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Philippines’ Man of Science Dr. William G. Padolina to 2013 MHSS graduates: Contribute to the country’s development
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
MHSS 4th Commencement Exercises guest speaker Dr. William G. Padolina (middle), flanked by president Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea (left) and principal Dr. Efren B. Mateo, handing awards to outstanding Malayans of Class 2013.
Gracing Malayan High School of Science’s (MHSS) fourth commencement exercises as guest of honor and speaker last April 3 was one of the country’s most distinguished men of science, Dr. William G. Padolina. For him, the occasion’s core message for the graduates holds the key to the country’s development and progress.
“[This year’s commencement exercises’] theme ‘Building the Next Pillars of Industry through Academic Excellence and Values Formation’ is most appropriate at this time, when there are active efforts to revive the manufacturing sector of the Philippines,” Padolina began in his speech.
However, the call for science high school graduates, who are expected to be part of the vital workforce of the future, to become pillars of the Philippine industry faces the challenge of globalization.
“Confronted by a globalized environment, where opportunities for jobs can be had anywhere, graduates have to make the difficult decision on whether to invest their time and talent for their motherland,” he said.
Padolina cited the limited chance to attain a decent level of living in a developing country like the Philippines as one of the reasons that make such decision for young people a tough one to make.
Science and Technology for the country’s development
Being in the field of science and technology for many years, Padolina, who is currently president of the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines, and manager of CHED-PCARI Project Management and Coordination Office, emphasized that the development agenda of the Philippines has to be technology explicit.
“There is no other way. If you want to feed your people adequately, you can only do that if you are able to harness technology to improve food production. If you want to take care of their health, you also need technology. If you want to give them employment, particularly an employment scheme that will be inclusive, you will need technology in order to revive the manufacturing sector that can provide jobs to people who can be trained for jobs that do not require college degrees.” he explained.
Padolina added that in managing this agenda, a valid and updated information base is needed to provide the bases for good decision-making.
Science high school graduates, the next pillars of Philippine industry
Graduates of science high schools in the country are considered the future workforce that will provide the Philippines’ technological base. Padolina sees the importance of encouraging graduates of both public and private science high schools to pursue careers in science, engineering, mathematics, and other related technological fields. Furthermore, equally important is the access to new knowledge to make Philippine products and services globally competitive.
“We need [systems thinking] that will allow us to be updated and to have full knowledge of what’s happening globally because that’s important for the survival of our trade and our business community.”
Science high schools contribute in supplying manpower in various industries, and the increasing number of science high schools run by the private sector will significantly help in producing much-needed well-rounded and technologically prepared Filipino professionals.
“I hope that more and more private sector institutions will invest in putting up science high schools because they are important in producing the critical mass [of professionals in science and technology],” said Padolina.
Dr. Padolina delivering his speech to MHSS’s graduating class of 2013.
Hopes for Malayan graduates
As he congratulated MHSS’s Class 2013, Padolina told the graduates to constantly uphold the values and ideals of their alma mater.
As parting words, he expressed the hope that the Malayan graduates would heed the call to be involved in leading the country towards inclusive development.
“It is my fervent hope that most, if not all, of the members of Class 2013 of the Malayan High School of Science will be part of the science community and commit their time and talent to help in the development of our beloved country,” Padolina concluded.