Advice to graduates

Yesterday, I delivered the commencement address at the graduation rites of the Naga College Foundation on its 66th anniversary in Naga City and was deeply moved by the warm reception of the members of the Board of Trustees, faculty, administration, staff, students, parents and relatives who gathered to witness the awarding of diplomas to 360 new degree holders from the College of Commerce, Computer Studies, Criminal Justice Education, Engineering and Technology, Liberal Arts and Education, Nursing and Health Sciences, Midwifery and Graduate School.

It was my first time to address graduates in a commencement program so my visit to Naga City was a major milestone in my life. The Naga College Foundation was established by Dr. Melchor Villanueva, a public school teacher who worked his way to finish his education and put up a school to support financially deprived students. To this day, the Foundation continues to preserve the legacy of its founder in upholding his vision of providing outstanding transformative and affordable education with the core values of quality, excellence, service and truth.

Beyond class instruction, the Foundation has also made its mark in spearheading several projects that impact on the community. The MELCHOR program of Mobilizing Environmental Management, Livelihood, Capability Program for Responsible Nation-Building is worth nothing. The “Tabang Kabuhayan” livelihood project is something that I identify with closely as the organization I am affiliated with, Kaunlaran Sa Kabuhayan Microcredit Corp., is similarly involved in providing livelihood opportunities for the less fortunate.

I also find identity with the Foundation in my participation in sports as the school’s basketball varsity, called the Tigers, has a rich championship tradition with coach Wesley Villanueva. Last year, the Tigers nipped Ateneo de Naga, 74-73, to make it to the best-of-three Naga City Charter Intercollegiate finals which went the distance. The Tigers’ 97-75 win over University of Nueva Caceres in Game 3 was as inspiring as it was decisive. The key Tigers were Leonel Barde, Arnaldo Magalong and Nigerian center Christopher Okpe.

At the helm of the Foundation is Ms. Marguerite Michelle Padua-Hornby, president. The Foundation now has more than 30,000 alumni since its establishment in 1947. One of its most successful alumni is San Miguel Brewery president Roberto Huang who now sits in the school’s Board of Trustees. Huang speaks highly of his alma mater which, in his own words, turned his life around. He graduated salutatorian from the Foundation high school and went on to earn an engineering degree at Mapua. Huang affirms that if not for Naga College Foundation, he wouldn’t have found the motivation and drive to succeed.

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In my speech, I shared 10 points of advice with the graduates.

First, consider graduation not an end but a beginning, look to the past in order to build for the future. Second, always open your mind to learning, education isn’t confined to the classroom as experience is a great teacher, too. Third, don’t restrict yourself to looking for job opportunities related to your course, the important thing is to enjoy what you’re doing, to be passionate in your work. Fourth, never compromise your principles, you will never go wrong if you stick to what is right, if you’re honest, ethical and sincere. Fifth, find inspiration and guidance in prayer, success should never cloud one’s mind into thinking that God is no longer relevant in life.

Sixth, think beyond Naga, beyond Camarines Sur, beyond the Philippines, don’t confine yourself to what you see, challenge yourself to see what isn’t easily seen, believe in yourself as a game-changer. Seventh, show respect to your elders, peers and subordinates anywhere and everywhere you go – at home, in the workplace and in the community. Eighth, reach for the stars, follow a career path, set a timetable for your development and establish goals so that you can track your progress. Ninth, seek advice from those who care and be humble, humility is a virtue that is life-transforming. Finally, always remember where your heart is because it will eventually lead you home, where you come from because home is where the heart is and for the graduates, home will always be the Naga College Foundation.

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Statistics show that in our country, a million students graduate from college every year yet only 30 to 40 percent find employment after graduation, indicating either a mismatch between skills learned in school and jobs or lack of work opportunities caused by a slow-moving economy. Of our total population of 81.9 million from five years old and up, only 10.1 percent are college graduates.

The statistics give us both good and bad news. The good news is this year’s graduates now belong to the elite 10.1 percent of our population with college degrees. The bad news is about 60 to 70 percent may not find immediate employment. But there is hope. Our country is now experiencing an economic growth spurt that in the third quarter last year, reflected Southeast Asia’s most dramatic surge with a 7.1 percent increase in gross domestic product. Our peso is Asia’s best performing currency and the indicators show positive signs that we will be able to sustain our high level of performance as the diamond of our region.

We are enjoying a property boom, an expansion in consumer spending, rebounding exports, steady inflow of remittances from overseas Filipino workers, a revitalized agricultural sector, good governance, manageable inflation and renewed global confidence despite a world-wide economic slowdown. The challenge is for our educational institutions to read the trends of enterprise development clearly and encourage students to enrol in courses that are relevant and contributory to the national effort.