INTRODUCTION
Taos puso kong pinasasalamatan kayong lahat sa inyong paanyaya na muli kong dalawin ang lalawigan ng Bulacan.

Ako ay lubos ding nagagalak na muling masaksihan ang bunga ng pagsisikap ng inyong mga mambabatas upang lalo pang mapabuti ang inyong buhay — ang Bulacan State University (BSU) na siyang dating Bulacan College of Arts and Trades (BCAT). Ang pagbabagong ito ay sa bisa ng Pambansang Batas Blg. 7665 na aking pinagtibay noong ika-30 ng Disyembre nitong nakaraang taon.

This institution is part of our network of state colleges and universities, a network of learning in which we have invested much faith, and a lot of our resources, to help us win our future.

We have launched ourselves into a bold, ambitious objective of becoming a newly industrializing country or NIC by the turn of the century — the vision we now call “Philippines 2000!!!”.
HUMAN WELFARE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
Development’s ultimate goal is human welfare, and human welfare in most instances takes place hand-in-hand with economic growth.

The experiences of Japan and the Republic of Korea, two of Asia’s economic tigers, have proved that commitment to education and training can be one of the most essential and productive investments a nation can make. These nations made great strides in both human development and economic growth.

Education today is revolutionizing people and nations, and drastically changing the global economic landscape.

We, too, have begun to realize those imperatives. And we have begun to do what is necessary to make Philippine education more responsive to the needs of the times.

My predecessor, former President Aquino, by virtue of Proclamation No. 480 declared 1990-1999 as the decade of education for all.

Back then, the primary participation rate in our country was 99.05 percent. However, the survival rate was only 68.70 percent, and the achievement rate was even lower at 55.18 percent.

However, here in the province of Bulacan, you were readying the groundwork for the ambitious transformation of the Bulacan College of Arts and Trades into a larger center of educational excellence in Central Luzon.

In traditional Bulakenyo “bayanihan”, your four congressmen, led by Congressman Teddy Natividad, collaborated in filing House Bill No. 564, which led to the law that created this university.

A TRADITION OF LEADERSHIP
Surely, you Bulakenyos with your legacy of history and culture deserve nothing but the best.

The first Declaration of Independence in Asia, the Malolos Constitution, was drafted and proclaimed in this town, Malolos.

And who has not heard of Bulacan’s heroes –Gregorio and Marcelo del Pilar, Francisco Balagtas, the Women of Malolos, Trinidad Tecson and Maximo viola, Rizal’s dear friend?

If in the past your province had its generous share of enlightened men and women who placed the country above their own interests, here in this university, we will train young men and women who will sustain that tradition. In these halls of BSU, we will pursue our shared vision of “Philippines 2000!!!”. Prosperity for Bulacan. Prosperity for all.

A while ago, you heard the 7th Ulat ng Gobernador. I am sure that you were pleased by what you heard.

Your achievements include 767 productive cooperatives with over p1 billion in assets. You have been acclaimed as “the most successful cooperative province” by the cooperative development authority.

You have also become our newest haven for new businesses, accounting for 32 percent of the region’s total and 27 percent of its generated employment.

You contributed more than 30 percent of the Central Luzon’s exports, without even an export processing zone.

Last year, you received the green banner award as the healthiest province with the lowest incidence of malnutrition.

One of the most impressive statistics to have come out of Bulacan, however, has to do with education: your literacy rate is a high 98.67 percent.

All these you have nurtured in a fertile socio-economic environment.
THE ROLE OF EDUCATION AND BSU
In our blueprint for “Philippines 2000!!!”, my administration aims that as we enter the 21st century, the Philippines shall be a newly industrializing country, where even the less privileged will have adequate food, clothing and shelter, and the chance to lead meaningful and productive lives worthy of their dignity as human beings.

We expect every Filipino to feel secure in his person, his home and in the street. We envision annual per capita income to increase to at least US$1,000 during my term, the economy to grow at 6% to 8%, and the incidence of poverty to decline to 30% of the population from the present 50% percent.

A vision, however, is not just a wish list or a slogan or a political plan. To achieve it requires strategic goals, direction, priorities and action programs. These we are putting in place.

In our development strategy and action programs for “Philippines 2000!!!”, education has a vital and central role.

We must always remember that education is an end in itself — a good in itself. Education does not require justification in terms of contribution to personal welfare for the human person to seek it. Today, the evidence that education promotes economic growth is incontrovertible.

According to the World Bank in its World Development Report of 1992, after two United Nations (UN) Decades of Development, the evidence is clear that education does not only support development but also puts other goals of development more easily within reach. A one-year increase in schooling could augment wages by more than 10 percent. In family-owned enterprises in many countries, education appears to be more critical than physical capital. And education can make all the difference between a country achieving development or not.

Let me quote from the World Bank report on this point:

“Education affects productivity and growth through several channels. A better-educated person absorbs new information faster and applies unfamiliar inputs and new processes more effectively. When a new product or process is introduced, much needs to be learned about how it works and how it applies to specific circumstances and environments. In the dynamic and uncertain environment of technological change, more highly educated workers have a big advantage.”

“Japan’s rapid industrialization after the Meiji Restoration was fueled by its aggressive accumulation of technical skills, which in turn was based on its already high level of literacy and a strong commitment to education. Korea’s relatively strong base of human capital in the early 1960s speeded its own industrialization.”

Given our people’s attachment to education, this is the position we would have been in as early as the 1970s, were it not for misguided government policies and corrupt political leadership.

Now that we have begun to put our house in order, this is the cutting edge we must strive to regain.

Our Asian neighbors achieved NIC status, because, more than any other factor, they developed an adequate manpower capability in the field of science and technology. The development of their industry sectors was propelled by a strong work force of scientists, engineers and technologists in various fields. In much the same way, to create the critical mass needed by our country, our schools must develop and expand science literacy and competence at all levels of the educational system.

We must do this not because I say so, or government says so, but because this is where the needs are. This is what our people want to study so that they can gain well-paying jobs and participate in profitable enterprises. And this is where you can expect fair returns for your own investments of time, effort and dedication.

To become a newly industrializing country by the turn of the century, according to one estimate, we need to produce per year a total of 10,000 engineers of various disciplines, 5,000 agriculturists, and another 5,000 professionals in other scientific disciplines.

In contrast, the need is much smaller for lawyers, accountants, and commerce graduates who represent three of the most crowded fields at present here and abroad.

It has been nine decades since this university began as a trade school, created by a legislative act. From then on it has exhibited great dynamism and responsiveness, growing in enrollees, in its offerings, in its facilities and resources, and in the competence of its faculty.

Today more than ever, the BSU must be committed to provide higher education for professional, technical and special purposes. Our emphasis now must be for science and technology.

It must also promote progressive leadership in agriculture, fishery, forestry, engineering, and other scientific and technical fields.

The performance of BSU’s graduates in national licensure examinations in engineering from 1983 to 1992 is indeed impressive:

– 100% of its civil engineering graduates passed in 1983.

– 100% of its mechanical engineering graduates passed in 1984.

– 100% of its mechanical engineering graduates passed in 1985.

– 100% of its mechanical and architecture graduates passed in 1987.

– 100% of its architecture and electrical engineering graduates passed in 1988.

– 100% of its mechanical engineering graduates passed in August 1989.

In addition, a total of 18 of its graduates topped their respective board examinations.

An even greater honor was received in 1992, when the Bulacan College of Arts and Trades, was declared the best within the region, second among state universities and colleges and fifth in the national ranking as to the performance of graduates in the professional board exam for teachers.

Despite these successes, however, we cannot yet afford to rest on our laurels. Much work lies ahead, much remains to be done.

Now that you are a state university, you carry on your shoulders an even bigger responsibility for contributing to the realization of “Philippines 2000!!!”.

Concentrate on the scientific and technical fields where you have the advantage, especially in those sectors needed by industry and agriculture. The main battleground of the future will be in the field of manufacturing. You must fulfill this need, as you have begun to do.

Today, our focus must be on improving on what we are already doing well and on correcting those where there has been a decline in quality. Because of the rapid rise in population and our sluggish economy, our educational facilities and capabilities have not been able to keep up with this demand. The quality of training and teaching has declined.

With these demands, there will be an obvious need to train the faculty of this university.

You must offer incentives to your faculty members like free education for their children, housing, and scholarship for higher education. But demand more from your faculty and scholars — rigorous training, research, scientific outputs, creativity and dedication.

I also urge you to continue reviewing the university’s curriculum. Remember, institutions that put emphasis on analytical thought, creativity and open-mindedness will reap bountiful harvests. Treat your students as critically-thinking human beings.

Your curriculum must promote entrepreneurship, for I believe that this involves the acquisition of the proper values and skills rather than being merely an inherited Bulacan legacy, entrepreneurship may be one of the important channels through which education accelerates economic productivity.

Progress in education has to produce a capable and efficient work force to keep production booming.

We see it over and over again: educated, well-trained people with nationalistic values being tapped for leadership.

Your acronym spells the promise of success. On a provincial scale, we can say that BSU stands for Bulacan — sumusulong — umuunlad. On a national scale, BSU means bayan — sumusulong — umuunlad!

Simulan ninyo ang pagsubaybay sa ating pangarap na kasaganaan para sa ating bansa.

Mabuhay ang Bulacan! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!! Marami pong salamat.