"From Action to Passion"
To the U.P.I.S. Class 1981: Thank you for this occasion to celebrate life with you in joyful memory of your graduation from the University of the Philippines Integrated School 20 Aprils ago, in 1981. I suffered a massive stroke in July of 1996 which has left me "speechless" and paralyzed in my right extremities. It is a great blessing that I still have this chance to journey with all of you now. Twenty years ago, I wrote you in your Sulyap yearbbok: "You may have felt sometimes that I was not near beside you. And I know that you understand that I often have to go ahead to cut down the trees on the way so that you can safely pass through. I say 'have to' because I do prefer to be with you as much as possible, as often as possible. But the paths of life - our life - are not always of the same width. Sometimes the way is wide and we can all walk together and sing together the songs of love. Sometimes the way is narrow and we have to go single-file. Each one of us has to walk alone and face that hunger and thirst, we know that sooner or later we shall meet again." Greetings to you all once again! My life has been a dramatic turn of events over the past two decades, as it most certainly has been for all of you. In my case, it has been a journey from “action to passion” as Fr. Ben Villote has put it. I have fallen ill. I have become physically disabled, financially dependent. I can no longer do things for others as I had taken pride in doing so before. Thank God that the world has not dismissed me as unproductive, worthless, and disposable! Your asking me for a message at this time is yet another powerful affirmation for me and my family that it is not only in action (doing things for people) but also in passion (allowing people to do things to you and for you) that I my vocation continues to be fulfilled. There will be days of action for you , there will also be days of passion. There will be times when you are not in control, when you are wounded and in pain, when you feel depressed and useless, when part of you lies dying and you feel powerless to do anything for others and for yourself. As Jesus spoke to Simon Peter, “When you were young, you put on your belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and somebody else will put a belt around you and take you where you would rather not go.” (John 21:18) But just go on. Savor your life in action, as well as in passion. Continue with your journey and actively search and search for that something or someone you will be willing to die for. Then you will be gifted with a passion to live! And care. Care for each other. Care for humanity. Care for Mother Earth. Just care. One of the posters in my office in Quezon Hall when I was President back in 1981 read: “The capacity to care is what gives life its deepest significance.” Twenty years later, this thought continues to nourish me in my life, both in action and in passion. It brings happiness for me to share these thoughts with you now. My family and I join your teachers and the whole U.P. and U.P.I.S. community in congratulating you on your 20th anniversary.
December 2001
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