FULL SPEECH: Miriam Defensor Santiago at the University of Perpetual Help, Laguna

Summary

The speaker addresses a campus tour at the University of Perpetual Help, discussing the challenges of rain and traffic. They express faith in the power of prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help to overcome obstacles and criticize corrupt politicians. The speaker emphasizes the importance of education in shaping future leaders, calls for self-confidence among Filipinos, and stresses the need for job creation and economic growth. They conclude with an inspirational message, encouraging graduates to be the masters of their faith and soul, and to love and transform the country.

Takeaways

• 🌧️ The speaker left Manila on a rainy morning and faced heavy traffic, but remained optimistic, planning to pray to Our Lady of Perpetual Help to alleviate the situation.
• 🙏 The speaker has faith in the power of prayer, specifically invoking Our Lady of Perpetual Help, to solve problems and influence political figures and thieves.
• 🏛️ The speaker praises the University of Perpetual Health, highlighting its campus layout and the importance of qualified teachers instilling values in students.
• 🎓 The speaker expresses confidence in the university's graduates becoming future leaders, emphasizing the need for genuine leadership over hypocritical and corrupt figures.
• 💰 The speaker criticizes corrupt politicians who steal public funds and use them for personal gain, returning a fraction to voters in a cycle of exploitation.
• 🙌 The speaker calls for a change in values, urging the people to rise above immorality and embrace faith, hope, and charity.
• 🗣️ The speaker emphasizes the importance of explaining the country's problems to the youth and the need for job creation as a priority for political candidates.
• 💼 The speaker suggests that job creation requires new businesses, which in turn need capital from both local and foreign investors.
• 🌍 The speaker reflects on the Filipino people's potential, comparing them favorably to other nationalities in terms of natural resources and capabilities.
• 💪 The speaker encourages self-confidence among Filipinos, countering the narrative of the country being full of thieves and suggesting that education can change this perception.

Q & A

What is the main concern expressed by the speaker about the weather and traffic in Manila?

The speaker expresses concern about the rain and heavy traffic in Manila, which are impacting the Campus Tour.

What does the speaker claim to do in response to the weather and traffic issues?

The speaker claims to pray to Our Lady of Perpetual Help to resolve the issues of rain and heavy traffic.

What is the significance of 'Palakpakan' mentioned in the script?

'Palakpakan' is used in the script as a metaphorical term to describe corrupt politicians and thieves.

What is the speaker's opinion on the current state of politics and leadership in the country?

The speaker is critical of the current political landscape, describing it as being in the grip of poverty and led by hypocritical and corrupt leaders.

Why does the speaker mention the University of Perpetual Health?

The speaker mentions the University of Perpetual Health as an example of an institution that can produce genuine leaders for the country.

What does the speaker suggest is needed to address the issue of unemployment in the country?

The speaker suggests that to address unemployment, the country needs to create new jobs by fostering new businesses and attracting both local and foreign capital.

What is the speaker's view on the Filipino people's self-confidence?

The speaker believes that the Filipino people lack self-confidence and that this is a major hindrance to progress, despite having abundant natural resources and talents.

What message does the speaker convey to the graduates of the University of Perpetual Health?

The speaker conveys a message of hope and encouragement to the graduates, telling them not to be disheartened and to have faith in their abilities to become future leaders.

What does the speaker suggest as the first step in transforming the country?

The speaker suggests that the first step in transforming the country is to create 2 million jobs.

How does the speaker encourage the audience to view the challenges faced by the country?

The speaker encourages the audience to view the challenges faced by the country with optimism, love, and determination, emphasizing that the country loves them and they should love it back.