By Mary Kate S Baconga
On 6 May 2025, the Xavier Ateneo Senior High School Covered Courts celebrated as proud families, friends, faculty, and administrators gathered for the 8th Xavier Ateneo Senior High School Commencement Exercises. With the theme, “Living the Mission: To Live, To Love, To Serve,” 90 young individuals from the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) track marched on the stage as pioneers of a transformative journey.
Of the graduates, 82 were the sixth batch of ALGCIT scholars whose dreams were shaped by skills and shared grit. To them, this was more than a graduation; it was an achievement forged by the TVL track of Xavier University’s ALGCIT program.
A Program with Purpose
In a bid to bridge the gap between education and industry, the Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC), through the Andrew L Gotianun Foundation, partnered with Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan to establish the Andrew L Gotianun Sr Center for Integrated Technologies (ALGCIT) in 2018. ALGCIT is a two-year residential technical-vocational program that grants full scholarships to marginalized yet competent students.
ALGCIT offers hands-on training focusing on three key industrial arts electives: Machining Technology, Instrumentation Technology, and Mechatronics Technology. Housed on a campus with dedicated facilities, the program stands as a beacon of hope, providing aspiring students with access to quality education, character formation, and a safe learning environment amid economic challenges.
Batch 6: The Post-Pandemic Pioneers
What stood out from this cluster of scholars was not their number, but the context of their journey. Batch one missed their physical graduation. The second batch finished their two-year program online. Batch three attended only two weeks of on-site enrichment, and batches four to five gradually returned through hybrid setups. Since the pandemic, batch six pioneered the complete return to on-site education and accomplished the program in its fully intended form: hands-on, face-to-face, fully immersive.
Comprising 27 students in Instrumentation, thirty in Machining, and 33 in Mechatronics – 82 of whom were ALGCIT scholars – this group represented the renewal of ALGCIT’s original vision.
Excellence Forged in Training
These graduates did not just complete their training; they excelled.
Throughout their journey, batch six demonstrated excellence well beyond technical instruction. Two standout graduates brought pride to the program: Ava Grace N Aban, who specialized in Machining Technology, was named Departmental Awardee for Best in TVL. Jayvee D Olarte, specializing in Mechatronics Technology, received the Outstanding Track and Strand Graduate Award for TVL during the commencement rites.
All graduates also emerged as Wadhwani Certified, under a global non-profit initiative that recognizes employable, industry-ready graduates through rigorous standards in entrepreneurship, skilling, innovation, research, and government digital enhancement. Moreover, each student completed a two-week work immersion with industry partners across Misamis Oriental, allowing them to apply their knowledge and build confidence in their chosen fields.
In the field of research, select ALGCIT scholars proudly represented Xavier Ateneo Senior High School in the recently concluded University Research Month Poster Exhibition, which coincided with the institution’s Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU) visit. They showcased three projects that reflected both innovation and social responsibility. One of these is phixFlow, a water filtration system capable of detecting pH levels, motivated by a commitment to ecological stewardship. Another project is Securyente, an automated system that switches off classroom lights and ceiling fans to promote energy conservation and safety. The third project, ParkoTech, showcased an innovative parking system that utilizes timers to commercialized parking spaces. Together, these projects symbolized the skills and determination of the students to alleviate real-world challenges in a technology-driven era.
The batch also displayed prowess in co-curricular activities. Teaming up with the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand, they reigned as the overall champions of this year’s senior high school intramurals, demonstrating teamwork across various sporting events. Further showcasing their initiative and leadership, they led a successful Technology Week, celebrating innovation and technical excellence through student-driven activities.
In every area, batch six proved that their training is not just about acquiring skills, but about forging character, leadership, and purpose. These milestones exemplify the values of competence and perseverance the ALGCIT program seeks to instill.
Stories of Change
Behind every achievement of batch six are stories of quiet transformation.
For Jayvee, the program’s work immersion is a turning point.
“Among all the programs offered by ALGCIT and Xavier University, the one that impacted me the most was the work immersion experience,” he shared. “As an indecisive person, it helped me make a turning decision to pursue a career completely different from what I was used to. Through the company partnership, work immersion didn’t just guide me, it awakened a passion so deep it felt like discovering a part of myself I never knew I existed,” he added.
For Ava Grace, the opportunity to live independently shaped her personal growth as much as her academic success.
“The ALGCIT program has had a significant impact on helping and shaping me into the person I am today. This scholarship not only supported my education but also taught me independence, as I lived away from my parents,” she stated. “Through this big opportunity, I discovered new aspects of myself that contributed to my personal growth and helped me become someone who is no longer afraid to face people and who constantly strives to achieve more in life,” she added.
Their transformative journeys transcend to the heart of what ALGCIT truly offers: confidence, purpose, and the courage to dream beyond one’s circumstances.
From Training to Triumph
To this day, the ALGCIT program continues to serve as an inspiration for what technical-vocational education in the Philippines can be: rooted in quality education, character formation, and aligned with industry needs.
In a world that often overlooks youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, the ALGCIT stands as proof that with the right opportunities, guidance, and support, any student can live, love, and serve with purpose.
As the graduation hymn faded into applause, each of the newly graduated TVL-ALGCIT students closed their senior high school chapter not just with a diploma, but with lifelong experiences that have prepared them to forge forward, wherever the road may lead. From training to triumph, their story is a testimony that when education is done right, it does not just teach. It transforms.