- The speaker introduces themselves as a UP Graduate who focuses on speech disabilities and provides speech therapy to politicians.
- They express gratitude for the invitation to speak at UP and joke about needing air conditioning in the hot theater.
- They mention a living will in case something happens during an impeachment trial.
- The speaker praises UP for its academic and moral excellence.
- They address the graduating students, encouraging them to continue learning and growing in life.
- The speaker discusses various medical breakthroughs and advancements that will impact the medical profession.
- They emphasize the importance of defining the meaning of life individually and creating one's own values.

- In a godless world, we create our own values and meaning in life
- Religion seeks to transform the agony of life into joy and gratitude
- We should strive for freedom from selfishness, hatred, and instant gratification
- Life is a journey towards absolute truth and communication with God
- The value of life comes from the conscious and constant revolt against evil
- Life is a process of education sourced from infinite intelligence
- Class of 2012 is encouraged to embrace self-sacrifice, reason, and truth
- They have the support and respect of fellow alumni on their journey into the future

Commencement speech before the U.P. College of Medicine graduates on 20 May  2012 at the U.P. Theater in Diliman campus

Ladies and gentlemen, now that I'm standing at the birthday introduction, please allow me to introduce myself.

Graduate who has, in a modest way, focused national attention on the political malady known as logopedics.

Logopedics, the branch of medicine that deals with speech disabilities and their treatment.

Kasi ang ibang tao, impeachment trial, hindi baro ko magsabi ng totoo.

For politicians like me, commencement speeches are a regular feature of the calendar year.

But when the invitation comes from UP graduates, I consider the invitation to be more powerful than a subpoena about any objection.

Applause Frankly, when I arrived in this UP theater, I noticed immediately that it is very hot, not to tell its owner, but it is air conditioned.

I have therefore concluded that I shall ask the International Criminal Court in The Hague, in the Netherlands, to defer calling me to the court so that I can use my unflagged government funds to air condition.

In case something happens to me during the impeachment trial or at any other time, in the near future, according to my living will, I will quiz the Philippine General Hospital or my running cards.

Your honor, the honor that you have extended to me is not only a professional honor, it is an invitation to return to the sublime cradle of the most intellectual and the most idealistic leaders of the professions in our country.

I love this school, which has the highest standard of academic excellence and the most unforgiving standard of moral excellence, the great University of the Philippines.

Today, you stand at the cusp of your medical career.

You bid goodbye to the distant past, when your parents struggled, emotionally and financially, perhaps, to send you to the best mental school in the country.

You will also be goodbye to the recent past, when your professors audaciously took the claim of your undergraduate studies and molded you into the 159 youth I see before me now, each 1 of you, a young, God-like person, trembling on the edge of an entire new and dazzling universe or perhaps of many universes.

Whatever astrophysics may conclude, each 1 of these stands as a master of the universe.

At this point, let me share with you what the wise man said.

Your graduation is not an end point in your education.

Now that your proud professors have done their best, you must start the adventure of learning from life itself.

Michael Angelo said that genius is eternal patience and Gandhi put it in another way by saying that there is more to life than increasing its speed.

I would simply say that life is not to be taken.

Dare beyond your strength, have heart beyond your judgment, and in extremities, proceed in excellent hope.

Bury the essence of life with decency and grace, making the best of circumstances.

To paraphrase the advice of a wise man, you should live in the presence of great truth and eternal love.

If you do that, you will be patient when the world ignores you, and you will be calm and unspoiled when the world praises you.

Dwight Mack said That we should seek elegance rather than luxury, refinement rather than fashion, work rather than respectability, and wealth rather than riches.

Stop dandling with your patience and act frankly.

In addition, listen to stars and birds, leaders and sages with open heart.

Your most important lesson is that in the common, mundane things in life, the spiritual, the hidden, and even yet conscious will slowly enlighten you.

You will live and work in circumstances far different from today.

The changes in the medical profession will be dictated by at least 10 medical breakthroughs.

1, scientists now use cloning to create stem cells.

1 day, stem cells will treat diseases such as spinal cord injury and Parkinson's.

2, there has never been a vaccine against a human parasite before or against malaria, which infects millions of children each year.

But the first ever malaria vaccine, which cuts the risk of infection by half, has been tested in children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

3, HIV treatment can also serve as prevention by protecting HIV-free people from becoming infected.

4, the food pyramid is now presented as a food plate.

It has 4 sections, fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein.

5, in a new world of regenerative medicine, healthy body tissues can be created to replace diseased ones.

I wish we could implement this branch of medicine community because there are brains that are not healthy that will be easily replaced with a Filipino scientist.

Scientists have already painted in the laboratory a real functioning urethra, but right now it costs US$5,000.

Sixth, colon cancer could likely be caused by bacteria.

2 research groups have reported that a bacteria called Oothobacteria seems to flourish in colon cancer cells.

7, In the world of weight loss, researchers reported that obese patients taking an experimental drug called Funexa lost 10% of their body weight in a year.

The pill combines 2 existing drugs, the weight loss drug Fentermin and the antiepilepsy medication Topiramate.

German researchers have found that if trained, dogs can detect the presence of cancer on a person's breast.

9, Researchers from UCLA have reported that it may now be possible for scientists to bleed the age of a dead body from genetic material.

At Uppsala University in Sweden, researchers reported that a simple blood test may be able to predict who is most likely to die of heart disease or cancer.

They found that people with higher levels of an enzyme called Catexin S were more likely to die.

The next algorithm, the purpose of life is to grow.

The meaning is not for you to find, but for you to define.

The meaning of life is found in the purposes that we pursue as we grow older.

Each 1 must interpret individually the meaning of life.

You must read meaning to the situations you find yourselves in, case by case.

From my book, Philosophy of Religion, let me read for you.

Even if life is meaningless, we have to go on living as a form of rebellion against cosmic meaninglessness.

Your slogan should be, dare to become what you are.

If there is no God and no other world than this 1, then we are the creators of our own values.

And the next highest value is the will to power over evil.

We must confront the difficult truth about ourselves.

In a godless world, We have no alternative but to choose and in that sense to create our own values.

In other words, we are ourselves who create the meaning of our own lives.

Perhaps life has no meaning, but perhaps those who are religious can find meaning in the 4 categories of human experience.

The various religions are responses to the reanimation of the agony of life.

Religion seeks to transform the other life, agony and anxiety of life into the joy and gratitude we can feel for the gift of love.

Last, aphorism, the challenge of life is overcome.

Now, let me allow you to read the conclusion of my same book, Philosophy of Religion.

If we want to build earth pyramids pointing to the stars, the best procedure is not the infliction of selfish cruelty on those who wish to make our subjects, but to enlist their free commitment to the human enterprise.

We should struggle for freedom from selfishness, from hatred, and from slavery to pleasure and instant gratification.

We should find inspiration in our third world circumstances and thus empower ourselves in the pursuit of excellence in creativity, compassion in poverty, and happiness in serving others.

Vast community gives the price of material riches which endanger the spiritual outlook.

Life is a journey to the absolute truth in the course of which we develop the ability to communicate with God.

Nothing that any person does, no matter how rich or famous, really matters.

All that matters is the faith to believe that something is better than nothing.

If this something contains evil, it is conscious and constant revolt against evil that gives life its value.

In the final analysis, life is a catalytic process of education, sourced from the infinite intelligence that dashes your super mind.

Class of 2012, you have received more than others in health, in talent, and in education.

Possessions, outward success, publicity, luxury, all these will come to you.

Like all UT Alumni, be prepared to render an unusually great sacrifice of your life for other lives.

During this, your take with destiny, I quote the famous poem, Ode to Beauty, by William Wordsworth.

Give unto me, lonely wife, the spirit of self-sacrifice, the confidence of reason give, and in the light of truth thy God-man let me live.

Class of 2012, let all choose you be alumni.

Embrace the spirit of self-sacrifice, of reason, and of truth.

Never forget that I, together with millions of our fellow alumni, are Marching in lockstep on your transport into the beckoning future.

On that journey, you have our highest respect and all of our love.


Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Please be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, now that I'm standing at the birthday introduction, please allow me to introduce myself. I am a U.P. Graduate who has, in a modest way, focused national attention on the political malady known as logopedics.

Logopedics, the branch of medicine that deals with speech disabilities and their treatment. Kasi ang ibang tao, impeachment trial, hindi baro ko magsabi ng totoo. Kaya binibigyan ko sila

Speaker 1: ng speech therapy. I don't know how to say the truth. That's why I'm

Speaker 0: giving them speech therapy. For politicians like me, commencement speeches are a regular feature of the calendar year. But when the invitation comes from UP graduates, I consider the invitation to be more powerful than a subpoena about any objection. Applause Frankly, when I arrived in this UP theater, I noticed immediately that it is very hot, not to tell its owner, but it is air conditioned. That has no relation to reality.

I have therefore concluded that I shall ask the International Criminal Court in The Hague, in the Netherlands, to defer calling me to the court so that I can use my unflagged government funds to air condition. And I also have a living will. In case something happens to me during the impeachment trial or at any other time, in the near future, according to my living will, I will quiz the Philippine General Hospital or my running cards. Your honor, the honor that you have extended to me is not only a professional honor, it is an invitation to return to the sublime cradle of the most intellectual and the most idealistic leaders of the professions in our country. I love this school, which has the highest standard of academic excellence and the most unforgiving standard of moral excellence, the great University of the Philippines.

Woo! Woo! Woo!

Speaker 1: Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo!

Woo! Woo!

Speaker 0: Woo! Today, you stand at the cusp of your medical career. You bid goodbye to the distant past, when your parents struggled, emotionally and financially, perhaps, to send you to the best mental school in the country. You will also be goodbye to the recent past, when your professors audaciously took the claim of your undergraduate studies and molded you into the 159 youth I see before me now, each 1 of you, a young, God-like person, trembling on the edge of an entire new and dazzling universe or perhaps of many universes. Whatever astrophysics may conclude, each 1 of these stands as a master of the universe.

At this point, let me share with you what the wise man said. The adventure of life is to learn. The nature of life is to change. The purpose of life is to grow. The challenge of life is to overcome.

Let us take up these aphorisms 1 by 1. The adventure of life is to learn. Your graduation is not an end point in your education. Now that your proud professors have done their best, you must start the adventure of learning from life itself. Michael Angelo said that genius is eternal patience and Gandhi put it in another way by saying that there is more to life than increasing its speed.

I would simply say that life is not to be taken. Dare beyond your strength, have heart beyond your judgment, and in extremities, proceed in excellent hope. Bury the essence of life with decency and grace, making the best of circumstances. To paraphrase the advice of a wise man, you should live in the presence of great truth and eternal love. You should be led by permanent ideals.

If you do that, you will be patient when the world ignores you, and you will be calm and unspoiled when the world praises you. Your trade offers heal yourselves. Dwight Mack said That we should seek elegance rather than luxury, refinement rather than fashion, work rather than respectability, and wealth rather than riches. You have studied hard. Now, think quietly.

Stop dandling with your patience and act frankly. In addition, listen to stars and birds, leaders and sages with open heart. Awake of patience and never hurry. Your most important lesson is that in the common, mundane things in life, the spiritual, the hidden, and even yet conscious will slowly enlighten you. The nature of life is to change.

You will live and work in circumstances far different from today. The changes in the medical profession will be dictated by at least 10 medical breakthroughs. 1, scientists now use cloning to create stem cells. 1 day, stem cells will treat diseases such as spinal cord injury and Parkinson's. 2, there has never been a vaccine against a human parasite before or against malaria, which infects millions of children each year.

But the first ever malaria vaccine, which cuts the risk of infection by half, has been tested in children in Sub-Saharan Africa. 3, HIV treatment can also serve as prevention by protecting HIV-free people from becoming infected. 4, the food pyramid is now presented as a food plate. It has 4 sections, fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein. 5, in a new world of regenerative medicine, healthy body tissues can be created to replace diseased ones.

I wish we could implement this branch of medicine community because there are brains that are not healthy that will be easily replaced with a Filipino scientist. Scientists have already painted in the laboratory a real functioning urethra, but right now it costs US$5,000. Sixth, colon cancer could likely be caused by bacteria. 2 research groups have reported that a bacteria called Oothobacteria seems to flourish in colon cancer cells. 7, In the world of weight loss, researchers reported that obese patients taking an experimental drug called Funexa lost 10% of their body weight in a year.

The pill combines 2 existing drugs, the weight loss drug Fentermin and the antiepilepsy medication Topiramate. 8. German researchers have found that if trained, dogs can detect the presence of cancer on a person's breast. 8. 9, Researchers from UCLA have reported that it may now be possible for scientists to bleed the age of a dead body from genetic material.

They worked with saliva samples. 10. At Uppsala University in Sweden, researchers reported that a simple blood test may be able to predict who is most likely to die of heart disease or cancer. They found that people with higher levels of an enzyme called Catexin S were more likely to die. The next algorithm, the purpose of life is to grow.

What is the meaning of life? The meaning is not for you to find, but for you to define. The meaning of life is found in the purposes that we pursue as we grow older. Each 1 must interpret individually the meaning of life. You must read meaning to the situations you find yourselves in, case by case.

From my book, Philosophy of Religion, let me read for you. Even if life is meaningless, we have to go on living as a form of rebellion against cosmic meaninglessness. Your slogan should be, dare to become what you are. If there is no God and no other world than this 1, then we are the creators of our own values. The supreme value is life as heritage.

And the next highest value is the will to power over evil. We must confront the difficult truth about ourselves. In a godless world, We have no alternative but to choose and in that sense to create our own values. In other words, we are ourselves who create the meaning of our own lives. Perhaps life has no meaning, but perhaps those who are religious can find meaning in the 4 categories of human experience.

Suffering, hope, effort, and grace. The various religions are responses to the reanimation of the agony of life. Religion seeks to transform the other life, agony and anxiety of life into the joy and gratitude we can feel for the gift of love. Last, aphorism, the challenge of life is overcome. Now, let me allow you to read the conclusion of my same book, Philosophy of Religion.

If we want to build earth pyramids pointing to the stars, the best procedure is not the infliction of selfish cruelty on those who wish to make our subjects, but to enlist their free commitment to the human enterprise. We should struggle for freedom from selfishness, from hatred, and from slavery to pleasure and instant gratification. We should find inspiration in our third world circumstances and thus empower ourselves in the pursuit of excellence in creativity, compassion in poverty, and happiness in serving others. Life is not a race among the vain. Vast community gives the price of material riches which endanger the spiritual outlook.

Life is a journey to the absolute truth in the course of which we develop the ability to communicate with God. Nothing that any person does, no matter how rich or famous, really matters. All that matters is the faith to believe that something is better than nothing. If this something contains evil, it is conscious and constant revolt against evil that gives life its value. In the final analysis, life is a catalytic process of education, sourced from the infinite intelligence that dashes your super mind.

Class of 2012, you have received more than others in health, in talent, and in education. Possessions, outward success, publicity, luxury, all these will come to you. But you have to pay the price. Like all UT Alumni, be prepared to render an unusually great sacrifice of your life for other lives. During this, your take with destiny, I quote the famous poem, Ode to Beauty, by William Wordsworth.

Oh, let my weakness have an end. Give unto me, lonely wife, the spirit of self-sacrifice, the confidence of reason give, and in the light of truth thy God-man let me live. Class of 2012, let all choose you be alumni. Embrace the spirit of self-sacrifice, of reason, and of truth. Never forget that I, together with millions of our fellow alumni, are Marching in lockstep on your transport into the beckoning future.

On that journey, you have our highest respect and all of our love. Thank you. Applause

See all Miriam Defensor Santiago transcripts on Youtube

A DATE WITH DESTINY - Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago