In a symbolic and celebratory event, graduates, their parents, and ISU stakeholders gathered for the Midyear 2023 Commencement Exercises with the theme “Sustaining Quality Education Amidst Challenges in the Post-Pandemic Era” at the ISU Amphitheater on November 8.

A total of 227 students from various programs and ISU campuses received their diplomas during the event.

Hon. Marita R. Canapi, the University Board of Regents Chairperson and the focal person of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for the Interagency Technical Working Committee on Values emphasized the importance of gratitude in her speech as the Commencement Speaker.

“Gratefulness should go beyond the institution; you should be grateful to your parents, who are here today. Be grateful for your loved ones, your family, or those who have children with your spouse. You should be grateful to your friends for all the support, those who have helped you. Sabi nga nila, ‘No man is an island,’ and we cannot survive if we do things alone. Hindi kasi masaya na nag-iisa tayo sa pag-celebrate ng ating kagalingan. Hindi masaya na mag-isa nating ini-celebrate ang ating mga achievements. Dapat lagi tayong may kasama,” she stated.

Moreover, Canapi gave the graduates some tips on how they may become successful.

“Utilizing the 3 C’s—Communicate, Collaborate, and Create—I’m sure you will be successful Isabelans in the future. But the most important among the three is ‘creation.’ By creating, it means hindi siya kinopya. Creation means you can make something out of nothing that does not yet exist,” she said.

Meanwhile, in an interview, Franz Valdez, a graduate in Electrical Engineering from ISU-Ilagan, looked back to his struggles as a college student as he shared his motivation.

“Dahil sa tulong din ng mga senior namin noon, lalo na noong mga freshman pa kami, siyempre nakaramdam din kami ng bagsak, pressure, lalo na sa pamilya. Pero may mga kuya kase at ate na nagmo-motivate sa mga freshman, sinasabi nila na hindi kami nag-iisa, na hindi lang kami ang nakakaranas ng ganoong struggles. Ibig sabihin, lahat talaga ng mga estudyante ay nakakaranas ng ganoon. Kaya kung sila, nagagawa nila, why not ako, ‘di ba? Bakit ko hindi kakayanin? So iyon ang nag-push sa akin na ituloy ang pag-aaral. Habang may bukas, magpatuloy lang,” Valdez shared.

In another interview, Marcos Felix, father of one of the graduates expressed his happiness at his child’s graduation.

“Napakagandang magpa-graduate kasi ‘yan ang puhunan ng mga bata. Totally, ‘yang anak ko’y binigay ko lahat ng aking kakayahan. Mula umpisang nag-aral hanggang natapos,” he told the Forum.

Through this event, ISU showcased its commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 4, emphasizing and celebrating the importance of quality education for all.

Article by Kristoffer Legaspi and Kisses Martinez

Photo by: John Michael Valdez

SOURCE: The Forum Publication