AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee urged graduates of Sorsogon State University to spurn corruption in all its forms and instead earn an honest living and build what he called wealth that lasts.

“Para po sa akin, ang dapat na pakay ng ating buhay ay isang wealth that lasts. Hindi panandalian lamang na parang isang kislap. Hindi makasarili na personal lang ang iniisip at walang pakialam sa kapwa,” he said during his commencement exercise speech.

“Huwag ninyong pangarapin na magkaroon ng yaman na hindi ninyo magagastos, itatago lang dahil nakuha sa maling paraan,” he added.

The lawmaker said graduates should not dream of wealth they would not be able to spend in a lifetime or those stolen or earned through illegal means.

“Ang wealth that lasts ay isang angking yaman na masarap, masaya at masagana, pangmatagalan at pangkalahatan,” he said.

Lee said based on his experience, wealth that lasts is a product of willingness to learn, willingness to love, and the willingness to lead.

The lawmaker shared he put up more than 50 businesses before he got the right formula to succeed.

“Nagbebenta ako noon ng five star na paputok sa aking eskwelahan. Alam nyo ng mga panahon na yun, bawal na bawal at hinuhuli ang mga paputok na katulad ng five star. Ang pwede lang noon ay watusi at binggala, bawal noon na magbenta ng paputok at ito ay hinuhuli, lalo na kung sa eskwelahan ka magbebenta,” he recalled.

“Umabot sa punto na sobrang lakas ng kinikita ko, syempre pag sobrang lakas ng iyong kita, sisikat ka at malalaman ng iyong principal, kaya muntik na akong ma-kick out. Hindi nga ako na-kick out, pero na-confiscate naman ang mga benta ko ng araw na yun. At hindi lang yun, pinagmulta pa ako ng ₱10,000. Lahat ng kinita ko, nawala na parang bula,” he continued.

The solon said lesson he learned from the experience, “Huwag kang papasok sa illegal o bawal, mawawala din ‘yan.”

The lawmaker said the lessons he learned from all his other unsuccessful ventures, including a t-shirt printing and a buy-and-sell business, taught him how to persevere and eventually succeed.

The lawmaker also told graduates to “learn as much as you can, as often as you can, from as many experts as you can.”