Oratorical Piece : Because Of What We Are, Of What We

Believe
For every generation, there is a destiny. For some, history
decides. For this generation, the choice must be our own.
Our destiny in the midst of change will rest on the changed
character of our people and on their faith.
In a land of great wealth, families must not live in hopeless
poverty.
In a land rich in harvest, children must not be hungry.
In a land of healing miracles, neighbors must not suffer and
die untended.
In a great land of learning and scholars, young people must be
taught to read and write.
How incredible it is that in this fragile existence, we should
hate and destroy one another. There are possibilities enough
for all who will abandon mastery; others to pursue mastery
over nature. There is world enough for all to seek their
happiness in their own way.
We have discovered that every child who learns, and every
man who finds work, and every sick body that is made whole
like a candle added to an altar brightens the hope of all the
faithful.
So let us reject any among us, who seek to reopen old wounds,
and rekindle old hatreds. They stand in the way of a seeking
nation.
Let us join reason to faith and action to experience, to
transform our unity of interest into a unity of purpose. To
achieve change without hatred; not without difference of
opinion but without the deep and abiding divisions which scar
the union for generations.
Under the covenant of justice, liberty and union, we have
become a nation. And we have kept our freedom.
It is the excitement of becoming always becoming, trying,
probing, resting, and trying again but always gaining.
If we fail now, then we will have forgotten in abundance what
we learned in hardship; that democracy rests on faith, that
freedom asks more that it gives.
If we succeeded, it will not be because of what we have, but it
will be because of what we are; not because of what we own,
but rather because of what we believe.
For we are a nation of believers. Underneath the clamor of
buildings and the rush of our days pursuits, we are the
believers in justice and liberty and union. And in our own

union we believe that every man must some day be free. And
we believe in ourselves.
For this is what our country is all about. It is the uncrossed
desert and the unclimbed bridge. It is the star that is not
reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed
ground.
Is our world gone? We say farewell, is a new world coming?
We welcome it and we will bend it to the hopes of man.
But you must look within your own hearts to the old promises
and to the old dreams. They will lead you the best of all.

Change with me, to others, to the country

Once my father told me, Replicate the change with you to

others. He has been telling that every time I would complain
over the boisterous behavior of my siblings.You too had also
been the cause of their inconvenience, so if you want them to
follow you, start from yourself, my papa reminded me.

Change seems to be elusive at these times of hopeless

realities- of chaos and discord. When I tried to look back in
the past, there is no big difference from what we have now.
Different from what it was- of cruel and offensive wars yet the
degree of destruction seem just the same. We are still
oppressed by valiant enemies of poverty, injustice and
segregation. We ought to fight and win over these enemies but
we, until now, are dispirited. We are manacled by our choice
to embrace mediocrity and we are encapsulated in the prism of
reluctance in facing change. We lack the strength to hammer a
strong foundation that will keep us firmly standing amidst the
tests of time.

I seek to make a difference. My voice maybe small, it maybe

unheard but it billows a loud sound for change, change which
will start from me. Change with me will echo to others and to
my country.

Change with me, resonates the hopeful sound of unity amidst

cultural and social differences. We may have different
religions, we may come from different echelons of the society
but we share a common goal of living a happy and satisfying
life, a dream that we have envisioned long before. We are
urged to free ourselves in the tyranny of discrimination and
injustice. Let us not identify ourselves with our differences but
rather , with what we can do to create a wholesome and
harmonious place to live in.

The stories of some of note-worthy Filipinos who have placed

the country in the arena of the world, has inspired and
convinced me that nothing is impossible if we work hard to
achieve our dreams. Manny Pacquiao, a great Filipino boxer,
has revived our hope that our dreams can become a big reality.
He has shown us that sheer hard work, inspired with our faith
to the Almighty would deliver us in the realm of success.
There is no shortcut, there is no easy way to success. We will
climb the steep mountain and stumble upon many obstacles in
our way. It is a great challenge then to be resilient for the
changes that may take place in the course of our journey
towards realizing our dreams.

Change with me washes away the stain of greed and

corruption. I believe that the never ending problems of
corruption rooted from us and from what we used to do. We

think that simple cheating means nothing, thus, incessantly we

resort to it. Using the resources of the government for personal
use like office supplies, vehicles and the like are common
forms of corruption that we have enjoyed for ourselves.
Whether we do it consciously or unconsciously, we are held
liable for our actions. These forms of corruption may appear
simple yet its effect are gradually engulfing us, losing our
clear visions of tomorrow.
I call for total transformation. I call for change. Let us all
moderate our greed and think for the common good. We can
start it in a simple way. Let us not be swayed by our selfish
desire, and our hunger for power. Learn to be happy and
contented with what we have. Work and prove our worth so
that everything will fall right in its place.

As a youth, my ideas are vibrant, strong and pure. I would

consolidate my ideas, weave my thoughts and express my
opinions, transforming these to one big action to inspire
change. I believe that I am the future and whatever I do now
would illumine what will become of me tomorrow. I would
ensure that whatever I do would inspire others to follow. Yes,
the task is arduous, but my strong desire to step on the
threshold where there is lasting progress and sustainable
development would keep me standing. It will fuel me with
zeal and dedication to be the best that I can be and to take the
necessary route which will lead me to the right path of change.

Change with me, initiates a big leap for progress and

development. We have been longing to save our country from
the shackles of poverty, hoping that we wont suffer from
hunger and unemployment. We envision a better Philippines
where every Filipinos does not need to seek for a job abroad.
We want a better Philippines where every leader has no other
purpose but to serve for the common welfare. We can do this,
let us reconcile with ourselves and change for the better.
Surely, I could not do it alone. We all have to work hand in
hand to realize our dreams and to carry out our aspirations;
but, before we think of the big picture, let us win over
ourselves. Let us hurdle the drawback of our mistakes and rise
up as a better person who is positive in dealing with the bend
and turns of life, a person who is willing to embrace the
mechanisms of change-change for the better and for the
common good.

As a youth , the good promise of tomorrow rests in our hands.

Whatever we do now shapes the future of this nation. Let us,
in our simple way, deliver the country to where it should be.
Let us steer the wheel, leading us to a new, better and
progressive Philippines.

It is clear that what we enjoy now is the result of our actions.

If we choose to dwell what is good and right, then we will
enjoy its lasting and fulfilling result. It is only us who can
decide which route to take. It is therefore us who can resolve
the pressing problems of our nation. And so everything
should start with us. I believe that the change with me will
resonate to others and most especially to my country.

Papa was right before I could compel my siblings to behave

the way I want them to be, I must set myself as a model. I
must start with myself. Difficult maybe but with passion and
dedication for change, I can do it!
#

Believe You Can Succeed And You Will

Success means many wonderful, positive things. Success
means personal prosperity: a fine home, vacations, travel,
new things, financial security, giving your children maximum
advantages, etc Success means winning admiration,
leadership, being looked up to by people in your business and
social life. Success means freedom: freedom from worries,
fears, frustrations, and failure. Success means self-respect,
continually finding more real happiness and satisfaction from
life, being able to do more for those who depend on you.

Belief works this way. Belief, the Im positive-I-can

attitude, generates the power, skill, and energy needed to
do. When you believe I-can-do-it, the how-to-do-it develops.
Everyday all over the world, young people start working in
new jobs. Each of them wishes that someday he could
enjoy the success that goes by reaching the top. But the
majority of these young people simply dont have the belief
that it takes the top rungs. And they dont reach the
top. Believing its impossible to climb high, they do not
discover the steps that lead to great heights. Their behavior
remains that of the average person.

Success means winning!

Success-achievement is the goal of life!
Every human being wants success. Everybody wants the best
this life can deliver. Nobody enjoys crawling, living in
mediocrity. No one likes feeling second-class and feeling
forced to go that way.
Some of the most practical success-building wisdom is found
in that Biblical quotation stating that faith can move
mountains. Believe, really believe, that you can move a
mountain and you can! Not many people believe that they can
move mountains. So, as a result, not many people do.
On some occasion youve probably heard some say something
like, its nonsense to think you can make a mountain, move
away. Its simply impossible.
People who think this way have belief confused with wishful
thinking. And true enough, you cant wish away a
mountain. You cant wish yourself into an executive
suite. Nor can you wish yourself into a five-bedroom, threebath house or the high-income brackets. You cant wish
yourself into a position of leadership.
But you can move a mountain with belief. You can win
success by believing you can succeed. There is nothing
neither magical nor mystical about the power of belief.

But a small number of these young people really believe they

will succeed. They approach their work with the Im goingto-the-top attitude. And with substantial belief they reach the
top. Believing they will succeed and that its not impossible
these folks study and observe the behavior of senior
executives. They learn how successful people approach
problems and make decisions. They observe the attitudes of
successful people.
Those who believe they can move mountains, do. Those who
believe that they cant, cannot. Belief triggers the power to
do. Belief in great results is the driving force, the power
behind all great books, plays, scientific discoveries. Belief in
success is behind every successful business, church, and
political organization. Belief in success is the one basic,
absolutely essential ingredient in successful people.
Believe, really believe, you can succeed and you will!