Senators Manny Villar and Alan Cayetano attended the 2nd Mid Year Graduation of the university as keynote speakers on November 22.

     Both senators encouraged the 183 graduates to try to do their best in changing the country's plight. There are 56 graduates from the Graduate School, 4 from the Open University, 1 from the Institute of Physical Education and Sports, 52 from the College of Agriculture, 10 from the College of Arts and Sciences, 2 from the College of Engineering and Applied Technology, 7 from the College of Forestry, 8 from the College of home Economics and Technology and 43 from the College of Teacher Education.

     Senator Villar advised the graduates to be entrepreneurs reminiscing his days as a boy from Tondo vending shrimps at Divisoria with his mother to the time when he sold his first housing unit.

     "Kaya huwag ninyong isipin na kung wala kayong trabaho at nagtitinda lamang kayo ay hindi maganda. No, you can grow, mahalin mo lamang ito basta't kung nadapa ka ay bangon ka lang ng bangon," he said.

     He also warned the graduates not to lose their confidence relating a trip in Hongkong where he met a girl whom he asked, "Neng Filipina ka ba?" and the girl replied, "Unfortunately po."

     "Naisip ko na kaya hindi tayo uma asenso ay dahil as a nation, as a people, we have lost our confidence," he said.

     "Sinasabi ko sa mga kabataan ngayon, huwag na huwag ninyong iisipin na kayo'y hamak na Pilipino lamang, you should be proud," he continued.

     Meanwhile, Senator Cayetano described the country's education scenario in figures.

     "Sa bawat 100 na pumapasok sa Grade I, ang pumapasok sa Grade II ay 85 na lang. Ang guma graduate sa Elementary ay 68 na lang. Ang tumutuloy sa highschool ay 58 na lang at ang pumapasok sa college ay 28, at 14 na lang sa kanila ang ga-graduate," he said.

     The senator then congratulated the graduates for being one of those 14 Grade I pupils who made it through college.

     He also posed a challenge that every fresh graduate of the country face.

     "For you, this is the last day of school and your first day of joining the rank of the country's unemployed," he said asking the graduates to share their talents and skills within the country to help alleviate its present situation despite greener fields abroad.