Adamson sends-off SHS grads in two-session commencement rites
Date Posted: June 25, 2024 at 10:57 AM
Adamsonian pride filled the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) as Adamson University Senior High School hosted its 7th Commencement Exercises at the Plenary Hall of the said Pasay City venue, June 20.
The rites, however, were split into two sessions to accommodate the graduating classes of the different academic strands.
Graduates of the Engineering and Science sub-strands of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) strand were slated for the morning, while those from STEM-Technology sub-strand, as well as the Humanities and Social Sciences and Accountancy and Business Management strands were scheduled for the afternoon installment.
Two esteemed alumni of Adamson served as guest speakers, namely MGen. Lina Sarmiento and Engr. Pablito “Manny” Veloria, who both also serves as members of the Board of Trustees of the Adasmon University Alumni Association, Inc.
Vision, Excellence, Loyalty
MGen. Lina Sarmiento, an alumna from the BS Chemistry Batch of 1979, served as the guest of honor and commencement speaker for the morning session. MGen. Sarmiento is the first female to hold a three-star level rank in the history of the country’s police force.
Her inspiring address resonated deeply with both the graduates and attendees as she gave advice on how she reached her present stature and shared experiences that led her to success in public service, which she summed up into three qualities – vision, excellence and loyalty.
“You should have a vision. You should dream and visualize your goal. Huwag na nating tipirin ang ating pangarap,” MGen. Sarmiento said.
“I dreamt of having a better life, not only for myself, (6:30) but for my parents and my siblings as well,” she furthered, explaining why she decided to shelf her dreams of being a doctor and chose to practice after gaining her degree from Adamson.
She then went to attributing the 3Cs of Adamson to her success in the male dominated police and military field
“[Adamson] was where I learned; that is where I got my patience, perseverance, hard work. At alam natin, the 3Cs of Adamson --Competence, Character, and Charity. these guided me along the way.”
Moving to excellence, MGen. Sarmiento emphasized the importance of always doing one's best when assigned a task, referring to Aristotle's philosophy that men are defined by his/her repeated actions and that excellence is a habit, not a singular act. She then reiterated that one becomes excellent by consistently practicing it in everything they do.
Meanwhile, she described loyalty as “a strong feeling of support or allegiance – [something that] implies a people-ness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray.”
With such an idea, MGen. Sarmiento encouraged the graduates to be loyal to their family, their peers and their school.
There are many, many things more important than money, and relationships, napaka-importante. Hindi mo mamibili yung pakikipag-kapwa tao.
And just like a true Adamsonian, she added faith in God as one of the best guides in choosing the graduates’ respective directions in life.
99% hard work, 1% good luck
Engr. Pablito “Manny” C. Veloria, a distinguished alumnus from the BS Civil Engineering Batch of 1984, on the other hand, was the guest of honor and speaker for the afternoon session. His address emphasized the importance of resilience and innovation in a career and its development.
In his speech, Engr. Veloria highlighted the “chargers” that led him to success.
“I would relate charger to my energy, to my source of inspiration that helped me to be successful in my journey,” he said, pertaining to the seven reasons that drove him to be triumphant in life – education, choosing excellence as a way of life, keeping a positive attitude, prayer, gratitude, a happy family and possessing that Adamsonian pride, including those in UAAP Games.
“[The] journey from college to present is anchored in the [99% perspiration and 1% inspiration] principle and is founded on a strong faith in God. Lahat nangyayari sa buhay [natin] ay mula sa mga biyayang ipinagkakaloob sa atin, ng Panginoon,” he said to begin.
The current Vice President of Malayan Bank then proceeded to impart anecdotes with hopes of sparking inspiration from the afternoon session graduates.
To end his speech, Engr. Veloria quoted a line from the Adamson University Hymn highlighting optimism for what is to come: “God, grant us power to make our triumph sure.”
Respective Baccalaureate Masses were led by Fr. Nelson Bisco, CM, Director of the Campus Ministry Office, in the morning session and Fr. Rafael K. Eloriaga, CM, Vice President for Financial Affairs, in the afternoon session.
Meanwhile, the top academic achiever from the STEM-Science track, Hayanisa Abdul, expressed heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the graduates in the morning, while Timothy Aldred Papas from the ABM track, the batch top academic achiever, did the same in the afternoon session.
Both sessions concluded with the alumni oathtaking led by MGen. Sarmiento, currently serves as the Vice President – Internal of the Adamson University Alumni Association, Inc. before singing one final Adamson University Hymn as Senior High School students.
