KADAUGAN: Triumph and Transition Mark BISU Bilar’s 104th Commencement Exercises for Batch 2025
With the resonant beat of pride and promise, the 104th Commencement Exercises of Bohol Island State University (BISU) – Bilar Campus commenced on June 11, 2025, at the university gymnasium. The opening Processional was a vivid tapestry of academic tradition, featuring graduating students, faculty members, deans, directors, campus leaders, Vice Presidents, invited dignitaries, and the University President, taking the lead with the institutional mace and national colors.
The event marked a momentous transition for 821 graduates, who now step forward as alumni—bearing not only degrees but also the enduring spirit of KADAUGAN, the event’s central theme. Representing Kusog, Ampo, Desire, Antos, Uswag, Gugma, Action, and the Nasudnong Damgo, KADAUGAN was the rallying cry of the day.
𝗔 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲
Arguil B. Jaya, Graduating Class President, delivered a heartfelt welcome address that captured the essence of the graduates’ collective journey—one marked by perseverance, sacrifice, and ultimate triumph. With a powerful reminder—“Makaya nimo ug kayanon pa nimo” (“You’ve come this far, and you can keep going”)—he encouraged his peers to embrace the future with courage and faith.
𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀
Dr. Marites D. Muring, Focal Person of the Division of Instruction and Dean of the College of Teacher Education, formally presented the candidates for graduation. Dr. Proceso M. Castil, Campus Director, then endorsed the graduates to University President Dr. Penaso, who conferred their degrees, formally inducting them into the ranks of BISU alumni.
𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀: 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
The ceremony was further enriched by messages from local leaders.
• Leonardo Tabel Jr., speaking on behalf of Mayor Norman D. Palacio, posed a reflective challenge: “Para kanino ka bumabangon?” (Whom do you rise for?).
• Metodio “John” Maraguinot Jr., for Governor Erico Aumentado, declared, “Ang inyong kadaugan, kadaugan sa tanan” (Your victory is everyone’s victory).
• Rey Caseñas, representing Representative Kristine Alexie B. Tutor, congratulated the graduates and called for humility, gratitude, and faith as they face new horizons.
𝗔 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀
The keynote address was delivered by Executive Director Angel C. Enriquez, Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture – Region 7. With the stirring line, “With education, you win—DAUG KA,” she acknowledged the graduates’ resilience and emphasized the value of investing not only in financial growth but in relationships, health, and character.
To the 179 graduates in agriculture, she issued a bold challenge:
“Tell the world that there is money in farming. Become Agripreneurs—agricultural entrepreneurs.”
She underscored that character, more than credentials, defines true success, and urged the graduates to embody BISU’s guiding principles: Balance, Integrity, Stewardship, and Uprightness. Her closing words were powerful:
“Your future is not handed to you—it is something you have to create. Go forth with the help of God, build your legacies, and shape a brighter future for you, your family, and the world.”
𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
The conferral of degrees was followed by the awarding of academic honors and institutional distinctions:
Academic Honors — Class of 2025
• 9 Magna Cum Laude
• 49 Cum Laude
• 5 Loyalty Awards
• 7 Leadership to the University Awards
• 13 Service to the University Awards
• 7 Exemplary Performance Awards
Special Recognitions
• Governor’s Academic Excellence Award: Giela S. Doria (BTLEd HE)
• Governor’s Leadership Excellence Award: Jane Mariel P. Jaya (BSEd Math)
Research Excellence
• Lorena D. Saguing: Best in Dissertation (PhD in Community Development)
• Analie B. Cubrador: Best in Thesis (Master’s in Development Studies)
• Lorena L. Idulsa: Best in Thesis (MA in Education)
𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹
Delivering the Baccalaureate Address, Ms. Giela S. Doria, Magna Cum Laude, reflected on the deeper meaning of KADAUGAN:
“𝘒𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦—𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.”
She reminded her peers that success is found in daily persistence and celebrating small victories.
In his President’s Charge, Dr. Penaso urged the graduates to become “architects of meaningful change”:
“𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳.”
His challenge to the Class of 2025: make their triumph—their 𝗞𝗮𝗱𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗻—a legacy that creates far-reaching impact.
𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀: 𝗔 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
Hon. Eduardo C. Macalandag, President of the BISU Bilar Alumni Association, led the Oath of Affiliation, officially welcoming the graduates into the BISU alumni family. Hazel Joy Gatchalian, Magna Cum Laude in BSEd English, led the Alumni Loyalty Pledge.
The event concluded with an emotional rendition of “A New Beginning, Across All Time,” followed by the final singing of the BISU Hymn—marking not the end, but a launch into a new chapter.