The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) held its Recognition and Thanksgiving Program on 15 December 2023. It started with the singing of the National Anthem, followed by back-to-back messages from Dr. Diego Silang S. Maranan, Dean of FICS, and Ms. Andrea V. Sangco, 2022 Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS) top graduate and magna cum laude, respectively.
The program continued with the awarding of the Certificates of Completion and Excellence, Pahinungod Volunteer Pinning, and FICS Special Awards. Isaiah Athanasius M. Crisanto was awarded the Special Leadership Award for his contribution to pioneering the UPOU Student Council as its first chairperson. This prompted a short exchange of the symbolic UP students’ chant “Iskolar ng Bayan, ngayon ay lumalaban. Ngayon ay lumalaban, iskolar ng bayan.”
Following the awards are the responses from the graduates. Mickey Angel Cortez, a top graduate of BAMS, and Abraham Limpiada, a top graduate of the Master of Development Communication (MDC) program, delivered their short speeches.
Starting from “What is your greatest what if?” and ending it with “today is the day where we start to answer our what ifs…we are headed towards the greater, bigger, and brighter future not just for UPOU but for ourselves as well as the future of this country,” Cortez encouraged her co-graduates in changing doubts to actions with impacts way beyond their benefits.
Limpiada highlighted the reality of self-doubts when comparison with others takes the stage. He also shared that “UP has prepared us to face whatever challenges that lie ahead. Nakarating tayo dito sa dulo hindi lang dahil sa mahusay tayo ngunit sinamahan natin ito ng sipag at tiyaga. (translation: We’re here not only because we are excellent, but because we coupled that with hard work and perseverance).” With that, he left a challenge for the audience: “Take a moment to acknowledge and embrace your role in your achievements.” To end his message, he quoted Marianne Williiamson’s “our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.”
The program carried on with the creative introduction of the FICS faculty members by Dr. Benjamina Paula Flor, Program Chair of MDC. Afterward, as a tradition of the FICS, they gave a toast to all the graduates before concluding the program with the singing of UP Naming Mahal.
The FICS Recognition and Thanksgiving 2023 was held at the Multimedia Center Building, UPOU Headquarters.
Written by Jestine Crhistia Gatdula ♦ Edited by Myra C. Almodiel and Anna Cañas-Llamas
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