Eye Opener
Mar Roxas at ASU graduation rites
"I did not realize that you all expected Korina Sanchez to come with me today here at the graduation rites of Aklan State University (ASU)," was the opening remark of Senator Mar Roxas when he was the commencement speaker of this government university March 27 at Banga, Aklan.
The crowd and hundreds of graduates cheered wildly when the bachelor senator from Capiz mentioned the name of Korina, the ace anchorwoman of ABS-CBN Manila. Mar however assured the Aklanons and Capizeños that during his next visit to the school, he will bring Korina. The crowd once again shouted noisily when Senator Roxas mouthed the name of Korina. The crowd may be thinking loudly when the two love birds will be together when Mar Roxas starts his sorties to cities and provinces.
Senator Roxas's discourse was brief and concise to the graduating students, faculty members and parents of ASU, the No. 5 top university of the 112 state colleges and universities in the Philippines. Popularly known as "Mr. Palengke", he advised the graduates not to get married yet but help their parents and guardians pursue a productive life by entering the labor force. According to the Capizeño senator, the nation needs our young graduates build our country for her economic stability. "Remember your parents who sacrificed for you in your long years of education – elementary, high school and college by returning back to them something of a good life," said the senator.
Roxas mentioned statistics of about 1 to 6 million young people who did not finish their education and he told the graduates that they were lucky to have completed their college education. He further stated that of the 100 youth who began in Grade One, only 66 finished elementary; 44 high school and 18 of the 1,000 who started in Grade I did not make it to college. Mar said that he was very grateful to his parents, the late Senator Gerry Roxas and his mother Judy for struggling with him while still a student. As a result of his parents' sacrifices, Mar was chosen "Young Leader" of Asia and the Pacific and one of the global leaders of tomorrow like the famous leader of Singapore Lee Kuan Yeuw. Mar also mentioned when Aklan and Capiz were the same province before the war and up to 1955. In 1955, through the efforts of former House Speaker Cornelio Villareal of Capiz, and Senator Gerry Roxas, Aklan become a full-fledged province in Western Visayas.
The Capiz senator spoke briefly and promised that he will do everything in his power to make Aklan economically progressive in Region VI. ASU President emeritus Helmar Aguilar also spoke together with the incumbent ASU President Benny Palma.