To provide spiritual support, encouragement, and blessings to graduating students and aspiring professionals preparing for the 2026 Psychometricians Licensure Exam (PMLE), the University of Baguio‘s Psychology Program conducted a send-off mass on August 14, 2026, at the University of Baguio Chapel.
Headed by the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA), the activity served as a meaningful gathering for psychology graduates and PMLE takers as they prepared to transition from their academic journey toward their professional endeavors.
Rev. Fr. Benedict Castañeda of the Diocese of Baguio officiated. Through prayer, reflection, and communal fellowship, the send-off mass gave attendees a sacred space to express gratitude for their experiences, seek spiritual guidance, and entrust their upcoming examination and professional journey to God.
The initiative aimed to offer spiritual blessing, encouragement, and emotional support to graduating psychology students as they began their next journey. It also sought to foster gratitude, fellowship, and unity among students, faculty, and the university community while promoting holistic well-being, mindfulness, and inclusive reflection before an important academic and professional milestone.
A Meaningful Mass for Future Professionals
Fr. Benedict’s mass homily linked the message of selflessness and service to the social obligations of aspiring medical and mental health professionals. He underlined that despite the Philippines’ socioeconomic problems, conflicts, natural disasters, and corruption, people are still needed who are prepared to help, care for, and aid others in healing. The message also linked to the “Draw Water, Give Life” theme, which emphasizes the importance of showing compassion and care to those in need.
He also asked the attendees a question that doctors are commonly asked: “What is the greatest instrument in healing? “While some answered with laboratory equipment and others identified medicines and drugs, Fr. Benedict emphasized that the greatest instrument in healing is the human heart. He reminded the graduates that the people they encounter in their respective professions should never be reduced to specimens, diagnoses, or case numbers.
The reminder was especially significant for aspiring psychologists and psychometricians, whose future practice will involve working with individuals who may come to them during vulnerable and difficult moments in their lives. Fr. Benedict challenged attendees to show compassion to everyone they encounter and to remember that people are more than their problems. A diagnosis may describe a condition, but it does not define a person.
Alt Text: Senior students from the UB STELA’s psychology program along with leaders and representatives during the send-off mass held at the university chapel
He further reminded the graduates that their academic achievements and professional titles should ultimately be grounded in a deeper commitment to service, stating, “Ang diploma, papel lang, ang propesyon ay trabaho o hanapbuhay, pero ang bokasyon ay habangbuhay.” The message emphasized that a diploma represents an academic accomplishment, while a profession may serve as a means of livelihood, but a vocation is a lifelong commitment to serving others.
Prior to the blessing, Fr. Benedict also discussed the importance of the farewell mass. He reminded the graduates that being sent off does not imply being abandoned; rather, it means being trusted and supported through blessings and prayer. He emphasized that the graduates were being sent forward with the community’s prayers and support, saying, “Pinadala kayo hindi para sabihing bahala na kayo, pinadala kayo na may pangalan.” “You were given a blessing, binasbasan kayo,” he continued, reminding them.
The dedicated mass and celebration also included the blessing of candles, pencils, and envelopes, symbolizing the students’ preparation and aspirations for the upcoming examination. After the blessings, Fr. Benedict reminded attendees of the importance of proper disposition as they faced the examination. Having completed their spiritual, intellectual, mental, and physical preparations, the graduates were encouraged to surrender the things beyond their control to God.
The activity also contributes well to the standards and practices held under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs), particularly:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – by promoting spiritual and emotional well-being, mindfulness, and emotional grounding before a major academic and professional transition
- SDG 4: Quality Education – by recognizing the successful completion of academic preparation and reinforcing the importance of holistic, values-based learning
- SDG 5: Gender Equality – by providing equal opportunities for spiritual nourishment, recognition, and blessing to all participants regardless of gender
More than a spiritual gathering, the mass reflected the University of Baguio Psychology Program’s commitment to supporting students and future professionals throughout their academic and professional journey. It provided an avenue for emotional grounding, mindfulness, and reflection while reinforcing the importance of compassion, ethical practice, and service in psychology.
The exercise served as a reminder to the graduates as they got ready to take the PMLE that their journey goes beyond simply passing an exam; it also involves carrying with them the knowledge, intelligence, integrity, compassion, understanding, and sense of service necessary to care for the people they will come into contact with in their future practice.
Aspiring psychologists and psychometricians are urged to never lose sight of this humanity as they advance in their careers and to treat everyone they come into contact with intelligence, honesty, and, most importantly, compassion.
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Written by: Nigel Tristan Gawiden, Alexis Cayabyab, Wrenzi Ariadne Rimando
Article enhancement by Gabriel Madriaga
