De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), including both the Manila and Antipolo campuses, sent off 720 graduates for the 2nd term of A.Y. 2023-2024 as they ascended the stage at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on July 27.
To formally begin the ceremony, the guest of honor, journalist and Rappler co-founder Ms. Maria Ressa, addressed the graduates in her opening speech, “We live in a dystopian science fiction world where everything changes in the blink of an eye.”
The Nobel Prize laureate exclaimed, “You are not just the graduates of the class of 2024, you are warriors in the battle for the soul of our nation.” She continued, “You are warriors for the future of our world, and we need you, your idealism, your passion and creativity, your unwavering commitment to what is right, and the qualities that Benilde has helped inspire.”
Following Ms. Ressa’s message, recipients of academic and special awards were called to the stage by the Vice Chancellor for Academics, Mr. Angelo Marco U. Lacson, and Center for Student Life Dean, Mr. Levi V. Albania.
Facilitated by the Master of Ceremonies Ms. Niña C. Endozo, the candidates for graduation were presented to Benilde Brother President, Br. Edmundo “Dodo” Fernandez FSC. Afterwards, Chancellor Benhur Ong, and the deans from each school, joined the Brother President in distributing diplomas to the graduates.
The commencement exercise honored two graduate students with high distinction and with distinction, respectively. In addition, Latin honors were presented to five students who received summa cum laude distinctions, 42 with magna cum laude distinctions, and 93 with cum laude distinctions.
Finally, special awards were given to two outstanding individuals: Multimedia Arts graduate Mcaine Andrei Carlos received the Saint Benilde Romancon Award, while Architecture graduate Justin Hayden Cua received the Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC Leadership Award.
Nearing the end of the program, the Brother President conferred the masteral and doctoral hooding ceremony for the graduate students, while Benilde alumni and recent topnotcher of the Architecture Licensure Exam, Ar. Louie Nathaniel Kiu, led the alumni oath-taking.
Closing the ceremony, Summa Cum Laude awardee Carlos delivered Words of Appreciation on behalf of the graduates, “As we celebrate this milestone, I would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to the parents and parental figures of my fellow graduates, our professors, friends, and everyone who has supported us.”
Recalling his experiences at Benilde, Carlos emphasized the importance of faith, service, and community as Benildean-Lasallians. “To ask Jesus to live in one's heart is to surrender completely, trust fully, and remain humble. I look forward to the day [when] living Jesus in our hearts is no longer just a phrase that we are forced to say but a lifestyle that we embody everyday.” He continued, “As we step into the world beyond these halls, let us carry the torch of our Benildean-Lasallian values into our workplaces and communities.”
With a final message for his fellow graduates, Carlos challenged the graduating batch to live up to Saint Benilde’s legacy.
“Are we content to view life’s challenges and opportunities from a distance, or are we prepared to immerse ourselves in life's uncharted territories? Let us carry forward the values of faith, service, and community as we embark on our next adventure. Let us be the change we want to see and truly live Jesus in our hearts forever.”
