GET INVOLVED IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE! (speech delivered during the convocation of the UNP College of Law, Vigan City on July 25, 2009)

The study of law is a tough discipline. Passing the bar is even tougher. In this field of endeavor, expect the unexpected. The ordinary becomes extraordinary and sometimes the excellent becomes average. In law school, everybody is in equal footing.

For the past years, the City Council of Vigan gave recognition to its new lawyers by tendering an annual testimonial for Bigueno bar passers. We are doing this because we want to establish a rapport between the law profession and the local government. We want the lawyers and those studying law to recognize that politics is the art of governance. We want you to realize that there is no such thing as dirty politics “maduming pulitika.” Yes, there are undesirable politicians, but politics remains in the real sense, the science or art of governance. Every citizen then should participate and have a voice in our political system. As students of this institution, you are trained to know the fundamentals and technicalities of the law. But, it should not stop there, encourage yourselves to develop a “watchdog mentality.” Get involved in local governance. We need your opinions, comments, criticisms and critical minds to improve the quality of governance in our community. Be catalysts for social change.

On the otherhand, we want lawyers and those taking up law to provide us the necessary knowledge and skill in establishing a law-abiding community. We want you to help us promote and protect human rights, uphold and dispense justice and fair play, respect and defend the constitution and existing laws. We want you to help us promote good governance.

You are not here just to become lawyers. Your ambition should be beyond that. Don’t just aim to pass the in your subjects or graduate in this law school, or pass the bar. Aim more, show to the world that the ordinary in you can become extraordinary. Show to the world that the average in you can become excellent. Show to the world that they should expect the unexpected from you. You are here with a mission and let’s all make a difference.