De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) acclaimed 1,036 graduates while applauding 100 latin honor awardees and 71 postgraduate achievers at the 37th Commencement Exercises, with the theme “Bound by One Mission, Embracing New Horizons” held at the Sentrum, July 3.
The morning session consisted of 301 graduates from the College of Business, Economics, Accountancy and Management (CBEAM), 106 from the College of International Hospitality and Tourism Management (CIHTM), 10 College of Law (CoL) students, and 71 from the School of Professional Advancement and Continuing Education (SPACE).
In the latter part of the ceremony, 161 graduates from the College of Education, Arts and Sciences (CEAS), 230 from the College of Information Technology and Engineering (CITE), and 157 from the College of Nursing (CON) gathered for the afternoon session.
To find one’s purpose in life
Giving valuable insight on the Japanese concept of “Ikigai”, Dr. Rose Marie Clemeña, former Chair of the Graduate Department of Guidance and Counseling at De La Salle University (DLSU) Manila, encouraged students to find their own reason for being and to follow St. Saint John Baptist de La Salle’s purpose in transforming lives through education.
“If you have not yet found your “Ikigai”, search for it—[through] service, you will find [it] where your own personal joy and the world’s needs intersect,” said Clemeña.
Following the conferment of degrees, DLSL lauded Rachelle Andrea M. Luzon and Cielo Mikaela V. Custodio from the BS Accountancy program as the two Summa Cum Laudes.
Meanwhile, 44 completers were recognized as Cum Laude and 12 were bestowed with Magna Cum Laude. Afterwards, the Master’s in Business Administration and Master’s in Management Technology postgraduates were given 19 silver and 25 gold medals while 14 received diamond medals.
The ceremony ended as Custodio, the batch valedictorian, motivated her fellow graduates to set aside their own doubts and uncertainties during their college life and to be united by their spirit of courage and perseverance.
“And because of that courage, the story of us has come to an end, [and] while it may feel overwhelming, it is also exciting because we know that we are not stepping into it empty-handed and unarmed,” Custodio reassured.
To honor the journey
The afternoon session recognized the graduates from CEAS, CITE, and CON, where 26 attained Cum Laude, 15 earned Magna Cum Laude, and one achieved Summa Cum Laude.
On behalf of the event’s guest speaker, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Region IV Director Dr. Rogelio T. Galera Jr. delivered Dr. Ethel Agnes P. Valenzuela’s message to the graduating batch.
“As Lasallians, you are called to be more than achievers. You are called to be architects of a better world,” said Galera.
Valenzuela also reminded the graduates to recognize the significance of their journey and look beyond their achievements to initiate a positive change in their communities, imploring them to consider how they can contribute to helping others.
Succeeding the presentation of latin honors, Grace San Juan, Summa Cum Laude graduate from the Bachelor in Multimedia Arts program, noted in her valedictory address that this success not only for herself, but also for the people who supported her and became part of her journey.
“Ang tagumpay na ito ay hindi lamang para sa iisang tao, kundi para sa lahat ng naging bahagi ng ating paglalakbay. Because no one succeeds alone, behind every graduate is a team of quiet heroes,” San Juan said.
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The event formally concluded as the graduates performed “To New Horizons”, an original song composed by Jezrik Reymund Jugao, a BS Accounting Information System graduate and Peter John Verdadero from BS Psychology.
