12-12-12: My Christmas Message

Dr. Liberato A. Reyes:  USC SBE Graduate Programs “Glitz & Glam” - Christmas Message

Speech by Dr. Liberato A. Reyes, Coordinator – Graduate Programs, School of Business and Economics, University of San Carlos at Grand Majestic Convention Center, 12 December 2012.

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As I was writing my Christmas Message at home, my attention was struck to the recent Facebook status of my brother from Saudi Arabia that says 12-12-12:  The last such date that you and I will see in our lifetime.

Today is 12-12-12 and we are celebrating our Christmas Party with a theme “Glitz and Glam” for the School of Business and Economics Graduate Programs of the University of San Carlos. Is this a coincidence that we celebrate it on 12-12-12?  We have some Chinese PhD students here with us.  Does it have any meaning in Chinese calendar?

There is no 13th month on the calendar, and after tonight’s 12/12/12, the next such repetitive date will occur on January 1, 2101, when the date will be 01/01/01 again.

That is a good 88 years away from now.

Add that ‘88’ to your current age, and with a hand on your heart, tell me that you expect to live that long. Unfortunately for a majority of us, today is the last such repetitive date that we will see in our lifetime.

Many people around the world have indeed, decided to make12-12-12 a memorable one.  And probably the ELITE student organization has felt the same way too.  By the way, ELITE means “Enhancing Leadership and Intelligence of Today’s Executive”, the vibrant student organization of the Graduate Programs of the University of San Carlos’ School of Business & Economics.

Looking forward to 2013, there are still a lot of challenges to make for our Graduate Programs and to align with the University’s goals and objectives for next year.  One of which is a mandate of initiating and monitoring the implementation of Outcomes Based Education (OBE) and monitoring the Doctoral and Masteral programs wherein we are required that the population for the Graduate Programs should represent 10% of the total population of the undergraduates.  Another challenge is the strengthening of linkages:  networking and linkage with industry and community.  Another area to improve is RESEARCH.  We are challenged to do RESEARCH that will contribute to the production of new knowledge and in the development of the country most especially in the area of FOOD, ENERGY, WATER and WASTE.  And last but not the least, is the establishing of a disciplined based Community Extension Service (CES) programs that are fully operational and contributing to the well being of marginalized partners in the community.   These are great tasks to do but with you my dear Masterands and Doctorands, hand-in-hand we can do this together.

As I end, you may notice that the Christmas lights and decorations are breaking out all over the City of Cebu.  This is an indication that the season of goodwill is coming. To some, they are a sign of crass commercialism, but to me they light the way to a festival that transcends all attempts to diminish it. It is a time for the family, the giving of gifts and the celebration of life and the New Year.

The administrators of the School of Business and Economics of the University of the San Carlos, our beloved Dean Dr. Challoner A. Matero, our Assistant Dean, Dr. Melanie de Ocampo, the professors of the SBE Graduate Programs, and yours truly, the Coordinator of the Graduate Programs would like to thank all of you, our dear students, for your valued support during 2012.  We look forward to working with you in the New Year 2013 and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

But before I end my speech let me give you something to ponder on:   if somebody asks you, where were you on 12-12-12?  Will it really matter?  What will you say to them?  For me, even though it’s the last time I will see that date, I will just remember this date and be happy that God still allowed me to be alive up to this day to experience 12-12-12 with you.  Thank You and enjoy the rest of the night.