5 LESSONS OF A GEN Z: Full Speech JILS Graduation 2026
I was invited by my alma mater to be the guest speaker at their high school graduation and moving-up ceremony last March 30, 2026. Below are the introduction they wrote and edited for me, and the edited transcription of my full speech with the slides I used as part of the presentation.
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Every time I have to speak before an audience, especially a new company or set of people, I almost always introduce myself as someone who stutters—utal po in Filipino. I always share that I have a speech impediment so that I become more relaxed and so people don’t have to guess what’s wrong with my speech, because it’s almost always certain that this won’t be as smooth as I want it to be. But some of you already knew this, especially my old teachers—I mean, former teachers—because it’s been 8 years since they heard my speech when I graduated and 10 years since our moving-up ceremony to senior high where I delivered an 8-pager speech. I promise tonight will be significantly shorter.
I belong to the first batch of K-12 first to experience Grade 11 and Grade 12 who would enter college a bit older than usual, almost, if not already, at the legal age of 18, just like you. Now, I wonder for our senior high school students, raise your hand if you already have a college or school you want to attend to pursue your education. Raise your hand if you already know which course or degree program you will take in college. For our Grade 10 students, raise your hand if you have chosen your strand for senior high.
Sa mga hindi nagtaas ng kamay, I understand na baka wala pang school, o hindi pa kayo sure sa course na kukunin o sa strand, o di kaya wala sa plano na magpatuloy sa pag-aaral. I understand; We recognize this reality as I’ve seen from my batch and the others. But tonight is already a milestone not only for you but also for your parents and families. I want to acknowledge the proud parents and guardians of our graduating batch, as well as all our junior high students who will move up to the next level—if we can give ourselves a round of applause, please! Congratulations to all of you!
Regardless of our academic or personal plans after this ceremony, it doesn’t mean we cannot lead with competence and character anymore. I appreciate the theme of DepEd for this year, parang isang pahiwatig na ito ang dapat mas pag-igtingin sa ating mga leaders ngayon, di po ba? Competence and character. Kakayahan at mabuting pagkatao. That’s why we believe in the saying: Kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan! I still consider myself young because I am still young. I may be a bit older than you, but we are in the same generation—GEN Z. I know I am yet to gain more experiences and share deeper wisdom. But tonight, I hope you give me a chance to share with you what life has taught me so far—just 5 tips or lessons that I use and might help us prepare to lead our lives with competence and character, and perhaps give inspiration no matter what path or career we take.
This is actually my mantra in life. The first one can improve your competence as you hone your skills or talents. Doing what you love makes it easier to keep going and get better at it over time, because you are passionate about it. The second one builds character because, growing up, I realized that doing what you love is a privilege—not everyone can do what they like in life. Hindi lahat may pribilehiyong pumili. Not everyone has the advantage to choose. Gusto mong mag-arts? Wala raw makukuhang pera doon! [Pero ang totoo, malaki ang pera sa arts.] Gusto mong maging doctor? Parang hindi natin kaya yung tuition, anak! [Madaming scholarship na pwedeng subukan.] That’s why it’s important that, despite these challenges, we learn to shift our perspective and start to love what we do, even if, especially if we don’t get to do what we love doing. It’s a bit of a tongue twister, isn’t it? Ito yung favorite mantra ko kasi kahit anong mangyari, hindi ako talo. It’s a win-win situation for you. Kung may privilege ka to do what you want, then well and good. Pero kung hindi mo man magawa yung gusto mo, subukan mo na lang mahalin kung ano ang ginagawa mo, o kukunin mong course, o kung ano practical mong gawin—Hindi ka matatalo. Again, hindi lahat may privilege na pumili, pero lahat may kakayahang mag-adjust.
And speaking of gawa, this second tip comes from a person we all know. She taught us, “Kung gagawa ka lang din, pagbutihin mo na.” If you have already heard this line, you know who I’m referring to. This lesson from Tr. Glo has shaped, and continues to shape, my character to this day. At my first job, starting as an assistant video editor, I somehow got “promoted” to content associate only after 3 months. In my second job as a marketing copywriter, I received multiple awards in my first year. I’m not saying this to brag, because honestly, I didn’t aim to be promoted. I just wanted to land my first job, and when I did, I worked in the only way I know how: by doing my job well. I didn’t aim for those recognitions and honestly didn’t care about them, but someone from the team saw how I do my job and nominated me. So I want to pass this same lesson and remind you of what our principal has deeply inculcated in us as her students. “Kung gagawa ka lang din, pagbutihin mo na.” O kung sa tingin mo, hindi mo kaya pagbutihin, gawin mo na lang din kasi hindi mo mapapansin, nagawa mo na rin palang tapusin. Ito ay para sa mga araw na akala natin hindi natin kaya. Kaya nga ang unang nakalagay dyan ay DO IT. Gawin mo muna. Pwedeng sumunod nalang yung WELL.
In one of my college classes, we were asked to share our personal advocacy as part of the social introduction. I don’t remember my answer, only the question. Since then, I have made sure I have something to share, not only to answer it but also to make it clear to myself that I have something to fight for. I know you’re young, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have one. It doesn’t have to be big; it could be as small as your interests.
Are you into biking? Then wish for better spaces where you can bike safely. Are you into plants or animals? Then you understand how important they are in our environment, and they too have rights to be protected. Are you struggling with your mental health? Then you know how hard it is for society to understand what you’re experiencing. This builds your character in many ways. You don’t have to do anything about it right now. Still, it’s important you keep in mind that you wish things were better: you wish things are better for women and that the international women's month we celebrate today became actually a celebration rather than a reminder that women are to be respected equally too; you wish your parents could afford to go to the hospital or buy medicines whenever they need them, and you wish you could get more support for the activities you want to do. Then, when the time comes, and you’re competent enough, you can finally do something about it.
Hindi naman ibig sabihin nito ay kailangan mo na agad baguhin ang mundo kinabukasan, pero dapat may paki ka, may balak kang baguhin kung hindi man ang mundo, pero ang sarili mo at mga bagay na kaya mong kontrolin. Para kapag may nagtanong ng, ano bang ipinaglalaban mo? May maisasagot ka.
I learned this lesson in film school. They say that the most personal story is the most powerful as it is the most political. I realized that it not only applies to storytelling but also to almost everything. I understand that many of us get uncomfortable when we talk about politics, but whether we like it or not, whether we discuss it, disagree with it, or ignore most of it, it affects us. Now the political becomes personal.
I want us to take a few moments to read and try to process this poem:
In order for me to write poetry that isn’t political, I must listen to the birds, and in order to hear the birds, the war planes must be silent. —Marwan Makhoul
It is so crazy to think about the things that have happened or are happening in our lifetime. Imagine, we just experienced a pandemic—if you remember the online classes and remote learning back then; we couldn’t feel the impact of technology any better or worse during lockdown. We are seeing the rise of AI, and now a possible world war. That’s why more people are getting depressed because it is depressing times indeed. Times have changed. The same things cannot always be said for a different spirit of the times. At 22, my parents were starting to build our house, while I was stressing myself about my undergraduate thesis when I was 22.
When I say be political, I mean be more empathetic. Life can be better today, or it was yesterday. Our parents may say that life was more difficult in their time, no internet, no technology—they had nothing compared to what we have today, and yet they survived. A good response from our generation would be: we might have everything today, but we may not even survive tomorrow. Sana tandaan po natin na tratuhin ang mental health tulad ng ibang sakit sa katawan, dahil ang utak ay bahagi po ng ating katawan na nagkakasakit din. Bukod po sa dasal, ginagamot po natin ang sakit sa puso, sa baga, sa atay. Ganun din po dapat sa pag-iisip. Tulungan po natin.
That’s why this lesson made it to this list. The personal and the political are always intertwined, often complicated but certainly connected. Tulad ng possibleng kakulangan ng supply ng langis ay magdudulot ng pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin. It is personal as it is political dahil tumataas ba ang ating mga sahod? Sa susunod na pasukan ba ay mababawasan na ang ibibigay na baon ni mommy at daddy dahil kailangan maghigpit ng sinturon, kailangang magtipid? I hope we remember our lessons about micro and macroeconomics, but I wish we had been taught to talk about politics more openly when we were younger. Because the truth is, and I speak now to the parents and adults present here tonight, we avoid politics that we end up not understanding, and when we don’t understand it, how can we explain things to our children? Until it becomes a generational cycle where we never talk about politics. Hindi dapat valid yung “hindi mo pa maiintindihan ang sistema kasi bata ka pa” dahil tayo bilang mas nakatatanda, responsibilidad po sana natin kung paano ipaunawa sa mas nakababata ang mga komplikadong bagay tulad ng politika. We need to empower the youth kung sila talaga ang pag-asa ng bayan kinabukasan. Buti nalang ito yung generation na mas mulat, mas vocal, at siguro hindi na mag-aanak, sa hirap ba naman ng buhay. Mag-alaga na lang tayo ng aso at pusa, hindi ba?
When I say be political, I mean be intentional. Even that choice to have pets as our kids is political. So be intentional with your personal goals. Be intentional with who we vote for—especially our new graduates who will now be able to vote in the 2028 election. Please register because your future is on the line. It is our duty as citizens of this country—kahit gaano man kahirap mahalin ang Pilipinas.
I want you to read out loud the final lesson I want to leave you with tonight: Learn, unlearn, and relearn. It’s not easy to do, but it is possible. To be competent is to learn, acquire knowledge, and apply it for the better. But it takes character to unlearn things or beliefs that are harmful, insensitive, or even outdated. There would be times when we enter college that we have to unlearn what we’re taught in high school or even elementary school, like gender roles. Anyone can be anything at this age, so you all have the opportunity to claim what’s yours.
There will certainly be many times that we have to relearn things from high school because we have already forgotten about them. It’s fine as long as we put in the effort to remember.
Madaming studies ang nagsasabing ADAPTABILITY & FLEXIBILITY ang top future skills ngayon. And I believe we can achieve this by learning, unlearning, and relearning with the times.
When presented with new information, let’s learn to verify, unlearn what must be unlearned, and relearn what's important. This is very applicable as we are the digital generation. It is sadly also the time of fake news, of AI-generated content, and of misinformation and disinformation. I hope we apply this continuous cycle in our lives, whether we pursue college or otherwise, because I believe we are all students for life. I also hope that we always find the JOY in learning, even when it’s hard, because learning is forever.
Before I finally end my speech, a big big big congratulations class of 2026! Nakakaproud maging bahagi ng gabi niyo. Palakpakin po natin. Congratulations to the proud parents, teachers, and those who stood with us through this journey. Palakpakin din po natin. Special shout-out as well to my sister, Meeka “Mooks”, who is moving up tonight; it’s not every day we get a chance like this. I’m proud of you! I would also like to express my gratitude to the faculty and staff. Thank you for the invitation; this has been my way of honoring where I came from. Can we just all give our school a round of applause for enduring despite challenging times?
Ako po ulit si Ace Balbarez at kahit minsan ako ay nauutal, naniniwala akong hindi mo kailangan maging perpekto para makamit ang mga pangarap mo. Salamat po nang marami sa pakikinig. Magandang gabi po ulit. Mabuhay po tayong lahat!
[Pasasalamat kay Tr. Justine for all the assistance at kina Daniel A., Marc A., Cath A., and Nics B. sa critique at input]
INTRODUCTION
(by Earla Mari D. Isidro)
Classmates, parents, guardians, JILS faculty and staff, administrators, and our special guests, good evening.
Our Guest of Honor and Speaker this evening is a distinguished writer, editor, and film producer who graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Film from the University of the Philippines Diliman.
During his college years, he demonstrated exemplary leadership as Secretary-General from 2020 to 2021 and later as President from 2021 to 2022 of UP Cinema, a premier student film organization. He also served as a copy editor and contributor to its official film magazine, Kino Punch.
At present, he works as a marketing copywriter for one of the largest private employers in the IT-BPO industry, while also taking on freelance projects as a video editor. Despite his professional commitments, he continues to pursue his passion for filmmaking. To date, he has produced six short films centered on meaningful social advocacies. These films have been screened both locally and internationally, with [an entry] in Cinemalaya 2024 and a nomination at the FAMAS Awards. His works have also been showcased in Malaysia, Las Vegas and Seattle in the United States, and the United Arab Emirates.
He is currently producing a new short documentary inspired by the Eddie Garcia Law, highlighting the working conditions of Filipino film workers behind the camera.
Before his achievements in college and in the film industry, he was once a proud student of JILS. He studied here from Preparatory to Grade 12 and graduated as Valedictorian from Pre-Elementary through Senior High School. He was a consistent Class President, an active Student Council officer, and a multiple-time worldwide champion in Achieve3000. He also won numerous quiz bees in the LAPPRISADA interschool competitions, was an active member of the JILS Jive, and was crowned Mr. JILS. Notably, he made history as the first student ever to serve as Assistant Director for the school play Beauty and the Beast Jr.
Indeed, his journey from the halls of JILS to the screens of local and international film festivals is a testament to passion, leadership, and excellence.
Let us all welcome Mr. Ace Meelan Balbarez. Let us give him a warm round of applause.
FULL SPEECH
Magandang gabi po sa ating lahat!Every time I have to speak before an audience, especially a new company or set of people, I almost always introduce myself as someone who stutters—utal po in Filipino. I always share that I have a speech impediment so that I become more relaxed and so people don’t have to guess what’s wrong with my speech, because it’s almost always certain that this won’t be as smooth as I want it to be. But some of you already knew this, especially my old teachers—I mean, former teachers—because it’s been 8 years since they heard my speech when I graduated and 10 years since our moving-up ceremony to senior high where I delivered an 8-pager speech. I promise tonight will be significantly shorter.
Sa mga hindi nagtaas ng kamay, I understand na baka wala pang school, o hindi pa kayo sure sa course na kukunin o sa strand, o di kaya wala sa plano na magpatuloy sa pag-aaral. I understand; We recognize this reality as I’ve seen from my batch and the others. But tonight is already a milestone not only for you but also for your parents and families. I want to acknowledge the proud parents and guardians of our graduating batch, as well as all our junior high students who will move up to the next level—if we can give ourselves a round of applause, please! Congratulations to all of you!
Regardless of our academic or personal plans after this ceremony, it doesn’t mean we cannot lead with competence and character anymore. I appreciate the theme of DepEd for this year, parang isang pahiwatig na ito ang dapat mas pag-igtingin sa ating mga leaders ngayon, di po ba? Competence and character. Kakayahan at mabuting pagkatao. That’s why we believe in the saying: Kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan! I still consider myself young because I am still young. I may be a bit older than you, but we are in the same generation—GEN Z. I know I am yet to gain more experiences and share deeper wisdom. But tonight, I hope you give me a chance to share with you what life has taught me so far—just 5 tips or lessons that I use and might help us prepare to lead our lives with competence and character, and perhaps give inspiration no matter what path or career we take.
 |
| 1—Do what you love and/or love what you do. |
This is actually my mantra in life. The first one can improve your competence as you hone your skills or talents. Doing what you love makes it easier to keep going and get better at it over time, because you are passionate about it. The second one builds character because, growing up, I realized that doing what you love is a privilege—not everyone can do what they like in life. Hindi lahat may pribilehiyong pumili. Not everyone has the advantage to choose. Gusto mong mag-arts? Wala raw makukuhang pera doon! [Pero ang totoo, malaki ang pera sa arts.] Gusto mong maging doctor? Parang hindi natin kaya yung tuition, anak! [Madaming scholarship na pwedeng subukan.] That’s why it’s important that, despite these challenges, we learn to shift our perspective and start to love what we do, even if, especially if we don’t get to do what we love doing. It’s a bit of a tongue twister, isn’t it? Ito yung favorite mantra ko kasi kahit anong mangyari, hindi ako talo. It’s a win-win situation for you. Kung may privilege ka to do what you want, then well and good. Pero kung hindi mo man magawa yung gusto mo, subukan mo na lang mahalin kung ano ang ginagawa mo, o kukunin mong course, o kung ano practical mong gawin—Hindi ka matatalo. Again, hindi lahat may privilege na pumili, pero lahat may kakayahang mag-adjust.
 |
| 2—Do it and do it well. |
And speaking of gawa, this second tip comes from a person we all know. She taught us, “Kung gagawa ka lang din, pagbutihin mo na.” If you have already heard this line, you know who I’m referring to. This lesson from Tr. Glo has shaped, and continues to shape, my character to this day. At my first job, starting as an assistant video editor, I somehow got “promoted” to content associate only after 3 months. In my second job as a marketing copywriter, I received multiple awards in my first year. I’m not saying this to brag, because honestly, I didn’t aim to be promoted. I just wanted to land my first job, and when I did, I worked in the only way I know how: by doing my job well. I didn’t aim for those recognitions and honestly didn’t care about them, but someone from the team saw how I do my job and nominated me. So I want to pass this same lesson and remind you of what our principal has deeply inculcated in us as her students. “Kung gagawa ka lang din, pagbutihin mo na.” O kung sa tingin mo, hindi mo kaya pagbutihin, gawin mo na lang din kasi hindi mo mapapansin, nagawa mo na rin palang tapusin. Ito ay para sa mga araw na akala natin hindi natin kaya. Kaya nga ang unang nakalagay dyan ay DO IT. Gawin mo muna. Pwedeng sumunod nalang yung WELL.
 |
| 3—Have something to fight for. |
In one of my college classes, we were asked to share our personal advocacy as part of the social introduction. I don’t remember my answer, only the question. Since then, I have made sure I have something to share, not only to answer it but also to make it clear to myself that I have something to fight for. I know you’re young, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have one. It doesn’t have to be big; it could be as small as your interests.
Are you into biking? Then wish for better spaces where you can bike safely. Are you into plants or animals? Then you understand how important they are in our environment, and they too have rights to be protected. Are you struggling with your mental health? Then you know how hard it is for society to understand what you’re experiencing. This builds your character in many ways. You don’t have to do anything about it right now. Still, it’s important you keep in mind that you wish things were better: you wish things are better for women and that the international women's month we celebrate today became actually a celebration rather than a reminder that women are to be respected equally too; you wish your parents could afford to go to the hospital or buy medicines whenever they need them, and you wish you could get more support for the activities you want to do. Then, when the time comes, and you’re competent enough, you can finally do something about it.
Hindi naman ibig sabihin nito ay kailangan mo na agad baguhin ang mundo kinabukasan, pero dapat may paki ka, may balak kang baguhin kung hindi man ang mundo, pero ang sarili mo at mga bagay na kaya mong kontrolin. Para kapag may nagtanong ng, ano bang ipinaglalaban mo? May maisasagot ka.
 |
| 4—The personal is political. The political is personal. |
I learned this lesson in film school. They say that the most personal story is the most powerful as it is the most political. I realized that it not only applies to storytelling but also to almost everything. I understand that many of us get uncomfortable when we talk about politics, but whether we like it or not, whether we discuss it, disagree with it, or ignore most of it, it affects us. Now the political becomes personal.
I want us to take a few moments to read and try to process this poem:
In order for me to write poetry that isn’t political, I must listen to the birds, and in order to hear the birds, the war planes must be silent. —Marwan Makhoul
It is so crazy to think about the things that have happened or are happening in our lifetime. Imagine, we just experienced a pandemic—if you remember the online classes and remote learning back then; we couldn’t feel the impact of technology any better or worse during lockdown. We are seeing the rise of AI, and now a possible world war. That’s why more people are getting depressed because it is depressing times indeed. Times have changed. The same things cannot always be said for a different spirit of the times. At 22, my parents were starting to build our house, while I was stressing myself about my undergraduate thesis when I was 22.
When I say be political, I mean be more empathetic. Life can be better today, or it was yesterday. Our parents may say that life was more difficult in their time, no internet, no technology—they had nothing compared to what we have today, and yet they survived. A good response from our generation would be: we might have everything today, but we may not even survive tomorrow. Sana tandaan po natin na tratuhin ang mental health tulad ng ibang sakit sa katawan, dahil ang utak ay bahagi po ng ating katawan na nagkakasakit din. Bukod po sa dasal, ginagamot po natin ang sakit sa puso, sa baga, sa atay. Ganun din po dapat sa pag-iisip. Tulungan po natin.
That’s why this lesson made it to this list. The personal and the political are always intertwined, often complicated but certainly connected. Tulad ng possibleng kakulangan ng supply ng langis ay magdudulot ng pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin. It is personal as it is political dahil tumataas ba ang ating mga sahod? Sa susunod na pasukan ba ay mababawasan na ang ibibigay na baon ni mommy at daddy dahil kailangan maghigpit ng sinturon, kailangang magtipid? I hope we remember our lessons about micro and macroeconomics, but I wish we had been taught to talk about politics more openly when we were younger. Because the truth is, and I speak now to the parents and adults present here tonight, we avoid politics that we end up not understanding, and when we don’t understand it, how can we explain things to our children? Until it becomes a generational cycle where we never talk about politics. Hindi dapat valid yung “hindi mo pa maiintindihan ang sistema kasi bata ka pa” dahil tayo bilang mas nakatatanda, responsibilidad po sana natin kung paano ipaunawa sa mas nakababata ang mga komplikadong bagay tulad ng politika. We need to empower the youth kung sila talaga ang pag-asa ng bayan kinabukasan. Buti nalang ito yung generation na mas mulat, mas vocal, at siguro hindi na mag-aanak, sa hirap ba naman ng buhay. Mag-alaga na lang tayo ng aso at pusa, hindi ba?
When I say be political, I mean be intentional. Even that choice to have pets as our kids is political. So be intentional with your personal goals. Be intentional with who we vote for—especially our new graduates who will now be able to vote in the 2028 election. Please register because your future is on the line. It is our duty as citizens of this country—kahit gaano man kahirap mahalin ang Pilipinas.
 |
| 5—Learn. Unlearn. Relearn. |
I want you to read out loud the final lesson I want to leave you with tonight: Learn, unlearn, and relearn. It’s not easy to do, but it is possible. To be competent is to learn, acquire knowledge, and apply it for the better. But it takes character to unlearn things or beliefs that are harmful, insensitive, or even outdated. There would be times when we enter college that we have to unlearn what we’re taught in high school or even elementary school, like gender roles. Anyone can be anything at this age, so you all have the opportunity to claim what’s yours.
There will certainly be many times that we have to relearn things from high school because we have already forgotten about them. It’s fine as long as we put in the effort to remember.
Madaming studies ang nagsasabing ADAPTABILITY & FLEXIBILITY ang top future skills ngayon. And I believe we can achieve this by learning, unlearning, and relearning with the times.
When presented with new information, let’s learn to verify, unlearn what must be unlearned, and relearn what's important. This is very applicable as we are the digital generation. It is sadly also the time of fake news, of AI-generated content, and of misinformation and disinformation. I hope we apply this continuous cycle in our lives, whether we pursue college or otherwise, because I believe we are all students for life. I also hope that we always find the JOY in learning, even when it’s hard, because learning is forever.
Before I finally end my speech, a big big big congratulations class of 2026! Nakakaproud maging bahagi ng gabi niyo. Palakpakin po natin. Congratulations to the proud parents, teachers, and those who stood with us through this journey. Palakpakin din po natin. Special shout-out as well to my sister, Meeka “Mooks”, who is moving up tonight; it’s not every day we get a chance like this. I’m proud of you! I would also like to express my gratitude to the faculty and staff. Thank you for the invitation; this has been my way of honoring where I came from. Can we just all give our school a round of applause for enduring despite challenging times?
Ako po ulit si Ace Balbarez at kahit minsan ako ay nauutal, naniniwala akong hindi mo kailangan maging perpekto para makamit ang mga pangarap mo. Salamat po nang marami sa pakikinig. Magandang gabi po ulit. Mabuhay po tayong lahat!
---
END
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| Photo from JILS Facebook Page |
Filipino Graduates: Prepared to Lead with Competence and Character
Pilipinong Nagsipagtapos: Handang Mamuno nang May Kakayahan at Mabuting Pagkatao
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
ReplyDeleteAmazing!! Awesome speech, Ace!!
ReplyDelete