A Valedictory Address
By Jubail W. Pasia
Ateneo de Davao University
Class of 2014
Introduction
(...)
“Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.”[1]
I never imagined myself delivering a valedictory address on behalf of 1429 graduates. Being valedictorian was never my goal; it was never a part of my game plan. But it happened as it happened. I guess it is because I fell in love. I learned that in love, we open ourselves to the world of vulnerability and terrains of uncertainty, to being hurt and wounded because of failures, to having our hearts scarred and broken due to seemingly endless frustrations and disappointments[2]. But in the same context of love, we strive to be better, we fight, we do everything at our disposal to rectify our mistakes and failings, we give it our all, we embrace our very imperfections. We own them and yet we offer a part of ourselves. Love is a battle, love is an encounter. Love is a growing up. And this is how our college life has been. It is a tapestry of anecdotes of experiences of love and
loving.
On Our Shared and Common Experiences of Falling In Love
The story of our college life is beautifully woven by various experiences of love. Between the time of choosing our course, when some pursued with confidence the fulfillment of their passion while some dove in fatalistic uncertainty but took the risk and looked forward to see where it will take them, and this day of gratefulness and shared celebration of years of hard work and perseverance, we were molded and formed by our Jesuit education. Every step of it was a challenge; every step of it brings back grace-filled learning experiences. From waking up early to attend 7:40 AM classes and going home late from evening classes, to practicing our routines for PE performances, to polishing our theatrical scripts to deliver plays in literature and Rizal subjects, to gaining victory in college fiesta and college days competitions, to looking forward to seeing our crush pass by the corridors, to attending to daily duties as university scholars and student assistants, to writing term papers and trembling at oral examinations in Philosophy, to revising papers rejected by professors, to feeling the intense emotions of having our theses or feasibility studies approved, and to befriending the break of dawn to beat deadlines. Who would ever forget the FYDP sessions which introduced us to the Ignatian values of Magis[3], cura personalis[4], and of being men-and-women for-and-with- others; the NSTP-CWTS formations that immersed us deeper into our commitment to social justice and radical giving of ourselves to others. In everything that has been, we existentially pushed our limits and realized that we have actually achieved milestones we never imagined we could reach, honing our intellectual capacities, and deepening our social involvement and our spirituality. For all of these, we are deeply grateful to God who is, has been and will always be present in our lives, “laboring” lovingly “for us in all things.”[5]
The Commitment to Love, Its Roots and its Fruits
Now, we ask ourselves, “Where do we go from here?” Where will our Ateneo education take us? As Ateneans, we are blessed with excellent instruction and formation; we practice robust research, and community service. We are envisioned by our Alma Mater “to benefit from, and contribute to and engage the global world,”[6] as we become “leaders for the Philippine Church and the society, especially for Mindanao.”[7] As Ateneans, we are challenged to be at the “frontiers”[8] to bring the “evangelical spirit”[9] of the gospel from the centers to “the margins of society,”[10] and to respond to the morally compelling call of the times. As Ateneans, we are called to live a life not only of faith but also of love, love that impels us to act in behalf of justice.
St. Ignatius of Loyola reminds us of the very nature of love---Firstly, “love ought to manifest itself in deeds rather than in words;”[11] for love which remains only in words and sweet poetry, are but empty rhetorics, while Love incarnated in action is excellence in the service of others.
Secondly, love can never be divorced from personal commitment. As such, being an Atenean is to respond to a lifetime invitation; it is an invitation to commit ourselves to become “witnesses to excellence”[12], builders of peace, persons of integrity, and champions of good and ethical governance, “cultural transformation”[13], and “human ecology”[14]. Being an Atenean and also a Mindanaon, we are all challenged to be in ‘frontier’ spaces where we can best contribute in attaining the ideals and the vision of peace and development in Mindanao. We are a privileged generation for we are given by history the chance to vigorously contribute in realizing the “Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro”[15], and the broad development plan of “Mindanao 2020.”[16] Even as we speak, the ink on the peace accord on the Bangsamoro has just dried, but let our hopes overflow our hearts. From among us, the future businesspersons and entrepreneurs are challenged not only to create wealth but also advocate for its equitable distribution, and establish a dynamic and sustainable Philippine and Mindanao economy. The future lawmakers and public servants are challenged to embody ethical, participatory and inclusive governance, push for a social and political system that privileges the common good and fight for the rights of the oppressed and the voiceless, creating a justice system accessible to all. The future educators are challenged not only to contribute to the formation of our youth but more importantly, to emphatically insist on Philippine educational reforms. Future nurses and medical practitioners are challenged not only to alleviate the sick from the difficulties of suffering from diseases and health complications, but more importantly to make these services accessible to the poor and the marginalized. The future media practitioners are challenged to bare the truth at all times. The future engineers, architects, and scientists, are challenged to be innovators to promote environmental sustainability, preservation of biodiversity, and renewable energy. All in the service of the “faith-that does-justice”[17] for “the common good”[18]---All for love of the Creator, the creation and the human creatures.[19]
Thirdly, Love implies openness to life experiences and freedom to become. The celebration of our graduation is not only a celebration for surviving four or more years of academic rigor, but also a commencement of a new chapter in our lives as catalysts of transformation and agents of liberation of Philippine society as we strive to excel in our respective fields, where we have all been called to. Beyond the walls of the university are bigger opportunities for bigger dreams and bigger risks for bigger failures. But let our core, our inner self, our heart of hearts, formed in the Ateneo Way, embrace these promising dreams and withstand possible failures. In the message of Pope Francis to the youth during last year’s World Youth Day, he urged, and I quote “In an age where we are constantly being enticed by vain and empty illusions of happiness, we risk settling for less and thinking small when it comes to the meaning of life. Think big instead. Open your hearts!”[20] Yes, in love, let us embrace the richness of life itself and open our hearts to freedom---that is the creative power to be at our fullest humanity. Let us continue to pursue what we love to do, and love what we ought to do. And by doing so, we become “Ateneo de Davao sui generis leaders.”[21] At the end of the day, we are directed to the path where God wants us to be, “called to be saints, sent forth as heroes.”[22] Heed the call and feel that burning passion that drives us to love and love all the more. Let us respond to the call, accept our mission, stay in love with what we do and ought to do, and out of the superabundance of this love, it will decide everything.
Thanksgiving
(...)
With that, let me leave one and all with this striking prayer by the late Jesuit Superior General, Fr. Pedro Arrupe:
Nothing is more practical than finding God,
than falling in Love in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read, whom you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
Fall in Love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.[23]
Daghang salamat kaninyong tanan!
__________________________________________________________
[1] Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, “Rooted and Grounded in Love” (1981)
[2] Rollo May, “Love and Will” (1969)
[3] Fr. Barton T.Geger, SJ, Jesuit Higher Education, What Magis Really Means and Why It Matters (2012)
[4] Fr.Peter-Hans Kolvenbach S.J, Review of Ignatian Spirituality: Cura Personalis(2007)
[5]Go Forth and Teach: The Characteristics of Jesuit Education,(1987)
[6] Ateneo de Davao University Student Manual: Vision, Mission and Goals of the University (2013)
[7]Ateneo de Davao University Student Manual: Vision, Mission and Goals of theUniversity (2013)
[8] Documents of the 35 GeneralCongregation of the Society of Jesus, Decrees 1 & 2 (2008)th
[9] Pope Francis, Homily delivered on May 5,2013, during the Holy Mass for those involved in Confraternities committed to ecclesial, evangelical and missionary service (2013)
[10] Pope John Paul II, Redemptoris Missio: On the Permanent Validity of the Church's Missionary Mandate (1990)
[11] St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises: Contemplatio (230-237)
[12] Go Forth and Teach: The Characteristics ofJesuit Education,(1987)
[13] Characteristics of the Social Apostolate of the Society of Jesus (1998)
[14] Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate (2009)
[15] Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (2014)
[16] Mindanao 2020 (2011)
[17] Documents of the 32nd General Congregation of the Society of Jesus, Decree 4(1975)
[18] Jacques Maritain, ‘The Person and the Common Good’ (1947)
[19] Documents of the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus, Decrees 2 & 3 (2008)
[20] Pope Francis, Message for the 29th World Youth Day (2014)
[21] Fr. Joel Tabora, SJ, ADDU University President’s Address to the Joint ADDU Faculty Convocation (2012)
[22] Filipino Catholic Laity: Called to be Saints…Sent Forth as Heroes!, Pastoral Exhortation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines for the 2014 Year of the Laity(2013)
[23] Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, “Rooted and Grounded in Love” (1981)
*I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my mentor, Sir Hadji Balajadia, for passionately guiding me in writing this address [and for helping me out with the annotations]. I won't come up with this speech without your support. Thank you so much! :)
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