Out of a massive and talented graduating class, these exceptional individuals have pushed the boundaries of academic achievement. Yet, what truly sets them apart is not just their top marks, but the profound human experiences behind them. Among those who voluntarily opened up about their university struggles and breakthroughs, the committee found these specific journeys deeply resonant and selected them to represent the batch’s spirit. Meet some of this year’s candidates for summa cum laude who shared their moving personal stories with the General Commencement Exercises Committee.
Samuel Jaime A. Acabado
Bachelor of Science in Community Development
Samuel Jaime is from Camaligan, Camarines Sur. He takes pride in his Bicolano roots, which continue to shape his commitment to service and community work.
As a son of a public servant in Camaligan, he was exposed to a life of service early on his life. In his stay at UP Diliman (UPD), he learned that development is not simply about implementing programs or providing dole-outs.
“It is about believing in the communities’ capacity to make sense of their own realities, draw on their local knowledge to identify the best solutions, and exercise their agency in bringing about change in their lives and realizing their aspirations,” Samuel Jaime said.
Samuel Jaime served as the college representative and head of the People’s Struggle Committee in the UPD University Student Council. He was also the president of UP Harong, the provincial organization of UP students from Camarines Sur.
In 2025, Samuel Jaime’s mother passed away, an event he described as the biggest heartbreak of his life.
“[However], through the support of my family, friends, faith, and communities, I found the strength to move forward. I continue to draw inspiration from my mother’s unwavering belief in me and her selflessness in serving others,” he said. As he begins a new chapter in his life, Samuel Jaime aspires to continue working alongside marginalized sectors and contributing to initiatives that advance social justice, sustainable rural development, and people-centered change.
Mike Aaron O. Capsuyen
Bachelor of Sports Science
Born and raised in Baguio City, Mike Aaron traces his roots to the towns of Sagada and Sabangan in Mountain Province. He carries in him the Igorot values of humility, resilience, and service—values that shaped both his academic journey and personal growth.
Mike Aaron said entering UP Diliman (UPD) and finishing his Bachelor of Sports Science degree was “a dream come true for me, especially for my parents who are first-generation college graduates of their respective families and who strived to see all us siblings finish our college degrees, as I am the youngest child.”
He noted that he chose sports science as a pre-med course as he “had always dreamed of becoming a physician. I am also passionate with sports and even competed in the Palarong Pambansa during my high school days. Sports Science became the perfect program for me, allowing me to combine my interest in sports with my aspirations in medicine.”
“My UPD life became more meaningful as I was a member of the UPD official varsity folk and modern jazz dance group UP Filipiniana Dance Group and the regional student organization UP Namnama, a core leader of the campus-based Christian student organization Cru UPD, and a dormer for three years,” Mike Aaron said. “As I move forward, I hope to continue using my education and talents to promote health, preserve culture, and continue to serve the Filipino people,” he added.
Vanessa Ryanne G. Julio
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering
Vanessa has always aspired to study at UP like her aunt, older cousins, and sister, all of whom graduated from UP with honors.
Her experiences in UP helped shape the person that she is today. Among her most memorable experiences in UPD were winning first place at the 12th Industrial Engineering Competition in Bandung, Indonesia, practicing for the College of Engineering’s Awitan chorale competition, and volunteering in the UP College Admissions Mastery Program, a free college admissions refresher program organized by the IE Club.
Despite having the highest weighted average grade of the entire batch at 1.040, Vanessa admits she isn’t the most gifted student:
“What sets me apart from others is not exceptional intelligence or having a perfect routine, but being consistent, disciplined, and having confidence in my ability to keep going. Like any other student, I experience periods of burnout, but I find comfort and motivation in simple things: A glass of matcha, a Taylor Swift song, or conversations with friends filled with rants,” she said.
Still, more than academic achievement, Vanessa considers the relationships she has built to be among the most meaningful parts of her university journey, crediting the support and encouragement of her friends, professors, and mentors as key factors.
“Above all, I am deeply grateful to God for His constant guidance throughout this journey, and to my family for being my unwavering source of strength, standing by me through every challenge and celebrating every milestone alongside me,” Vanessa concluded.
Gabrielle Frances G. Oco
Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology
Gabrielle has a keen interest in the social determinants of health, having focused her undergraduate research on healthcare and its delivery. She also pursues socio-civic work and volunteering engagements, seeking to address healthcare delivery gaps on the ground—advocating for equitable, quality healthcare and the protection of healthcare workers while supporting a holistic, humanistic view of the medical system.
Gabrielle’s understanding of the world is deeply influenced by cultural relativism—viewing cultures through the lens of their own unique logic and context.
This analytical lens deeply influenced her perspective on the recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao. Rather than viewing it as a purely natural disaster, she recognized how structural violence shaped the experience across communities. She observed how Mindanao’s position as a socio-political and geographic periphery stifled mainstream media coverage and delayed the delivery of critical assistance, noting the reliance on boats to transport relief goods due to a severe lack of access roads in some areas. Similarly, the crisis underscored the necessity of delivering culturally-sensitive assistance that honors the diverse practices of Mindanao’s tri-people population (Muslims, Christians, and Lumads). These on-the-ground experiences solidified her belief in the need for an anthropological perspective in addressing structural inequities.
In her downtime, Gabrielle enjoys cruising on her longboard, visiting cafes and community spaces around Teacher’s Village, and taking pictures. She keeps a dedicated personal collection of tree and foliage photography in a phone gallery that is otherwise completely filled with snapshots of her beloved family dogs. She also enjoys taking long walks, aiming to hit 10,000 steps a day while listening to playlists that she curates.
By integrating her anthropological foundation with the health sciences, Gabrielle hopes to champion health equity and deliver compassionate, context-aware care across diverse populations.
Zyrus Vander F. Rico
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The salt-laden breeze of the small, coastal city of Navotas drapes over Zyrus’ Sablay—its hallowed threads stand as witness not only to academic excellence but also to weathering life’s fiercest tempests.
The son of a taxi driver and a cashier, Zyrus grew up believing that while dreaming is free, turning those dreams into reality is neither without cost nor handed over on a silver platter.
This was proven true when he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder during his freshman year at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, derailing his education by forcing him to take a three-semester-long leave of absence (LOA) and forgoing his scholarship from the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute.
“My family advised against my working, as it may exacerbate my still-recovering mental health state. In lieu of pursuing side hustles, I concentrated my efforts in doing well in my studies, gaining further skills through internships, and catching up on the dropped units incurred during my LOA by taking midyear classes,” Zyrus said.
His internship at UP Diliman PsycServ opened his eyes to the on-the-ground realities of mental health in the community, cementing his conviction that mental health cannot simply be divorced from structural and systemic inequalities.
He credits the support and efforts of his mother and breadwinner older sister—herself a UP graduate—as well as a scholarship from non-profit organization Project Inclusion Network for getting him through this difficult time.
The family’s efforts paid off as he finished his degree. His journey continues as he aims for financial independence by working, while working to become a medical doctor.
Colene Anne R. Santos
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
Colene Anne has demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership and service through the organization UP Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo, serving as public relations secretary in 2021 and externals head in 2023. She also distinguished herself in the Emmanuel Q. Fernando Philosophy Undergraduate Conference, earning awards such as best presenter in Applied Ethics, champion in the Ethics Bowl Team Competition, second place in the Quiz Bee Team Competition, and third place in the Applied Ethics Best Paper Competition.
Behind these achievements is a story of perseverance. Colene experienced a difficult childhood that forced her to pause her formal education for several years. She then enrolled in the Department of Education program dedicated for out-of-school youth, completing the Alternative Learning System during her elementary years and later passing the Philippine Educational Placement Test in place of the traditional junior high school curriculum. She initially failed the examination equivalent to Grade 8, but she persevered, retook the exam, and continued pursuing her dream of returning to the formal school system. Through determination, resilience, the unwavering support of the people who believed in her, and God’s guidance, she was able to realize that dream.
Inspired by her own educational journey, Colene advocates for the youth’s right to education and gender equality. Through her work with child-centered organizations, she promotes philosophizing and critical thinking in early childhood education, using philosophy to empower young minds and drive meaningful social change.
She aspires to pursue law school as this continues her lifelong commitment to learning, public service, and advocating for children’s rights.
Janine Sofia Marie Umiten
Bachelor of Science in Social Work
Class Representative
Sofia describes her self-care routine during hell week as “doomscrolling on my phone until I fall asleep” and would even convince herself as one deserving of time playing The Sims on her laptop.
“Most of the time, I glue myself to my desk and stay there until I feel confident in the work I have accomplished,” she explained. All these she had to leave behind when she had her fieldwork in La Union and lived with farmers who do not have regular access to water.
Leaving her comfort zone taught her to be in touch with her senses and appreciate things that she would often overlook.
Her experience made her realize that her role was not to organize the community of La Union farmers “as if change depended on me,” but “to learn from the people and help them create spaces where they recognize their power.”
“To my fellow iskolar ng bayan, there is a reason why we are subject to public scrutiny. After all, our education is made possible through the taxes of the Filipino people. We have a duty not to let it serve the interest of the powerful, but be of use to marginalized communities. From these experiences, I finally learned what sets the UP education apart. It is not the rigor of mastering theories, but the humility it cultivates within us to recognize that excellence must be rooted in serving the people by seeing the world through their eyes,” she said.