Maria Antonette D. Pasquin delivered this valedictory address during the 23rd Graduation Rites held on August 4, 2018 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. Tonette graduated magna cum laude from the School of Law and Governance with a master’s degree in political economy.
When I started college, I had only one clear goal: to maintain my scholarship. No orgs. Just academics. Back in high school, after realizing what my parents were already going through—the rage of Typhoon “Frank,” the death of my younger brother due to leukemia, and their sacrifices in providing for the family’s basic needs—I knew I had to be a scholar in college just as I was in high school. But just as things do not always happen as planned, I joined one org then two, and then three.
The struggles along the way
Things seemed to be going just fine, until one night, after a long day of campaign trainings and org meetings on top of the grueling classes, I was walking home along Escriva Drive, and I felt so tired of everything. I was physically and mentally drained and yet a lot of things kept racing in my head: exams to study for, readings and papers yet to get started, org events still to finalize, issues within the orgs to deal with. I started to imagine what would happen if I were to lose the scholarship because of these. It was overwhelming. So I ended up crying. Good thing the street lights were dim, so nobody saw me crying. I just could not point out my priorities anymore. While externally very active, deep inside, I felt tired, lost, and empty.
It was a face-off with my own vulnerabilities. I witnessed how that “I-can-do-everything” or “superwoman” image I had of myself went crumbling. I realized that, indeed, I cannot do everything. I made myself so busy, stressed about one thing after another that I did not realize I have become so rigid with myself and others. I was killing the “human” in me. One of my close friends even told me, “Para ka namang halaman.” I was confused. I asked, “Ano?” She replied, “Halaman.” I asked further, “Di ko gets. Bakit?” Finally, she said, “Halaman. Buhay pero walang feelings.” That really jolted me. But then, I have always been grateful to that sincere friend of mine.
My fellow graduates, I am sure you have your own stories of struggle, of moments when that inexplicable feeling paralyzes you because of so many things happening all at once, be it difficulties in academic life, relationships with family and friends, or any other issues. During those moments of struggle, we witnessed how our self-esteem went downhill. We suddenly just felt so uncertain about everything in life. “Nasa tamang course ba ako?” “Gapang mode all day. Kailan ba ‘to matatapos?” “Ginawa ko naman ang lahat ah, pero bakit kulang pa rin?” We were scared. Scared of not knowing what we were going through and all the more of not knowing what to do about it. That is why we could only muster to cry.
But thanks to such moments, we learned that it is okay not to be perfect. Na napapagod din tayo. Na okay lang umiyak. Kahit humagulgol pa. We learned that it is equally important to embrace our strengths as tightly as our weaknesses. Isn’t it true that we learn more from our defeats and failures? After all, [our successes and failures] both make up the lights and shadows of the masterpiece that is our life.
Getting back on track
Recalling such moments, we also ask: how exactly did we stand on our feet again? How did we overcome the struggles? What kept us going to reach this far?
Surely not just the tons of coffee we drank, the K-drama or Netflix shows we watched, the K-pop songs we danced to. Yes, [there is] no doubt they were helpful, but we know that beyond these things were the persons who spent time with us, listened to us, and went out of their way to help us.
In fact, it is to these people that we owe our success in this UA&P journey. It is because of them that we were able to push through. In my experience, it was only when I made the effort to open up to others that I got up again.
Indeed, these experiences of falling and getting up again only validate the truth that has been greatly emphasized in our classes, especially in our liberal arts education: Man cannot thrive in isolation. Man is a social being, so we learned. Yes, we are not perfect, not immune to failures or mistakes. Precisely because of this, we need others to accompany us and help us along the way, especially to become better persons.
Blazing a trail
My fellow graduates, having thus learned how it is to be truly human in theory and through experience, let us be spurred into action.
Our formation in the humanities as strengthened by our own struggles is our “Virgil” as we begin another chapter of our life. I believe that our training in the humanities has equipped us to go beyond ourselves and relate to others. It has helped us discover that others have their share of suffering. We only have to read through the news and see the countless attacks on humanity—violence, deprivation and even the growing distorted views on human life, specifically the dignity of the human person—that all heavily burdens so many people.
That is why let us do something for our society. Let us go beyond our own thought bubbles—me, myself and I. We are meant for greater things. Knowing especially some of you who have great talents in your respective fields, I am sure that we can do a lot for the common good.
So in whatever sector we may later find ourselves, be it in the government, the private sector, or personal enterprises, let us keep going back to our experiences and our humanities training—that is to say, to bring out the “human” in us. We do not have to think big or do great acts; we begin with the person next to us at table, in the traffic, in the queue. The important thing is that we always consider that there are human beings who will be affected by our actions especially by our work.
More than ever, the world needs you and me as witnesses that the human person is important, [that he] has mind, will, and feelings. These are what makes us human. They make us alive. Kaya ngayon, sana masabi na rin ng kaibigan ko na hindi na ako parang halaman, kundi isang ganap na tao, ganap na buhay!
Madamo nga salamat, UA&P! Madamo gid nga salamat sa inyong tanan! #
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