Mariano Marcos
State University

3,905 graduates receive degrees in historic two-day commencement exercises

By Ian Paul Villanueva

A total of 3,905 graduates of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) received their degrees during the 48th Commencement Exercises held on June 10 and 11, 2026, at the MMSU Sunken Garden. Spanning two days, the ceremonies also broke university records for being the largest graduating class size so far.
 

This batch is the largest so far, with 662 more graduates than in 2025. Along with this is the historic number of honor graduates at 844, more than 2025’s 669 Latin honor awardees.
 

The class was led by the university’s fifth 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦 graduate in its history, Ms. Chalzea Johanna Raval of the BS Biology program of the College of Arts and Sciences. She led the class alongside 52 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦 and 790 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦. Among those honored as 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦 was Juris Doctor graduate, Maxime Gaile Pomoy of the MMSU College of Law, the first in the college to attain such recognition. It marks an important milestone for the college since it began producing Juris Doctor graduates in 2012.
 

In her valediction, Raval emphasized that collective resilience, rather than singular moments of brilliance, defined the Class of 2026’s success. She remarked, "The diploma we receive today was not earned through one remarkable exam or one perfect semester. It was built through countless days when we chose to continue despite exhaustion, distractions, and uncertainty."
 

The historic batch was addressed by two distinguished Guests of Honor and Speakers: Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian, the President and CEO of the Development Academy of the Philippines, and Hon. Shirley C. Agrupis, Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education.

On Day 1, when 1,597 graduates were conferred their degrees, Dr. Sebastian challenged the graduates to be adaptable to the challenges of the world beyond MMSU’s walls. “The most powerful thing you can do is to decide that graduation is not the end of your education–it is simply the moment you take ownership of it,” he said, adding, “I encourage you to see those moments of uncertainty not as setbacks but as the very places where growth begins and where your knowledge from the university starts to mature.”

Speaking on what education afforded her, Dr. Agrupis shared it gave her power to benefit not just herself but also her family. “Education gave me something poverty could never take away – hope, dignity, and the belief that my life could become bigger than my circumstances. And when I finally earned that degree, I realized that education is not only about changing your own life. Education gives you the power to change the trajectory of an entire family. 
 

Dr. Agrupis also charged the students to “rise and become” leaders in government and other fields whose decisions will help shape the future of our nation. In encouraging the graduates, she cited that both the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan and herself are MMSU alumni currently leading key national agencies.

"And I am proud because Mariano Marcos State University is no longer simply observing that history; we are part of it, and we are helping shape it."
 

In the two days that the exercises were held, government officials from the Province, the City of Batac, and other municipalities graced the event. They were led by Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, who extended her congratulations and a challenge to the graduates. 
 

"Today marks the beginning of a new chapter. carry with you the values that MMSU has instilled in you–excellence, integrity, resilience, and service. Your diploma is a testament to what you have accomplished, but your character and actions will define the impact you will make in the years ahead."
 

All in all, the Class of 2026 consisted of 3,905 graduates from 12 colleges. Leading the colleges in terms of number is the College of Teacher Education with 790 and followed by the College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy (708), College of Industrial Technology (498), the College of Engineering (376), College of Health Sciences (371), College of Agriculture, Food, and Sustainable Development (353), College of Arts and Sciences (321), Graduate School (182), College of Computing and Information Sciences (179), College of Aquatic Sciences and Applied Technology (67), College of Medicine (44), and College of Law (16).