25/06/2025
๐๐ข๐ข๐ | Bicol University (BU) Main Campus graduates gathered for the first day of the 55th Commencement Exercises, Tuesday, June 24, at the BU Sports Complex.
University registrar Dr. Ramesis Lorino formally opened the ceremony, which started at around 3 p.m. with a procession of the graduates, parents, faculty and non-teaching staff, and the university president Dr. Baby Boy Benjamin Nebres III.
Totaling around 1,900, the graduates from different colleges include BU College of Arts and Letters (BUCAL) with 372 students; the Institute of Physical Education, Sports, and Recreation (BUIPESR) with 246 students; College of Education (BUCE) with 397 students; Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance and Development (BUJMRIGD) with 67 students; BU College of Science (BUCS) with 323 students; College of Nursing (BUCN) with 115 students; Graduate School with 376 students; College of Law (BUCL) with 29 students; and College of Medicine (BUCM) with 49 students.
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Dr. Ethel Agnes Pascua-Valenzuela's speech, as delivered by Chief Education Program Specialist CHED Region V Dr. Rachel Casimero, reminded the graduates that the real essence of the event is to always carry values, such as resilience, compassion, and empathetic leadership.
She also encouraged them to always pursue their passions with purposes in order to meaningfully contribute to nation building, following the theme "Life Champions and Future-Ready Professionals of the 21st Century."
"As you embark on your careers, I urge you to seek not just jobs but purpose-driven work. Find what truly ignites your passion where your skills can make a meaningful difference," Casimero said.
Moreover, Outstanding University and Business Administration Graduate Jairus Alexis Rico emphasized the importance of seeing beyond the academic achievements and recognizing the true sacrifices behind these successes.
"Today, we celebrate GWA, medals, leadership roles, and excellence. But more than that, we celebrate the unseen victoriesโthe courage to stay, the softness we kept, and the healing we are still working on because, in the end, no title, award, or recognition will ever matter more than how we showed up for others and for ourselves when it mattered most. And that's the legacy worth leaving behind," Rico said.
The program ended with the singing of the university hymn and the originally composed graduation song by selected BU students titled "Tanglaw."
With Dr. Nebres' support, a lightning rally led by Journalism graduate and College Editors Guild of the Philippines-Albay (CEGP) Ad Hoc Chairperson Reinnard Balonzo, along with the other graduates, was executed during the recessional as a call to action for different causes and advocacies regarding student welfare and other social issues outside the institution.
Colleges from the East and Daraga Campuses are set to conduct their graduation ceremony today, June 25, at the BU Sports Complex, marking the second day of the series of graduation ceremonies for all the satellite campuses in the university. | via Lara Fae Albaytar
๐ท Zachary Oliver Gonzales