BukSU alumna discusses law, language and service at English Day 2026

A Bukidnon State University alumna urged English language students to use their communication skills to address literacy and language barriers faced by marginalized communities during the English Day 2026 celebration.

Atty. Ira Kristel M. Onahon-Pepito delivered the message during the opening program on April 15, 2026 , where she served as keynote speaker.

Onahon-Pepito is a 2019 graduate of the university’s Bachelor of Arts in English Language program and earned her Juris Doctor degree from the same institution in 2023.

In her address, Atty. Onahon-Pepito challenged the common assumption that English degrees are limited to careers in teaching or writing. She emphasized that the program provided a foundation for law, public service, and community leadership.

“BAEL prepared me for the Bar and beyond by teaching me the weight of words,” Onahon-Pepito said. “In law, words are not casual. They are instruments of power that may protect rights, define obligations, or speak on behalf of those who are unheard.”

She further explained that the technical skills acquired in the BAEL program, such as sociolinguistics and discourse analysis, are essential tools in the legal field, where a single word can change the interpretation of a law or a person’s legal protection.

Beyond professional success, Onahon-Pepito highlighted communicators’ social responsibility. She encouraged students to practice cultural empathy, urging them to use their education to bridge communication gaps for those marginalized by literacy or language barriers. (Dr. Joana Ruth S. Paloma/ Program Chair, MAEL)