I Once Believed (A Mock Inspirational Message)

Pledge of Loyalty

To the President, Vice-President, Honorary Guests, Parents, Ladies and Gentlemen.. a pleasant day to all of you.

The grueling battle between books and burning eyebrows has finally come to an end. The epic demise of ups and downs has finally put on halt as you enter the corporate world with a degree that would soon become your shield as against to any odds.

Have you ever engaged yourselves on "breaking-in" at the corporate world? Let me reinstate the moments happened last 2008-2009. It is the moment where "recession" is declared throughout America, because of a declining economy, which deeply affected the whole world and the circles of finding and landing the right job. Each and every graduate of a non-prominent school way back then had bigger problems upon seeking the right job. Why? It is indeed one of those sad but true events in life which most of these non-prominent schools teaches us.. is that we are qualified to enter our dream industry and jobs because we are capable of doing it.

Which we, the graduates left us hanging, WE CAN DO IT!

Let me share to you a story of a guy - who once been considered a "bullied" and yet battered(?) guy who studied in one of the most prestigious schools in Laguna, well-known for being one of the most prominent schools of high school academics, a lousy student who prefers to cut classes during his time when Counterstrike is so popular, captured and sent to the disciplinary office, only knows to play the video games, and no reason to study. He was once been booed off from the school during his high school stint because of 7 axes (line of 7's, which is usually called "palakol") and has no clear direction of where to go right after high school. Yes, there are kids who existed. And I forgot, he was very popular because of playing a musical instrument. He graduated without worries, earned himself a Loyalty award, and another medal for being a Campus Ministry awardee upon spearheading the second most joined club during that year. Though he hasn't made up his mind where and what school should he go.

This guy is a simple man, but had a dream of entering UP, UST and La Salle. But money-wise and intellect, it may seem to defer. His ambition is to go to law school right after, but needed 4 years of minimum study to enter. That's when money matters came in to play, so he decided to stay at the same institution where he spent his entire 12 years of primary and secondary schooling. A real comfort zone, I must say. Then upon starting his first and second year, he gave up his video gaming addiction because he was interested to enter the new wave of being part of a band. He was soon immersed in the band and was quite popular. Playing through variety of places and events all around the metro, he was once been called a "rockstar". But there came a time where he had to decide to pursue a career in music or continue to dream on and finish his four years of study. And it was in his sophomore year back then, it was between 2006-2007. But a series of unfortunate events happened when he chose to pursue his studies; the band broke up, sliding their popularity, now to memories.

He was then left behind by his batchmates because of disbeliefs in terms of the school's system, and frankly speaking he was then too turned his head back because of some misunderstanding. During that year, 2007, he also tried to seek advice from friends to transfer to another school, come to think of pursuing again to penetrate UST and UP. But the head of the institution insured him of bringing him the best education they could offer him, so he decided to stay, and be strong for the lower batches that are looking up to him.

Simply a student's mishap - is to be sad and lonely, to be standing alone in a crowd where nobody notices you - and he is one of those great example of an individual trying to make a name for himself. He was once chosen to be a writer of the college publication and elected treasurer of his course in his first year. Became the Vice-President for Public Relations of the College Government at second year. Also to emphasize, his tenure at the College Government and his colleagues are the ones who defended to make the rooms of the college building to put air-condition units on it, and helped to divide the rooms simply to put more rooms and spaces for the department. At 3rd year, he decided to stop running for major positions at any office. Then at 4th year when he was about to graduate, he was elected as President of the course society, bringing life back at the course department. He brought back production, and together with his professors, he managed to invite Congressman Dan Fernandez of the first district of Laguna to entertain us with his words. Right then, he brought back the tours of the department, made simple team building bonding activities, and opened the department's laboratory to be used by ALL members to practice, and learn to utilize each and everything placed on it. Also, his tenure and leadership is again put into action as he and the help of the society to invite Mr. Abner Mercado and Ms. Bernadette Sembrano to take the Correspondents tour at his school. And it became a major event.

He firmly believes on saying and trusting that his course department's society is a FAMILY. He never became somebody very authoritative, but he made his colleagues to simply become the ASSETS of the college department, and also achieved the goal of doubling up the number of enrollees to apply for his course.

..and yet, either one of the heads of the college department notices his BIG contribution.

He was never been academically impressive, he was never been deemed as a threat. He was just as equally competitive with the smart people of his batch.

Graduation finally came in. He never graduated with a lot of distinctions, but he is in fact the most popular graduating individual way back in 2009. Why? His name is in sheer numbers at the invitation and program. His name is called plenty of times, same as the cum laude. He graduated with loyalty award, and with outstanding service award. And he was then praised because of delivering the pledge of loyalty, ONE OF THE BEST delivery of all time in college graduation recent memories.

Holding on to his words of wisdom with his colleagues, soon then the people he left behind made their own BIG contributions towards the growth of the college department. His former Vice-President in the society took over as College Government's President, his secretary became the Secretary of the College Government also, his once course representative became the Editor-in-Chief of the college publication, and so on and so forth. His people, made him so proud right after mentoring each and everyone of them, made their individual success in both schooling and the after school.

Let's go to the days when he was trying to seek for his first job. Fresh from being part of the Marketing & Documentations team of the national event ANGAT KABATAAN URDANETA CRUISE & CAMP 2009, he is eager to land a Media, Communications and a Marketing job. These are the top names that he wanted to be part of, and yet he spent almost three months of pursuing a job that would fit him well. Also, he considered having a job near Laguna or an ease of access going in and out of Manila. He had preferred places as well, Alabang (being the nearest), Makati, Pasay, and even the Fort Area. He also tried to look particularly in Ortigas, the real deal companies are there, knowing that he would be sacrificing at least 2-3 hours of travel time just to get to the area. Compared to Makati, only at an hour or two. Alabang at 30 minutes to an hour.

He then landed his first job, located at the heart of Makati, specifically at PB Com tower. He once then a Management Trainee of an International Marketing Company. Then the stint was never been much of a success for he is not presented with a n employment contract for having served the company for three months. So he decided to leave. He met awesome people there, and from this moment, they still help each other to pursue each and everyone's dream.

He managed to land a job at a well-known media industry. Although the bad thing is, it is located in Ortigas. But it is where the right path for him has to get started. He then filled the role as the only Internet Marketing Specialist. He then brewed his way to developing the right business and marketing needs of the company, and assured them money generating business. And indeed when he left, they remained loyal to his plans and become of the most controversial thing on Philippine Media as of today.

Because of the difficulty of travel, he then decided to bring his talents back to Makati. He entered a Ukranian company who specializes in Digital Marketing. He then immersed into the world of a deeper and aggressive online marketing efforts. Although the work is more of routine and redundancy, he then decided to leave for having stayed at almost 11 months and gone pursuing another career at a bigger online advertising company.

Right now, he is serving as part of the Marketing and Management of the company. A specialty which he can carry for as long as online marketing is as vast popular as any jobs in the world. He managed to add to his credentials to speak on behalf of the awesome students of his dream schools way back then, and wondered why these other schools catches his attention.

This guy is yours truly, Dan Molde. A simple kid who spent the last 16 years of studying at Colegio San Agustin Binan who took AB Communication Arts. The guy who struggled to make a name for himself. Was never been as popular and academically inclined as to any students way back then. A video game addict which only knows to spend his entire lifetime on playing video games and soon to be somebody who made a name at the music industry as a drummer for the bands Kinton Cloud and XOXO, and soon to become a freelance drummer for local OPM artists. A humorous guy who doesn't believed in himself and soon to be as proactive from coming of denials of struggles, and letting the world know that he is great. Apart from playing the musical instrument, he also engaged himself for his own production, bringing forth the Archive TV as a sole proprietor, a Managing and Creative Director. A self-proclaimed and a celebrity wannabe, he then soon emerged as an affiliate individual of Google. A photographer and a blogger of Blightfire's Nook, he brings gravy to all his adventures and letting the world know how awesome Philippines is. 

This is who I am today. I was then a NOBODY to SOMEBODY. You never fail to dream dreams. Only these dreams of yours will be able to push you and put yourself together, knowing that you have all the right to say that the HARD WORK PAYS OFF. You never stop believing, and you never stop chasing your happiness. There is no such word as "SURRENDER or GIVE UP". You only think positive. Being able to inspire everybody with your stories will bring forth your life's worth.

Also, not everyone will end up the job they like even though they took that course in college. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the real world.

You are the captain of your own ship. You fail once, and you all FAIL THEM. Your family struggled to push your way up, and you are the one to be as highly responsible for pulling them down. Make your family and loved ones as your main source of inspiration. Make your struggles and downfall become your stepping stones for success. Make your mistakes a training ground for future reference.

Lead the team in achieving. Be the GUY. Be the rightful heir of your generation. You once survived the pitfall of denomination, be the stairs and lead the people for making them who you are. Cross the bridge first and guide them to cross the bridge as well. Lending a hand is not a sin; and you are the one responsible for who you want to help.  

I admit that I was not yet satisfied with my career, but I'm well satisfied by the things that I achieved. I  can proudly say that I live with no regrets. I left my sad memories behind and look for more happiness in the future. 

Coco Martin?

Helping others achieve their goals is an individual's legacy. Yes, and in fact the point you started making them feel you helped them achieve it, is the real deal you are trying to pursue in life. No thing in life would have made you a failure. Yet you are born for success. You strive to utilize your abilities in making yourself and the people you shoulder to achieve their goals and aspirations. I won't talk about fictional achievements most people who stand up to this place where I talk to you; in fact it doesn't make you look stronger, but will only challenge you. Yes, the real challenge is in YOU. You are the ones to dictate your fate, and not their fictional bubble talk where they copy all their speeches on books. Yes, this is ME. Coming from my own personal ups and downs. 

Lastly, I would like to share our old campaign I had with, and remember; Lead the Change, BE THE CHANGE. 

Thank you for listening, good luck to all your endeavors, and you are now fully prepared to face life's tough challenges.

Again, Thank you very much.