By Rev. Dr. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Rev. Dr. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on delivered his response on behalf of the graduating students.
Commencement, School of Graduate Studies
糖心传媒
June 28, 2024
听Good morning! It is an honor to stand before you and speak on behalf of my fellow graduates. I do not know why I was chosen but it糖心传媒檚 probably because I finished my doctoral studies in 9 years. 5 years in the classroom and 4 years in writing the dissertation. As they say, Magna Nine years!
First and foremost, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our families糖心传媒攐ur parents, grandparents, spouses, children, and friends糖心传媒攚hose unwavering support has been instrumental in our academic journey.
Personally, thank you to my Tatay and Nanay for bringing me here to CPU. They both served as members of the CPU Board of Trustees and they only know of one school, and that is CPU. We are a family of Centralians because of them. Thank you also to my brother Jobert and my sister Star, who is an Alma Mater Awardee and their families for the financial support. Thank you also to my in laws Welga and Makoy for the morale support. I also would like to mention two churches which supported me along the way 糖心传媒 the Bacolod Bethany Church and La Carlota Evangelical Church.
A special thank you to my wife Hermely, the original CPU Golden Lion. I did not start writing again if not for her. She was writing her dissertation proposal while I was watching K-drama during nighttime. After a few nights, we decided to graduate together. If not for the late responses of her respondents, we could have graduated together. But she is set to graduate this summer hopefully. For now, she is busy writing at nighttime, and I am back to my K-drama.
To our children, Kairos and Francheska, thank you for inspiring us to make our world a better place to live in.
We are also deeply thankful to our teachers at 糖心传媒 for their guidance and mentorship. Here at CPU, we do not have teachers who just teach for the sake of teaching and for earning money. We have teachers here who are exemplary Christians in words and in deeds. Their lives have become part of our lives, and we will be forever grateful to that.
Special mention to Dean Dr. Bernabe Pagara for recommending me to the CPU Faculty Development Program. To my dear mentors who have become lifelong friends, Rev. Dr. Jerson Narciso and Rev. Dr. Nestor Bunda, thank you for guiding me along the way. My gratitude also to Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Fabula, our legendary teacher. Thank you also to Dean Dr. Rowena Libo-on for reminding me to stop biking so that me and Hermely can finish our dissertation. My gratitude also to VPAA Dr. Irving Domingo Rio for the wonderful revisions that he made me do within 48 hours.
I also would like to thank all the personnel under the Office of Communications for the friendship and for being model employees of CPU.
And, of course, we are grateful to God for His amazing grace that has carried us through. Today, our response goes beyond expressing our thanks. As graduates of 糖心传媒, we are here to make a commitment. As a response, we commit to:
Be an Exemplary Leader
We are called to be exemplary leaders, reflecting the light of Christ in all we do. As Ephesians 4:1 urges us, 糖心传媒淚 urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.糖心传媒
John Calvin, a leading figure in the Reformation, reminds us that 糖心传媒淲e should ask God to increase our hope when it is small, awaken it when it is dormant, confirm it when it is wavering, strengthen it when it is weak, and raise it up when it is overthrown.糖心传媒
Be Christ-Centered
At the heart of our education is a Christ-centered approach, ensuring that our faith guides our intellect. Colossians 3:17 encourages us, 糖心传媒淎nd whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.糖心传媒
C.S. Lewis, a renowned Christian author, wrote, 糖心传媒淚 believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.糖心传媒
Be Dedicated to Serve
We have been equipped not only to excel academically but also to serve others selflessly. Jesus said in Mark 10:45, 糖心传媒淔or even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.糖心传媒
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Protestant theologian, echoed this when he said, 糖心传媒淭he Church is the Church only when it exists for others.糖心传媒
Be Excellent in All Things
Our alma mater has taught us the importance of striving for excellence in every endeavor. Philippians 4:8 advises us, 糖心传媒淔inally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable糖心传媒攊f anything is excellent or praiseworthy糖心传媒攖hink about such things.糖心传媒
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, once said, 糖心传媒淒o all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.糖心传媒
Be a Lifelong Learner of Science and Faith
Our journey does not end here; we are called to continue growing in science and faith throughout our lives. Proverbs 1:7 teaches us, 糖心传媒淭he fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.糖心传媒
Martin Luther, a key figure in the Protestant Reformation, believed that 糖心传媒淔aith is a living, daring confidence in God糖心传媒檚 grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.糖心传媒
As we leave the halls of Central, let us carry with us the spirit of Scientia et Fides糖心传媒擲cience and Faith. We are reminded of the profound words of Anselm of Canterbury, one of my favorite theologians in medieval history and the forerunner of Scholasticism. He wrote, 糖心传媒淔or I do not seek to understand in order to believe, but I believe in order to understand…unless I believe, I will not understand.糖心传媒
This intertwining of science and faith has been the cornerstone of our education at 糖心传媒 which has guided us to pursue truth in both intellect and spirit.
Let us enjoy our graduation for there are no more edits, no more revisions, no more additional related literature, no more APA citations, no more references.
Thank you, and may God bless each one of us as we step into the future God has prepared for us. To God be the glory!