MESSAGE

Congratulations and Godspeed to the graduates of 1991!

Try not to be unduly troubled by the events around you -- the Middle East War, the economic depression, and the ecology problems among other things. Crises may bring danger, but they also bring oppurtunity.

If faced with courage and resoluteness, problems can make you more creative and more resilient.

Let us focus on building our communities, by honest and committed work, by sincere effort, by practical, maneagable projects. Concentrate on doing your work well -- and the money will come as a consequence.

But if you concentrate on making money and neglect, working well, you will be disappointed. Slovenly and careless work will never get you anywhere, except the poorhouse.

So whatever it is you do as engineer or architect, be sure it is done to the very best of your capability, as honest as you can, with as much dedication as you can muster. Offer it to God as a token of thanksgiving and love.

This way, you can be sure of success.

MESSAGE

As the door closes, once more we glance back, perhaps for a last look at the impressive concrete structure supported by massive pillars which sheltered us for five long years.

And now, we are  graduates. Unbelieveable, but true. After five long years of endeavor and sacrifice, we are at the last on the final step. And though, this year was a year of terminal plates, interview, cramming and the like, we enjoyed every bit of it because we were all looking forward to the much-awaited moment -- commencement.

As we leave the portals of Bicol University, we felt indescribable feelings of joy and sadness. Joy for the fact that we had successfully finished and acquired a degree which is to be our qualification and moral foundation in excavating our future; and sadness because we are now leaving you, dear Alma Mater. You have equipped us not only with knowledge, but with the principles of righteousness and courage.

We express our gratitude to our teachers for having imparted to us so much and for having guided us through the years despite our very often intolerable behavior; gratitude to our parents without whose help and sacrifices this would not have been possible. And above all, gratitude to the Almighty God whose bountiful mercy and great love make possible for us to stay alive.

It is indeed a great honor and rare privilege to have graduated from such a wonderful university. We had gone through a lot and now we feel we are fully prepared for an entirely new life. But the real battle is still to come.

CONGRATULATIONS, GOOD LUCK and GODSPEED!