On 11 December 2021, the Executive Masters in Disaster Risk and Crisis Management (EMDRCM) program held a completion ceremony to celebrate the end of the second cohort’s academic journey. As they leave the Stephen Zuellig Graduate School of Development Management (SZSDM), they begin new journeys to lead and inspire individuals to become resilient amid new challenges and transform communities in the face of disaster and crisis.
A total of 28 students took part in this culmination activity. The ceremony honored three students from the cohort who all graduated with Academic Distinction: Jacqueline Angeles, Ezra Barboza, and Maria Cynthia Diaz.
The event also recognized the academic achievement of ten Dean’s listers: Jacqueline Angeles, Maria Cynthia Diaz, Maria Teresa Carido, Carlos Joseph Feria, Noel Soponias Pabiona, Ma. Fritzie Aguado, Jose Manuel Alba, Louis Marshall Lo, Ezra Barboza, and Carl Vincent Caro.
Present during the ceremony were Jamil Paolo Francisco, PhD and Interim School Head of SZSDM, Marqueza Cathalina Reyes, EMDRCM Academic Program Director, and program faculty.
In Dr. Reyes’ welcoming remarks, she expressed the pride she felt in witnessing the EMDRCM Class of 2021 developing and demonstrating the necessary mindsets to becoming collaborative, adaptive, and anticipatory leaders in disaster risk and crisis management. She remarked that she was confident that this cohort would leave the Institute as transformative leaders who follow the intelligence of the mind and wisdom of the heart, and who can build and re-build a world that is disaster and climate resilient.
For his speech, Dr. Vinod Thomas, AIM Distinguished Fellow in Development Management and a faculty member of the EMDRCM Program, emphasized the uniqueness of the cohort who named themselves “Padayon”. “Padayon” means to continuously move forward and survive challenges. He watched the cohort develop their resilience despite challenges, which inspired the larger AIM community. He assured the cohort that while there are daunting challenges ahead, the resilience they have demonstrated will help them reach new heights.
The event concluded with a message from Dr. Francisco, who encouraged the cohort to savor their win and take a well-deserved breather after completing their EMDRCM learning journeys. He reminded the cohort to persist with a mindset of building resilience in their respective communities, organizations, and among themselves. He also encouraged them to be grateful for the support they received from previous cohorts, professors, and mentors, and pay it forward to the community, by perhaps being mentors to the next cohorts to participate in the program.
The Stephen Zuellig School of Development Management empowers the next generation of development managers, professionals, and change agents to create transformative impact across society. To learn more about the school and our programs, visit https://devatwork.aim.edu/
