To the graduating class of Global Reciprocal College—what a joy and privilege it is to be with you today. Malakas ang ulan, Madilim ang langit, subalit hindi kayo nagpapigil!

Andito kayong lahat, kahit may banta ng pagbuhos ng malakas na ulan at pagbaha.
Hindi kayo sumuko, kung kaya Sumakses kayong lahat!

To your professors and mentors, your families and friends, thank you for the love and labor you poured into this remarkable group of young leaders.

Today, we celebrate not only what you’ve accomplished, but who you’ve become.

Our theme—“Transformed to Lead, Committed to Reciprocate”—reminds me of my own journey, which, much like yours, was shaped by both challenge and conviction.

You see, when I began my career in government service, I started at the bottom, Auditing Aide II, I didn’t set out to be called brave or bold. I simply wanted to do what was right. I started as an aide not as state auditor. It was not glamorous, and it certainly was not easy. In one assignment, I uncovered anomalies in military spending—something that could easily have been buried or ignored. But I was raised with a simple value: katapatan—honesty. That truth had to be told, even if it came at a personal cost.

I still remember walking into hearings at the House of Representatives with nothing but my documents, my conscience, and trembling hands. I was scared—but transformation happens not in the absence of fear, but in the presence of conviction.

And that’s what I see in all of you. You’ve been transformed—not just by the knowledge you gained here at Global Reciprocal College—but by every all-nighter, every group project, every doubt you overcame, and every belief you deepened. You are no longer the same students who walked into your first day of class. You are thinkers, creators, risk-takers—leaders.

But transformation, dear graduates, is not the destination. It is the preparation. The real question is: what will you do with who you’ve become?

This brings us to the second half of our theme: Committed to Reciprocate.

When I joined the United Nations as Under-Secretary-General of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, I was one of very few Filipinas in that space. It was humbling, and it was daunting. But I carried with me the stories of the people I served back home. I remembered the public school children in the Philippines, whose classrooms were crumbling. I remembered my parents, who taught me that no blessing should stay with you—it must pass through you.

Reciprocation is not charity. It’s not a favor. It’s justice. When you have received much—education, opportunity, trust—you must give back with even greater love, effort, and integrity.

To the graduating class: the world doesn’t just need leaders who are skilled. It needs leaders who are honest, humble, and kind. The world doesn’t just need innovators. It needs people with heart—those who know that leadership is about lifting others, not lifting yourself.

So lead where you are. Whether you’re entering business, government, media, education, or the arts—lead with authenticity. Speak truth when it is risky. Show up when it is inconvenient. Give back, even when no one is watching.

And when you feel small, uncertain, or unqualified—remember this: even the smallest act of integrity can ripple far beyond your lifetime. I have seen that. I have lived that.

Graduates of Global Reciprocal College, you are not just the future—you are the hope of today. Your transformation is your preparation. Your commitment to give back is your power. Use it well.

Congratulations, Class of 2025! The world needs you. The world is waiting.

Thank you.