Acclaimed scriptwriter Ricky Lee inspires fellow graduates, gives life lessons in moving speech

Award-winning screenwriter and novelist Ricky Lee finally graduated from college on May 8, with an honorary doctoral degree in Humanities granted to him by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).

Asked to give a commencement speech before his fellow students at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Lee, 72, said it has been his longtime dream to graduate from college, which he did not achieve in his younger years when he took AB English studies at the University of the Philippines in Diliman because of martial law.

The acclaimed screenwriter narrated his fair share of hardships in life, from leaving Bicol to chase his dreams in Manila, becoming a working student in college and studying hard to overcome his inferiority complex, and receiving rejection from UP Diliman in his application to become a teacher.

A veteran writer that he is, Lee did not fail to give inspiring lessons to graduates, which he would also tell to his younger himself had he graduated before.

'Kulang ang silya'

Lee recalled leaving Daet and going to Manila together with his four classmates, not knowing what exactly to do and what awaited them there, yet full of dreams.

His three companions soon worked in a factory, while he and his remaining friend became waiters in a pizza parlor in Pasay City.

They decided to rent a small apartment, with just four chairs and one table in the dining room.

"Habang nakatingin ako sa kasamahan naming nakatayong kumakain, pinangako ko sa sarili ko, balang araw makokompleto ang silya," Lee said.

"Working student ako all throughout college. Nag-salesman ako, accounting clerk, tutor, student assistant, proofreader at kung anu-ano pa. Tinanggap ko na, na sa buhay na ito ay laging hindi kompleto ang silya. Hindi nakaabang ang mundo para ibigay sa 'yo ang lahat ng kailangan mo. Hindi ka entitled. You have to be resourceful. You have to work hard. Kailangan mong pagtrabahuhan ang kulang na silya," he said.

Lee also recalled being a factory worker by day and a student by night in Lyceum, and chose to not eat dinner and walk from school up to Aranque in Manila at 9 p.m. in order to save money.

"Minsan ay hinimatay ako sa gutom sa Avenida. Mga five minutes siguro akong nag-blackout bago ako nagkamalay," he said.

"Maraming mga okasyong gaya noon na bumabagsak ako. Iyon bang parang madilim at wala nang pag-asa ang lahat. Iniisip ko lang ang kulang na silya sa apartment at lumalakas na uli ang loob ko, nakakabangon uli ako."

You don't need to be perfect

In his second lesson, Lee told students to expect the harsh realities of the world, which sometimes had its unreasonable judgment and expectations.

Lee encouraged them to not be afraid to fail.

"At kahit mabigo ka, huwag kang mag-alala. Hindi iyan ang sukatan ng worth mo bilang tao. Hindi mo kailangang maging perpekto. Hindi mo kailangang labanan ang sarili mo, o pantayan ang iba. You are never worthless. Just be yourself. Langoy lang nang langoy, lipad lang. Bawat graduation ay pag-iwan kaya lumayas ka, putulin mo ang tali, iwanan mo ang nakagawian, pumalaot ka. Huwag kang matakot magkamali. Di baleng malunod. Di baleng mahulog. Kapag bumagsak ka, doon mo mas mahahanap ang sarili mo. Sa paulit-ulit na pagkabigo ay mas matututo ka. Para kang sinusulat na nobela na kailangang paulit-ulit na i-revise. Hanggang sa kuminang," he said.

It is in this part of his speech when Lee shared having an inferiority complex since he was a child, who is "sakitin, clumsy at makakalimutin."

His inferiority complex motivated him to study hard and receive honors in school, as well as a become a university scholar in UP.

"Later on ko na lang natutunan, na kung saan ka mahina, kung anuman ang mga depekto mo, balang araw iyon din ang magiging strength mo. Kasi ang strength, kapag nanggaling sa depekto, mas matibay. Dahil nakita mo ang ibaba, mas naiintindihan mo ang itaas. Dahil nanggaling ka sa dilim, mas natatanggap mo na ang buhay ay hindi puro liwanag," Lee said.

"Kung nasaan man ako ngayon, kung anumang tagumpay ang meron ako ngayon, matatag ang kinatatayuan ko kasi nakatuntong ako sa isang bundok ng mga pagkakamali at mga pagkabigo," he added.

'Makisangkot'

"Ang buhay na hindi inilaan sa kapakanan ng iba ay parang lantang gulay o bilasang isda na walang nakinabang," Lee said in giving his third advice.

"Huwag kang kuripot. Ibigay mo ang buhay mo sa iba, maski na paminsan-minsan lang."

"Pumunta ka sa mga bukid, sa mga minahan, sa mga bundok, sa mga batang lansangan, sa mga home for the aged, sa mga inulila ng digmaan. Magtanong ka kung anong maitutulong mo," the screenwriter continued.

"Magkaroon ka ng boses. Ng opinyon. Mundo mo ito. Di ka parang hanging nagdaan lang. Mag-iwan ka ng marka."

"'Yang hawak mong diploma, para 'yan sa iba, hindi 'yan para sa'yo."

Lee then went on to recall his life as an activist during the Martial law era, where he set aside his personal ambitions and dedicated his life for others and for the country.

Lee said he was jailed for one year in Fort Bonifacio.

"But in the end I realized it was all worth it. Dahil wala nang sasarap pa kaysa sa pakiramdam na hindi lahat ng ginawa mo ay para sa sarili mo lang."

"Lagi nila akong tinatanong. Ba't ka nagbibigay ng libreng workshops mula pa noong 1982? Napakahirap at madalas ay napapabayaan ko ang mga personal kong projects tuwing nagpapa-workshop ako. Pero hindi lang ang mga workshopper ko ang natututo, natututo rin ako. Nakikita ko ang sarili ko sa kanila at sa paunti-unti nilang pag-unlad ay umuunlad din ako," Lee added.

"Naniniwala kasi ako na kapag nagbigay ka nang walang hinihintay na kapalit, ngingiti sa 'yo ang mundo, ibabalik sa 'yo ang ibinigay mo sa mga paraang hindi mo inaasahan," he continued.

Lee ended his speech telling his fellow graduates to "go out, celebrate, work hard para makompleto ang silya, make mistakes, makisangkot ka, vote wisely."

He told them to "hug their parents" who made sacrifices just to send them to school.

"Mangarap ka at habulin mo ang mga pangarap mo na halos hindi ka na makahinga at sabihin mo sa sarili mo, ako ito, graduate na ako at handa na ako."

"Hawak mo ang sarili mo."

"Hawak mo ang buhay mo."

"Iyan ang totoong diploma."

Lee has written more than 150 film screenplays, which earned him more than 50 trophies from various award-giving bodies.

READ: The unstoppable Ricky Lee

 —Jamil Santos/KG, GMA News