Dr. Teody C. San Andres Urges SUNN Graduates to Face Reality with Courage and Responsibility
In his address to the graduates of the State University of Northern Negros Batch 2025, Dr. Teody C. San Andres, President of Bulacan State University, encouraged the students to reflect not on what made them different, but on what brought them together, which are shared struggles, long nights, and the journey through higher education. He recognized the common traits that defined the graduating class: patience, persistence, and perseverance. These traits, he said, are not just signs of survival in college but indicators of readiness to carry greater responsibilities. He urged the graduates to see themselves not just as individuals with degrees, but as contributors to solving real problems, whether it is food insecurity, misinformation, or the literacy gap in their own communities. In all of this, he emphasized their role as tagapagtaguyod ng nasyon.
Dr. San Andres reminded the students that life after graduation will present obstacles, but they are not unprepared. The State University of Northern Negros has given them tools, guidance, and a support system they can rely on. He acknowledged the parents and mentors who helped make the day possible and called on the graduates to stay grounded in values and faith. He challenged them to use their knowledge not just for personal advancement, but for the good of others. Citing scripture and the words of leaders before him, he reminded them that youth is not a limitation but an opportunity.
EnP Marlon T. Jinon Inspires SUNN Graduates to Choose the Path of Nation Building
Environmental Planner Marlon T. Jinon, Team Leader for DePDEV in Negros Island Region and Chief Economic Development Specialist of the Project Development, Investment Programming, and Budgeting Division of DePDEV Western Visayas, delivered a heartfelt message to the graduating class of the State University of Northern Negros. With honesty and humility, he spoke of life’s inevitable challenges such as failures, heartbreaks, and uncertainty, and reminded the graduates that they are not alone. Friends, families, and institutions like SUNN have equipped and supported them. But preparation alone is not enough; only through perseverance and action can dreams be realized. He recognized the quiet triumphs of working students, those who graduated with personal loss, and children of farmers and fisherfolk, affirming that different privileges and timelines do not define one’s worth or future success. His own journey, marked by hardship and service in peacebuilding in Mindanao, illustrated the power of resilience and purpose.
EnP Jinon emphasized that the value of nation building lies in genuine care, when your intentions are honest and people feel that you truly care for them, they will care about what you are doing. He reflected that the umbilay is not just an ordinary garment, as it is worn close to the heart as a reminder to commit one’s whole self not only to improving the life of one’s family but also to taking responsibility for making the lives of others better. He urged the graduates never to forget their roots, and to value small successes that build toward lasting change. Leadership, he said, is not about being the lone hero but being a host, one who invites others into the work of building a better nation. Nation building, he reminded them, is a choice worth making. “Like the sun”, he concluded, “use your rays to light up the path of others, especially the underserved communities and individuals”.
