Commencement Speech at National University

President Teddy Ocampo, Chairman Hans Sy, Executive Vice-President RJ Ermita, members of the National University Board of Trustees, members of the Faculty, my dear parents and friends, Class of 2016: GOOD AFTERNOON! It is my honor and distinct pleasure, to be with you on this auspicious occasion. Thank you very much, indeed!

When President Teddy who is also our President at the Rotary Club of Manila, invited me to be your commencement speaker, I asked him what I should talk about. He simply said, “Pare, just inspire the graduates!”. Since then, I’ve been thinking of how I’d be able to do that!

I googled National University and was amazed to learn that Colegio Filipino, later renamed National University, was founded by Don Mariano Fortunato Jhocson on August 1, 1900. That was more than one century, one decade and six years ago! Not so many institutions succeed and last that long.

At the Rotary Club of Manila, we pride ourselves as the first Rotary Club in Asia, founded on June 1, 1919. In fact, we eagerly look forward to celebrating our Club’s centennial anniversary four years from now! But, amazingly enough, NU is 19 years older than The Rotary Club of Manila. Well, that makes my dear friend, President Teddy Ocampo, the incumbent President of two of the oldest and outstanding institutions in our country: the National University and Rotary Club of Manila. But that does not mean that President Teddy is that old! No, he has a long way to go before he becomes a centenarian!

National University has produced an amazing roster of outstanding graduates in different fields of endeavor. Allow me to cite a few of them, beginning with two of the best Presidents the Philippines has ever had. The first was President Carlos P Garcia, law alumnus and eighth placer in the bar examinations of 1923, when the Philippine Law School was still NU’s college of law. He was the architect of the “Filipino First” policy. The second was President Fidel V. Ramos, civil engineering alumnus, who placed eleventh in the board exams, and who is still very much involved in the affairs of government.

And who will be third President from NU? Any volunteer, my dear friends? I sure hope, he or she will come from the NU Class of 2016! As FVR would ask, Kaya ba natin iyan? Kaya!!!

Other notable NU graduates include former Quezon Provincial Governor Raffy Nantes, Cotabato City Mayor Mus Sema, National Artist NVM Gonzalez, Engineer Emilio Ejercito, Sr., the first Sanitary Engineer of the City of Manila and father of former President now Mayor Joseph Estrada. There is also the popular actor and Leading TV personality Joey de Leon, and Outstanding Sports Champions like PBA’s “Demolition Man” Danny Ildefonso, and MVP Bobby Ray Parks. The list is very long, indeed!

Two years ago, the NU Bulldogs won the coveted UAAP Men’s Basketball Championship! Then, just nine days ago, the National University Pep Squad won for the fourth straight year, the overall championship in Cheerdancing Competition! That’s an incredible 4-peat! CONGRATULATIONS, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HOME OF CHAMPIONS!!!

Inspired by NU’s championship achievements, I have therefore decided to speak during the next 12 minutes, on how the National University Class of 2016, can help grow the NU Roster of Champions, and why we need you to do so! But, what is a champion?

A CHAMPION IS ONE WHO WINS THE FIRST PLACE IN A COMPETITION. A CHAMPION IS ONE WHO FIGHTS FOR A WORTHY CAUSE! Champions are those who strive to be the best that they can be, in their chosen field of endeavor! Champions compete with themselves, and win!

Now, Who can become a champion? Only the honor graduates? The scholars? I don’t think so. The best debaters? The plodders? The working students? I’d say all of the above, depending on their passion and determination to become champions! Scholastic excellence helps, but it’s not a guarantee for success! Having taught in four universities, namely, MLQU, Pamantasan Ng Maynila, Dela Salle Graduate School of Business, and PUP Open University Graduate Program, for more than thirty years now, I can attest to the fact that many of the highly successful entrepreneurs, professionals, businessmen and government leaders, were average students?

So, what are some common traits of champions? Let me briefly cite eight of them.

FIRST OF ALL: Champions have a clear and definite VISION for their future. They know their mission in life, which they pursue relentlessly. Champions never waver; they are determined to attain their dreams. They adapt to changing situations without losing sight of their ultimate goal.

SECOND of all: Champions BELIEVE in themselves and in their God. They do not allow themselves do be distracted by naysayers who tell them all the reasons why they won’t succeed in life. Their strong faith gives them strength to carry on.

Peping Francia was one of the average students I had, in my earlier years of teaching at MLQUniversity. We were neighbors, so I know that he came from a poor family. But he believed in what he could accomplish with God’s help. Despite all odds, he worked very hard and pursued his dream to become a chemical engineer and businessman. Peping is now one of the most successful citizens of Calumpit, Bulacan, our hometown, and together with his wife Letty, an acknowledged leader of the Couples for Christ Movement!

Third of all: Champions KEEP ON LEARNING AND IMPROVING THEMSELVES! They read and read, train and train, practice and practice pa more! They know that to learn is to grow. Instead of running away from challenges, champions face them squarely. Like a kite which soars high, lifted by opposing winds, Champions see opportunities when faced with challenges, and exploit them.

FOURTH: Champions are KIND to themselves and others. They have very POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND OUTLOOK IN LIFE. Remember this, my dear graduates. “THE YOU YOU SEE, IS THE YOU YOU WILL BE!” Dream, and dream big dreams. Enjoy life. Always be enthusiastic in everything you do. Champions know that nothing worthwhile was ever accomplished by people who lacked enthusiasm and who did not enjoy what he or she was doing. Life is sometimes unfair! But attitude makes the difference between winning and losing.

FIFTH: Champions WILLINGLY SACRIFICE AND PAY THE PRICE to achieve their goals. They know that success does not depend on one’s PRESENT STATION in life. I recall our family’s vicissitudes when my father fell seriously ill before my high school graduation. Three of my siblings had to temporarily stop schooling. Our family sacrificed, struggled, suffered, and endured together.

When on one occasion, l overspent my limited allowance on a movie date, I had to walk all the way from Tondo where I lived, to MLQU in Quiapo, and back. That was on a Friday and I only had enough money left to pay the bus fare to Calumpit to get my next week’s allowance. My girlfriend who became my wife, had a big sympathetic laugh when I later told her what I did for love! The following week, I looked for a job and ended up working at Union Chemicals Aji-no-moto in day or night shifts, while studying in the afternoon and evening. The sacrifices eventually paid off.

SIXTH: CHAMPIONS UPHOLD HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS IN THEIR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND PROFESSIONAL LIVES. They know that what matters most in the end is not how much money you have in the bank, the kind of house you live in, nor the cars you drive, but whether or not you have lived with real integrity. In Rotary, we call it the FOUR WAY TEST IN THE THINGS WE THINK, SAY OR DO: 1.) Is it the truth? 2.) Is it fair to all concerned? 3.) Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 4.) Will it be beneficial to all concerned? Never allow corruption to erode your values, and destroy your reputation.

SEVENTH: Champions ARE NOT AFRAID TO FAIL! They take calculated risks. They never, never give up. They learn from their mistakes, innovate and make adjustments along the way.

Let me share with you the inspiring story of a twelve year old boy who left his land of birth to escape poverty. Joining his father in Manila, they started a sari sari store which gradually flourished until World War ll erupted. Their store was burned and everything they owned was destroyed. Disheartened, the father went back to China, but his son was not to be deterred. He enrolled himself in school, learned English, changed his legal name, opened a shoe store, and worked day and night. He suffered a series of failures but he stood back every single time, stronger and more determined. He persevered until ultimately, he became the most outstanding Filipino entrepreneur of his time, and one of the richest in the world according to Forbes Magazine. His family owns the biggest bank in the Philippines, more than forty huge malls, real estate development and numerous other ventures, and majority shares in one of the best and oldest educational institutions in the Philippines, National University.

By now, I’m sure you already know who I’m referring to. It’s none other than the business magnate, and philanthropist, Mr. Henry Sy, Sr., father of Chairman Hans Sy, and also a Manila Rotarian. I believe that through the National University, the Sy family, together with the Jhocson-Ocampos would like to develop many more Filipino champions from among our youth!

FINALLY, NUMBER EIGHT: Champions are a grateful lot. They say “thank you very much” to those who help them. They don’t forget their roots. They pay back. Champions know that success is sweet and meaningful only if it is shared with others, especially the less fortunate.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is significant that your commencement exercise is being held during the thanksgiving month of November. If you haven’t done so, embrace your parents, after the program and thank them with all your heart, for all the sacrifices they made for you. Serve them well because if I may paraphrase a passage from the Bible, those who love and serve their parents well will be doubly blessed and will have a long, happy life. Class of 2017, let us give a big round of thank you applause to your parents! (Pause).

And how about another round of applause for your teachers and for your beloved Alma Mater? Thank you very much.

THE NEXT QUESTION THAT BEGS TO BE ASKED IS: WHY DO WE NEED CHAMPIONS? My friends, Let me tell you why! Some fifty years ago, our beloved Philippines was the second most progressive nation in Asia! Today other countries who used to look up to us, have left us behind! Like Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and now even Vietnam. Farm technologists from these countries studied at Los Banos, Laguna. Nowadays, we have to import millions of tons of rice from Vietnam and Thailand, for our people to have enough to eat! About half of our people in a recent survey rated themselves poor. Change is starting to happen, but no one leader can do it alone! That, my dear friends, is why we need champions!

We need champions who genuinely care for our people and love our country. Champions who will create more jobs, produce enough food for our people, provide access to quality and affordable healthcare. Champions who can help solve our traffic problems, stop illegal drugs, promote peace and countryside development. Our country badly needs more champions who will help ensure equitable national progress and build a country we truly deserve!!! This is the challenge we face as a people; that is the goal we must all pursue as a Team of Champions!

SO, LET ME ASK YOU, NU CLASS OF 2016: ARE YOU READY TO BECOME CHAMPIONS? ARE YOU READY AND WILLING TO HELP BUILD A PHILIPPINES THAT WE CAN BE TRULY PROUD OF? ARE YOUR READY TO BE IN THE TEAM OF CHAMPIONS THAT WILL BUILD A FILIPINO NATION THAT ALL OTHER NATIONS WILL RESPECT?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS MABUHAY ANG NU CLASS OF 2016!!! MABUHAY ANG NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HOME OF CHAMPIONS!!! MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!!! MARAMING SALAMAT PO!!!