The 7th Night High School Commencement Exercise at Siena College, Taytay, Rizal

By Alexis Balansag*

On March 24, the Night High School Scholarship Program at Siena College, Taytay, Rizal, conducted its 7th Commencement Exercise.  The 2-part Commencement Exercise started with a Eucharistic Celebration, presided over by Rev. Fr. George Bristos, SVD, followed by the Graduation ceremony.

The Graduation ceremony started with a processional march of the Candidates for Graduation, with their parents, followed by the Siena College administrators, faculty and staff, sponsors, and special guests. Ma. Pamela Eunice Valle, an academic awardee, followed by the confirmation of the candidates as graduates of the Class of 2012, presented by Sr. Susan A. Bravante, OP, Principal, Basic Education Department and confirmed by Mo. Teresa E. Examen, OP, President, of Siena College, Taytay.

The graduates sang their graduation song “At the Beginning” with overwhelming joy and tears in their eyes. The graduation song was then followed by the conferring of Special Awards, by Mo. Teresa E. Examen, OP and Ms. Vivian G. Santos, Special Program Level Leader. The awards were given to outstanding students who have excelled academically, or in sports. Angela Shaira Reyes bagged Leadership, Service, and Deportment awards, for her efforts in leading her class in various events and programs, and Monica Sumera, was given the Siena Achiever award for winning different tennis competitions regionally and nationally. The most awaited part of the graduates was the distribution of diplomas, handed out by Mo. Teresa Examen, O.P. and Sr. Bernardita Dela Cruz, O.P., and certificates of scholarship distributed by Mr. Lewis Edwards, Chairman of A Better Chance Foundation, and Mr. Rene Logatoc, Head of the Siena College Christian Community Development Center.

The inspirational message was given by Mr. Lewis A. Edwards, and Ms. Annette Helbig, president of Springboard Foundation.  After their inspirational messages, the graduates took their  Pledge of Loyalty, lead by Almira Guadaña, and was inducted into the Siena College Alumni Association by Ms. Vivian Tan.

Angela Shaira Reyes, Special Award recipient delivered her words of gratitude, followed by and a parent’s response, from Ms. Rizsa May Olesco.  The 7^th Commencement Ceremony was ended by Mo. Teresa Examen, O.P, imparting words of wisdom to the new graduates, and the singing of the Siena Hymn.

The event was indeed a success, not only for the graduates, but also for their parents, teachers, Siena administrators, and sponsors, who have supported them through 5 tears of Night High School.  The graduates are now ready to face the real world as they prepare for their next challenge – college.

Congratulations to the Class of 2012. We are so proud of you!

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Alexis Balansag is from the Night High School Class of 2011 from Siena College, Taytay, Rizal.  He is an incoming 2nd year college student at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, studying Advertising and Public Relations.