Nat’l Artist Santos & top PhD grad tap into “human” side of GS Class of 2024
UPLB recognized 291 graduate students at the 18th UPLB Graduate School (GS) Hooding and Recognition Ceremonies held on August 2, 2024 at the Copeland Gymnasium. The UPLB GS Class of 2024 comprises 221 master’s and 70 doctoral degree holders.
In his speech to open the program, Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr. reminded the graduates of their responsibilities as UPLB alumni and bearers of higher education in a world faced with numerous complex issues.
“As UPLB’s ambassadors to the world, I challenge you to set your sights on providing solutions to the problems that plague the global community: advocate for sustainable and inclusive development; stand for social justice and universal human rights; and fight against corruption, apathy, and unchecked greed,” Chancellor Camacho said.
He also urged the graduates to collaborate with others, especially those from different fields of specialization or with differing perspectives.
Renowned composer, ethnomusicologist, and National Artist Ramon P. Santos served as guest of honor and keynote speaker at the event.
He emphasized the role of the arts, humanities, and culture in a university community, which he described as “a microcosm of a whole society of people, that we shall be serving and intermingling with in real life.”
We are “feeling, thinking, and creating human beings,” and thus, there is the fundamental need to “cultivate a human environment” and to strike “a healthy balance between the study of the arts and the sciences,” Santos said.
The top graduates were also recognized at the ceremonies. Earning the Academic Excellence Award as the top master’s graduate was Lorraine S. Lao, MS Soil Science, supervised by Dr. Jocelyn D. Labios of the College of Agriculture and Food Science.
Following Lao were recipients of the Academic Achievement Awards: Dara Clarisse Mae L. Barile and Mary Grace M. Nidoy, both graduates of the MS in Development Communication; Philip Jones G. Reyes, MS Forestry; Ralphpinno G. Sanchez, MS Zoology; Kristine Mae N. Esparas, MS Applied Nutrition; and Kareena Gail V. Saguin, MS Family Resource Management.
Receiving the Academic Excellence Award and leading the PhD graduates was Daniel Renz M. Roc, Straight PhD in Development Communication, who studied under the guidance of Prof. Maria Stella C. Tirol.
Following Roc were Academic Achievement Award recipients, Andrea May C. Malonzo, PhD in Development Communication; Rodel T. Utrera, PhD in Agricultural Engineering; Bernard Peter O. Daipan; PhD in Forestry; and Kasmir Nema from Indonesia, PhD in Development Communication.
Roc, as the top PhD graduate, extended a reminder to his fellow graduates as this year’s student speaker.
“What makes us human is our ability to tell stories. Stories are powerful, and as storytellers, we are powerful ourselves,” he said. “May we be storytellers of the people and for the people!”
Among the GS Class of 2024 were 24 international graduate students from Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Myanmar. The GS graduates were set to join over 2,000 undergraduate students for the 52nd UPLB Commencement Exercises the next day, August 3. (Juvelle P. Villanueva, Kristine E. Araguas)
