UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, PHILIPPINES
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES 2025
WELCOME GREETINGS
Good morning! Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat! Warmest greetings of love, joy and peace to you from the Office of the President of Union Theological Seminary, Philippines. I am glad to welcome you: UTS graduating classes of 2025, your parents, family members, and friends joining and celebrating with you on this momentous occasion—your graduation in the academic degrees and theological studies you have worked for for several years.
I would like to welcome as well members of the UTS Board of Trustees present with us and will assume roles in the program: Pastor Julie Anne Valle-Quiris, Rev. Migfred Taruc, and Rev. Dr. Menre Mendillo. Also, we welcome our UTS Alumni represented by the Alumni President, Rev. Danilo Marmol. I would like to especially welcome our commencement speaker, Dr. Jayeel Cornelio. He will be properly introduced later in the program.
On this occasion there are few things that need be to mentioned about UTS as a Ministerial Formation and Theological Education Center:
First: UTS has very satisfactorily passed the ATESEA accreditation evaluation and got a Re-accreditation of its three academic programs. First, is our new 95 unit curriculum for Master of Divinity, second is the Bachelor of Theology and third is the Master of Theology. The curricula of the three academic programs seek to deepen our engagement in the socio-political-economic and ecological crises we face as a nation in the world. These strengthen our commitment for mission and vision of “The School of the Prophets.” Let us give a round of applause for UTS.
We are also revisiting the Theological Education by Extension or TEE and Doctor of Ministry Programs this year. I would also like to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the TEE program which was celebrated in November 2025. (Ask TEE alumni to stand)
Second, we take pride in our faculty development program. This year, we have two members of our faculty doing their PhD coursework. Rev. Sianne Gabor-Mendoza is at Yonsei University, South Korea, and Rev. Hazel Joyce Salatan is at Garrett Evangelical Seminary in Illinois, U.S.A. Rev. Eric Baldonado and Rev. Lilibeth Tauy Tendero are both now writing their dissertation. Finally, we are happy to harvest the fruits of our faculty development program this commencement as two faculty scholars are earning the Master of Theology degrees today: Rev. Mark Cezar Cabansag and Rev. Carleen Nomorosa. Congratulations!
Third, as in the past, our students come from multiple contexts. Among our graduating students, aside from the United Methodists and United Church of Christ, we also have from IEMELIF (Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas), and Baptists. Vath Boualapha is from Laos and our two DMin graduating students are from Myanmar, Htingnan Shawng and Nan Latt. We will continue to strive to serve more communities here and beyond.
Fourth, for several decades UTS was U-tiis (literally means “you endure”), perhaps it was from such a context that cash gifts were given for academic excellence. In the past few years, the financial aid and scholarship program, along with the support of the sending churches of the UCCP and UMC, has improved. In February this year, the Academic Council, the faculty voted to review the policy of academic awards, including cash gifts. It was also voted that we will continue to give awards for academic excellence but the cash gifts will not be granted this year. The sponsors have been advised of this development and the faculty will craft a new merit policy according to our new curricula. One that truly values merit and learning.
Fifth, we remember significant persons in the life of UTS who have passed on just in the past few weeks: Rev. Dr. Afrie Songco-Joye, Bishop. Emergencio Padillo, UCCP, former BOT member, and Bishop Benjamin Justo who served as Academic Dean. Their love and valuable contribution to the life and ministry of UTS and its wider community will be remembered and cherished forever.
Finally, we recognize our Myanmar sisters and brothers present with us today. We would like to express our sincere solidarity to the Myanmar people severely impacted by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake. Please know that we sustain our support for your people with our prayers, advocacy work, and material support we can share with you.
Once again, welcome to the UTS 2025 Commencement Exercises. God bless us all.
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