As the season of end-of-school-year rites comes in full swing amid the oil crisis, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday encouraged young Filipinos to treat the many crises their generation has lived through as “training” for future leadership.
Cayetano told this to hundreds of graduating and moving-up students, together with their parents, in the City of Taguig on March 31, 2026.
He explained that effective leaders often draw their drive and heart for service from what they lacked or the hardships they endured.
“Sabi kasi ng iba, kapag ikaw ay leader o boss, ikaw ang parating pinagsisilbihan. ‘Pag may pagkukulang, may uutusan ka,” the senator said.
“Pero sa salitang Pilipino, maganda eh – ‘pamumuno.’ Kapag may kulang, pinupunuan. ‘Yan ang role ng isang leader,” he continued.
True to this year’s theme, “Pilipinong Nagtatapos, Handang Mamuno nang may Kakayanan at Mabuting Pagkatao,” he told the youth that the challenges they have experienced – from the COVID-19 pandemic, the flood control scandal, to the current oil crisis – are preparing them to become a generation of more grounded and committed leaders.
“There are many things you will not understand right away because you are being prepared. You are being trained. Not just by your parents, not just by the teachers, [but also] by this world,” he said.
Quoting the Book of Genesis from the Bible, he reminded them that “we are all meant to be leaders,” as God’s appointed stewards of His creations.
“When you take dominion, that’s leadership. That’s stewardship. ‘Yan ay pamumuno,” he said.
He then urged the youth to remain resilient, warning that their actions can influence others around them.
“Kung leader ka, anong ginagawa ng iba? Follow. So, ‘pag nakaisip ka ng masama [tulad ng] mag-quit, mag-drop out, o mag-suicide [kasi ang] hirap ng buhay,’ please remember, you’re a leader,” he encouraged them.
“God loves you. So whenever you have doubt, remind yourself na you are being trained at maraming nagmamahal sa inyo,” he added.
The education advocate also reminded students to honor their parents for their sacrifices.
“Today, ang pinakamaganda ninyong ‘thank you’ ay gumraduate kayo,” he told the students.
