Just Believe (We are Made to Excel)
 

Response delivered during the 9th Graduates’ Forum by Julius Abel B. Galpao, MBFI Class 2007 Scholar Bachelor in Secondary Education Major in Mathematics, Summa Cum Laude Centro Escolar University, Manila

My life story is nothing compared to those featured in ABS-CBN’s “Maalaala Mo Kaya” or GMA’s “Magpakailanman”. I don’t even know if my story can inspire you in any way. Who would even have thought that I will be speaking in front of you today delivering a speech, I know is one of my weaknesses in life. All my life, I have doubted myself of many things. I always thought I could never do things I thought I can never accomplish. But life proved me wrong of such intuitions.

I had lived a life full of inferiorities in me. Despite of all my achievements in life as a student, there’s still a feeling of emptiness in me that leaves me unsatisfied of what I have done. “Doubt” is the first word that can be found inside my dictionary of life. Whenever I was asked to do something, I was always hesitant of doing so. Maybe because I perceive things that make me believe I am not the right person to do it, or maybe I am just afraid from being blamed for a possible failure.

I am so much afraid of committing mistakes in life…being erroneous, being careless. Mistakes make us think and reflect…they make us realize what we had, what we have lost, and what we have taken for granted. They make us understand that sometimes, there are no more next times, no more timeouts, and no more second chances. But in the end, it is our mistakes that help us grow as a person…for every single mistake we have done is a learning experience that lasts for a lifetime.

I remember the famous Theodore Roosevelt, who once said and I quote, “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” This quotation always reminds me that life is all about taking the risks. Before, we used to think that life is like a fairytale…full of magic, plain excitement and astounding vividness. But that was a long time ago…now we know that there is more to life than just living “happily ever after” We have learned that we get wiser each day, and that no “fairy” can lead us to a happy ending. We decide to struggle, and from that, somehow we begin to understand that we have the power…the power to make each day better than yesterday.

Life is all about making choices. Every situation in our life is a choice. We choose how we react to situations, and we choose how people will affect our perspective in life. It’s our choice how we live our life. Entering college in Centro Escolar University was one of the greatest choices I have done in my life. Never did I imagine in my life that I would be admitted into one of the country’s best universities…and it was a history.

I was the top graduate of our batch way back in high school, and just like what was being expected of me, I thought I would be going to schools like UP, Ateneo or La Salle to spend my entire college life. I thought that I would be studying courses like Engineering, Accountancy and other Math-related fields, which I am known for being good at. But none of them was materialized. Fate brought me into such situations I needed to decide on my own. That time, it was only about two weeks left before the official opening of classes and yet; I do not have a school to attend to.

I did not make it in UP for two simple reasons…one, I was not able to reach the quota for the course I was applying for and another is that I really thought I could never make it there. I did not lose hope, immediately I applied for other schools in Manila, particularly in state universities because we do not have the money to afford high tuition fees in private schools.

I felt I was ill fated when my application in one of the state universities in Manila, which I considered as my last chance, was denied. Reasons could be somehow hypothetical but what can I do, they are the ones hindering me from going to that school? I almost lost my hope and faith when the two weeks became one and my chance of going into college decreases. The time that was left for me was not even enough to search for a good school offering low tuition fees…that time, I thought, was one of my worst nightmares.

Worse became worse, my father had an illness that forced him to lose his job, leaving us with no income at all. Such circumstances made me ask myself, “Am I deserving of such misery in life? I graduated in high school with the highest honors yet I am not enrolled into any school. Why is this happening to me?”

Fate really pushed me to my limits. The remaining faith in me almost vanished along with my plans for college. I even decided for myself that I will just stop for a year, since I am a year ahead of my batch mates. Again, I have “doubted” myself of so many things…I became as inferior as I could possibly be. But life proved me wrong of such intuitions. Yes, fate brought me in this situation…and fate will also lead me to the way outside.

I started to regain hope and faith when the moment came that I was gradually experiencing several “blessings in disguise” which I knew could be a good start for me, or maybe not. A friend of my older sister came into our house just to visit us and all of a sudden asked me if I was able to enroll already. My mother narrated the bad news and ironically, she told us that there’s this school in Manila that is offering a number of scholarships, though it is a private university. An idea drilled into my head, “This is it!”

One week was so fast that I did not even notice that I was already enrolled in that school, given the chance to apply for a scholarship and was given the opportunity to study in a good school I thought I would be forever deprived of. And yes, I was able to apply for a scholarship…a scholarship known for its benefactors, none other than the Metrobank Foundation, Inc., one of the most respected corporate foundations here in our country.

Such scholarship was not that easy, I know and I believe you felt the same way too. Entry level was tough, and I thought I could never make it. I still remember the interview portion wherein I started to feel inferior, again, when I saw the other students who will also be interviewed that day, who are very good in conversing in English. That time, I almost feared that such encounter would make me fall lifeless! J Worse was when I was able to see my fellow interviewees enter our lounge area, one by one, crying with tears like of a mourning wife. That moment, I lost almost all of my remaining confidence.

But who would have thought that I made it, and I am here speaking on your behalf to deliver a message of response. Who would have thought that I will be one of the chosen few who would shine this bright in the sky of achievers? Yes, it was a success story indeed…a story I think would never be a success if I did not believe in myself. After that rigorous struggle, I learned to dream…not just plain dreaming but to dream of things even beyond your wildest imagination. I have realized that when you are a Metrobank Scholar, you are really made to excel!

It is in this juncture that I would like to express, in behalf of all my fellow scholars of the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. Class 2007, my earnest and heartfelt gratitude to the Metrobank Foundation. To the Chairman of the Foundation, Dr. George S.K. Ty, I extend my highest regard for being an epitome of excellence to all of us. I would like to acknowledge also, in behalf of the scholars, the officers and staff of the Foundation, headed by none other than our very energetic “Tito Chito”, Mr. Aniceto M. Sobrepeña, President of the Foundation, for instilling in us the great value for excellence and the virtue of determination, which helped us most in achieving our goals in life. To Mr. Nicanor L. Torres, Jr., Assistant Executive Director, for being one with us scholars in materializing our dreams and aspirations in life. To Mr. Bong Villamor and Ms. Jackie Jalocon, the program manager and program assistant of the College Scholarship Program of the Foundation respectively, who became our very kind “kuya” and “ate” in the Foundation, you must really have had a hard time trying to deal with us, scholars, and we really appreciate that. Most of all, of course, I would like to thank our Almighty God for all the blessings that He has given us and for touching the hearts of all the people making up this Foundation. May our Good Lord continue to shower the Foundation with bountiful blessings and that this Foundation may continue to spread its wings into greater ventures of life, helping and inspiring more people to excel.

I am very thankful that I became a part of the Metrobank Foundation. The moments I have shared with the people of the Foundation will be forever treasured and cherished here in my heart. Working with them even in just a short span of time meant a lifelong experience for me. My life here in the Foundation has thought me many things I believe I cannot achieve inside the four walls of our classroom. Thank you for giving me a chance to work with you…it was such a very nice encounter I will never forget.

A year ago, I was also here in this very same hall, watching the former batch spend their Graduate’s Forum as successful scholars of the Metrobank Foundation. The man who delivered the same speech I am delivering today was Mr. Mark Gil Mamac, having the degree of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, graduated Cum Laude from Ateneo de Davao University. I was really inspired by his story and in fact, I want to share to you some of the inspiring lines of his speech, which I believe would be appropriate for all of us. He said and I quote, “To the scholars, I hope that you will not pay the Foundation…rather you will pay it forward. I hope that you will also be along-side its vision to serve those who are in dire need. I hope that with the experiences that each of you had, you will also bring the Goodwill of this Foundation and become, together with it, an Agent of Change…”

Life, indeed, is all about making choices. It is our choice how we live our life. My message for you, my fellow scholars, is simple…“Do not let change overwhelm you rather let change help you find opportunities you may have never known. Growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional. Choose to be different…choose to be a blessing to everyone. You can do anything you desire…if you will just believe.”

Once again, we say “hail to you” our dear Metrobank Foundation. Without you, we would not be where we are now. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to expand our wings and for making us scholars realize that yes, we are really made to excel! Good day to everyone.

The Metrobank Foundation is the corporate social responsibly arm of the Metrobank Group of Companies. Over the last 28 years, it has promoted a culture of excellence among Filipinos through its various programs notably the Search for Outstanding Teachers, the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence, The Outstanding Philippine Soldier, Country's Outstanding Policemen in Service, the Metrobank Math Challenge, and College Scholarship Program. The Foundation also has a grants program that assists NGOs and government in the fields of education, healthcare, and the arts. Metrobank Foundation celebrates Filipino excellence and presents wellsprings of hope in the future of our nation.

go to College Scholarship Program