𝙇𝘼𝘾𝙎𝙊𝙉𝙄𝘼𝙉 𝘼𝙇𝙐𝙈𝙉𝙄 𝙊𝙉 𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙏𝙇𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏: 𝐄𝐋𝐌𝐀 𝐏. 𝐀𝐑𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐒

We are honored to feature Miss Elma P. Arboleras, who completed her degree in BS Customs Administration and was named Most Outstanding Graduate of the Class of 1989, embodying the enduring values and quiet strength of a true Lacsonian.

Miss Elma recalls that choosing John B. Molo was not a calculated decision, but a deeply felt one. Accompanied by her grandmother and still uncertain about where to study, she stepped onto the campus of what was then Iloilo Maritime Academy and immediately felt at home. The sense of community, the openness of the campus, and the warmth of both students and faculty gave her a feeling she trusted. Looking back decades later, she affirms that it was one of the best decisions she ever made.

Her student life at John B. Molo was both challenging and fulfilling. It was a time of growth that went far beyond academics. The discipline of her studies was balanced by meaningful involvement in campus life, shaping her into a resilient, adaptable, and principled individual. She found purpose in service through the Philippine National Red Cross, pride and lifelong friendships as a pioneer member of the Handumanan Cultural Group, and focus and creativity in the school publication. These experiences not only sustained her education through scholarships, but also helped form the person and professional she would become.

Among the Lacsonian core values, integrity became her strongest guide. Throughout her career, she encountered moments when compromising principles would have been easier. Each time, she chose the ethical path. This commitment earned her trust, credibility, and a reputation built not on convenience, but on character.

Like many graduates, leaving the campus brought uncertainty. Stepping into the professional world felt daunting, yet the confidence and preparation she gained at John B. Molo allowed her to move forward with purpose. Her career journey has spanned various industries, eventually bringing her back to the maritime sector, where she continues to make a meaningful impact.

Her achievements speak volumes. She was recognized as one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP), becoming the first from JBLFMU-Molo, Inc. and the first from Iloilo City to receive the honor. She has earned national and international awards for innovation, secured patents and trademarks for her invented bus management system, iBus, which was later featured in the World Intellectual Property Organization magazine, and has been instrumental in facilitating the largest single project in the 115-year history of a leading European maritime company. Yet, she considers her greatest accomplishment to be remaining principled through every challenge.

To the current generation of Lacsonian students, Miss Elma leaves this message. “𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯 𝘉. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴.” She encourages students to “𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘤𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘯. As they prepare to chart their own paths, she reminds them that “𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩,” but to trust in the solid foundation they are building. With faith, courage, and excellence as guides, she adds,

“𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘤𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘭, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘦𝘥—𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳. 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘈𝘭𝘮𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥.”

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