The University of the Philippines Open University held its 29th Commencement Exercises Dec. 6 at the UPOU International Convention Center in Los Baños, Laguna.
UPOU alumna and Department of Social Welfare and Development Assistant Secretary Janet Armas was the commencement speaker. She spoke of the partnership between UPOU and DSWD, referring to it as “one of the strongest bridges between academe and public service.” UPOU, according to Armas, has been an “invaluable partner” in providing microcredential courses and training at the DSWD Academy.
Banking on the UPOU-DSWD partnership, Armas then challenged the graduates: “Sa ngalan po ng mga pinagsisilbihan ng DSWD na nakikita po ninyo araw-araw sa lansangan, sa inyong komunidad, sa inyong mga daan patungong opisina, puwede rin po kaya tayong mag-partner, katulad ng partnership na ginawa po namin sa UPOU?” (“On behalf of the people whom DSWD serves — the people you see every day on the streets, in your communities, and along your routes to the office — can we also partner with you, just as we did with UPOU?”)
Scenes from the event:
Class valedictorian Kia Obang (Chancellor’s List, Master of Development Communication), representing the graduates, spoke of the existing “dual reality” in the digital world, “where we can create safe spaces for civic participation and insightful discourse,” and “where hate speech persists, false narratives thrive, and propaganda is weaponized.” Obang urged her fellow graduates to use their digital skills “to confront issues that shape the world beyond our screens.”
UPOU awarded degrees and titles to 735 graduates: 35 of whom received associate degrees; 153, bachelor’s degrees; 55, graduate certificates; 252, graduate diplomas; 181, master’s degrees; and 18, doctoral degrees. There were three summa cum laude, 44 magna cum laude, 33 cum laude, 64 Dean’s List, and 31 Chancellor’s List graduates.
