ISKOLAR NG BAYAN, BAYANI PARA SA BAYAN
- From: "pong" <pong944@xxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 18 May 2006 17:12:30 -0700
ISKOLAR NG BAYAN, BAYANI PARA SA BAYAN
By Antonio P. Meloto, Gawad Kalinga
U.P. Commencement Exercises
National College of Public Administration and Governance
22 April 2006
Maraming salamat sa inyong paanyaya na magsalita ngayon sa napakahalagang
araw
ng inyong buhay. Hindi po ako nag-aral dito sa UP, pero dalawang tao na
malapit
sa puso ko ang nagtapos dito. Yong ama ko was a graduate 68 years ago in
Business Administration, at ang pangalawang anak ko ay nagtapos sa Theater
Arts
in 2003. Ako'y tuwang-tuwa dahil ito ang pinakaunang UP graduation na
napuntahan
ko and it somehow lessens the guilt of not attending my daughter's
graduation
dahil pinahalagahan ko ang misyon ko para sa mahirap.
When I was invited by Dean Alex Brillantes to be your speaker I asked myself
what could I possibly say to some of the brightest minds in the country, mga
Iskolar ng Bayan, many of whom want to go into public service. I am not a
politician. Since 1996, I vowed not to take on any political position,
whether
appointive or elective. Gusto ko lang magsilbi sa mahirap. I wanted to help
the
poor by caring for the least of my brethren as a Christian who was
challenged to
follow Jesus all the way to the slums. I wanted to learn how to care for the
weak and the powerless who were victims of history and a political system
that
they thought they were helpless to change. So I speak before you as an
ordinary
Filipino who has discovered the potential of every Filipino to make a
difference
and to bring about meaningful change by learning to trust one another and to
work together for the common good.
Going back to my father, he lived a remarkably simple life although he was
the
contemporary in U.P. of two powerful people * former President Ferdinand E.
Marcos and Ambassador Roberto Benedicto. I remember the times when he would
talk
about these two popular men and I often wondered to myself why he was happy
to
be a nobody * contented with his life as a public school teacher and later
on as
an accounting clerk who could hardly provide for six children. One thing
about
my father, he was scrupulously honest, although frankly, I would have been
happier in those times for him to be more compromising so we could have more
comforts in life. At age 81, he died without ever owning a piece of land* or
building his own house* or driving his own car. He left us with nothing
except
his good name, the respect of his friends and the many lessons he taught me.
The
greatest one I learned is that the political power of Marcos and the
business
empire of Benedicto failed to bring our country out of poverty and to make
life
better for our people.
It is not political power or wealth that builds a nation. Power and wealth
are mere consequences of a strong nation. A strong nation is built by a
strong people -- people who are determined to work hard, people who are
willing to sacrifice for one another and the common good and most
importantly, people with integrity.
U.P. has produced many people with integrity like my father. And it is this
value that I want to highlight for those of you who want to go into public
service or any field of human endeavor. Integrity is what we have lost as a
people. We no longer trust our institutions. We lack confidence to succeed
in
our own country. We have lost the respect of other countries. Integrity is
what
we have to regain. Intelligence, competence, talents, skills we have in
abundance because we are a gifted people but they are meaningless without
integrity.
My father almost failed in me when I took the path of selfishness, wanting
only to help myself gain the wealth and power that I never had. I
compromised
the values and integrity that he taught me to achieve my
personal ambitions. But God intervened in my life in 1985 when I joined
Couples for Christ and discovered a beautiful plan for me, for my family and
my
country. My family and I cannot grow at the expense of others but in fact
achieve it by helping others find their own security and quality of life.
Our selfishness has created the mess that we are in. Worse, we are caught in
a
vicious culture of blame. Yes there is basis for blame. Many
politicians have not kept their promises* many of the rich have not shared
their
wealth* some Church leaders have failed to practice what they preach*many
Filipinos have abandoned their country* and even the poor have been
criticized
for not working hard enough.
At the rate we are blaming each other, everybody is to blame. Lahat naman
nagkulang at lahat naman tayo ay nagkasala. But blaming alone never solves
the
problem. It does not build homes for the poor. It does not feed the hungry.
It
does not restore human dignity. It destroys friendship. It poisons the
spirit.
It kills hope. Instead of looking for fault in others
let's look at ourselves *- what we have done wrong, what we have failed to
do.
We need to change*but for me, change begins with myself.
We have destroyed so much of ourselves and our country that me changing
myself
is not enough* that you changing yourself is not enough. We have to inspire
change in many others* and, we have to change together.
Change will not come easy, that's why we need to encourage and we need to
honor
all the good examples around us. We need to invite everyone to come on
board.
Poverty is so massive that our response to it cannot be small. We cannot
rebuild
this country if we do not engage every sector of society including
government.
It is counter-productive to judge all government officials as corrupt. In
dealing with dishonest men, just be honest. We cannot change people if we
make
them our enemies. Engage them and bring out the best in them.
While many are accustomed to the path of blame, we have to discover a new
path,
build a new culture of honoring those who do good.
In Gawad Kalinga, we work with National Government agencies and over 300
mayors
and governors and we have been inspired by their sincerity and their
determination to help the poor in their towns and provinces. Last year, we
discovered a lot of outstanding local government officials in our effort to
rehabilitate victims of calamities and conflict. The popular image of
politicians as trapos and corrupt has not often been our experience. In
working together, most of them have shown sincerity, deep concern for their
constituents, and honesty in their dealings with Gawad Kalinga. If we
maintain
our integrity in dealing with them, they can be encouraged to
respond to us in the same way.
We have partnered with over a hundred corporations and many prominent
families
and individuals. They are not the insensitive, selfish, greedy
people many have always painted them to be, when they are given the chance
to
show their concern and express their generosity. Many of them have adopted
Gawad
Kalinga as their opportunity to make a difference, and many more will do the
same because of their example.
Itong nakaraan lang na typhoon sa Luzon, kailangan natin ng 400 hectares
para sa
mga 40,000 families na nawalan ng bahay at nawalan ng mga mahal sa buhay
dahil
nakatira sila sa delikadong lugar. Akala namin mahirap kumuha ng lupa for
relocation but in 2 months we were able to raise 507 hectares in 12
provinces.
Hindi pala madamot ang Pilipino kung sila ay naniniwala.
The religious sector is likewise not indifferent. A number of churches are
responding with boldness to the call of nation-building by restoring the
dignity of poor Filipinos. Bishop Soc Villegas took the initiative to build
the Cardinal Sin GK Village for the informal settlers in Punta Sta. Ana;
Bishop Precioso Cantillas is helping in the rehabilitation of landslide
victims in Southern Leyte; Archbishop Ramon Arguelles is providing Church
land
to informal settlers of Lipa City; and today, CBCP President and Archbishop
of
Jaro, Angel Lagdameo, is opening Church land in 5 vicariates to host Gawad
Kalinga communities for the poorest of the poor including many Church
workers.
The Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches had not been less generous
when
they partnered with Gawad Kalinga together with NDCC (National Disaster
Coordinating Council) and DSWD in building new communities for the typhoon
victims in Luzon. And now, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day
Saints,
more popularly known as the Mormons, have volunteered their services and
offered
their expertise and resources in providing water systems in GK communities
all
over the country.
We are seeing a miracle in progress as different churches transcend their
differences to work together to build a nation by helping the poor rise from
poverty. This emerging unity is an affirmation of the Gawad Kalinga spirit
of non-discrimination in the choice of whom to help and working with those
who
want to help.
Pwede rin magtulungan ang Muslim at Kristiyano.
Tomorrow I am flying to Camp Abubakar. Five years ago there was an all out
war
that destroyed an entire Muslim community. Mahigit isang libong pamilya ng
mga
kapatid nating Muslim ang nawalan ng tahanan. Tomorrow we will see 200
houses
rising from the ashes of war. Together with Barira Mayor Alex Tomawis, DSWD
and
SMART, Christians and Muslims are building peace and friendship by building
peaceful Gawad Kalinga communities in Camp Abubakar. This is also happening
in
20 Muslim communities in Mindanao.
Millions of Filipinos have left the Philippines and we thought they had
deserted us. But then again, this is not true. They have not forgotten.
They have not stopped loving the motherland. Many are not just giving
resources to build homes and villages but are actually coming home to help
build
them themselves. The Kampampangans helping Pampanga and Tarlac* the
Batangueos
helping Batangas* the Bicolanos helping Bicol.. and many more helping the
provinces and towns of their birth. They are making true the words of
Isaiah,
"Your sons and daughters will come home to rebuild your broken cities."
We gave life to the spirit of negativity, pessimism and divisiveness in our
country and succeeded in convincing ourselves that we are hopeless. When we
are
in an attack mode in pursuit of even the noblest causes, the natural
reaction is
to defend and fight back perpetuating an environment of conflict. We need a
more
radical response to our present predicament. Radical means to be different
and
to be passionate. Passion for change is oftentimes fueled by anger but
passion
that is more powerful is fueled by love* Love for God & country* Love for
God &
our poor countrymen. Pwede rin maging radical by following the path of love
and
the path of peace.
The University of the Philippines has always been known for being radical.
It
has produced outstanding men and women who risked their lives, their
families
and their future to fight injustice and corruption* most of them driven by a
sincere desire for change. Despite the long history of
militancy however, this university that has produced some of the most
powerful leaders, politicians, businessmen and prominent advocates of many
causes has not lifted our people out of poverty and our country out of
corruption.
Is it possible for U.P. to champion a new brand of radicalism to what we
already know? One that entails engaging all sectors of society without
judgment or discrimination, following the path of peace and the true spirit
of bayanihan to concretely find solutions to our problems.
Instead of Ibagsak, can we try Itayo? Instead of away, puede bang
magtulungan? Instead of unahan, puede bang walang iwanan?Lalong-lalo na sa
mga
matatalino, magagaling at mayayaman* yung mga mahirap na hindi makapasok sa
UP,
pwede bang balikan natin? Huwag natin silang iwanan.
Even as we exercise our right to speak up and even criticize what we believe
is
not right, can we as vigorously honor what we see is good? Can we build and
restore this country, where no Filipino is an enemy* where we will rise
together
because the weakest and the powerless among us will not be left behind?
Are you radical enough for this? Let me answer for you.
Yes, you are. This brand of radicalism already exists in U.P. but not
recognized and honored enough. U.P. has Pahinungod which has done a
marvelous job of stirring the spirit of volunteerism but it needs to be
mainstreamed, sustained and embraced as a way of life. U.P. has given birth
to
many NGO's and cause-oriented groups that are sincere in their desire to
help
our country.
Three things that we need to recognize about being radical:
Working together to build peace in times of conflict is radical
Fraternities fighting each other is normal. Fraternities working together*
that is radical. When people unite, transcend political, religious and
cultural differences and work together for the common good* that is radical.
That is what Upsilon and Beta Epsilon, Beta Sigma and Alpha Sigma are
starting
to do in Gawad Kalinga. I honor Eric Pasion and those who started Gawad
Kalinga
Youth in U.P. for being builders of peace.
Working for the good of others at the sacrifice of greater opportunities for
self is radical.
When people leave their high paying corporate jobs to give their time to
serve their country * that is radical. Melo Villaroman, U.P. Business
Economics '84, retired early at age 42 as Director for Business Development
for
Asia of Procter & Gamble based in Singapore. When offered a higher position
in
Europe or the U.S. he politely declined and stated that his country needs
him
now. Eena Kanapi, U.P. Political Science '92 is another radical spirit who
left
her job as Strategic Planning Director of a multi-national ad company to
help
the poor. Both are full-time volunteers of Gawad Kalinga, both are sharing
their
expertise in helping their countrymen rise from poverty.
Promoting the message of hope in times of despair is radical.
Maria Montelibano, first graduate of U.P. AB Broadcasting, multi-awarded TV
Director and media specialist is heading a global multi-media campaign to
communicate the message that there is hope for the Philippines if Filipinos
can
work together until there are no more squatters, no more slums, no more
hunger,
no more crime* where there is dignity and peace for everyone in this
country.
U.P. has produced a beautiful Filipino in my daughter, Wowie. She has put
her
love life on hold to host the sports-adventure show GamePlan that
showcases the beauty of our land and our people and to volunteer for Gawad
Kalinga, bringing her to the poorest and the most remote areas of our
country.
Many from this university have helped us in this Revolution of Hope * Cris
Vertido, Cheche Lazaro and thousands of nameless and unrecognized volunteers
and
partners throughout the country. We are excited with the offer of support of
President Emerlinda Roman throughout the U.P. system nationwide and offer of
help from Dr. Ledy Cario and Dr. Alex Brillantes to mobilize UP-NCPAG for
Gawad
Kalinga. We know that many more from among you and your parents will come
and
help.
I am asking all of you now to do what I ask every Filipino to do --
Never stop hoping for our country.
Don't stop caring for our people.
Demand greatness from yourself as a Filipino
Inspire greatness in other Filipinos.
No nation in crisis ever achieved victory without its young warriors leading
the battle. Do not wait to be as old as me before you start to help our
people and build our nation. Begin now. Like others in my generation I am
here
to admit the mistakes we have made and share the lessons we have learned.
Our greatest mistake is that we keep leaving others behind, especially the
weak
and the powerless. Look at what we have reaped because of our neglect. And
because we left them behind * this is the curse of poverty that you will
inherit
from us.
For the last four years, kayo ang mga iskolar ng bayan. This nation did not
choose you to be her scholars so you can just help yourself. This nation
chose
you so you can help others. Don't forget the poor -- the many others who
will
not have the privilege of a U.P. education. Go back to the towns and the
communities where you come from and give land to the landless, build homes
for
the homeless and help grow food for the hungry.
This is the foundation of nation-building. From there, it grows to
productivity built from discipline and talent. Nation is not about business
it is about economy. Nation is not about political parties, it is about
governance. Nation is not about projects and programs, it is about vision.
Nation is not about power and position, it is about leadership.
Let me send you off with a prayer.
As you go your way now, may God almighty light your path and embolden your
heart. May you be the joy and consolation of your parents for all their hard
work and sacrifice, knowing that you will be the future full of hope. May
you
heal the wounds of our nation and restore the dreams of our people. May you
be
the new generation of heroes that will bring our people to the promise land.
May
God be with you every step of the way.
Apat na taon kayong iskolar ng bayan.
Habang buhay kayong bayani para sa bayan!
Congratulations at mabuhay kayong lahat!
.
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