Turning Faith into Action, Vision into Impact:
The Mindanao Story We Write Together
Commencement Address of
Assistant Secretary Romeo M. Montenegro
Deputy Executive Director, Mindanao Development Authority
On the Occasion of the
Ateneo de Davao University Commencement Exercises
College of Law and Graduate School Program
Martin Hall, ADDU Jacinto Campus, Davao City
June 28, 2025
Assistant Secretary Romeo M. Montenegro during the Commencement Address
Thank you for that generous introduction, Fr. Basilio.
Fr. Karel San Juan, members of the Board of Trustees, distinguished faculty and administrators, proud parents and families, dear graduates of the College of Law and Graduate School of Ateneo de Davao University — maayong buntag!
With deep humility and great joy, I stand before you today. My sincere thanks to Fr. Karel for the kind invitation and the honor of being part of this meaningful occasion.
Eleven years ago, I took pride in drafting the commencement speech of my former boss, the late MinDA Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, as she stood before the graduates of the ADDU College of Law and Graduate School.
Never did it cross my mind that more than a decade later, I would find myself not just writing a speech—but delivering my own—on this very same school, for this very same occasion. Life, indeed, has its beautiful way of coming full circle.
I dreamed of becoming a lawyer when I was child, but circumstances led me to a different path and an unlikely course. But in the end, destiny brought me to where I should be—in government and public service.
Back in 1991, I took up Nursing (Davao Doctors College) instead of pursuing Political Science (UP Diliman) in deference to the wishes of my late mother, who at that time believed I could have a financially rewarding future as a nurse abroad.
Although I did have several opportunities to pursue a nursing career in the U.S. after passing the board in 1995, my heart was never into it. After completing months of volunteer work at the Davao Doctors Hospital, I decided to chart my own path in government service.
Luckily, I started my foray into government work as a writer with the Office of the President in Mindanao (OP-Mindanao) in 1997, then Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) in 2001 and from then on progressed into something bolder and greater. But it wasn’t an easy journey. I had to keep up with my colleagues who were mostly top-notch graduates of Ateneo de Davao, Ateneo de Manila and UP Diliman.
But rather than feeling misplaced and outcast by having a non-relevant academic background, I followed my instincts and stuck to my gut. I relied on the basic foundations of education and relevant writing experiences in high school and college. I later pursued my masters at ADDU but took several years to complete (first enrolled in 1997, re-enrolled in 2000 and finally re-entered residency in 2012) because I was traveling to places both here and abroad most of the time.
I love writing messages, speeches and news releases, speaking to public and being engaged in a work that matters to people and society. In other words, I am always inclined to do something that involves people and government. I leveraged on these skills, enhanced my learning through short courses under scholarship grants, and trained my sights to career growth.
Notably, I have spent the last 28 years earning a living out of a career I never went to college for— a job I opted to pursue in spite of the lure of viable opportunities abroad.
I had the privilege of working for an office that gave me the opportunity to travel around the world while promoting Mindanao and representing the Philippine Government.
Across six administrations from Ramos to Marcos Jr., I have had the opportunity to brush elbows with top government officials, Cabinet Members, Ambassadors, CEOs, right in the most high profile office of the land–Malacañang.
I have worked and engaged with many people dealing with the most conflict affected- areas of Mindanao, from the tip of Tawi-Tawi to hinterlands of Agusan, and advocated for support from a number of development organizations.
It’s a career I couldn’t ask for more. More than anything else, it’s a fulfillment of a dream, even if I didn’t end up becoming a lawyer. But everything I have achieved and all that I have become so far, I owe much to the way I was raised, trained and molded by my late parents–who were both once civil servants themselves.
My dear graduates, it is truly a distinct honor to join you today as you celebrate this milestone—your graduation from one of the country’s leading and most respected universities.
At the Mindanao Development Authority, I have the privilege of working alongside a remarkable team—many of whom are proud products of Jesuit education. From our executives to our technical experts, we have lawyers, economists, engineers, development planners, foreign relations specialists, and public communicators who were shaped right here at Ateneo de Davao.
Their professionalism is solid. Their competence? Rock-solid. And their commitment to the greater good—rooted in the Ignatian spirit—is both inspiring and transformative. I’m saying this not because I earned my masters here, or my wife Venus is a true blue Atenean, or my son Juan Carlos building his engineering foundation at the Ateneo Senior High—but it simply is the truth– that Jesuit education delivers.
That is why, as you step into the next chapter of your journey, I say this with great confidence: much is expected of you. As “men and women for others,” you are called not only to succeed—but to serve. Not only to lead—but to uplift. And not only to make a living—but to make a difference.
Regardless of where you come from—whether government or private sector, whether you’re already a professional or just about to become one—one common thread ties you all together: the desire to grow into better professionals, and into better people.
Your academic achievement today arrives at a pivotal, if not exciting, moment in Mindanao’s journey. As we strengthen the foundations of lasting peace, we’re also seeing an encouraging surge in interest and investment in Mindanao’s development and transformation.
And whether or not you’ve planned for it—since you live and work here—Mindanao’s story is your story too. Its challenges will be your challenges. But its progress will be your opportunity.
Mindanao holds tremendous promise to become the country’s new frontier for inclusive growth—blessed with vast natural resources and a young, skilled, and literate workforce.
Yet for decades, this potential has been clouded by the long shadow of armed conflict and under investment. For far too long, its true story obscured by outdated narratives and uneven attention.
To the graduates — this moment is yours. You have toiled under the pressure of cases, of research and writing, of data and deadlines. You balanced family, faith, work, and study.
You carried expectations on your shoulders while navigating the uncertainties of our times. And today, you rise. You rise with degrees not just earned, but lived. With wisdom not just learned, but forged. With a spirit not just trained, but tested.
You graduate not just with a diploma, but with a mission. This mission goes beyond legal mastery or academic expertise. It is the mission to build a Mindanao — and a Philippines — that is more inclusive, more just, and more sustainable.
In broad terms, we envision a peaceful, inclusive, and better-integrated Mindanao. A Mindanao, most especially the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM, that is not left behind, but leads — in growth, in innovation, and in resilience.
And as the ADDU 5-Year Strategic Plan Fortiores 2030 puts it forward, “A Mindanao that enjoys sustainable peace and development, thriving in the diversity of its cultures and faith traditions.”
This is not merely aspirational — it is actionable. And with you doing your part, it is inevitable.
This moment is not just ceremonial; it is prophetic. Because you are graduating not into a world of ease, but a world of VUCA: volatility – uncertainty – complexity – ambiguity. Have you ever noticed how tasks today feel heavier—more layered, more demanding, more draining?
It’s no longer just about doing the job. Every task now seems to come with a dozen decisions, five competing priorities, and a flood of information we have to filter just to take the next step. We’re constantly switching gears—zooming from one meeting to another, toggling between apps, juggling timelines—and before we know it, we’re not just tired… we’re in mental overdrive.
We live in a time where complexity is often mistaken for progress. But let me say this clearly: complexity is not our enemy—unmanaged complexity is. And when we’re caught in the noise, we lose something essential: clarity, purpose, and focus.
Our challenge today isn’t simply to do more. It’s to do better—with intention, with discernment, and with the courage to say, “this is what truly matters.” Because while our minds are powerful, they weren’t designed for endless multitasking—they were made for meaning.
So let’s take a step back. Let’s reclaim the space to breathe, to think deeply, and to lead wisely. After all, the goal is not just to keep up. It’s to rise above—with clarity in our minds, and purpose in our work.
You now plunge into a Mindanao that continues to heal from histories of division, that continues to strive for equity in development, and that is now waking up to its own power to lead.
I come to you not as someone who has figured it all out, but as someone who has dedicated nearly three decades to one simple belief: Mindanao is not a problem to be solved, but a promise to be fulfilled.
From the dusty barangays of conflict-affected areas to boardrooms of foreign investors looking south, I have seen firsthand that when Mindanawons believe in their power to lead transformation, history turns a corner.
We have turned power deficits into power exports. Once a land of brownouts, Mindanao now sends surplus electricity to Visayas and Luzon. We are pushing forward with renewable energy in the off-grid islands, because progress must never leave the margins behind.
Notably and a historic breakthrough for the Philippines—on April 11, 2025 MinDA became the only government agency that has secured the country’s first-ever global Adaptation Fund-financed project — a US$10 million water-energy nexus initiative for Tawi-Tawi — setting a precedent for climate-smart development.
With this project, in the farthest reaches of our archipelago—on the edge of the Sulu Sea—we are witnessing a quiet but powerful revolution in sustainability. What was once an island left in the margins of progress is now emerging as a model for climate resilience and inclusive development.
In fact, in partnership with Ateneo’s Mindanao Renewable Energy Center, we are aggressively promoting renewables, so that it provides a 50 percent share in the power mix by 2030, more ambitious than the national target of 35 percent.
This is not just a policy aspiration — it is a broad commitment, and Mindanao is poised to play a leading role in delivering this energy transition. With abundant resources like hydro, solar, biomass, geothermal, Mindanao already derives over one-third of its power from renewable sources.
In the last three years, we have taken durian, avocadoes and mangoes to global markets, not just as exports, but as symbols of how our farmers can win when systems support them.
Undeniably the country’s food basket, Mindanao accounts of one third of the country’s farm area, contributes over 40 percent to national food trade, and exports 8 out of top 10 agri export commodities of the Philippines.
Mindanao proudly ranks among the world’s top producers—number 4 in bananas, seaweeds, pineapples, and number 8 in rubber and tuna. Philippines is the world’s second largest exporter of coconut products, with Mindanao accounting for over 60 percent of domestic output.
But the paradox of our agriculture is that, the poorest sectors in Mindanao are farmers and fisherfolks. Why? Because they still rely on farming and fisheries for their livelihood — yet they remain among the most underserved when it comes to infrastructure, technology, as well as financing and market access.
This is where targeted investments especially in agritech, rural electrification, digitalization and logistics modernization can create the greatest impact. Each of these investments is not just about infrastructure — they are investments in people and their future.
That’s why we endeavor to connect far-flung communities through roads and ports, not just for trade, but for dignity. And we are building frameworks for a Blue Economy and sustainable tourism — because Mindanao’s development cannot come at the expense of its ecosystems or its culture.
But the transformation of Mindanao is not a government project. It is a people’s movement. It requires you — our lawyers, our scholars, our leaders-in-the-making — to step forward and step in.
You who have been formed in the Ignatian tradition know this deeply: Excellence without purpose is noise. Knowledge without love is hollow. Faith without action is dead.
This is your call: to turn faith into action, to make your knowledge a gift and to let your titles become tools.
To the graduates of the College of Law — Mindanao needs defenders of justice who understand context, who know that the law must serve the last, the least, and the lost.
We need you to be counsels not just in courtrooms, but in communities. Let the scales of justice tip toward compassion, not just compliance.
To the graduates of the Graduate School — your disciplines are diverse, but your purpose must be shared. Whether you majored in arts and sciences, public administration, education, business, nursing, engineering and architecture, your mission is clear: Lead with integrity. Think systemically. Build collaboratively. And never forget who you are serving.
Today’s commencement is not necessarily all about being able to go far up in life, family, business, career or profession—but, it is more about the ideals honed by this alma mater, which provided you the foundation to stand on.
Today’s commencement—is a tribute to each and everyone of you, dear graduates, for going through the juggle, trouble, and struggle, enduring physical exhaustion and mental overdrive, for almost quitting, and for dealing with the harsh reality of being uncertain whether or not finishing what you started would even matter to your lives and future.
But here you are—–triumphant, smiling, and proud. If I have to take a photo of your faces now for Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, there’s one perfect word to caption them all– dassurrrve!
Today’s commencement is also a reason to celebrate with the people around you, your parents, family, friends, and everyone who walked with you in this journey and helped shape you into who you are today.
Today marks not just the culmination of years of hard work—it marks a profound transition. You are crossing over from the structured rigor of academia into a world that demands not only intellect, but discernment. Not only knowledge, but wisdom.
Because you were not just taught to think—you were taught to discern. To see beyond complexity and find what truly matters. The Ignatian way has never been about avoiding challenge—it’s about engaging the world deeply, with your whole heart, whole mind, and whole soul.
Yes, the world you enter is fast and demanding. But do not be afraid of its complexity. Instead, face it with clarity of purpose, sharpened by years of study, service, and struggle. Ground yourselves in the truth that leadership is not about doing more—it is about doing what is right, with depth, with integrity, and with love.
So, to you—dear graduates, your task now is not just to succeed.
It is to humanize leadership.
To bring light into the systems you will navigate.
To bring justice into the laws you will interpret.
To bring compassion into the policies you will shape.
And above all, to bring God’s presence into every work you do, quietly, faithfully, magis. Because in the end, what will matter most is not how much you’ve accomplished… but how many lives you’ve transformed—starting with your own.
After today’s commencement, you may leave Ateneo still figuring out what you would accomplish. But be proud because you will leave this school already knowing who you are – and this the greatest gift Ateneo has given you.
Let me leave you with three guiding lights:
First is Clarity of Vision. Don’t just chase career goals; define your cause. Let your work answer the question: What is the future I am helping to build?
Second is courage to take hard path. There will be shortcuts and temptations. Don’t take them. The Ignatian path is not the easiest — it is the most meaningful.
Third is community over pride. Individual brilliance will always pale in comparison to collective action. Build with others, and lift others as you rise.
Mindanao today stands in stark contrast to what it was more two decades ago. As the island’s development landscape rapidly evolves, it demands a new generation of leaders and experts—those who look beyond mere statistics and see success in lives transformed, communities empowered, and inclusive growth truly realized.
My dear graduates, you are not just Ateneo-trained — you are Mindanao-called.
Let the degrees you receive today not be endpoints, but launchpads. Let them carry with them not just your name, but your commitment to the common good. Be rockstars — not in spotlight-seeking, but in shaking systems that need reform. Be fire-starters — not in burning bridges, but in lighting the way for others.
In this new chapter of your life’s journey, may you write a story of Mindanao that is no longer waiting to be saved, but ready to soar. Because you are here. And you are ready.
Congratulations! Daghang salamat.