By Honorable Salex Espinosa Alibogha, LLM
Commissioner, Legal Education Board
Republic of the Philippines

Delivered during the 94th Graduation of University Colleges, CPU on July 24, 2022 at the Rose Memorial Auditorium.

Hon Salex E. Alibogha shared his life testimony during his Commencement Address.

Greetings!

The Honorable Officers and Members of the Board of Trustees and CPU Corporation led by Dr. Elmer Pedregosa, Chairperson, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles- President of Central Philippine University, Officers of the CPU Administration, Deans, Faculty and Staff, my dear CPU alumni all over the world, my colleagues in the legal profession, special citation to my beloved nursing alumni – the members of CCINAA all over the world, proud parents and guests and my dearest graduating class of 2022, good morning/good afternoon.

BIG CONGRATULATIONS my dearest Class of 2022. Being the first graduates of the K-12 and outcomes-based education and having experienced the pandemic and its challenges and limitations, you are a successful survivors and victors of the 21st century and the FIRe-Fourth industrial Revolution. In a VUCA world, where there is Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity, you managed to have Victory, Understanding, Clarity and Agility. The pandemic has taught us to be more patient, persevering, resilient and most of all family centered and faithful to God. Optimism wise, the pandemic has taught us how to treasure healthy living and healthy relationship with our families, groups and communities

Reminiscing my past, 30 YEARS ago, I thought I could not attend our baccalaureate service and commencement exercises. My mother said “Nonoy wala kita money to buy all those clothes and shoes”. I only had one pair of shoes for my entire college of education. If not for kind-hearted faculty, alumni and benefactor I had not worn presentable clothes and shoes for that event. I still treasure those people who had helped me come up the stage presentable. I am not ashamed to tell you this story because I wanted you to be inspired by the fact that poverty is not a hindrance to success and behind the clouds the sun is still shining. I belong to a financially challenged family. My father was a janitor in a public school and my mother was a side-walk vendor outside of that public school. I am the youngest of nine (9) siblings but because of determination and hard work, I was able to help my eight (8) other siblings and my 16 nieces/nephews have completed their college education, the last one in 2016 who is also a Centralian lawyer working in public attorney’s office. It’s my way of giving back to my family, especially to honor my father and mother who were my inspiration of hard work and diligence. The gesture of those people who helped me, sparked and etched in my heart the value of giving back and sharing my blessings to my Alma Mater, the community and to those needy people in the College and my current workplace. My routine is that If I have received blessings from work and others, I need to share it with other people and not just to myself. I used to do relief operations during calamities and disasters. During the pandemic while others have been staying in their homes, I went out of my way with other alumni to reached out to 37 hospitals in Region 6 to donate PPE’s and other relief goods to our nurses especially providing weekly groceries tfor 16 weeks to the staff nurses of IMH. These donations were all supported by the nursing alumni supporting my advocacy. Self-centeredness has no place for success. If we want people centered and outer-directed behavior in life, sharing your blessings and giving back to the needy shall be the key to successful living. I used to care and share to the security guards, janitors and rank and file staff of the University and my current workplace.

When I was young, I dreamed of becoming a medical doctor, but because of poverty and circumstances in our family life, I was not able to fulfill my dream to be a great doctor. I was at first frustrated but did not question God’s Will because I believe he has something in store for me – my wife who is the doctor of my heart and the pediatrician of my children.

I have several stories and life events of hardships and struggles which the people in the community have known me and my dedicated mother. Nanay was my inspiration and cornerstone until she died at 96 last year. It was difficult to release her until her last breath, because I lost my greatest inspiration, but she is now in heaven guiding me and her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She was instrumental in guiding me all throughout my student life and even during my married life. She is so popular in the CPU business office and registrar before. She used to sell with people there fruits, nuts , crackers and other food commodities whatsoever, and then follow-up my allowances and benefits being an entrance scholar of the University and state scholar of the Bureau of Higher Education and now CHED- Commission on Higher Education which sustained me all throughout my nursing education. I was the last enrollee at Central Philippine University College of Nursing in June, 1988. I thought I could not make in the First Nursing School. My father died in 1989 His situation being unattended in a public hospital due to lack of family resources has inspired me study hard and finish nursing. I promised to myself that this will not happen to my mother, my siblings, my own family and my significant others and the needy people. I kept all of these to my heart and considered this as a challenge and motivation to go on.

God is so good all the time for the people who cling to his promise. I could always remember what my elementary mentor has told me several times.” See how God Loves you”. When my father died in 1989, I was so disappointed because he could not witness how I struggled to give him a good future. My mother and siblings and relatives however have witnessed how I shared with them and how I lifted them up in their challenging situation. Along the way in my nursing studies I met a benevolent couple, a doctor and a nurse who treated me like their son. They helped me until I finished my law degree and even now they still serve as my guiding star. I am truly indebted to this couple and they are just like second parents to me helping me in all my trials and difficulties in life. I could just imagine without my mother and my foster parents from Jaro helping and guiding me throughout my journey, perhaps I could not realize what I have now. Always remember if you are good, there are people who will be sent by God who are shoulders to lean on. Conduct yourself and live your life in a righteous manner and with humility in service to others and God will send people who will help. This premise has been proven in my life even in Service to Central. My dearest nursing alumni have been supportive of my initiatives for the College of Nursing.

Let me lift some of my favorite lines from the song of Babbie Mason/and Carswell by Concord music and I quote:
All things work for our good
Though sometimes we don’t see
How they could
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth
Our Father knows what’s best for us
His ways are not our own
So when your pathway grows dim
And you just don’t see Him,
Remember you’re never alone
God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don’t understand
When don’t see His plan
When you can’t trace His hand
Trust His Heart

One famous philosopher has said, “Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is not just a thing to be wanted for. It is a thing to be achieved.” Thus let me share to you the mnemonics for success summarized and made into a meaningful whole based on videos and books on stories of success shared by my closest alumni. AWHIPFS. A- for acceptance W- for Will power, H- for hard work, I- for industry, P- for persistence, F – faith in God and S- service and sharing with others your blessings.

Acceptance:
 perceive reality accurately and consciously acknowledge what you perceive.
 The first step is to openly accept where you are right now, whether you feel good about it or not. Surrender yourself to what you have to work with — maybe it isn’t fair, but it is what it is. And you won’t get any stronger until you accept where you are right now.
Will Power:
 The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.
– Vince Lombardi
Willpower is your ability to set a course of action and say, “Engage

 The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work.
– Oprah Winfrey
Hard Work:

 My definition of hard work is that ANYTHING which challenges you.
 Strong challenge is commonly connected with strong results. Sure you can get lucky every once in a while and find an easy path to success.
 When you discipline yourself to do what is hard, you gain access to a realm of results that are denied everyone else. The willingness to do what is difficult is like having a key to a special private treasure room.
Industry:

 Industry is working hard. In contrast to hard work, being industrious doesn’t necessarily mean doing work that’s challenging or difficult.
 It simply means putting in the time. You can be industrious doing easy work or hard work.
Persistence:
Persistence is the ability to maintain action regardless of your feelings. You press on even when you feel like quitting. A famous saying says.

ONCE A JOB HAS FIRST BEGUN,
NEVER LEAVE IT,
‘TIL IT’S DONE.
BE THY LABOR, GREAT AND SMALL,
DO IT WELL
OR NOT AT ALL…”

“I do the best I know- the very best I can and I mean to keep doing so until the end.
If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won’t amount to anything
If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”
-Abraham Lincoln

Faith in God:

Even when everything fails, we just cling to God even if when the life seemed hopeless because Behind the clouds the sun is still shinning. God will never forsake us, for he knows what is better for us and he has plans for each of us. Maintain a very good religious life and the burden will be light.

SERVICE and Sharing with Others:

Robert Louis Stevenson a famous psychologist has once said, “I believe, the very purpose of life is to serve and share with others. In my own experience, I have found out that with altruism, there is greater sense of satisfaction and contentment. Cultivating a concern for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have, and gives us strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. The more you help others, the more you are blessed. This has the origin in the life of our Lord. Since we are not only material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for external development alone, and for ourselves alone. We are here in the world for a while, and then we are gone. The question is: Do our life matters? Is it possible that we can make a difference in the life of others. Every life matters, and our existence will be fruitful is we can make a lasting legacy and make an impact in the life of others. Its not only money that counts but relationship and goodwill to the people around. The values of altruism, equality and respecting the worth of an individual will truly contribute to one’s path to success. Always remember that money is only a medium for commodity.

“We learn wisdom from failures much more than success. We often discover what we will do by finding out what we will not do and probably he who never made a mistake never made a discovery.”

“Life affords no higher pleasure, than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one step to another. It is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of determination.” Let me share to you some success story of selected people,”I enjoy reading about the lives of great men. One consistent fact I noticed is that most of them experienced failures in one way or another.

I ventured on working as a nurse in the United States of America in 2001-2002, but the emptiness is there until one of my closest patients a lawyer confined in the nursing home told me “Salex, go back to the Philippines and continue to serve your Alma Mater and the Filipino people. Thus, I went back in June, 2002 and serve my Alma Mater again. I did not know that it was God’s way for me to serve the College of Nursing again and the Filipino people through legal education board. Here are some stories of success from great people, to wit:

When the great Polish pianist Ignace Paderewski first chose to study piano, his music teacher told him his hands were too small to master the keyboard. When the great Italian tenor Enrico Caruso first applied for instruction his music teacher told him his voice sounded like the wind whistling through the window. When the great English statesman Benjamin Disraeli, attempted to speak in the parliament for the first time, the members hissed him into silence and laughed when he said, though I sit down now, time will come when you will hear of me. Henry Ford forgot to put a reverse gear in his first car. Thomas A. Edison spent two million dollars for the first experiment which proved to be of little value.

Abraham Lincoln has a biography of trials and difficulties. He has difficult childhood with less than one year of formal schooling but was elected US President in 1960.

“John F. Kennedy, one of the greatest President of the United States, failed in the entrance exam in Harvard law school but he turned out to be great president. Claro M. Recto, a statesman failed in the bar exam at once, but when took the second he placed number one and became a great statesmen of the Philippines. Alvin Patrimonio, a MVP player of PBA, did not pass the first screening as a varsity player in basketball, but turned out to be successful in the field of basketball. These are some of the few stories on success, which could inspire you to go on. Do not consider poverty, insecurities, trials and difficulties as hindrances to go on. Just consider them as dogs barking on your way.

Always aim not to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing others. Don’t brag for stilling the pain but for the heart that can endure it. Don’t look for allies in life’s battlefield, but to your own hope for the patience to win freedom. Always pray to grant you to be brave enough, feeling your mercy in success alone and for you to grasp of your hands in failures. It is therefore a mistake to suppose that we succeed through success because most successful men achieved thru failures in some point in time.

Consider this event as an element to your success. The event will not be realized of course without the efforts of the people around you , people who are mindful of your goodness, Your parents to whom you are indebted very much whose happiness is to see their children successful.

Parents made immeasurable sacrifice to support you.

Let us clap our hands for parents who are here today, and those parents who are not here on earth, and has great hope for their children. ( Beloved and proud parents please rise and be recognized, lets give them a round of applause). Dear students please stand and tell your parents. Nanay and Tatay , I love you. Thank you for everything you have done for me.

Your alma mater and your mentors who exerted their efforts to transform you to be better persons of your community. Please do not forget to give back to your family and loved ones, your Alma Mater, the community and most especially to the needy people. Centralians are bound by the Central Spirit that Illuminates Christian values and generosity in one way or another. Your mentors have made difference in your lives. To other people who in one way, or another had contributed to your quest for success and above all to almighty God who guided and inspired you to chose the noblest profession of the healing ministry. The Lord who is always around you even during the days when life seemed hopeless. We don’t have any other rescue, but to grip and cling to God amidst the economic and health crisis of our country.

Always remember despite these trials you need to:

1. bring people to life, don’t curtail life.
2. treat others like yourself. Be sincere.
3. Fill the world with love.because
4. You and I have a mission in life.

Let me leave you with this pearl of wisdom for success from Dib Mossabi and I quote”.
There are 8 secrets of success found in the four corners of my room:
The roof said: Aim high
The fan said: Be cool
The clock said: Every minute is precious
The window said: See the world
The mirror said: Reflect before you act
The calendar said: Be up to date
The door said: Push hard to reach your goals
The floor said: Plant your feet on the ground”

Lastly, let me end with this reflection by Hope Sterling of Bible Daily:

Cain killed Abel not because Abel wronged him or fought with him but, it was because Cain couldn’t stand the FAVOR OF GOD/Blessings of God on Abel’s life.
Sometimes you may wonder why people talk behind your back, why they hate you, why they do the things they do to you. It’s not that you have a problem, it’s because they can’t stand the favor/blessings of God on your life.

That’s why you don’t need to stress yourself over people who are inclined to frustrate or misunderstand you. You have to understand that not everyone will like you but everyone shall witness that you are favored/blessed by the Lord. Share, give back and extend the blessings you have received from God to your family, community, Alma mater and most especially to the needy people.

Stand firm in God and what you believe in and no one will shake you.

God bless my dearest Class of 2022.