A WORLD OF CHALLENGE

BY: JOHNNY ANTILLON

QUESTIONS:
1. WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD “WORLD” WHAT COMES IN YOUR MIND?
2. WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED WORLD WHICH YOU WANT TO LIVE?

BIOGRAPHY:

NAME: JUAN “JOHNNY” BLANCO ANTILLON

 HE WAS AN ORPHAN TO A CUBAN FATHER

WHO DIED FROM THE WORLD WAR II.
 1936-2010
 TO SUSTAIN HIS STUDIES, HE SOLD FISH
DOOR-TO-DOOR, TRAVELLING ON FOOT
BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN CAVITE AND
MANILA.
 HE GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES DILIMAN, AND
WENT ON TO PURSUE LAW BUT DIDN’T FINISH.

WHY JOHNNY’S WORDS TRANSCEND GENERATIONS

As a representative of the Philippines, Antillon spoke candidly
of his third world nation’s struggles post-war that he denounced
for its “uselessness”.

SPEECH:

“Usually when I discuss with people the kind of world we want, they astonish me by
describing a Utopia without cares. As for me, I like this world we have. I like living in this
century so full of strivings and plans that I feel deeply that I am part of a wonderful and
exciting experiment. I like the suspense that gives to life its only true zest. Let me have this
world with dreams for me to dream and problems for me to solve. If I had lived before the A-
and H-bombs I might be less optimistic of the future. But today, I have great hope that I shall
enjoy peace for I feel deeply that no nation will start a war that none can survive. I believe
that this world we have deserves a vote of confidence. With its dirt and cleanness, its ups
and downs, and its total unexpectedness, it has given through variety, more pleasure than
pain. Whatever else it maybe, this particular century is still the broadest, the most exciting,
the most promising of all. May this world always be as challenging as it is. May it always
have something to solve, patch or mend. But above all may this world never be a soft place,
for soft people with soft heads. For I want a world where a man, by facing his troubles, can
prove his manhood. With a world of such challenge and scope, our lives will never be
complacent, but they will certainly be worth living."