The Manila Times Internet Edition | OPINION

You are special. For every 100 that started Grade One, only 66 finished elementary. Of those who finish elementary, only 44 finish high school. And of those 44 who finish high school, only 18 finish college. Only 18 out of 100. Less than one out of every five.

I bring this to your attention to point out two things. First, as I have said: You are special. This brings me to my second point: To whom much is given, much is required. You have today acquired a most potent power: the power of education.

By some estimates, there are 400,000 of you in 2008 that will be graduating from an institute of higher education. Still, only one out of five. As many as 1,600,000 who began Grade One together with you dropped out of this educational journey. And the prosperity and wealth that you create for yourselves and your communities will be the very same wealth that everyone else, including the 1,600,000 who were not able to finish their education, will be depending on. What you do, your success, will likewise be that from which your countrymen will derive their own success.

I make these observations to bring two points: First, that the destinies of nations are not preordained. The second and more important point: The destinies of nations are shaped by what her people do with themselves and with their country. Nations with nothing have been able to create for themselves a future that has become the envy of so many in the world. Nations that were so advanced, the envy of Asia, like us in the 50s, have fallen behind.

The destinies of nations are not preordained, and what happens to nations is very much dependent on what her people do with her. You see therefore that even as you pursue your own personal dreams for yourselves, your activities, your actions will determine what happens with the rest of us.

To whom much is given, much is required. I congratulate you, I wish you well, and enjoin you: Continue to believe in our collective effort and continue to believe in our country, and I hope that you use this great power of education for the betterment of others.

The world has changed
By Sen. Loren Legarda

(Bicol College, March 29, 2008)

Several factors have shaped the broad and almost limitless professional choices that are available to the college graduates of today.

First is globalization. The decision to liberalize trade and break down the tariff walls, first under GATT-UNCTAD and later under the WTO, has expanded the movement of goods and pushed countries into producing for the global market.

The vast frontiers of trade led to intensified travel, surging personal networking, the migration of workers into places where their skills and competencies are urgently needed. Airport lounges are now places for business deals and social contacts.

Capital is suddenly out of its traditional narrow confines. As the tariff walls broke down, so did the financial markets—which are now global in character. One can move investments and enterprises into almost every part of the globe.

Philippine businesses now acquire name food brands in Australia and elsewhere. Our shopping mall magnates are in China, expanding at a frenzied pace. The biggest foreign investor in Guam is a known Pinoy taipan.

The Philippines, too, has been snagging foreign investments in BPO, mining, tourism and the service sector. While the United States and Japan have been the steadiest source of foreign direct investments and overseas development assistance, other countries are just as keen on investing in the Philippines.

The second factor is a technological revolution that has radically altered the way the whole world lives and interacts.

The Internet, the laptop, the cell phone and all the gadgets and tools that have emerged out of this technological revolution have made everything faster and easier: from trading goods, moving capital, social networking, moving people, spreading ideas and ideals.

This is now a world of e-banking, e-commerce, online education, e-travel. Job applications overseas are processed online. A video conference interviews job applicants from other countries, in lieu of the usual face-to-face interview.

These two factors have led to the inexorable rise of the global citizen.

Now, bilateral relations cover the relaxation of job restrictions to accommodate workers from the partner-countries, the transfer of technology and capital, a partnership in a broad range of financial, educational and technical undertakings.

There is no one-dimensional career now. Professionals move from one field to another with the ease of migrant workers spreading their workers’ diasporas into many corners of the globe.

Globalization and technology have radically altered the economic and employment landscape. For your career path, the choices are diverse. You may opt to stick it out here or work as a global citizen.

Be your best
By Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney

(Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, 40th Commencement Exercises, March 29, 2008)

You have invested in yourself throughout your school days, and I am sure you are eager to get jobs and reap the fruits of your labors. As you succeed individually, I hope that you remember what others have done to make your successes possible and that you choose to give back to your family, your community and your country.

For the graduates, I’d like to offer some career advice as you begin the next phase of your life. These are guidelines that have helped me throughout my life and I hope will help you as well. I call these my “keys to success”:

1. Be Your Best. You have unique talents and should never settle for being anything less than your best. Challenge yourself to improve everyday.

2. Be a Player. Make a difference, solve problems, offer ideas. Life is too short to spend all your time sitting on the bench or to wait until you are asked to contribute.

3. Play Fair. Show integrity. Don’t get ahead at the expense of others. You have to live with yourself. Success is only meaningful if earned the right way.

4. Love What You Do. Pick work that makes you happy and you will succeed. If you find joy in what you do, that is what matters. Being happy is far more important than having a big salary or a big title.

5. Be Proud. Take time to celebrate your achievements, both big and small. Starting with today—you have achieved a great milestone. Congratulations. You should be proud of yourself and we, your families, friends and teachers, share your pride.

Ora et labore
By Rosalinda L. Orosa

(St. Scholastica’s College 76th Graduation Exercise)

May I now warmly congratulate you dear graduates and burden you with unsolicited advice. Having reached a significant milestone, you should be absolutely certain about the career you wish to pursue because you will neither succeed nor excel in a field not of your own choosing or for which you are not qualified.

However, be flexible, be willing to compromise, carefully weighing your strengths and weakness. Take risks and challenges, but be cautious. Learn from your mistakes because if you don’t, you are bound to repeat them.

Fear will inevitably confront you. Courage is not the absence of fear. Overcome fear by drawing from your moral and spiritual reserves.

Be open-minded. Don’t bear grudges because grudges blur the vision. Always keep your feet solidly on the ground. Conceit and arrogance hinder growth, learning and development.

The following four D’s—discipline, diligence, dedication and determination—are a tried-and-tested formula for success. How fortunate and privileged you are indeed to have graduated from the best and most prestigious girls’ institution! Serve your family, community, country and above all, God—by living up to its previous legacy of ora et labore. Long live our beloved Alma Mater!

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