IP, First-Generation Graduates Find New Beginnings Through BukSU Campuses

For many graduates of Bukidnon State University (BukSU), receiving a diploma fulfilled a dream that once seemed impossible. Their journeys tell stories of perseverance through financial hardship, cultural stereotypes, and family circumstances. For many Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and first-generation college graduates, commencement day became a milestone that offers hope for a different future.

April V. Daguplo, a Manobo Pulangiyon, earned her Bachelor of Public Administration from the BukSU-Kitaotao Campus. She said completing college challenged a long-held misconception about Indigenous students.

“As a Manobo Pulangiyon, it is a source of immense pride for me to be able to graduate. I no longer have a father, so it’s just my family supporting me. To everyone who supported me, I am deeply grateful, because what people usually say is that indigenous people (IP) will never be able to finish school,” said Daguplo.

After the death of her father, Daguplo’s widowed mother worked as a grass cutter to help support the family. Her aunts and cousins also helped make her education possible. She said earning a college degree is a victory for her family and a source of encouragement for other Indigenous youth who aspire to pursue quality education.

Another IP graduate, Mario Anu-os Malunangnang, a Tigwahanon, earned his Bachelor of Business Administration major in Financial Management from the BukSU-San Fernando Campus. He became the first college graduate among his nine siblings.

“With this program today, I really never expected that I would be able to finish school. There are nine of us siblings, and I’m the only one who actually managed to step into college/graduate, ” said Malunangnang.

Niler D. Paul, a Higaonon, completed her Bachelor of Public Administration at the BukSU-Impasugong Campus. She also became the first college graduate in her family of ten children.

“This is a very big pride for me that I was able to finish my studies because this was my parents’ dream. Out of the ten children of my mother and father, I am the only one who graduated,” said Paul.

Their stories mirror the experiences of many graduates across BukSU’s campuses who overcame financial hardship, limited opportunities, and social barriers in pursuit of a college degree. Their achievements also show how access to education helps create reduced inequalities by opening opportunities for students whose paths to higher learning were once limited.

During the commencement ceremonies, speakers reminded graduates that success is built through perseverance and integrity.

“As you enter the world of work, you will discover that success is not always fast. Some of you will start small, some will feel left behind, some will work in places far from the dreams you once imagined,” said Mr. Raul L. Valmores, commencement speaker at the BukSU-Kadingilan Campus.

Dr. Charmaine P. Pagonzaga, RMT, commencement speaker at the BukSU-Quezon Campus, added that character remains just as important as professional qualifications.

“As you begin your careers, remember this: your qualifications may open the door, but your character is what will earn trust, build lasting relationships, and create opportunities. Skills can be learned, but character is a choice you make every day,” added Pagonzaga.

BukSU President Dr. Joy M. Mirasol also encouraged the graduates to carry the university’s values as they begin the next chapter of their lives.

“Four years ago, you entered BukSU believing, ‘I CAN.’ Together, we learned that ‘WE CAN.’ Today, we send you into the future knowing that ‘YOU CAN,’” said Mirasol.

BukSU has its main campus in Malaybalay City and operates 16 campuses across Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental. Through this network, the university brings higher education closer to communities where access to college was once limited, giving more students the opportunity to pursue a degree close to where they live.

Upon graduation, all graduates received their transcripts of records and diplomas on the same day.

For many members of the Smart BukSU Class of 2026, a diploma is the result of years of sacrifice shared by parents, relatives, teachers, and communities. Their journeys show how quality education creates opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds, helps reduce inequalities, and gives families renewed hope of overcoming poverty. For many of these graduates, their achievement is also the first step toward a future with no poverty for the generations that follow. (Information Unit)