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Engr. Manuel I. Gloria Nov. 2011 Commencement Address

Posted on : November 16, 2011

SPEECH of ENGR. MANUEL I. GLORIA JR.
Commencement Speaker at the 42nd Commencement Exercises
Second Mid-Year Graduation
Iligan Institute of Technology of the Mindanao State University
11 November 2011, 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM

Theme: MSU-IIT Going Beyond Borders

 

Borders define limits, boundaries. Borders enclose us, but they also protect us from the perils on the outside. We typically think of borders in physical terms such as the geographical limits of a nation or a country. But borders are not always physical. They can also be cultural, intellectual, language-based, technological, religious, or institutional.

When you started your studies here, you went beyond the borders of your neighborhood, your town, your province. You went beyond your circle of relatives, acquaintances and friends, beyond your usual way of life. But you had at the same time forged friendships and relationships with your fellow students, the faculty of this hallowed institution, and more.

Perhaps, you were also scared then of the unknown as I was when I left my hometown of Dumaguete City to study in Baguio City in the far north of our country. Ilocano, which I didn’t understand, was the primary language in Baguio City at that time, but there were many other languages. Aside from the language, the regional cultures and food, and, other aspects of life of the Ilocanos, the Ibanags, the Igorots, the Pangasinenses, the Kapampangans, Tagalogs, and more, were so different from what I was used to as a provincial, Bisayan, lowlander. Without being aware of it then, I had gone beyond many of my borders: culture, language, relationships. But as I learned and immersed myself in other cultures and way of life, I was able to appreciate the richness of our diversity. So, one lesson learned – going beyond my regional borders allowed me to discover, appreciate, and even assimilate many new cultures.

Even schooling and instruction were different in college compared to high school. In high school, we were practically spoon-fed with information. At the start of the school year in high school, we were already provided with a complete set of books. In college, I had to learn to borrow books from the library, from teachers, from classmates, from upper class men, from friends. I had to do my own research with less guidance from my teachers. At first, I found it difficult but soon I experienced the joy of discovering things for myself. Going beyond the borders of my stereotypes about high school instruction taught me a better way of learning.

Right after graduating from college, I was fortunate to be granted a scholarship to pursue my masteral degree in a university in Europe where I was exposed to more radically different cultures, languages, and peoples. But that was not what caused my anxiety. Rather, on the first day of classes, I saw that the institute where I was assigned was so technically advanced. For my research work, all I had to do was submit samples and automated instruments would spew out the results of analysis on the printer at the other end; whereas during my college days, we performed titration and chemical analysis manually. Nevertheless, I later discovered that I could rely on these manual skills when the laboratory instruments were overloaded or had broken down. My classmates actually envied my ability to perform titration manually. Another lesson learned - going beyond borders to a technologically advanced showed that the skills and capabilities I acquired, remained useful and effective.

The method of instruction in Europe was likewise very different from what I was used to even in college. While I deemed myself to be competent enough to study and research on my own, I soon found out it was not enough. Aside from doing my own research, I found out that I was to learn by doing. Once, my professor briefly explained a principle in water treatment, gave a list of references to study, and then instructed me to get water from a nearby river, and make it potable by applying what I had learned. When I finally succeeded in making the sample of river water clean enough to drink, I discovered a new method of instruction, learning by doing. I would not have discovered this unless I was willing to go beyond the borders of my usual way of learning.

For four years or more, you have been sheltered within the confines of your school. During that time, your school has educated you, led you out of the darkness of ignorance into the light of knowledge. Now, your alma mater has deemed you well enough prepared to go beyond the borders of this academic institution.

As you go beyond and leave the borders of your alma mater, many of you may be wondering and worried if you would find jobs relevant and appropriate to your academic education, whether in the private industry or the public sector. When I completed my studies, I, too, worried about the same thing – finding a decent, well paying job. I was tempted to extend my stay in the university, with its familiar routines. Maybe, you, too, were tempted to stay by pursing further studies. But like you, I was also excited to finally work in the real world, to go beyond and leave behind the borders of the academic institution. And, in the end, the allure of the excitement of working in the real world won out for me as I think it will likewise be so for many of you.

So, going beyond the borders of academic world into my first job in the private sector, my immediate supervisor was a sanitary engineer while I was and still am, a chemical engineer. We had different methods for designing treatment plants but surprisingly, we ended up with similar designs. Thus, I learned that applying different professional approaches does not necessarily mean different outcomes if the objectives are the same. There is, therefore, nothing to fear in going beyond the borders of our profession or academic training and embracing new and different ways of doing things.

When I went to work in Saudi Arabia, it was literally a going beyond the borders – not only of the Philippine territory but also of our Philippine culture. Fortunately, we, Filipinos, are highly adaptable and get along well with other people and cultures. Although there are radical differences in culture, we adjust and manage well.

Working abroad also meant going beyond the borders of my technological training and expertise and my preconceived notions of my capabilities. I was working with mostly British and some American engineers. Except for the difference in pay scale, I am proud to say that the Filipino engineer can stand toe to toe and perform as well as if not better than an engineer of any nationality. There is nothing to fear, then, in going beyond the borders of our technological expertise or academic training.

In short, we can cope and we can even thrive when we go beyond our cultural, intellectual, language-based, technological, religious, or institutional borders. But there is one insidious border that often severely limits us. This is the border in our subconscious: our lack of confidence in ourselves and our abilities. Because it is in our subconscious mind, we often believe without question when our brains seem to tell us that something is beyond our knowledge, capabilities, skills, or expertise. As a result, we do not even bother to try.

Were it not for the encouragement and inspiration of my wife, Fe, I would not have dared to stand up here in front of you. Why? Because I was trapped by the boundaries of my preconceived notions and stereotypes. My stereotype of an engineer is one who has poor English language skill, and not capable of speaking in public. So, I was afraid that I was not competent enough to stand here in front of you. But her faith in me was enough to help me overcome my fears and apprehension.

As you go forth beyond your borders, allow me to share five guidelines in life that I learned from a truly inspiring person. He was a highly successful stock market broker who gave up his wealth to become a priest in his mid-thirties to minister to the poor. He went beyond the borders of his materialistic lifestyle to dedicate his life to others.

1. Live for the Eternal – For those who believe in an eternal afterlife, this physical is only a short stint. The more important lifetime is still to come. For those who do not believe in an afterlife, I offer the advice - consider the long term. For example, you may want to have an iPad 2 now but cannot afford it. So you become frustrated and angry. But if you look at the long term, say a couple of years of being employed, the iPad 2 may no longer be even desirable but certainly will then be quite affordable to you. When you take the long term view, everything falls into proper perspective and proportion.
2. Be Faithful – When you are faithful to your parents, to your family, to your friends, to your employer, to your spouse, you will not do anything to hurt or harm them and you will be at peace with yourself.
3. Be a Blessing to Others – Do good to everyone, not only those dear to you but to every person who crosses your path.
4. It Pays to do the Right Thing – When you have gone beyond the boundaries of your alma mater into the work place, you may be exposed to many situations where you may have to choose between, say, being honest and getting rich. Doing the right thing will pay you back a hundred fold.
5. Relationship First – People matter more than things. We know that we cannot bring any possession with us when we die, yet we act as if we could, accumulating material possessions throughout our lives to the point of disregarding the people in our lives. The more you possess, the more you worry that somebody would steal your possessions or that you would lose them. How can you be happy when you are always worried? True happiness comes not from our possessions but from our relationship with others. No material possession can match the joy of laughter shared with friends. No expensive jewelry can ease the pain of a broken heart as well as a friend’s shoulder one could cry on.

I have been trying to encourage you to go, to leap enthusiastically beyond your borders because there is really nothing to fear. Yet now, I must warn you that there are borders beyond which I hope you will never go. These borders that you must not cross are the borders or boundaries of truth, honesty and decency; of ethics and morality; of justice and fairness.

In addition, going beyond the borders does not mean cutting your ties to your family, your friends, your birthplace, your country, your culture, your faith. Rather, your ties will keep you grounded and will lead you back to the people who care for you, who nurture you, and most of all, who love you.

Now, let us take the opportunity to express our gratitude to the people who have toiled to make this day possible, because they love you. Let us now offer a round of applause to our parents and benefactors.

Congratulations and thank you.