EXECUTIVE JUDGE, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BACOLOD CITY, BEFORE THE E.T.C.S. GRADUATING CLASS 2007-2008, Bacolod Bay Center.
I could not decline the invitation of School Principal Mrs. Maria Elena G. Dumancas, to come here and speak to the graduates of my Alma Mater, the Education Training and Center School, for this is indeed an honor. Mrs. Dumancas was my teacher many years ago, and she was not yet Mrs. Dumancas, but Miss Gella, a young pretty, intelligent, strict and yet kindly teacher, whom I am proud to say, was one of our best and dedicated teachers of the old school. It did not surprise me that in her teaching career, she rose to become the Head of the most reputable public elementary school, which she served with impassioned loyalty.
I must speak to you from my heart.
I was eleven years and six months old when I graduated from the ETCS, in 1968. That was a long time ago. I have fond memories about my school days. Life was very much simple then. I walked to school in rubber slippers. There were no prescribed uniforms. Most of us were poor. Our classrooms were not top of the line. They were made of wooden structures, corrugated roofing, with pure earth and soil as our floor. It did not really matter we had to draw water and wet the ground to keep the dust from blowing over, and do our turn sweeping, scrubbing, and cleaning the school premises. Despite these difficulties, we learned our lessons well, we did our homework under pain of punishment, (the punishment would entail writing on the board repeatedly one single sentence, “I will do my homework always” until the board is fully filled up) and we could compete with even the best minds of the private schools.
I am proud to say that I am a product of the public school system, in which the ETCS stands out to be the best there is in our City. I come with the highest appreciation of the school's noble calling of mentoring and training young boys and girls to be good and successful men and women.
I have attended quite a number of commencement exercises and most speakers invited to speak to the graduates are politicians or government officials. I am no politician who would be able to promise you with political favors. I am only a reclusive Judge, and as you know, I shun public appearances, I keep my distance from former associates and friends, and very rarely do I socialize, not for reasons of temperament but of choice, because a Judge should, and appear to be free, from any influence.
With this as a preface, I would like to exhort the graduates and the parents that there is no better time than today, to aspire for noble purposes. To have hope; to set your sights on a bright and successful future; to serve; to build up; to be compassionate; to promote peace; to reconcile; to heal and to unite.
You have taken the first step in the hurdle of life. You have finished and climbed up a notch higher in preparation for the next, which shows, that you choose to be a doer not a quitter. Your theme: The Filipino graduates, celebrating achievement, pursuing opportunity, is indeed relevant. Your graduation is an achievement, a milestone in your lives. You have been prepared and trained to pursue and exploit the opportunities that may come before you.
Every generation is in some sense, a trustee for the future. What we do, today, would mean where we would be tomorrow. It is a psychological fact that we tend to travel in the direction we are looking. Whether you are a success or failure in life depends to a large extent, upon which way the eyes of your mind are focused.
Oliver Wendell Holmes said, "the great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving." May the Christian Spirit of self-sacrifice, self-denial and devotion move you to strive more and do better.
To the graduates, the parents, and the teachers who are here today, you are indeed a blessing for what you have done and what you are about to do.
But, what after all, is the meaning of graduation? It really depends on what you make of it.
A story is told of James Garfield when he was president of Hiram College. A rich man brought his son to be enrolled as a student. He wanted his son to take a course shorter than the regular course. He wanted to get through quickly. James Garfield said, to this wealthy benefactor," Well Sir, it really depends on what you want to make of your son. When God wants to make an oak tree He takes a thousand years, but He only takes two months to make a squash."
The lesson is if we want to make something great out of ourselves, there could possibly be no shortcuts. It would take time, hard work, vision, persistence, patience, and faith.
In the Old Testament, there was a certain man named Nehemiah. He wanted to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, the once glorious City of David was surrounded by ruins of the wall for some 160 years since its destruction by the Babylonians . Nehemiah organized his people. With little materials, he first made a plan on how to rebuild the ruins. After drawing up the plan he organized his volunteers. He had little resources, except the burning desire to accomplish his purpose and the loyalty and steadfastness of his volunteers. By ancient standards in a record time of only 52 days, Nehemiah and his recruits built a perfect wall around the city of Jerusalem where only rubble stood before.
We can draw lessons from this account in ancient history. First you must have a plan. You must have a goal and vision. Then you must have somebody or someone who shares this vision with you. Then you must go into action. It is not easy to stand up for a worthy cause, to strive for excellence, or to reach a goal. You will face challenges, failures, frustrations, roadblocks, opposition even criticism. To surmount these things you must have unwavering faith that God will accompany you in your life’s endeavors.
Your learning process has just began. You are preparing for the profession or the vocation which you have aimed at. Excellence alone in one’s profession or vocation is not enough. The mind is to be trained, disciplined, and educated based on Godly principles of righteousness.
The reason why our educational institutions haven't been very effective in turning out upright men and women of strong moral character is simply because the schools do not by earnest effort direct the mind to that which would inspire noble thought. So we turn out educated men and women who are equipped in the practical workings of their profession but lacking in inward rectitude and strength of principle.
The ancient warrior King and a Poet, David, wrote: “ How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law he meditates day and night"(Psalm 1: 1-2). " And you will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and its leaf does not wither and whatever he does prospers."
What does this teach us? The pursuit of excellence, success and prosperity, would depend upon where and how deep we plant our roots.
All of you including your parents are planning for a bright and prosperous future. You have to aim high. You must have a clear vision of what you will achieve. Set your minds on a particular goal and focus your efforts in achieving that goal and making your vision a reality. The Bible says without vision, the people perish. Somewhere along the way there will be times when you will meet failure in the pursuit of your goal. Do not despair. At times you may fail. Many surrender to circumstances because of the fear of failure. The truth is, it's impossible to succeed without failure. You have to take risks and climb out on the limb where the fruit is. You can't live your lives hugging the tree and whine because somebody else is taking the plum. Your ability is what you are capable of doing, your motivation determines what you will do, but it is your attitude that determines how well you will do what you are called to do. The faithful discharge of today's duties is the best preparation for tomorrow's trials.
Given the crisis that our nation is facing today, it is sometimes difficult to have faith that things will turn out for the better, because corruption and evil seem very strong. There is around us the blowing of ill winds. Prices rise, jobs disappear, poverty increases, crime and violence stalk much of the nation. Some could ill afford to go to school, while others quit. The government seems helpless in dealing with the fiscal constraints. I don't want to add to this bleak, discouraging forecast. I would like to look at the brighter side. We should not lose faith.
Your graduation will not end after the commencement exercises are over. You will only be moving towards another milestone, and further on, in your life's journey.
I hope that with God's help you will be able to accomplish your purpose. I hope that after you leave the portals of your school, you will become men and women whom our country and people could be proud of.
Congratulations and may God's abundant Blessings be upon you.
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*ETCS Class, ‘68; NOHS Class, ’72; Central Philippine University, Class ’76; University of the Philippines, Class ’80.
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