A MOMENT OF RECOGNITION
TEXT OF SPEECH
DELIVERED AT LETRAN'S RECOGNITION DAY
MARCH 9, 2007
Where I am standing now gives me a lot of discomfort. Look, I am 47 years old. Sometimes, I wake up in the morning and I start having difficulty remembering where I am. Sometimes, I am mistaken for a parent. And sometimes, people think I am the professor. And I am in the Dean’s List?
A month ago, my father, who is now almost 80 years old, received a letter from the Colegio which contained a copy of my grade during the last semester. The last time he received a copy of my report card was in 1976 when I was in my fourth-year high school. At the dinner table that evening, we were two old men discussing my grades in college. He was telling me, “Anak, bakit naman naka-90 ka lang sa Botany?” Sagot ko naman, “Tay, ang daming mine-memorize na scientific term. Hayaan ninyo babawi na lang ako sa susunod na sem.” It is a strange situation. But such is the irony of my life. I will probably go down in history at the first Letranite who will immediately go to retirement after graduation!
As I said a while ago, this spot gives me a lot of discomfort. But it is a nice place. And I like it here. And I know, that I will not be here if not for the grace of God on which I stand. It is therefore only fitting that I thank him first and give the glory back to Him.
On behalf of this year’s Dean’s Listers, I also would like to thank the Colegio for this recognition – the academic administrators, our deans – the past and present –, my teachers for having to put up with an old man in their class and who attempted, tried, and sometimes succeeded in instilling disciple in us and to our parents most especially for their unconditional love and support. All I ever wanted was to continue with what I had started 25 years ago, and now I am getting the icing on the cake. From my heart and on behalf of the others in the Dean’s List, thank you very much.
There is a part in each of us that needs appreciation for a job well done. In fact, we all want a small amount of encouragement – a light pat on the back, a squeeze of the hands, a small nod of approval. Especially, when things do not go the way they should, when we make mistakes, and when we fail. This recognition, as I am sure my co-dean’s listers will agree, is a validation of months of hard work. Of coping with the 30%, 30%, 40% equation of our academic standing – no matter how enormously taxing it is.
Many people have asked me the question: “Why go back to school? What is in there for you?” I have listed a thousand and one answers to that question, but the one thing that is closest to the truth is this: the pursuit of education, the pursuit of knowledge, the pursuit of the path towards wisdom knows no age limit. It does not distinguish between the young and the old. In whatever stage of our life, we will all be forever students. We live. We love. We learn.
What, then, can a 47-year old student tell his fellow Letranites? That you pay serious attention to the process of learning that you are so privileged to have right now. Be responsible for those privileges because each of us will give an account to God for the generous time and talent that he has so lovingly given to us. Do not aspire to be perfect; you will not get there. But aspire to be excellent; aspire to be the better versions of yourself.
Pay serious attention, too, to every single graded thing that you do inside the College. The teachers do not make our grade. We do. And everything recorded in our school transcript becomes a record of our achievement. It cannot be erased. It cannot be undone. It becomes a part of us. And when you go out into the world of true-blooded professionals seeking your first job employment, whether you like it or not, you will be judged according to how well or how worse you did in school.
The greater challenge, of course, does not end with the marks in our transcript. But it does start with how well we represent the school long after we have gone. We have a long list of magnificent personages in the great history of this school – those from whom we inherit the tradition of excellence. We will leave. We will fly. We will soar across borders. But let that spirit of excellence continue to live in us.
Last year, I read a column in the Philippine Star about a young actress who wanted to go to college but could not. Her name is Rebecca Lusterio. A couple of days later, I was moved when I read in the same column a letter from Father Lao offering her a free scholarship at the school. And I said to myself, “This is the spirit of a Letranite – charity, compassion, Christ-likeness.” And at that moment, I felt very proud to have enrolled in this school. You cannot go wrong in an institution that puts God first.
Three days ago, I read in the same column, a letter from Rebecca Lusterio herself, telling how well she is doing in school, how well she has become closer to God, and how well her life has been since. She also invites others to enroll here and be a part of the Letran community. And I said to myself, “Praise the Lord, the spirit of Letran lives on.”
May the spirit of our commitment to that hallowed tradition of God, Country, and Letran continue to guide our life.
Thank you.
God bless us all.
Arriba, Letran!
DELIVERED AT LETRAN'S RECOGNITION DAY
MARCH 9, 2007
Where I am standing now gives me a lot of discomfort. Look, I am 47 years old. Sometimes, I wake up in the morning and I start having difficulty remembering where I am. Sometimes, I am mistaken for a parent. And sometimes, people think I am the professor. And I am in the Dean’s List?
A month ago, my father, who is now almost 80 years old, received a letter from the Colegio which contained a copy of my grade during the last semester. The last time he received a copy of my report card was in 1976 when I was in my fourth-year high school. At the dinner table that evening, we were two old men discussing my grades in college. He was telling me, “Anak, bakit naman naka-90 ka lang sa Botany?” Sagot ko naman, “Tay, ang daming mine-memorize na scientific term. Hayaan ninyo babawi na lang ako sa susunod na sem.” It is a strange situation. But such is the irony of my life. I will probably go down in history at the first Letranite who will immediately go to retirement after graduation!
As I said a while ago, this spot gives me a lot of discomfort. But it is a nice place. And I like it here. And I know, that I will not be here if not for the grace of God on which I stand. It is therefore only fitting that I thank him first and give the glory back to Him.
On behalf of this year’s Dean’s Listers, I also would like to thank the Colegio for this recognition – the academic administrators, our deans – the past and present –, my teachers for having to put up with an old man in their class and who attempted, tried, and sometimes succeeded in instilling disciple in us and to our parents most especially for their unconditional love and support. All I ever wanted was to continue with what I had started 25 years ago, and now I am getting the icing on the cake. From my heart and on behalf of the others in the Dean’s List, thank you very much.
There is a part in each of us that needs appreciation for a job well done. In fact, we all want a small amount of encouragement – a light pat on the back, a squeeze of the hands, a small nod of approval. Especially, when things do not go the way they should, when we make mistakes, and when we fail. This recognition, as I am sure my co-dean’s listers will agree, is a validation of months of hard work. Of coping with the 30%, 30%, 40% equation of our academic standing – no matter how enormously taxing it is.
Many people have asked me the question: “Why go back to school? What is in there for you?” I have listed a thousand and one answers to that question, but the one thing that is closest to the truth is this: the pursuit of education, the pursuit of knowledge, the pursuit of the path towards wisdom knows no age limit. It does not distinguish between the young and the old. In whatever stage of our life, we will all be forever students. We live. We love. We learn.
What, then, can a 47-year old student tell his fellow Letranites? That you pay serious attention to the process of learning that you are so privileged to have right now. Be responsible for those privileges because each of us will give an account to God for the generous time and talent that he has so lovingly given to us. Do not aspire to be perfect; you will not get there. But aspire to be excellent; aspire to be the better versions of yourself.
Pay serious attention, too, to every single graded thing that you do inside the College. The teachers do not make our grade. We do. And everything recorded in our school transcript becomes a record of our achievement. It cannot be erased. It cannot be undone. It becomes a part of us. And when you go out into the world of true-blooded professionals seeking your first job employment, whether you like it or not, you will be judged according to how well or how worse you did in school.
The greater challenge, of course, does not end with the marks in our transcript. But it does start with how well we represent the school long after we have gone. We have a long list of magnificent personages in the great history of this school – those from whom we inherit the tradition of excellence. We will leave. We will fly. We will soar across borders. But let that spirit of excellence continue to live in us.
Last year, I read a column in the Philippine Star about a young actress who wanted to go to college but could not. Her name is Rebecca Lusterio. A couple of days later, I was moved when I read in the same column a letter from Father Lao offering her a free scholarship at the school. And I said to myself, “This is the spirit of a Letranite – charity, compassion, Christ-likeness.” And at that moment, I felt very proud to have enrolled in this school. You cannot go wrong in an institution that puts God first.
Three days ago, I read in the same column, a letter from Rebecca Lusterio herself, telling how well she is doing in school, how well she has become closer to God, and how well her life has been since. She also invites others to enroll here and be a part of the Letran community. And I said to myself, “Praise the Lord, the spirit of Letran lives on.”
May the spirit of our commitment to that hallowed tradition of God, Country, and Letran continue to guide our life.
Thank you.
God bless us all.
Arriba, Letran!
posted by joeylgarcia at 12:59 AM
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