‘A man for others’

Thirteen years ago, my son Vincent first entered Xavier School as a nursery student. Last Monday, I tried hard to blink back tears as I watched my son and his batchmates emerge from their classrooms to march down in a procession to Xavier’s sports center for their graduation ceremonies.

One of the highlights of the program was the speech of the guest of honor — Xavier School Batch 1981 alumnus and The Philippine STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte. He was recently awarded as one of Xavier-Kuangchi Exemplary Alumni for 2014.

I am so honored that Mr. Belmonte allowed me to share his very sincere, honest and stirring speech in my column. I fought back tears as he spoke to the graduating class of 2014 and their families, who received his inspiring message with grateful hearts.

Thank you, Mr. Belmonte!

President-Mayor Joseph Estrada

Fr. Aristotle Dy, school president

Mr. Johnip Cia, chairman of the board of trustees

Mrs. Jane Cacacho, High School principal

Dear teachers, parents and the graduating Class of 2014:

Good afternoon.

It’s an honor for me to share this proud moment with you, fellow Xaverians. Today is the culmination of all the hard work and effort you’ve put into your studies — proof that you’ve overcome the challenges you faced. More than that, being part of this graduation is your tribute to your parents, your teachers, and the very institution that molded you to become not just academically excellent and well-rounded individuals, but more importantly, men for others.

Just over a week ago, I had the honor of receiving the Xavier-Kuangchi Exemplary Alumni Award, a very prestigious award if I may say. It was a humbling experience, to say the least, what with the many prominent alumni this school has produced who are all successful in their own right. I couldn’t help asking, “Why me? What could I have done that is out of the ordinary?”

At the back of your minds, you may be thinking that I must’ve been a top student during my years at Xavier. A straight-A student like Percival Lao, perhaps? A nerd, maybe? Or just your typical teacher’s pet? To be honest, I was none of the above…well, except maybe for being the teacher’s pet.

In fact, I was pretty much your average student. I took summer classes — in Math, Chinese and, would you believe, Pilipino? I did my share of squatting during recess time for being late to class, cleaned our canteen at lunchtime, and even had to duck-walk the length of our football field one time because I was being punished.

Yes, I made the Juniors basketball team when I was in fourth year, and I always brag about it. What I don’t reveal, though, is that our team almost had a clean record that year: 1 win, 9 losses. And to make things worse, bangko lang ako.

There was also a year, I distinctly recall, when my classmates and I were ranked 1 to 41 depending on our academic standing, and lo and behold, I was ranked No. 36. My only consolation was that I had a cousin in the same section, and lucky for me, he ranked 40th. By the way, that cousin of mine now lives in Silicon Valley and designs microchips for a living.

Coming from an average student, what I can tell you now is that none of you should let your grades or standing define who you are or who you will become in the future. You may have graduated today with so-so grades that you can’t exactly be proud of, but don’t write yourself off just yet. Be disciplined, stay the course, and I assure you that you’re on to bigger things.

When I was getting ready to go to college, filling out my application form in UP, I didn’t have the slightest hint what course I was supposed to take. So I consulted my brother Isaac, a second year Journalism student in UP at that time, and asked him this serious question: “What course has the least Math and the most girls?” And you know what he said? “Take Hotel and Restaurant Administration.” So I took his advice and enrolled for the course.

Lest any of you follow in my footsteps, I must warn you that, yes, there were many girls in my course and in fact, that is where I met my beautiful wife. But for the Math haters out there like me, it’s not all true that the course is the best way to avoid numbers. Well, at least you have friendly female classmates to help you with Algebra, Statistics, Calculus, also Chemistry and Physics.

Tempted as I am to tell you more about my fun and memorable college experiences, all I can say is that university life is going to be a brand-new and exciting chapter in your book that will be quite different from the rest.

In the real world, so to speak, I am blessed to have learned life-lessons that have carried me throughout my career; first as a front desk clerk in a five-star hotel, then as personnel manager, to EVP, and now CEO of The Philippine STAR.

In my first job at the hotel, I was exposed to different departments in order to learn all aspects of the business. It seemingly didn’t matter that I had a UP degree. I was made to wash the dishes, serve tables as a waiter, and to perform housekeeping tasks that included changing the linen and cleaning guest toilets.  Though my real job was in the more glamorous front desk, being exposed in all those other departments taught me how to get along with people whose backgrounds and stations in life differed much from mine.

I never really thought about it then, but in hindsight, one of the valuable lessons I’ve learned is that being a man for others also means possessing the ability to get along with people different from myself, and being willing to put effort to accept and respect each person despite our differences.

Whatever endeavor it is you choose in life, always seek to understand so you may be understood.

I was only 23 when fate intervened and positioned me for a management role in The Philippine STAR, where I first handled our personnel. It was a daunting task that I felt ill-prepared for, especially since my life then revolved around sports and being active in the gym so I could show off my rock-solid abs.

Again, I asked, “Why me?”

Imagine what it was like for me, with my boy-next-door concerns, to be swinging one day from talking to the janitor about his marital problems and then the next day talking politics and serious national issues with a veteran journalist like Max Soliven. I couldn’t help thinking back then that hotel work would’ve been much more enjoyable and didn’t appreciate the disruption.

As it turned out, however, the years went by, and I grew to love the company and the people I worked with more and more. You know the saying, “Do what you love and you never have to work a day.” Without knowing it, the company that I didn’t plan on running, became the biggest and most successful publishing conglomerate in the country that it is today.

You see, life can spring a surprise or two and take you in a different direction from where you thought you were headed. Always be open to opportunities because who you think you’re going to be may not be the person you’ll end up becoming.

When I’m asked about the secret of my success, I always say that it’s just two things: First, is never forgetting to pray and to ask for God’s guidance; and second, is always considering the welfare and feelings of others when making decisions, big or small.

You might say that the secret of my success is being a man for others — something I learned in Xavier School all along.

If there is one thing that stands out about The Philippine STAR, it’s not the money we make or the influence we enjoy being a successful media company, but the impact we have on the lives of people, especially those in need. This is why we have Operation Damayan and why I personally take time to join our volunteers in providing relief to victims of calamity. With the help of donors, we are now building three schools in areas devastated by Yolanda so that students whose lives were disrupted by the typhoon can go back to school when classes open this June.

I’d like to end my talk by recalling an incident that happened a long time ago when I was invited as a guest in a TV show where I was asked to talk about my outlook in business, the economy, and various political issues at the time. For me, it was a breeze discussing these matters.

But when the host asked me to close with a message for the youth, I went completely blank. I guess, having been a young man myself, the thought never occurred to me, so the show ended with me not giving any message. That experience left me embarrassed and disappointed in myself because I missed out on a perfect opportunity to say something helpful to the youth.

Today, on this important and memorable occasion in your life, allow me to share with you my little piece of advice: No matter how young you are, NOW IS YOUR TIME! Your parents’ generation may still be the ones running business, politics and practically all areas of society, but I tell you that even now you can do something to help your country, whether by giving some of your time or money to help those in need; simply doing your best in your studies to prepare for a good career in the future; or even just by being obedient to your parents who work so hard to provide you the best education.

No matter what your dreams, no contribution of your time, talent and treasure, and no kind gesture that you will do, is ever too big or too small.

So let me conclude by saying: We are all men for others here, every one of us. Let’s go out there and prove it!

Congratulations to all of you, graduates of Xavier School Class of 2014. God bless you all!