Today’s world is at a crossroads. On the one hand, we cherish the values, institutions, and way of life handed down to us by generations past. On the other hand, we are also confronted with radical developments that force us to rethink the way we do things.

We have just, for example, gotten out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Navigating this pandemic represented a dramatic shift across a spectrum of sectors, including global supply chains, transportation, and of course, education.

Dear graduates, for better or worse, you have been at the forefront of this shift in the delivery of education services. Traditional classroom learning as we know it is no longer the norm. In fact, the use of hybrid and blended learning has been hastened by the restrictions in mobility put in place at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another development that signals a radical shift in the post-pandemic world is the emergence of advanced artificial intelligence or AI.

Already, AI has been presenting tough questions to teachers and educators unsure about its impact on students’ learning. Are there safeguards in place to make sure that students do not become dependent on AI tools? How will the critical thinking skills of students be affected by chatbots that are now fully capable of providing insightful and intelligent responses on their own? Is there such a thing as an objective AI tool?

But for all the uncertainties the future brings, the one thing we know for sure is that the Philippine education system is in urgent need of transformation.

We at the Philippine Embassy in the State of Qatar acknowledge the time, resources, and effort required to make sure that we achieve one of our objectives under the Philippine Development Plan for the years 2023 to 2028 to have Filipinos who are smart and innovative, with learning poverty substantially addressed by the year 2028.

This means we have to develop transformative lifelong opportunities using transformative tools that address necessary competencies and character traits needed to grow and flourish in a complex and dynamic world.

In all these, I am certain that the Philippine International School-Qatar has equipped you with the necessary skills, knowledge, and critical thinking capabilities to navigate a future that presents opportunities and challenges in equal measure.

On behalf of all the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy here in Doha, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you on your graduation. I wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors.

Isang mapagpalang kinabukasan sa ating lahat.