De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) honored its recently graduated college students in the 35th Commencement Exercises held at the Sentrum, Aug. 18.
Two commencement exercises were held, with the morning session consisting of students from the College of Business, Economics, Accountancy, and Management (CBEAM), College of International Hospitality and Tourism Management (CIHTM), and the College of Law (CoL).
There were 411 and 142 graduates from the CBEAM and CIHTM respectively, 26 acclaimed Juris Doctors, 28 with a Masters degree in Business Administration, and 23 applaud certificate holders in Cookery NCII (Culinary Arts) in the morning batch.
While a total of 185 CEAS students, 377 CITE, and 122 CON students graced the stage and received their diplomas.
The College of Law (CoL) entering the Sentrum (C. Enriquez)
Expressing social responsibility for the morning session
In his commencement address, Lasallian partner and guest speaker, Nicollo Ian Unera, said DLSL is not just an institution, but it is also a community where everyone belongs.
“The real world is where the battlefield is. Global challenges, at the moment, are throwing punches left and right and we need to be resilient. I’d like to call this batch of 2023 to take action,” said Unera.
BS Accountancy Magna Cum Laude Derrick Jantzen Gonzales delivered the thanksgiving address to his fellow graduates in the morning session, saying that Lasallian graduates have the social responsibility to transform the lives of others through social innovation gained from DLSL.
“We, Lasallian graduates, were molded by De La Salle Lipa to become socially responsible citizens. We must be agents of social change, championing human dignity, and social justice,” said Gonzales.
Moreover, Gonzales highlighted the importance of social awareness and empathy for others while focusing on maintaining competence and ethics for future endeavors.
“We are challenged by St. John Baptist De La Salle to be compassionate and to reach out to the marginalized members of society. Prioritizing their needs contributes to the goal of a just and equitable society,” said Gonzales.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Erickson Martinez introduced the candidates of 2023 in the petition for graduation while Brother Edmundo Fernandez FSC presented the conferment of degrees. Fernandez awarded the academic degrees of Juris Doctor (JD), Masters in Business Administration (MBA), Certificate in Cookery and Culinary Arts, and all bachelor degrees of CBEAM and CIHTM.
After receiving their diplomas, a selected number of students were presented with prominent academic honors such as the Cum Laude and Magna Cum Laude, as well as their graduate study equivalents, the Silver Medal, Gold Medal, and Diamond Medal.
Miguel Enrico Canlas, holding a picture of his father as he received his Magna Cum Laude award. (C. Enriquez)
Reflecting on service for the afternoon session
On the other hand, the afternoon batch of graduates was from the College of Education, Arts, and Sciences (CEAS), the College of Information, Technology, and Engineering (CITE), and the College of Nursing (CON).
Their guest speaker, Joaquin E. Quintos IV, president of the healthcare and education group of First Philippine Holdings, elaborated on the interrelationship of healthcare and technology in an ever-changing world, encouraging the graduates to continue their path forward.
“Be of some use to the world. Contribute to society. Be helpful to individuals. […] Join in and make a difference. Be kind to anyone who crosses your path in life, whatever their status or relationship. And don’t forget, be kind to yourself, too. […] If all of us made this number one purpose in life, to be useful and to be kind, imagine what kind of world we can create,” said Quintos.
Dionne Calosa, AB Communication Magna Cum Laude, gave her thanksgiving speech for the afternoon batch, emphasizing their mission as Lasallians to be part of something bigger than themselves for the benefit of their fellow Filipinos.
Dionne Patrisha Calosa, the afternoon batch valedictorian, delivering her speech. (C. Enriquez)
“We must burst the bubble of privilege by staying connected to the communities we aim to serve. The true measure of success lies not in our accomplishments but in our commitment to create great and beneficial outcomes for all,” said Calosa.
Calosa further challenged her fellow graduates to keep the same determination and spirit even after they leave the institution and journey the world outside the academe.
“The Lasallian education taught us never shall we fail. Never shall we fail is a promise to ourselves to never stop growing, never stop serving, never stop becoming no matter how many mistakes we have committed,” Calosa said.
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To formally conclude the ceremony for both batches, the graduates sang an original graduation song composed by BS Computer Science graduate Fernand Angelo Orbase, BS Psychology graduate Trisha Jhanel Silva, and Patrick Pangilinan entitled, “New Leaf”, followed by the DLSL Alma Mater Hymn.
Article by Jose Solomon Granada and Jannaya Barrion
