Legarda to BatStateU’s graduates: Huwag kayong masanay sa “puwede na”

Senator Loren Legarda challenged graduates of Batangas State University (BatStateU) to reject mediocrity in their professions, invoking three of the province’s own revolutionary heroes as models for the discipline, patience, and clarity of judgment their careers will demand.

“Anumang propesyon kayo mapunta, kapag may taong nagtitiwala sa inyong kaalaman, oras, serbisyo, o pasya, may buhay at kinabukasang maaaring maapektuhan ng inyong trabaho. Kaya huwag kayong masanay sa ‘puwede na.’ Huwag ninyong hayaang maging sapat ang halos tama kung may pagkakataon kayong gawin itong tama,” Legarda said during BatStateU’s 58th Commencement Exercises on July 28.

She built her message around three Batangueños who shaped the nation’s independence: General Miguel Malvar of Santo Tomas, the last Filipino general to lay down arms; Marcela Mariño Agoncillo of Taal, who hand-sewed the Philippine flag in exile in five days; and Apolinario Mabini of Tanauan, the “brain of the revolution.”

“Hindi sila isinilang na bayani. Dumating lamang ang sandaling may kailangang gawin at pinili nilang hindi tumalikod,” she said. “I share their stories because I hope to see something of them in each of you.”

She mapped each figure onto a graduating program: Malvar’s discipline for Criminology graduates, Agoncillo’s patience for Hospitality Management graduates, and an instinct drawn from all three for Tourism Management graduates, to present the country’s islands, history, food, and communities so the world sees the Philippines rightly. Every graduate, she added, should carry Mabini’s habit of reading the fine print of their own choices closely enough to catch what needs correcting.

Legarda traced BatStateU’s arc from a small trade school that opened in Batangas in 1903 to the country’s National Engineering University, now teaching more than 60,000 students from over 55 provinces across 12 campuses. She tied that growth to the province’s own weight in the national economy. As the heart of CALABARZON, the country’s second-largest economic region, Batangas’ port moves goods for half of Luzon, and its refineries and industrial estates power industries whose benefits reach Filipinos far beyond the province. Its coastlines in Anilao and Nasugbu draw divers and travelers worldwide, while Taal remains one of the most intact heritage towns in the country.

“Batangas has never had the luxury of choosing between commerce and conscience. It has always had to carry both,” she said.

Legarda likewise emphasized that education has long been at the center of her legislative work, guided by the belief that government must remove the burdens that prevent Filipinos from completing their education.

Throughout her years in public service, Legarda has championed reforms that expand access to education and strengthen support for learners at every stage. She co-authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which made tuition and other school fees free in state universities and colleges. She also principally authored and sponsored Senate Bill No. 1894, which strengthens the Tertiary Education Subsidy to help poor and vulnerable students remain in school and finish their degrees despite financial hardship.

Her support for BatStateU has also translated into direct investments in the university, including funding for educational assistance and support for the acquisition of land for the BatStateU Lemery Campus, helping expand opportunities for more Filipino students.

“Education must remain within reach through every difficult semester until a student reaches graduation,” she said.

She closed by turning from the individual graduates to the country at large.

“The future of our nation will not be transformed by extraordinary people. It will be transformed by ordinary Filipinos who choose each day to live and work extraordinarily well.” (30)

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Legarda sa mga nagsipagtapos sa BatStateU: Huwag kayong masanay sa “puwede na”

Hinamon ni Senadora Loren Legarda ang mga nagsipagtapos sa Batangas State University (BatStateU) na huwag tanggapin ang mediocrity sa kanilang mga propesyon, gamit ang tatlong rebolusyonaryong bayani ng Batangas bilang huwaran ng disiplina, tiyaga, at linaw ng paghatol na kakailanganin sa kanilang mga karera.

“Anumang propesyon kayo mapunta, kapag may taong nagtitiwala sa inyong kaalaman, oras, serbisyo, o pasya, may buhay at kinabukasang maaaring maapektuhan ng inyong trabaho. Kaya huwag kayong masanay sa ‘puwede na.’ Huwag ninyong hayaang maging sapat ang halos tama kung may pagkakataon kayong gawin itong tama,” ipinahayag ni Legarda sa ika-58 Pagtatapos ng BatStateU noong Hulyo 28.

Binigyang-diin niya ang tatlong Batangueño na humubog sa kalayaan ng bansa: si Heneral Miguel Malvar ng Santo Tomas, huling heneral na nagbaba ng armas; si Marcela Mariño Agoncillo ng Taal, na tumahi ng watawat ng Pilipinas sa loob ng limang araw habang nasa pagkakatapon; at si Apolinario Mabini ng Tanauan, kilala bilang “utak ng rebolusyon.”

“Hindi sila isinilang na bayani. Dumating lamang ang sandaling may kailangang gawin at pinili nilang hindi tumalikod,” aniya. “I share their stories because I hope to see something of them in each of you.”

Iniuugnay ni Legarda ang bawat bayani sa mga programang nagtapos: ang disiplina ni Malvar para sa mga Criminology graduates, ang tiyaga ni Agoncillo para sa Hospitality Management graduates, at ang instinct mula sa tatlo para sa Tourism Management graduates—upang maipakita sa mundo ang mga isla, kasaysayan, pagkain, at pamayanan ng Pilipinas nang tama. Dagdag pa niya, dapat dalhin ng bawat graduate ang ugali ni Mabini na basahin nang mabuti ang mga pasya upang makita ang kailangang itama.

Ibinahagi rin ni Legarda ang kasaysayan ng BatStateU mula sa maliit na trade school na binuksan sa Batangas noong 1903 hanggang sa pagiging National Engineering University ng bansa, na ngayon ay may higit 60,000 estudyante mula sa mahigit 55 probinsya sa 12 campus. Inugnay niya ito sa bigat ng Batangas sa pambansang ekonomiya bilang puso ng CALABARZON, ikalawang pinakamalaking rehiyong pang-ekonomiya ng bansa. Ang daungan ng Batangas ay nagdadala ng kalakal para sa kalahati ng Luzon, habang ang mga refinery at industrial estates ay nagpapatakbo ng mga industriya na nakikinabang ang mga Pilipino sa labas ng probinsya. Ang baybayin ng Anilao at Nasugbu ay dinarayo ng mga divers at turista, habang nananatiling buo ang Taal bilang isa sa pinakamatibay na heritage towns ng bansa.

“Batangas has never had the luxury of choosing between commerce and conscience. It has always had to carry both,” aniya.

Ipinahayag din ni Legarda na ang edukasyon ay matagal nang nasa sentro ng kanyang gawaing lehislatibo, batay sa paniniwala na tungkulin ng pamahalaan na alisin ang mga pasaning pumipigil sa mga Pilipino na tapusin ang kanilang pag-aaral.

Sa loob ng kanyang mga taon sa serbisyo publiko, isinulong ni Legarda ang mga reporma upang palawakin ang access sa edukasyon at palakasin ang suporta sa mga mag-aaral sa bawat yugto. Siya ay co-author at co-sponsor ng Republic Act No. 10931, o ang Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, na nagbigay ng libreng tuition at iba pang bayarin sa state universities at colleges. Siya rin ang pangunahing nag-akda at nag-sponsor ng Senate Bill No. 1894, na nagpapalakas sa Tertiary Education Subsidy upang matulungan ang mga mahihirap at bulnerableng estudyante na manatili sa paaralan at matapos ang kanilang degree sa kabila ng pinansyal na hirap.

Ang kanyang suporta sa BatStateU ay nagbunga rin ng direktang pamumuhunan sa unibersidad, kabilang ang pondo para sa educational assistance at suporta sa pagbili ng lupa para sa BatStateU Lemery Campus, na nagpalawak ng oportunidad para sa mas maraming Pilipinong estudyante.

“Education must remain within reach through every difficult semester until a student reaches graduation,” aniya.

Sa pagtatapos, iniugnay ni Legarda ang mensahe sa mas malawak na bayan.

“The future of our nation will not be transformed by extraordinary people. It will be transformed by ordinary Filipinos who choose each day to live and work extraordinarily well.” (30)