THE EDUCATION OF JOSELITO L. GARCIA

TEXT OF GRADUATION SPEECH
As Summa Cum Laude
April 3, 2009
PICC, Manila




Father Rector, Reverend Fathers, Distinguished Lay Administrators, Respected Deans and Faculty Members, Parents, Special Guests, Fellow Graduates

Good morning.

Four years ago, I went back to college with nothing in mind except to put a closure on a childhood dream – to have a diploma in Journalism. I thought at that time I already knew what I needed to know in life. How wrong I was. How finite my mind. And how arrogant!

As a Journalism student, at the height of the ZTE scandal, I could not help but ask, why did Letran choose to keep quiet at a time when the rest of the country voiced their dissent against the government? Why did our school clam up in the face of a nationwide clamor for change? Why did our administrators choose silence against the deafening cries of the citizenry to boot out the corrupt officials of civil society? And then I realized the wisdom behind it all.

Because the political structure in this country offers no permanence, the school chose to be silent because it focused on what was more important: the shaping of the students as individuals. By keeping us off the streets, it protected the sentiments of everyone in school from exploding in misplaced directions. By being quiet, it concentrated its energy on revolutionizing the inner man. For without changes occurring inside our persons, what right do we have to demand change? In honing the students in the hallowed tradition of godliness, patriotism and wisdom, the Colegio has quietly contributed change to society by choosing to shape its future active members, the students.

Because of that valuable insight, the past four years of my college life have not been in vain. I learned from the administrators the value of temperance and self-control, and this has restored my faith in the academic institution.

And then, there were the masters of the classroom – the teachers. I have had 37 teachers during my brief stay here, and since I am given only 5 minutes to finish this address, I cannot enumerate all the highlights of my extraordinary classroom experiences with each of you, but I salute you all for your contribution to my education. I salute you for your perseverance. I salute you for your dedication. I am indebted to all my teachers at the Institute of Communication – Mr. Jun Bana, Mr. Rizalino Pinlac, Ms. Eleonor Agulto – who pushed us to excellence and pressed us to draw from our inner reserves in order to cope with the demands of our major years. One professor stood out for me. I may forget all the lectures he gave us about laws of mass media and ethics, but I will never forget that one evening when he so passionately gave us a long lecture about the virtue of being a Letranite – of how proudly we should wear our uniforms and of how we should be mindful or our demeanor and legacy. I sent him a text message that night and I told him that because of that lecture, sulit na ang ibinayad ko sa school. Thank you, Atty. Eugene Kho.

Most of all, I am thankful to our director, Mrs. Rowena Capulong Reyes. You are the heart and soul of ICom. You have extended your motherhood beyond the fences of your house in Paranaque because you have entered our hearts. You know us by name. You rejoice in our accomplishments. You nag us out of concern. You bring out the best in us – not for you, not for ICom as others might be tempted to think – but for the honor of giving recognition to Letran. And whether others believe it or not, you love us, even if that love is not always appreciated. Thank you, Ma’m Wen.

Because of your passion, dear teachers, the past four years of my college life have not been in vain. From you, I learned the deeper meaning of commitment and loyalty. You have restored my faith in the teaching profession.

Graduation programs usually highlight the achievements of the graduates. But more than the celebration of these young dreamers’ accomplishments, it is also the celebration of the parents’ triumph. Majority of our students’ education have been sustained at a great price: the sacrifice of parents who work overseas to support their children’s schooling. These parents have bravely chosen to forego what is convenient, what is homey, what is cozy. What else will a mother or a father not do in order to make sure that their children’s future is brighter than their own? Ipinagdiriwang natin ang mga luha ng kaligayahan ng mga magulang, dahil alam natin ang mga pagsisikap at pagtitiis na kanilang dinaanan para maging bahagi ng araw na ito. Palakpakan natin sila. Maraming salamat sa inyo.

I graduated from high school in 1976. I was the class Valedictorian. Pero kinabukasan, sabi ng Tatay ko sa akin, “Anak, pasensiya ka na pero hindi ko makakayang sustentuhan ang pag-aaral mo.” Hindi madali para sa isang magulang na isakripisyo ang pag-aaral ng kanyang anak, pero naunawaan ko yun. Bilang panganay sa siyam na magkakapatid, inuna kong magtrabaho para matulungan ang mga kapatid ko. Inuna kong pagtapusin ang pag-aaral nila bago ko hinarap ang buhay ko. Iyan ang sagot sa maraming tanong kung bakit ngayon lang ako magtatapos ng kolehiyo.

Parehong hindi nakatuntong ng kolehiyo ang tatay at nanay ko. Pero kasali sila sa mga tagumpay ko at gusto kong iregalo sa kanila ang aking pagtatapos. Maaaring hindi nakayang itaguyod ng mga magulang ko ang aking pag-aaral noong kasing edad ninyo ako, pero hindi rin ako makakatayo sa harapan ninyo ngayon kung hindi dahil sa kanila. Maraming salamat, Tay, Nay.

This recognition is special to me because the obstacles I crossed as an old man were far from easy. These medals have nothing to do with age. Higit na mahirap mag-aral kapag matanda ka na. Mas pumupurol ang isip. Mas matagal mag-memorya. Minsan sumasakay ako sa LRT at nalilimutan ko kung saan ako bababa. On top ot this, there are the adult responsibilities that I had to contend with. Bills to pay. Old parents to look after. Grandchildren to take care of. Isa pa, walang nakiki-barkada sa iyo. Hindi ka naiimbita sa gimik ng mga kaklase. Kaya ipagpasalamat ninyo na sa ganyang edad, hindi na ninyo daraanan ang dinaanan ko. Nagpapasalamat ako at hindi namamatay ang pangarap kahit nagkakaedad na.

On my own, wala akong kayang ipagmalaki. This honor is made possible only because of the blessing of God in whose grace I stand. I give glory to Him who is my Life, my Love, my Beginning and my End.

I would also like to thank a person who has significantly contributed to my going back to school. He is my spiritual compass and anchor, my pastor, my brother in the faith, and my very good friend – Pastor Ed Lapiz. Thank you for sharing this moment with me.

Early this year, you read in the newspapers that at least half a million people will lose their job. The prospect does not seem too bright for our fresh graduates. But do not be discouraged. Do not lose hope. There is a way to turn the tide and avoid a future that is bleak and cloudy. How do we rise above the challenges? I offer one suggestion: BE RELEVANT. How is this possible? I offer one suggestion: BE NEEDED. How again can this be possible? BE DIFFERENT. The world is always on the look out for people of noble character. The world is always on the look for patriotic citizens. The world is always on the look out for fresh idealisms. Do not just follow the pack. Lead. Do not just be one among the many. Be THE ONE. Amid the changing landscape in the current economy of the world, this applies to all of us. Whether we are a 50-year old summa cum laude, a 30-year old teacher, a 20-year old fresh graduate, or even a 380-year old academic institution, we have to be attuned to the times and adapt to the unpredictable shifting of modern interests. BE RELEVANT.

Fellow graduates, the Colegio has groomed us to wear our noble character proudly as children of God. The Colegio has instilled in us love for country. The Colegio has spurned us to conquer new glories for the honor of our Alma Mater. We are RELEVANT. We are RELEVANT because we are LETRANITES.

On behalf of the graduating class of 2008-2009, thank you Letran for being our home. Thank you for taking us under your wings. Thank you for teaching us how to fly.

Mabuhay tayong lahat.