2018.06.23. The NIP Recognition Program for 2018 Graduates

(Right now: Sleepy.) 

The National Institute of Physics (NIP) conducted its annual Recognition Program for its graduating students earlier today. The program started on time and went really smoothly! I think that the NIP management and the socials committee did a great job in honoring the graduating students and their parents. 

After the introductory remarks from Dr. Percival Almoro, the NIP Deputy Director for Facilities and Resources, the NIP Director, Dr. Roland Sarmago, introduced the guest speaker, the Hon. Sec. Fortunato T. de la Peña of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). 

The Hon. Sec. Fortunato T. de la Peña of the DOST delivering his message for the 2018 graduating batch of the NIP.

Sec. de la Peña actually served in various capacities in the University of the Philippines (UP) and the national government before retiring from UP. After his retirement, he was called upon to shoulder the responsibilities of running the DOST. He has, in fact, also served in the DOST as an undersecretary since 2016.

In his speech, he implored the graduates to identify how they will measure their own success. People want different things in life, so it is up to the person himself/herself to identify his/her goals and achieve a happy and fulfilling life. He went on to describe his own career path, and how he transitioned from an engineer in a big oil company to a teacher and administrator and finally as a public servant.

And then came the most important part: the awarding of the certificates of completion of requirements for the graduates and the medals for the students with special awards. I am happy an proud to personally congratulate my graduating students and their parents: Lois Danielle B. Banasig, Jasmine Michelle T. Abella, Dionessa C. Biton, Alfiero K. Orden II, and Camille D. Perlada. Two of them, Nessa and Camz, graduated cum laude. Congratulations! I am super proud of you guys!

The response of the graduating batch was delivered by soon-to-be Dr. Antonino Paguirigan Jr. He used to be my student, until the NIP made arrangements to move me into just a reader role in his dissertation. In any case, his dissertation is mostly composed of the research works that we have conducted over the six years of my research mentoring. He implored the graduates to continue serving and giving back to the country.

Dr. Paguirigan gives the response on behalf of the graduating batch.

To close the ceremony, Dr. Ian Vega gave a speech about how the NIP is the best research institution in the country. He reminded the graduates that they are the most important 'output' of the institute.

Dr. Ian Vega gave the final remarks.

In the end, the recognition program proved to be a success, as evidenced by the happy faces during the NIP group pictorial by the end of the program.