Legarda calls on NEU graduates to serve Filipinos with faith, hope, love

In commemoration of New Era University’s (NEU) golden anniversary, Senator Loren Legarda called on the more than 2,000 graduates to serve the Filipino people, guided by three virtues.

During her commencement address at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Friday, June 20, 2025, Legarda celebrated three truths — faith, hope, and love — which she said NEU anchors on in its five decades of existence.

“Today is, in itself, a powerful reflection of faith. We know, however, that faith is more than belief; it is action. It is the strength to give ourselves fully in the service of others,” she said.

“In a world that often rewards optics over virtue, your faith grounds you in something far deeper, anchoring you in a sea of uncertainties. It offers a fulfillment no applause can match: the peace of having done what is right, not for recognition, but simply because it was just,” she added.

However, Legarda reminded the graduates that before truly serving others, one must learn how to love oneself, since it is the foundation of genuine service.

“You were created intentionally, uniquely, and completely. Your gifts, your passions, and even your imperfections are not accidents. They were entrusted to you for a reason. To love yourself is to honor that trust, to use your life in service of something greater,” she explained.

“Only then, when you love yourself with the worth you deserve, can your love for others become deep, generous, and whole.”

She also told the graduates that hope should be hinged on a mixture of faith and action, as it is also a discipline.

“What allowed me to keep going—even when the road was lonely—was hope,” Legarda remarked.

“Hope that the seeds we plant will bear fruit in the lives of others. Hope that we can build a country where no one suffers simply because we acted too late.”

This helped the four-term senator craft landmark legislation on a topic that was considered taboo at the time—climate change.

“In 1998, when I authored the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, people asked, ‘Why are you legislating garbage? That won’t get you votes,” she recalled.

“But I did not shrink; instead, I stood taller. And I responded with more: the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Climate Change Act, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, the People’s Survival Fund, and culture-related measures such as the National Cultural Heritage Act and the Cultural Mapping Law.”

“Back then, climate action and cultural heritage were not part of our mainstream vocabulary. They weren’t trending; they didn’t command applause, but I pushed forward anyway, because my love for the Filipino people demanded more than a reaction. It demanded foresight and the responsibility to act before disaster or loss struck, not only after,” she furthered.

In conclusion, the veteran lawmaker reminded the thousands of students to stand firm for every Filipino, for each deserves dignity, human rights, quality education, and accessible healthcare.

“In the end, hope is not about believing that things will improve, but knowing that God has already placed within you the strength to make them better,” Legarda concluded.

Established in 1975 by the homegrown Christian sect Iglesia ni Cristo, the non-sectarian New Era University has sought to provide quality education anchored on Christian values with the primary purpose of bringing honor and glory to God. (30)