Observer

𝗨-𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔: 𝑰𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏?

We are often told that failure is merely a detour, a gentle teacher disguised as a setback. We are encouraged to "fail forward," to embrace the collapse of our plans, and to believe that making mistakes is just a beautiful part of the process. But in the quiet hours of the night—in between the suffocating noise of expectations and the relentless pressure to survive—we are forced to confront a harder, sharper reality.

Failure is not an option for someone who doesn't have a privilege to fail. The truth is, failure is an expensive luxury. It is a hidden privilege reserved only for those who have a cushion to catch them when they trip.

For some of us, there is no safety net waiting beneath the tightrope we walk. There is no backup plan, no sudden inheritance, and no alternative option. It’s just you. If you fall, you don’t just bruise yourself—you feel the entire weight of the collapse. For those carrying the hopes of parents or aging guardians who aren't getting any younger, the clock is always ticking. And for those who have no one at all—the working students putting themselves through school, the ones fighting entirely alone—there is no one else to pass the torch to. Every decision carries the weight of a life-or-death sentence. You carry the silent tears, the early mornings, and the absolute necessity to make it out alive.

In a life built from scratch, you don't get the luxury of throwing a tantrum or giving up when things get hard. You just have to hunker down, humble down, and keep moving. You swallow the pride, you accept the exhaustion, and you quiet the anxiety because you know that stopping isn't an option.

This is for the dreamers who feel paralyzed not by laziness, but by the sheer, terrifying magnitude of the stakes. If you have been beating yourself up lately because you feel like your growth looks like stillness, remember this: your mind is working at full capacity just trying to bear the gravity of your responsibilities. You are not doing nothing. You are fighting to secure a future that no one else will build for you.

To those grinding without a safety net, hunkering down through the storm: give your heart some grace. You are fighting a war where failure cannot be an option, yet you still find the strength to bow your head and take the next step. It is heavy, it is exhausting, but it is not invisible. One day, the pressure will ease, and what you only imagined will finally live securely in your hands. Padayon.

🖋️: D.S. Perida
📷: J.M. Tamse
💻: J. Labiste

𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 | “Finally…” — a simple word filled with countless emotions, realizations, and dreams fulfilled.

Discover their stories as graduates share the heartfelt thoughts behind their “finally” moment on one of the most memorable day of their college journey.

🖋️: T.M. Ymas
📷: J.M. Morallos
💻: J. Labiste, T.M. Ymas

Words transcribed by Trisha Mae Ymas and Jessica Castil

𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨.

As part of the Student Publications Office, we, the Observer, are proud to celebrate the achievements of our dear seniors. Throughout their journey, they did not only excel in academics but also showcased commendable talent and skill in storytelling, photojournalism, broadcasting, layout design, and illustration, making each campus story come to life.

As you continue pursuing your dreams and reaching greater heights, always remember that we are all so proud of you. Keep believing in yourselves, embrace every opportunity, and continue to inspire others through your passion and perseverance.

Thank you for leaving a lasting legacy in Observer. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Congratulations, slay-niors!

💻: J. Labiste

𝐈𝐍 𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐒 | Moments of pride, achievement, and celebration as graduates crossed a significant milestone during the 23rd Commencement Exercises on May 28, 2026, at the Ormoc City Superdome.

🖋️: T.M. Ymas
📷: J.M. Tamse, T.M. Francisco, J.M. Morallos

𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝟐𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬

Anchored in a theme, “A Journey of Value, A Future of Purpose,” the Graduation Ceremony of the Batch Bahandi of Eastern Visayas State University – Ormoc Campus was successfully held at the Ormoc City Superdome on May 28.

With a path filled with dreams and success, the ceremony officially began with the processional march of the graduates together with their parents, faculty and staff, university key officials, guests, and the presentation of flags and colors.

Thereafter, Dr. Dennis C. De Paz formally introduced the guest speaker of the ceremony, Dr. Jayeel S. Cornelio, Director IV of the Science Education Institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). During his inspiring commencement address, Dr. Cornelio reminded Batch Bahandi that education should not only lead to personal success, but also inspire them to fight for their dreams, stand for one another, and work towards a future where no child is left behind.

“Kapag mahal mo, pinahahalagahan mo. Kapag pinahahalagahan mo, ipinaglalaban mo.”

Emphasizing love, unity, and social responsibility, he challenged the graduates to use their knowledge and privilege to resist injustice and become instruments of hope and change for the country.

The presentation of the candidates followed, consisting of the Teacher Education Department, Hospitality and Tourism Management Department, Industrial Technology Department, Computer Studies Department, and the Engineering Department.

In addition, the petition for conferment of degrees was delivered by Dr. Benedicto T. Militante, Jr., Vice President for Academic Affairs, followed by the conferment of degrees and awarding of diplomas led by Dr. De Paz and Dr. Maricel A. Gomez, EVSU-OC’s Campus Director, and assisted by Prof. Joanah Benitez, Campus Registrar.

Furthermore, the Award for Academic Excellence in Science and Technology was also presented to DOST Scholar graduates who excelled in their respective academic programs.

In continuation, the Pledge of Loyalty was pronounced by Ms. Mary Krystine L. Jugar, Summa Cum Laude from the Bachelor of Elementary Education. It was then followed by the induction of graduates to EVSU-OC General Alumni Association spearheaded by Hon. Daniel A. Ariaso Sr., President of the Federation of EVSU Alumni Associations.

For a teary moment, the graduates sang their graduation song, “Dreams We Hold,” followed by a heartfelt tribute to their parents through the song “We Made It Through.”

Capping off the ceremony, the graduates proudly sang the EVSU March, followed by the recessional and a picture-taking session.

🖋: J.M. Morallos
📷: T.M. Francisco, J.M. Tamse, J.M. Morallos

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 | Proud smiles, heartfelt cheers, and unforgettable moments filled the Ormoc City Superdome as graduates of Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) Ormoc Campus celebrated their Graduation Ceremony today, May 28, 2026.
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‎The ceremony marked the culmination of years of perseverance, sacrifices, and dedication as graduates officially closed one chapter of their academic journey.
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‎Surrounded by proud parents, friends, and loved ones, the graduates celebrated not only their academic achievements but also the memories and experiences that shaped them throughout their university life.
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‎🖋️: M. Bohol
📷: T.M. Francisco, J.M. Tamse, J.M. Morallos

“𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼, 𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗼. 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗴 𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗼, 𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗼.”

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 | The four corners of the Ormoc City Superdome reverberated with inspiration and conviction as Dr. Jayeel S. Cornelio, Director IV of the Science Education Institute under the Department of Science and Technology, delivered a meaningful and empowering message to the graduates of Class of 2026 — Batch Bahandi, today, May 28.

Dr. Cornelio left the graduates with three significant reminders anchored on dreams, unity, and social responsibility.

“𝗙𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀.”

He emphasized that dreams become greater when they are no longer centered on oneself, but are rooted in love for the people who matter most.

“𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗶 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗻𝗮 ’𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗮 𝗺𝗴𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼 𝘀𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝗵𝗮𝘆. 𝗕𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘁? 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼, 𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗼.”

“𝗙𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.”

He reminded the graduates that success is never achieved alone, as every victory is deeply connected to the sacrifices and unwavering support of the people who stood behind them throughout their journey, especially their parents and loved ones.

“𝗙𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱.”

Highlighting the realities of inequality in the country, Dr. Cornelio discussed how Eastern Visayas remains among the regions heavily affected by the learning crisis, alongside the BANGSAMORO and CARAGA regions.

He then challenged the graduates to use education not only as a privilege, but as a weapon against injustice.

“𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗶𝗻𝘆𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶 𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗮 𝘀𝗶 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘄𝗲𝘆, ‘𝗜𝗳 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁, 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱.’ 𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗩𝗦𝗨 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻.”

Speaking not merely as a government official but as a Filipino, he emotionally expressed his hopes for a nation where no child is deprived of education because of an unjust system.

"𝗔𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗯, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘁. 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗻𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗴-𝗶𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗻 𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗶 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝘀𝗶𝘆𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗮. 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗶 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝘆𝗮 𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗩𝗦𝗨."

As his words echoed throughout the Superdome, Batch Bahandi was reminded that education carries a responsibility not only to succeed, but to serve, resist injustices, and fight for a future built on hope and equality.

“𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗕𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶, 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀, 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱.”

🖋️: A.J. Marquez
📷: T.M. Francisco
💻: T.M. Ymas, J. Labiste