Love your country, no to corruption, alums told

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—There is a direct link between lack of patriotism and corruption so love your country, a distinguished alumnus told the close to 2,000 cavaliers and cadets gathered here for the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) homecoming on Saturday.

“Love your country…In your heart of hearts, this is the one and only country that you know. Love your country, because there is a direct correlation between corruption and lack of patriotism, the lack of love of country,” said Undersecretary Marciano Paynor Jr., a member of PMA Matatag Class of 1971, this year’s keynote speaker.

Limiting his speech to under 15 minutes, Paynor challenged the 484 cadets and 1,913 alumni to be “relevant.”

“[It] is the most important word that we all ought to be concentrating on in this particular day and age…How can you cadets, alumni, be relevant?” said Paynor, who spent 47 years in the government service, and now heads the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) national organizing council.

“Improve yourself, forget yourself and leave yourself,” he said.

In improving oneself, Paynor stressed the importance of reading and being multifunctional individuals, of being articulate and developing strategic thinking.

Be a solution

“Be a solution looking for problems to solve, the best you can be, without seeking recognition,” he said.

“In other words when you are asked to do something, you do it to the best of your ability, that’s part of improving yourself, you do it with an objective mind and not your vested interest,” he said.

He also reminded the audience to decide what legacy they would want to leave after they are gone.

“Decide what you want to be known for after you shall have gone. Leave yourself, improve yourself, forget yourself, leave something of yourself behind,” Paynor said.

The PMA gave recognition to 12 of its alumni for significant contributions in the government service and in the private sector.