05/06/2026
NEWS UPDATE: ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ต๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐ โ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐น๐โ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐โ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐
Class of 2026 valedictorian Louise Angelika P. Pahilanga paid tribute to the โordinary individualsโ whose support shaped the journeys of graduates during the University Recognition Program, June 3.
Pahilanga, a Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLIS) student from the College of Information and Communications Technology, also made history as the first valedictorian from the program.
โThe people who leave the greatest mark on our lives are often the ones who made us feel seen and valued,โ she said.
The valedictorian recalled how seemingly ordinary encounters throughout her stay at the University became among the most meaningful parts of her college experience.
โWhen I look back at my time here in college, my first thoughts are not about awards or accomplishments. It is the titos and manangs at the [WVSU] Coop or my favorite karinderyas who at some point knew my usual orders,โ Pahilanga shared.
Rather than asking whether the world would remember their names or accolades, Pahilanga urged fellow graduates to reflect on the impact they had made in the lives of others during their years at the University.
โNot all of our names will be etched in history. Not everyone will know who we are. But if the people whose lives we have touched remember us with love and gratitude, then that is to have succeeded,โ she concluded.
BLIS was introduced by the University in 2018 as part of its efforts to expand information and technology-related academic offerings.
The Undergraduate Commencement Exercises will be later in the afternoon at the Quezon Hall Grounds, with more than 1,400 graduates, including 1,060 baccalaureate Latin honorees.
Story by Steven Keith Catotal
