UNDER THE SUN, TOWARD THE FUTURE: A CSU PIAT GRADUATION STORY

PIAT, CAGAYAN — Under the blazing sun of June 30, in an open field surrounded by dreams and determination, 496 graduates from Cagayan State University (CSU) – Piat Campus marched proudly in their final processional, a walk weeks in the making, years in the waiting, and now, forever a part of their journey.

The 47th Academic Convocation for the Conferment of Degrees and Titles was a celebration of resilience, sacrifice, and the unyielding spirit of students who dared to dream despite the odds, and of families who stood behind them with quiet strength.

With the theme, "CSU Graduates: Carrying the Spirit of Resilience and Innovation for Local and Global Relevance," the afternoon was searing, but spirits ran high. Among the graduates were 17 Cum Laude awardees, 11 with Academic Distinction, and 15 with Merit, each represent academic excellence lived stories of perseverance.

Dr. Arthur G. Ibañez, CSU Officer-in-Charge President, officially conferred the degrees with reverence and pride. “This day marks the culmination of your unwavering dedication, resilience, and relentless pursuit of knowledge,” he said. “You are now ready to take on the world with courage and competence.”

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

Through an audio-visual presentation, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson and CSU Board of Regents Chair Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis emphasized the role of Republic Act 10931, which ensures free tuition and miscellaneous fees in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), a policy that, for many CSU Piat graduates, made higher education a reality.

“Now, you hold the promise of progress in your hands,” she added. “According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, SUC graduates enjoy higher employment rates in sectors like education, public health, engineering, and civil service. These aren’t just statistics, they are signals that you are ready. And the country needs you.”

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫

Tears were inevitable as Ms. Pamela P. Bambalan, class valedictorian and Cum Laude, took the stage to speak. But her words, rooted in love and reality, moved the crowd beyond sentiment. They carried the soul of every graduate who came from humble beginnings.

She recalled the quiet strength of her mother, a woman who, despite enduring life’s hardships, never let her children feel the weight of it. “I never heard you complain. Thank you for your patience, for being my constant comfort, and for your reminder, “Miskwela kayu kang napya ta yan laman mednan mi kanni kayu [Study hard, because education is the only legacy we can pass on to you].”

That simple yet profound line, handed down with love and hope, carried Pamela through years of academic challenges and ultimately to the graduation stage.

She also paid tribute to her father, whose quiet support was just as enduring. Despite long work hours and personal pain, he was always present, at every recognition, every meeting, every moment that mattered.

“Thank you for every ‘Proud ako sa'yo, nak!\’ even if you're not used to expressing your feelings. When you found out I qualified for Cum Laude, you proudly told everyone you knew, saying, "Cum Laude ne anak ku, umang saw kayu kang balay a [My child is a Cum Laude, come over to our house]." The news even reached other barangays and municipalities-that's how proud you were,” she shared.

Her story is one of many at CSU Piat, but on that day, her voice carried the collective journey of a generation. A journey made possible by family, fueled by love, and fulfilled through education.

𝐂𝐒𝐔: 𝐀 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

Pamela didn’t stop at thanking her parents. She turned to her alma mater with equal reverence:

“To Cagayan State University, thank you for being the bridge to our future, for granting us access to free and quality education,” she said with conviction. “Not everyone can afford education, but everyone deserves the right to it. Many capable students are held back by poverty, not by lack of potential. CSU helps break that barrier by making education accessible to those who truly deserve it.”

She also expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the campus she called home: “To CSU Piat, led by CEO Dr. Hitler C. Dangatan, thank you for being a home to our dreams, for offering us a chance, for shaping us into professionals and future leaders.”

In those few minutes, she became the voice of a generation that refuses to be defined by limitations.

𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲

As the sun dipped slowly behind the horizon, so did this chapter in the lives of 496 young professionals. The field that once echoed with nervous practice walks and hopeful rehearsals now stands as a tribute to dreams fulfilled.

For CSU Piat’s Class of 2025, graduation wasn’t the end. It was a promise to live fully and fearlessly, just as their batch valedictorian declared. “To live without regrets and to leave without regrets.”

Brimming with hope, years from now, when the sun sets just as it did that afternoon, some of them will return, no longer as students, but as changemakers, mentors, and proof that even in the most challenging circumstances, hope, grit, and education will always bloom.

CONGRATULATIONS, CSU - PIAT CLASS OF 2025!