A commencement ceremony is a celebration of countless sacrifices, unwavering perseverance, and the beginning of a new mission, and not just the conferral of degrees. For the graduates of the Class of 2026, July 5 and 6, 2026 marked the culmination of years of academic pursuit and the beginning of lives dedicated to leadership, integrity, and service.
San Beda College Alabang honored this milestone through two commencement celebrations that reflected the institution’s enduring commitment to holistic Benedictine formation.
The festivities opened with the Baccalaureate Mass and 16th Commencement Exercises of the School of Law on July 5. Joined by their families, mentors, alumni, and members of the Bedan community, the graduates celebrated years of rigorous study, sacrifice, and steadfast commitment to the pursuit of justice.
Delivering the Commencement Address was The Honorable Samuel H. Gaerlan, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, who reminded the graduating class that the privilege of becoming a lawyer carries responsibilities that extend far beyond personal success. He emphasized that every Bedan lawyer bears the title of a profession and, with it, the honor and reputation of the institution that formed them. Calling on the graduates to uphold justice with integrity, humility, and unwavering ethical conviction, Justice Gaerlan urged them to let their practice of law reflect the values of San Beda College Alabang—in every courtroom, every client they serve, and every decision they make.
The following day, the College celebrated the 28th Commencement Exercises of the Tertiary Schools and Graduate Education, where graduates from various undergraduate and graduate programs gathered with their loved ones to mark another significant milestone in their academic journey.
The ceremony was graced by Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), who challenged the graduates to view their education as a lifelong responsibility. She reminded them that San Beda College Alabang has prepared them to become competent professionals and, more importantly, men and women of character. She underscored that the true worth of a degree is measured by the lives it enables one to touch and transform. Her message called on the Class of 2026 to lead with integrity and compassion, and to remain committed to serving others.
Though delivered on separate occasions, the messages of the two commencement speakers converged on a common truth: education finds its fullest meaning in service. Whether in the courtroom, the boardroom, the classroom, the laboratory, or the wider community, every Bedan graduate carries the privilege and responsibility of putting knowledge, skills, and values to work for the common good.
These ideals have long defined the Benedictine education that San Beda College Alabang seeks to impart. Beyond academic excellence, the College forms graduates whose lives are rooted in faith, guided by moral courage, strengthened by community, and inspired by the enduring spirit of Ora et Labora—Prayer and Work.
As the newest Bedan alumni step into a rapidly changing world, they carry with them more than diplomas. They carry the trust of their families, the guidance of their mentors, the values of their alma mater, and the responsibility to become instruments of hope and transformation wherever life may lead them.
The Bedan community proudly congratulates the Class of 2026 and prays that they continue to live lives marked by excellence, integrity, and faithful service, bringing glory to God, honor to our country, and distinction to San Beda College Alabang.
