The sun shone on UP Manila's (UPM) graduating class on July 26, as they trooped to the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City for the 115th Commencement Exercises. The morning was a bright spot in a region still reel…
Shifting of the UP Sablay from the right shoulder to the left. (Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO)
The sun shone on UP Manila's (UPM) graduating class on July 26, as they trooped to the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City for the 115th Commencement Exercises. The morning was a bright spot in a region still reeling from days of downpour from Typhoon Carina. Government had placed many parts of the country under a state of calamity due to the effects of the typhoon and the habagat or southwest monsoon.
UPM, the UP System's Health Sciences Center, produced 1,350 graduates this year, among them: 20 graduated summa cum laude; 305, magna cum laude; and 383, cum laude. More than 30 Ugnayan ng Pahinungód volunteers from the faculty and graduating class were recognized for serving marginalized communities.
Dr. J. Prospero De Vera III, Chair of the Commission on Higher Education and of the UP Board of Regents, addresses the Class of 2024 as commencement speaker. (Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO)
'Be agents of change by engaging in public service'
Speeches reflected the ceremony's theme, "Iskolar Ng Bayan: Marangal, Mahusay, Makabayang Tagapagtaguyod ng Pangkalahatang Kalusugan." Dr. J. Prospero De Vera III, Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education and of the UP Board of Regents, delivered the commencement address. He urged the graduates to do affirmative action in addition to being social critics. De Vera said that UP must be more proactive by engaging with other state universities and colleges and becoming agents of change in government to cater to those who are in most need.
"As a public service university, UP must leverage its expertise to provide technical and scholarly assistance to the government and industry, and reach the people, especially those in the most far-flung areas like Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Eastern Samar, to name a few. UP should cater to those in most need and introduce innovations in service delivery because UP possesses that technical expertise to pioneer innovative initiatives," said De Vera.
"UP, as a national university, must offer viable and realistic solutions to the government to complement its criticism of government. UP should give equal importance to public service. . . . I ask each and every one of you to embrace a future of service and to take a leadership role in our nation," De Vera said.
De Vera commended UPM alumni and faculty who pioneered in health research and in the crafting of laws, programs, and policies in the fields of medicine, health professions, and health sciences education. He also mentioned UPM alumni serving in top government posts, as well as significant contributions of the University in: aiding national government in creating and implementing policies; responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and: providing technical expertise to local government units in disaster risk reduction and response.
"Be agents of change by engaging in public service. . . . Serve in government," De Vera challenged the graduates.
De Vera served as UP Vice President for Public Affairs from 2011 to2016 before being appointed to CHED. He was the sole recipient of the 2024 UP Gawad Oblation, which cited him for his "steadfast advocacy for the passage of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act or Republic Act 10931 in 2017, which provided Free Higher Education in more than 200 State Universities and Colleges and Local Universities and Colleges" and for "steering the Philippine higher education sector amidst the COVID-19 pandemic," among others. He has been teaching at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance since 1992.
Seijiro B. Ogata (BA Behavioral Science, summa cum laude) speaks on behalf of the Class of 2024. (Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO)
'Deserve mo ang diploma mo!'
Dr. Bernadette Heizel D. Manapat-Reyes, UP Manila Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, congratulated the graduates whose college life was described as "nagsimula sa pandemya at nagtapos sa delubyo." As part of her opening message, she also praised and thanked Isko's and Iska's parents and relatives, and also UP faculty and non-teaching personnel for all their efforts in supporting the graduates.
"Deserve mo ang diploma mo! May laude man o wala, na-MRR man o hindi, nandito ka na. Tagumpay ninyong lahat ang araw na ito," Manapat-Reyes told the graduates.
For and with the people
Seijiro B. Ogata (BA Behavioral Science, summa cum laude), speaking on behalf of the Class of 2024, reminded his fellow graduates to immerse themselves in marginalized communities. He narrated his experiences and realizations as a student who learned what life was like for villagers in the Mountain Province. He said the lack of basic needs due to underdevelopment, including education and health care services which were inaccessible, was a common problem among those in geographically distant regions. Love for country and compassion for fellow Filipinos, he added, should guide them in their service "para sa bayan" at "kasama ng bayan."
"Bumaba tayo sa ating mga 'ivory towers' at tunay na lumubog sa masa," Ogata said.
"At nawa'y kagaya ng ating mga ipinamalas na galing sa loob ng ating mga silid-aralan sa UP, ay siya rin nating paggawa ng lahat ng ating makakaya upang gamitin ang ating kolektibong husay tungo sa ikauunlad ng ating bansa," concluded Ogata.
After Ogata's valedictory message, the graduates were inducted to the UP Alumni Association. This was followed by the singing of the UP Naming Mahal led by the UP Manila Chorale.
The traditional lightning rally was held, led by the UPM University Student Council, at the end of the Commencement Exercises.
UPM is comprised of nine degree granting units: College of Allied Medical Professions; College of Arts and Sciences; College of Dentistry; College of Medicine; College of Nursing; College of Pharmacy; College of Public Health; National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions, and; the School of Health Sciences. The Philippine General Hospital and the National Institutes of Health are also part of the University as non-degree granting units.
Members of the UP Manila Chorale (Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO)
Members of the Class of 2024 raise their fists during the singing of "UP Naming Mahal." (Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO)
The new graduates' lightning protest was held after the singing of "UP Naming Mahal." (Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO)
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