Speech - Awarding and Thanksgiving for 11th NCL
April 27-29, 2007

Atty. JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR
Brief Remarks

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

There is one important reason why we have gathered here today: to say "Thank You”.

Some may say that the expression of gratitude could have been done in a simpler manner - through a "thank you" note, perhaps. Anyway, they may aver, gratitude is the least of all virtues,
as the saying goes. :

But if gratitude is the least of all virtues, ingratitude is the worst of all vices.

And so today, we choose the least virtue over the worst vice.

And we therefore express our sincerest gratitude to the Misamis Oriental Chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

We thank you for helping make history. Our colleagues in the legal community were one in saying that you organized and gave to us what could be the best national convention in the history of the IBP. For that, thank you.

We thank you for helping strengthen our bonds of camaraderie. The warmth of the hospitality you extended to us combined with innate beauty of your city and province created that rare atmosphere where ties can be renewed, hurts can be mended arid friendships strengthened. For this, thank you.

New York Times bestselling author Melody Beattie wrote this wonderful passage on gratitude. And I quote:

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into enough, and more.
It turns denial into acceptance,
chaos into order, confusion into clarity...

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

End of quote.

Sense. Peace. Vision. As we expressed our gratitude to the Misamis Oriental chapter, I realized that these things have become clearer to all of us. Sense. Peace. Vision. Those were the very things we achieved at the recent national convention. And the very things we need to move forward. To unlock the "fullness of life" that the IBP strives for.

Thank you very much. And so, onward we move.