By Cyrus A. Natividad
CPU Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Irving Domingo Rio gave the opening remarks.
The Commencement Exercises for the 1st Semester 2019-2020 started at 3:00 PM on Sunday, November 10, 2019, at the Rose Memorial Auditorium. Four hundred four graduates of the Bachelor, Masteral and Doctoral Degrees joined in the processional. Members of the Board of Trustees, Members of the CPU Corporation as well as the Officers of the Administration, Department and Unit Heads, Faculty and Program Participants were also present.
A rousing applause welcomed everyone as the CPU Symphonic Band led by Mr. Asencion O. Bautista played the music. Rev. Roger T. Quimpo, Associate Pastor, University Church, led the invocation. Dr. Irving Domingo L. Rio, Vice President for student affairs gave the welcome remarks and encouraged the graduates to be active alumni and to be generous enough to respond to their Alma Mater.
The Commencement Speaker, Mr. Fluellen M. Ortigas (AB Political Science 1968) was introduced by Prof. Esther Rose A. Romarate, Acting Vice President for Student Affairs. The Speaker is the Most Outstanding Student of the Philippines in 1968 and is currently a Director of Pan Pacific Power Corporation. In his message, Ortigas challenged the graduates to be prepared to give up their lives. He said, “In a life and death situation your commitment to friends, relatives and the community demands that you make the Ultimate Sacrifice.”
Graduates of Class 2019 during the singing of the Alma Mater Song.
A product of the “Last Quarter Storm” (prelude to Martial Law), Ortigas sought political asylum in the United States. He shared his experiences during those difficult times and shared with the graduates the values he learned in CPU; how it helped him to meet and overcome the challenges. First is that “you must have the strength in belief, know where you stand and regardless of the consequences that come, believe that you will finally overcome, believe in your fellow men which includes your friends, relatives, and mentors knowing that they fully understand. It will make you feel you are not alone in your fight.”
Ortigas congratulated the graduates and expressed appreciation to CPU for giving him the chance to go back to his beloved Central. “Our generation’s time is coming to a close and it is our duty to share our experiences and lessons learned in the hope that it can help the younger generations succeed in life,” he added.
An intermission number by Luke Isaiah S. Ismael, Grade 12 Student followed after the Conferral of Degrees and Investiture of Hoods. Richen A. Noynay, a BS Business Administration major in Business Management Cum Laude, delivered the Response on behalf of the Graduates.
Rev. Cris Amorsolo V. Sian, Senior Pastor, University Church offered a Prayer for the Graduates. It was followed by the Pledge of the Alumni led by CPU Alumni Association, Inc. President Engr. Isagani J. Jalbuena. The Graduation and the Alma Mater Song was led by Mrs. Crista S. Huyong and was followed with a benediction by Rev. Sian. The Commencement program ended at around 5:00 P.M. Miss Carmelle Frances M. Romero, Administrative Officer, Office of the President was the Master of Ceremony.