CCAD recognized the exceptional achievements of its graduating Class of 2026 through the conferment of the College’s Special Awards (or Ganti) during Pagbudyong 2026: Rito sa Pagtadlas ug Pasidungog. Celebrating excellence in research, scholarship, leadership, service, and creative practice, the awards honored graduates who distinguished themselves both inside and beyond the classroom, reflecting the College’s commitment to academic rigor, creative innovation, and public service.
Among the highlights of the ceremony was the conferment of the Ganti sa Hamiling Paniksik (Best Thesis Award), which recognized exemplary undergraduate research that demonstrated academic excellence and meaningful contributions to the fields of communication, design, and visual arts.
For the Bachelor of Arts in Communication, the Best Thesis Award was conferred upon Erna Josette Mazo Bonsukan, Adrian Aguilar Campugan, and Jade Ipong Himalaloan for their study, Shared Sea, Shared Risk: A “SEA”mbolic Interactionism Analysis on the Marine-Based Disaster Risk Construct of the Badjaos in Sitio NABA, Mambaling, Cebu. The Second Place Award was presented to Cris Fernan Locaylocay Bayaga, Alyanna Nicole Ngo Lauzon, and Lynda Katherine Bentulan Mecaros for their research, The City is Sea-nking: Determining the Explicit-Tacit Knowledge Divide Among Fisherfolk in Mandaue City Coastal Communities on Sea Level Rise through Narrative Storytelling in Communicating Risks on Sea-Level Rise. Meanwhile, Gabrielle Aña Gamalinda Asprer and Gwyneth Anne Sevilleno Tinga received the Third Place Award for their thesis, Stickers on College Items: A Semiotic Resource for Meaning-Making among UP Cebu Students.
In recognition of their contribution to international scholarship, Cris Fernan L. Bayaga, Alyanna Nicole N. Lauzon, and Lynda Katherine B. Mecaros also received a Special Citation for International Research Presentation for presenting their undergraduate thesis at the 2025 International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Conference, held at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, under the theme “Communicating Environmental Justice: Many Voices, One Planet.”
In the Bachelor of Fine Arts – Product Design, the Best Thesis Award was presented to Jessin Amor Cartagena Kionisala for HAYAG: A Modular Mobile Community Library for Activating Informal Urban Spaces into Child-Centered Learning Environments in Sawang Calero, Cebu City. Reem Adta Abdul received the Second Place Award for AMUMA: A Multi-SSensory Learning System for Inclusive Literacy and Numeracy Learning Among Children with Special Educational Needs, while Faye Yolanda Merioles Salvacion was recognized with the Third Place Award for HÚLMA: Incorporating Animal Bone Food Waste to Traditional Terracotta Practices.
The College also conferred Special Citations upon Rina Zen Dagideban Lapiña, Johnsenn Ann Gagani Rosatase, and Precious Angeli Sinco Suarez for outstanding design projects that exemplified innovation in modular retail design, cultural fashion expression, and collaborative hybrid making.
Studio Wellbeing, under the mentorship of Asst. Prof. Lionel Joseph Sanchez, PhD, was recognized as the Best Design Studio for demonstrating excellence in design thinking, collaboration, and creative practice throughout the academic year.
For the Bachelor of Fine Arts – Studio Arts, the Best Thesis Award was conferred upon Phil Angelo Manigos Sevilla for REMNANTS: A Solo Thesis Exhibition. Dominic Matthew Salmeron Ricardo received the Second Place Award for KUNGPUSILONTIKAAA: A Solo Thesis Exhibition, while April Maureen Pitogo Burcila and Giela Ann Odivilas Delleva were recognized as Third Place Finalists for their solo exhibitions, LÍM-AW and Imminent/Immanent, respectively.
Beyond recognizing academic and creative excellence, the College also honored graduates whose contributions strengthened the CCAD community through leadership and service.
The Ganti sa Halangdong Alagad (Service Award) was presented to Cris Fernan Locaylocay Bayaga (Communication), Ardinian Jaq Quilisadio Sanque (Product Design), and Ram Andre Papasin Cosmo (Studio Arts) for their exemplary commitment to serving the College and the wider community.
Meanwhile, the Ganti sa Halangdong Pangulo (Leadership Award) recognized graduates who demonstrated integrity, initiative, and servant leadership throughout their years at CCAD. The award was conferred upon Jade Ipong Himalaloan (Communication), Jan Paolo Ygot Cormanes (Product Design), and Ram Andre Papasin Cosmo (Studio Arts).
The ceremony also recognized the highest academic achievers in each degree program through the Ganti sa Bantugang Iskolar (Outstanding Graduate Award). The distinction was awarded to Cris Fernan Locaylocay Bayaga, who graduated Summa Cum Laude with a General Weighted Average of 1.19270 in the Bachelor of Arts in Communication; Precious Angeli Sinco Suarez, who graduated Magna Cum Laude with a General Weighted Average of 1.35204 in the Bachelor of Fine Arts – Product Design; and Jasper Manubag Villacin, who graduated Magna Cum Laude with a General Weighted Average of 1.37244 in the Bachelor of Fine Arts – Studio Arts.
Padayon sa paglambo, paglalang, ug pagpangalagad sa katilingban. Mabuhi ang mga gradwado sa CCAD!