end, I learned valuable lessons which will take me to places.
To Chef Gerry and Chef Faith, I am taking this opportunity to thank you for the valuable and high quality education that I and my fellow graduates received. Most of all, thank you for your passion and dedication to teaching. I sincerely hope we did and will do your efforts justice. Thank you for teaching the importance of good attitude and behavior fro I know that this good value will help set us apart in this industry.
To TESDA, thank you for this rare opportunity and for supporting us, your scholars and our school in the entire duration of our training. Thank you for our allowances… We love you TESDA!
To my batch mates and fellow graduates, do not stop climbing and reaching for that dream for your greatest competitor is yourself, the only thing that will stop you is your self-doubt and what will make you succeed is your determination, hard work and character. Thank you for the time well-spent and new-found friendships. And as we continue our journey, let us not forget the all the lessons we were taught. Never stop reaching for our dreams no matter where we are or how long it takes. It’s not our age or our families which will hold us back. As long as we have that dream, we have to work hard to live it. It’s never too late for each one of us to become executive chefs in the future.
To all of us, congratulation and I wish each and every one success!
Thank You!
(This was the speech delivered by Rutcel C. Salcedo during her graduation held at the Phela Grande Convention Center, National Highway, Gen. Santos City on OCT. 13, 2009. Ms. Salcedo worked for a company in Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City before quitting her job to take culinary training at Gerardo’s. She went on to top her class.)