LETTER OF PROF. JOSE DAVID LAPUZ TO HIS FORMER STUDENT AT THE LYCEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES AND NOW PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES HIS EXCELLENCY RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE

President-Elect Rodrigo Duterte in his office at the Malacanang of the South, Panacan Davao City, June 8, 2016, 2:00 am Wednesday talking to his former professor at the Lyceum of the Philippines, Prof. Jose David Lapuz. Listening to their conversation are Dr. John Ortiz Teope, PhD, EdD, National President of the 1st Philippine Pro-Democracy Foundation and  Dr. Bobbit Carlos, MD, former Mayor and Congressman of Valenzuela City

June 15, 2016

The Honorable Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte

Ordained by God of History as the

16^th President of the Republic of the Philippines

Dear President Rody

I am writing you via internet because it is not so easy to get you by phone whether in Davao or in Manila. President Rody I hope this communication of mine will remove all cloudiness and vagueness regarding my appointment by your honor as Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

I think you will agree with me that on Wednesday June 8, 2016 at 2:20 am at the Malacañang of the South situated at Barangay Panacan, Davao City in a room full of your many visitors and admirers, you appointed me Prof. Jose David Lapuz, Professor of Political Science and Life, Works and Writing of our national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal, as the CHAIRPERSON of the Commission on Higher and Tertiary Education for which of course I was very grateful because you made me realize my dream that has always been my aspiration since first I became a teacher in 1963, (you will remember up to 1968 as the golden years of our beloved Lyceum of the Philippines) I remember starting my meeting with you last June 8 at around 2 o’clock am of that memorable Wednesday with a presentation of why I wanted to become the Chairman of CHED under your Administration-Leadership.

I propose as Chair-CHED that I will write as “INSPIRATION” or “SPARKLING” and “IGNITING IDEA” or a “FLASH” before the “Vision of CHED” the “CONCEPTS of ENLIGHTENED and ILLUMINED NATIONALISM in EDUCATION.” I believe as I have taught in the Lyceum that Nationalism is the best defense of our liberties and of our independence. You remember me in the years 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965 and 1964 that I have always cited in my numerous lectures, forums, classes, addresses, discourses, lessons, speeches and other discussions. I always cited Dr. Jose Rizal and Sen. Claro Mayo Recto, the souls of Filipino Nationalism when these very great Filipinos said; “I trust that a generation from now the Filipino people particularly the Filipino students may stand with a legitimate pride before the world and before history as a paragon of democracies; and that it may be said of us that, in adversity we were united and undismayed; in prosperity, magnanimous and prudent; against fascist and the opportunistic relentless and uncompromising against demagogues aloof and contemptuous; in fulfillment of our duties, earnest and self-exacting; in love of country, pledge with our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor and practicing a firm but restrain and enlightened nationalism, illumined by the thought that this world is one world and we are one with human kind.”

You remember President Rody Duterte that I emphasize that we must be pragmatic-nationalist and stop believing that there is such a thing as altruism or magnanimity among nation states. President-Elect Rody Duterte I do not dare to lecture you in patriotic-nationalism you are the embodiment, the very personification, the representation and with your election as president with 16.6 million votes out of 81% turn-out the very materialization and realization of Enlighten Nationalism and Change in Government Transformation and Metamorphosis (I am quoting “Metamorphosis” as your word in your last presscon on June 2, Thursday midnight at the CNN Philippines which I watched). You know certainly that CHANGE can assure progress but progress, implacably requires change; and the current kind of education is essential and basic to change, for the correct kind of education creates both new wants and the ability to change --- what I cited in my Lyceum of the Philippines, in the early 1960s as “the revolution of rising expectations”. The renown educator, academic, intellectual and professor, John Dewey (1859-1952) lectured once: “I believe that education is the fundamental method of social progress and return. Through education, society can formulate each own purposes, can organize its own means and resources, and thus shape itself with definiteness and economy in the direction in which it wishes to move.” In other words education is not the filling-in of water in the cylindrical container but the kindling of a fire --- THE FIRE OF LOVE OF COUNTRY!

President Rody Duterte, I am always powerfully moved each time in our thronged and jammed political rallies, you wrapped yourself in our Filipino flag; you always tug at my heartstrings even as you strike a nerve and melt the heart of millions and millions and millions of Filipinos watching you, I see you as my student at the Lyceum (What was your favorite subject you enrolled in – Consular Rules and Diplomatic Practice?) rocked in the Cradle of Nationalism very proud and standing tall in the colors (Red, White, and Blue) of our flag which is the emblem of our solidarity, our patriotic ideas, our unity and our ideals and thoughts, and you are ready to pledge your nationalistic faith and hope and your honor to our native land. Rody Duterte, you do your over 16.6 millions of Filipinos proud. You are a student who also help mold your former Professor. You see, even as a teacher teaches a student, the material dialectics is that your teacher or professor is also taught by his student.

I can cherish the hope Pres. Rody and I pray for the opportunity to serve your administration, as my talents such as they are, will prove equal to it as your Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education. After this presentation, you asked me. “ Do you want to serve the government?” I answered “Yes”.  “ As what? In What Capacity?” you asked me.  “As Chairman of CHED” I replied. “YES” you President Rody Duterte quickly replied as witnessed and heard by the people inside the room.  Then we had greetings and felicitations and then we had a last photography where I stood beside you and I repeated: Did I hear you correctly that you have appointed me as Chair of CHED. “YES” you replied again.

Mr. President-Elect Rody Duterte I hope and pray I will always observe your trust and confidence and that I will always live up to your expectations and beliefs, if I do not, hopefully, exceed or surpass them, as your professor and you as my student which I had the privilege of somehow imparting knowledge to you, I will forever remember you and the image of a presidential aspirant embracing the Filipino flag and emotionally reciting: I love the Philippines, It is the land of my birth; It is the home of my people. It protects me and helps me to be strong, happy and useful. In return, I will heed the counsel of my parents; I will obey the rules of my school; I will perform the duties of a patriotic, law-abiding citizen; I will serve my country unselfishly and faithfully I will be a true Filipino in thought, in word, and in deed.

Like you, President-Elect Rody Duterte, I am pledge, with my honor to be true to this allegiance to our country and people. Mr. President, God anointed you as the 16^th President of the Republic of the Philippines. Although you are the incoming Commander-In-Chief of the Filipino people to me you are the "Servant in Chief" of a sovereign, independent, and patriotic Filipino Nation.

Yours Very Truly,

Prof. Jose David Lapuz