Outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo on Saturday, June 11, told graduates of the Philippine Science High School-Main Campus (Pisay) that they should fight and stand up for the truth in an age of disinformation and lies.

Robredo delivered a speech during the 52nd graduation ceremony of the school’s main campus in Diliman, Quezon City, applauding what she called the “pandemic batch” for powering through “tremendous uncertainty, mental strain, and for some, even the grief of losing a loved one.”

“Sa mga pagkakataong ganito, tandaan na tungkulin ninyong ipaglaban ang makatuwiran, dahil sinanay kayo sa mataas na antas ng pagkamulat (In these occasions, it is your duty to fight for what is just, because you were trained to in the highest form of awakening),” she said.

“Tungkulin ninyong tumindig, tumawid sa kapwa, at ipadama sa kanilang may iisang katotohanan tayong pinagsasaluhan. Kung may mali, kung may ‘di makatuwiran, kayo ang inaasahang makakakita at mangunguna sa pagtutuwid nito (It is your duty to stand up, reach out to your fellowmen, and make them feel that there is one truth you all share. If there is something wrong, if there is something unreasonable, you are expected to see and lead in correcting this),” she added.

The Vice President, who will step down from power at noon on June 30, warned the graduates of how truth is being distorted and lies propagated.

She mentioned how some people believe that the world is not round or that the vaccines don’t work or that climate change isn’t real.

This is where 'Pisay' graduates will apply their core values of excellence, integrity, and service.

“Naniniwala ako: Saklaw ng usapin ng integridad ang pagkapit sa katotohanan. Ano pa nga ba ang integrity, kundi ang paggawa ng tama at nararapat, gaano man kadali o kahirap, may nakakakita man o wala (I believe: Talks about integrity include the truth. What is integrity, after all, but doing what is right and just, no matter how easy or hard, whether someone sees it or not)?,” Robredo said.

The Vice President then asked the graduates to serve the Filipinos since “service to nation” is their “core value.”

“Maraming mahuhusay at matatalinong tao ang tumugon kapag tinawag na maglingkod; ang hamon sa inyo, huwag nang hintayin pang matawag (A lot of excellent and intelligent people answered the call to serve; the challenge to you, don’t wait to be called),” she said, adding that her own spokesman, lawyer Barry Gutierrez, was a 1990 graduate of Pisay.

Her youngest daughter, Jillian, was from Batch 2018 and just graduated from New York University.

“Kayo na mismo ang maghanap ng landas, tumukoy ng mga puwang na dapat punan, tumungo sa laylayan, at doon maglingkod (Be the one to look for a way, identify spaces that need to be filled, go to the fringes of society, and serve there),” Robredo added.