To Honorable Solomon R. Chungalao as represented by Mr. Peer Sean Balao, District Representative of Ifugao; Honorable Jerry U. Dalipog, Governor of Ifugao; the Board Members of Ifugao province; mayors of Ifugao; President Eva Marie Codamon-Dugyon of the Ifugao State University; officials of the Administrative Council and Academic Council; friends from the academe, staff, personnel, parents, and the graduating students, naimbag nga aldaw.
Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
Before anything else, I would like to congratulate all personnel of IFSU, both teaching and non-teaching, for paving the way for these students to reach this milestone in their academic life. Nais ko rin pong magbigay-pugay sa mga magulang, kapatid, at kaibigan na kasama nila sa pagharap sa mga pagsubok sa kanilang pag-aaral at sa buhay.
Of course, ultimately, I want to congratulate you, dear graduates of this premiere state-operated institution of higher learning in the Cordillera Administrative Region. Regardless if you are graduating with flying colors, pumasang-awa, o na-delay dahil sa thesis, what matters is that YOU ARE HERE. You rose above life's challenges—in your families, relationships, classrooms, and even jobs, among others. Smile. Savor this moment. Give yourself a pat on the back. Be proud of this achievement.
Noong nakaraang linggo, ipinagdiwang natin ang ika-isang daan at dalawampu’t limang taon ng Kalayaan ng ating bansa. Alam nating lahat kung ano ang inialay at isinakripisyo ng mga nauna sa atin, lalo na ng ating mga bayani, upang makamit ang kalayaang tinatamasa natin ngayon.
At kagaya ng kasaysayan ng bansa, ang kasaysayan ng IFSU ay isa ring kwento ng pag-aalay, sakripisyo, at tagumpay. From being the Nayon Settlement Farm School (NSFS) led by American educators, then being closed down during the World War II, IFSU was continuously built and improved as a school of agriculture until it became the Ifugao State University of today.
Ngunit ang pagkamit ng kalayaan ay simula lamang. Sa atin nakasalalay ngayon ang pag-alaga sa kalayaan na ito at kung ano ang patutunguhan nito ngayon. Ito ba ay kalayaan upang piliin ang sarili at kalimutan ang kapwa? O ito ba ay kalaayan upang lalong paigtingin ang pagkakaisa at pagmamahalan upang ang bawat Pilipino ay mamuhay nang panatag at matiwasay?
Kaya napakagandang pag-usapan ang tema ngayong araw: “Empowered Leaders: Pioneering Innovation, Promoting Internationalization, Inspiring Excellence, and Securing Sustainable Development.”
With the bountiful blessings that the Cordillera offers, the indigenous knowledge and teachings your communities have given, the quality education you received from this esteemed institution, and the love for the environment and the people that you possess, you are indeed empowered to lead and serve the people.
At kagaya ng kalayaan, kailangan din nating timbangin kung para saan at para kanino nga ba ang ating talino at kakayahan. Let us ask ourselves: how can we support our fellowmen, our communities, and our country?
First, by pioneering innovation. With the natural wealth of the Cordillera, coupled with your expertise in agriculture, home, and information technology, among others, you are empowered to innovate and offer creative ways to achieve our socioeconomic goals. I was very impressed to learn that IFSU ranked high in the Global Top 100 Innovative Universities last May—a testament to your knowledge and expertise to bring about positive change.
Second, promoting internationalization. As a Maranao and member of the indigenous community, I understand what it is like to be part of a minority. But, please know that it is okay to be outnumbered and that it is wonderful to be different. This gives us more reasons to go out there, show who we are, share our culture, and build bridges with other people in the world. I commend IFSU for establishing opportunities for international educational exchanges and for pursuing research works that contribute to the international wealth of knowledge.
Third, inspiring excellence. As always, give your best in whatever job you commit to do—whether you will be a teacher, a nurse, a social worker, an engineer, a welder, or a designer—and uphold integrity in the process. By being upright, you inspire others to do the same. Tandaan na ang layunin natin ay itaas ang antas ng karunungan at kamalayan ng bawat Pilipino upang lahat tayo ay magkaroon ng pagkakataong mag-isip, magtanong, at maghain ng solusyon sa mga problemang kinahaharap ng bansa. True excellence helps others become excellent.
And fourth, securing sustainable development. Certainly, you have a deep appreciation for nature being here in Ifugao where the beauty of nature is astounding. But you are also at the forefront of agriculture and forestry development through your education. Use this appreciation to fuel you to take action both in agricultural development and environmental protection and contribute to achieving sustainability which is at the heart of our Our Agenda for Prosperity.
Our country needs you. As such, I genuinely hope that after leaving the halls of your beloved university, you will take action and be part of social and economic transformation where no Filipino will be left behind.
On our end at the Department of Budget and Management, we carefully crafted a national budget geared towards achieving social and economic transformation—one that will not just address the immediate and pressing concerns of our citizens but will also make our growth sustainable for future generations.
To give you an overview, the Fiscal Year 2023 National Budget of the Philippines amounts to Php 5.268 trillion, and we allotted 38 percent of this for our Social Services sector. This is in line with our commitment to investing in our people through major social and human capital development expenditures.
As always, we have provided the highest allocation to the Education, Culture, and Manpower Development Sector amounting to Php 909.1 billion. This is consistent with the Constitutional mandate to assign the highest budgetary priority to education but more than this, it also reflects the Administration’s commitment to empowering you, our future leaders and nation-builders. As PBBM said in his first State of the Nation Address, “Education is the only legacy we can leave our children that will never go to waste. So we will not hold back on investing in our education.”
Through revitalized education, we aspire to provide every Filipino with a fighting chance to manage life’s uncertainties so they can choose to achieve their full potential—just like you, our dear IFSU graduates.
Sa inyong lahat na tatanggap ng inyong mga diploma sa araw na ito, napaka-galing ninyo! Tandaan ninyo parati na naniniwala kami sa inyo at kasama ninyo kami.
Kaya ngayong nakamit na ninyo ang susi para sa magandang kinabukasan, siguruhin ninyo na tuluyan ninyo nang bubuksan ang pinto para sa magandang kinabukasan ng buong bayan.
Again, you are empowered leaders. Embrace this responsibility and opportunity as we stand together for social justice, work towards economic equity, and concretize genuine prosperity for every Filipino.
Congratulations again, IFSU graduates! Mabuhay ang kabataang Ifugao! Mabuhay ang Ifugao State University! Mabuhay ang IFSU Graduating Class of 2023! Agymanak unay kadakayo amin.
Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.
