MSUN Senior Students' Society

28/07/2026

You entered these halls carrying dreams, uncertainties, and quiet hopes. Today, you leave carrying something brighter—the light of every lesson learned, every sacrifice endured, and every person who believed in you along the way.

Your journey was never yours alone. It was shaped by the hands that supported you, the voices that encouraged you, and the hearts that stayed beside you through every triumph and struggle. As you turn this long-awaited page, remember that your success is also a beautiful reflection of their love.

May you bring the light of MSUN wherever life leads you—into your families, your communities, and the lives you are yet to touch.

Go forward, Batch Luminara. You were made not only to find the light, but to become it.

From your MSU at Naawan family, congratulations!

28/07/2026

MSU System President Atty. Paisalin P.D. Tago, CPA, shared a meaningful message with the graduating class, asking them to love and care for Mindanao and the Philippines. He explained that loving your homeland means protecting it and making sure its natural environment, resources, and communities are cared for rather than harmed. He urged the graduates to keep this love in their hearts and remember where they came from as they step into the future.

President Tago reminded the graduates that no matter where life takes them after graduation, staying connected to their roots is necessary for real success. Pointing to the well-known idea of honoring one's origins, he shared that those who forget where they started will struggle to reach their goals. Remembering their beginnings will serve as a strong foundation as they build their lives outside the university.

Addressing Batch Luminara directly, President Tago spoke about the meaning of their batch name, which means light. He called the graduates the light that their families, communities, and country are counting on. Recalling Dr. Jose Rizal’s words that the youth are the hope of the nation, he encouraged the graduates to accept their role as a guiding light and carry it with pride as they move forward.

28/07/2026

28/07/2026

Chancellor Elnor C. Roa reminded Batch Luminara at the 38th Commencement Exercises of the Mindanao State University at Naawan that a diploma is only the starting point of a life of purpose. She emphasized that graduates carry the name Luminara, which means light, and they are called to bring knowledge, hope, integrity, and compassion wherever they go.

She noted that parents share deeply in this milestone, as the long nights and hard work they poured into supporting their children have finally borne fruit. The success of the graduates stands as a direct result of family sacrifice, trust, and love.

Closing her message with a call to character, Chancellor Roa stressed that success brings recognition, but true respect comes from integrity and service. She urged the Class of 2026 to choose courage over complacency and to let their lives serve as an inspiration to others.

28/07/2026

DOST-SEI Director and Commencement Speaker, Dr. Jayeel S. Cornelio, delivered an inspiring address during the 38th Commencement Exercises of MSU-Naawan to the Batch 2026 Luminara graduates, urging them to embrace life’s next chapter with purpose, courage, and resilience. Recognizing the deep sacrifices made by families of fishermen, farmers, teachers, and tricycle drivers, he highlighted that earning a college degree is a shared victory built on collective love and perseverance. He reminded the class that while graduation marks the completion of one journey, real-life challenges will continuously test what they truly value and who they are.

Dr. Cornelio presented three core commitments for the graduates to carry forward into the world. First, he encouraged them to fight for bigger dreams—goals that extend far beyond personal ambition to uplifting their families and communities. He urged them to look back at where their dreams first originated whenever they face disappointment or burnout, using those original motivations to rekindle their passion and keep moving forward despite any obstacles.

Second, he emphasized the importance of fighting for one another. Rejecting the idea that success is purely an individual achievement, he credited his own major milestones—from graduating top of his class at the National University of Singapore to becoming a postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute—to the constant support, sacrifices, and prayers of his mother. He reminded the graduates that true success is deeply rooted in the people who believe in us, care for us, and lift us up along the way.

Finally, Dr. Cornelio issued his most personal appeal, calling on everyone to fight for a future where no one is left behind. Citing a Channel News Asia documentary, he highlighted the stark inequality in the Philippines, where the top 1% holds 20% of the national income while those at the margins share a mere 14%. He explained that this disparity stretches into healthcare, welfare, and education, pointing out how learning poverty severely impacts regions like Bangsamoro, Caraga, and Eastern Visayas.

Addressing the graduates as part of the country's best and most privileged, Dr. Cornelio reminded them that privilege comes with an inconvenient truth—it is also a burden and a responsibility. Speaking not just as the head of a national agency, but as a fellow Filipino, he urged the class to stay rooted in their home communities like Naawan, Misamis Oriental, and the broader Mindanao area. He challenged them to use their education to serve, emphasizing that our collective work is far from finished until every last child gains the strength to overcome life's hardships and succeed.

28/07/2026

28/07/2026

28/07/2026

From SENSSO Officer to Class Valedictorian—Josef Manuel S. Cortezano, you did us proud!

Your valedictory address reminded every one of us that behind every honor is a story of sacrifice. Thank you for being a leader who sees beyond grades and into the hearts of the people. Your light will continue to guide the next generation of student leaders.

Congratulations, Josef! You are proof that leadership and excellence go hand in hand.

Class Valedictorian Josef Manuel S. Cortezano delivered an moving valedictory address to the Batch 2026 Luminara graduates during the 38th Commencement Exercises of MSU-Naawan. Opening with the meaning of their batch name, Luminara—which translates to light—Cortezano shared the hidden realities, personal losses, and silent struggles that students often carry behind their academic achievements. From overcoming severe financial difficulties, family health crises, and personal depression to excelling as an active student leader and Editor-in-Chief of The Marine Echo, Cortezano reminded his fellow graduates that when life grows dark, one must choose courage over fear and learn to become their own guiding light.

Reflecting on the true weight of a college degree, Cortezano emphasized that academic success is never achieved by one person alone. He dedicated his achievements to his mother, who worked tirelessly and supported his education despite immense hardship, as well as to the teachers, mentors, friends, and relatives who lifted him up. He noted that while college demands immense sacrifice, the effort pales in comparison to the parents and families who gave up everything just to ensure their children could reach the graduation stage.

Highlighting the true meaning of academic success, Cortezano stated that if he could take off his valedictorian medal, he would break it into pieces to share with the parents waiting outside, working-class families, jeepney drivers, street vendors, and working students who kept going to make ends meet. He reminded everyone that a college degree is a collective achievement built on shared love, endurance, and sacrifice. Acknowledging those who may still be facing financial hardships or feel unable to celebrate, he offered comforting words, reassuring them that their struggles are seen and that they should not feel burdened by their current circumstances.

Closing his address, Cortezano called on his batchmates to stay persistent as they step into the future, reminding them that building a meaningful life takes time and daily effort rather than instant perfection. He urged the graduates to carry forward not only their diplomas, but also the light of everyone who believed in them and the inner strength they discovered along the way. As Batch Luminara enters the next chapter of their lives, he encouraged them to take on the responsibility of being principled leaders and dedicated citizens, shining as a beacon of hope wherever their journeys lead.