Be More Significant than Successful

 

 

 

Dr. Winston Conrad Padojinog, President, University of Asia & the Pacific

The Chancellor, the Academic Vice President, and other Admin Officials,

Faculty members, Parents, Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen, and most of all,

Dear Graduates of Class 2019, good afternoon to all of you!

 

Standing before you today make me recall my own graduation 52 years ago. As our Commencement Speaker was being introduced, one of my classmates whispered quite loudly, “Sana hindi masyadong mahaba ang speech ng ating Guest of Honor.” I will assume that this is also your sentiment, so let me assure you I do not intend to deliver a long-winded speech. I will do my best to impart a concise but worthy message befitting this occasion.

First of all, let me congratulate and commend all of you for graduating. Today marks the culmination of your formal education, and while some of you may still pursue post-graduate degrees, most of you will now move on to the next defining stage in your lives as new entrants to the working world. Credit for completing the academic requirements of this university belongs to you, but please do not forget to express sincerest appreciation to your parents and family members for their steadfast support and encouragement, to your professors and school administrators for molding and challenging your intellect, and to all others who, in large or small ways, were a part of your student years. Having a genuine attitude of gratitude keeps you well-grounded and instills a positive disposition so necessary for coping with life.

Allow me to share with you a few thoughts that I hope will serve you well for your journeys ahead. First, whatever profession, occupation or field of work you decide to pursue, always bear in mind that values and virtues must guide your behavior and shape your character. Saint Josemaría Escrivá said, and I quote, “In our everyday lives and in all circumstances, we must put into practice our values and virtues no matter how difficult, troublesome, or easy that it may be to do so. Heroism is expected of the Christian – a heroism in great struggles, if the need arises, but normally it will be heroism in the little skirmishes of each day.” In other words, my dear graduates, in work as well as in all aspects of life, knowing what to do is essential, but a firm moral compass is needed for the right application of that knowledge.

To highlight this point, let me share with you a personal experience. One day, the Controller of a bank where I was Chairman of the Board informed me that the BIR Regional Office sent our bank a tax assessment letter for Php800 million. I was shocked because I knew we had no tax deficiencies, and our Controller affirmed this. She then told me that the examiner offered to bring down the tax assessment from Php800 million to Php80 million if the bank would share the savings on a 70-30 basis, meaning he will pocket Php216 million. To me, the offer was totally unacceptable, and I told our Controller we will not negotiate.

I informed my colleagues in the Board about this development, assured them that we had fully paid our taxes, and asserted that we will legally contest the said assessment at the Court of Tax Appeals and even all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary. Of course, if we were to do this, it would be a lengthy and costly battle, prompting some directors to ask whether it might be more practical to just compromise in order for this problem to go away quickly. After a long and thorough discussion, the Board upheld my stand. We communicated the bank’s position to the BIR, and we were never bothered again.

Sadly, such are the realities of our tainted world. It will test your knowledge as well as character. Oftentimes, there will be divergent views on how to resolve problems or run a business, but I firmly believe that UA&P has not just taught you; it has also strengthened your moral constitution for the paths that lie beyond its walls. Blessed Alvaro del Portillo, Prelate of Opus Dei, articulated our mission with these words, and I quote, “We have to impregnate every environment of society with a Christian spirit. Do not merely have the desire to do so; each of you, wherever you are working has to give a divine content to the job you are doing, and through your prayer, mortification, and well-finished professional work, you have to see to it that you are formed and form other souls in the truth of Christ…”

The second thought I wish to impart to you today is this: Do not be afraid to fail. As you follow the road to success, you will occasionally stumble, but don’t hesitate to get up and keep going until you achieve your goal. This was also the message of Steve Jobs to the graduating class at Stanford University in 2005. He initially failed as a student because, after six months of studying at Reed College, he dropped out. Jobs admitted that it was pretty scary at the time, but, looking back, it was one of the best decisions he had ever made.

After Steve Jobs dropped out, he no longer had to attend classes that didn’t interest him, but he sat in on those that he preferred. One of these was a calligraphy class where he learned all about serif and sans serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, and about what makes typography great. He eventually used that acquired knowledge in designing the Mackintosh, which became the first computer with beautiful typography. After that Jobs came out with more iconic and immensely popular products like the iPod, the iPad, the iPhone, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and thousands of support applications, making Apple the largest and most successful tech company ever. As you can see from Jobs’ example, he turned failure into phenomenal success because he refused to let it hinder the fulfillment of his goals.

On a more personal note, recently my 4th daughter, who had a senior position in a foreign bank operating here in the Philippines, told me she was considering resigning from her job in order to pursue her entrepreneurial aspirations. At first, I tried to dissuade her. I reminded her that 99.9% of people her age would love to be in her corporate position, but my daughter replied that if she did not try her hand at entrepreneurship, she may regret it in the future. She pointed out to me that even if she were to fail, she would still be young enough to return to the corporate world. As parents, we only want the best for our children, but my daughter showed me she is not afraid to risk failure in order to pursue her dreams. How can I tell you otherwise?

The third thought I would like to convey is exemplified in the story of Jollibee Foods Corporation’s Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Francis Flores. During the recent Asia Pacific Tambuli Awards last June 4, 2019, he was given the Chief Marketing Officer of the Year Award, besting many other equally talented and creative professionals from different companies in the Asia Pacific Region. In his acceptance speech, Francis Flores confessed that, after graduating from college, he only had a singular purpose: to succeed in a marketing job in order to provide his family the most comfortable life he could give them. Unilever gave him a shot as a Sales and Marketing Management Trainee. He spent almost two years in that position before being assigned to Sales for four years. Eventually he became a Senior Brand Manager. Admittedly it was not an easy job, but because of the support and mentoring he received from some of his colleagues, he learned about brand purpose, was told that consumers just don’t fall in love with the brand’s products but for what the brand stands for, and was taught to be relentless and uncompromising in pursuing one’s brand purpose.

After 10 years in Unilever, Francis Flores moved to Jollibee Foods Corporation where, aside from continuing to provide for his family, he felt he could contribute significantly in helping Jollibee become a global brand that all Filipinos could be proud of. After 12 years in Jollibee, he ascended to the highest marketing position in the company, thus enabling him to wield even greater influence on the brand. Reflecting on his career, Francis Flores attributes his success as Chief Marketing Officer to being driven by a noble purpose to do good for others – for his family, for his country, and for his countrymen.

The lesson is loud and clear: Find a purpose beyond yourself and be truly inspired to perform. Francis Flores is among a number of successful executives who discovered the merits of purposeful work. Dedicate yourselves to serving others and by being truly other-centric you will unleash your fullest potentials and be genuine servant leaders. Dr. Mollie Marti, author of two leadership books, founder of the National Resilience Institute, and host of the Resiliency Matters TV show, said, “Allow the way to your great work to be guided by your service to others.” What powerful words to live by.

The fourth thought I wish to share with you today is on the transformation of work. Let me quote twice from Peter Drucker, one of the greatest management gurus and thought leaders of my generation. First, commenting on the future he said, “The only thing we know about the future is that it will be different.” Second, from his book entitled Management Challenges in the 21st Century, he wrote, “An enterprise, whether a business or any other institution, that does not innovate and does not engage in entrepreneurship will not survive long.” Drucker could not have been more prophetic because indeed we are now witnessing a massive technology-led upheaval at a scale and pace unrivaled since the Industrial Revolution.

Here at home, during the recent Business World Economic Forum last May 30, 2019, Mr. Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (JAZA to his colleagues and friends) agrees. In his keynote address entitled “The Future of Business – Next Wave Disruptions & Opportunities,” JAZA shared his insights on these rapidly changing times and underscored the importance of vigilance that business leaders must maintain amid such disruption. He declared:

“… change is happening here as quickly as it is anywhere else… Now more than ever, in many ways for all of us in the business  environment, the private sector can no longer be reactive. Companies that don’t innovate really run the risk of becoming irrelevant in our market. We need to be proactive in finding gaps in our current systems, even when it means that we have to be the ones disrupting ourselves… The final component of our transformation journey – which perhaps may be the most crucial – deals with empowering our talent and shifting towards a mindset of curiosity, openness to failure, innovative yet meaningful thinking, and flexibility in work.”

Business enterprises like Ayala have endured because of their perceptiveness to anticipate, accept and adapt to change. The same is true of individuals as well; hence, this is the fourth thought I wish to impart today. My dear graduates, as you leave the hallowed portals of the University of Asia and the Pacific and join the dynamic workforce that propels the growth of our Philippine economy, be prepared to meet the realities and demands of the Workplace of the Future. Constantly hone the skills and the mindsets that will enable you to navigate the complex challenges of the ever-transforming environment. Never quench your thirst for lifelong learning and applying that wisdom well.

Dear graduates, you must play a meaningful role in nation building by being genuinely engaged in the development of our country. Your good education, creative thoughts and ideas, energy and dynamism, and most of all your patriotism can shape the future of the Philippines and ensure its continued progress, growth, and prosperity.

This is your time! The Church celebrates 2019 as the Year of the Youth. Pope Francis, in a letter to Young People on the occasion of the presentation of the Preparatory Document of the Synod of Bishops in October 2018 recalled the words of God to Abraham: “Go from your country and your kindred and your family’s house to the land that I will show you” (Gen 12:1). Furthermore, he wrote, “These words are now addressed to you. They are the words of a Father who invites you to ‘go’ to set out towards a future which is unknown but one which will surely lead to fulfillment, a future towards which He Himself accompanies you.” Pope Francis continued, “A better world can be built also as a result of your efforts, your desire to change and your generosity. Do not be afraid to listen to the Spirit who proposes bold choices; do not delay when your conscience asks you to take risks in following the Master.”

I urge all of you to read and reflect on this letter of Pope Francis. Ask yourselves what you can do to address the ills of society such as widespread material and spiritual poverty, the growing gap between the affluent and poorer classes, the unconscionable violence of the drug war that has victimized mostly the lower income group, the plight of workers who cannot provide for the basic needs of their families, the lack of job opportunities for so many men and women, inadequate health and education facilities for a large portion of our population, and many other problems that beset our people.

Whether you like it or not, my dear graduates, this is the environment we are in. That said, are you willing to speak out against inequity and injustice? Are you willing to volunteer with the Church or with NGOs to help in the alleviation of poverty? Are you prepared to make sacrifices in order to improve the plight of families? Are you doing everything possible to discern your vocation?

Do not allow your purpose and meaning to be imposed on you by those in positions of power and authority whom you sense as incongruous with the noble goals you have set in life. Yearn for leaders and mentors you can look up to for their integrity and credibility as well as can count on for sound guidance. Embrace role models who give witness to the goodness of life and who are deeply rooted in family values. Seek elders who are approachable, not untouchable, who walk the talk, and who make you feel you are all equal as in the eyes of our Lord. In return, you must also be seen as persons capable of contributing the way they do to you – with your own skills, knowledge, righteousness, and wisdom.

My final thought for you today is this: Be more significant than successful. These two words are not synonymous. Success can be obtained materially and socially. Significance, however, does not necessarily accompany such status in life. Author Clancy Cross wrote, “Being significant means living an unselfish life that puts others ahead of self. The result is a legacy defined by the number of lives impacted rather than the size of a bank account.”

My hope and prayer is that you will share your lives and talents not just with and for your loved ones but with and for the rest of the community, your country, and your Church. You are no longer just the youth of our land; you are also now our emerging leaders, catalysts, movers and shapers of our nation’s destiny. How I wish you could have a better environment for peace, prosperity, and growth, but, as the saying goes, “you just have to make do with the hand you are dealt.” The challenges are enormous, but so is your collective capacity to overcome and add value, to be an enduring force for good, to make a difference in the lives of others.

In closing, let me reprise the five thoughts I wanted you to have today. First, values and virtues must guide your behavior and shape your character. Second, do not be afraid to fail. Third, find a purpose beyond yourself and be truly inspired to perform. Fourth, constantly hone the skills and the mindsets that will enable you to navigate the complex challenges of the ever-transforming environment. Finally, and most of all, be more significant than successful. And underpinning all these is a genuine desire to serve for the good of others.

Go now with God’s blessings and with our fondest hopes and well-wishes.

Congratulations, UA&P Class of 2019!#

 

Commencement speech of Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., Guest Speaker at the 2019 Graduation Rites of UA&P held on August 3 at the PICC. He is the present Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UA&P Foundation, Inc.

Banner photo by Pixabay.