Lubon National High School Principal Teresa Palbuza Ngilac, an alumna of BSU Buguias, served as the guest of honor and commencement speaker. In her address, Ngilac emphasized the interconnectedness of the disciplines represented by the graduates, framing them as a singular ecosystem necessary to tackle modern challenges. Ngilac offered practical advice for life after university, encouraging the class to view difficulties constructively.

“Rejection is just data collection. It tells what didn’t work so you can innovate a better approach for the next attempt. Excellence isn’t about never falling. It’s about navigating the messy parts without losing your integrity,” she said.

Ngilac ended her speech with a mission for the graduating class.

“When you walked through the doors of BSU years ago, you were students seeking a degree. Today, you leave as professionals tasked with a mission: to cultivate, to educate, to protect, and to live. Go out there and instruct the world with your excellence, shock them with your innovation, build communities that last and shape a global future that you can be proud to pass on.”

Tracy B. Engawan, a Bachelor of Science in Criminology graduate who finished 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦, delivered the valedictory address on behalf of the Batch of 2026. Reflecting on the academic and personal hardships faced by the students, Engawan reminded her peers that perseverance is a core component of attainment. “Failure is not the opposite of success, but it is a part of it,” Engawan stated, dedicating the milestone to every student who persisted despite wanting to quit, as well as the families and faculty who supported them.

“This day is not only for those who receive medals, honors, or special recognitions. This day belongs to every student who kept going despite wanting to quit, to all the working students who juggled their school and work, to the students who woke up at 4 a.m. just to catch the earliest ride to school yet continued to show up despite their circumstances. It belongs to those who failed, stood up again, and tried one more time,” Engawan said.

The graduating batch featured a significant turnout from the BS Criminology program, which saw 194 graduates, including six 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦 and 58 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦 awardees. Likewise, there were: 14 graduates of Bachelor of Elementary Education with two 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦 and three 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦; 18 graduates of Bachelor of Physical Education; 35 graduates of Bachelor of Technical-Vocational Teacher Education with five 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦; 47 graduates of Bachelor of Secondary Education with one 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦 and seven 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦; 33 graduates of Master of Arts in Education major in Educational Administration and Supervision; one graduate of Master of Arts in Public Administration; and three graduates of Doctor of Philosophy in Education Major in Educational Management.

The ceremony was attended by University President Kenneth A. Laruan, alongside several members of the BSU Board of Regents, including Shania Wendy T. Balaki, Janet S. Luis, and Imelda O. Degay. University officials present to witness the conferment included VP for Academic Affairs Janet P. Pablo, VP for Business Affairs Josel M. Florentin, BSUGEA President Donato M. Wanawan, and Chief Administrative Officer Andres Arnold Lampacan.

In their messages to the graduates in the ceremony’s souvenir program, Laruan, Pablo and BSU Buguias Campus Administrator Jerry S. Landacan acknowledged the graduates’ perseverance and grit while encouraging them to keep growing so that they could be of service to the society.

“As you move forward, continue to cultivate excellence, embrace innovation, and remain grounded in the values that brought you this far. The world needs individuals who will not only dream of a better future but help build it,” Landacan wrote.//

JSTabangcura

JSTabangcura and Myka An-naway (BSDC Intern)