You cannot sing “𝗟𝘂𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴”

if you have forgotten what it means to stand for your country—

if you show up for flag ceremonies, but not for the nation.

You cannot call it a “𝗱𝘂𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴”

if you dismiss those who fight for justice,

or remain silent when courage is needed most.

You cannot speak of a “𝗯𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘄”

if your heart grows distant from your fellow Filipinos,

if your words divide more than they unite.

You cannot claim this land as the “𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗻”

if its beauty is buried under apathy or greed,

if you take from it but give nothing back.

You cannot declare “𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯 𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗼 𝘀𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗱𝗶𝗯 𝗺𝗼’𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗵𝗮𝘆”

if your passion is only for self,

and your loyalty fades when sacrifice is asked.

You cannot sing “𝘀𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘂𝗹𝘂𝗽𝗶𝗴, ‘𝗱𝗶 𝗸𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗶𝗹”

if fear silences your convictions,

if you choose convenience over resistance.

You cannot rejoice in “𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗻𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗴-𝗮𝗮𝗽𝗶”

if you turn away from the cries of the poor,

or benefit from systems built on others’ suffering.

And you cannot promise “𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗹 𝘀𝗮 ’𝘆𝗼”

if you are unwilling to live each day for the country—

in small acts of truth, integrity, and compassion.

– –

As we mark the 𝟭𝟮𝟳𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆,

may we remember that patriotism is not measured by how loudly we sing the anthem—

but by how fully we live its meaning.

Our country does not only need voices that sing.

It needs minds that think critically,

hearts that act with compassion,

and citizens who uphold truth, justice, and integrity.

At the heart of education lies a deeper mission:

to form not only skilled graduates,

but responsible nation-builders.

𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮—𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝘂𝗴𝗼𝗻.