My fellow Benildean Lasallians, dear parents, relatives and friends of the graduates, and you, graduates, Mr. and Ms. 7 % — good morning!
Why “7%”? Because the latest statistics tell us that out of every 100 students who enroll in Grade 1, only 7%–yes, 7%–complete a college degree! And, modesty aside, how many from those 7% have been able to graduate from an institution that has the caliber of faculty and facilities found in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde? I will return to the 7% later.
As you all know, seventeen days ago we began celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Lasallian presence in the Philippines. That presence began in 1911 with just nine Brothers in one school in Manila and 100 students. Today, after two world wars and a bloody massacre and after witnessing the end of one colonial period and the birth of a new republic, that one school has bloomed into seventeen schools throughout the country, and the 100 students have become nearly 100,000. And there you have an additional blessing, dear graduates, for not only are you among the fortunate 7% this year, but you also graduate on a very special and memorable occasion.
You probably thought you were done with exams, test, and quizzes. Well, surprise, surprise, I have one final quiz before you leave. It’s just one fill-in-the-blanks sentence, and all you have to answer is just one word.
Okay? This is the sentence: “Every human being wants to be ____”. What is your answer? Successful? Rich? Fulfilled? The word that I find most appropriate is “happy”. All of us, whether rich or poor, whether college graduates or grade school drop-outs, Americans, Africans or Asians—all of us want to be happy.
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