Change the Plan, Never the Goal: Former Viscan urges VSUT Class of 2026 to pursue dreams with grit and purpose

Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat!

Una sa lahat, maraming salamat sa pamunuan ng paaralang ito for giving me the privilege to stand before you today as your guest of honor and speaker. It is truly a humbling experience.

To our graduates, first of all, congratulations! Today is your day. This is the reward for years of hard work, sleepless nights, sacrifices, and prayers. Hindi lang ito pagtatapos ng inyong pag-aaral. Ito ay simula ng panibagong kabanata ng inyong buhay. Kaya naman, you have to enjoy this moment. You've earned it!

Habang nakatingin ako sa inyong lahat ngayon, hindi ko maiwasang balikan ang sarili kong journey. As much as I do not want to be the center of this celebration, I find it necessary to share with you some lessons that I have learned myself in this meaningful life.

I was once exactly where you are sitting today. May mga pangarap, ngunit may mga takot din, at higit sa lahat, maraming tanong tungkol sa kinabukasan. I never had the slightest idea that I have something ahead of me knowing that my parents barely had what it takes to give us a comfortable life. 

And so, when I entered college, I became a working student, specifically a student assistant at what is now the Visayas State University. Marahil hindi alam ng marami iyon, perhaps because I did not find socializing easy back then. Habang ang iba ay tapos na ang klase at nagpapahinga, ako naman ay nagbabakasakali na sa pamamagitan ng pagiging student assistant, ay mas mapapagaan para sa aking mga magulang ang aking pag-aaral.

At doon ko natutunan ang isang napakahalagang aral. Cliche as it may be, ngunit totoong hindi hadlang ang kahirapan. Ang tunay na hadlang ay ang pagsuko. 

Throughout my lone journey here in Leyte, away from my family in Agusan, taught me that life will never ask you where you came from. It will ask you what you did with the little opportunities that were given to you, and what you are willing to do to achieve your dreams. 

After earning my degree in Animal Science, I felt that there is a calling bigger than myself. Kaya pumasok ako sa Philippine National Police Academy bilang isang cadet.

Hindi naging madali ang training. There were days when I questioned my limits, both physically and psychologically. There were moments when giving up seemed easier, and packing up seems to be more enticing. But there are so many ways life teaches us lessons. Sasabihin nito na lahat ng hirap ay may dahilan. It will tell us that every challenge indeed prepares you for a greater responsibility. In my case, it is more than just being a public servant. It is more of becoming the human that this generation needs. 

That journey eventually led me to serve our country for almost three decades in different assignments, different provinces, and even in international peacekeeping missions. 

Today, people often introduce me by my rank, my awards, or the assignments I have held. They mention the medals, the commendations, and the operations I have led. But if you ask me what I am most proud of, hindi iyon ang sagot ko. What I value most is that I never forgot my aspiration to fulfill my dream of serving others with compassion. Some would say that is easier said than done, and I agree. Many work just as hard but are not given the same opportunities. That is why good fellowship and genuine leadership matter. 

Ladies and gentlemen, let us be reminded that we hold the power to choose who we would associate ourselves with, and what kind of leaders we are going to look up to. These people have the power to influence our beliefs, principles, and aspirations. As the saying goes, “Tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are.” So choose people who are equally ambitious, hardworking, and virtuous like you. Imbes na maghilahaan pababa, mas mabuting magtulakan kayo paitaas. 

The same thing with leaders. Follow leaders who possess servant-like leadership. The one who would roll up his sleeves when dishes start to pile up. They will walk with you and guide you every step of the way. Because leadership has never been about authority. It is about responsibility to forefront the journey of many who rely on your good decision-making, with empathy and humility. 

Graduates, allow me to leave you with three lessons that life has taught me.

First, never be ashamed of your humble beginnings. May mga pagkakataon na makakakita kayo ng taong mas mabilis ang pag-asenso kaysa sa inyo. May classmate kayong agad magkakaroon ng magandang trabaho. may iba namang magtatayo ng negosyo. Huwag ninyong ikumpara ang inyong timeline sa timeline ng iba. Hindi ang anuman sa mga ito ang panalo. The real winners are those who chose to work on their dreams consistently, and those who continue with grit and persistence (formulate a self-assessing roadmap where you can identify goals, actions corresponding to your visions, and gaps that could have created setbacks). Walang imposible sa taong buo ang loob at pursigido sa pangarap. 

Second, never stop learning. Your diploma is not the end of your education. Sa totoo lang, ito pa lamang ang simula. The world is changing faster than ever. If you stop learning today, the world will move forward without you, and before you know it, you are farther behind. So keep on yearning. Keep improving yourself. Because education is not something you finish. It is something you continue for the rest of your life. Hindi lang dapat marunong at matalino. Dapat magaling din–magaling, in the sense that you learn how to love what you do, because truly, passion is what separates the good from the great.

Third, always choose service over success. Napakaraming tao ang gustong maging successful. Pero kakaunti ang gustong magsilbi. Success asks, "What can I get?", while service asks, "What can I give?.” And I have learned throughout my career that those who dedicate themselves to serving others often become the most fulfilled people. 

To the dear parents, this diploma belongs to you as much as it belongs to your children. Alam naming hindi naging madali ang inyong mga sakripisyo. Maraming gabi ang inyong ipinagdasal, minsan pa nga ay umiiyak. Maraming pagkakataon na isinantabi ninyo ang sarili ninyong pangangailangan upang maitaguyod ang pag-aaral ng inyong anak. ngayong araw, masasabi kong kahit paano, sulit ang lahat ng sakripisyo ninyo. Congratulations, dear parents. Hanga ako sa inyong tatag!

To the faculty members, thank you for believing in these graduates and for helping our nation groom good citizens. Teaching indeed is one of the noblest professions because every lesson you teach creates a future leader. Hindi lang kayo nagtuturo ng subjects. Humuhubog kayo ng pagkatao. At para diyan, maraming salamat.

Once again, dear graduates, years from now, people may forget your grades. They may forget your Latin Honors. They may even forget where you graduated. But they will never forget who you are and how you made them feel. Live meaningfully, and leave an impact on people’s lives. It is only then that you can truly say, “I made it”. 

Allow me to end with a thought very close to my heart. Kung may isang probinsiyano ang nangarap at nagsumikap, sa kabila ng mga pagsubok, then, I can confidently tell every graduate in this hall today: your dreams are valid. Your future is bright. At the end of the day, if the plan does not work, change the plan but never the goal. 

Congratulations once again, graduating class of 2026. May God bless each one of you. Damo nga salamat, and mabuhay kayong lahat!

This article is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities; SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

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