The Adventist University of the Philippines celebrated its 139th commencement exercises on May 26-28, 2023. As traditionally practiced among Adventist schools, the University had a consecration service in the evening of the 26th, a baccalaureate service on the 27th, and a commencement program on the 28th. Pastor Gerardo Cajobe, the president of the North Philippine Union Conference and chairman of the AUP Board of Trustees, was the consecration speaker; Pastor GT Ng, retired executive secretary of the General Conference, was the baccalaureate speaker; and Presiding Judge Chalmer Gevieso was the commencement speaker.

“Live up to the core values of AUP. Become agents of change,” encouraged Hon. Gevieso. He expounded the class theme “Paglaum,” a Hiligaynon word, meaning hope.

Dr. Gracel Ann Saban, vice president for academics, presented a total of 598 graduates. Among them, 38 students completed their graduation requirements in July 2022, 99 in December 2022, and 461 in May 2023. The Paglaum Batch 2023 was comprised of two graduates with Associate in Arts, 417 graduates with bachelor’s degrees, 164 graduates with Master’s degrees, and 15 graduates with doctorate degrees. The graduates represented 22 countries; 148 came from foreign countries such as Indonesia (44), Myanmar (36), the United States (9), China (9), Ghana (8), Zimbabwe (3), and Liberia (2). Additionally, one graduate represented each of the following countries: Korea, Ethiopia, Peru, Angola, Zambia, India, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Hawaii, Dubai, and Burundi. There were 471 graduates representing the Philippines. Among the graduates, 75 were from the College of Arts and Humanities, 147 from the College of Business, 20 from the College of Dentistry, 90 from the College of Education, 93 from the College of Health, 122 from the College of Nursing, 29 from the College of Science and Technology, and 22 from the College of Theology.

The University granted 172 Latin awards: 96 cum laude, 60 magna cum laude, and 16 summa cum laude.

“In your life, may the Gospel be an action word,” Dr. Arceli Rosario, AUP president, charged the graduates. “Go. Be the most competent, the most dedicated, the most compassionate servant for our Church, for our country, and for the world.”