By Alexia Hernandez
“Vote for those whose leadership is confident, yet humble. Courageous, yet God fearing,” Silliman University (SU) alumnus Hon. Ramon Antonio de Asis Ruperto said during the 67th Annual Honors Day Convocation last April 23 at the SU Gymnasium.
Speaking to over 1,700 honorees, Hon. Ruperto urged them to uphold responsibility in choosing the nation’s future leaders in the forthcoming national midterm elections.
“For the Filipinos here, who are registered to vote in the upcoming elections, one simple yet powerful way to fulfill this duty is to vote wisely,” he said.
Hon. Ruperto stressed that voters must critically assess the candidates’ “capacity, character, and competence.”
“To be fair, education alone does not guarantee good leadership,” he noted, highlighting an irony that regular jobs require more academic qualifications than running for public office.
According to Hon. Ruperto, “anyone can run for office,” thus, voters “must demand more from those who seek to govern.”
“Before you cast your vote, it is a responsibility to know the candidates, examine their track record, study their platform and assess their capacity to lead,” he reminded the students.
Living by H.O.N.O.R
As the guest speaker, Hon. Ruperto centered on the meaning of “living with honor,” using each letter of the word to anchor his message of humility, open-mindedness, nurturing, optimism, and responsibility.
“Let honor be not just something you receive today, but something you live by every day,” he shared.
He encouraged the honorees to remain humble by recognizing that their achievements were built on the support of parents, teachers, and peers.
“When you’re humble enough to admit you don’t know everything, you become open to learning,” he said.
According to him, open-mindedness means having the courage to learn from others and to respect differing perspectives—a critical skill not just in academic pursuits but in daily life.
Hon. Ruperto also called the honorees to nurture others and advocate for “compassion, collaboration, and generosity.”
“Nurturing means lifting others up, sharing opportunities, and being generous with what you know,” he said.
On life’s challenges, he emphasized that “optimism is crucial in overcoming setbacks and remaining resilient.”
Moreover, Hon. Ruperto stressed the importance of “responsibility” in honor, describing it as the “most urgent call to action” especially at a time when integrity in leadership is crucial for national progress.
“Use your gift not only for personal advancement, but also for the development of others and the progress of our country,” he stated.
During the ceremony, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research Dr. Margaret Hele Alvarez introduced Hon. Ruperto, who she described as a “proud True Red Sillimanian” for spending his education from early childhood to Law School at SU.
Hon. Ruperto was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2011 and currently serves as the presiding judge of Sibulan Municipal Trial Court.
Celebrating academic excellence
SU President Betty Cernol-McCann confirmed a total 1,778 student-honorees this school year which includes 1,255 class honors, 407 college honors, and 116 university honors across all year levels.
Meanwhile, this year’s university co-curricular awardees include Mark Angelo B Cadungog from the College of Education (COE) for Service Award.
Enrica Marian F. Dinopol, former SU Student Government (SUSG) president, also received the 2025 Leadership Award and was recognized as the Most Outstanding Student of The Year.
Respective college deans also graced the ceremony, with parents, families, and friends attending the annual event.
This year also marks the return of the annual honors at the SU Gymnasium after being temporarily moved to the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium for two years due to the renovation of the university library.
