By Albert Jan Matthew Java

Delivered during the CPU-COL 2025 Commencement Exercises, July 21, 2025, at Rose Memorial Auditorium

Albert Jan Matthew Java delivers a heartfelt response on behalf of the CPU College of Law graduates during the CPU-COL 2025 Commencement Exercises held on July 21, 2025, at the Rose Memorial Auditorium.

Atty. Avelino V. Sales, Jr., National Director of Commission on Bar Discipline / Commencement Speaker
Rev. Dr. Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy, President, This University
Atty. Von Lovel D. Bedona, Chairman, CPU Board of Trustees / Hardcore Labor Law Professor
Atty. Aila Rae B. Endonila, Dean, CPU College of Law / Hardcore Commercial Law Professor
Atty. Liza-Lyn G. Lamason-Garcia, Asst. Dean, CPU College of Law / Hardcore Civil Law Professor
Honorable and hardcore faculty of CPU College of Law, the happiest place on Earth,
Maam Roda, Maam Mel – hardcore power duo of the CPU College of Law
Parents, guests, and, of course, fellow graduates, good afternoon!

I have nothing to boast, I only have privilege.
Privilege of being surrounded by classmates who have the same aspirations,
The same aspirations but different beginnings,
Some begin their day at 3 AM, others start at 4PM,
Some with no one to depend on, others with three dependents,
Some, as the light of hope, others hope to at least see some light,
Yes, we were on equal footing in the classroom – and we acknowledge that with full pride and respect; but the struggle before we can even step inside the room was far worse for some compared to others;
I was one of the privileged ones – and to those who had it much harder, I hope I can at least be worthy to speak for you. We see you, I see you.

To those who may have fell short and are not here today, I pray that you may be able lift your face up and be mighty proud believing that you did not go down without giving a fight. I pray that you may find the courage to brush the dust off, get up, and continue. I pray that in the future, in God’s perfect timing, you, too, will have the chance to wear these beautiful black and violet togas.

To those who struggled and made it, you deserve this – it is of no luck, nor is it chance, that you are here, in this moment. This was the moment that you have pictured in your minds while going home after a 3-hour class thinking about the next day’s grind. This was the moment that you held on to every time you miss a family gathering, forego a “better” dinner date, or even saying that dreaded “no” while looking at the innocent eyes of your kid. This was the moment – and today, this is the moment, your moment.

To those, who are like me, privileged – let me not rob you of the beauty and magnitude of this success. Yes, we may not share the same extrinsic struggles; but I am absolutely sure that the storm, the unrest, the weight of the pursuit of law within us is the same, if not greater. I am talking about the expectations that come with privilege – expectations that we cannot fail and that we must deliver, all because we have privilege. Some of us even tried to convince ourselves by “using” such privilege to help others, only to go home and still feel unfit and unworthy. Today, we stand with our fists up in victory – because we did not fail and we delivered.

To my classmates, to each and every one of you, here or at home, I pray that when you get the chance to look in a mirror and stare yourself in the eye, you will truly be proud of yourself and what you see when you hear the word: “Congratulations!”.

I have nothing to boast, I only have privilege.
Privilege of being taught by top-tier mentors,
Mentors who bring the outside world inside the classroom,
A classroom turned into an arena for ideas, where words were our swords as well as our shields,
A classroom enclosed in a time capsule, where 5 seconds feels like 2 decades when you hear your name being called,
A classroom where codal provisions are taught meticulously, but Christian nuances are subtly injected.
I feel you.
Teaching law with a Christian flavor may be just a phrase for some, corny for others even;
But our teachers made me feel that these are words to live by.
I am not exaggerating, these are facts:
One professor was always there when I had questions on leadership and implementation;
Another, entertained my simplistic and almost idealistic questions about balancing law and Christianity.
A couple of them even expressly juxtaposed Biblical ideologies with provisions of the law.
And these are the same teachers that terrorize us every time they shuffle the class cards.
Brilliant with the law; uncompromising when it comes to faith.
I entered CPU Law with the dream of becoming a Christian lawyer; I graduate with a lighter burden knowing that I am not alone.
To our hardcore professors, thank you!

I have nothing to boast, I only have privilege.
Privilege of being born to a family who support everything and question nothing;
A family who makes me feel that I am loved through random ways –
A random “Kamusta ka?”
A random “I’m praying for you!”
A random “Okay lang kami di, padayon ka lang da”
And even not so random ways –
I need muscle for an event – Tatay to the rescue
I’m short of cash for fees – Nanay’s credit, payable when able
This family has given me life, and today I want to honor them:
To the loud and proud,
The strong, independent, fierce,
Yet caring and sacrificial Java Family, thank you for giving me the confidence that can move mountains, that compensates for my lack of size.
To the less rowdy,
The gentle, meek and soft-spoken
Perfectionist and practical Arandela Family, thank you for balancing my Java genes, as well as silently supporting me with your kind words and prayers.
To Tatay, thank you for giving me a man to look up to;
a single-faced man with no other façade
a man living life aggressively based on a clear-cut black and white criteria,
a man with a basic and fundamental faith – that proves to me that basic, if consistent, is strong.
To Nanay, thank you for being a keen observer – being able to tell what I need before I even know it;
An observer who does not really need actions to influence me and my decisions;
An observer who gives me warnings on dangerous things,
and in the occasion that I still fall into such, an observer who never plays the “I told you so” card.
You are a living mind-reader – or as I would like to believe soul-reader. Thank you for believing in me even when I cannot believe in myself.
To Toto Am-Am, thank you for conversations that keep me grounded.
Conversations that remind me why I entered law school.
Conversations that are not afraid to speak truth, both easy and hard.
Conversations that put a smile in my face or even tears in my eyes – but in both instances, with joyful release in my heart.
Nang Kim, thank you for holding the hand of my brother while he holds mine.
And, Eureka! Not an expression but a name.
Thank you for being my partner.
Nanay sees me, her child, as perfect;
You, as a partner, see the blemishes which can be improved – and when improved, you see the infinite possibilities of growth of the man that is in me.
Thank you for pointing out my imperfections on the premise of believing that I can be better.

I have nothing to boast, I only have privilege…
But, I guess, this is me being given the chance to boast;
And I boast in neither what I have done, nor on what I am going to do – I boast only in the Lord
I boast in the Lord – for He was there from the very first Article to the very last punctuation I read
I boast in the Lord – for He gave me His grace and peace during examinations, whenever I asked for it
I boast in the Lord – for He steadied my heart during nerve-racking recitations – a steady heart regardless of receiving a 1.0 or a 5.0 grade

My life before law school was filled with awards and achievements – but lacked purpose;
I often asked myself: “Stripped of all achievements and accolades, who are you?”

Today, I boast in the Lord – for He gave me an answer. He was the one who implanted a purpose in me – a purpose which I could not have figured on my own – and that is to practice law for His glory. Achievements alone cannot satisfy; but achievements anchored on purpose bring bigger weight.

In behalf of the graduates of this year, I say:
Thank you to all our family and friends who supported us in this journey – we honor you!
Thank you to all our mentors who made us battle-ready for the world – we salute you!

To my fellow graduates – I offer you silence. I request that you think about nothing for the next 10 seconds.
For that will be the longest 10 seconds of silence that we will have before we again jump back to our caves in preparation for the next big challenge: the Bar Exam. You are all in my prayers!
I have nothing to boast, I only have privilege…
Privilege to say that it is never by might, nor by power, but only by the Spirit.

Thank you very much, to God be the glory!