Carpio to NCPAG grads: be steadfast in fighting ideas that divide the nation 

Acting Chief Justice Antonio T. Carpio urged the NCPAG graduates to be steadfast in fighting ideas that divide the nation.

In his keynote speech delivered at the 65^th NCPAG Recognition Rites held on June 22, 2018 at the NCPAG Dome in UP Diliman, Carpio enumerated four ideas which “could divide the nation and even lead to the dismemberment of the Philippine state.”

These four ideas, according to the senior magistrate, are the attempt to introduce the concept of a First Nation into our legal system; the legal concept of indigenous people under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 or the IPRA Law; the proposition, found in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law or BBL now pending before Congress, that the BBL represents the aspiration of the Bangsamoro people to their right to self-determination; and the Duterte Administration’s foreign policy in the West Philippine Sea.

Carpio stressed that “a divided nation cannot focus on national development, and worse, a divided nation is a weakened nation in defending national territory and maritime zones.”
(Click here to view/download full speech of Carpio)

Mr. Aries P. Austria who graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Public Administration (magna cum laude) delivered the response in behalf of the members of NCPAG Class of 2018.

Austria challenged his fellow Iskolars ng Bayan and Lingkod Bayans to use their UP education to solve the country’s problems.

“Bilang magsisipagtapos ng pamahalaang pambayan, hawak natin ang kalasag upang matugunan ang mga suliranin ng ating bansa. Gamitin natin ito at pagyamanin nang sa gayon ay maisakatuparan ang diwa ng pagiging isang tunay na Lingkod ng Bayan,” professed Austria.

The theme for this year’s Recognition Rites is “Public Administration Solutions in Critical Times: Fortifying Institutions, Democracy and Sovereignty.”

Of the 81 who graduated from the Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and Bachelor in Public Administration programs, 27 are cum laude while six are magna cum laude.

In the graduate programs, 11 received their degree in Diploma in Public Management, 24 from the Master of Arts in Public Administration and four from the Doctor of Public Administration.

(Watch: Speeches of Justice Carpio and Aries Austria and other highlights of the Recognition Rites)