(Introduction)
Lola, the late Prof. Milagros Casals Hular Aguiling who committed her life as a true educator, asked me last year to deliver a graduation speech. I declined for I did not feel I was good enough for the job. I have great respect and love for this institution and the ideals it upholds.
This gathering serves to commemorate Dr. Homobono Atienza Aguiling who started it all. My first encounter with Lolo Dako was his robust sculpture. He carried confidence and principles in his stance and gaze. He was the lolo dako; he was the big man.
The big man was in fact a good man. Not only does his name spell it out – homo (man) and bono (good) – but he also led a life of a good man. This I learned when I had to do my research for a presentation in Lolo and Lola’s golden wedding anniversary. Colgate University in New York. President of Filipino student leaders in the United States. The First Filipino Pastor. Among the co-founders of the Central Philippine University. And Republican College, which he put up in Pandacan, Manila.
CPU recognizes the vision of our founder as an educator, they quote the words written on his epitaph that stand right here in our campus.
It reads:
I experienced this first hand when I was growing up. My sister and I spent our teenage days seeing the students of Teresa Community High School drag their slippers from a far flung town to the school to learn basic arithmetic that my mom taught to first year high school students. They had all sorts of problems stumbling in their way to school, but they conquered it all. Wore their white polos to school proud. Because in school, they are free. Free to dream. Free to soar high. In school, no one can stop them from becoming the good man that they want to become.
So thank you. In behalf of the Aguiling family. Thank you for proving that despite all hurdles, we remain resilient in the fight towards giving hope to the Filipino youth. Thank you for being that good man.
Lola, the late Prof. Milagros Casals Hular Aguiling who committed her life as a true educator, asked me last year to deliver a graduation speech. I declined for I did not feel I was good enough for the job. I have great respect and love for this institution and the ideals it upholds.
This gathering serves to commemorate Dr. Homobono Atienza Aguiling who started it all. My first encounter with Lolo Dako was his robust sculpture. He carried confidence and principles in his stance and gaze. He was the lolo dako; he was the big man.
The big man was in fact a good man. Not only does his name spell it out – homo (man) and bono (good) – but he also led a life of a good man. This I learned when I had to do my research for a presentation in Lolo and Lola’s golden wedding anniversary. Colgate University in New York. President of Filipino student leaders in the United States. The First Filipino Pastor. Among the co-founders of the Central Philippine University. And Republican College, which he put up in Pandacan, Manila.
CPU recognizes the vision of our founder as an educator, they quote the words written on his epitaph that stand right here in our campus.
It reads:
We insist on the principle of equal opportunity for education for the Filipino people. To this end, I have devoted my whole life, however, humble it may be, so even the lowliest Filipino shall be truly free; free to choose a life that is self-reliant, enlightened; and of service with integrity to the Motherland and Humanity under the canopy of Filipino faith in the Almighty.EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR EDUCATION. For every boy and girl, man and woman. For the dark and fair skinned. For the petite and plump. For the bully and the victim. For the rich and the poor. Equal opportunity for education. This is our battle cry.
I experienced this first hand when I was growing up. My sister and I spent our teenage days seeing the students of Teresa Community High School drag their slippers from a far flung town to the school to learn basic arithmetic that my mom taught to first year high school students. They had all sorts of problems stumbling in their way to school, but they conquered it all. Wore their white polos to school proud. Because in school, they are free. Free to dream. Free to soar high. In school, no one can stop them from becoming the good man that they want to become.
So thank you. In behalf of the Aguiling family. Thank you for proving that despite all hurdles, we remain resilient in the fight towards giving hope to the Filipino youth. Thank you for being that good man.
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