De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and Benilde Antipolo sent off 506 students for the second term Commencement Exercises on June 14, held for the first time at the SMX Convention Center Manila.
The ceremony began with a procession of graduates, Benilde faculty, and administrators. Rev. Fr. Tedley Villanueva then led the opening prayer.
Undersecretary Jose Javier Reyes, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), gave an inspirational speech to the graduates.
He listed down six lessons for them to remember, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and to “Never stop learning. You should never stop evolving. You are never too old to learn something new, to become somebody else, to be better than your best.”
“You are now part of a tradition—the Lasallian tradition, and your mission is to make sure that you make a much better world than the ones our generation gave you,” he concluded.
Exceptional Benildeans who received academic awards were awarded by the Vice Chancellor for Academics, Mr. Angelo Marco Lacson. Then followed by the awarding of special awards by the Dean of the Center for Student Life, Mr. Levi Albania.
Master of ceremonies, Ms. Niña Endozo, conferred the 506 graduates to Benilde Chancellor Mr. Benhur Ong. Each candidate for graduation was called and received their diplomas on stage, presented by the respective deans of their schools.
For the graduate program students, Chancellor Ong, along with Mr. Lacson, conducted the hooding ceremony. Then followed by the alumni oath-taking, led by Benildean alumna Ms. Sam Tyra Co from the Benilde Alumni Association.
Words of appreciation by Christian Nazarene D. Magcawas, Summa Cum Laude from the Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management (BS-HRIM), shared about his college experience of being rejected from scholarships and receiving only partial aid amidst his family losing their source of income, and being a working-student.
He emphasized in his speech the accessibility of education, as “We celebrate grit, but what we really need is systemic change. Education should not be a test of survival. It should be a guaranteed path accessible to each student, regardless of background. A basic right, not a luxury for the few.”
“To CHED [Commission on Higher Education], I advocate for reforms. Support must reach students truly in need, not just those who have good grades, but also those who fight silent battles, who struggle really to get by, who simply want a chance,” he added.
Kail Arianna Edillon, Summa Cum Laude from the Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management (BS-IHM), led the Benildean prayer.
In gratitude to their parents, a token of appreciation video was played on the screens, showcasing family pictures of the graduates to the song “Salamat Sa ‘Yo.”
In an interview with The Benildean, BS-IHM graduate Walter Edward Treichler shared the most valuable lesson he learned from Benilde to “really just get out there [...] I just tried and tried, and I put my name out there, and it really changed a lot of things for me. It really opened up new horizons, new opportunities.”
Meanwhile, Magna Cum Laude from Bachelor of Arts in Animation and former Editor in Chief of the Benildean Press Corps, Jorel Magistrado, gave a short message to fellow graduates, ”I'm so proud of us and everything that we've ever worked for. Every late night, every 2.0 to 4.0 grade we've ever received has culminated in this moment, I cannot be prouder of us.”
