I. Prelude
On the afternoon of May 6, 2026, at precisely half past four, the covered court of Holy Cross College will open its gates to a moment forty years in the making.
The 40th Commencement Exercise is not merely a ceremony. It is a ritual of passage. And at its center are 584 candidates for graduation — the Class of 2026 — whose journey through 213 school days, 77 thesis defenses, and countless quiet sacrifices will finally find its formal conclusion.
This article serves as a primer. What follows is a measured, comprehensive portrait of the graduating batch, the honors they have earned, the programs they represent, and the ceremony that awaits.
II. The Batch in Profile
As of the official data recorded on April 30, 2026, the graduating class is composed of:
236 male candidates
348 female candidates
584 total candidates for graduation
This represents one of the largest graduating cohorts in the college’s recent history, reflecting both the institution’s growth and the resilience of a batch that navigated a rigorous academic landscape.
The academic year formally opened on July 14, 2025. Two hundred thirteen school days later, on May 6, 2026, that same year will close — not with a whisper, but with the 40th Commencement Exercises.
III. Academic Honors: The Jewels of the Class
The college has long taken pride in recognizing excellence. The Class of 2026 continues that tradition.
The following academic distinctions will be conferred during the ceremony:
Distinction Number of Recipients
Summa Cum Laude 02
Magna Cum Laude 15
Cum Laude 03
With Academic Commendation 31
Total academic awardees: 51
These figures represent not merely grade point averages, but sustained excellence across multiple semesters, programs, and disciplines. The two Summa Cum Laude honorees, in particular, stand at the apex of an already distinguished class.
IV. Program Distribution: Where They Come From
The graduating class spans eleven programs, ranging from teacher education to criminology, business to computer science. Below is the official breakdown:
Program Code Number of Graduates
Bachelor of Elementary Education BEED 75
Bachelor of Secondary Education – English BSEDE 54
Bachelor of Secondary Education – Mathematics BSEDM 9
Bachelor of Business Administration – Financial Management BSBAFM 51
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy BSA 6
Bachelor of Science in Accounting Information System BSAIS 23
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science BSCS 66
Bachelor of Science in Criminology BSCRIM 103
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management BSHM 103
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Marketing Management BSBAMM 87
Associate in Computer Technology ACT 7
The largest programs are Criminology and Hospitality Management, each contributing 103 graduates. The smallest is Accountancy, with six — a number that speaks not to weakness but to the demanding nature of the discipline.
V. By the Numbers: The Batch’s Academic Labor
Behind every graduation is labor. The Class of 2026 leaves behind a trail of quantifiable achievement:
584 narrative reports completed across all programs
77 thesis and research projects successfully defended
74 OJT and practicum partner sites where students trained under real-world conditions
10 major events hosted by the college’s various programs, with active student participation
338 regular subjects taken during Academic Year 2023–2024 alone
These figures are not decorative. They represent the core of a Holy Cross education: rigor, application, and formation.
VI. The Commencement Speaker
The college has confirmed that Aileen Yap Alcantara vda Hernal, DepEd District Supervisor of Makati, will serve as the commencement speaker.
Her distinguished career in educational administration positions her to offer not only congratulations but also sober counsel to graduates entering a complex professional world. Her address is anticipated to be a centerpiece of the ceremony.
VII. The Graduation Song
In a departure from tradition, the official graduation song for the 40th Commencement Exercises is “Huling Sayaw Kamikazee.”
The choice reflects the batch’s character: energetic, collective, and unafraid of emotion. The song, which speaks of a final dance before parting, has been embraced by the graduating class as an anthem of both celebration and farewell.
VIII. The Ceremony: What to Expect
Date: May 6, 2026 (Wednesday)
Time: 4:30 PM
Venue: HCC Covered Court
Occasion: 40th Commencement Exercise
The program will follow the standard academic procession, including the entrance of the faculty, the conferral of degrees, the presentation of honors, the commencement address, and the ceremonial turning of the sablay or tassel.
The singing of “Huling Sayaw Kamikazee” is expected to occur toward the latter part of the program, following the final benediction or as a collective closing ritual.
IX. A Note to the Community
As of this writing, the event has not yet taken place. Preparation continues. The covered court is being arranged. The stage is being dressed. The graduates, meanwhile, find themselves in that strange corridor between the end of classes and the beginning of forever.
For the families: arrive early. Parking will be limited. Bring flowers, tissues, and patience.
For the faculty: thank you for the 213 school days.
For the graduates: you have written 584 reports, defended 77 theses, and survived 338 subjects. One afternoon remains. Walk across that stage like you own it — because, in a way, you do.
X. Closing Statement
The 40th Commencement Exercise is, on paper, a ceremony.
But for the Class of 2026 — 584 candidates, 51 academic awardees, 11 programs, one batch — it is the final period on a long, difficult, beautiful sentence.
May 6, 2026. 4:30 PM. HCC Covered Court.
Forty years of commencements.
One batch’s beginning.