Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
In celebration of Central Mindanao University’s (CMU) 72nd Commencement Exercises, the graduating Class of 2026 was challenged to look beyond personal success and become catalysts of hope by bringing others with them, opening doors, and helping others find their own paths.
Delivering the commencement address, lawyer and CMU alumna Atty. Maria Janua P. Cunanan encouraged the graduates to use their achievements as a means of uplifting others and creating meaningful opportunities for the people around them. She reminded them that their education is not only a personal milestone but also a responsibility to serve and contribute to the greater good.
“I hope you remember to dream beyond yourself. Bring others with you. Open doors for others. Help others find their own path. Because when you do that, you not only create a ripple of kindness. You create a ripple of hope,” Atty. Cunanan said.
Atty. Cunanan also expressed confidence that the Class of 2026 will carry forward CMU’s mission and embody Dr. Jose Rizal’s vision of the youth as the hope of the nation.
For the afternoon ceremony, Atty. Cunanan reminded the graduates that the world they are entering is far from perfect and that they will encounter challenges that will test their integrity, perseverance, humility, and character. She urged them to remain steadfast in choosing what is right, even when doing so comes with personal sacrifices.
Furthermore, she encouraged them to hold on to the values they cultivated during their years at Musuan and to remember the individuals they aspired to become when they first entered the university, allowing these aspirations to guide their journey ahead.
The graduating class was divided into two batches to accommodate the number of graduates. The morning ceremony recognized graduates from the College of Business Management, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Information Sciences and Computing, and College of Nursing. Meanwhile, the afternoon ceremony honored graduates from the College of Agriculture, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Forestry and Environmental Science, College of Human Ecology, and College of Veterinary Medicine.
The highlight of the celebration was the official conferment of degrees by University President Dr. Rolito G. Eballe, which was met with applause and cheers from the graduates, their families, faculty members, and university officials.
The ceremony concluded on a heartfelt note as the CMU Music Society performed I Believe by Fantasia as the graduates’ charge song, sending the Class of 2026 into the next chapter of their lives with hope, pride, and purpose.
The 72nd Commencement Exercises was held on July 10, 2026, at the University Convention Center, celebrating the academic achievements of 3,248 graduates, including five summa cum laude, 92 magna cum laude, and 876 cum laude honorees. [Johnica Chantal Montero]
