CMU honors outstanding employees at 2026 University Awards Ceremony
Excellence, integrity, and service took center stage as Central Mindanao University recognized its outstanding faculty and staff during the 2026 University Awards Ceremony on September 16, 2026, as part of the University’s week-long celebration of its 116th Founding Anniversary.
The ceremony carried the theme “Shaping Global Leaders through Excellence, Integrity, and Service,” bringing together members of the University community to celebrate employees whose work and accomplishments contribute to CMU’s continuing mission.
In his welcome remarks, University President Dr. Rolito G. Eballe encouraged the community to pause and recognize the people who have helped move CMU forward, emphasizing that the awards celebrate not only accomplishments but also the commitment, integrity, excellence, and dedication to public service behind them.
Dr. Eballe noted that holding the ceremony during the University’s 116th founding anniversary made the recognition especially significant, as the achievements of the awardees become part of CMU’s continuing institutional story.
Guest speaker Dir. Mylah Faye Aurora B. Cariño, CESO III, centered her message on CMU’s PRAISE program—Excellence in Habit, Heart, and Service. Drawing from her parents’ example of public service, Cariño emphasized that excellence is not limited to major accomplishments but is demonstrated through everyday work and interactions.
She cited simple acts such as responding to a student’s concern, completing a report, or greeting a colleague as opportunities to demonstrate excellence. She stressed that excellence must be grounded in integrity, while public service should always be about “lifting people up, never stepping on them.”
Dir. Cariño also encouraged the University community to look beyond formal distinctions and recognize employees who consistently embody excellence, integrity, and service in ways that may not always receive public attention.
Among the awardees was Paul Calvin B. Rubio, who placed first in the Administrative Officer category. In his acceptance speech, Rubio reflected on the often-unseen contributions of administrative personnel, noting that while his name may not always be visible, the documents processed and services delivered contribute to the University’s broader mission.
He accepted the recognition with both gratitude and humility, thanking his family, mentors, former supervisors and his current director, for their guidance and support throughout his career.
Meanwhile, Dr. Freddielyn B. Pontemayor was recognized as Outstanding Professor, following her earlier recognition as Outstanding Assistant Professor in 2021.
Reflecting on her journey, Pontemayor revisited the question, “Who am I?” a question she first asked herself in 2004 and found herself confronting again in 2026.
She described the award not as “a declaration that I am better than others,” but as a reminder that “even an ordinary person with humble beginnings can be entrusted with extraordinary opportunities.”
Pontemayor expressed gratitude to her mentors, colleagues, students and to the University for seeing potential in her even when she sometimes saw limitations in herself. She said the recognition affirmed the importance of continuing to grow, learn, and serve.
Beyond the individual category awards, the ceremony also recognized other forms of achievement and service across the University community. The Pagmantala Award honored faculty members for outstanding scholarly contributions, particularly those who published two or more Scopus-indexed research articles, reflecting CMU’s continuing growth in research and publication. Loyalty Awards recognized employees who reached milestone years of service, highlighting their sustained commitment to the University. Special recognition was likewise given to Administrative Council members who completed two consecutive years of service and to CMU retirees, honoring their contributions and years of dedicated service to the institution.
Closing the ceremony, Vice President for Academic Affairs Prof. Herme P. Pava expressed hope for broader participation from both teaching and non-teaching personnel in succeeding award cycles.
He urged the honorees to measure leadership not simply through awards and accomplishments, but through the lives they influence and the people they help develop. He challenged them to “strive to be the best for the world,” while emphasizing that effective leadership begins with the ability to lead oneself.
The 2026 University Awards Ceremony concluded with a renewed call to uphold the values behind the recognitions. The celebration is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
