Kara David shares lessons from the community to 麻花星空视频-IIT鈥檚 Class of 2025

by Kassandra A. Buenafe, OfCom | Jun 28 2025

Addressing 2,163 麻花星空视频-IIT graduates in the Second Semester Graduation of the 55th Commencement, multi-awarded broadcast journalist, Kara David, delivered a heartfelt and evocative speech, serving as the ceremony's guest speaker on June 27, 2025, at the University Gymnasium.

A long-time documentary journalist, David, with her presentation titled, “Ang Pagtatapos ay Isang Pagsisimula,” showed life lessons to the graduates she has learned from the communities she has immersed herself in, emphasizing that graduation is not the end of the challenges, but rather, the beginning of new things to conquer and learn beyond classrooms.

Starting with lighthearted jokes and Gen-Z references in her speech, David’s central theme focused on three crucial things to live by: (1) learning to give to others, (2) never giving up on your dreams, and (3) never giving up on people.

Her first lesson highlighted the importance of living a life that is not merely about one’s self but of helping and teaching others in ways big and small.

“Kung gusto mong humaba ang buhay ng iyong talento, ang buhay ng iyong kaalaman, matuto kang magturo sa mga tao kasi habang buhay ang mga taong naturuan at natulungan mo, buhay din ang alaala mo. It’s not just about yourself, it’s about giving a part of yourself to others,” she said.

Dreams, according to her, are powerful enough to change how we perceive the world and our mindset: “Makapangyarihan po ang ating mga pangarap, kaya nitong makapagbago ng buhay at pag-iisip at kaya nitong baguhin ang ating mga komunidad, so do not ever give up on your dreams,” she stated as she shared the second life lesson. She also underscored the transformative force of education in creating a meaningful impact in our societies.

Lastly, she believes deeply in the necessity of coming together as a community by not giving up on people. “Ang mabigat ay gumagaan, kapag marami ang pumapasan,” she said, echoing the valuable lesson she has learned from the Mangyan people of Mindoro from one of her I-Witness documentary episodes, which garnered the prestigious Peabody Award in 2010.

Often, she is questioned why she chooses stories that come from risky and far-flung areas, to which she responds, “Sa tatlumpong taon kong pamamahayag, natutuhan ko po na yung pinakamadilim na sulok ng ating bayan—kahit gaano kadilim—posible pa ring sumilip ang liwanag. Laging may liwanag sa gitna ng dilim…gaano man tayo kahirap sa salapi, napakayaman natin sa malasakit.”

David’s presence in the 麻花星空视频-IIT community was met with eagerness and enthusiasm. Her message served as a beautiful reminder to the graduates that despite the excellence they have cultivated, it will all be in vain if it is not dedicated to the service of the community.

“I hope you can consider in your hearts also devoting some of your time to the communities… kung mas marami tayong magpapasan, mas gagaan ang kanilang pinapasan,” she reminded the graduates.

She ended her speech by reflecting on why graduations are often metaphorically labeled as the end or “pagtatapos,” when in reality, learning does not stop–“Hindi ba sa paglilingkod dapat palagi nating bitbit ang pag-asa at pangarap at idealism ng kabataan? So hindi po ito pagtatapos kung hindi simula,” David concludes.

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