'Growth is where our meaning lives'

Read Juan Alvaro C Bautista's message from the graduating batch given during the Le Cordon Bleu Ateneo de Manila Institute Degree Recognition Program on Monday, 23 June 2025.

The Bachelor of Science in Restaurant Entreprenuership program combines business management and entrepreneurship provided by the John Gokongwei School of Management, and education in the food and beverage service industry from Le Cordon Bleu. The program equips students with the necessary skills and mindset for the food and beverage industry, in the tradition of Ateneo’s liberal arts core curriculum.

Good Morning Everyone! On behalf of the graduating class of 2025, thank you for being with us today. To our faculty, mentors, parents, families, and friends— a big thank you for your unending support, guidance and unconditional love. This day is just as much yours as it is ours.

I am honored beyond words to be here today. I remember the first day of onsite classes, I was so nervous, I was pacing the corridor of our classroom for around 20 minutes, incredibly anxious of meeting all of you for the first time. In all honesty, I was planning to shift out that year. But, in hindsight, choosing to walk into the classroom that day turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. Thank you for not only being there with me throughout all the struggles and challenges, but also for making me fall in love with what I do today. It was only when I received the email saying that I would be delivering this speech that I truly paused and reflected. For the first time in a long while, I asked myself — why did I stay and not shift out? What was it that made me choose to keep going, despite the doubts, despite the challenges? How did our little family of Batch 2025 go from 15 to 26 exemplary individuals, with no one leaving.

And as I thought about it, I realized that it wasn’t just about the classes, or the lessons, or the grades. So indulge me for the next few minutes as I share some of my key insights throughout my stay here as a proud student of BS RENT.

They say the sky's the limit—but honestly, that's a myth. As the sky is not a limit, but merely the beginning, the sky is simply an illusion. Not too long ago, I was crying to the Ateneo High School registrar, begging to know if I had passed the school year. Because that same day, I had a flight to the U.S. with my family, and failing meant I’d have to stay behind for summer school. Not long after that, I found myself crying (again) writing essay after essay, appealing to Ateneo after getting waitlisted for college. Looking back, those moments taught me something simple but powerful: that the moment you start placing limits on yourself is the same moment you start becoming stagnant (when you start seeing the sky as the limit). And even after that, there were still a lot of failures, challenges, decisions I regretted, and even more crying.

When I was preparing this speech, I did what any very responsible person would do: I opened ChatGPT and typed, “write me an inspirational, graduation speech.” (I'm kidding)

Instead, when I was writing this speech I remembered a quote from Roger Federer. And He said, “Self-belief, including self-respect, is earned through consistent hard work and dedication—not something you’re just born with.” That hit me. Because real confidence doesn’t come from pretending to have it all figured out. It’s built in the quiet, unglamorous moments: when no one’s watching, when you’re full of doubt, when you’ve failed, when you’re crying, but still choose to try again anyway. That’s where self-belief is forged—not in perfection, but in perseverance.

Yet in this pursuit of excellence, we were reminded of something even more important: humility. It’s that understanding that we are not the best—and we don’t need to be.

I may be the one with a medal around my neck, or the one giving this speech . But the only reason I’m standing in front of you all today is because I am standing on the shoulders of basically everyone in this room. You all made this possible – from my family to my Mauka team and everyone in between.

And on that note, I truly believe that if it weren’t for some very special people — both in this room and beyond — our RENT experience wouldn’t have been possible. Chef Cyrille, Chef Annalisa, Sir Leo Vergara, Mrs Liza Morales, Chef Julien, Chef Jigo and Chef Judex, Ate Jonna and the rest of the LCB staff, Our favorite guard, Kuya Dan, our workers at JSEC, Dean Robby, Chef Dang, Atty. Kate and all the professors and formators that we’ve had the privilege to learn from. You are the very backbone of our education, and because of your dedication and guidance we are able to do what we love to do. And as we stand at this turning point, I hope we carry that lesson with us — that what truly matters isn’t measured in trophies or titles, but in how we choose to show up for ourselves and for others every single day. It’s about being committed to growth, to choosing courage over comfort, to doing things scared. It’s about learning to love learning—not for the awards or the medals, but because growth is where our meaning lives.

And in this journey I’ve learned that success on the other hand is not measured in awards, or capstone project achievements. The most important aspect of life is not money. It’s not status. But rather, It’s the time we have left, and the relationships we built with others. That in our inevitable demise, we will all leave behind a legacy—not defined by titles or honors, but by the impact we’ve made on the people around us. 

Because in all honesty people will most likely forget what we have said. They might forget what we have done. But they will never forget how we made them feel. And that matters, especially now—as we step into the hospitality industry, a field built entirely on human connection. An industry where empathy, and sincerity matter just as much as skill or technique. We are not just entering a career—we are entering a calling, one that demands both heart and excellence.

Lastly, to the graduating batch. It truly has been one of my greatest privileges throughout my college tenure to stand beside you—as a classmate, as your General Manager, but most importantly as your friend. And in these roles, I witnessed firsthand the quiet brilliance, the passion, and the resilience that each and everyone of you carry. You are limitless, boundless, and extraordinary beyond measure.

And as we all part ways and pursue our own individual versions of greatness, as I know you will all be very successful in your lives, I hope you fall in love not just with the success at the end, but with the process itself. With the late nights, the unexpected turns, the crying, the uncooked rice, the small wins, and the meaningful relationships. As these will be the moments that define us. Let our legacy be characterized not merely by the quantifiable and tangible means of success, but by the character and value that you embody in the pursuits of uniquely being yourself. And that will forever be more than enough. Because remember, there’s a reason why you are here and not anyone else.

So here’s to the Class of 2025: may we always choose growth over fear, people over pride, and purpose over perfection. Thank you everyone, and congratulations to us all.