The University of Northern Philippines (UNP) College of Nursing celebrated a historic milestone as it held its 56th Capping, Pinning, and Candle Lighting Ceremony on September 12, 2025, at the UNP Gymnasium.
With the theme “Illuminating the Future of Healthcare Through Service and Leadership,” the ceremony marked the transition of 228 Level II nursing students, collectively called Batch GIL-AYAB—an Ilocano term meaning “spark of light”—as they embarked on the next phase of their journey as student nurses.
The celebration opened with a solemn Holy Mass that set a tone of spiritual grounding and unity for the day. Faculty, families, and dignitaries joined in blessing the students as they prepared to embrace a profession anchored in compassion, service, and ethical care. Adding prestige to the occasion were Dr. Rolando B. Navarro, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Hon. Nestor Fajaro, Alumni Regent, whose presence underscored the significance of the milestone.
The highlight of the program was the keynote address of Ms. Natanya Joana Argel Camacho, Provincial Chief Nurse of Ilocos Sur, a proud UNP alumna (BSN Class of 2007) and current PhD candidate. Sharing insights from her own journey, she introduced the acronym LIFE as a guiding principle for future nurses: Listen—to patients, mentors, and one’s inner calling; Internalize—the lessons of empathy and clinical excellence; Focus—on the nobility of nursing as a lifelong vocation; and Execute—with integrity, even in the face of challenges.
The donning of caps and pins signified the students’ formal entry into clinical training, a tradition that pays tribute to the legacy of Florence Nightingale. The ceremony reached a solemn highlight as each student lit a candle—symbolizing their commitment to carry the light of knowledge, compassion, and hope into their future practice. The event concluded with the collective recitation of the Florence Nightingale Pledge, affirming their dedication to ethical standards and patient-centered care.
Batch GIL-AYAB’s name embodies their calling as “sparks of light” in the healthcare field, echoing UNP’s mission to shape leaders who combine technical expertise with moral integrity. For more than five decades, the College of Nursing has produced graduates who have upheld this mission—responding to community health needs with compassion, demonstrating leadership in times of crisis, and advancing excellence through evidence-based practice.
As the ceremony concluded, the glow of candles illuminated not just the gymnasium, but also the promise of a brighter, more compassionate future for healthcare, one led by UNP’s dedicated torchbearers of care and competence.
Article by Rizza Abinsay
