The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) conferred a total of 556 degrees during its 25th Commencement Exercises held on 11 December 2021 at 9:00 AM. The ceremony carried the theme “University of the Future: Sustainability and Agility Amidst Disruptions,” and was streamed live via the UPOU website, UPOU Facebook page, UPOU Networks website, and Networks Facebook page. Asst. Prof. Ria Valerie Cabanes from the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) and Asst. Prof. Juliet Aleta Villanueva from the UPOU Faculty of Education (FEd) served as the hosts of the event.
UPOU Chancellor Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria welcomed the UPOU Class of 2021 during the UPOU 25th Commencement Exercises.
Dr. Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria, UPOU Chancellor, welcomed and introduced the UPOU Class of 2021. In her opening message, she emphasized that the virtuality of the graduation ceremony does not, in any way, diminish its value and meaning. She added that it represents a new level and meaning of sharing, flexibility, and inclusion concretized in one of the important milestones in the students’ lives: the graduation day. The Chancellor highlighted the significant role of the graduation ceremony, which symbolizes success and sense of accomplishment not only for the graduates and their respective families but also for UPOU administration, faculty, and staff who had been part of the online learning journey of every UPOU student.
Mr. Danilo L. Concepcion, President of the University of the Philippines (UP), granted the degrees of the graduates and congratulated them as well as the parents and all the people who supported their academic journey. He assured the graduates that their frustrations towards the virtual ceremony were not unfounded and hoped that it did not lessen the joy of celebrating this landmark moment in their lives. The UP President encouraged the graduates to recognize the tremendous grit and determination they possessed and the courage and strength they mustered to not let challenges dampen their indomitable UP spirit.
Dr. Maria Rowena D.R. Raymundo, Officer-in-Charge of the UPOU Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA), introduced Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso as this year’s Commencement Speaker. Amb. Buensuceso is the current Foreign Affairs Adviser of the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs. She has served as a permanent Ambassador to ASEAN for over six years and has been with the Philippine foreign service for more than 41 years. She was the former Ambassador to Norway and Laos, and her other previous postings include Brussels, Beijing, Singapore, and Hongkong. She has earned several degrees including the Master of ASEAN Studies (MAS), which she completed with the Chancellor’s List honors at UPOU.
Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso delivered her message as the guest of honor of the UPOU 25th Commencement Exercises.
A lifelong learner herself, Amb. Buensuceso shared her experience of being a UPOU student and explained that she took the program, which she has supposed to have already mastered, for it was the only effective way for her to penetrate the world of academics and somehow influence the way people regarded ASEAN, which for her has lacked the practical perspective of a practitioner. She added that she wanted to combine her practical experience with the discipline of scholarship and be able to raise the level of correct understanding about the ASEAN in order for us to get the most benefit of this often maligned regional organization. She also pointed out the wide gap between theoretical learning and what actually happens in the field. Her earnest aspiration was to enter an academic setting where both students and faculty learn from one another. She also recounted the story of the centurion from the Bible whose qualities–excellence, compassion, humility, and faith–are critical in making the UPOU the agile and sustainable disruptive platform that it is now and should be in the future.
Dr. Ricardo T. Bagarinao, Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Education (FEd); Dr. Alexander G. Flor, Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS); and Dr. Primo G. Garcia, Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), represented by Dr. Jean A. Saludadez, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration and FMDS Professor, presented the 556 graduates from the three UPOU Faculty of Studies. A total of 55 students graduated with honors this year.
Ms. Kristelle Joyce Gabilo Adami, who graduated as magna cum laude for the Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS) degree, was the representative of the UPOU Class of 2021. She was honored for the opportunity and shared that she didn’t expect to graduate since her hometown in the island of Batan was recently devastated by tropical cyclone Kiko. Ms. Adami said that it is in UPOU that she met the most diverse and inspiring people. She declared that this year’s theme couldn’t have been more timely because the graduates are the manifestation of it.
UP President Danilo L. Concepcion led the graduates in taking their oath of loyalty to the University during the UPOU 25th Commencement Exercises.
UP President Danilo L. Concepcion led the graduates in declaring their oath of loyalty to the University. Hon. Reynaldo C. Laserna, Alumni Regent and President of the UP Alumni Association (UPAA), assisted the graduates as they took their oath as new members of the UP Alumni Association. The celebration ended with the graduates singing UP’s official hymn–UP Naming Mahal.
Congratulations to the UPOU Class of 2021!
Written by Jaime O. Guimbao
Edited by Joane V. Serrano and Anna Cañas-Llamas
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