Parting Words

I was an R.T.C. Judge for 21 years (1985 – 2001). Part of my job was to administer the oaths of newly passed doctors, nurses, C.P.A’s, Engineers etc. After the oath taking, I am usually asked to say something. This was my standard talk.

“Pray to God every day, trust in God and always, thank God. Do your best but more important believe in yourself and in your ability to make your dreams come true. You must know what you believe in.

Never stop learning: Attend as many seminars as possible and keep reading because by continuously studying, you open your minds to things you never knew or thought you knew of.

Do everything with integrity. Conduct yourself in a way that will give you pride tomorrow. Be guided by a set of values that include religiosity, honor, civility and honesty. These values are like the lines of a compass that will guide you all your life.

Never make short cuts, miscite rulings, willfully confuse the materials or fact of a case or go back from your word. Learn from those you admire, but be yourself.

Don’t be discouraged by the evils of graft, ignorance, laziness and corruption that you see and hear about. Contrary to what you think, there are more honest, God-fearing people than evil and corrupt ones.

Just as evil is associated with night and darkness, goodness is associated with the sun and light. There will be times you will despair, that you think you are drowning in darkness. The gloom of despair and darkness is not forever, the sun will come out and shine and you will again walk in the light.

As long as there is a sun, there will always be hope for a better and brighter tomorrow for you and your loved ones.

Finally, be happy and the people around you will be happy too. A pessimist will discouragingly say that a bottle of coke is half-empty. An optimist will happily say that the same bottle of coke is half-full. Be thankful for what you have. When you pray for more, don’t be disappointed if you think your prayers were not answered.

It is not what you want but what the Lord thinks what you need will sustain you through your life.

Digos RTC judge Dominador Carillo said this phrase years ago and I will relay them to you: “Hina-ut unta nga hatagan kamo sa Kapalaran sa mubo nga lawas ug ta-as nga kinabuhi”.