Naga College Foundation, Inc. (NCF) successfully mounted the second installment of its 79th Commencement Exercises for the second cluster of future-proof graduates on June 27, 2026, at the NCF Grounds, NCF Main Campus—radiating with pride and a shared vision for tomorrow.
Guided by the institutional compass, “NCF Class of 2026: Anchored in Values, Empowered by Technology, Committed to Lifelong Learning,” the prestigious academic rites honored the perseverance of nearly 1,100 graduation candidates from the Colleges of Accountancy and Finance (CAF), Criminal Justice Education (CCJE), and Engineering (COE) as they formally unlocked their degrees, primed to transform the landscape of local and global industries.
Steering the afternoon’s inspiration was a trailblazing architect of digital-age education, Dr. Dennis Franco M. Layug, the President and Chief Executive Officer of East West International Educational Specialists, Inc. and the Asian Institute for Artificial Intelligence, who served as the Commencement Speaker.
Addressing the massive assembly, Dr. Layug spoke passionately on resilience and identity, charging the graduates to “keep the humanity alive in a world driven by algorithms.”
“The real superheroes are the ones who keep showing up after failure; the ones who continue despite fear… In a world of filters, your superpower is authenticity,” Dr. Layug emphasized.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates’ shared journeys, struggles, and ultimate breakthroughs, Mr. Christian Daniel M. Balingquit, Magna Cum Laude, delivered an evocative address, rallying fellow graduates to deploy their NCean education as a force for good, defying a world characterized by inequality, corruption, and uncertainty.
“If our time here is indeed limited, then the fact that we chose kindness and courage matters more,” Mr. Balingquit added.
Infusing the ceremony with profound institutional pride, Mr. Mario C. Villanueva, NCF President, commended the graduates for their grit and capacity for innovation, underscoring the institution’s mission to equip leaders who are both technologically adept and deeply principled.
“We are just not proud of what you have done, we are expectants of what you will do. You carry the legacy of NCF in your hands… Go out and build a world that is safer, stronger, and more prosperous for everyone. Go forward with values, create with purpose, and keep learning without limits,” President Villanueva stated.
As the symbolic shifting of tassels concluded and diplomas were proudly raised, the Tigers’ community stands in solidarity with these new professionals as they ascend to greater heights, carrying with them the indelible mark of the Home of the Champions.