Yesterday morning, I spoke before the graduating students of Olingan Elementary School. I finished my elementary studies there in 1976. Thursday afternoon, I was graduation speaker of the Alberto Q. Ubay Memorial Agro-Tech Science High School (formerly Dipolog School of Fisheries). I finished my secondary education there in 1980 before I enrolled at the Ateneo de Zamboanga in Zamboanga City.
Principals and members of the Parents-Teachers Community Association of these two schools were the ones that invited me as graduation speaker. Well, it was a great honor and privilege on my part that of the hundreds of graduates of these institutions, I was chosen as this year's commencement exercise speaker.
It was an emotional homecoming, as I was also able to visit my elderly mother in my hometown.
My speeches centered on poverty, education and success, and parting. I shared my experience in struggling against and overcoming poverty before becoming successful in my chosen profession. By the way, the Department of Education issued a memorandum that said that this year's commencement exercises theme is, “Student Empowerment Towards Greater Productivity” (“Lakas ng Kabataan Tungo sa Maunlad na Kinabukasan”).
I recalled my younger years in the two institutions when I had to walk several kilometers from our house in going to school. But I did not pass by rivers or mountains like what lawyer Eddie Barrita went through in his elementary days in his hometown in Cabadiangan, Liloan. Nagtiniil pa gayod intawon si Attorney Barrita kay walay ikapalit og sapatos ang iyang mga ginikanan.
I gave the students a view on the state of public education in the country. It is sad to note that thousands of elementary and secondary students quit school because of poverty. This is a perennial problem, especially in the rural areas. The result of a recent Social Weather Station survey that showed that many Filipinos are suffering from hunger could be true. I also imparted to the children the importance of having an education and pursuing a career.
I gave the students an insight on what college life is all about and the challenges they face in the pursuit of their dreams and aspirations. I encouraged them to face these new challenges in life despite the limited financial resources of their parents.
Most of the graduates are from poor families. Like me, they also rely on farming and fishing. I learned that some of them are sons and daughters of my high school classmates and batch mates who could not continue their college education because of poverty.
I urged the students to remember this admonition: “Poverty is not a hindrance to success” (“Ang kawad-on dili babag sa kalampusan”).
Thanks to Cebu City Councilor Ed Labella for providing me with some facts and figures on the state of public education that I incorporated in my speech.
