This day marks a day when the world of Cambridge University and its citizens scattered all over the world celebrate the designation of the school as the world's current number one, courtesy of the 2010 QS World University Rankings.
There was a time when Cambridge was only part of a dream in the recesses of my mind. Who would have believed me in my childhood dream to study in Europe, which many had thought as nothing but a make-belief? One day it became real. One day I was just there in the middle of world-changing academic conversations - ecstatically savouring the spiritual reverberations of Newton, Darwin, Keynes, Russell, Watson, Byron, Lewis, Malthus, Babbage, and more.
My days at Cambridge were so precious and intense. It was fun, challenging, memorable time. A moment to be proud of as a Filipino in a great university. I pray that more Filipinos will walk through the ancient streets, buildings, and libraries of the world's number one school. Hopefully, each step they will make there embellishes the story of our nation in some fruitful ways.
Everything I cherish about and learned from Cambridge I offer and dedicate to my past, present and future students at Darwin International School. May the bits and pieces of Cambridge traditions that they are absorbing from Darwin bring them far - enough to reach the shores and inlands of the best lives they deserve.
If and when that happens, then being a Cantabrigian - the Cantabrigiensis Man - in its barest essence has been fulfilled once again.
Prof. Rolando S. Dela Cruz
9 September 2010
5:25 am
Link: CAMBRIDGE TOPS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKING
http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/dp/2010090802
