"TUP Visayas: Building the Future, Changing Lives." Yes, TUP Visayas lives up to this year's theme for the past three decades. Since the time it started as one of the prototype technological schools put up in this region, TUP Visayas has produced so many successful graduates who have made a name for themselves in the different industries here and abroad.
And talking about graduates, 450 of them went up the stage of the school's gymnasium last August 6, 2010 for the 31st Commencement Exercises celebration of the University.
Graduation in August? Yes, Virginia, for TUP Visayas in the City of Talisay has two graduations-one in August, for its technology courses, and the other , in April for its bachelor in engineering field. Moreover, this is so because the University has trimester curricular programs.
The big day started with the baccalaureate mass officiated by Rev. Fr. Ernil F. Almayo, OAR at the school gym at 9 in the morning. The afternoon schedule started early, with the turn-over ceremony of Mitsubishi PLC Training and inverter simulator modules to the school at 2 in the afternoon. Mr. Albert Wang, President of the Integrated Factory Automation, Inc., Mr. Masahiro Fujisawa, Manager of PLC at MELCO (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, and Mr. Hitoshi Nagano and Mr. Masami Yamauchi, chief representative and representative, respectively, from SETSUYO, Phils., and TUPV alumnus, Mr. Ibarra Concepcion handed over ten-boxes of the said modules to TUP Visayas to be used by electrical and electro-mechanical students of the University. Such a grand act of generosity from the different aforementioned firms, (the cost of which spells 6-figures all!) and facilitated by TUPV Electrical engineering Technology alumnus Mr. Ibarra Concepcion, is one clear manifestation that TUPV, has in a way, helped build the future of its students, and carved a name for itself in the different fields of technology, as it linked itself with the various industries in the country.
After the turn-over, the graduation rites started at four in the afternoon.
Commencement Speaker Dr. Cecilio Kwok Pedro, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Lamoiyan Corporation, and member of the TUP Board of Regents, inspired the parents, benefactors, guests, graduates and members of the academic community with his H.O.P.E. message. Dr. Pedro, one of the ten outstanding young men in business entrepreneurship in 1991, admonished the graduates to do Hard Work, to remain focus to Obtain their Goals, to do things with a lot of Prayer and to keep on keeping on to Endure. Such acronym is not far- fetched, because Dr. Pedro has proven and tested it himself in his years of work. H.O.P.E. is also nearly- related to Dr. Pedro's corporation main product, HAPEE toothpaste.
After such short yet rousing message of the commencement speaker, diplomas were given to the graduates. Two graduates from the ETEEAP (or Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program), 57 from Electronics and Communications Engineering Technology leading to BSECE, 53 from the Mechanical Engineering Technology leading to BSME, 26 from the Automotive Engineering Technology, 18 from the Refrigeration and air-Conditioning Engineering Technology, 23 from the Chemical Engineering Technolgy,15 from the Electrical Engineering Technology, 35 from the Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology, 68 from the Electronics Engineering Technolgy, 30 from the Computer Engineering Technology, 71 from the Mechanical engineering Technology, and 15 and 23 from the TUPV Sagay City Extension Campus for the Automotive Engineering Technology and Electronics Engineering Technology, respectively all moved up the stage to receive the much-coveted proof of long nights of burning the midnight oil, hurdling the weekly assessments, and making the projects.
After the diplomas were distributed by Dr. Olympio V. Caparas, TUP System President, Dr. Ma. Leonor F. Validor, TUP Visayas Campus Director, Engr. Nelson V. Franco, Asst. Director for Academic Affairs, achievement awards were given to gold, silver, and bronze medalists from both the College of Engineering and the College of Engineering Technology. The awardees are really to be given the accolade which they rightfully deserve because to be one is not an easy feat. To be getting a gold means to have earned 80 to 85 points; silver should have 75 to 80 points and, bronze, 70 to 75 points. The gold medalists this year are: Daryl June T. Analucas, Arthur Jay D. Cordero, Joyce Anne T. Dreyfus, J. Kenneth C. Jalandoni. On the other hand, Hope C. Baldivia, Eleazar Burda, Joel A. Cristales, Jr., and Jun Reynald T. Sabio are the silver medalists. And Rhenaneil G. Brion, Juvenile V. Dumaboc, Reynaldo J. Pabalan, Jr, and John Michael R. Salazar are the bronze awardees.
Outstanding student-writers of the University's school paper, the Philippine Artisan, were also recognized with the Quill awards. This year's Quill awardees are: Matthew Henry Bibangco, Kirsthy Shashee Cosca, Roden Hilario, and Terlene Santibanez.
Lastly, Industry Awards were given out to Cebu Mistsumi Inc. and Panay Power Corporation for their support to the supervised industrial training component for the students of the University.
To all these 450 graduates, TUP Visayas, its administration, faculty and staff has but these hopes and wishes: for them to be able to carve a niche for themselves in the big world of work, for them to be men and women for others, and for them to be able to make a better future for themselves, their families and their communities. Godspeed, TUPVians
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