𝑺𝑶𝑵’𝒔 𝑩𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝑺𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒂 𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝟏𝟓𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒚, 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑴𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝑻𝒐𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑵𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈

The School of Nursing (SON) of J.H. Cerilles State College (JHCSC) celebrated the 15th Pinning Ceremony of Batch Soteria on May 31, 2025, at the Pavilion Hall, Provincial Center. With the theme “Embracing Excellence: Empowering Compassionate and Competent Nurses,” the event was spearheaded by SON Dean, Prof. Marjo S. Malabanan, MN, with the support of JHCSC President Dr. Edgardo H. Rosales. The ceremony served as a symbolic transition of the graduating students from the academic setting to the professional field of nursing.

JHCSC Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Vilma C. Grengia, graced the event, showing her unwavering support for the future nurses. The guest of honor and resource speaker, Mr. King Q. Caritativo, RN, MD, and Municipal Health Officer of RHU-Tukuran, expressed pride in JHCSC’s caliber of graduates. He engaged students with questions on compassion and competence and encouraged them to strive for self-improvement. Quoting, “Hard work can beat talent if your talent is not hard work,” Dr. Caritativo emphasized the value of perseverance, faith in God, and staying grounded in purpose. Representatives from partner hospitals, including Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center and Aisah Medical Hospital, along with Nurse Michael Salvador, ORNAP Officer of the Zamboanga Chapter, also attended the occasion.

The term “Soteria,” rooted in classical Greek, signifies deliverance, safety, or salvation—aptly symbolizing the journey of the graduating batch who have completed their internships and are now ready to enter the demanding yet rewarding world of healthcare. Student achiever Mr. Hope Mejos delivered a heartfelt speech, sharing his journey and how his challenges molded him into the nurse he is today. He expressed gratitude to the faculty, peers, and families who supported them along the way.

In his address, JHCSC President Dr. Edgardo H. Rosales lauded the resource speaker and laid out his vision for the School of Nursing. He committed to pushing for sustainable development and enhanced academic services and expressed hope that SON will soon become independent from the WMSU Consortium. He even hinted at a potential medical course in the future, with Dr. Caritativo as a prospective dean. Prof. Malabanan, meanwhile, challenged all 72 graduating students to aim for a 100% passing rate in the nursing licensure examination.

The pinning ceremony concluded with a sense of triumph and optimism. As Batch Soteria prepares to face the real world, they carry with them not only knowledge and skills but also the values of compassion, excellence, and resilience—marking the beginning of their noble journey as future healthcare professionals.