13 July 2026
When Summa Cum Laude Corin Alaan walked onto the stage during the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Commencement Exercises for the Second Term of Academic Year 2025 to 2026, she carried a pen.
“If there’s one thing that we, Benildeans, were taught, it’s that we always think outside the box,” she said before holding up the ordinary object that had quietly followed her throughout college.
The pen had written pages of lecture notes, answered paper-based examinations, and carried her through deadlines, discoveries, and even the most challenging French exam she had ever taken. It stayed with her through moments when the words came easily and moments when they did not. Looking back, Alaan realized the pen had become part of her own journey.
Alaan completed the Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management, a transnational double degree program offered by Benilde in partnership with Vatel in France. Her education prepared her for opportunities that reach beyond national borders while remaining grounded in industry practice. It also reflected a learning experience that takes different forms, just as every Benildean’s journey does.
“What’s meaningful about a pen is that it doesn’t decide what story it will write,” she said. “The person holding it does.” Her words spoke about taking ownership of one’s future. Every learner begins with different dreams, different experiences, and different goals. Benilde encourages students to shape their own path while giving them the opportunities to grow, explore, and discover where those choices may lead.
That same philosophy reaches learners whose stories begin far from a traditional classroom. Working professionals return to complete their degrees through the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program, or ETEEAP, building on years of experience in their respective industries. Among them is actor and filmmaker Xian Lim, who earned his music degree while continuing his professional career.
Others begin a new chapter through the Bagong Pilipinas initiative, which opens opportunities for overseas Filipino workers to earn a bachelor’s degree at Benilde while building on the knowledge and experience they have gained abroad. Every learner arrives with a different story. Benilde gives each of them the chance to keep writing it.
Learning continues in different ways even within undergraduate education. Benilde’s CHED-recognized microcredentials give students more flexibility in how they build their academic journey. Learners who already hold eligible microcredentials may receive credit for equivalent subjects, while those taking the courses can also earn industry-recognized certifications along the way. The approach allows students to gain credentials as they work toward their degree.
Earlier in the ceremony, Guest of Honor Joaquin “Jajo” Quintos IV encouraged graduates to put humanity first as artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries. Together with Alaan’s message about holding the pen that writes one’s own story, the commencement pointed graduates toward a future that values both innovation and the human qualities that technology cannot replace.
As the needs of learners and industries continue to change, Benilde continues to diversify its academic offerings. Some programs respond to emerging fields, while others prepare learners for new ways of leading, creating, and working. Recent additions such as the Master in Global Governance and Management, the Master in Digital Media, and the Associate in Animation reflect that continuing effort to develop programs that respond to present needs while anticipating future ones.
The College’s commitment to creating meaningful learning experiences also continues through new milestones. This year’s commencement celebrated the first five graduates of the Bachelor of Sign Language Interpretation program, supporting the growing need for skilled sign language interpreters in the country. Benilde also welcomed the first graduate of the Doctor of Philosophy in Tourism and Hospitality Management by Research, opening another chapter in advanced research and scholarship.
As Alaan looked back on her own journey, she reminded her fellow graduates that no story is ever written alone. “Though many of them never held our pen, each of them helped write this chapter of our lives in their own way.“
She thanked the security personnel, e-jeep drivers, associates, professors, classmates, and families who made every ordinary day at Benilde possible. Their support shaped the experience of every student long before graduation day arrived.
Her speech ended with another image that stayed with the audience. “Some of us already know what comes next. Others are staring at a blank page, still figuring it out. And that’s okay. Remember, every great story begins with a blank page.“
For the 650 graduates from Benilde Manila and Benilde Antipolo who gathered at the Philippine International Convention Center on July 4, that blank page begins after commencement. For others, it begins when they return to school after years of working, pursue a graduate degree, earn a microcredential, or take the first step toward a new career. Each journey begins differently, but every learner holds the same opportunity to write the next chapter.
As the Class of 2026 celebrated the close of one story and prepared to begin another, Alaan left them with a reminder that reaches beyond graduation. The pen remains in their hands, and the next page is theirs to write.
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.
