| Home | About Us | News | Activities | Resources | Photos | Clippings | Video | Salonga Profile | Links |
Senate President Manuel “Manny” B. Villar urged students from the University Town to continue dreaming for a better Philippines in a University Convocation spearheaded by the Dr. Jovito Salonga Center for Law and Development, Thursday, March 15. “Do not forget to dream. Do not lose that nationalism. Do not lose that optimism to build a better country,” he said, explaining that to improve and make a better society, Filipinos should shun the traditional way of thinking, where there is “no dream to expand, to compete, and to be the best.” Addressing around 800 students at the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium, Villar focused his speech on his valued Filipino principles, sipag at tiyaga (hard work and perseverance). He shared his success story from being a humble fish and shrimp seller, to sand and gravel deliverer, to the biggest homebuilder in Southeast Asia, and now President of the Senate of the Philippines. He was a working student in the University of Philippines, where he finished his undergraduate and master’s degree in business administration and accountancy. “You can succeed basta determinado kayo (as long as you are determined),” he stressed.
He also encouraged the students to venture in entrepreneurship by developing businesses and creating jobs that would propel local economy. “Most of us think that we could only serve and be employed but somehow, you should try being on your own. Be the master of your fate,” he said. Villar expressed his optimism of the economic and political situation in the Philippines, saying: “I have not lost faith in our country. I am confident that we will succeed and this confidence is the same as the one I had when I started my business.” Aware of the Filipino diaspora for greener pastures abroad, he emphasized that the government could bring the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) back to the Philippines and utilize them as “an army of business entrepreneurs and accomplished individuals.” The University Convocation is one of the activities of the Salonga Center aimed at enriching the knowledge of the academe and the community towards law and development. “I am honored to be here for Senator Jovito Salonga is one of the great men I admire most,” Villar said, expressing his “support and commitment” for the success of the Center. The event
was co-sponsored by the College of Law and the Graduate Studies
Program of Silliman University. Students from Negros Oriental
State University (NORSU), Asian College of Science and Technology
(ACSAT), and Silliman University attended the convocation.
|
(035) 422-6002
