Good evening friends, family, and fellow alumni.  My name is Mary Ann Ibanez- Abuedo (Class of BSN ’78) and I am the incoming President Elect of the PLM Alumni Association in North America.  
    So, it looks like the CNN polls were right, there will be a woman president after all.

     Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the Change You Want to See in the World.”  His words have never rung truer than as they do today.  

     There is no doubt that we are living in uncertain times.  The United States is in the midst of what some call, an economic crisis.  Many have lost their jobs and their homes and wonder when and where their next pay check will come from.  Unfortunately, it is the bleak reality that we must live with for the next few months, or however long this recession lasts. 

     But for many of us, this temporary hardship is a reality that we have lived with daily.  Many of us grew up in uncertain times just like these – where many feared for their parents’ jobs and wondered if they’ll have somewhere to live next month or even next week.  It is the grim reality of growing up in the Philippines, a country we all love, but one where financial success, at times, can be hard to come by. 

     Sitting here today, however, we are evidence that it can be done.  We are the lucky few that were given the opportunity to obtain an education, and ultimately migrate to the United States to make a better life for ourselves and for our future generations.  And while many factors contributed to that success, I have no doubt that attending PLM was one of those factors for some of us.
    For those of you unfamiliar with PLM, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, or the University of the City of Manila, PLM is a university located within the district of Intramuros in Manila. It was established on June 19, 1965 and opened on July 17, 1967 to 556 scholars, all coming from the top ten percent of graduates of Manila's public high schools. According to the Philippines' Commission on Higher Education (CHED), it is one of the centers of excellence in the City of Manila and it is the fifth among all universities nationwide based on the number of examinees passing the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) test.
    The school boasts graduates of Nursing, Engineering, Social Work, Law and Medicine to name a few. US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie A. Kenney in her address to the Graduating class of 2008 said that although PLM lay the foundation for building a culture of commitment to public service, it is the students who will have the satisfaction of serving their country, a feeling that we hope we all feel during our careers. That while the challenges and complexities that our world faces may seem daunting, the only hope we have of facing those difficulties is that brave, committed and talented young people will rise to the challenge.  We, the “Alumni” are those young people and our time is now. As I read her message, I couldn’t help but feel inspired.  At this moment, we have the opportunity to Be The Change We Want to See in the World.  By supporting PLM, through donations to the school or our scholarship program, or even just joining and becoming active in the Alumni Association, all of us have a chance to make a difference in the students’ lives by not only supporting their quest for an education, but supporting their dreams and a promise for a better life. 

     We are undoubtedly PLM’s greatest and most important resource.  We have achieved the dreams that the school promised to us when we enrolled.  Through hard work, dedication and the grace of God, we are sitting here today celebrating our own successes and the school that helped achieve them.  Now think to yourselves, how many of you would be sitting here today if you weren’t given the opportunity to attend and finish college.  If you had to choose between having food for your family and attending college, what would you have chosen?  Unfortunately, this is the impossible choice that many of our students in the Tanaw Aral Scholarship Program must make. The current nine (9) Tanaw Aral scholars are enrolled in various fields of endeavors such as Nursing, Engineering, Education, Tourism and Business. The 9 Scholars were selected from numerous candidates nominated by each college. The selection panel interviewed finalists and generally selected scholars who received the highest score according to the selection criteria set. Many students at times, due to their parent’s financial circumstances, are unable to attend classes due to lack of money for transportation. 
    To share with you a story -- one of our scholars comes from a family of six. His eldest brother has already stopped attending school because their parents can no longer afford to send him.  Just last summer they lost their house and were forced to move. Now, he is having a hard time attending school himself due to the high cost of transportation, food and school supplies. His father is a carpenter with no permanent job and his mother is a full time housewife.

    The Tanaw Aral Scholarship Program is our way of helping give students such as these up to $60 dollars per month for education expenses. This is not the full cost of the classes, of course, but it does help the parents and students cover a portion of the educational cost.  Our hope and greatest aspiration is that one day we can extend our support to not just 9, but to 90 of these deserving students.  But unfortunately, our financial circumstances won’t allow it, so right now we’ll just do what we can. 

    Despite their challenges and difficulties, these scholars are determined, responsible, motivated individuals who are dedicated students and productive community members. They come from every corner of the city and represent a wide variety of backgrounds, interests and experiences. They are leaders on campus, in their communities and among their peers. Their potential for success has no limit.

    To quote our current President,  “What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.” 

    Thank you all for attending this wonderful event tonight.  We ask that you please take the opportunity to learn about joining and becoming active in the PLM Alumni Association and the students we help support in our Tanaw Aral Scholarship Program.

     Friends, family and fellow alumni,   I’m asking you today to take Gandhi’s words to heart.  What change do you want to see in the world?  And how can you help us get there? Remember, your time and financial contributions will make a difference in the lives of the scholars and in the next generation to come.

Thank you for listening and enjoy the rest of the night.