The University of Perpetual Help System (UPHS) through its Colleges of Maritime Education (CME) in both Las Piñas and Biñan Campuses has graduated this School Year 2018-2019 a total of 15 Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (BSNAME) students and 2 NIMASA cadets, and at the same time recognized a total of 189 academic completers under Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) program, and 40 cadets under the Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSMarE) program.
The Guests of Honor and Speakers during the Graduation, Recognition, and Ringhop Ceremonies of UPHSD CME include Her Excellency Adekunbi Abibat Sonaike-Ayodeji-mni, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Republic of the Philippines, and Chief Engineer Romeo Luzuriaga, MAEd, President and CEO of Competence Management and Consultancy, Inc. Dr Daisy Moran Tamayo, the Co-Founder of UPHSD and Chair of the Chief Executive Board also graced the occasion.
On the other hand, Engineer Felix Oca, the President of the Philippine Association of Maritime Institutions (PAMI), and concurrently, the Vice President of Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) was the Guest of Honor and Speaker in Biñan campus. In his welcome remarks, Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo PCG(Ret), the UPHS Senior Executive Vice President for Maritime Affairs, and concurrently, the Executive Director for International Student Affairs, said the time has come for the UPHS to turn over its graduates and cadets to their benefactors in the shipping and shipbuilding industry. Admiral Tamayo reported that during the last 5 years alone, both Las Piñas and Biñan campuses have produced more than 2,000 combined graduates and academic completers which is the UPHS’ significant contribution to the Philippine Seafaring industry.
Admiral Tamayo extended his gratitude to Dr/Brig Gen Antonio Laperal Tamayo, Chairman of the Board and CEO of UPHS, and his son, Mr Anthony Jose Moran Tamayo, President of UPHSD for their unwavering support in helping ensure that both CMEs of Las Piñas and Biñan campuses remain compliant to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers, and to the implementing Policies, Standards, and Guidelines under CHED Memo Nos. 67 and 70, series of 2017.
In general, the Guest Speakers inspired the cadets to immediately pursue or undergo their shipboard training, eventually graduate, and subsequently take the licensure examination to realize their dream to become merchant marine officers. Dr Al Loreto, the UPHSD School Director together with the Deans of UPHSD and UPHSL CME – Captain Lexington Calumpang, C/M Danilo Lumbres, Engr Verna Azucena, and Capt Ruszell Apachecha added color to the said ceremonies.
In his message, Dr/Brig Gen Tamayo reminded the graduates and academic completers to live up to the Perpetualites’ ideals and guiding principle that “Character Building is Nation Building” and to continue to be proud Perpetualite achievers in their respective areas of deployment.