Hopefully today, you can pretend to be my younger self.

You don’t have to

listen to me. But you don’t have any choice so listen to me even if you don’t
want to listen me. Are you ready to listen, yo, bro?
Sa mga ganitong okasyon, halos lahat ng speaker sasabihin sa inyo,
“Mangarap kayo. Dream. Dream big. Dream bigger dreams. Libre lang ang
mangarap kaya mangarap ka.”
Oo, libre ang mangarap. Pero hindi libre ang pag-abot sa pangarap. Kung
libre ang pangarap, dapat lahat tayo successful na.
In my hands are copies of one of my best-selling books, Paano Maging
Successful. Sino po ang may gusto ng librong ito? Iniisip ko kung ano’ng
mangyayari kapag inihagis ko ito. (Throw the books)
Walang taong tulog ang nakukuha ang gusto nila. Kung gusto mong masalo
ang biyayang ihahagis sa ‘yo ng buhay na ito, dapat gising ka. Dapat nandun
ka. Dapat ready ka. Wag kang ngumanga. Wag kang tatanga-tanga. Kung
hindi, tamaan ka. At ang bagay na inaasam-asam mo, masasalo ng ibang tao.
Many people may have the will to reach for their dream. But only a few are
willing to do what it takes to make it. So listen. Your willingness to succeed is
more important than your will to make it.
Life will throw random things at you. Some are good. Some are bad. If you are
not around, how can you possibly catch any of them?
Success only happens when you are around. And people who are present are
the only ones who get the present (Throw a shit toy from Blue Magic)
Life will throw some S-H-I-T on you. But it’s not about what life throws at you.
It’s about how you respond to whatever life throws at you.
And if life should throw some S-H-I-T on you, catch it, then clean up, and
prepare for another stuff to catch. Maybe this time, it’s not S-H-I-T you will
catch anymore.
Life will never run out of good and bad stuff waiting for you. So you should not
stop trying to catch the next one.
Sa ganitong okasyon, malamang sasabihin ng speaker: Follow your dream. I
don’t believe in that. Maraming mga tao sinundan ang pangarap nila pero
hindi sila nagtagumpay. Bakit?
Mali ang pangarap.
May sikreto ako. Atin-atin lang ha. Dati gusto kong mag-artista. Kaso hindi
pala pwedeng gwapo lang. Ayun, tinamad na ako. Hindi ko na tinuloy. Kaya
kahit anong tawag sa akin ng viva, hindi ko na sinagot. one time, sinagot ko.
Sabi sa phone, ready ka na bang mag-trabaho sa viva? Sabi ko, “Sige po.”
Pagdating ko sa studio, hindi ako nilagyan ng make up. walang nag-aasikaso
sa akin. dumating yung director. “Lloyd, Lloyd, Lloyd, finally, you’re here.
Halika nga. Paki-buhat naman nung limang galong tubig.” Viva Mineral Water
pala.
Marami sa inyo dati gustong maging Snow White, Cinderella, Wonder
Woman. Kung titingnan mo siya ngayon, tingnan mo katabi mo, di mo
maiwasang magtanong, “Ano’ng nangyari at bakit nagkaganon?” Dati gusto
mong maging Iron Man. Ngayon, mukha ka nang magbabakal.
Do not follow your dream. Instead, follow me on Twitter. No. I mean do not
follow your dream. Follow your playful heart. Ang tamang pangarap
nararamdaman ng puso hindi idinidikta ng kung kani-kaninong nguso.
Noong bata pa ako, siguro mga two years ago, I mean two decades ago,
pangarap kong maging jeepney driver. Nag-fail ako. Di nagkatotoo. Di ko na-
achieve ang pangarap ko.
Sabi ko, iba na lang. Naisip ko, magpari kaya ako. Papasok na sana ako sa
seminaryo nang ma-realize ko, kapag may hitsura ka mahirap mag-pari.
Ayun, nag-fail na naman ako.
17 years ago, sabi ko professional musician na lang. I was about to enroll in
UST Conservatory of Music because my parents were so conservative. Then
naalala ko, mahirap lang kami. Walang pambayad ng tuition. Ayun, yung
pangarap kong maging UST Growling Tiger, napunta ako sa PUP, naging
Hello Kitty. Nag-fail na naman ako.
But 17 years later, last year, nailabas ko ang kauna-unahang CD commercial
album ko. (Throw one CD away)
What did I learn? Some dreams take time. Kung hindi mo makuha ngayon
ang pangarap mo, pero committed ka na makuha ito, darating ang oras na
makukuha mo ito.
Your dream will find its way when your heart is set to achieve it.
At age 17, I took yet another strange decision. I wanted to be an engineer.
Kaso hindi rin natuloy. Ni hindi nga ako nag-board. Bakit? Wala lang. Ayaw ko
kaseng maging topnotcher. I gave chance to others. Saka limang taon na
akong bored na bored, tapos magbo-board pa?
I remember back in the days, my classmates were working so hard because
some of them were running for cum laude. One night, guess what? I found an
easier way. Instead of running for cum laude, I ran away from it. Very easy.
No maintaining grade necessary.
Before reaching the age of 24, I didn’t know what I should do with my life. I
knew I wanted to be something. I knew I wanted to be someone. I knew I had
to prove something to some people. But no one would be around to tell me
how. Or maybe, there were some people around. I just didn’t bother to ask.
I failed many, many times before in my life. And I can’t even describe the pain,
disappointment, and frustration that went along with my failures.
Ilang beses din akong umiyak. Minsan nga umiiyak ako habang tumatawa.
Yung parang konting-konti na lang baliw ka na.
But then, I realized one important lesson in life: Failure is not the enemy of
success. It doesn’t tell you what works. But sure it tells you what doesn’t work.
Knowing what doesn’t work eventually introduces you to what works. And
when you know what works, that is success.
And just as how success could define some people, failure could also define
who you are. It’s what you do when you fail that builds your stage for success.
In college, I took Electronics and Communications Engineering. Hindi ko gusto
pero yun ang suggestion ng magaling kong panganay na kapatid. Sino’ng
mga panganay dito? Taas-kamay. O, pakialamera yang mga ‘yan.
Dati kapag fourth year high school ka na, college na ang kasunod. Hindi pa
dati nauuso yang K9 na ‘yan. Wala pa dati.
Ha? K-12 na pala. Nag-upgrade na sila.
Tinanong ako. Sabi ng kapatid ko, “Ano’ng kukunin mo sa college?” Sumagot
ako. Sabi ko, “Ano’ng kukunin ko maliban sa allowance?” Sabi ko gusto kong
mag-Mass Comm. Sabi n’ya, “Mass Comm? Nakapa-competitive na kurso.
That is so antagonistically, emulously, competitive!” Sabi ko, “Spell.”
Sabi n’ya, “Basta. Alam mo na ‘yun. Hindi ka nag-iisip eh. Simpleng logic lang
‘yan.” Sabi ko, “Logic? Ano ‘yun?” Sabi nya, “Logic. Magpapakahirap ka na rin
lang sa college, bakit hindi mo kunin yung pinakamahirap?”
Napaisip ako. Sabi ko, “OMG! What a piece of wisdom!”
E di engineering yung kinuha ko. Nung nasa engineering na ako at
nahihirapan na ako, minsan naiiyak na ako. Sabi ko, “Lord, ate ko dapat ang
nandito e. Idea nya ‘to. Ako ang nagpapakahirap.”
E sa engineering pa naman kapag ang mga Math subjects nagkasabay-
sabay, mababaliw ka talaga. One time, nagkasabay-sabay yung subject na
Calculus, Lacto Bacillus, Cumulus, Nimbus. Ayun, hilo ako.
Hindi lahat ng pangarap ay tamang pangarap para sa ‘yo. E pano malalaman
kung tama ang pangarap mo? Kung nahihirapan at napapagod ka physically
pero masaya at fulfilled ka naman spiritually. Kapag stress ka pero happy ka,
nasa tamang pangarap ka. Kapag stress ka pero depress ka, nasa maling
pangarap ka.
Malamanag sa ganitong okasyon, madalas ninyong marinig. “Don’t give up.”
“Wag kang susuko.” “Laban lang.”
Today, I say, “Give up.” If you want to level up, first, you must give up.
Starting tomorrow, you are not students anymore, at least academically
speaking. Embrace the idea that the world outside is not as forgiving as what
you wish it to be. Your school has been your shield for years. But it can no
longer protect you when you leave.
Give up on your former self. Embrace your brand new self, hopefully so ready,
so enthusiastic, so brave to face the future.
I gave up on my former self long ago. Iniwan ko yung dating ako. Nag-evolve
ako. Dati kase pangit ako. Ayun, tingnan mo naman ngayon. (Anticipate
laughter)
Hindi ko na kailangang i-compare ang sarili ko sa iba dahil ang alam ko hindi
ako mas magaling sa kanila pero alam ko rin na hindi rin sila mas magaling sa
akin. Ang alam ko, magkaiba kami.
I gave up the things that make my life easy because they don’t prepare me for
anything, they don’t strengthen me, they don’t challenge me, they don’t bring
out the better version of me.
An easy life will never make you a better person. And get this: When you
understand your suffering, pain will never be an issue.
Just like many normal people, I’m allergic to Mathematics. Sino rito yung
kagaya ko? Allergic sa Math?
Saan ba kase ginagamit ‘yan mga equation na ‘yan?
Hindi ka naman sasakay sa jeep tapos magbabayad ka at sasabihin mo sa
driver, “Manong, bayad po, 4x plus 3y po yan.” Magulat ka sumagot yung
driver, “x is equal to the 4th power raise to negative five divided by the square
root nine multiplied.” “Manong, ang galing mo. San ka nag-aral?” “STI.” “Bakit
driver ka na?” “Drop out.”
Sa school, itinuro sa amin na gamitin ang displacement method. What is
displacement method? Anyone?
If you don’t know, pretend. It is a formula na ginagamit para masukat ang
weight ng isang solid na bagay base sa sukat ng tubig na natapon.
Noong minsang umulan sa amin, nag-panic ang nanay. Sabi niya, “Anak
tumataas na ang tubig. Bumabaha na. Umalis na tayo.”
Sabi ko, “Mom, can you please wait a second. I’m still computing. According
to my computation, alas-10 pa ng gabi tataas ang tubig nang hanggang leeg.
Ala-6 pa lang oh. Relax. Excited lang pumila para sa relief goods?”
Sabi niya, “Sure ka ba sa computation mo?” I said, “Come on, Mom. Trust me.
I’m your son!” Bumulong siya, “Yun na nga e. Anak kita at kilala kita kaya ako
nagdududa.”
That incident almost killed us. Mali yung computation ko. Alas-8 pa lang
hanggang leeg na yung tubig.
There are many things in life that you won’t get right the first time. But you
don’t have to get everything right, right away. Whatever journey you take, you
will have to fail at some point. That’s okey.
Kung sa tingin ninyo natapos na ang mga exam sa buhay nyo you’re wrong.
Hindi dahil natapos na kayo sa school, tapos na rin ang exam.
Sa susunod na kabanata ng buhay ninyo, mas maraming exam na
naghihintay sa inyo. Ang pinagkaiba lang, sa labas wala nang prof na
nagbibigay ng grade at wala ng parents na susugod sa school para ipaglaban
kayo o ipakiusap na ipasa kayo. Pero ang kalidad ng buhay ninyo ang
magsasabi kung pasado or bagsak kayo.
But the good news is, you are your own prof now. You can choose to give
yourself a perfect score even if all your answers are wrong. Your are your prof
anyway.
You can choose to teach yourself or just be content with what you know. You
can choose to give yourself an easy exam with your notes open during the
exam or challenge yourself with impossible questions, don’t answer them and
still get a perfect score.
You can choose to attend your own class or dismiss it because you are busy
Facebooking, Twittering, and Instagramming.
Graduates, you are not an ornament of your generation. You are not born just
to accept everything that is presented to you by the previous generation. You
can’t be afraid. Well, be afraid but fight anyway. Never allow yourselves to be
taken advantage by anyone in the position of power.
You may be young but you are not stupid. But not all. May mga exempted.
Once you leave this institution, you can choose to create a society that you
can call your own, a place where you are free to dream and fail and dream
and fail again and dream and hopefully eventually succeed.
Ang mundong naghihintay sa inyo ay mundong kami ang gumawa. Ginawa
namin para sa amin dahil akala namin kami na ang last generation. Kaya
kinalbo namin ang mga bundok. Kaya nagmina kami nang sobra-sobra.
Kaya pinuno namin ng lambat at fish pens ang Laguna Lake. Na-bored kami
sa napaka-plain na background ng Luneta kaya nilagyan na rin namin ng
photobomber background ni Rizal sa Luneta. Kaya “ipinamigay” na namin ang
West Philippine Sea sa China.
Ilang taon naming pinabayaan ang bawat isa kaya lumaganap ang droga.
Paulit-ulit naming ibinoto ang mga politikong trapo. May mga artistang
tumakbo at nanalo. May mga artistang natalo pero na-appoint pa rin sa
pwesto. May mga pulitikong nagkaroon ng wheelchair dahil nalumpo at may
kaso. Hinayaan namin ang mga korporasyong maging ganid at abusado.
Ok lang ang six months contractual na trabaho basta kami ay i-renew ninyo.
Hinayaan namin ang mga taong-gobyernong magnegosyo gamit ang buwis
na pinaghihirapan ng mga magulang ninyo. Sobrang naging busy kami sa
paghahanda sa katapusan ng mundo na hindi namin naisip na darating kayo.
Noong 1999, nagunaw na ang mundo. Nagunaw uli ito noong 2012. Malay ba
namin na false alarm lang ang lahat nang ito. At darating pa pala ang
generation ninyo.
We made the Philippines you have today according to our own liking. We
designed it for ourselves so we can enjoy it. We made everything about us,
about our generation. And chances are, you won’t fit well in our design.
So my advice is for you to create your own path. Together, create your own
collective dreamed society. Together, set your own standard higher than ours
that even when you fail to reach it, it’s still be as high as our low standard.
Create your own container. Or better yet, be your own container.
Besides, your age is just an idea. Success knows no age. There are people
who are 59 but are still young because they never learned anything, still failing
and making a lot of similar mistakes at age 65.
There are people who are 18 but are already old because they have already
found their life’s meaning and they discovered their place in this world.
Don’t be afraid if we will not approve of your choices because the truth is you
don’t owe us anything. You can be a girl or a boy regardless if you were born
a girl or a boy.
You don’t owe this school anything except of course kung hindi n’yo pa tapos
bayaran ang tuition at miscellaneous fees n’yo.
You don’t owe your parents anything for they only sent you to school because
they love you. You don’t owe your teachers anything for they just performed
their mission to teach and prepare you for what’s coming.
So, don’t be obliged to pay us back. But please magbigay naman kayo kung
meron na.
But your real obligation now is to take good care of yourself and work with the
men and women of your generation.
Make that promise to yourself that one day, you will be the best self you can
ever be.
Look after each other for you only have your generation to understand you.
The previous generations don’t understand, “Sup. TYVM. OTW LOL ROTF
ABT PIX in your FB. BTW BRB. TTYL, K? OMG. NVM! GTG. BB.”
Don’t expect us to understand your unique linguistic pattern, your unique way
of highly sophisticated, intelligent research method otherwise known as
Googling, your unique way of guarding your boyfriend or girlfriend by stealing
and secretly keeping his or her password.
Just like your parents, I am also incredibly proud of what you have come to
take home today. Yeah, an empty piece of paper called “Diploma.”
That piece of paper is important. But diplomas do fade. Medals get rusty.
Certificates get old.
On the other hand, the wonderful memories and experiences and friendships
you made here will last long—perhaps long enough that you can take them off
the shelves of your mind when you feel lost, afraid, disappointed.
Your achievement today may be forgotten soon before you can even land
your first job simply because your achievement is nothing but a recognition of
what you have become. It’s never an assurance of what you will become.
The truth is, the world does remember no cum laude, no valedictorian, no best
in spelling, no best in writing.
It only remembers those who have made an impact on the lives of the people
they serve. Hopefully, you will serve humanity to the best of your ability.
Your future is yours to create. It is yours to design. It is yours to embrace. We
had our time. And our time is almost over.
To all parents who are present here today, and this is important, be ready to
provide temporary shelter and minimum wage to your children. Their first day
of “non-working holidays” starts tomorrow.
Wala yatang maraming available na trabaho so please be a good “employer”
to these “highly qualified” job-seekers. Wala silang pwedeng takbuhan kapag
na-reject ang application nila. So, please be kind. Who knows after five more
years, may trabaho na sila.
Finally, I will tell you one important truth.
Life will not guarantee you of anything. You are not entitled to some automatic
success. Some of you may make it. Some of you may not. Some of you may
stumble and get up. Some of you may stumble and stay on the ground. Some
of you may try one thing and succeed at it. Some of you may try many things
and terribly fail at all of them.
But please know that it only happens because life doesn’t have any obligation
to guarantee your success. It only gives you one assurance—that you can try
to do anything at any time at any place for as long as you can endure.
But if you should move on with your life with kindness, if you keep your faith in
God and in yourself, and if you stay in love in what you do best, amazing
things will come your way.
Lastly, please don’t take your life so seriously. Please ask me why. Ilang
beses ka na bang nagseryoso pero sa huli ikaw ang iniwan at hindi
sineryoso?
Remember I told you about the only two things I remembered from our
speaker on my own graduation? Hopefully, you won’t forget these words
either:
To the graduating class of 2017, congratulations and God bless.
It has been an honor of my life to have been your commencement speaker.
Thank you.
###

“What accounts for success? There is no magic, no mystery, no secret recipe.  Success springs
from values as basic and old-fashioned as being honest and truthful, working hard, playing fair,
setting goals, discipline, and determination to pursue them.

Most of all, success is about passion. Passion to succeed. Passion to compete. Passion for
excellence. Commitment to succeed can overcome poverty. A spirit of purpose can give impetus
to human energy, ambition can set heroic goals and achieve them.

But let me add this - you can't succeed if you're afraid to fail. I've known how to lose - not just
once, but many times.  Boldness to take risks, guts to decide and act - these are strengths. Paano
ka makaka-score, if you don't shoot that ball?

Remember that you can afford to fail because you're young. Successes tell you that you can
attain more successes in the future. But failures tell you that you can survive and move on.

Sabi nga ni JK Rowling: "It's impossible to live without failing at something, unless you've lived
so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all."

Kinakabahan kasi ako pag nakikita kita.

Nung nareceive ko ‘yung invitation para maging guest speaker ngayong araw na ‘to, inisip ko agad
kung anong sasabihin ko sa inyo. Pwede ko kasing i-kwento nalang ‘yung buhay ko para di na ko
mahirapan. Kaya lang, bukod sa hindi naman ako sikat na artista o milyonaryo para ma-inspire kayo
ng sobra sa kung anong nagawa ko na sa buhay ko, eh medyo gasgas na ‘yung ganung style.
 
Kaya naisip ko na i-share nalang sa inyo ‘yung alam kong mas magkakaroon ng silbi sa buhay ‘nyo. Dahil ako
mismo, ito ‘yung ginagawa ko. Kaya graduates, hihiramin ko ang ilang minuto ‘nyo para makinig ng mabuti.
At dahil nasa edad na kayo na nagsisimula na kayong mangarap, ano pa nga bang mas magandang message
ang pwede kong ibigay sa inyo kung hindi tungkol sa pagtupad sa mga pangarap?

Walang masama sa nangangarap. Kaya nga patuloy tayong nabubuhay ay para tuparin ‘yung mga pangarap
natin, di ba? Basta hindi dapat panay “nganga”, para hindi “ngawa” ang resulta. Mas maganda
kung “gagawa” ka, para ang resulta, “magara”.
 
Meron daw limang bagay na importante para matupad ang pangarap, iisa-isahin ko:
 
Number 1: Be specific
Kung mangagarap kayo, gawin ninyong detalyado ang pangarap ‘nyo. Hindi ‘yung parang nag-drawing kayo
sa tubig. Walang nabubuo. Ibig sabihin, kung gusto mong maging doktor, linawin mo: doktor ba ng tao o
doctor ng hayop? Kung gusto mong magka-kotse, anong klaseng kotse? Anong kulay? Anong brand?
Kung sariling negosyo naman, siguraduhin mong legal ‘yan.
 
Number 2: Dapat may target
“Ang pangarap, libre lang. Pero ang pangarap, dapat may deadline.”^ Huwag nyong sundin ‘yung nakasanayan
na ng Pilipino na paraan ng pangangarap.
 
Sasabihin, “paglaki ko, gusto ko maging mayaman!” Ang problema sa ganitong pangarap, ang labo! Sasabihin
mo pag laki mo. Eh kelan naman ‘yun? Eh paano kung hindi ka lumaki? Dapat may timeline, dapat may
schedule. Halimbawa, kung gusto mong magkaroon ng mataas na grade, sabihin mo, “exam na namin sa
Lunes, dapat sa Byernes nakapagreview na ko.” O Kaya naman, “gusto ko pag 25 years old na ko, may sarili
na kong negosyo.” Pero wag naman sana ‘yung ganitong pangarap: “dapat pag 18 na ko, may asawa na ko!”
 
Number 3: Ang pangarap, hindi tinititigan, inaaksyunan!
Sabi ng isang businessman, “Dream Big. Start Small.”# Ibig sabihin, lakihan nyo ang mga pangarap nyo. Pero
simulan nyong buoin ‘yon ng paunti-unti. Dahil walang magic sa pagyaman o pagiging matagumpay ng isang
tao. Pero syempre, hindi nagtatapos ang pangarap sa pag-iimagine lang. Dapat, sasamahan mo ng aksyon.

“Hindi mo na lang sana pinagod ang sarili mo sa pagbuo ng mga pangarap kung hindi ka rin lang
naman pala gagalaw.” Dahil kung ganun rin lang, hiyang hiya naman ang utak mo sa sa katawan
mo!

Tulad ngayon, isang step ang nakumpleto nyo -- ang makapagtapos ng elementarya. Marami
pang susunod na hakbang pagkatapos nito, pero sana, wag kayong tatamarin. Kasi kahit
anong tumbling at flip-top battle ang gawin natin, sa huli, ang pag-aaral pa rin talaga ang susi
para matupad ninyo ang inyong mga pangarap.
Huwag sana ninyong tularan ‘yung isang mama sa nabasa kong libro, na kung kelan sya tumanda at saka sya
nagsisisi. Nagrereklamo kasi sya dahil bukod sa mainit na, ang bigat pa ng pasan nyang papag. Yun kasi ang
trabaho nya, ang maglako ng mga papag.

Sabi nya, “kung alam ko lang na pwersado rin akong magtratrabaho nang ganito, nagsikap na lang sana ako sa
eskwelahan nung bata ako. Parehas lang naman palang nakakapagod. At least, pag nag aral ka, may pag asa
pang magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan at makatulong sa iba.”*

Sabi rin ng author ng librong yon na si Bob Ong: “Humigit-kumulang sampung taon nalang kayo mag-aaral.
Kung hindi kayo magsisikap, mahigit 30 years ng kahirapan ang magiging kapalit. Sobrang lugi, di ba? Pero
ngayong alam nyo na yan, sana naman eh wala na sa inyo ang gugustuhing umiwas pa sa eskwela.” *

Sa mga palakol naman ‘yung grades, wag kayong mag-alala. Dahil hindi lang naman sa grades nasusukat ang
pagkatao. Dahil kung grades lang ang batayan, edi sana lahat ng honor students na ang pinakamayayaman at
matagumpay sa Pilipinas ngayon.

Kaso hindi.

Ang hirap po kasi sa educational system natin ngayon, binabansagan natin ‘yung mga bata base sa kung anong
kakayahan nila sa academics. Kaya nga merong SPED, section 1, row 1, row 2 at syempre row 3.

Ang problema tuloy, kung mahina ‘yung bata, lalong tinatamad. Kasi nga, nakatatak sa isip nya na “Mahina
naman ako, kaya nga ako nasa row 3 eh. Ganun din naman kahit mag-aral pa kong mabuti. Kaya maglalaro
nalang ako hangang gusto ko tapos mangongopya nalang ako!” Kaya minsan, hangang sa paglaki, ganun ‘yung
pagkatao nya, kasi bata pa lang sya, pinaniwala na sya na hangang dun lang sya.

Kaya para sa mga row 3 students, gagawin ko kayong bida kahit ngayon lang, kahit 5 minutes lang.

Lilinawin ko lang: walang masama sa pagiging honor student. Ipagpatuloy nyo yan. At tiyak na malayo ang
mararating ninyo. Para naman sa mga hindi katalinuhan, saludo pa rin ako sa inyo. Kaya sana, huwag kayong
papaapekto sa kung anu mang bansag sa inyo na mahina kayo.

Hindi yun totoo… Tinamad lang kayo!

Malamang, after 20 years, karamihan sa mga nasa row 1 ay magkakaroon ng magagandang trabaho, sa
Pilipinas man o sa ibang bansa. De-kotse. Malaking sahod. ‘yung mga nasa row 2 naman, magta-trabaho
siguro sa gobyerno. Eh anu kayang balita sa mga nasa row 3?

Ano sa palagay nyo? Tambay?

Maniniwala ba kayo na sa isang research na ginawa, ‘yung mga nasa row 3 na yan, eh sila ang magmamay-ari
ng mga kumpanya kung saan nagta-trabaho ‘yung mga nasa row 1?

Alam nyo kung bakit?

Kasi hindi na sila takot mabigo! Eh sa dami ba naman ng exam na binagsak nila eh, halos manhid na sila sa
pagbagsak. At dahil nga sa hindi sila ganun ka-galing, sa ibang bagay nila sinusubukang maging matagumpay!

Kaya sa mga magulang na naririto, huwag po kayong masyadong maging grade conscious sa mga anak ninyo.
Kung may palakol man sa card, imbes na sermunan at pagalitan, dapat mas suportahan n'yo sila.

Higit sa talas ng memory na mangabisa, at bilis ng pagsagot sa flash cards, mas importante pa rin po ang
determinasyon at pagkukusa. “Dahil ang talino, bagamat mahalaga, ay hindi ang tanging panukat sa
tagumpay.”#

Ang kabalikat ng talino ay pagkatao. “‘yung katalinuhan, ituturo lang nyan sa atin kung ano ang dapat gawin,
pero ang pagkatao ang makakapagpagalaw sa atin.”+

Number 4: Huwag mag-shortcut

Madalas kasi, mahilig tayo sa madaliang paraan. Kumbaga sa kape, ‘yung instant, ‘di ba? Gusto natin ‘yung
mabilis na, panalo pa. Kasi ayaw natin matuto sa mahirap at matyagaan na paraan. Pero kailangan, matuto
tayong puntahan ‘yung gusto nating marating sa buhay ng may plano at gabay, para hindi tayo naliligaw sa
inaakala nating shortcut.

Kaya nga di ba, madalas, pag nag-kakamali tayo, anong sinasabi ng matatanda? “Papunta ka palang, pabalik na
ko!” Tapos mamimilosopo si anak, “Eh bakit hindi tayo nagkasalubong?” sabay alis kasi baka
mabatukan. Kaya tuloy, hindi natin naririning na may sagot pala sila sa sinabi natin. Anong sinasabi
nila?

“Papano tayong magkakasalubong…nag-shortcut ka..”

 
Number 5, at ang pinakamahalaga: Ang pangarap, hindi pansarili lang
“Ang tamang bagay daw kahit nasa tamang panahon, wala na ring saysay kapag wala na ‘yung mga tamang tao
sa buhay natin.”*
“Kasi mabalikan mo man ang lugar, hindi mo naman mababalikan ang panahon at pagkakataon na pinalampas
mo para sa mga taong mahalaga sayo.”*

Kaya sa araw-araw na kasama ninyo ang inyong mga magulang, matuto kayong pahalagahan sila.
Aanhin mo ang katuparang ng pangarap mo kung wala ka namang kasamang mag-eenjoy sa lahat ng
pinaghirapan mo? Hindi sapat na naging honor student ka ngayon tapos sasabihin mo “para to kay
Mama at Papa” tapos kinabukasan mag-aasawa. Hindi dapat matapos dun ang pasasalamat sa kanila.

Ang trending kasi ngayon, pag naka-graduate na, o mas malala minsan, nag-aaral pa, nag-aasawa na. Kaso
kadalasan, sa hiwalayan din naman napupunta kasi ang babata pa para sa responsibilidad na mag-kapamilya.
Kaya ang nangyayari, hindi ka na nga nakatulong sa pamilya mo, naging pabigat ka pa.

Sabi nga ng author na si Bob Ong:

“Huwag mag madali sa pag-aasawa. Tatlo, lima , sampung taon sa hinaharap, mag-iiba pa ang
pamantayan mo at maiisip mong hindi pala tamang pumili ng kapareha dahil lang sa kaboses niya si
Justin Bieber o kasing galing nyang mag-flip-top si Abra at si Righteous One. Totoong mas
importante ang kalooban ng tao higit anuman. Sa paglipas ng panahon, maging ang mga crush ng
bayan sa eskwelahan ay magmumukha ring pandesal. Maniwala ka.”*

Patuloy kayong mangarap, at siguraduhin na kasama ang buong pamilya, at ang kagustuhan na makatulong sa
iba - sa binubuo ninyong mga pangarap.

Pero bakit nga ba kailangan pang kasama ang mga magulang nyo sa pangarap ninyo?

Eh madalas naman pinapagalitan lang nila kayo. Malamang nga, may ilan sa inyo ngayon ang hindi maipinta
ang mukha kasi hindi bago ‘yung uniform kasi walang pambili si Nanay o si Tatay kaya nagdadabog. Yan ang
hirap sa maraming anak. ‘yung sigaw lang at sermon ng Nanay nyo ‘yung naririnig nyo, ‘yung pagiging
kuripot lang ng Tatay nyo ‘yung naaalala, ‘yung palo lang nila ‘yung nararamdaman. Pero hindi ninyo nakikita
‘yung sakripisyo at paghihirap ng mga magulang nyo may makain lang kayo, may maibaon, at mapagtapos
kayo ngayon ng elementarya.

Alam nyo ba kung gaano kayo kamahal ng inyong mga magulang?

Pakingan niyong mabuti ang kwentong ito:

Meron isang Ginang na buntis noon. Kabuwanan na nya ng mga panahong ‘yon.Umuulan ng
snow… nagyeyelo ang paligid…winter season.

Isang araw, habang nagmamaneho sya ng kotse pauwi, bigla niyang naramdaman na parang
manganganak na sya.

Ang problema, wala syang kasamang iba sa sasakyan!

So ang nangyari, inihinto ng babae ‘yung kotse, tapos doon na niya ipinanganak ‘yung baby na
pinagbubuntis nya. Pagkatapos nyang mailabas ‘yung baby, hinang-hina sya.

Pero walang tao sa paligid o sasakyan na dumadaan, wala din syang makitang kahit anong tela sa
loob ng sasakyan para mabalutan ang anak nya. Kaya ang ginawa niya, hinubad nya ‘yung lahat ng
suot-suot niya, saka niya ibinalot sa baby nya.

Pagkatapos ng ilang oras, may dumaan na sasakyan na may sakay na mga madre.

Napahinto sila kasi may nakaharang na sasakyan sa daraanan nila. Nang lapitan nila,nakita nila ung
baby -- balot na balot. Tapos ung nanay...walang saplot sa katawan...patay na -- namatay dahil sa
lamig at panghihina.

Kinuha ng mga madre ang sangol at dinala sa kumbento kung saan dito na lumaki ang bata.

Pagkatapos ng sampung taon, sa saktong birthday ng bata, pinagtapat ng madre sa kanya ang
nagyari sa kanyang ina nung araw na makita nila ito. Bilang birthday wish, hiniling nung bata na
puntahan nila ‘yung lugar kung saan sya nakita ng mga madre.

Kaya pinuntahan nila ‘yung lugar.

Winter din nun, kaya umuulan ulit ng snow sa paligid, at malamig na malamig.

Nang makarating na sila sa lugar, itinuro ng madre sa bata ung pwesto ng sasakyan kung san sya at
ang kanyang ina ay nakita.

Biglang bumaba ‘yung bata ng sasakyan. Tapos tumakbo sya ng mabilis papunta sa tinurong tulay ng
madre.. Umiiyak sya habang tumatakbo..

Pagdating niya sa tulay, hinubad niya lahat ng suot-suot niyang damit!

Saka siya sumigaw ng malakas na malakas....!

Sabi nya...

“Maaa-maaaa..!! Ganito ba kalamig ‘yung naramdaman mo nang mamatay ka para sa akin?!”

Kaya mga graduates, gusto ko kayong bigyan ng pagkakataon ngayon na mapasalamatan ang inyong mga
magulang. Pwede bang palakpakan natin sila bilang tanda ng ating pasasalamat? Palapakan po natin ang ating
mga magulang.

Uulitin ko, ang pangarap dapat specific, may target, inaaksyunan, hindi shino-shortcut, at hindi pansarili lang!

Para naman po sa ating mga magulang:

Mali po na ipadala sa napakamahal na private school ang inyong mga anak para sa High School, lalo na kung
ang dahilan nyo lang ay para isipin ng tao na sosyal ang anak ninyo. Tandaan po natin na ang college school
po ang tinatanong sa trabaho, hindi kung saan ka gumraduate noong high school. Ang masakit kasi, ang ganda
ng school nung highschool, tapos titigil sa pag-aaral ng college, 'eh un ang mas importante. Kasi naubos na
‘yung pera sa high school pa lang.

Wag n'yo pong pansinin ‘yung sasabihin ng kapit-bahay nyo.

Maraming tao ang hindi masaya kasi mas iniisip pa nila ‘yung sasabihin ng iba.

I remember nung 1st year high school ako, after the first grading, ako ‘yung naging first honor. Tapos tinanong
ako ng isa sa mga teacher ko, sabi niya, “Ang galing mo naman, ikaw ung nag-first, siguro sa Central ka
gumraduate noh?”

Siguro, kung uso na si Vice Ganda noon, malamang ganto naging sagot ko kay Teacher:

“Pag po ba matalino sa Central agad galing? Di ba pwedeng sa Old san Jose Elementary School?”
 Tandaan po ninyo, wala sa eskwelahan yan, nasa kagustuhan na matuto at magsikap yan! “Dahil ang ating
mga desisyon, at hindi ang ating kondisyon, ang magpapasya ng ating kapalaran.”

Graduates, huwag ninyong alisan ng karapatan ang sarili ninyong mangarap! You become what you think.
Ngayon, kung ikaw mismo hindi mo kayang paniwalaan ang pangarap mo, wala talagang mangyayari, dahil
ikaw na mismo ang nag-alis ng pag-asa sa sarili mo. Kung ikaw mismo hindi naniniwala sa sarili mo, bakit
naman maniniwala sayo ang ibang tao?”

Wag nyong susukuan ang pangarap ninyo, Tandaan nyo na ang “pagsuko ay ang permanenteng solusyon
sa pansamantalang problema. Kaya tuparin nyo ang inyong mga pangarap. obligasyon nyo yan sa
sarili nyo!”*

At dahil sa nasimulan ko na rin lang sa pick-up line ang message ko sa inyo, hayaan nyong tapusin ko ito sa isa
pang pick-up line.

Biogesic ka ba?

(Baket?)

Kasi mawawala na sakit sa ulo ng mga teachers n‘yo.

Congratulations at magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat!

To the teacher in charge and members of the faculty, proud parents, and most
of all, the graduates.  My congratulations.

Kumusta mga graduates? Masaya ba kayo at gagraduate na kyo?

Kumusta mga parents? I’m sure you are likewise happy on your children’s

graduation day. I hope so. 

Can I tell you a story first?

May isang mayaman na matandang lalaki at mayron siyang isang anak na

babae. Gusto sana nya,  bago sya mamatay, ay makasal ang kanyang anak.
Maraming manliligaw, ngunit karaniwan ang habol lamang ay ang kanilang
kayamanan.

Sa kagustuhan ng tatay na makahanap ng karapat dapat na mapapangasawa

ng kanyang anak, nagsagawa sya ng paligsahan para sa mga kalalakihan. Na
kung sino man ang magwawagi ay maaaring pumili sa sumusunod na premyo

 10 milyong piso
 10 hektaryang lupain
 o ang mapangasawa ang nag iisa nyang anak.

Sa araw ng paligsahan, ang daming nagdatingang kalalakihan. May mataba,

may payat, may matangkad, may maliit, may gwapo at may hindi ka-
gwapohan.

Ang paligsahan ay pabilisang lumangoy sa swimming pool. Nagsigawan ang

lahat, excited na. 

But there’s a catch. Ang swimming pool ay puno ng mga buwaya, piranha at
ahas.

Isa isa, biglang nag atrasan ang mga kalalakihan. Ok sana ang premyo pero
mamamatay ka naman.

Sa gitna ng kaguluhan, biglang may isang tumalon. Dali daling naglapitan ang
buwaya at piranha kaya’t mabilis na naglangoy ang lalaki.

To make the story short, nakatawid ang lalaki. Tuwang tuwa ang matanda at
mabilis na nilapitan ang lalaki.

“Pambihirang galing ang iyong ipinamalas. At dahil dyan, maaari kang mamili
kung ano ang gusto mong premyo? ” Halos di makasagot ang lalaki dahil sa
hingal.

“Gusto mo ba ng 10 milyon?”

“Hindi po”, sagot ng lalaki.

“Gusto mo ba ng 10 hektaryang lupa?”

“Hindi po”.

Sa wakas, naisip ng matanda, makakapag asawa na ang anak nya.

“Gusto mo bang pakasalan ang anak ko?”

“Hindi rin po”.

“Teka, hindi ko mainitindihan. Ano ba ang talaga ang gusto mo?”

“Gusto ko lamang po malaman kung sino ang nagtulak sa akin?“

Nakakatuwa but then again, there’s a lesson in that story and it’s related why
you’re here right now? Balikan natin mamya kung bakit.

 When my nanay told me that the teachers were considering me to be the

guest speaker today,  naisip ko agad, bakit ako?

Ang alam ko, ang mga naiimbita lang na guest speaker sa mga graduation
are those who are already successful in life.

Naisip ko, siguro naisip nila successful na ako. But then again, what’s the
definition of being successful?

According to the dictionary – Success is attainment of position, honors,

wealth, goal and the like.

Maybe in a way, I am. Not in being wealthy or having high position, but
because I have found my passion, my mission, my calling – and that is to help
other people in managing their finances.

But before I start with the details, maaari nyo bang itaas ang inyong kanang
kamay? Pagkatapos ay tapikin ang katabi nyo sa kanan at sabihing –
“makinig ka, para maging successful ka din”.

Itaas ang kaliwang kamay, tap the person beside you and say – “oo nga, at
ng maging speaker ka din balang araw”.

Around 22 years ago, kagaya nyo din ako na excited gumising, naligo, nagpa
pogi, pumunta dito kasama ng aking mga magulang dahil sa wakas ay
gagraduate na ako.

Kagaya nyo, anim na taon din akong naglalakad papasok sa school, umulan
man o umaraw. Minsan pa nga, kahit baha.

Pagkatapos ng elementary, nag high school, hoping na makahanap ng

magandang trabaho. Only to realize, hindi pala ganun kadali yun.
 In my line of work, we have survey that says only 10 out of 100 Filipino
Children who graduated elementary school, will graduate from college.

And in the same survey, it says that only 1% or   1 out of 100 will be wealthy
when they reach the age of 60. Nakakalungkot isipin di po ba?

But here’s the good news, you don’t have to be a college graduate to be
successful. But don’t get me wrong, being educated is very important. It’s just
that, education doesn’t always have to come in school.

Kilala nyo ba si Bill Gates? Founder of Microsoft. Steve Jobs, Apple

computer, Iphone, Ipad. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook. All of them didn’t even
finish college.

You might say, eh international naman po yan. We also have counterpart

here in the Philippines.

The founder of Mang Inasal didn’t even finish college, but he’s a billionaire.

Some would even say, malamang ung valedictorian or salutatorian na un.

Maybe! But did you know na mas madami akong kakilala na successful
ngaun, pero di naman sila valedictorian or salutatorian or even honor students
when they graduated?

Raise your right hand and tap the person next to you. “May pag asa ka”.
Raise your left hand and tap the person on your left. “Tama kaya dapat
tayong magsumikap”.

 Let me share you 5 simple tips – 5 secrets on how you can be successful.

1. Always Read. Be hungry for learning. Di mo kailangang pumasok sa eskwela

para lang makapag aral. Di mo kailangan ng bagong libro para lang matuto.
Try to borrow from your friends, cousin, tito at tita. Napakaraming bagay po
ang natutunan ko sa pagbabasa ng kung ano anong libro na di naituro sa
iskwelahan. Sabi nga ni Ernie Baron – Knowledge is Power.
2. Be financially educated. Learn about money. Dapat matutong humawak ng
pera. Hindi puro gastos lang. Matutong mag ipon habang bata. That way,
when you’re earning your own money, you would know something to look
forward to when you grow old. Magkano ba dapat ang itinatabi or iniipon.
 Dapat daw ay nagtatabi tayo ng 20% of whatever we’re earning. Magkano
ang 20%? Kada P10, dapat save mo ung P2. Or kada P100, save mo ung 20.
3. Take Action.  Madami sa atin, alam naman ang dapat gawin pero di
ginagawa. Alam natin na dapat. Pasintabi po sa mga naninigarilyo. Ano ang
nakasulat sa kaha ng sigarilyo? “Government warning  – Smoking is
dangerous to your health”. Ang tawag dun knowledge. Eh bakit patuloy padin
na naninigarilyo? Kasi walang power. Any  amount of knowledge is useless, if
you will not apply it. Alam mo na kailangan mag review para makakuha ng
mataas na grade, but if you will not do it, wala din.
4. Focus on your strengths, develop it and be consistent. In one of the
books I read, karaniwan daw, we focus on weaknesses rather than strength.
Halimbawa, mahina sa math, dun pinapa tutoran. Tama din naman. But did
you know that when we focus more on our strengths, the results will be
tremendous. You may  be good in writing stories, drawing, singing, dancing,
speaking, sports, memorizing, computations, analyzing. So I advise parents to
observe also your children. San ba xa magaling? Then encourage them to do
that more. Help them develop that gift. How do you develop your strengths?
Praktis, praktis, praktis. A famous author noted, for one to become a world
class in whatever you do, practice for 10,000 hours. If you practice 4 hours a
day, and 5days a week – that’s roughly 9 1/2 years.

How do you start? For example, you like writing. Try to write a diary. Write
everything that happens to you daily. Write a blog. If you’re good in singing,
join a choir. Sing in the church.

5. And lastly, look for a good pusher. Remember our story in the beginning?
Why do you think that man wants to know who pushed him in the swimming
pool? Kasi kung hindi dahil sa kanya, di nya malalaman na kaya nya
palang lumangoy ng sobrang bilis. Kung hindi dahil sa kanya, hindi siya
magtatagumpay.

You’re here right now, about to graduate, dahil may tumulak sa inyo?

Tanda nyo ba ung mga pagkakataon na akala mo di ka matututong magsulat

pero natuto ka? Kasi may tumulak sayo.

Tanda nyo ba ung pagkakataon na di ka pa marunong bumasa pero natuto

ka? Kasi may tumulak syo.

Tanda mo din ba na tinatamad kang mag aral, pero ngaun, magtatapos ka

na. Kasi may tumulak syo.
Tanda nyo ba ung mga pagkakataon na sabi mo di ka mangongopya, pero
ginawa mo? Kasi may tumulak syo.

In life, you will encounter a lot of these pushers. Some will push you to do
good. Others will push you to do bad. So you have to be careful. Look for
pushers who will lead you to the right path.

So let me end my long speech with my wish for all of you. May you have
people who will listen and spend time with you, encourage you, believe in you
and Push You in greatness.  May you embrace learning, always taking
action, develop your strengths and may God watch over you. 

Again, congratulations to all of you.

Ilan sa mga larawang kuha nung araw na yun.

I remember the saying “We cannot direct the winds but we can adjust the sails”. I experienced this last year
when Nathan Alarcon and I participated in the JAPI FedEx competition. We had 15 days till the dead line. We
had a load of work to do in school and we had the option to just give up. We did not as we were taught not to
easily give up. We collaborated and in exactly 15 days, we were able to create a business plan that was able
to make it to the finals. My fellow graduates, this proves that what we will be in the future will depend on
what we do with our lives today. We may depend on many other people like our parents and teachers but
at the end of the day, the one who would “adjust the sails” would be us. Doing bad things may hurt your
loved ones but they would haunt you even more. Likewise, doing great things and knowing that you worked
very hard for them makes an achievement even sweeter because you know those are the fruits of your labor.
I feel very fulfilled because I know I worked hard for this and I always aimed for excellence. Getting here was
a bumpy ride but thanks to all the lessons, the guidance, the knowledge and the joy that everyone shared
with me combined with the values I have learned to develop, I was able to reach where I am now.

To my mentors, my sincerest gratitude for helping me become the person I never thought I could be. We just
don’t become competent individuals without a lot of different investments from a lot of people in the school
community. The great teachers of this school have taught us how to be self-motivated active learners and 
productive analytical thinkers. I would like to mention all my past teachers but I know everyone wants me to
finish my speech as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, indulge me as I mention a few: Ms. Rea, Coach Jeff,
Coach Dino, Coach Jenkins, and Coach Jerome, thank you for believing in my skills and talent and for giving
me that little push everytime I seemed to give up; Sir AC, for those times he went with us on our out of town
tournaments  and for  washing our jerseys at the end of the day  so  we could wear it the next day; Ms. Avic
and Ms. Palo, thank you for the encouragement and the support (seeing Ms. Avic cheering for us wildly
during one of our games was simply surreal);  Sir Mar, Sir Humps, Sir Tapuro, Sir Mel, Ms. Aumentado, Ms.
Alducente, thank you for all those training sessions for our Math and Science competitions; Ms. Ababa, thank
you for your patience in helping me finish my PASS (it was a challenge for both of us to finish my paper on
time as I would always be away from school); Ms. Dawn and Sir Jeje, for making me realize that I am one
special person.   Forgive me if I fail to mention some of you, but rest assured that each and everyone of you
occupy a special place in my heart.

To my tormentors, thank you for inspiring me to work harder.  Let me share a secret with you… competition
is such a great motivator.  Kidding aside, I salute you all for your achievements. It was a pleasure to be in the
company of the creme de la creme.  If I could only call up onstage Claire, Scarlett, Abbey, Red, Armina  to
share this moment with me, I would gladly do so.  I feel that I have no greater knowledge than what you
have, but what I may have over you today perhaps is bragging rights which may last one or two hours, a little
longer for my Tita, Grandparents and other relatives, and a  lifetime for my dad and mom.  All awardees
deserved to be here with me, and yes, like me, you deserve an increase in your allowance, too. To my closest
friends who have regarded me as a mild case of autism and a serious case of ADHD, Danica, Denise, Jia,
Coleen, Leane, Claire, Scarlett,  thank you for the memories.  You made high school life a lot more bearable.
For those who will graduate without the benefit of one of the many awards given out today, be assured that
the absence of these graduation ornaments will not disqualify you from the real race of life. Success is not
measured in awards… it is in knowing that you have gone out of your comfort zone, took the risks, and
conquered and opened new paths.  Everytime you know you have defied the odds, you know you have been
immensely rewarded.  And for this, you all deserve an increase in allowance, too. I hope our parents have not
fallen asleep and heard me. To my varsity teammates, thank you for the times you endured my bossiness and
my futile attempts at leadership. I hope you enjoyed our trainings and games as much as I did.

Lastly, I would like to give glory to my Almighty Creator for without His blessings and guidance, everything
would not be possible. I will not miss the opportunities He has presented me. I pray that He would allow me
to continue my journey and let me see the purpose of all these accolades and be able to magnify Him.
May  I leave you all with a quote:

 
Carry yourself in such a way that when people are sitting, you would be standing.
And when they are standing, you will stand out.
And when they stand out, you will be outstanding,
And when they dare to be outstanding, you will be their standard.

Fellow graduates, my congratulations to you all.