EXCLUSIVE from FILIPINO CELEBRITY HEADLINES EXAMINER, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines - OF ITS ENTIRETY, this speech transcript has never been published. And the same is provided courtesy of my good friend, Honorable Ikay Villanueva of Negros Oriental. It's never too late to share with you this raw content of Honorable Manny Pacquiao's speech. I hope this would serve as a catalyst of inspiration to each of you. Here is the transcript of its entirety which he delivered at the famous first American private school in the country, Silliman University:
HON. EMMANUEL DAPIDRAN PACQUIAO
"LESSONS FROM THE EAGLE"
SPEECH FOR THE ACADEMIC CONVOCATION, 109™ FOUNDERS DAY CELEBRATION, LUCE AUDITORIUM
SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY, DUMAGUETE CITY 10:00 AM / August 26, 2010
WHO WANTS TO BE A CHICKEN?
RAISE YOUR HAND.
WHO WANTS TO BE A DUCK? STAND UP.
WHO WANTS TO BE AN EAGLE? MAKE SOME NOISE!
THE ADMINISTRATORS AND OFFICIALS OF SILUMAN UNIVERSITY-
DEAN MIKHAIL LEE L MAKING OF THE COLLEGE OF LAW--
THE FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS OF THE DR. JOVITO R. SALONGA CENTER
FOR LAW AND DEVELOPMENT AND THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION-
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FRIENDS—
MAAYONG BUNTAG SA TANAN.
IT IS NOT BY ACCIDENT THAT WE ARE TOGETHER TODAY.
I AM HERE FOR A PURPOSE.
YOU ARE HERE FOR A PURPOSE.
GOD HAS A MASTER PLAN FOR ALL OF US.
TODAY, WE SHALL DECLARE THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD
TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD,
AND THOSE WHO ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.
IT IS MY HONOR TO BE A PART OF THIS ACADEMIC CONVOCATION
FOR THE 109™ FOUNDER'S DAY CELEBRATION OF SILUMAN UNIVERSITY.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF CELEBRATING WITH YOU.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
WE KNOW THAT EAGLES FLY WITH EAGLES BUT NEVER IN A FLOCK.
BUT TODAY, EAGLES HAVE GATHERED INSIDE THIS AUDITORIUM. (Pause & smile)
THERE IS AN EAGLE INSIDE OF US WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED,
WAITING TO BE DEVELOPED.
I DISCOVERED THE EAGLE IN ME IN THE MIDST OF POVERTY.
WE WERE SO POOR THAT WE CAN HARDLY GO TO SCHOOL.
NANAY DIONISIA HAS TO STRETCH EVERY CENTAVO TO KEEP THE FAMILY ALIVE.
I EVEN HAVE TO WORK AT AN EARLY AGE IN ORDER TO EAT.
POVERTY HAS A WAY OF REVEALING THE CHARACTER OF A PERSON. MOMENTS OF ADVERSITY AND DIFFICULTY REVEAL WHO WE REALLY ARE.
I DID NOT GIVE UP.
I DID NOT ALLOW ADVERSITIES TO PREVENT ME FROM REACHING MY DREAMS.
I DID NOT ALLOW POVERTY TO STOP ME FROM PURSUING MY GOALS.
I DID NOT ALLOW PROBLEMS TO HINDER ME FROM STRETCHING MY ABILITIES.
WHEN I STARTED SEEING THE SIZE OF MY PROBLEMS AS A REFLECTION OF THE PROMISE OF MY FUTURE, I BECAME A STRONGER AND BETTER PERSON. I REMAIN FOCUSED REGARDLESS OF THE OBSTACLES.
THE EAGLE HAS STRONG VISION.
THE EAGLE WILL NOT MOVE HIS FOCUS FROM THE TARGET UNTIL HE GRABS IT.
MY VISION TODAY IS VERY CLEAR.
I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED NOT JUST AS A WORLD-CLASS BOXER
BUT AS A PASSIONATE SERVANT-LEADER.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
IS YOUR VISION CLEAR?
THAT IS ONE THING YOU HAVE TO BE CERTAIN OF.
THE EAGLE IS SAID TO BE THE ONLY BIRD THAT FACES THE STORM. WHEN THE SKY GETS DARK AND CLOUDY, THE EAGLE GETS EXCITED. THE EAGLE USES THE PRESSURE OF THE STORM TO RISE HIGHER. WHILE THE EAGLE GLIDES ABOVE THE STORM, THE CHICKEN, THE DUCKS AND THE OTHER BIRDS HIDE UNDER THE TREES.CHAMPIONS ARE NOT AFRAID OF STORMS. WINNERS ARE NOT AFRAID OF PROBLEMS. LEADERS ARE NOT AFRAID OF CHALLENGES. LAWYERS ARE NOT AFRAID OF ARGUMENTS.
THE CHICKEN CAN NOT SURVIVE IN THE BOXING RING. THE DUCK CAN NOT DELIVER A PRIVILEGE SPEECH.
THE EAGLES DO NOT ONLY SURVIVE IN THE BOXING RING,THEY WIN WORLD TITLES.THE EAGLES DO NOT ONLY DELIVER SPEECHES,THEY DELIVER SERVICES.WHEN YOU GO THROUGH A DISAPPOINTMENT, WHEN YOU GO THROUGH A LOSS, DO NOT STOP. LET ME SAY IT AGAIN: DO NOT STOP! KEEP YOUR FOCUS!AS AN EAGLE, I SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING A LIFELONG-LEARNER.
I CANNOT RELY ON WHAT I KNOW YEARS AGO.IT IS NOT ENOUGH THAT I KNOW HOW TO READ AND WRITE.I HAVE TO KEEP LEARNING.I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY UPDATE MYSELF.I AM JUST ONE OF THE LIVING EXAMPLES THAT EAGLES CAN SURVIVE IN ANY WEATHER CONDITIONS:
FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF MINDANAO,TO THE BOXING RINGS IN AMERICA AND NOW INTO THE HALLS OF CONGRESS.
I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY EAGLE HERE. NO ONE WANTS TO BE A CHICKEN OR A DUCK. WE ARE ALL EAGLES.AS EAGLES, WE HAVE TO GROW.WE HAVE TO DEVELOP OUR CHARACTER AND OUR COMPETENCE.WE HAVE TO LEARN NEW THINGS.WE HAVE TO RELEARN THINGS THAT WE HAVE NOT MASTERED.WE HAVE TO UNLEARN THINGS THAT AFFECT OUR EFFECTIVENESS.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE GET TIRED.THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE GET EXHAUSTED.
BUT WE REMEMBER,
THOSE WHO HOPE IN THE LORD WILL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH.THEY WILL SOAR ON WINGS LIKE EAGLES;THEY WILL RUN AND NOT GROW WEARY,THEY WILL WALK AND NOT BE FAINT.
IN CLOSING, LET ME COMMEND THE COLLEGE OF LAW AND THE DR. JOVITO R. SALONGA LAW CENTER FOR PIONEERING ON "TRANSFORMATIVE LAW".
I APPRECIATE THIS STUDY AND APPLICATION OF LAW TOWARDS TRANSFORMING OUR SOCIETY INTO A MORE LIVABLE COMMUNITY.I SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS TOWARDS SHAPING STATE AND GOVERNMENT POLICIES THROUGH ADVOCACIES, LEGAL EDUCATION,RESEARCH, TRAINING, PRACTICE, AND SERVICE LEARNING.INDEED,SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY IS A BREEDING AND TRAINING GROUND FOR EAGLES.THIS IS A UNIVERSITY WHERE EAGLES ARE DISCOVERED AND DEVELOPED.AS EAGLES, LET US WORK TOGETHER.LET US BE ONE IN FULFILLING THE MASTER PLAN OF GOD FOR OUR COUNTRY
AS WE SERVE WITH PASSION AND INTEGRITY.
GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
