AMA University Online Education (OEd) will hold its 2026 Commencement Exercises on October 26, bringing together graduates from the Philippines and around the world for a milestone that reflects how flexible learning continues to reshape the traditional academic experience.
The celebration will begin with the Virtual Commencement at 10 a.m., followed by a Baccalaureate and Thanksgiving Mass at 12:15 p.m. at the Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Power Plant Mall, Rockwell. The day's ceremonies will culminate in the face-to-face commencement at 3 p.m. at The Proscenium Theater, Rockwell Center in Makati City.
A total of 550 students are set to graduate from OEd this year, with 250 graduates participating face-to-face and 300 joining virtually. The graduates come from a diverse range of academic levels, including Senior High School, undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs.
More than simply a series of ceremonies held on the same day, the commencement highlights OEd's approach to education—creating opportunities for students to complete their studies through flexible learning options while remaining part of a shared academic community.
For the graduating class of 2026, the occasion marks not only the completion of their academic journey but also the possibilities that open up when education adapts to the changing needs of learners.
A graduating class beyond borders
The international reach of AMA University Online Education (OEd) is reflected in its graduating community, which extends far beyond the Philippines. Among those expected to attend the face-to-face commencement are students based in Bahrain, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Macau, New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates, among other countries.
For overseas Filipinos, working professionals, and learners balancing education with family and other responsibilities, online learning offers an opportunity to pursue a degree without putting the rest of life on pause.
Their graduation stories demonstrate how education can adapt to the realities of modern learners. Whether studying from another country, managing a career, or fulfilling family responsibilities, students can continue working toward their academic goals while navigating the demands of everyday life.
For OEd's graduates, commencement is more than the conclusion of their studies. It is a reminder that the opportunity to earn a degree does not have to be limited by geography, work schedules, or where a learner happens to be in life.
Dr. Amable C. Aguiluz IX: Making education move with life
That belief will take center stage in the commencement message of Dr. Amable C. Aguiluz IX, Vice Chairman, CEO and Founder of AMA University Online Education (OEd).
Guided by this year's theme, “LIMITLESS: The Digital Pulse of Success,” Aguiluz IX returns to a question that has been central to OEd's vision: Why should a person's location, career, family responsibilities, age, or circumstances determine whether they can continue their education?
His answer is rooted in a straightforward principle: education should not require people to put their lives on hold—it should move with their lives.
For Aguiluz IX, the Class of 2026 represents this principle in action. Many of the graduates pursued their studies while working, raising families, or living far from a traditional campus. Their journeys demonstrate that “limitless” is not simply a theme for graduation day; it reflects the barriers they navigated and the determination that brought them to this milestone.
His message also looks ahead to a workplace increasingly transformed by artificial intelligence, automation, and digital technology. While graduates will need to understand, adapt to, and master these emerging tools, Aguiluz IX emphasizes that technology alone cannot define lasting success. Human qualities such as judgment, empathy, integrity, courage, and purpose remain essential.
The achievements of OEd's board topnotchers further reinforce this message, demonstrating that flexible and online education can coexist with academic excellence.
Ultimately, the Class of 2026 embodies a powerful idea: accessibility does not have to come at the expense of excellence, and the flexibility of online learning does not place a limit on how far a student can go.
Dr. Amable R. Aguiluz V: A legacy built around technology and education
The commencement also reflects the broader educational legacy of Dr. Amable R. Aguiluz V, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of AMA Education System (AMAES).
His presence in the program connects OEd's graduating class to the longstanding vision of AMA Education System, which has placed technology-driven education and innovation at the center of its approach to learning.
That vision has become even more relevant in an era when digitalization and artificial intelligence are transforming education, workplaces, and career pathways. As learners prepare to enter an increasingly technology-driven world, the ability to adapt, continue learning, and use technology meaningfully has become an essential part of long-term success.
For OEd graduates, carrying this legacy forward means entering the future with both digital readiness and the human qualities needed to make a meaningful difference.
Celebrating the people behind the milestone
Academic milestones are often measured through grades, honors, and diplomas, but behind every distinction is a story of determination, sacrifice, and the decision to keep moving forward.
For AMA University Online Education (OEd)'s graduating class, academic achievements reflect different journeys shaped by personal commitments, changing circumstances, and the pursuit of greater opportunities through education.
Among this year's outstanding achievers is Hans Gerard Nabong Maypa, a BSBA Marketing Management graduate who earned Magna Cum Laude honors. His achievement is joined by Akisha Fiona Samartino Santos, a Senior High School ABM graduate who received Highest Honor, and Edzen Mae Bobis Lacson, who completed a Doctor in Business Administration degree with Magna Cum Laude distinction.
Their accomplishments highlight the breadth of OEd's academic community, bringing together learners from different educational levels and backgrounds who have pursued their goals through flexible learning.
The recognition also extends to postgraduate graduates and board examination topnotchers, reinforcing the idea that academic excellence can be achieved through different educational pathways—not only within conventional classroom settings.
The achievements of the graduating class also resonate with OEd leadership, including Christopher P. Satulan, Chief Operating Officer, and Geraldine V. Barredo, Executive Director for Sales and Business Development.
Beyond academic honors, the commencement also draws inspiration from personalities whose own careers represent different dimensions of achievement, resilience, and personal growth. Among them are motivational speaker and bestselling author Arun O. Gogna, award-winning radio personality Nicole Hyala, and singer-songwriter and actor Nolo Lopez.
Together, these stories offer a broader perspective on what success can mean. It is not defined by a title or distinction alone, but also by the resilience to overcome challenges, the adaptability to embrace change, and the courage to pursue possibilities that may once have seemed out of reach.
Achievement without geographical boundaries
For the 300 graduates completing their OEd journey virtually, distance has been part of their educational experience—but it has never been a barrier to reaching this important milestone.
Their stories reflect the changing landscape of education, particularly for learners whose careers, family responsibilities, or geographical circumstances make traditional campus-based study difficult.
Among the virtual graduates is Marilou Llorente Ner, a BS Psychology graduate who earned Cum Laude honors. Her achievement demonstrates how a flexible learning environment can create opportunities for students to pursue higher education while navigating the realities of everyday life.
Academic excellence is equally evident among Senior High School graduates Sylphro Sebrynea Macabudbud of STEM and Jacel Mia Ondoy Lindo of ABM, both of whom are graduating with Highest Honor.
At the postgraduate level, Celeste Racelis Lucero, a Doctor in Business Administration graduate who earned Magna Cum Laude honors, represents another aspect of lifelong learning—the decision to continue pursuing advanced education and professional growth.
Their accomplishments reflect the diverse realities of OEd learners, many of whom have balanced their studies alongside careers, family responsibilities, and other commitments.
For OEd's academic community, including Melissa Aiza D. Pacheco, OEd Registrar, and Dr. Mary A. Soriano, Head of the Academic Department, the graduates demonstrate how education continues to evolve beyond the boundaries of a physical classroom.
Ultimately, the distinction between virtual and face-to-face learning becomes less important when measured against what graduates have accomplished. Whether they studied from a campus, a workplace, or somewhere across the world, they share the same achievement: completing an academic journey through determination, perseverance, and the belief that education remains possible wherever they are.
Different journeys, one destination
Some graduates will walk across the stage at The Proscenium Theater in Makati. Others will celebrate from behind their screens, joining the ceremony from different parts of the Philippines and overseas.
The format of OEd Commencement 2026 reflects these different journeys. The virtual ceremony gives distance learners their own formal moment of recognition. The Baccalaureate and Thanksgiving Mass offers graduates and their families an opportunity to pause, give thanks, and reflect on the journey. And the face-to-face commencement brings graduates, families, educators, and the academic community together to celebrate the milestone in person.
Together, these three moments reinforce the heart of this year's theme, “LIMITLESS: The Digital Pulse of Success.” The path toward a degree may look different for every learner, but opportunity does not have to be limited by distance, circumstance, or where a person happens to be.
As Dr. Amable C. Aguiluz IX reminds the graduating class, technology may remove the walls around the classroom, but graduates themselves must remove the walls around their ambition.
On October 26, 2026, OEd graduates will mark this achievement together—some inside The Proscenium Theater, others joining virtually from across the Philippines and around the world.
It is a fitting conclusion to an educational journey built on a simple but powerful belief: where a student begins should never determine how far that student can go.
