La Consolacion College Bacolod marked its 78th Baccalaureate Commencement Exercises today at the SMX Convention Center with a powerful message of resilience, humility, and purpose delivered by an alumna who has navigated both stormy seas and boardrooms.
Key Anne Barbasa-Garcia, Director of Rooms at NUSTAR Resort Cebu and a proud graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Tourism Class of 2002, returned to her alma mater not just to speak, but to bear witness to the enduring impact of an LCC education. Her story resonated deeply with the graduating class, especially when she shared, “I was a consistent Dean’s Lister, but I didn’t make it to the list of Latin honors because of algebra. And yet, that experience taught me that success is not measured by a single subject or a single metric.”
Garcia’s journey from earning a modest USD 150 salary on cruise ships to becoming the first Filipina hotel manager in a major international cruise line spoke volumes about grit and growth. She spoke candidly of moments of doubt, professional setbacks, and the choice to leave a high-paying job to prioritize family. “I had to work hard to prove my capabilities again,” she said. “That experience taught me the value of humility and the willingness to start anew.”
Her address was more than a career retrospective—it was a challenge to the graduates to lead lives grounded in values, not vanity. “Be open to change. Embrace challenges with humility. Strive for balance between personal and professional life,” she urged. And as the Class of 2025 stood in cap and gown, many for the first time in their families, those words landed not as advice, but as a shared promise of what’s possible.
In a world that glorifies instant success, Key Anne Garcia reminded everyone that the journey matters just as much as the destination. For the graduates of LCC Bacolod, her message wasn’t just inspiring—it was transformational.
Photo by: Kasper Grey Lanza, The Ripples