Good morning and congratulations to the graduates of St. Jude College class of 2011!

Of course, thank you Mr. Emmanuel Osumo, Dr. Renato Calip, Dr.Teresita Calip, and all the officers and distinguished faculty of St. Jude College for the invitation. I will also take this opportunity to thank the parents,  the titos and titas, lolos and lolas¬¬—and everyone else who took part in helping these young people reach this cumulating period of their education.

Commencement exercises always bring joy to people because aside from seeing young minds go up the stage to get their diplomas, it also marks the beginning of another phase in their lives. So, to the graduates here today, armed with your good education and vision of helping your fellowmen and women, seize this moment and enter new doors of opportunity and be active citizens of this nation.

I am proud to say that this is what makes Filipinos distinct from other cultures, because the close-knit relationship among family members play a pivotal role in ensuring that the right to education is met. In countries like the Philippines, education serves as a fundamental element in breaking the intergenerational poverty cycle and promoting equitable growth that cuts across sectors and class.

I know by now that for the past few years, there has been a shift in the ideals of fresh graduates. From one that is anchored on helping their country to one that is geared towards working abroad and earning higher incomes.  Many of you are probably thinking the same thing—to move out of the country and look for greener pastures. 

Certainly, a degree in nursing, HRM, or business, are very much in demand abroad. However, you must also inculcate in your minds and hearts that this nation needs individuals like you. The challenge is right here—right now.

Our country is constantly baffled by challenges such as corruption and poverty. Many of you might have experienced these challenges at a more personal level—perhaps you have struggled as working students to have extra income or some of you have to live a life without your parents, who are working abroad.

Ito ang dahilan kung bakit hinihimok ko kayo na manatili sa bansa upang sama-sama natin tulungan ang ating kapwa Pilipino na mapabuti ang kanilang mga buhay. Hindi ito madali, pero hindi rin ito imposible.

Come to think of it, you are very lucky because you are able to get a college degree to improve your chances of having a good job and a stable future. This leads me to think whether it will come to a time where all the children from Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte (the poorest municipality in the country with a 97% poverty incidence) will be able to earn a college degree as well. Kung magtutulungan tayo, hindi na nila kailangan maglakad ng nakapaa sa loob ng dalawang oras para lang makapasok sa eskwela.

My reason for sharing this to you is based on my personal experiences and interaction with these people. For the past nine months, I have been going around the country monitoring the implementation of the DSWD’s Convergence Strategy. These trips brought me to the poorest municipalities in the country where I was able to interact with the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya (Philippine Conditional Cash Transfer).

Hearing stories such as a mother having to decide everyday whether her family will get to eat three meals or whether she will send her children to school is just heartbreaking.  But I know this agony will not last long, because seeing your young faces and feeling all the positive energy you exude today gives me hope—which translates to hope for these people as well.

These are simple circumstances at first glance,  but it reflects the reality that our country is hampered by problems such as poverty and inequality. This is why I pose this challenge to everyone—before thinking about going abroad—please take time to explore your options here.

As this new administration seeks to rebuild this nation through concrete anti-corruption and poverty reduction strategies—we need people like you. The children from Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte, who are unable to go to school need you.  The mother from Libon, Albay  needs you so that she does not have to decide between having food on the table or the education of her children.

Let us all remember that education is not only a right that everyone should enjoy. Instead, it is also a mutual responsibility between parents, children, the government, and ordinary citizens like you. We all need to work together in order to secure a better future for our nation. In order for change to happen—we need to live by the change that we envision.

I refer to this situation as a crossroad between the direct path to success in another country or to a more onerous direction that leads to the success of this nation.  You can create your own opportunities—you can serve as leaders who will harness their talent and energy for the betterment of others. Being of service to the people who need the most help is priceless.

Let us not look at poverty as a reason to leave. Rather, let’s look at it as a reason to stay. Why am I saying this? Because if all of fresh graduates like you will have this mentality, then our country will always be left behind.  Most of our fellow Filipinos, the poor in particular, already waited long enough, let’s not let them wait some more. If we really live by the vision of change and development, then there’s no better time to act but NOW.

During my generation, the crossroad that we had to face was whether to be silent or to move together and oust a corrupt dictator. Of course, the obvious choice was to fight for freedom, democracy, and a better future for our children. Seeing you now concretizes that we made the right choice then—no matter how difficult it was. Now, it is your generation’s turn to make a choice as you face the crossroad.

As I have previously mentioned, I pose this challenge for all of you to be our partners in nation-building. This is a good time to renew our promise and align our deepest values and commitments to lend a helping hand to our fellowmen and women—and to our nation as a whole. Playing an active role in rebuilding a nation hampered by poverty and corruption is a rare privilege and a responsibility given only to a few generations and a task that you are now called to fulfill.

The path you will chose to take from now on is a critical juncture in our nation’s future.  This nation needs leaders. Young people like you need to step up. We need your enthusiasm and your imagination. Your willlingness to follow your passion whether they will lead to success or make significant difference in the lives of people in need—or both, is integral at this point in time.

It’s always a pleasant sight to see young people committed to empower others and help them realize their full potential. Having spent my life in Development work and now with government, I have seen how one can make a difference—so can you.

Once you see the products of development and change coming to life, your ideals and notions of change beome a reality. My dear graduates, do not let success distract you from what’s truly important, and do not ever let anything compromise your values and principles.  I urge you to start seeing and doing things a little bit differently. Be empowered and empower others to realize that they, too, can make change a reality.

Do not be afraid to take risks because these will definitely lead to new opportunities. As a nation, under the leadership of President Benigno Aquino III, we are determined to take on the straight path towards change and development.  In line we this, as we travel together, it is our responsibility to make sure  that no one will get left behind.

With your degrees that you learned from this institution, you have everything you need to get started. No more excuses. If you studied nursing, understaffed rural health clinics need your help. You can go and be part of RN Heals Program launced by the Department of Health in partnership with agencies like DOLE and DSWD.

RN Heals deploy registered nurses to the poorest communities who are struggling to get proper health care. Having people like you in that program will ensure that mothers do not have to die giving birth or children do not have to suffer from easily curable diseases.

If you are a business graduate, your innovative ideas and skills will be really helpful in sustainable livelihood training activities. As you dream of putting up your own businesses someday and applying the value chain models you’ve learned in class—maybe  for now you can start small and help a group of women and men  start up  their own microenterprises. Share your talents to others so that they can dream as well. Make these people in need your reasons to be successful.

Right now, 4.6 million Filipinos live in poverty. Make them your reasons for staying in this country. Sleep tonight and dream of change. Wake up tomorrow morning and be that change. Education prepares you  for all the challenges in this world.  For the poor, who have spent their lives in the margins, knowing that people like you are ready to help and dream with them is enough reason to sleep and wake up in the morning with hope.

Every day that you give your best, please make sure that you also give back and contribute to the betterment of this nation. Do not be scared to fail, because it will make you stronger. You will never get tired if you will think about how many people are counting on you for help.

Make a difference in your life and more importantly make a difference in the lives of others. If each of you will embrace this kind of thinking then there is a guaranteed ripple effect—one that will lift families and communities out of poverty, one that will make them safe from threats and natural disasters. Reach people who are in forgotten corners of the country.

Always remember that committed young individuals like you is the strength of this nation. So, good luck, have a great day tomorrow and bright future ahead!

Thank you very much.
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Commencement speech delivered by Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman during St. Jude Commencement Exercises held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on April 10, 2011.