MANILA, PHILIPPINES — United States Ambassador Harry K. Thomas praised Silliman University for being one of the leading universities “not only in the Philippines but around the world”.
In his speech during the 100th Commencement Exercises last Sunday, the Ambassador challenged the graduates to prove that Sillimanians can compete with the talents in more progressive countries like the United States, and to make the needed change in the world happen. He shared about his life, how he grew up helping out in their family restaurant by cleaning tables and taking out the trash, some of which were leftovers for the pigs. He stressed how each one needs to experience sacrificing for family.
Towards the end, the Ambassador, who delivered some lines in Bisaya —
for which he received applause from the audience — held up his iPad and
took a photo of the graduates. He said he wanted to send it to his
89-year-old mother who he jokingly said doesn’t believe he would ever be
invited to become commencement speaker.
Grateful to his parents (his mother, a social worker, and his father, a businessman), the Ambassador then requested the graduates to stand, face their parents and say: “Salamat, mama ug papa! Salamat, nanay ug tatay!” When the graduates were directed back to the stage, they collectively expressed to their mentors: “Thank you!”
Silliman is the first university in the Philippines established by American Presbyterian missionaries. (US Embassy PR)