#VSUGrad2025 | Valedictory Speech of Jose Enrique E. Reyes (Summa Cum Laude)

To our University President, Dr. Prose Ivy Guasa-Yepes, the VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Rotacio S. Gravoso, VP for Student Affairs and Services, Dr. Aleli A. Villocino, deans, faculty and staff, family and guests, and my fellow graduates, a pleasant morning. We are gathered here to celebrate a monumental chapter for the graduating class. Abi jud nakog dili nako ma stress basta nasubmit nas thesis and kompleto ng clearance, but as it turns out naa pa diay pahabol, I am tasked to write a speech that resonates in everyone that is watching. Though make no mistake, I am very flattered. 

While attempting to write this speech, I unfortunately came to the conclusion that I am not an inspiring person, I simply am not convinced that I am inspiring enough. However, I do know that I am a narcissist. So in true narcissist fashion, let's talk about myself. 

I am Jose and I live in Cebu during my formative years. Early on, I have always known that I am fond of marine organisms. I still remember during first year, I was asked why I chose marine biology, and I'll never get tired of answering it “Kay ganahan ko og whales”. My Yoyo, or Lolo, always bought CDs about BBC documentaries, Blue Planet, the Free Willy franchise, and Encarta Kids! (but of course normal sad ako childhood oy until now mag watch gyapon ko Tom and Jerry while ako mga kauban sa dorm busy nag tuon para finals!)

And then around fourth grade, I lived somewhere nga naay mga bakhawan, so everyday, mag lakat lakat rakos mga ugat ana, tan aw tan aw sa isda, and even manakop ug tangkig ug udto-udto, Kay lage kuryoso. But unfortunately, it was a short stay there, so we had to move. By the time I visited it after ten years, the  thick mangrove forests I was so familiar with were no longer there, instead it was a sight for sore eyes. Piles of waste clumped in the roots of left-over stumps, the snakes that I used to look out for were replaced with rather unsightly pools of human waste, the water has become extremely polluted that residents would no longer take a dip in it during the summer heat. 

I knew that there was something wrong and I unfortunately was correct. The reclamation from a nearby port construction has clogged the waterways, effectively blocking the natural flow of the water, leading to the stagnation of the water and consequently killing off the mangroves. Additionally, the local fisherfolk association has also expressed dismay that their docking areas have significantly shrunk after the construction of the port, resulting in higher risks of collisions during the stormy season. Along with the heightened risks to safety, measly income from fishing in contrast to costly expenses, and competition with commercial vessels, it made sense for a lot of them to quit and seek for greener pastures.Perhaps the same is true for a lot of communities facing the same exact problems, problems that have persisted for decades and are a product of decades-long neglect.

As I knew more about the world, I saw more and more symptoms of injustices. I saw patients sharing hospital beds, elderlies sprawled on the busy streets of the city, farmers throwing away perfectly healthy produce due to oversupply, children wading through chest-deep floodwaters, commuters waiting for long lines and dense traffic due to car-centric infrastructures, coastal communities being displaced with rising sea levels, mountains flattened to make way for mining and subdivisions that only benefit the selected few, indigenous peoples banned from their own ancestral lands, bureaucratic bottlenecks compromising the quality of education, coral reefs subjected to exploitative practices, corruption denying the Filipino masses of genuine social development and many more. 

Moreover, as information becomes more accessible through our cellular devices, more of these injustices are revealed. We see the genocide of entire states and people being to starved to death, deprived of basic health care, and bloodlines being cutoff in one single event. Global communities, especially in impoverished countries, collapse as neocolonialism sucks them dry of their own natural resources. While we are afforded the privilege to just turn off our phones and disconnect from the online world after seeing such disturbing videos, they are living in that reality up to this day. It is a disservice to feel nothing when we bear witness of the inhumane struggles they have faced, when they are forced to back off to a corner, when time and time again, resilience becomes an excuse to conceal the real problem within the system itself.

It took me a while to realize that the issues pervading our communities are not isolated from each other, they are not mutually exclusive, rather, it's a network of intertwined social and material realities that bind all societies worldwide. We see that the rich, and unfortunately, our leaders are betraying the welfare of its citizens, of the common good,  for the sake of achieving the fantasy of infinite economic growth. While they are enjoying their riches, the economic gap continues to widen and more individuals are pushed toward the poverty line. You don’t need to go through the lived experiences of others to empathize with them. 

‎‎It has always upset me how in the streets of Colon, in the corners of a humble abode in the outskirts of the countryside, or in the rubbles of a war-torn country, there is someone who is just as smart, as creative, or as bright. The difference between me and them, however, is that they were not afforded the privileges and opportunities I have. For them, to live another day under the scorching sun has become a priority. While most of us are mainly troubled on how to pass the semester, their minds are busy thinking how they can survive the day. Some have to work shifts while at the same time meeting deadlines for school. I could only imagine just how hard that is. For anyone that managed to do so, please give yourself a pat on the back. You have my deepest, most genuine respect. 

I admit, I never had any riches growing up, all I had was the audacity to dream. Earning summa cum laude and batch valedictorian was merely a dream. I knew I wanted it, I thought I could, and so I did. Although I did mention that I am a big narcissist, upon closer inspection, it was never simply of my own doing – it is a product of hard work and community. After all, I am a museum of every person I have surrounded myself with. So let me tell you who these are:

1. DBS Faculty and staff
   1. For equipping us with the necessary skills and knowledge as we join the workforce. For taking care of our documents and relentlessly reminding us of administrative and academic deadlines while we are swamped with thesis work. More importantly to Maam Donna, for teaching me what research means across wider dimensions. I am deeply honored to have been under your instruction.
2. Extended family, cousins, and siblings 
   1. To my aunties and angkol, Yoya, and ig-agaw whose support stood strong from miles away, it really means a lot to me.
   2. To my brother and sister as well, thank you for the laughs, even if mairita ko ig about nako kay una ninyo pangutana kay “Nus-a ka mo uli Gengki?”
3. Mama and Papa
   1. For trying their best to become better parents to us. I know that it was not an easy path for our family, there were tons of conflicts as we grew up. I see flickers of hope when you try to make things better for us. I still vividly remember just a few days before I left for Leyte, nag taud og trapal si Mama sa among payag kay ting-uwan na. I looked around the small cottage, and nakaingon jud ko nga someday. I hope that we can live in our own home where we will not have to worry about leaks from the ceiling. I long to live in the days where we will not have to budget a small amount for an entire week. Mama and Papa, especially you Ma, kaybaw ka how much I care for you. Whatever you think and say, matters so much to me. I hope I really did make you proud.
4. Friends
   1. To the MarineBio peeps, thank you for simply being there. 4 wonderful years I spent with you. Now that we are finally about to wear our green and gold togas, all those sleepless nights finally paid off. To the wonderful people who unfortunately could not join us in this year’s ceremonies, please do remember that I am rooting for you! 
   2. To my core, Chappie, Kyla, Nova, Norman, and Lezel thank you for seeing the good and bad in me, but still choosing to stay. If you were to ask them what I am like, highly likely they would say : “bagag kabuang, bugal-bugalon, dali ma irit, and pirme lang ga tingsi or kusmod depende sa panahon” And disclaimer sa prospective employers: Please dont listen to them, Im a professional I promise. Thank you for answering the call sa mga panahon nga ganahan ko mag ice cream sa 7/11 or madali-dali ra nakog pangayuan og sinsiyo para mahg tysok-tusok. If way sensiyo, mudawat ra mn sad jud kog tibuok. But in all seriousness, their usual “Magluto tas amoa na” or “Ligo ta sapa!” were music to my ears, because I get to spend my time with them. 
5. Molave and Sir Byron
   1. Of course Molave Men’s Hall, aka ang Bahay ni Sir Byron. Grabe 3 years I have stayed in the dormitory, and I was able to meet a diverse set of individuals. They have been my home away from home, literally. I have seen people come and go every year and I am certain that I carry a part of them in my heart. I will surely miss my peaceful mornings in the kitchen, the cool breeze when i stand in the lawn, and the quaint rooms shared by 6 students. But more than that, I will surely miss the undying support my fellow occupants have given me, the regular check-ups from Kuya Peter, Ryan, Javes and other occupants asking me about the progress of my thesis, my juniors who have always bugged me with very random questions. I am proud and extremely honored that I have been allowed to grow so much within its walls. You will always be special to me, Molave.
6. Taxpayers for investing in us
   1. Lastly, are the taxpayers. Whose hard-earned wages are taxed just to invest in us scholars. The free tuition that we enjoy during our entire stay in the university is a product of the long hours spent by professionals at their offices, by overseas Filipino workers who send remittances while yearning for the embrace motherland, by our farmers and fisherfolks who toil for years despite the blazing heat and disheartening wages, by our creatives whose art captures the stories beyond landscapes and realities, by our drivers and vendors who endure the polluting exhaust from mobiles, and by our athletes whose grit and discipline brought our flag in the world stage. The generosity of the Filipino nation have reduced the burden of paying for expensive tuition fees. I could only wish that they are proud of how their taxes, at least a portion of it, translated to producing a new batch that will soon become leaders in their respective fields. Scanning the crowd right now, I see immense hope for the future of our country. 

Despite the many actors that influence the status quo, I hope we never forget the answer to why we should move forward. We owe it to the 100 million Filipinos rallying behind. ‎To be at the forefront of radical changes for the development of our nation. To advocate for factual, impactful, and relevant works that will translate to sound and collaborative policies. I pray that we will reap the fruits of our efforts, that we find where we belong, and that we pick ourselves up in defeat.

May we always be fierce in advocating for just reforms, may we always find reason in times of adversity. I implore you that together we challenge unfair practices, that we dismantle the wheel that disadvantages our own. As we chart new territories, I pray that we find comfort in the uncertainty and that we do not go astray of our duties. May we use our privilege not to exploit others but to lift one another, to champion our communities, and to cultivate a better future.

The prevailing social injustices will not disappear over night but through a gradual process. Everyday, we are reminded of our duties as scholars of the nation - that we are to serve the masses, to side with the truth, to promulgate national resilience, to stand with integrity,  to honor discipline and excellence, and to uphold social justice — true to the guiding principles of the university.  And standing from here, I am confident that the Philippines is in good hands. 

As we near the end of our undergraduate journeys, I want you to celebrate your wins, reminisce about the good and bad times, treasure the people and the experiences, and reflect on how far you've come. Afterwards, I want you to brace yourself up, get ready for harder, more challenging obstacles, and hold your head high, for there is still a lot yet to be done. Congratulations, fellow graduands. Mabuhay Visca, Mabuhay Iskolar ng Bayan!

• Next