On 29 September 2018, the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) celebrated its 22nd Commencement Exercises at its Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna. This was the last commencement exercise for all the Constituent Units (CU) of the University of the Philippines (UP) System this year which accommodated all students who completed their degrees for the 1st and 2nd Semesters, and Midyear term, and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Trimesters academic year 2017-2018.
Three hundred forty-eight (348) students were conferred their degrees this year, fifty of which were undergraduate students, and 298 were graduate students. Of the graduate students, twenty-five completed graduate certificate degrees, 128 completed graduate diploma degrees, 129 completed Master’s degrees. Sixteen graduates of doctoral programs were hooded.
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner and Officer-in-Charge (OIC), and Chairman of the UP Board of Regents, Dr. J. Prospero E. de Vera III, was the guest speaker for the Commencement Exercises which had the theme “Leading in ODeL towards Education 4.0.”
Recognizing excellence as a trademark of UP, Dr. De Vera mentioned his ardent hope for excellence not to stop when the graduates leave the university. “Excellence requires a lot of effort… Do not be tired of being excellent,” he stated. “Honor without excellence will not bring you anywhere,” he added. Dr. De Vera also commended the institution by mentioning that “Excellence is a UP trademark. UPOU holds the distinction of being an excellent university.” He summarized the meaning of UP Open University as OpenU — Openness, Probity, Excellence, National University.
Ms. Joanne C. Gerio, a Master of Development Communication graduate, was the representative of the graduating class. As a decade-long Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), she emphasized how fortunate the graduates are to live in a world where learning is not only confined within the four walls of a classroom. She also shared her experiences how the evolving and revolutionary trend of education such as that of UPOU had enabled her to steer the challenges that she faced in pursuing higher and quality education while juggling her professional work and personal life. In her speech, she mentioned that “Education 4.0 plays a key role to upgrade and innovate every individuals and society as a whole. It empowers every individual to develop an array of competencies, skills and knowledge, enabling people to unleash their creative potentials.” Moreover, she presented her own definition of the UP Sablay. “Sablay is more than just an achievement – an indicator that we have finally reached the finishing line or even an adornment to wear as a prize for our pursuit of knowledge, but it is indeed a symbol for fresh beginnings.” She also enlightened the audience more on the Sablay by mentioning that it is “a symbol of taking educational leadership with high hopes that could bring auspicious development to our country and fellow countrymen.” In addition, she pointed out that UPOU graduates are not here to become this nation’s privileged intellectual elite, but more of the nation’s hope and future. Finally, she reminded the graduates of the Oblation’s true meaning of selfless offering of oneself for one’s country and people with pride, honor and academic excellence.
The event was concluded with the ardent singing of UP Naming Mahal and a magnificent fireworks display. (Verna Banasihan)
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