BUTUAN CITY (March 30, 2014) – Agusan del Norte First District Representative Lawrence “Law” Fortun told the graduates of Saint Joseph Institute of Technology (SJIT) to strengthen their values for this is the true barometer in acquiring genuine education during the 42nd Commencement Exercises of the said school where he was invited as the Commencement Speaker.
The solon said that when he assumed office as representative of the district, he was met with “probably the worst scandals Congress has ever been confronted with.” “Allegations of corruption and abuse left and right rocked the House of Representatives and the Senate and different departments and agencies of government. For a neophyte congressman who joined Congress with idealism and high hopes for the country, it was such a grave disappointment,” Fortun said. The young solon pointed out that “those who get involved in corruption and abuse of power in high places of government are people with sterling academic credentials. These are people who went to the best universities in the country and earned their graduate degrees from Ivy League institutions abroad.” Fortun went on to say that “we are surprised why they get involved in anomalies like these. Something must be wrong somewhere. They forgot an essential element of education. That is, VALUES. And I can only say, notwithstanding all those feathers in their caps, they have not acquired genuine education, after all.”
Fortun also paid tribute to the founders of SJIT for stirring the institution to greater heights from a very humble beginning in 1971. “As commencement speaker, I am expected to inspire you. Honestly, looking at you right now and reflecting on how you have been molded by an institution that has itself been molded by enormous challenges and has grown to become a premiere institution, I am the one who has been inspired. Indeed, you need not look elsewhere for a source of inspiration. SJIT is a great inspiration, not only to you, but to all of us in the region. SJIT is an inspiring embodiment of determination, courage, hard work, perseverance and excellence,” Fortun quipped. “We are all witnesses to SJIT’s remarkable growth as an institution of higher learning. In its pursuit to become a prominent landmark that it is now, the values of rectitude and integrity have always guided its labors for advancement. I repeat. RECTITUDE AND INTEGRITY. These, you should not forget,” the solon emphasized.
Lawig Katawhan
Lawig Katawhan 