Fr Mars P Tan SJ PhD

University President

Good morning, everyone. Our distinguished awardees, Dr William Padolina, this year’s Doctorate Honoris Causa Awardee and Commencement speaker, Sr Helen Liboon RSM, representing the Religious of the Sisters of Mercy (Hayes Awardee), Atty. Benedicto Bacani (Masterson Awardee), Dr. Juliet Dalagan VP for HEd, Dr Pamela Pajente, VP for BEd, Engr Dexter Lo, VP for Social Dev, Fr Frank Savadera SJ, VP for Mission and Ministry,  Engr George Abasalo, OIC VP for Admin, Mr Rangie Obispo, University Registrar, college/school deans, dept chairs, directors, faculty, staff, my brother Jesuits, my dear graduands, Mr Ameer Sajid Adzis, Class Valedictorian and Faber Awardee, Ms Rebekah Dalagan, beloved parents, guardians, guests of the awardees, and friends.

Before we conclude this Convocation ceremony, allow me once again to extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of you, our dear graduands, and your proud parents and families.

University Convocations are profoundly enriching occasions. They offer a rare and meaningful opportunity to immerse ourselves in the inspiring messages and reflections shared by our distinguished honorees. The accompanying video presentations, which illuminate pivotal moments in the lives and accomplishments of these individuals, lend depth and context to their narratives. In the midst of the relentless pace of our daily lives, such moments serve as timely reminders of our deeper calling.

Indeed, the exemplary lives celebrated in events like this not only provide inspiration, but also renew our vigor and strengthen our commitment to our academic and professional vocations. They awaken within us a renewed sense of purpose and a determined resolve to be agents of positive transformation in the lives of others.

Convocation reminds us of a universal truth—the innate human yearning, as children of God, to make a meaningful difference through love and service. After years of rigorous intellectual, moral, and spiritual formation here at Xavier Ateneo, we trust that this desire within you has been refined and strengthened. You are now equipped to pursue your deepest aspirations with clarity and confidence.

May you never settle for less than what your hearts truly long for. Let the lives of St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, and St. Peter Faber—whose unwavering pursuit of their holy desires brought great good to the Church and the world—serve as enduring models for your own journey.

 ***Access the full speech here***