Manila, Philippines — “Choose the difficult. Because character is formed through friction, through struggle, through fire.”
With this powerful call to action, Ayala Corporation Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (JAZA) addressed the 414 graduates of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) during its Thirtieth Commencement Exercises on August 16 at the Solaire Grand Ballroom in Parañaque City.
In a speech that balanced reflection with resolve, JAZA urged the graduates to face the complexities of the modern world with courage, clarity, and deep personal conviction. As the world grows faster and more fragmented, he said, what will set future leaders apart is not ease or efficiency—but purpose-driven choices guided by enduring values.
“This ‘real world’ we are now in is fast, but it lacks wisdom. It is loud but no one is listening. It is hyperconnected, but deeply fragmented,” he said. “To confront a world like this, we must begin by making sense of it… and humans have always turned to one of the oldest tools we have: story.”
Framing life as a story yet to be written, JAZA emphasized that while structure helps us understand the past and present, purpose is what points us toward the future.
“You don’t need to have all the answers now,” he told the graduates, “but you must begin asking the right questions: What do I stand for? Who or what do I hold dear? Who do I want to become? What am I building, not just for myself, but for others?”
Now in its 58th year, UA&P conferred undergraduate and graduate degrees across a wide range of disciplines, including business, economics, humanities, early childhood education, IT, marketing, and law. The conferral of degrees and academic awards was led by outgoing UA&P President Dr. Winston Conrad B. Padojinog, who will step down on August 20 after 10 years of service at the helm of UA&P.
The ceremony opened with a salutation from Vikka Angeline L. Arevalo (Magna cum laude, BSBA Management with specialization in Business Analytics) and featured a valedictory address by Francisco S. Pantaleon, magna cum laude, Master of Arts in Humanities.
JAZA also shared the enduring story of the Ayala Group—founded nearly two centuries ago at the end of the galleon trade—and how it has continually evolved by staying rooted in its core purpose: to build businesses that enable people to thrive.
“Our history is not one of perfect decisions,” he said, “but it is a story of enduring purpose, of listening, of adapting, and acting with intention.”
He closed by challenging the Class of 2025 to make the difficult but meaningful choices that define lasting stories and authentic leadership.
“Serve something greater than yourselves. Let your values guide you, even when they set you apart. Take courage—act even when faced with fear. Endure. Persevere,” he said. “This is what makes a worthy story.”
