A TTY.

MARILYN BUGARIN BARUA YAP

Guest Speaker Introduction
By Samuel Baltazar Batara

A Foundation Anniversary celebrates through pageantry the very essence of an institution’s

existence. It commemorates the joys and aspirations of all stakeholders as the school takes stock
of its majestic achievements and presents them as an oblation expressive of the thanksgiving
emanating from educated hearts and minds.

Ilocos Norte National High School has all the reasons to be joyful and celebrate. She proudly
lifts her crowning glories, accumulated over the years, made vivid by the thousands of illustrious
graduates who have etched their names in halls of fame at home and abroad. And tonight, one of
her diadems is physically personified as we behold a truly successful lawyer and widely
acclaimed government official gracing our coronation rites.

Our crowning guest was born in Laoag City possessing the basic ingredients needed in attaining
success. A consistent first honor student at Laoag Central School obviously graduated the pride
of her batch at Ilocos Norte National High School in 1969. Counted with the very few lucky
scholars who enter the gates of the premier university of the land, she graduated Cum Laude in
English and Literature from the University of the Philippines in 1973. Learning was to her not
only unending but to be continued with determination and excellence. She pursued graduate
studies at the UP College of Law and passed the Bar in 1985. Never contented in her search for
knowledge, she also took MBA at PSBA, Masters in Education at the UP College of Education,
and Masters in Public Management at the Ateneo School of Government. Our celebrated alumna
tonight has already passed the comprehensive examination towards her Doctorate in Public
Administration in the University of the Philippines. Distinction was inseparable from her studies
as she constantly received numerous citations, scholarships, gold medals and merit awards. Her
scholastic achievements engendered very active involvements and leaderships in countless
school, college and professional organizations.

The blood of an authentic writer must be running through the elastic veins of our crowning guest.
From being tagged as writer of the year and a gold medalist in public speaking during her high
school days, she has become a widely read freelance journalist. She has served as Contributing
Writer to Government Assessment Repots, to the Review of Women’s Studies, to Channel 7
monthly episodes, and as a Partner with PRIME Consultancy Services which does research,
information management and editorial services. A thinker who never stops expressing her
thoughts on contemporary issues, she keeps a huge archive of published and unpublished papers.

It must be true that a brainy person seeks to further develop the mind through encounters with
intellectual kind. Aside from short stints with the Yap, Velasco & Perez, and A.C.C. Law Offices,
and doing legal counsel for Union Bank, our inspiration tonight has previously pursued her love
for education of hearts and minds and training of skills. She advanced from being a UP English
Lecturer to an Ateneo Lecturer in Business Law and an Adjunct Faculty of the UP College of
Public Administration and Governance. She has worked as Lecturer Trainor for Congress
Personnel, for the National Commission for Culture and Arts, and as Training and Information
Director in the Office of the President.

Our distinguished alumna is well acquainted with the ins and outs of the legislative branch of
government. It won’t be so hard a deal if she develops an ambition to be our next
Congresswoman. In the House of Representatives, she has served sequentially as Supervising
Staff Officer, Chief of Staff, and Director IV in the Offices of the Minority and Majority Leaders.
The lower chamber may not even be her last stop. In the Supreme Court and in the Senate
respectively, she has been a Consultant in the subsequent Offices of then Chief Justice and then
Senate President Marcelo Fernan. We should not wonder if we get another lawmaker of our
alumni.

If through travels a person is made whole by her exposure to various cultures and interactions
with peoples of other nations, our celebrity possesses a well-rounded personality. She has jetted
around the globe comparable to a commercial pilot. Over the years she has attended meetings
and conferences in Switzerland, Rome, Italy, France, South Africa, America, Netherlands, United
Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan. Our guest of honor and
speaker must be one who can truly appreciate with us the significance of this cultural
reenactment we do tonight.

Propelling this history of greatness written on the pages of our star’s book of life is a wonderful
family. Sharing a blissful marriage with Atty. David Jonathan Yap, Chief Legal Counsel of the
Philippine Senate, they are blessed with equally intelligent offspring: David Joseph Emmanuel, a
U.P. Magna Cum Laude graduate of Statistics and Ateneo Master in Economics scholar graduate;
Daniel Patrick Jonathan at Cupertino Center for Special Children, and Maria Regina Pauline, a
consistent U.P. Scholar. Indeed, our outstanding alumna for the occasion, through myriads of her
beautiful experiences, must have tested a chest of the nuggets of wisdom she can share with us.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please join me in welcoming a talented lawyer, notable academician,
skilled trainer, creative writer, the Valedictorian of Ilocos Norte National High School Class
1969, the present Secretary General of the House of Representatives, ATTY. MARILYN
BUGARIN BARUA YAP.