I am thankful for the invitation extended by your lodge. It is my privilege to be with you tonight for your installation ceremonies.
            In reading the history of your lodge, I found it noteworthy that in the middle of a world at war, men gathered to find a channel to seek harmony, charity, truthfulness and kindness.
            If these virtues sound familiar, it is because they are timeless and universal. They are treasured by people of all races and creeds. Across the chronicles of history, they have been valued by cultures both primitive and evolved. It is commendable that your lodge is founded on these tenets as these virtues are slowly being forgotten.
            This erosion is regrettable as kindness, charity and truthfulness are critical to a nation’s character and its future. Even the greatest civilizations fell when their people succumbed to vice and self-indulgence. This is something we should not, as a people, allow to happen.

            Since the start of my term as vice president, we have worked tirelessly to address issues ranging from overseas workers welfare to housing for the poor to the very serious threat of narcotics trafficking. While the problems we have uncovered differ in detail, the causes do not differ very much.
            Greed, deceit and contempt frame the issues we face, whether these are irregularities in government agencies, or offenses committed against our countrymen working or wanting to work overseas. Against this stream of ill tidings though, there is much hope and I am optimistic that all of you can be valuable instruments in propagating virtue in our people.
            How can this be done? We work with our own circumstances.
            Most, if not all of you are professionals. You pursue particular trades or run your own businesses. You most likely employ people in your enterprises. On a daily basis, you interact with the public or render services to your clients. You mingle with the heart of the nation.

            In your own circles of influence, apply the spirit of brotherly love. Start in your own homes. As family men, form your children well. Teach them these values at an early age and they will develop virtue. Before long, you will usher good men and women into adulthood and contribute to a sound citizenry.
            As a businessman, be honest in your obligations to your clients, your workers and the government. If you practice a profession like medicine or law, provide a kind ear to your clients while extending the best service you can. This should inspire other firms and professionals to follow your lead. With enough perseverance, you can help make kindness, truthfulness and charity the norm, rather than the exception, in business.
            In terms of your brotherhood, undertake projects with real impact in your areas. We usually look to faraway places to bring relief to the less privileged but most often, there are several opportunities for service in our own locales. Whether these are medical missions, feeding missions, scholarships or donations of books for nearby public schools, those in need are often close to home. The possibilities are limited solely by your initiative and commitment. 
            The point I would like to make is that virtue must be lived in order to be propagated. And it must be lived daily. Only then can it take root, and shape a person and a nation. This is our true challenge.
            It is a daunting task and it will not be conquered overnight. But the gravity of the problem compels us to begin now. On the road to this goal, there will be moments when it will be easier to give in rather than forge ahead. If we stumble along the way, we must begin again. But we cannot back down. The future of our children and their children demands that we give no less than our best efforts.
            Maraming salamat po.

            Mabuhay tayong lahat.