Beyond the Diploma: BISU Balilihan Graduates Charged with “KADAUGAN”

Anchored with the Graduation theme, “Kadaugan: Celebrating Successes, Building Legacies,” the Bohol Island State University (BISU) Balilihan Campus held its 16th Commencement Exercises on June 13, 2025 at the BISU Balilihan Multi-Purpose Covered Court.

The event began with a formal processional march, as the graduating candidates were joined by faculty members, deans, directors, university officials and guest speakers. Hymns, prayers, and a welcome message from Mr. Russel Niño T. Madanguit (Cum Laude,BSIT) marked the ceremony’s opening.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the Commencement Address delivered by Hon. Esther Patricia V. Chatto, Mayor-Elect of Balilihan. Her speech resonated deeply with both graduates and parents, as she spoke about resilience, leadership, and giving back to the community.

In her inspiring address, Commencement Speaker Hon. Esther Patrisha V. Chatto reminded the graduates of the power and responsibility that come with education. She affirmed, “𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.” Emphasizing the importance of humility and continuous learning, she added, “𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴. 𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯.”

She encouraged the graduates to use their BISU education not only for personal success but in service to others: “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘐𝘚𝘜 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺.” With a call to responsible leadership, she concluded, “𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦.”

The Commencement Speaker was introduced by Campus Director Dr. Jean F. Nebrea, and was later awarded a plaque of appreciation by University President Dr. Anthony M. Penaso, assisted by Dr. Nebrea.

Messages of support and congratulations also came from prominent local leaders, including Hon. Maria Pureza V. Chatto, who was also representing Cong. Edgar M. Chatto, and Gov. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado, represented by Mr. Metodio Maraguinot. They all recognized the selfless and untiring efforts of the parents, the faculty and staff of BISU and including the non-teaching personnel, who contributed to the graduates’ success. They too emphasized the importance of education in shaping the province’s future.

Special awards for Academic Excellence and Leadership were presented by a distinguished panel of leaders, recognizing students who went beyond expectations in their academic and service-oriented roles.

During the confirmation of graduates, Dr. Penaso officially declared the candidates as graduates of the university, with assistance from the Vice Presidents and Campus Directors.

Graduates were also formally inducted into the BISU Alumni Association, led by Hon. Lilibeth L. Laroga. The pledge of loyalty was recited as led by Ms. Nelbrey Jillian C. Escuadro (Leadership Awardee),symbolizing their enduring bond with BISU.

𝘽𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨: 𝘼 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨

According to the Office of the Registrar, a total of 426 graduates were approved by the Board of Regents across multiple terms from Academic Year 2023–2025. The breakdown, as presented by the esteemed deans of each program, is as follows:

• BS in Criminology: 139 graduates

• BS in Information Technology: 96 graduates

• BS in Electrical Technology: 50 graduates

• BS in Industrial Tech Major in Food Preparation Services: 82 graduates

• BS in Electronics Technology: 22 graduates

• BS in Computer Science: 37 graduates

These numbers reflect BISU’s continued commitment to producing competent, skilled, and socially responsible professionals.

𝘼 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙈𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙜𝙚

In her heartfelt Baccalaureate Address, Ms. Leanne Mae L. Ejoc (Cum Laude, BS Criminology) celebrated the graduates’ journey, stating, “At last we’ve reached what was once our dream. Indeed, here in BISU, dreams are turned into a reality.” She paid tribute to the strong support system that carried them through, and encouraged her fellow graduates to face the world beyond with resilience and purpose. As they go on to pursue further studies, careers, or unique paths, she reminded them to uphold the values instilled by BISU—Balance, Integrity, Stewardship, and Uprightness. “Today,” she declared, “we celebrate success more than just a degree. We celebrate a LEGACY.” Her message echoed a call to be ambassadors of BISU, ready to serve and make a meaningful impact on the world.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚

The Presidential Charge to the graduates, delivered by University President Dr. Anthony M. Penaso, was an empowering uplifting message. With heartfelt conviction, he urged the graduates to face the world with full energy and purpose: “You have to be 100% charged to the world. This is your ‘Kadaugan’—your victory born from resilience, resourcefulness, and quiet determination.” Dr. Penaso’s words served not only as a celebration of past achievements but as a powerful call to action. “May your success be only the beginning of a life that inspires, builds, and transforms,” he declared, reminding the graduates that their true impact lies in how they shape the future and uplift others through the values they carry forward.

𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙍𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙅𝙤𝙮

One of the most heartfelt moments of the ceremony came during the singing of the Graduation Song, “Dreams We Hold.” As the melody filled the venue, graduates quietly reflected on their journey, their emotions. These emotions were deepened by the Same Day Edit (SDE) Video Presentation. The video captured raw, powerful moments from the day—tears, laughter, embraces—that moved the audience to awe, joy, and a well-deserved round of applause.

Gracefully guiding the program was Ms. Kim M. Travero, whose poise and warmth ensured the ceremony flowed seamlessly.

As each graduate walked across the stage carrying their diploma, it was more than a piece of paper—they bore the pride of their families, the wisdom of their mentors, and the enduring legacy of BISU’s mission to nurture minds and uplift communities.

The day concluded not with goodbyes, but with a powerful reminder: BISU graduates are not leaving something behind—they are taking everything with them, 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙, 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙨.