The Xavier University School of Law held its Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercises last 14 June 2025, at the University Gym. University President Mars P Tan, SJ, together with Fr Frank Dennis B Savadera, SJ and Fr Ismael Jose “IJ” V Chan-Gonzaga III, SJ, presided at the Mass.

During the homily, Fr IJ told the story of the grandmother who, after getting paid with expired Ovaltine products for doing laundry, was granted by the manufacturer of the chocolate drink one year supply of Ovaltine. He cited this story as he urged the graduates to be at the forefront of justice.

“It will soon be your duty to make sure that those who have less may have the full protection of the law. You must wield this power to hold people accountable no matter the cost. That is what we have trained you to be.”

The commencement proper started with Vice President for Higher Education Dr Juliet Q Dalagan opening the session. Jayson O Orajay, top student of the batch, shared a message with his fellow graduates, where he emphasized the value of perseverance and purpose. He urged everyone to “live with justice,” a call to carry the values they have learned beyond the classroom. Beyond personal ambition, he reminded them that the journey forward is the one they take not just for themselves, but for the people who continue to believe in them.

“Life rewards the brave. We may not always know or control what comes next, but we can choose how we face [what comes next] as long as we keep showing up with integrity, with passion, and courage to say ‘yes,’ even to the things that scare us. We’ll find our way.”

This year’s speaker, Atty Earl Joy Rivera-Dolera, a seasoned counsel, arbitrator, tribunal secretary, court litigator, and justice’s law clerk, reminded the graduates that this milestone is not about “firsts,” but about the journey they are about to begin. She shared three hard-earned truths: to win the grace and lose with integrity, for in the legal field. Integrity, not victory, is the true measure of success; to understand that law is not just a profession but a way of seeing the world, one that requires reading not just cases but people and lives; and to trust that they are already enough, that their roots, rhythm, and story are their greatest strengths.

Finally, she motivated the Class of 2025 to choose service over ego, to protect the progress they have made, and to keep moving forward. And finally, she left them with a challenge: if a door remains closed, perhaps they were never meant to wait for it to open, but to be the key that unlocks it.