Philippines is a great nation and I believe that it is so. I may be young but I
value and respect the strengths and weaknesses of my beloved country. The
Filipino heroes who sacrificed their blood and guts to protect this nation are
our core and sanctuary. Our history makes us who we are and our differences
will keep us united.
To our distinguished panel of judges, esteemed teachers, beloved parents,
fellow students, ladies and gentlemen, good morning!
“The price of greatness is responsibility,” said Winston Churchill. But what
does he mean by this? Could it be that we, as citizens of this country, are
responsible to the positive and negative outcome that may occur in the future
or do the choices we make determine the responsibility that we ought to partake
for our future?
Some say that to become responsible, one must learn to realize something
important for responsibility is the ability to decide and act well for a better
reason, since it is when responsible decisions result to wise actions.
Nonetheless, how does being responsible and making good choices effect to good
governance? The answer to that is good leadership.
Good leadership is not a question of who, what, where and why? For good
leadership does not necessarily require a person must possess an excellent
background to become a better leader, because one of the best qualities of a
great leader is the ability to be unselfish.
Peter Drucker once said and I quote: The leaders who work most effectively, it
seems to me, never say “I”. And that’s not because they have trained themselves
not to say “I”. They don’t think “I”. They think “We”, they think “Team”. They
understand their job to make the team function. They accept responsibility and
don’t sidestep it, but “we” gets the credit…This is what creates trust, what
enables you to get the task done!
Thereby, a great leader sets aside his interests for others because a great
leader is not measured by his affluence and arrogance but by the strength of
his heart.
However, responsibility does not end there. Our leaders are not the only people
who can change and decide for our future. We, as citizens, are also
responsible. We have the right to choose and elect for a responsible leader.
Someone who is passionate, willing to sacrifice, inspires and influences
others, strong, but not boorish; kind, but not weak; brave, but not an
oppressor; considerate, but not lazy; humble, but not apprehensive; proud, but
not conceited; humorous, but without folly.
Call it as it may, but the truth of the matter is—we hold the power to a
successful and glorious future! Thus, it’s not enough that we settle for
something disdainful because someone has blinded us to be frail. We must not
let ourselves be deceived or empowered by anyone. Now is not the time to be
vain and egotistic for we are committed, we are responsible for the betterment
of our nation.
I maybe youthful; have less experienced and naïve, but I am aware of our
nation’s predicament. Yet I am determined, determined to influence each of you
to start being responsible for your actions. Likewise, I want to be
conscientious. I want to be able to decide responsibly and wisely for my
actions. I dream of a great nation, a nation without malice and voracity.
Thereby, the choices that you will make will determine my future, our future.
Beloved Citizens, our right to choose must not be painted with gluttony and
self-centeredness. Our country needs us. It needs us to be strong, determined,
committed and responsible. Let our actions inspire others to do more, become
more, learn more and motivate more because it has always been our choice, our
choice for a better life, our choice for a better future and our choice for a
better nation.
All rights reserved © Shiya Tamasao 2019
