HINIMOK ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez ang mga nagsipagtapos sa Capiz State University (CapSU) na pangunahan ang pagbabago ng bansa at iginiit na ang kinabukasan ng Pilipinas ay hindi lamang nakasentro sa mga lungsod kundi nakaugat sa katatagan ng mga pamayanan.

“The future of the Philippines is not written in the corridors of power in Manila. It is written in places like Capiz. It is written by graduates like you—who stay, who serve, and who lead with integrity,” ani Romualdez sa harap ng mahigit 5,000 graduates sa ika-21 na commencement exercises ng CapSU na ginanap sa Capiz Gymnasium sa Roxas City.

Isa ito sa kanyang pinaka-personal at madamdaming graduation speeches, kung saan inilarawan niya ang pagdiriwang bilang sagisag ng pakikibaka at diwang Pilipino na hinubog ng sakripisyo, tiyaga, at pananalig sa mas mabuting kinabukasan.

“This moment—your moment—is not just a ceremony. It is a culmination of everything that defines us as a people: sakripisyo, tiyaga, disiplina, at pananalig sa kinabukasan. Class of 2025, you did not just survive college. You conquered it,” ayon sa pinuno ng Kamara na binubuo ng 306 na kinatawan.

Pinuri niya ang matibay na determinasyon ng mga estudyante sa kabila ng matitinding pagsubok, tulad ng kanilang pagharap sa mga kalamidad, suliraning pang-ekonomiya, at mga hamon sa teknolohiya noong panahon ng pandemya.

“You braved typhoons, blackouts, online classes with unstable signal, rising tuition, and shrinking allowances. You studied in crowded classrooms, or in silence at dawn, while your parents were already out working, or still up from the night shift. You made it. And you are here,” ayon kay Speaker Romualdez.

Binigyang-diin ng kongresista na ang pagtatapos ay hindi lamang tagumpay ng bawat indibidwal kundi tagumpay din ng buong komunidad—lalo na ng mga magulang, guro, at mga taong sumuporta sa bawat estudyante.

“Let us take a moment to honor not just the graduates, but also the silent warriors behind them… To them, this is their graduation too,” dagdag pa niya.

Pinuri rin ni Speaker Romualdez ang CapSU bilang isang tanglaw ng pagbabago sa Western Visayas—binigyang-diin ang siyam nitong campuses, mahigit 1,000 Latin honor graduates, at lumalawak na reputasyon bilang pinagmumulan ng mga lider at tagapagtaguyod ng makabuluhang pagbabago.

“Capiz State University is not just producing graduates. It is producing hope-bearers for the region,” ayon kay Speaker Romualdez.

Dagdag pa niya, “This is not just education—it is transformation. This is not just a diploma—it is a declaration: That the youth of Capiz will not be left behind. That the Filipino dream is alive and well in Western Visayas.”

Ibinahagi rin ni Speaker Romualdez ang mga totoong kuwento ng mga estudyanteng nakabangon mula sa kahirapan, maagang pagpapamilya, at matitinding kalamidad upang makapagtapos—mga kuwentong sumasalamin sa tatag at tibay ng diwang Pilipino.

“I’ve seen the promise of this country in classrooms like yours. In the eyes of a young scholar who walks barefoot to school in the morning and studies by candlelight at night. In the determination of a mother who goes back to college at 40. In the fire of a student leader who organizes relief drives after a typhoon,” ayon kay Romualdez.

“These are the stories that define the Filipino spirit. These are the stories that will define your generation,” dagdag niya.

Nanawagan siya sa mga nagtapos na isabuhay ang tema ng kanilang pagtatapos, “One CapSU: Working Together, Growing Stronger, Reaching Higher”, bilang gabay sa pagtataguyod ng bayan at pagtutulungan para sa mas matatag na kinabukasan.

“No great change is built on selfishness. If we are to move this country forward, we must move forward together. Walang iwanan,” aniya. “Every failure, every rejection, every detour will shape you. Don’t resent them. Use them.”

Tiniyak din ng pinuno ng Kamara sa mga nagtapos na patuloy silang magsisikap sa Kongreso upang maitayo ang isang bansang nararapat sa kanilang mga pangarap.

“We are fighting to build a nation that matches your dreams. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is relentless in his efforts to achieve this. We are working to expand access to quality education, decent jobs, affordable healthcare, digital empowerment, and rural development—because you deserve nothing less,” wika ni Romualdez.

Kasabay nito, iginiit niya na ang pamahalaan ay dapat maging bukas at inklusibo para sa lahat.

“We need your ideas. We need your energy. We need your voice. We need your values,” aniya. “When you rise, bring others with you. When you succeed, stay humble. When you lead, lead with heart.”

Sa pagtatapos ng kanyang talumpati, nanawagan si Speaker Romualdez sa mga nagtapos na yakapin ang kanilang mahalagang gampanin sa pagtahak ng kinabukasan ng bansa.

“When people tell you it cannot be done, look them in the eye and say—‘I am from CapSU. I was built for this.’ Class of 2025—this is your time. Make it count. Make it matter. Make it history,” ayon pa kay Speaker Romualdez.