ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø President Naoshi Sugiyama was invited as a guest speaker at the 54th Commencement Exercises of the University of the Philippines Los Ba?os (UPLB) on July 4, 2026, where he delivered a commencement address to graduates, their families, faculty members, and distinguished guests. His participation highlighted the longstanding partnership between ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and UPLB and marked a significant moment in the close relationship between the two institutions.
President Sugiyama addressed the graduating class of 2026 at UPLB¡¯s 54th commencement exercises, congratulating the graduates on their achievements and encouraging them to embrace the responsibilities that come with a university education. He called on them to become leaders who will contribute to society in a world shaped by rapid technological change, global uncertainty, and increasingly complex challenges.
His invitation as a guest speaker carried particular significance. While commencement speakers at UPLB have traditionally been drawn from prominent figures in the Philippines, President Sugiyama¡¯s participation as an overseas university president reflected the depth of the partnership that ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and UPLB have built over many decades. The significance of the occasion was also underscored in the introduction by UPLB Chancellor Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr., who highlighted the long history of collaboration between the two institutions.
In his address, President Sugiyama reflected on more than fifty years of partnership between ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and UPLB, particularly in agriculture, environmental studies, and public policy. He also referred to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø¡¯s Asian Satellite Campus at UPLB, which has supported doctoral education for professionals in the Philippines since 2015, and expressed his hope that collaboration between the two universities would continue to deepen through new academic initiatives and the implementation of their shared roadmap for the future.
A central theme of the speech was how to live and learn in an age shaped by artificial intelligence. President Sugiyama shared three messages that he also gives to students at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø¡¯s commencement ceremonies: do what only human beings can do, do not be afraid to fail, and never stop learning. He encouraged the graduates to cultivate critical thinking, individuality, and a strong sense of purpose ¡ª qualities that cannot be replaced by AI ¡ª and to continue challenging themselves without fear of failure while remaining committed to lifelong learning. Drawing on his own academic background in cosmology, he also spoke about the joy of intellectual curiosity and the importance of continuing to ask questions throughout one¡¯s life.
President Sugiyama further encouraged the graduates to use their knowledge and abilities to address the pressing challenges facing society, including food security, environmental issues, public health, and the social implications of technological change. Expressing confidence in the graduates of UPLB, he urged them to take full advantage of the education they had received and to become the leaders needed in their communities, their country, and the wider world.
President Sugiyama¡¯s participation in the ceremony was warmly welcomed not only by UPLB leadership and the wider university community, but also by ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø alumni in the Philippines, many of whom are active in academia, government, and other fields. For alumni and partners alike, his presence at the commencement ceremony was a source of pride and a powerful reminder of the strong ties that continue to connect ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and UPLB.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and UPLB have further strengthened their relationship in recent years through a medium- to long-term framework for collaboration, including the UP¨CNU Roadmap 2030 and related joint working groups. President Sugiyama¡¯s invitation to speak at UPLB¡¯s 54th Commencement Exercises symbolized the close and evolving partnership between the two universities and their shared commitment to education, research, and international collaboration.
