Pagtatapos 2024

Congratulations to the Class of 2024!

Once again, it’s the time for dresses and barongs, inspiring speeches, and the iconic wearing of the Sablay throughout the University of the Philippines (UP) system.

Graduation season opens this July in the Central Visayas region, where UP Cebu will kick off Pagtatapos 2024. The commencement exercises will be held at Lahug Campus Grounds, Cebu City, on July 5, Friday.

UP Visayas, the academic pillar of Region VI and the new Negros Island Region, is then set to hold commencement exercises at its Miagao Campus on July 9, Tuesday.

A week later, UP Tacloban will hold commencement exercises at the UP Tacloban AS Grounds on July 16, Tuesday–its second such celebration since becoming an autonomous unit of the University in 2023.

Pagtatapos 2024 then heads south on July 19, Friday, with UP Mindanao set to hold its commencement exercises at its campus in Mintal, Davao City.

From the national university’s southernmost constituent unit, we head north to the Cordillera region, with UP Baguio to hold its commencement exercises at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center on July 24, Wednesday.

Afterward, we head back to the birthplace of the University as UP Manila holds its commencement exercises at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Plenary Hall in Pasay City on July 26, Friday.

To cap the month, the university avenue will once again be painted sunflower yellow as UP Diliman holds its commencement exercises at the campus’ iconic amphitheater on July 28, Sunday.

Our final stop for this season sees us at the foothills of Mt. Makiling as UP Los Baños holds its commencement exercises at its Copeland Gymnasium on August 3, Saturday.

Meanwhile, the UP Open University (UPOU) will hold its ceremonies on December 7.

UP Cebu

UP Cebu kicked off the UP System’s 2024 graduation season on July 5.

Leading the 379-strong Class of 2024 in UP Cebu’s 85th Commencement Exercises was valedictorian Jethro Sia Modequillo (BS Computer Science degree, summa cum laude). In the honor roll of 254 were four other summa cum laude graduates, 71 magna cum laude graduates, 166 cum laude graduates, and 12 master’s degree graduates with distinction.

Speaking on the Class of 2024’s behalf, Modequillo wished for his fellow graduates to “be open to failure” and to not be afraid of making mistakes in pursuing excellence. “The only way you can avoid mistakes is if you never challenge yourself, never expand your horizons, and never achieve your potential.”

Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” Navarro Hontiveros-Baraquel, in her commencement address, assured the graduates that “rejections can be turned into redirections” as she imparted a message of self-care. “Put your health and wellbeing first. . . . It is key to maintaining the emotional, physical, and mental capacity you need to serve our Inang Bayan, to give back to the community, and [to] contribute to our nation’s progress.”

UP Visayas

UP Visayas held its 45th Commencement Exercises in its Miagao, Iloilo campus today, July 9. A total of 770 graduates obtained their degrees. Two graduated with summa cum laude honors; 78, magna cum laude; and 327, cum laude.

Roberto “Ka Dodoy” Ballon, fisherfolk leader and 2021 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, was the commencement speaker. He shared how Class Haraya—the UPV Graduating Class of 2024—can best serve the community. “Mahalaga na kilala natin ang ating mga sarili, ang ating mga kakayahan. Paano [tayo] makapagseserbisyo? Tayo mismo [ay] magpakadalubhasa.”

Class valedictorian Hyke Jancon Maybay, meanwhile, also urged his fellow graduates “to serve the people.”

UP Tacloban

Senior Associate Justice Marvic MVF Leonen gave the keynote address for the 46th Commencement Exercises of UP Tacloban College (UPTC) on July 16. Speaking against the greed maintaining the country’s “flawed democracy” and the “silence” legitimizing it, he advised the 253-member UPTC Class of 2024 to “be critical,” to “engage others through real and meaningful conversation,” to “act on [their] beliefs,” and to remember: “enough is good.”

*Senior Associate Justice Marvic MVF Leonen. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO.*

Of the 249 students who earned baccalaureate degrees, seven graduated magna cum laude, while 121 graduated cum laude. Their parents joined them onstage to award them their medals. Volunteers of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod also received pins from Dean Patricia Arinto.

*UP Tacloban Iskolar ng Bayan shifting their Sablays from the right to the left shoulder marking their transition from candidates to full graduates of the university. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO.*

Rian Lorenzo Mascarinas (BS Biology, magna cum laude) spoke on behalf of Class 2024, telling his fellow graduates, “As we enter the real world, let us carry with us the bonds we have forged, the strength and adaptability we have built, the empathy we have gained, and the determination to serve our communities—all to improve the lives of the Filipino people.”

*Magna Cum Laude graduate Rian Lorenzo Mascarinas speaking on behalf of his batchmates. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO.*

Watch the streaming video for the UP Tacloban Commencement Exercises here.

UP Mindanao

“Every day, we have to do our part in ensuring that we leave this world better than we found it,” said Kyndra Lei Yunting, class valedictorian, to her fellow UP Mindanao (UPMin) graduates during its 26th Commencement Exercises on July 19.

Yunting (BA English) is the first summa cum laude graduate from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences—and the only one in the 303-member Class of 2024. With her in the list of honors are 69 magna cum laude and 116 cum laude graduates.

Dr. Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, Advisory Council member of the Second Congressional Commission on Education and former UP VP for Academic Affairs, gave the commencement address. “Your purpose in life is always bigger than yourself and it involves serving others. … Sadly, not all of UP’s graduates [have] lived by UP’s motto [of honor and excellence],” she said. “I fervently pray that you will not join their ranks.”

UP Baguio

Sa gitna ng hagupit ng bagyong Carina, hindi natinag ang mga guro’t mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Baguio [UPB] na ipagpatuloy ang “Pagtatapos 2024.” May 411 mag-aaral na binubuo ng 398 na di-gradwado at 13 na gradwadong nagsipagtapos noong ika-24 ng Hulyo sa Baguio Convention and Cultural Center. Sa bilang na ito, may isang summa cum laude, 66 magna cum laude, at 192 cum laude.

Dumalo at nagsalita bilang panauhing pandangal si Kgg. Maria Leonor “Leni” Gerona Robredo, Tagapangulo ng Angat Pinas, Inc., at dating Pangalawang Pangulo ng Pilipinas.

“Bilang mga iskolar ng bayan, itinanim sa ating edukasyon ang ‘dangal at husay.’ Sa dalawang ito, mas mabigat ang panawagan ng dangal. Tayong mga produkto ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas ay tinatawag na tumindig sa unahan, makipagkapit-bisig, at maging boses ng ating mga kababayan. Dito nagkakaroon ng kabuluhan ang dangal at husay,” ani Robredo.

Samantala, nagpaalala naman si class valedictorian Francesca Dana G. Pangilinan na bilang iskolar ng bayan, “we owe this opportunity to critique, express, dissent, spark hope, and incite change.”

UP Manila

The sun shone on UP Manila’s (UPM) graduating class today, July 26, as they trooped to the Philippine International Convention Center for the 115th Commencement Exercises. The morning was a bright spot in a region still reeling from days of downpour from Typhoon Carina.

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 the UP Board of Regents, delivered the commencement address, urging the graduates to do affirmative action in addition to being social critics. De Vera said that UP must be more proactive, engaging with other state universities and colleges and becoming agents of change in government to cater to those who are in most need.

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. Love for country and compassion for fellow Filipinos, he added, should guide them in their service “para sa bayan” at “kasama ang bayan.”

Of the 1,350-member UPM Class of 2024, 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. A UPM University Student Council-led lightning protest traditionally capped the Commencement Exercises.

UP Diliman

“Marami ang umaasa sa atin dahil iskolar tayo ng bayan. … Namuhunan silang lahat sa ating edukasyon. … [This] is our responsibility: paglingkuran ang bayan. … Talino at lakas ay ialay sa kapwa at sa bayan,” former Senator Francis Pangilinan told UP Diliman’s (UPD) Class of 2024 in his address at the 113th General Commencement Exercises on July 28.

Catherine Adille (BA Psychology, summa cum laude), in her message as the representative of the graduating class, also touched on service, sharing her realizations from being a UPD Ugnayan ng Pahinungód volunteer. “At the heart of being a UP student is not only honor and excellence, but equally important is service. … I realized that service does not ask for grand gestures, but rather, it requires empathy, commitment, and community.”

In what is commonly referred to in UPD as the “university graduation” or “univ grad,” a total of 4,712 were awarded their degrees and titles—3,511 from undergraduate programs and 1,201 from graduate programs. Of those who finished their undergraduate studies, 62.52% or 2,195 graduated with honors. There were 286 summa cum laude graduates; 1,109, magna cum laude; and 788, cum laude.

UP Los Baños

“Sa kakulangan sa pagkain na mas lumalala, ano ang papel ng mga produkto ng UPLB bilang kataas-taasang Pamantasan ng Bayan?” Dr. J. Prospero “Popoy” de Vera III asked the graduating class of UP Los Baños (UPLB) in his address at the 52nd Commencement Exercises on August 3. Agriculture, which is central to food security, is one of UPLB’s niche areas, having been created as the UP College of Agriculture in 1909.

De Vera, who is the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education and of the UP Board of Regents, emphasized that UPLB graduates should contribute to solutions that aim to address the country’s chronic problems.

Meanwhile, class valedictorian Xheanttle Plata Mirasol (BS Nutrition, summa cum laude) told the rest of the UPLB Class of 2024, “We are all responsible for the health and well-being of our fellow Filipinos.” Focusing on her fellow graduates from College of Human Ecology, Mirasol said to them, “As human ecologists and nutritionists, we play a critical role in addressing the needs of the society amidst the issues on climate change and increasing malnutrition rates. Issues where Filipino resilience has been taken advantage of.”

UPLB awarded degrees and titles to 2,315 graduates—2,024 of whom received their associate and bachelor’s degrees, 221 master’s degrees, and 70 doctoral degrees. There were 28 summa cum laude, 437 magna cum laude, and 649 cum laude graduates.

The graduation program began with the oath-taking of UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho Jr. for his second term.

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