Finishing a bachelor’s degree at the University of Cebu was no easy feat for Ivanne Vhince Bontia. Like many CITE-trained graduates transitioning to university life, he had to adapt academic rigors. True to the CITE spirit of resilience and determination, Ivan and his classmates supported one another—studying together and forging ahead. In the end, their hard work paid off.
On January 13, 2026, Ivanne and nine other CITE alumni proudly earned their degree in Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering during the University of Cebu Commencement Exercises, after completing two and a half years of full-time study, including credit transfer earned from their CITE diploma program.
Their achievement was not just a personal success—it was a milestone for Batch 30, showing that a strong technical foundation, coupled with perseverance, can pave the way to academic excellence.
Even while earning their degrees, CITE students found ways to give back. Ivanne and other CITE alumni were invited by UC instructors to lead “Tatay’s Electrician,” a program that provided free Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM) NC II training to UC students preparing for national certification. Every Saturday, they taught and guided students, sharing their skills while strengthening their own knowledge.
Their talents extended beyond the classroom. Ivanne, along with Adriane Gabasa and Earldrian Alfanta, were selected to represent UC at the first-ever Skills Olympics organized by the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers (IIEE) Region VII at Cebu Technological University. Competing against the region’s top engineering schools, the trio earned second place, with Ivanne excelling in motor control, Adriane in board wiring, and Earldrian in transformer banking.
Academic excellence remained a hallmark of CITE alumni. Earldrian Alfanta and Jerald Aloyan also earned spots on the Dean’s List in their fourth year, showing that hard work, grit, and perseverance truly pay off.
The graduates of the BS Electrical Engineering program—mostly CITE diploma alumni from Batch 29 and 30, and products of CITE’s senior high school program, including Earldrian Alfanta, Jerald Aloyan, Ivanne Vhince Bontia, Goldwyn Carbellido, Froilan Damasole, Adriane Gabasa, Emer Gonida Jr., Alfie Gamboa, Laurence Dave Regino, and Neil Bryan Sobrio—stand as living proof that technical education grounded in strong work values, prayer, and service can turn dreams into reality.
Also graduating this year are four CITE alumni who completed their Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering: Jed Epiram Capuyan, Elmer Cajes, Airway Clarin, and Andy Louis Tisado.
Photos courtesy of Ivan Leyva