To the graduates of Class 2010: Avoid addiction to computers and the Internet

MANILA, Philippines – Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world.  — Robert F. Kennedy

You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world.   — Tom Brokaw

Dear Graduates, Congrats to batch 2010! Hear out  some of my ideas and unsolicited advice.

1. The future is great! The world is now just coming out of the 2009 USA-led economic recession. Be part of and benefit from the world economic recovery.

2. Vote wisely. You graduates will be among the estimated 1.9 million first-time voters in the coming May election. Do not miss this opportunity to make history by voting for only the qualified and good candidates. Many more millions of voters nationwide will be young people of your generation, go out and vote with common sense!

3. Laugh. Good humor is one indispensable secret to happiness, personal well-being, to being sexy and to overcoming life’s many bewildering challenges. Smile always!

4. Hard work, focus and perseverance are more important than intelligence and talent. I believe there is nothing that hard work and perseverance can’t overcome.

5. Success is our birthright. Though I don’t consider myself yet a success (many lofty goals in business and life not yet attained!), I have overcome various obstacles in life. Dad died when I was seven and years later my mom became critically ill for two and a half years which drained our savings in medical costs, but never even for one second did I ever doubt that we would overcome, and that my ultimate destiny is success. Why? Our late Mom had showered me and my younger sister with love, telling us we have good futures. I believe every person on earth is destined for success, that God created each one of us for a purpose, and it’s up to us to fulfill our human potentials.

6. Live healthy. Without good health, of what use is wealth or success? Live and eat healthy, do nothing in excess, exercise regularly, rest well, drink lots of water. Shun smoking (especially smokers!), junk foods and all vices.

7. Floss. Believe me, this is one secret to longevity, fresh breath, good health and bliss!

8. Study. Graduation from school doesn’t mean you no longer will read books; on the contrary, read more and study nonstop. Life is a never-ending quest for knowledge. Traveling is also one great way to learn about the world!

9. Avoid addiction to computers and the Internet. Farmville is fun, but go plant real vegetables in your backyard! Facebook is fun, but go out too and meet people!

10. Do not confuse sex with love. I believe genuine love requires commitment, that true love waits and that love within the context of monogamous marriage is most ideal.

11. Try to do one good act every day. A college student in my recent class recounted how she was able to get an interview with a newspaper editor-in-chief for a class report on print media. The editor insisted on paying for their coffee and snacks, because he said he considered granting the interview and treating her for merienda as part of his vow to do one good act every day. This is a good thing for us to emulate!

12. Plant a tree (or trees). Help counter global warming, and beautify our environment. My favorites are fruit and flowering trees, including the easy-to-grow malunggay tree.

13. Don’t fear failure. Failure is only a temporary setback, just a signal for and the start of change. Falling down is ok, what is more important are the lessons we learned and that we should get up again. Never accept failure as final. Never ever give up!

14. Take calculated risks. While still young, it is good to take calculated risks in your profession or business. The biggest risk of all is not taking any risk!

15. Listen. This is one habit from school we should hopefully not lose. Whether in your professions or personal and family lives, the rare art of listening to others is an important key to success. Few people listen nowadays. Talk less, listen more!

16. Obey your parents. One of the most important Confucian moral values in Chinese and East Asian culture is xiao-sun or “filial piety” — total love, obedience and reverence to parents and ancestors. Trust and love our parents and elders.

17. Dream. It doesn’t cost anything to dream. It is better and more exciting to dream big!

18. Don’t spend more than what you earn, do not borrow too much. Frugality pays.

19. Positive attitude. The Bible in Romans 8: 28 said: “And we know all things work together for good to them who love God.” My favorite Bible verse as a kid was and still is now from Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Indeed, if you think you can, you’re already halfway to success, but if you think you can’t, then you’re right!

20. Forever remember the goodness or help of other people. Gratitude is a virtue.

21. Don’t let the wrongs of others spoil your life. Life is too short to waste on negative things, thoughts or feelings. Also, avoid negative people!

22. Turn the world upside down with new ideas! Challenge conventional wisdom. Question the status quo. Change or stagnate. Champion reforms.

23. Time, not money, is our most precious resource. Don’t waste time or you waste your life away — which unfortunately many young people do!

24. Humility and politeness are hallmarks of true greatness. Say “Sorry” and “Please.”

25.  Unleash the power of our imagination. Creativity in all aspects of life is important.

26.  Friends and family are important. You can’t choose relatives, but please choose your friends well because they influence you for better or for worse!

27.  Honesty is still the best policy. There cannot be true success without integrity. Those who rise in wealth, power and fame through questionable means deserve no respect from us and from history. Never lose your youthful idealism even if you see powerful politicians, corrupt generals and others cynically compromise moral principles to get ahead. It is sad that, for generations, the traditional power elite of Philippine society have failed to curb the pervasive culture of corruption. New graduates, use the gift of your education to decisively crack down on corruption. US President Theodore Roosevelt warned: “A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.”

28.  Pray without ceasing. Be ever thankful for blessings and always seek God’s help. With prayer and hard work, nothing is impossible!

29.  Love others, love yourself. I disagree with those who believe that the purpose of life is happiness. My opinion is the purpose of life is service to mankind and love of others. I also believe that those who do not love themselves cannot truly love others.

30.  Be the best, do your best, nothing less! Atty. Lesley Yu Cordero in her 2003 commencement address at Sacred Heart School for Girls in Cebu City said: “Now is the right time to stop complaining about how rotten our lives are, to quit criticizing our government and our country, and to stop being so preoccupied looking for the ideal leader or government official. In the advent of pessimism and indifference in our country today, when we cannot find good leaders anymore, it is high time for us to be the role models ourselves that others can look up to by simply doing our best in whatever we do… If you are a mom, a teacher, or a student, be the best mom, the best teacher, or the best student that you can be and inspire others to be like you. All we need to do is take that first step and lead by the example we set.”

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. E-mail willsoonflourish@gmail.com –Wilson Lee Flores (The Philippine Star)