01/06/2026
๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ก๐๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ ๐๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ, ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ด๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ก๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐
The Clinical Graduation of Batch 2026 took place on June 1, 2024, at ISU Amphitheater, commending another batch of nursing students who have overcome a crucial part of their academic and clinical journey.
Carrying the theme, โCompassion Beyond Competence and Timeless Care: The Heart of the Modern ISUan Future Nurses,โ the ceremony underscored values that are integral to the nursing profession, including compassion, service, resilience and patient-centered care, as well as the graduates' clinical competence.
Opening the program, College of Nursing Dean Dr. Edmelyn Cacayan welcomed attendees by emphasizing that the event was not only a recognition of academic achievement but also a celebration of the deeper calling of the nursing profession.
"We gather not only to honor academic excellence and clinical success, but also to recognize the deeper calling that binds us all to the nursing profession," Cacayan said.
She underscored that nursing extends beyond mastering procedures and passing evaluations, reminding students that compassion remains at the heart of patient care.
"Competence allows us to heal, but compassion allows us to connect," she stated, encouraging graduates to carry with them the values of empathy, resilience, integrity, and excellence as they continue their professional journey.
The guest speaker, Walter A. Romero, RN, Nurse II of the Department of Health โ Human Resource for Health (DOH-HRH) shared his message on professional development, commitment to public service and the evolving roles of nurses in today's health care delivery system.
In his speech, Romero said that while a nurse's clinical skills were a key factor in determining their greatness, so was their ability to keep an empathy and humanity towards the patient.
The ceremony also became a moment of reflection for the graduates, many of whom spent years developing the skills necessary to respond to real-life healthcare situations through exposure to various clinical settings.
Representing Batch 2026, Emerson A. Basabica reflected on the collective struggles and triumphs of the graduating class.
In his message, Basabica highlighted lessons learned throughout nursing school, emphasizing that success in nursing education requires perseverance beyond intelligence.
"College didn't ask, 'Are you smart?' It asked, 'Can you last?'" he remarked, describing the long nights, endless reviews, and moments of self-doubt that shaped the graduates' resilience.
Concluding his address, Basabica reminded his fellow graduates that while others often see only the achievements and recognition, the graduates themselves understand the sacrifices, hardships, and determination behind their success.
It symbolized countless sleepless nights, challenging return demonstrations, hospital endorsements, patient encounters, and the unwavering determination required to pursue a career dedicated to saving lives and promoting health.
A tribute to the College's clinical instructors followed through a message delivered by Lovely Nicole Lilagan on behalf of the graduating class.
"We did not learn nursing alone. This journey would not be possible without our dearest clinical instructors," Lilagan said.
Lilagan thanked the teachers who took students' first mistakes and first successes, and how there are countless times when only a teacher could have taught a student.
"Because of you, the scared first-year nursing students we once were became senior student nurses who can now confidently approach patients, provide care, and carry responsibility with competence and compassion," she added.
Lilagan further recognized the sacrifices made by clinical instructors, recalling how they continued teaching despite illness, difficult conditions, and demanding patient loads, ensuring that every student received guidance throughout their clinical experiences.
Graduates stood united in celebration, carrying with them the lessons learned from their clinical experiences and the duty of being a nurse.
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Article by Karla Sacayanan
Shots by Stanlee Carreon & Lance Tiburcio
