Graduation Message [from a non-Politician]

Greetings!

I considered myself destined to be part of your learning - whether you like it or not BUT I want it to put into record that I'm happy about it. I may not be included in your list of best teachers whom you won't be able to forget in your entire life but you already occupied one portion in my heart. I may not be able to recall you names in the future, but please give me the honor to claim you as my students.

You may not be able to recall all the formulas we've discussed but don't forget to apply these concepts in your lives.

• When you already own a motorcycle don't forget to wear your helmet & use the motorcycle lane when driving.
• When you already have a car don't forget to wear/fasten your seat belt while on the road.
• If you happen to become a jeepney driver/operator don't collect more than what is due.
• When you happen to join rallies against nuclear energy be sure that you know what you're fighting for (and not because of a bag of groceries).
• When election comes, vote wisely & don't be mislead by their tarpaulin saying they've done a lot even if none was felt.
• Even if there's no law or principle in physics that states that you have to give your seat to the elderly when you take a bus or train - you still do it.
• The arrow of time always points to one direction that things done cannot be undone, but our realization & learning makes them meaningful.
• Even if we already have the most sophisticated measuring device, bear in mind that the things that really make us happy are mostly not measurable. (We do not have a gram of contentment or liters of patience.)
• You can practice open-mindedness but don't be too open and forget things that makes us Filipinos. You can always add "po" & "opo" to your statements whether it's against the rule of grammar - saying 'Good Morning Po' or 'Thank You Po' don't mean that you're not good in English.
• Sound waves travel in air so when you're taking a bus or train with your friends don't converse too loudly.
• Even if you know that sound waves diffract or bend around openings don't be too reckless to eavesdrop on other people's conversation.
• There is no such thing as frictionless surface - so with our journey here on Earth... there's always hindrances/obstacles that sometimes changes our state of motion. Always maintain your focus just like the concept of a parabolic dish, wherever the signal hits the dish, it will always be reflected to focus.

Our school is somewhat comparable to Big Brother's House. Your teachers are those Big Brother's giving tasks to you. In times of success you will be rewarded, in times of failure you will be given the chance of learning. I'm not saying that Big Brother knows everything, but in general, the safest way to learning is to follow Big Brother's plan. I'm saying this not to suppress your own freedom - but because I know that you also know that Big Brother is more experienced than you are.

Going outside the box (or going outside Big Brother's House) is always an option and I'm not saying that this is not the road to success. Albert Einstein is a high-school dropout, so with Zack Zuckerberg, (the developer of the well-known social networking site -Facebook) was also a college dropout but they were successful in their chosen lives. They have taken the road less traveled. But the fact still remains, not all of us is Einstein or Zuckerberg. And since you've reached this point I believe that somehow you've submitted yourselves under the guidance of your Big Brothers - we, your teachers.

This graduation day marks the day of your departure to Big Brother's House, your school - your alma mater. As you leave don't forget those things that we've tried to impart to you - those are the basics for higher learning. As you leave this ground to quest for your own success always remember this anecdote I've learned from my Kuya.

Always consider yourself green, because green grows. If you consider yourself yellow or already ripe the next thing would be to rot.

We are not in the capacity to determine your success in life, neither what we've taught will determine your success. But one thing is for sure, with God's help, the first who would determine your own success whether it be the safest way of the road less traveled will be - YOU.

...and let me say this in a positive way.......

'You are now evicted from Big Brother's House!'

Congratulations!