Speech - IBP-DepEd Memorandum of Agreement
May 10, 2007

IBP National President Jose Vicente B. Salazar
IBP-DepEd MOA Signing
Brief Press Statement
May 10, 2007
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LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

It is said that lawyers and teachers are poles apart. Beings who live in very different worlds.

As national president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, I can only agree.

We, lawyers, live, thrive and prosper on our clients’ perpetual need for our services. That bond of dependence between client and lawyer, while mutually beneficial, is admittedly good for our practice and our careers.

Not so with our teachers. They are exactly the opposite of who we are.

Consider what 19th Century American author Elbert Hubbard wrote, and I quote:

“The object of teaching a child is to enable him to get along without his teacher.”

End of quote.

And from the pen of an unknown author flowed these words:

“A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.”

And with a twist of humor, English sportsman Thomas Carruthers added his own wisdom to the volumes of tribute to teachers with these words:

“A teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary.”

For these reasons, I sign today the Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Education on behalf of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines with both a sense both of pride and humility.

Pride, because this covenant enables the Filipino lawyer to stand closer alongside the Filipino teacher – the unsung hero of all generations.

Humility, because to stand alongside a Filipino teacher is to stand beside one who gives all for the country’s future generation, with hardly a thought of oneself. With hardly a thought of the sacrifice it takes to mold the hearts and minds of the young.

Regardless of the world of difference, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines extends its hand of camaraderie today to the Filipino teacher.

We do so as we are reminded that there are Filipinos who sacrifice their comfort in order that this country will always have responsible and dedicated leaders. We do so in order that this country may continue to hope in a future generation of better Filipinos.

We do so in recognition of that single most important aspiration and commitment that every lawyer shares with every teacher: truth and its protection and defense.

We do so in affirmation of our teachers’ timeless mission - to ensure that every young gets a fair share in life by being equipped and inspired to carve for himself a future.

For this we know: that to understand heroism and love for country, we need not look at the books of history.

We need only to look at the face of a Filipino teacher.

We shall always be grateful for this privilege.

Thus, on behalf of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, may I convey this commitment to our esteemed Secretary of Education, the Honorable Jesli Lapuz, to serve the Filipino teacher to the best we can.

Maraming salamat po.

Mabuhay ang Gurong Pilipino!