00:00I've always wanted to speak on a podium, that was my chance.
00:13Ladies and gentlemen, President Manuel Jimenez, your friend Francis Lumen, Sir Robin, my partner mates,
00:24families and friends, fellow discoursing guests, esteemed faculty and students, magandang gabi.
00:33To say that my first UP experience was a rude awakening is an understatement.
00:41In 1987, I was still reeling from high school, so I didn't go during the first semester enrollment week.
00:52I had no idea what a block was, so I foolishly enrolled a week after.
01:01From 7 in the morning until 7 in the evening, I tried to get as many units as possible, lining up, knocking on faculty's doors.
01:14At the end of the day, I managed to enlist in only 3 subjects.
01:23History 10, Math 3, and Spanish 2 and 3.
01:38I was off to a great start.
01:41To make matters worse, my Spanish professor was a terror and only spoke Spanish in class, as did my classmates.
01:54At the end of the semester, I barely managed to pass History and Math, but I was definitely going to get a TINCO in Spanish.
02:10I begged my professor for a passing grade, and he asked me,
02:15Do you have anything that would make me consider passing you?
02:20Anything at all.
02:23I said, well, I can write a song.
02:29And so I gave him a demo cassette of Pare Ko, and prayed.
02:36Pare Ko, by the way, was inspired by my friend over there, Rafael Lumali.
02:42It was heartbroken, so I made a song about him.
02:51But the day after, my professor in Spanish told me that I passed.
03:00This taught me that, for one, my professor can understand Tagalog.
03:08And two, that from that point on, music can get me through anything in life.
03:17A year later in Calayaan, I found three people who also had my struggles and shared my dream.
03:28We are deeply honored and humbled to receive the Gawad Audation Award from our beloved alma mater, the University of the Philippines.
03:36To be recognized by an institution that has shaped not only our minds, but also our souls, is a profound privilege.
03:45UP was where our ideas were born, our dreams were nurtured, and our music found its voice.
03:52The university was not just our school, it was our playground, our stage, our motel, no, just kidding, and our testing ground.
04:04It was here that we discovered the power of creativity and the freedom of expression that would later define who we are as artists.
04:14But above all, UP taught us something more valuable, how to question, how to challenge, how to stand up, and how to speak out.
04:25The spirit of social engagement, the pursuit of truth, and the commitment to social responsibility are values we have carried with us throughout our journey.
04:37Today, as we stand before you, we are reminded of our roots, of the countless nights spent writing, rehearsing, and dreaming.
04:47We are reminded of the friendships that were forged in classrooms and tambayans, of the professors who inspired us to think critically,
04:58and the community that believed in our music even before we did.
05:05This award is also for every school I discover who dares to dream, who strives to make a difference, and who believes in the power of art and culture to shape society.
05:16It is for every artist, musician, and creative soul who uses their talent to express truth, challenge norms, and to inspire change.
05:26We hope that in our own way, we have been able to contribute to the legacy of excellence, creativity, and service that UP stands for.
05:36I would like to dedicate this award to my family, to Professor, and to share this with Professor Robin Rivera,
05:45who inspired us every day while we were students and in the recording studio, and was the genie who made all our creative wishes come true.
05:56To the University of the Philippines, thank you for giving us the foundation to create, explore, and to challenge the status quo.
06:04Thank you for instilling in us the courage to pursue our passions and the responsibility to use our platform for good.
06:12Thank you very much. Long live the University of the Philippines.
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