Here is is a truly edifying incident for the Filipino nation! I take liberty in reprinting this news item in this column. I thought this is a “must read” for every youth and student in this country.
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UP Visayas summa cum laude slams critics of activists
by Regi Adosto, ABS-CBN News Iloilo
Posted at 06/27/2015 12:05 PM | Updated as of 06/27/2015 6:36 PM
MIAG-AO, ILOILO – Twenty-one year-old Raoul Danniel Manuel, University of the Philippines-Visayas (UPV)’ first summa cum laude, brought up the sentiments of his fellow activist in front of thousands during the UPV graduation ceremony.
Manuel, a student activist, has taken part on many mobilizations to call for action on various social issues. In his speech, he addressed criticisms that militants usually don’t care about their studies.
Manuel has proven those critics wrong as he graduates with a general weighted average of 1.099.
In his speech, Manuel said, “Madalas daw na nasasayang ang pera ng gobyerno dahil sa pagliban ng mga estudyante sa eskwela… Tanong ko naman, para saan ang perfect attendance sa isang klase na kulang naman sa lab equipment dahil sa kakulangan ng budget sa edukasyon?”
“Para saan ang perfect attendance kung karamihan sa mga kabataang Pinoy ang di makapasok dahil sa taas ng matrikula? Para saan ang perfect attendance sa loob ng classroom kung ang mga tao sa labas ng unibersidad ang nangangailangan ng tulong ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan? At kung pariwara ang mga aktibista, bakit may mga nagtapos ngayon na aktibista at may leadership award pa at honors?”
Manuel said student activists know how to manage their time.
“Ang isang aktibista ay marunong umako ng kanyang kahinaan at pagkakamali. Ang mga akatibista ay tao rin na may kapintasan. Tila matibay ang motibasyon na makilaban, makibaka.”
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This admirable 21-year-old Filipino—Raoul Danniel Manuel— outshines all the showbiz stars in the firmament above our lands. He is God’s gift to the Youth & Student Activism, who treads the very footways that bear the footmarks of Rizal, Bonifacio, Mabini , del Pilar, and the rest of our national heroes.
His mark of excellence stands out above Daniel Padilla, Enchong Dee, Daniel Matsunaga and all the other cinema stars and starlets whose only credential is good looks. Or a preoccupation for vain popularity and glamour, and nothing more.
Manuel’s is the epitome of the ideals of excellence which reflects the fullest development of one’s intellectual faculties and potentials tempered by a rightly placed love of country.
His kind is what the present era of Philippine society most needs— a talent harnessed not for personal aggrandizement and selfish interest, but one dedicated to the fulfillment of the dreams of the grassroots —their emancipation from abject poverty—the realization of genuine democracy and social justice.
In other words, his is a rare kind of consciousness that ranks the best interests of the people in his life’s concerns and agenda. A real-life activist and endorser of the struggle of the poor and the deprived, the exploited and the oppressed in our society.
If our society has any need for a “role model” of the youth, Raoul Manuel is the very embodiment of that challenge to fill the need.
