Angara exhorts graduates: ‘Never forget to give back’

By Jason B. Neola NAGA CITY --- Encouraging this year’s graduates of the University of Nueva Caceres to “never forget to give back to your community and be compassionate to others,” was the essence of Senator Juan Edgardo Angara’s speech as guest speaker during the school’s 70th commencement exercises. He told the jampacked UNC Sports Palace on Saturday that being bright and hardworking are not only the things that made a person. “For it is not enough for us to be intelligent and diligent alone. What we need is to be kind-hearted and compassionate to our fellowmen, kailangan maganda ang ating asal at may marubdob na pagnanais na makatulong sa iba,” he said. The senator also reminded the graduates to learn how to be resilient and tough that they may be able to stand the test of ever-changing times. Angara’s encouragement to immortalize such virtues came after he made some acknowledgment in his speech about the school’s multifaceted approaches and best practices that aim to equip the learners with real-world skills and competencies as they head to begin their corporate life. Under its rallying call “Nurturing Better Tomorrows for All,” UNC continues to offer its students with innovative academic programs that enable students to get the skills, training and values to have the best possible careers. Two of these best practices, Angara said, are the Professional Employment Program (PEP) and the Career and Placement Service Office (CPSO). PEP operates in collaboration with the school’s key employer-partners to place graduating students in a working professional environment that will help to enhance their potentials for immediate employment. It is a last-semester college program that fosters strong English skills, critical thinking, and practical application of technology. CPSO is one of the strategic services of the university providing employment readiness and facilitates career development activities with industry collaboration. The senator also mentioned in his speech the school’s long line of alumni who made it in their respective fields or professions along with over a hundred board and bar topnotchers. Two of several individuals he cited as UNC’s successful graduates are Director General Yolanda D. Doblon who heads the Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office of the Philippine Senate and Supreme Court Associate Justice Noel Tijam who was invited in 2015 by UNC, his high school alma mater, as commencement speaker during its 67th Commencement Exercises. Angara, regarded as the Senate’s leading voice in advocating for income tax reform to raise the take-home pay of workers, and to make the tax system a tool for economic progress, social justice and happier families, was elected senator in 2013, placing sixth with 16 million votes. A lawmaker for more than 14 years, he is one of the most hardworking and productive member of Congress having already more than 60 laws under his belt.