Doctoral Conferment Ceremony | NASDP, GEU, UN-IGO

Pastor ACQ’s Acceptance Speech

I stand before you grateful and deeply honored for the doctoral degrees, honoris causa, as well as awards that have been conferred in profound recognition of the efforts done towards nation-building.

This beautiful country, the Philippines, has very promising leaders, thinkers, and movers — and out of my love for our God Almighty and this blessed nation, I have longed to see it prosper.

The challenges that Filipinos have faced throughout the years were more than poverty, illiteracy, or unemployment. There has been a crisis of ignorance that has become a threat to democracy, especially in this digital information age.

No matter how the government worked hard to fulfill its mandate, a number of Filipinos are still gullible, misinformed, and vulnerable to fake and deceptive news.

It is in this situation that SMNI has become a relevant platform to counter these lies and deception.

It stood to its mission as the “Totoong Boses ng Bayan” (The True Voice of the People) with the mantra: “Truth that Matters.”

In the early years of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the broadcasting ministry was a powerful tool for evangelism — from radio to television, then to print, and then, at present, to the world wide web.

SMNI, which evolved from the ACQ-Kingdom Broadcasting Network, fast-tracked the distribution of preaching messages through satellite technology worldwide from this humble place, Davao City, in the Philippines.

As it has been an effective means to communicate the Word of God, there has also been a desire in my heart to help educate and enlighten the Filipino brethren and ignite in their hearts the spirit of patriotism and true love for the country.

As one of the great philosophers, Plato said: “If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government, then you are doomed
to live under the rule of fools.”

It was through SMNI that this campaign towards intelligent democracy was launched, with the goal to reach more Filipinos and bring them to a level of understanding that promotes national interest.

Waging a war against ignorant democracy, as in all other revolutions, was met with resistance.

But I continued in my crusade, using SMNI as a sounding board, telling our people that it is high time to leave our selfish interests behind, and move towards what is beneficial to our nation as a whole.

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ which I lead is also no stranger to revolutions. In fact, its existence for almost four decades is a product of radical change which first begins in the spirit, the innermost being of man, that connects to God, the Supreme Being of all.

When man goes back to God’s original plan, he finds the light and is no longer a slave to death. He is free as he is reconciled once again to the One who created him.

This is the foundation of my calling as a minister of the word — returning to the manual, as taught by the Lord Jesus Christ.

He commanded: “Love one another” — even to the extent of loving our enemies, blessing those that hate us, and praying for those who persecute us.

He went further saying, “There is no fear in love: for perfect love casteth out fear.”

I am fearless because of love — first of all, to God, then to my beloved country. I am ready to be ostracized or persecuted because of this love — love for humanity as a whole.

For when we love our neighbor and we work no ill to our neighbor, we fulfill the law. We abide in the law.

Against kindness, goodness, generosity, and taking care of the needs of the poor, there is no law.

So how do I reconcile my being a pastor as a spiritual man, at the same time, a vocal proponent for nation-building which concerns the political and secular affairs of this world?

This is often asked as there has been this common notion of the separation between the church and state.

Nevertheless, in the spirit of true patriotism, there should be no delineation.

I have been forthright in my support of the Duterte administration on how he created a template for leadership for the next generation.

He was fierce in his unabated war against drugs, corruption, communism, terrorism, and other interests inimical to the national interest.

To me, he is a “Modern Philippine hero” for his unsurpassed leadership of the Filipino people. At the same time, I believe that then President Rodrigo Duterte is a man of destiny. It was revealed to me 18 years before he was catapulted to the presidency. Even before, I knew that the Almighty Father is intervening in the affairs of this nation.

Now you know the reason why I am driven with passion towards nation-building.

Filipinos, like any other citizen of the world, deserve a good life. We have the right to be treated as equals, not inferiors. We are partners in this community of nations.

Likewise, in our country, let us treat each other with justice and mutual respect.

Let peace begin in each of us by not condoning abuses and wrongdoing, but by seeking to expose them into the light. It is when we address these issues from the perspective of political maturity that we set our house, this nation, in order.

To end this speech, I’d like to remind everyone of a popular quote: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

We have the power in our hands to defeat darkness. If we truly love this country, let us use the power in us to uphold the good.

Once we are in the truth, let us stand for the truth, defend the truth, and if necessary, die for the truth.

Modern-day challenges such as the pandemic, inflation, climate change, the looming food crisis, and the devastating impact of wars may cause fear and foreboding in our hearts, but I believe that the good shall always triumph over evil.

It is light that will defeat darkness. It is love that will defeat hate. It is good that will defeat evil.

Once again, good afternoon, and may these awards inspire us to take pride in being Filipinos. Taas noo, kahit kanino!

Maraming salamat, at mabuhay tayong lahat!