3 March 2026
The hall at the Philippine International Convention Center filled with cheers on February 14, 2026 as graduates of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde stepped onto the stage for their Commencement Exercises. Families waved from the audience. Cameras flashed. The moment carried the usual mix of pride, relief, and excitement for what comes next.
When Klark Lynus Marquez, Summa Cum Laude of the Bachelor of Arts in Animation program, took the podium, he opened with a line that felt simple and personal. “I have a voice, as so many of us do.” He spoke about how that voice changes depending on the situation. Around friends it gets loud and playful. In meetings it becomes calm and steady. At times it almost disappears. Fear and embarrassment can do that to a person.
Klark knows that feeling well. He grew up in the province and arrived in Metro Manila unsure how to move around the city. Jeepneys and buses felt intimidating. Everyone seemed to expect that you already knew the routes. One day he walked all the way from Binondo to Quiapo because he felt too nervous to board the wrong jeep. On another ride he called out “Para po!” but the driver did not hear him. His voice got louder and louder until he finally gave up and stepped off at the next stop with the rest of the passengers. That uncertainty followed him into college decisions.
People around him had clear expectations. Medicine. Law. Engineering. Animation rarely came up in those conversations. When he told people about his chosen field, the response often came with a pause and a puzzled look. “Out of polite embarrassment, I would simply say ‘we make cartoons for children,’” he told the audience.
Animation, of course, reaches far beyond Saturday morning television. It builds entire worlds through design, movement, and storytelling. The medium allows artists to speak in ways that words alone cannot capture.
That idea sits at the heart of Benilde’s Animation program. Students work through the full animation pipeline, from concept development and character design to 2D and 3D production. Studio projects and collaborative work mirror the pace and structure of real production environments. Many classes take place in spaces that run on the same digital tools used by professional studios. Benilde’s participation in the global network of Adobe Creative Campuses and its continuing recognition by Apple as the country’s sole Apple Distinguished School place these tools directly in the hands of students.
For Klark, those experiences turned animation into a personal platform. He created a short film that allowed him to speak about a cause close to him. The process of writing, drawing, and animating the story gave him a way to express thoughts that once felt difficult to say out loud.
He also found another creative home through Karilyo, one of Benilde’s performing arts groups. What started as a practical decision to receive a student subsidy soon grew into something deeper. Working with puppetry, theater, and live performance expanded his perspective on storytelling and collaboration.
The creative community around him made a difference. Professors, mentors, and fellow artists pushed each other to experiment and build new ideas together. The environment feels connected to the wider creative industry as well. Benilde students regularly collaborate with professionals and work with software partners such as Toon Boom, a company whose animation tools power productions across the world.
The results show up beyond the campus. Benilde Animation students continue to place in international competitions, including awards at the International Animation Challenge in Singapore. Their projects travel to festivals, competitions, and studios that search for fresh voices in global animation.
Klark acknowledged that the path ahead still carries real concerns. The creative industry continues to wrestle with low pay, long hours, and the rise of generative AI. These issues weigh heavily on young artists preparing to enter the field. “Honestly speaking, it’s hard to find your voice as an artist and creative in this sea of chaos,” he said.
He encouraged his fellow graduates to face those challenges directly. “When you feel down, unworthy, and frightened, know that you have a voice to stand up for yourselves.” He asked artists to protect their work and the communities that support it. Speak up for fair compensation. Support responsible use of technology. Tell stories that belong to the culture and experiences of the people who create them.
The call feels timely. Conversations about creative labor, digital tools, and the future of cultural work continue to shape gatherings like BAGCON, where educators, artists, and industry leaders meet to discuss the direction of the creative industries and the role of young professionals entering the field.
Klark closed his speech with a message that echoed across the hall. “We have a voice, and our voice matters. Animo Benilde!”
The ceremony also marked milestones for the graduating class. A total of 163 students completed their programs at Benilde Antipolo, while 802 graduated from Benilde Manila. The event also celebrated the first graduating group of the Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management program, with 20 graduates, and the first batch of the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program, with 11 graduates.
For more information on Benilde’s undergraduate programs, contact us at (63) 2 8230 5100 local 1801 or admissions@benilde.edu.ph. You may also visit our website at www.benilde.edu.ph.
