Speech of Maria Aurelia Del Valle
At the FACSPS Scholarship Awards Program
Olympia Center, May 14, 2005
Good evening, brothers and sisters, officers and members of FACSPS, and Awardees for scholarship and academic excellence, parents and friends,
This is a blissful night. I can see the smiling, happy faces of the parents of our Awardees, as they are fruits, the fulfillment of their dreams. Continue your achievements for the best future. Keep your parents dreaming of more beautiful dreams.
I wish of our young awardees not to be contented of what they are now. Keep going up. Aim high and hit the mark. Sometimes there are obstacles on the way. You are the master of your own destiny. Conquer all. If there is a will, there is always the way. Keep going forward. Life is a continuous education from birth to eternity. Don’t waste a single time in idleness. The click of the clock now becomes the history the following day. Remember that life is short, not the same as in the olden days. Life is a challenge.
Life is a continuous learning as long as we live. Books, newspapers, magazines will acquaint you with what’s going on in places beyond our sight. By reading you can clearly see things better, when viewed at a distance.
Then you can comment in writing, without fear, if what you write is justified, true and constructive.
Last but not least, don’t forget our Creator, whatever your religion is. He is the same Creator. He said not to despise any religion as they are all for Him. “Don’t look for Me anywhere. I am here where I am needed.”
Remember that our lives are borrowed from God and that we are living on borrowed time. Our time is God’s time. He can create and destroy all things at His will, in the wink of an eye, vanish like the smoke in the air. So whatever you do and wherever you go, get His consent through prayers and fervent dedication.
Before I close, I thank God and Mr. Rufino Ignacio, our President and all officers and staff of FACSPS for making this program a success.
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People are smiling and happy, as
They could see the fruits, and real glory,
The efforts, and toils they made, were
Inspired by the Filipino American Community
Of South Puget Sound, for more than a decade.
Brought about, scholars now and then,
From time to time, they came in,
To show the world, that they are awake,
Always ready to face the battle,
To enhance our world, the best of the State.
Come now, let us group together,
To make life better, then prosper,
Join our hands, helping some and all,
Our Brothers and Sisters, prevent them from the fall,
For duty and love, are FACSPS ultimate goal.
Don’t shy away, place a coin in our bowl,
Give, fill it from day to day,
In time of need, the coins can answer all,
The harshness of time, troubles and dismay,
And may harken the life, at least the following day.
Trust Him who holds the space of time
Who sees the heart, that beats with love,
The beauty of souls that flicker up above
The hearts that moan, cry and sob,
He knows them all, and then
He comes as a White Dove.
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Maria Aurelia Del Valle, 92, is
recipient of the FACSPS President’s Award for Lifetime Achievement
conferred
during the same Scholarship Awards Program