UNIK Seminar
5
something to help alleviate or prevent it from becoming worse. Lastly, we should share our resources. If we have plenty, we can share, Sharing is also one of the means of love. By doing it, we are not only helping others and being compassionate, but also giving them love and importance. The speaker, being able to move the students and give awareness so that they can take action, left a universal message as she ends her talk: “It is important to do what you love and vice versa, because it is hard to sustain motivation if you are not interested with what you are doing.” [nonverbatim]
After the first speaker, the hosts introduced the second speaker. Surprising the students, the second speaker was none other than the 2010 Miss Universe 4th Runner-Up, Ms. Maria Venus Raj. Ms. Raj focused on the topic of Family, Community, and Education. She talked about her childhood years in Bicol, how she finished her studying, up to her present life. She presented various points that inspired many Thomasians. Some of these Thomasians even tweeted on Twitter Ms. Raj’s lines from the seminar that are both educational and inspirational
By having a Family, she stressed on the point that they are your support system, your first teacher. They are the first one that molded you – your personality, your character. She likened a family to a “compass that guides us, the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we falter.” Then, she points out that “Walang rason para di mo pag-igihan ang pag-aaral mo.” (There is no reason why you should not be diligent on your studies.) On Community, she pointed out that these are the people who ”helps us and guides us in reaching our destination.” She quotes Pope John Paul the Second’s words, “A community needs a soul, if it is to become a tree home for human…” and the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s words, “A community is like a ship, everyone must be ready to take the helm.” She reminds everyone about looking back from where they came from and expressing one’s gratitude from his native land. It is good that you are successful as an individual but you never forget where you came from.
Her last topic centered on Education. She asks the crowd about how they can contribute if they know nothing. She also stressed on the fact that we should apply what we have learned and money is not the basis of helping others. “Genuine dapat ang pagtulong mo.” (Your help should be genuine [in nature]), as she points out. Moreover, she lifts the students’ self-esteem as she states on the fact that what you think of yourself makes up what other think of you as a person. To give more emphasis on her last topic, she quoted G.K. Chesterton’s words, “Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.” and Allan Bloom’s as the finale: “Education is the movement from darkness to light.”
After Ms. Raj’s talk, the floor was opened for questions to both speakers. Later, certificates of appreciation were presented to both speakers followed by the closing remarks, closing prayer, and the UST Hymn. Students, then, were allowed to take pictures together with Ms. Raj, making the Thomasians present in the seminar very excited and full of happiness as they left the venue.
Having attended the seminar, it is indeed an event where Thomasians can develop their sense of social consciousness and expand their knowledge of what is in the society. Being aware and involved on our society’s problems will help solve and eradicate it faster and more effectively. Opening our eyes to every person’s needs, being updated of what is happening around us, and discovering the real meaning of being compassionate and loving, extending our hands not just to our friends and relatives but also to those who are in dire need of help, are just some of the things that we can contribute to improve our character and understand the true purpose of our lives.