Make a Difference

Joel Tabora, S.J.

ADNU Graduation Address
24 March 2007

During the Baccalaureate Mass in the House of the King, I invited you to come back often to His house.  In the silence of this house, where religious symbols mingle with the symbols of your culture and your home, I have invited you to come back often – just to breathe, just to take stock, just to ask yourselves where you are in life, and where you are going.  I have suggested that you may come in the image of the Prodigal Son seeking his forgiving embrace, or that you may come in the image of the Disciple, seeking counsel or solace from his Lord and his King.  I have suggested that the images of the Church of the King be imprinted in your consciousness forever.

But this evening, I stand here, not to urge you to stay here, but to go forth.  As is the tradition of the graduate of the Ateneo de Naga, you have “passed through the Pillars” not to rest here, not to tarry here, not to glory in the achievements of the past here, but to go forth – and in this world of ambivalence, corruption, cacophony, violence and hatred, make a difference. 

Make a difference in love.  Love with passion.  Love with tenderness.  Love with loyalty.  Have time for those you love. 

Make a difference in friendship.  Support your friends, do not exploit them.  Bring out the best in them, do not corrupt them. 

Make a difference in your disciplines.  Shun the mediocre, go for the best. 

Love your country.  Loving your country means loving your people – people around you; do not abandon them, do not betray them.  Wherever you are, work for your loved ones, distinguish yourselves excelling for your people, make a positive difference in their lives. 

It is not a perfect world, and despite your new degrees neither are you perfect. But in this world, from the depth of your souls, dare to do what is right.  Dare to be good.  Dare to be a David who with God’s power vanquishes Goliath with a stone.  Dare in the battle of life to be perfected – as your Heavenly Father is perfect.  That is the challenge of competence, consciousness, commitment to change and Christ-centered symbolized in these Four Pillars.  Lofty ideals, high challenges, certainly, but less would not be worthy of you who call yourselves Atenean.