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CPU ROTC holds Change of Command and Graduation Ceremony

by | May 22, 2026 | The Centralian Link | 0 comments

By Eugene Matthew B. Juanico, BA-COMM 4, Centralian Link Intern


The graduating cadets and staff of the CPU ROTC gather for a commemorative pictorial, celebrating discipline, duty and honor.

The Rose Memorial Auditorium became a site of military precision on May 2, 2026, as the CPU Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) conducted its graduation ceremony alongside the traditional Change of Corps Commander. Starting promptly at 9:00 AM, the event served as a formal transition of leadership and a celebration of the cadets who have completed their rigorous foundational training. The morning began with a solemn invocation led by First Class Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Rocena Grace A. Caagoy, followed by the national anthem and the CPU hymn, setting a reverent tone for the proceedings.

The first portion of the program focused on the Changing of Corps Commander Ceremony, a significant military tradition that ensures the continuity of leadership. Second Lieutenant Artemio I. Romingquit, the ROTC Coordinator, delivered the welcome remarks, addressing the assembly of cadets and guests. The formal transition began with Sergeant Legie F. Cabangal reading the relief order, followed by the signing of the relinquishment order by the outgoing commander.


A symbolic gesture of the transition of leadership, as 2CL Cadet Maj Jose Carlos M. Seville was officially designated as the current acting corps commander.

The designation of the new leadership followed, with the reading of the assumption of command order for Second Class Cadet Maj Jose Carlos M. Seville. As the new Corps Commander, the highest rank attainable for an advanced cadet, Seville accepted the ceremonial sword, a command symbol representing the authority and responsibility he now carries for the unit.

Following the leadership transition, the program moved into the graduation ceremony, which honored the hard work and dedication of the departing class. The awarding segment recognized individuals who consistently showcased the core military values of honor, loyalty, duty, and efficiency. In addition to these value-based awards, certificates of recognition were presented to the Top 20 Outstanding Cadets, acknowledging those who performed at the peak of their cohort. Staff Sergeant Cherrylan L. Lacida then facilitated the formal presentation of the graduates to the commandant, marking their official completion of the program.

The transition from student cadets to standby reserves was a key highlight of the afternoon. Major Shem L. Catipunan led the declaration of graduates and the turnover of the new reservists to the 604th Community Defense Center (CDC). This milestone allows the graduates to claim their official serial numbers and move into the next phase of their military service. Lieutenant Colonel Noel I. Parcon, Commander of the 604th Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion, then led the acceptance and oathtaking of the reservists, officially recognizing them as members of the Philippine Army’s standby reserve force.

The ceremony concluded with an address from the guest speaker, Colonel Michael N. Ascuncion, Director of the 604th Community Defense Center. Colonel Ascuncion commended the graduates for their resilience and discipline throughout their time at CPU. He expressed his hope that the values instilled in them would remain a guiding force in their future careers and personal lives. The event officially drew to a close with the singing of the “Awit Kawal,” leaving the new graduates and the incoming leadership with a renewed sense of commitment to service and the university.