Some graduation speeches celebrate achievement.

Others leave behind a philosophy.

When Karina Dy-Liacco stepped onto the stage as the Valedictorian of Enderun Colleges’ Class of 2026, she did not present herself as the student who always knew she would succeed. Instead, she spoke as someone who spent years questioning whether she belonged there at all.

Her message was simple.

Say yes.

Not because certainty exists, but because growth begins long before confidence does.

For the graduates seated before her, it was a fitting conclusion to their academic journey. For everyone listening beyond the ceremony, it became a reminder that extraordinary careers are often built through ordinary acts of courage repeated over time.

Seven Years That Changed Everything

Karina’s story with Enderun Colleges began long before she entered the College of Hospitality Management.

She first walked through its doors as a Senior High School student.

Looking back, she admits that becoming valedictorian never seemed like a realistic possibility. She carried years of self-doubt, constantly measuring herself against others and believing that confidence belonged to people who were naturally gifted.

That perception slowly changed because of the people who believed in her before she believed in herself.

She credits Senior High School Principal Ms. Cherry, together with Ms. Janina, Ms. Gaby, and Ms. Andi from the Office of Career Services, for seeing her beyond grades and achievements. They witnessed the difficult moments that rarely appear on transcripts: missed expectations, overwhelming deadlines, moments of discouragement, and quiet victories that came from simply refusing to quit.

Their encouragement planted a belief that would later define her entire philosophy.

Confidence does not come first.

Action does.

Learning to Say Yes Before Feeling Ready

The defining idea of Karina’s valedictory address was not excellence.

It was willingness.

She described how every meaningful opportunity in her academic journey began with a simple decision to say yes, even when uncertainty outweighed confidence.

That lesson became especially relevant during one of the most unusual periods in higher education.

Like thousands of students around the world, Karina entered college during the COVID-19 pandemic. The traditional university experience she imagined quickly disappeared, replaced by virtual classrooms, online group projects, remote culinary laboratories, and practical kitchen sessions conducted under strict health protocols.

It was not the college life she expected.

Yet those unexpected circumstances became the foundation of her resilience.

Rather than waiting for ideal conditions, she learned to embrace imperfect ones.

The experience reshaped how she viewed opportunity itself.

Sometimes the opportunities that change a person’s life arrive disguised as inconvenience.

Representing Enderun Beyond the Classroom

As her confidence quietly developed, so did the opportunities she embraced.

One of them led her to represent Enderun Colleges as a student researcher at an international academic conference in Chiang Mai.

There, research became more than presenting findings before an audience.

It became an invitation to contribute to global conversations and exchange ideas with scholars from different countries.

Another opportunity came through serving as a Student Ambassador.

While many see ambassadors as student representatives, Karina viewed the role differently.

She saw herself as representing the values of the institution itself.

Meeting prospective students allowed her to encourage others who, like her younger self, questioned whether they were capable enough to pursue ambitious goals.

Ironically, the opportunity she almost declined became the one that eventually defined her graduation day.

Applying for the valedictorian award required confronting years of self-doubt.

She submitted her application not because she expected to win, but because she finally believed she was worthy of trying.

That distinction would later become one of the most memorable moments of the commencement ceremony.

Excellence Beyond the Classroom

Karina’s commitment to growth extended beyond academic achievement.

During her internship at Bakehouse Hong Kong, one of the city’s most respected artisan bakeries, she experienced professional kitchens operating at industrial production scale.

Her responsibilities evolved far beyond observation.

She worked across Supply Chain, Production, Bakery, Laminated Pastries, and Retail Operations, producing hundreds of kilograms of bread and thousands of pastries daily.

She helped prepare large batches of sourdough, baguettes, pretzels, burger buns, croissants, Danish pastries, cinnamon rolls, quiches, and more than 7,000 egg tarts during peak production.

Initially, every task required close supervision.

Over time, that changed.

Her chefs gradually entrusted her with independent responsibilities after recognizing her consistency, speed, and attention to detail.

One memorable moment became an unexpected affirmation of her development.

While preparing egg tart molds, Karina completed each tray with remarkable speed and precision. She suddenly noticed her coworkers, including the sous chef, silently watching her hands.

She assumed she had made a mistake.

Instead, they were impressed by how efficiently she worked.

The room erupted in laughter.

It became one of many reminders that mastery often reveals itself quietly.

Perhaps even more meaningful than technical growth were the relationships she built.

Despite language barriers, she formed close friendships with colleagues from different cultures, discovering that professionalism, kindness, and teamwork often communicate more effectively than words alone.

By the end of the internship, she was no longer functioning as a student learning the ropes.

She had become a dependable member of the production team.

Her supervisors affirmed this through outstanding evaluations and eventually offered her a full-time position.

For Karina, the greatest reward was not the job offer itself.

It was the realization that she no longer needed constant validation to believe she belonged in the kitchen.

Choosing Excellence Over “Pwede Na”

Throughout her speech, Karina returned repeatedly to lessons learned from her culinary education.

Among the most influential voices was Chef Suzette, whose advice became a recurring theme in her journey.

“Just show up.”

Simple words.

Powerful discipline.

Some days, showing up was the hardest achievement.

Long hours in practical kitchens, inevitable mistakes, physical exhaustion, and repeated failures are familiar experiences for every culinary student.

Yet those daily decisions gradually build professional excellence.

Chef Suzette also challenged students to reject the mentality of “pwede na.”

Good enough, she reminded them, is often the enemy of meaningful growth.

Karina embraced that principle.

She learned that excellence is rarely created during defining moments.

It is built through consistent effort on ordinary days when no one is watching.

Like bread fermentation itself, meaningful growth often happens quietly before anyone notices the final result.

The Family Behind the Achievement

While the diploma bears Karina’s name, she made it clear that the journey belonged to many people.

She spoke about her father, Rikki, whose career in international motorsports demonstrated what disciplined pursuit of excellence looks like on a global stage.

Watching him represent the Philippines inspired her own dream of one day doing the same through the culinary profession.

She also honored her mother, Lea, whom she described as her constant source of strength.

Whenever disappointment arrived, her mother became the person she turned to.

Whenever success followed, she remained the first person Karina wanted to celebrate with.

Together with her sister and family, they formed the foundation beneath every accomplishment she achieved.

As she told them during her speech, the diploma belonged to them as much as it belonged to her.

A Legacy That Extends Beyond Graduation

By the conclusion of her address, Karina invited the entire graduating class to stand for one final tradition.

With each call of “Titans say yes,” hundreds of graduates answered with a unified “YES!”

It became more than audience participation.

It became a declaration of the values they would carry beyond campus.

Yes to showing up.

Yes to excellence over mediocrity.

Yes to curiosity.

Yes to becoming the reason someone else believes in themselves.

For Karina, that final message reflected everything Enderun Colleges had given her during seven transformative years.

The institution did more than prepare her for a profession.

It helped transform uncertainty into confidence, hesitation into leadership, and self-doubt into purpose.

Today, as she begins her career in the pastry industry, her story stands as a reminder that remarkable achievements are rarely the result of one defining moment.

They are built through countless quiet decisions to keep moving forward.

One opportunity.

One challenge.

One act of courage.

One simple yes at a time.