By Jareason Fabre

First Lady Louise Araneta - Marcos addressed the Class of 2025 during the MMSU 47th Commencement Exercises held on July 11 at the iconic Sunken Garden. The event also honored her contributions to education and public service, as she was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Rural Development.

During her speech, the First Lady commended the 3,243 graduates of the MMSU Class of 2025 for finishing their degrees despite starting their academic journey remotely in 2021 during the height of the pandemic.
Having served as an MMSU College of Law professor from 2018 to 2020, the First Lady urged the Class of 2025 to remember three things: education, values, and community.

“Just remember that your education is not ended today. If there’s one advice that I can give you, it’s to always be open to advice. There’s no shame in asking for advice from experts. There is no shame in asking for help from others,” she added.

The First Lady urged the graduates to use what they have learned from their degrees in their communities. “Remember, your community needs you—the barangays, the farmers, the coastal roads, the cities—they need dreamers and doers like you,” she remarked.

“What you do doesn’t have to be grand. Even the smallest act of kindness can spark change,” the First Lady said.

Meanwhile, the conferment of her honorary doctorate was formalized through Resolution No. 13-REF, s. 2025, approved by the MMSU Board of Regents. It recognizes the First Lady for her “outstanding contributions to nation-building through education, law, cultural advocacy, as well as her sustained efforts to uplift rural communities.”

MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. described her as someone who “has taken on a role that goes beyond ceremonial, using her platform to champion programs that uplift rural communities and bring essential services closer to those in need.” He also noted her advocacies as a reflection of compassion and a strong sense of duty to the Filipino people.

As Chair of the Board of Regents, Dr. Agrupis led the conferment ceremony by donning the First Lady with the official three-striped regalia of the PhD in Rural Development, including the academic hood, tam, and tassel. A diploma and plaque of recognition were also presented to mark the occasion.

The MMSU 47th Commencement Exercises saw a 4.61% increase in the number of graduates from last year, with 126 completing their degrees during the mid-year term, 106 in the first semester, and 3,011 in the second semester of the academic year. A total of 669 graduates earned Latin honors, including 43 magna cum laude and 626 cum laude awardees.