In his speech, as guest speaker of PLM on Friday, Sec. Diokno emphasized the value of citizenship and hard work.

“This oath reminds us of our joint responsibility, as citizens, to transmit our country, the Philippines, ‘not only not less, but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us”, Sec. Diokno said.

He also shared his life lessons in the public service.

“At the soonest possible time, determine what your goal in life, and work hard, purposely, to achieve your goal. Learn to adjust and take risks. When the opportunity presents itself, grab it,” he said.

At the young age of 21, he started working in the Senate as Technical Staff in Finance.  After finishing his master’s degree in Political Economy and a Ph.D. in Economics abroad, he spent many years teaching economics in the University of the Philippines Diliman. In 1986, he served as Undersecretary for Budget Operations and as Secretary (1998) at the Department of Budget and Management. In 2016, he accepted with no hesitation President Rodrigo Duterte’s offer to serve again as the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management.

“My attitude in public service has been, and will always be, guided by the Oath of Athenian, a powerful oath of citizenship, which is engraved prominently in the lobby of Maxwell Hall, the building that houses the Maxwell School Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University. Let me share it with you. It goes:

We will ever strive for the ideals and sacred things of the city, both alone and with many; we will unceasingly seek to quicken the sense of public duty; we will revere and obey the city laws; we will transmit this city not only not less, but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.”

“That’s the ultimate challenge to me, as it is the ultimate challenge to our dear graduates,” Sec. Diokno concluded.