First of all, I would like to apologize on two matters:

First, my absence. As much as I wanted to celebrate this occasion with you, however, a responsibility that
needs my urgent attention wont permit me to do so. As your duly elected public official, it is my duty to
look deeply into matters for the promotion of the general welfare.

Second, I would like to dispense with our usual introductory remarks and proceed directly by greeting
every single person who are here and who can hear me, a joyful afternoon. The reason why I had to do it
is because it has something to do with my message this afternoon.

As we have observed, every time that a speaker or anybody who gets a hold on a microphone, upon
delivering his or her introductory remarks, would distinguish the composition of an audience by
emphasizing the presence of the most important person then leave out the others. That instance seems
to show one normal attitude of us Filipinos, that is, we glorify people TOO MUCH that we set them up as
our limits and standards of success instead of making them as mere inspiration to reach our respective
goals and create our own unique path. And ultimately, forgetting the fact that we are in this world to fulfil
the purpose each of us were made for.

Not because someone is a lawyer or an accountant, and another is just an employee or just someone
holding vocational course, makes him a better and more important person than the rest. If you have been
dreaming to become a teacher or a doctor but your skills are not suited for it, do not lose hope and
motivation. Remember that a fish was made to swim the ocean, not to climb a tree. Perhaps, you were
not made to become a teacher or a doctor but your skills will tell that you are made to become a chef, a
manager, or an entrepreneur, professions that are equally noble as those I mentioned.

We are made to only do a certain function to make this world a wonderful place to live. If everyone will
be a doctor, if everyone will become a boss, if everyone will become a president, what do you think will
happen to our society? Which in turn, ladies and gentlemen, from the President of the Philippines down
to the janitor, we should look at every profession with fairness and equality and give other profession the
same dignity and respect that we give to lawyers, doctors, teachers, accountants.

We all came in this world without any idea of what exactly we are going to do and what is our main
purpose. As we grow, one by one, we discover ourselves and eventually, our purpose. And if we finally
uncover our purpose in life, we should hold on to that, and we should work on it. Like what your theme
for this celebration suggests, Skills are theoretical knowledge, utilize them for development. Utilize the
skills you acquired in school and in practice to fulfil your purpose, and more than that, utilize it for the
benefit of others.

To the contestants, congratulations. And to every individual behind this event, a job well done!

Thank you and Good Afternoon!