UP Diliman 107th Commencement Exercises: Paglayang Minamahal

The 29 summa cum laude graduates. (Photo from UPDIO)

The rains came the night before.

That morning the sunflowers along the University Avenue shone, and 4,612 graduates beamed with sunshine on their faces as they walked on soggy ground to their seats. The MassComm graduates unfurled yellow umbrellas, and the would-be lawyers put on their wide sombreros.

Chancellor Michael Tan started the ceremonies with UP reality checks.

Alexander Michael 'Miggy' Bautista,
BS Business Administration, cum laude!

He looked at Alexander Michael 'Miggy' Bautista on his wheelchair in front of the Virata School of Business Administration contingent, and he recalled promising to Miggy the installation of an elevator at Palma Hall. The funds came but there were structural and logistical problems on the shaft. Miggy transferred to Virata. There were no elevators there too but he managed to walk through, figuratively, his course with the help of his parents, schoolmates and even security guards.

People with Disabilities (PWDs_were clearly in Tan's mind; likewise the financially-handicapped UP students who finish their courses the LULI way: lulubog lilitaw. He cited a library science student who went through that hard way and was finally graduating at the age of 34.

He went on to say too that among the graduates are some who suffer from clinical depression, and there were those who did not make it. One particular case, who dreamed of getting back to UP, got killed by the police because he supposedly held up a taxi driver,

Of course, he reminded that the free-tuition policy for undergraduates began this school year 2017-2018. No fees of any kind were collected and that meant, he said, belt tightening.

His parting shot to the graduates: "Many of you have benefited as iskolar ng bayan in the full sense of the word, and you are still exempt from return service, which will require starting this schoolyear for all who benefit from the no tuition fee policy.

"But even if you are not required to render return service, I hope you will think of coming back, and giving back. Huwag munang mag-isip na maging balikbayan, Ang kailangan, pagbabalik bayan, at least stay and work and serve our country."

The university bestowed Sen. Loren Legarda, BA Broadcasting '81, the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.

Sen. Legarda receiving her honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

In her speech, she recalled the nerdy "student Loren", how she coped with the grind of UP life:  shuttling between classes around the oval via ikot jeepney, dealing with terror professors and the lines to get the best schedule and instructors during registration.

She acknowledged the 'resume peace negotiations' placards raised among the graduates, and said she's all for it.

She noted that there are things in UP that will never change ('hindi magbabago magpakailanman') like the graduation theme 'paglayang minamnahal: paglaya ng kaisipan, ang paglaya ng pamamahayag, ang paglaya mula sa kahirapan, sa kamangmangan, at sa kaapihan.'.

"UP would not be UP if we were to devote ourselves to anything less than service to the people in whatever form," she stressed. "UP would not be UP if it did not dare to lead, to be different, and to excel."

Yellow umbrellas for MassComm graduates.

She then called attention to the 'need to protect and to promote our environment', which pushed her to author and sponsor the passage of laws on solid waste management, clean air, clean water, renewable energy, climate change and people's survival.

The need to protect the weak, the dispossessed, and the marginalized people moved her to support significant legislation on women and children and senior citizens.

She tied these all up in her leading advocacy on culture and the arts.

"I have supported important initiatives," she said, "in the arts in their full range and variety, from our indigenous artisans to Philippine representation in the Venice Biennale."

Legarda is the co-author of the National Cultural Heritage Act, which mandates the National Commission on Culture and the Arts and the local government units to undertake the Philippine Registry of Cultural Properties.

She was forewarned of the lightning demonstration at the end of the ceremonies, which has become a commencement tradition.

She told the demonstrators, "I say welcome, and say your piece if you must ... UP will not be UP without you."

She urged them to look at 'higher forms of, and larger reasons for, protest and affirmation.'

"We need to act," she said, "in our respective spheres and communities, to protect the future. Samahan po sana ninyo ako sa adhikaing ito, at magkaisa tayo sa pagsasabuhay at pagtataguyod ng ating paglayang minamahal.'

China Marie Giuliani F. Gabriel, BA Broadcast Communication, was one of the 29 summa cum laude graduates. She was not the topnotcher, but she spoke on behalf of her fellow graduates.

China Gabriel delivering response on behalf of Class 2018.

She talked about freedom, and asked Class 2018: "... may dilag nga ba ang tula at awit sa paglayang minamahal? Tunay nga bang tayo'y malaya?"

"Insofar as our freedom is concerned," she said, with reference to the issue between China and our country, "we can be firm in our stance yet sensitive to the dynamics of global order. Whatever contention we might have can be worked out through diplomacy-hardcore, as it may need to be--but always keeping that delicate balance between an assertion and enjoyment of rights, and empathy based on a sense of global citizenship and common humanity."

She dwelt on fake news, martial law and historical revisionism.

"In this age of alternative facts and fake news, we can all agree that media plays a huge role in either advancing or combating revisionism," she asserted.

"I look at media as a means to promote positive values, to deepen our appreciation for our own Philippine culture, and most of all, to both mirror and defend truth," she added.

She recalled her mind-opening experiences in history classes and lessons learned on the streets.

Shifting the sablay to the other shoulder: a graduate at last!

"The truth is," she stressed, "we are not free from the horrors of our past. We contest the validity of our memories up to this day, and we find the same terrible chapters of our history repeating itself, with evil manifesting in a different form. For a freedom-loving people, we have allowed too many tyrants to rule our nation. Kung noon pa man hanggang ngayon sinisiil ang ating karapatan, ano nga ba ang kalayaan?"

She acknowledged that "the greatest gift that [UP] has given us is perspectives on using lenses of history, social justice, and our respective disciplines to look at national issues and to address them head-on."

"The call of the times is for us to become truth-seekers," she asserted, "but I challenge each of us to go the extra mile by becoming a guardian of hope and memory."

This was her call to Class 2018: "Magpakatatag at magpakagiting tayo para sa ikauunlad ni Inang Bayan. Let our enthusiasm to learn transform into enthusiasm to serve and to remember; together, let us create new memories for our liberated Pilipinas, stand for truth, and actualize our loving vision for the Filipino society."

Diwata, a new metaphor, in the 105th graduation rites of UP Diliman

The installation art by Toym Imao is inspired by the sarimanok.

"Ako ay isang diwata. Lahat tayo ay diwata. [I am a fairy. All of us are fairies.] We, the graduates, have the potential to soar through the stratosphere. From the rocks of Oble on the ground to the cosmic domain of Diwata [the first micro-satellite of the Philippines], our family, friends, university officials, and professors have shaped us to take flight. Let us thank them by soaring to the sky. Pumailanlang na tayo. Mabuhay ang mga bagong diwata! [Let's all soar. Long live the new fairies!]"

That's how Alexander Atrio Lim Lopez invited his fellow graduates to go out to the world during the 105th Pangkalahatang Pagtatapos [General Commencement Exercises] of the University of the Philippines Diliman on 26 June 2016.  He was speaking on their behalf along the theme"Diwata and Oble, Me and You." 

Alexander Lopez, summa, spreads his arms as if  to soar like Diwata (the satellite), or a diwata (mythical fairy).

Lopez was one of the thirty summa cum laude that led Class 2016 comprising 4,552 graduates from 27 degree-granting units: 3,580 who received their undergraduate degrees and 972 their graduate degrees (70 of which were conferred their doctorates).

The top three among the summa were Miguel Ricardo R. Leung, BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (WAG of 1.0375); Miguel Raymundo C. Gutierrez, BS Economics (1.064) and Danilo Lorenzo S. Atanacio, BS Economics (1.074).  

The six summa from the College of Engineering with college and university officials.

Lopez was a former student of UP Manila where he earned his BS Basic Medical Sciences degree under the 7-year Intarmed program. Instead of pursuing the MD program, he opted to enroll at the College of Social Sciences and Philosphy in the Diliman campus. He earned hi BA Philosophy with a WAG of 1.1810.

He recalled that back then in his third year of Intarmed, he knew that he will not be a medical doctor.

"I already knew I loved philosophy," he said, "but I also thought about the lower pay that philosophers got compared to medical doctors and maybe more importantly, the lower respect that philosophers received. My failure was I wasn’t brave enough to accept and fully defend what I loved."

Even if his classmates were being shaped by the UP College of Medicine, he wanted his "rock to have a shape different from medicine to support Oble."

Lopez looked at Oble [the Oblation] as a representation of "each Iska and Isko [short for scholar of the people, or Iskolar ng bayan] and each person,"   The iconic statue of UP stands with its head looking up, its arms outstretched with palms up standing on a pedestal of rocks. "The rocks are like the differently-shaped disciplines that make up UP" and "[e]ach discipline, whether it be from the sciences or humanities, has a different character. The combination of these differences allows humans to soar," he said.

A graduating UP Pep Squad 'soars' as her dean presented the members of their class.

He reminded Class 2016:  "When we are inspired, we do our best work. When we do our best work, we can offer the best service to our countrymen, which is after all, what Oble is known to symbolize. It is in the interest of society that we put each other in situations that will inspire us to do our best work for the people. When scientists, artists, and philosophers do their best, it is not only the individual but also society that soars.

"We need all of them. In a tragedy where 49 people were shot dead, it’s medical science that heals the victims’ bodies and minds, it’s art that inspires survivors to move forward, and it’s philosophy that forms ethics to prevent another moral disaster.  

Pledge of loyalty to the University.

"I have acquired scientific precision from medicine, artistic expression from creative writing, and rational open-mindedness from philosophy. All these have shaped the rock that  I give in support of Oble’s soaring.  Fellow graduates, we all have our shapes that are distinct and beautiful—beautiful like a diwata."

As each one builds his or her life in the real world, UP President Alfredo Pascual invoked in his keynote speech that this be done with integrity and honor, tenets that the university builds into the minds of its students. 

The clinched fist in the singing of the University Hymn.

Pascual invited them to give this a thought: join the academe and help mold the minds of future nation-builders.

Up above Quezon Hall and the colorful installation art based on the sarimanok by Toym Imao is t he call to graduates of UP, the national university: Paglingkuran Ang Sambayanan [Serve the People].

The lightning protest toward the end of graduation rites each year.

Sablay, sunflowers, and reminders to serve the people for the bright lights from UP Diliman

Note: * This photo-essay appeared in a slightly different version in the 02-08 May 2014 issue of the FilAm Star, 'the newspaper for Filipinos in mainstream America' published weekly in San Francisco, CA. This blogger/author is the Philippines Special News/Photo Correspondent of the said paper.  

Two long vertical maroon streamers from the top of Quezon Hall provided the historical framework of the 2014 General Commencement Exercises of the University of the Philippines Diliman on 27 April.   The streamers were in honor of Apolinario Mabini, the revolutionary ‘sublime paralytic’.  It is in celebration of his sesquicentennial birth anniversary this coming July that the commencement program carried the theme “Pagbabalik Tanaw Tungo sa Tapat na Pamamahala.”

On the University Avenue, streamers vertically hang on posts along the traffic island of blooming sunflowers told that this year’s graduation class is the 103rd batch in the history of the university, alongside that of the Mabini commemorative
.

UP Diliman Chancellor Michael L. Tan said he could have similarly honored Isabelo de los Reyes, had he known earlier that the 150th birth anniversary of the pioneer in the country’s labor movement is also in July. The dean of the School of Labor and Industrial Relations (SOLAIR) gave due recognition to de los Reyes when he presented his unit’s candidates for graduation.

Directly facing the graduates, their families and friends seated at the amphitheater, was the banner stretched across the front of the stage bearing in big bold red letters the slogan of the 1970s: Paglingkuran ang Sambayan (Serve the People).  It was a reminder of the great responsibility expected by the country of the graduating class, the Iskolar ng Bayan, since their university education was subsidized by the people’s tax. 

Wherever you go, UP President Alfredo Pascual said in his message in Pilipino to Class 2014, whether in government, in business and industry, in the academe, in NGOs, or in other fields, you are expected to push for reforms that would contribute to the well-being of the country and society.

Commencement speaker Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, expressed similar sentiments urging Class 2014 to pay back the people who spent for their education.  She exhorted them to be productive: “Huwag ninyong sayangin ang inyong kabataan, ang inyong lakas, ang kaningningan ng inyong mga mata, ang inyong idealismo at pagkamalikhain, sa mga pangarap na walang saysay.” 

She urged them to help in building a just and free country, clean of corruption. You have the voice, she said in her speech, to shout “‘tama na, tama na ang katiwalian, tama na ang lamangan, tama na ang kasuwapangan.’ Panahon na para ang katarungan ang manaig.”  

Sereno asked for patience and vigilance in the prosecution of graft and corruption cases. “Anuman ang magiging kararatnan ng mga judicial process na pagdaraanan, kailangan po ng walang humpay na pagbabantay ng taong bayan, di lamang sa pag bantay sa kaban ng bayan, kundi sa pag ganap ng tungkulin na iniatas ng ating konstitusyon sa mga opisyales ng ating pamahalaan,” she emphasized.

The Chief Justice was speaking to what Chancellor Tan described as the brightest and most privileged graduating class, many of them part of almost 4,000 high school graduates who gained admission to the Diliman campus after passing the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) of 2010.

“Almost 60 percent of our students come from private high schools,” Tan said, “and another 30 from public science high schools, whose composition is still largely middle and upper income.”  He acknowledged, and thanked “the students from low income families, whose parents, or an Ate or Kuya, scrounged and saved, sought ways to get [them] into, and keep [them] in UP.”

Comprising Class 2014 were 3,367 with undergraduate degrees, 710 with master’s, and 62 with doctoral, degrees.  Tan made special mention of the seven students from Eastern Visayas who made it despite the adversity caused by typhoon Yolanda.  

On the lead were twenty summa cum laude graduates, and at the top was Ralph John O. Ugalino, BS Chemistry, from the College of Science with a weighted average grade (WAG) of 1.067. 

The College of Engineering had the most graduates at 789, eight of them summa cum laude.  The College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP), College of Science, and the School of Economics each had three graduates with top honors. 

Through a selection process that involved submission and oral presentation of a speech before a panel of judges, Jose Maria L. Marella, BS Economics(1.164 WAG) was chosen from among the qualified summas to deliver the response in behalf of the graduating class.

In his speech "Para sa Bayan: Dangal at Husay," he stressed two important values -- Honor and Excellence. "Dangal. Honor. Integrity. Ito ngayon ang hamon sa ating mga bagong graduates ng UP. Ipalaganap natin ang pagsisilbi ng may karangalan sa bayan. Huwag nating kalimutan ang mahahalagang aral na natutunan natin sa loob at labas ng classrooms sa UP. At higit sa lahat, isaalang-alang natin sa bawat gawain natin ang kabutihan ng lahat, ang kabutihan ng bawat Pilipino at hindi and pansariling interes lamang. Saan man tayo mapapunta, balik-tanawin natin ang mga aral na ito, tungo sa tapat at mahusay na pamamahala!"

The historical and current reference frames of this year's commencemnet program were enriched by the cultural nuances of the sablay. This is the official academic costume that graduating classes have been wearing since 2000, replacing the traditional cap and gown (toga).

The sablay is a loose garment or wide sash using the UP colors of maroon and green. It is a nationalistic expression conveying the importance of our indigenous culture, a value that the University teaches. The sablay is adorned with ukkil , representing the growth of knowledge, and geometric patterns like triangles and chevrons, which are common design elements of indigenous cultures in the Philippines. UP, the University’s acronym, is based on the baybayin for U and P, and is etched in yellow on the sablay.

It is worn over barong tagalog for the men, and ecru- or eggshell-colored dress for the women. The graduating class wears the garment on their right shoulder at the start of the program. The highlight comes when UP President confirms them as graduates, and that is when they move the sablay to their left shoulder using the proper technique so that they do not have to take it off. 

There’s another frame for the UP Diliman graduation day, very environmental or botanical.  It is not an official practice but it simply became traditional: the planting of sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) usually in late February so that they come into full bloom along the University Avenue and around the Quezon Hall amphitheatre during commencement week.

We have seen people in cars stopping by for selfies with the blooming sunflowers, and graduates sneaking out of the amphitheatre for picture taking at the University Avenue with the UP colors of their sablay as counterpoints to the bright yellow of the sunflowers.

It is almost a given: an unofficial part of the commencement program, a brief time allocation for student activists to express their advocacy statements. 

This year, before everyone rose for the singing of UP Naming Mahal, the activist graduates moved to the front with their banners, and with clenched fists, recited their protest slogans. 

From the balcony of Quezon Hall rolled two black tarpaulins printed with “US Troops Out Now!!!” and “Obama Out of Asia Now!!!”  This was on the eve of the arrival of US President Barrack Obama in Manila for his state visit to the country.