UPUAN

by Francidieto Tutor Garcia Jr., 2013 Class valedictorian

Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat na nakaupo! “Kayo po na nakaupo, subukan nyo namang tumayo at baka matanaw, at baka matanaw ninyo, ang tunay na kalagayan ko…” Nagmula sa kantang pinasikat ni Gloc 9 na “upuan,” ito ang mga linyang tumatak hindi lamang sa isipan kundi maging sa puso ng masang Pilipino. Hindi maikakailang nitong mga nakalipas na panahon, upuan din ang isa sa mga mainit na pinagusapan, hindi lamang sa loob ng ating sintang paaralan kundi maging sa buong bansa. Ang upuan ay nagsisilbing simbolo ng katayuan sa lipunan; ang upuan na siyang kasa-kasama natin lagi sa loob ng apat o limang taon ng pag aaral. Honorable Commencement Speaker, Dr. Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or TESDA; Polytechnic University of the Philippines President, Dr. Emanuel C. de Guzman; Members of the Board of Regents; Executive Vice President, Dr. Victoria C. Naval; Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Samuel M. Salvador; Vice President for Research Extension, Planning and Development, Dr. Manuel M. Muhi; Vice President for Student Services, Dr. Juan C. Birion; Vice President for Administration, Prof. Alberto C. Guillo; Vice President for Finance, Ms. Marisa J. Legaspi; Vice President for Branches and Campuses, Dr. Joseph Mercado; Deans and Directors and Chairpersons of the University; Administrative staff; Dear Faculty members; The guests of the university; Dear parents and Guardians; my fellow graduates, bulahan nga adlaw kanatong tanan! Kilala tayong mga PUPian, bilang matatapang, madiskarte at magagaling na mga iskolar ng bayan. Sabihin mang may mga pagkakamali tayong nagagawa, ngunit sapat ba ito upang kondenahin at yurakan ang ating pangalan at pagkatao? Naniniwala ako na ang Pilipinong totoong nagmamalaskit para sa bayan ay nagmamalasakit din sa bawat isa, nagkakaintindihan at nagtutulungan. Nagtitiwala ako sa adhikain ng PUP bilang pandayan ng makataong iskolar at sa ating lahat na magsisipagtapos ngayon na mapananatili natin ang tanglaw ng ating sintang paaralan para sa bayan upang higit na mamulat at mabigyang gabay hindi lang ang iilan sa atin kundi ang buong masang Pilipino na higit na nangagailangan. Ika nga ni Gat Apolinario Mabini “Linangin mo ang mga sadyang katangiang kaloob sa iyo ng Diyos, sa paggawa at pag-aaral ayon sa iyong kakayahan, na di lumalayo sa landas ng kagalingan at katarungan…”. Ang PUPian gaya ni Mabini, ay isang lumpo, lumpo sapagkat salat sa yaman, lumpo dahil sa kakulangan ng budget sa edukasyon, lumpo na pinagtitiis sa sira-sirang upuan, ngunit sa kabila nito’y patuloy na nagsusumikap, lumalaban para sa bayan. Hindi ako isang aktibista na kasama ng mga nakikibaka sa lansangan. Isa lamang akong ordinaryong PUPian na nagmamalasakit sa kapakanan ng masang Pilipino sapagkat, alam ko ang pakiramdam ng paghihirap – natatakot, nawawalan ng pag-asa, nahahabag sa sarili. When I was told that I would be delivering the valedictory address, I became excited and terrified at the same time. The thought of me speaking before my fellow PUPians, to share something that they can relate to or to inspire them, is simply nerve-wracking. You know why? It’s because I know I would be standing before not just the average people, I would be speaking in front of PUPians, the throng of amazing people who have mastered their craft and interest while I’m stuck in a box conforming with the system; PUPians who chose to stand up from their seats while I remained in my chair reviewing for my tests. That was my dream though, to go and think out of the box, identifying my interests and mastering my craft. But I couldn’t do that without compromising things that are deemed important as it is what the standard system says. I have to stay in that system because that was what I thought to be necessary when I get out into the so called “real world”. And now I fear, that I might have missed the most important things in my student life, and that is to see what others have seen, to feel what most people have felt. So, it got me thinking, “how can I represent the graduating class who may have experiences far more inspiring and experiences which are more challenging than what I had, but who were able to endure and succeed? I still remember the experiences of my friends and the hardships they endured, which i deemed unimaginable. And I thought my life was difficult enough! But for the sake of sharing, I would tell you my experiences in my 4 years of stay in this university. Let me start from the end: when you paid for your graduation fees, did the long and winding Pila Ulit Pila experience remind you of the time when you were still applying to get into this university? Well, they were similar, but definitely not the same. It’s a poignant feeling when we realize that we were falling in line to settle all the things that we needed for our exit from this university. Entering PUP was a very exciting experience. I still remember the moment when I set foot for the first time inside the campus; I told myself that, this time I’ll enjoy life to its fullest. I would be an activist, a free thinker and most importantly a teenager – spontaneous and adventurous. Of course, the first year of college was the most difficult, as we were still trying to adapt to the environment. I was determined to get out of my old system – grade conscious, bookish, in other words, a nerd. However it didn’t turn out the way I planned. In 2010, when I was an incoming sophomore, during the commencement rites of my sister, my lola spoke to me unexpectedly. She said that she might no longer be able to see me when I graduate from college. She said it with all seriousness and so I was put in a very awkward and sensitive situation. I couldn’t think of any statement that could comfort her especially because I was not the type who was good at giving words of comfort. That’s why out of impulse I made a promise, and it was a very critical one. I told my lola, “La di pwede, mo speech pa ko sa graduation,” and I added, “la you should live until then or even beyond”. (some texts are omitted) I will not deny that, like most of the typical PUPians, I also encountered so many hardships. I come from a middle class family, (some texts are omitted) Just like most of you here, I was also a working student. I worked in a BPO industry even though my parents were against it at first, maybe because they wanted me to maintain my grades since I have been a consistent first honors and valedictorian from elementary up until high school. I supposed most of us experienced the moments of joy and sadness for the past 4 or 5 years of stay in this university. And so I want to leave you a quotation from one of my favorite movies, the Life of Pi and it goes like “If every unfolding we experience takes us further along in life, then, we are truly experiencing what life is offering…” We have to face the fact that sometimes we will experience unhappy moments first before we experience the real happiness. Finally let me tell you the story of a 4th grader who at an early age started aiming to graduate as Magna Cum laude. He once made a vow to God, that in every church he would visit for the first time, he would tap his right foot thrice and pray for his dream to come true. After 7 years and more than 15 churches, he was so disappointed with himself realizing that he might’ve said the wrong prayer because his ultimate aim really was to attain the top honors. When someone told him that Suma Cum laude is higher than Magna Cum laude, he rephrased his prayer. It didn’t matter whether he graduates Summa or Magna as long as he gets the top honors. Now, after visiting more than 20 churches, he is very much thankful and elated to get to represent the graduates of this year’s year-end commencement exercises. That 4th grader was me and I thank the Almighty Father that we are here today, to reap the fruits of our labor. It’s a testimony that we survived the ever daunting coming of hell week, the sleepless nights and haggard days of thesis proposal, the challenging tests in math subjects, and the breath taking encoding of grades in the SIS where you have to make the sign of the cross or say your personal prayers first before logging in! Seriously. Now from here on, some of us may already have a job, or some of us may go to graduate school, become lawyers, accountants, architects, engineers, businessmen, teachers, journalists and others. But right now, I cannot say for certain where our path would take us but I know for sure that we are now equipped by our Sintang Paaralan with tools that will help us as we commence our journey to a system that demands intellectual capabilities in the workforce of the real world. So here I am, very much grateful for the opportunity that you have given me to stand before you as your representative. With this, let me share with you the privilege to stand and give thanks to our beloved alma mater. Graduates, tayo po na nakaupo, subukan po nating tumayo. Please rise, dear graduates as we face and give a warm round of applause to our parents and guardians. Sa mama ko, happy mother’s day! Sa akong papa ug mga igsoon salamat sa tanang suporta and for all the sacrifices. For my sponsor who supported me all these years, thank you Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Foundation Inc. Let’s also give a warm round of applause to our professors, a warm round of applause to our administrators and more importantly let’s give ourselves a warm round of applause. Now please remain standing as we, together standing as one, will welcome the reality with heads held high, proud and tall. Congratulations dear graduates! Welcome to the real world! Mabuhay ang PUP! Daghang Salamat! Delivered by: Francidieto Tutor Garcia Jr., Valedictorian, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa, Manila. 2012-13 Year-end Commencement Exercises(Cluster A). Philippine Copyright©2013