“If you’re valuable to others, then success will chase you”, this was the striking line of the Commencement address delivered by Mr. Efren G. Peñaflorida of the Dynamic Team Company in the 37th Emilio Aguinaldo College Manila and Cavite campuses Commencement Exercises last April 19, 2010 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex themed: “Socially Responsive and Innovative Philippine Education”. He organized and founded the education classroom known as “Kariton Klasrum” that received awards of recognition such as the Gawad Geny Lopez Bayaning Pilipino in 2007, NEDA and UN Volunteers in 2008, ASEAN TAYO Awards in 2009 and won for the Philippines the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year.
The event was graced by all the members of the Yaman Lahi Foundation, Inc. Emilio Aguinaldo College Board of Trustees led by the Chairman of the Board Mr. Danilo L. Dolor and EAC President Dr. Jose Paulo E. Campos who gave this message to the students “Use your education not just for your personal advancement but to the community you belong to, this notion of advancing as an individual is connected from your social connection. The only true success is an achievement shared by your family, friends and community and your fellow men. I hope that now you are leaving the portals of our institution you will be at tuned with our mission of virtue, service and excellence and that if you follow this then you will do what is right.”
Part of the speech of Dr. Campos was his introduction of the Commencement Speaker Mr. Efren G. Peñaflorida who shared this message to the new Emilians “I made a covenant with God that I would pursue education and help change our present educational system that will help the poor kids that are discriminated by society. Each of us has a purpose in life that is why you are here in this graduation. When I finished my college course I knew I have a purpose, that is to make a significant change in every life that I cross path with, this motivated me to reach more and more underprivileged children whose love for learning is gone and spend their time begging, scavenging and staying on the streets. Our dynamic team wants to reach out to these kids.
What I want to share to you, it is important that we use what God gave us, the knowledge and developed skills, not for our own benefit alone but for the benefit of other people. In our team, we use tools and instruments on how we can help the children and we are not ashamed to find ways for the children to learn. Do not be ashamed to do something right for others , there will be failures and mistakes that you will experience, we have all the strength, what we should do is to deal with our weaknesses and duel in our strengths.
We can do a lot even if we are young, even with those weaknesses and criticisms, just let God use those weaknesses to become strengths, in the long run, many will believe just like in our “Carton Classroom”. Before, the children looked on the pushcart as a symbol of poverty. Now, they have a new perspective, they see the pushcart as a symbol of education with books to bring more of our underprivileged kids to formal school because it is important in the lives of these children”.
We wan to have that spark on you, do not loose that love for learning. Let us always remember that to be successful in life, what is important is to be valuable to others, strive not be of success but of value.
Spend your time creating value, if you’re valuable to others, then success will chase you. Each one of us is a hero. We just have to unleash it.”
In continuation, the event was followed by the presentation of candidates for graduation by the Deans of the many schools that comprise EAC Manila and Cavite and conferment of Degrees and Titles by the EAC President followed by the awarding of Diplomas.
The presentation of Honors and Awards was conferred by the EAC Chairman of the Board Mr. Danny Dolor and the response from the graduates was delivered by the student who graduated with the highest general waited average. Lastly, Mr. John Paul E. Romillo led the induction of all the graduates into the EAC Alumni Association, Inc.