15 April 2004 – “You could be what you wish to be – through education and hard work.”  This is the gist of the challenge posed by Foreign Secretary Delia Domingo Albert to the 688 graduating students of the New Era High School in Quezon City during their commencement exercises held on 3 April 2004.

“Your graduation manifests our people's yearning for education.  For most of  the poor, education is the means to liberate themselves from the clutches of   poverty.  Education is a tested means for social and economic mobility,” Secretary Albert said, emphasizing the value of education.

The Secretary also spoke to the graduating students about President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s foreign policy, which she describes as one that “brings about change, change that truly benefits the people.”  She cited some of the direct results of the President’s foreign policy activities that have made Filipinos safer both in the country and abroad, and which have helped ensure a firm and fair place for the Philippines in the global economy.   These include initiatives in the fight against terrorism and crime, the promotion of fair trade, the protection of the global environment, the search for peace, and the promotion of the rights and protection of the welfare of our 8 million Filipino migrant workers.

Secretary Albert underscored the Philippine government’s commitment to give priority to education and encouraged the students to look for more educational opportunities.  She mentioned the launching of the Student Assistance Fund for Education for a Strong Republic, funding support to education through the increase of DeEd’s budget, the putting up of more schools in unserved barangays, and the introduction of distance-learning programs, among others.

In her speech, she personally congratulated the class valedictorian, Mary Rose Mania, and encouraged her to study hard, in the hope that perhaps one day, she could also join the foreign service.  END.