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Batch 67 Reunion: PAYBACK! Share your Blessings

Batch 67 had a reunion at the Dusit Hotel on February 10, 2009. The reunion started with a mass officiated by Fr. Dan Sta Maria (ChE batch' 63). Guests included former Deans Francisco G. Reyes and Alberto Laurito. Also present were faculty members of Batch 67 and the present set of department chairs of the Faculty of Engineering. An opening speech by Justice Arturo Brion shown below reminded everyone of the importance of "Payback" - giving back and sharing blessings now that they are in the summit of their successful lives. The members of Batch67 presented dances that wowed the audience and provided fun and enjoyment to the affair. See pictures at the bottom of the page.

Speech by: Justice Arturo Brion
Batch 67 Reunion

Justice Brion studied at UST up to his 4th year in ChE

In catching up on our intervening years, I noticed that many of us went overseas and many are still there right now. This is something that I share with you because I was also an immigrant to Canada where I spent 8 fruitful years studying and practicing law. I did not last as an immigrant because I not sure if I wanted to be there in the first place. I only went to Canada to ensure the education of my two children who were then in college. I was at the wrong end of politics at that time - I was a Deputy Minister of Labor in the old Marcos regime - and basic survival was a problem. True enough, even though my wife and I were practicing lawyers in Toronto, we decided to come back home as soon as our children finished their studies.
My Toronto office colleagues were puzzled when I announced my decision to return to the Philippines, and they asked "Why?" I refused to answer them except to say an answer would be useless because they would not understand. But the short and simple answer was, even after 8 years abroad, I was still a provinciano who longed for the familiar Philippine ways, sights and sounds.
Looking back, an article in the Globe and Mail was memorable for keeping alive my longing to come home. The article was written by a white writer who was explaining why they write badly about the Philippines. He gave a very good simple reason: the Philippines is paradise and writers who know the Philippines do not want to share this paradise with others. I remember asking myself when I read this: If paradise is over there, then what an I doing here? Anyway, the bottom line was I went back home in 1995 to restart my life.
I returned to my old law firm to resume my practice. I was getting quite comfortable when the bug of a thought hit me and would not leave. I thought that God made this country have been very good to me and I should be very thankful. To cite a few of these blessings, the Philippine education I got (and which we of course all got) was more than enough to merit me some interesting questions and recognition overseas. I remember that, time and again, I was complimented for the kind of training I had in the Philippines. I have also been asked why Filipinos can communicate in English, both written and oral, very well; why a lawyer like me can also handle math and Latin with facility; why my knowledge of law is generalized, in contrast with the specialty approach they have; and may other questions showing that our Philippine education and training were at par with what foreign schools can offer.
More than the matter of education, I thought I have been especially blessed because I have dropped in and out of courses and have changed professions over the years, yet I have somehow managed to land solidly on my feet. Ultimately, I came out convinced that I really have a lot to be thankful for. It was at this time that the idea of PAYBACK hit me. Ironically, my law practice was at its peak, as I was a Senior Partner in a mjor law firm. The question that nagged me was: Is it not time to flow back some of my blessings to the community and the country that have helped me?