Last October 18 and 19, St Michael School of Padada’s high school batch of 1975 had a get together to celebrate the 50th year since our graduation from the school.  My batchmates requested me to give an inspirational talk focusing on my journey since we  graduated from high school.

Here is a copy of my speech:

My dear batchmates of St. Michael’s School of Padada, MAAYONG GABII SA INYONG TANAN!

When Eden reached out and invited me to speak at today’s reunion, I felt truly honored to be chosen to share my journey since graduating from SMSP. It has now been 50 years—half a century—since we walked away from those cherished school grounds. Yet, it hardly seems possible that so much time has passed. Reunions like this give us a meaningful chance to look back on the formative years that shaped who we are. Also, we get to reflect on what we have given and continue to give as we enter new chapters in our lives. 

Our Unforgettable School Days

The years we spent at SMSP are unforgettable. We grew up together in a close-knit, God-centered community—an extraordinary time in our youth. Even though our families had limited financial resources, we found happiness in simple things. Without television, electronic games, or cellphones, we explored the outdoors and found joy in physical activity and social connection. Our days were filled with games like takyan, lastiko, jolens, basketball, swimming at the beach, climbing the slopes of Piapi, and hunting for spiders to stage battles.

 We walked to school and church, played in open fields, and serenaded our classmates on their birthdays. We learned to work with our hands—gardening, raising chickens, cutting grass, and making toys from whatever we could find. While we may have been poor financially, we were rich in purpose. And purpose drove us forward.

The Impact of Our Teachers and Community

 We were incredibly fortunate to have dedicated and inspiring educators. They taught us to believe in ourselves, helped us master clear and correct English, encouraged us to push our vocal limits, and explained difficult concepts in math and science. They brought the Spanish language and music appreciation to life for us. Our principals and nuns worked tirelessly to ensure our school remained excellent. We respected our teachers deeply, sometimes with a little fear. However, it was always with trust and camaraderie.

 We also had unwavering faith in each other. In our small community in Padada, we saw our classmates as the brightest, the girls as the prettiest. Our basketball and softball teams played like champions, and our glee club and church choir sang like angels. The school band and rondalla filled the air with lovely music. We carried the pride of being part of the ST. MICHAEL’S CLASS. We always knew that difficulties were simply steps toward becoming self-sufficient. Despite our humble circumstances, we had an abundance of purpose and pride.

 One of the greatest gifts we had, whether we realized it at the time, was prayer. We held onto prayer through life’s ups and downs—through sickness, loss, financial and emotional challenges, fears, and moments of exhaustion. The ability to pray, a lesson instilled in us at school, has sustained us all these years. Moreover, it will continue to carry us forward.

This was the environment that shaped us as we left Padada for college and new experiences. Personally, I found that while I had been prominent academically at SMSP, I was just starting out in the larger world of college.

 Nic Gabunada’s Journey

 After high school, I received several scholarship offers and chose Ateneo de Davao because it was close to Padada and allowed me to live with my sister at no cost. At first, I felt out of place among my city-raised classmates, but I quickly excelled both academically and in extracurricular activities. I became the University Student Council President, received the Natural Science Division Leadership awards, and graduated with Latin honors, as Valedictorian of my class.

 During college, I also became involved in activism. Those were turbulent times, and I was once arrested and briefly detained for subversion during an anti-martial law protest. Human rights lawyers defended me; and friends supported me. Eventually, the charges were dropped. That experience did not discourage me; instead, it fueled my ambition. I moved to Manila for postgraduate studies at the Opus Dei-administered Center for Research and Communication (CRC), which later became part of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P). While at CRC, I taught economics at the University of the Philippines – Manila. That was where I met my future wife.

 After CRC, I joined the Pulse Research Group, then the leading market research firm in the Philippines. My career path led me to ABS-CBN, where I first took the role of Vice President for Research and Business Analysis and then served as Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing, and later to the role of CEO of Omnicom Media Group (OMG) Philippines in 2012.

 I left Omnicom Media Group in early 2015, not to retire, but to help fulfill a long-standing dream for many Mindanaoans: to see someone from our region lead the country. That person was then-Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. I was part of the small team that managed his media campaign. The campaign’s innovative use of social media changed Philippine politics, and, for the first time, a Mindanaoan became president.

 In December 2016, I founded LouderPH, a communications agency that helps clients refine and amplify their messages. Today, I have stepped back from daily operations, leaving them in the hands of my younger partners.

 Reflections on Success and Legacy

Looking back, I see how far I have come—from Padada to the Metro, from humble beginnings to taking part in a historic moment for our nation. I have accomplished many things on my bucket list, but two remain: driving from Manila to Davao, and establishing a Library-Museum in my hometown. The building is nearly complete, and next will come, filling it with books, photos of old Padada, multimedia materials, museum pieces. (I do hope you can help me source the memorabilia and photos for this museum). The place will also have a regular schedule of livelihood training. 

 Someone once asked if I consider myself a success. My answer is the same as I shared with the SMSP alumni during our school’s 50th homecoming: 

“Often, success is measured by how much money one has, fine clothes, new cars, or a comfortable life and job. But the Almighty Father, the BIG BOSS of Senior San Miguel, has a different measure for a successful alumnus of St. Michael School of Padada. For HIM, the FACE OF SUCCESS is seen in:   

  • Fathers and mothers who work each day to send their children to school.
  • The brightest among us who choose a life of public service because they believe in our institutions.
  • Honest public servants—barangay captains, councilors, mayors—who lead with integrity, honesty, and virtue.
  • Single parents who sacrifice their own happiness and needs for their children’s sake.
  • Businessmen and corporate professionals who help others improve their lives.”

 

Much has changed in our country since we left SMSP. Senior citizenship, with its government-mandated benefits, is now both a reality and a source of amusement. I encourage all of us to share with our children and grandchildren how, even without the material comforts they enjoy today, we grew up with purpose and pride and persevered through adversity with prayer. These are the lessons we learned from St. Michael School of Padada. It is that same sense of purpose, pride, and faith that continues to bring us together.

 Even after 50 years, we still keep these flames alive as children of SMSP.

 MABUHAY ANG BATCH 1975 OF  ST. MICHAEL’S!