( MARCH 1997 EDITORIALS The GLOW 1 Why "Commencement" Exercises? The Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School will hold its 53rd Commencement Exercises on April 3, 1997. As in other schools, the graduation program is commonly termed as commencement exercises. Why "commencement"? The dictionary defines "commencement" as "a beginning, a start." Many students entertain the idea that graduation is an end. In a sense, the notion is correct. Graduation marks the end of toils, hardships, and sacrifices experienced within a period of time. Hence, the joys that the graduates feel on their graduation day are beyond description. In a broader sense, graduation is not an end in itself but rather a beginning, a start. It is the beginning of a new pursuit, a new undertaking full of new challenges. An elementary school graduate will begin a new pursuit: the quest for secondary education. A high school graduate will start a new undertaking: the pursuit of a college education. A college graduate will start to practice his chosen career. Assuming that an elementary or high school graduate cannot continue his search for higher education, just the same he will be starting a new facet in his life outside the four walls of the classroom. As the graduates of the school are about to commence a new facet in their life, the administration, the faculty and staff of the school wish them the best of everything. The school personnel expect that this year's graduates who will continue their studies in college will try their best to strive for excellence for the greater honor and fame of CNCHS. Those graduates who, due to financial constraints, cannot pursue a college degree should not lose hope for a bright future. They should continue striving not only to survive but also to succeed. Success in life is not measured by the academic degrees that one has acquired, by the job position that he occupies, nor by the salary that he receives but by the degree of service he renders to God, country, and people. Graduates of the school should bear in mind that "A work well started ends well." They should rightly start exploring a new frontier in life so that they will rightly attain their desired goal in life. A Salute to our Benefactors For the past 53 years that the Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School has existed as an institution of learning, it has undergone remarkable transformation from what it used to be to what it is today. Undoubtedly the metamorphosis of the school has been due to the concerted efforts of various sectors and individuals. For helping the school administration effect the much-needed improvements in the physical set-up of CNCHS, we are paying tribute to two non-governmental organizations in town. The school acknowledges with grateful appreciation the invaluable support extended by the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) through the years. Everyone in school is a living witness to the fact that the PTA has been an indispensable partner of CNCHS in its continuing march to greater progress and development. To enumerate the litany of achievements made by the PTA through the years will consume much space. Also worthy of commendation are the laudable contributions of the Alumni Association. The gigantic task of totally fencing the school has been initiated by the Association, and later reinforced by the PTA. A number of alumni have individually donated to the school several books and instructional materials. Complementing and supplementing the philantrophic gestures of the PTA and the Alumni Association are the numerous donations, in cash or in kind, of benefactors and friends who are neither alumni of the school nor natives of the school. Also to be commended is our municipal government which has been supportive to the school administration in its programs and projects. The unstinted and continuing support of the municipal government has turned the wheels of progress in CNCHS faster. Not to be left unrecognized and uncommended are the solicitous efforts of Cong. Licurgo P. Tirador. The congressman has left no stone unturned in providing CNCHS with additional facilities. For demonstrating their profound and continuing concern for the greater progress of CNCHS, we in this school salute all our benefactors.