More than 5,000 students graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman during its 115th University-wide Commencement Exercises on Sunday, July 5, with hundreds receiving Latin honors.
This year’s graduating class included 154 summa cum laude awardees and 927 magna cum laude graduates, reflecting strong academic performance among the university’s students.
Despite the sweltering weather, graduates, their families, faculty members, and guests filled the university grounds for the outdoor ceremony. Many attendees used umbrellas to protect themselves from the intense heat as the program continued.
The annual commencement exercises marked the culmination of years of academic work, perseverance, and dedication for the graduates.
Families and friends cheered as students marched in their academic regalia, taking photos and celebrating the milestone despite the high temperatures.
The 115th commencement exercises highlighted another year of academic excellence at UP Diliman, the country’s premier state university, as thousands of graduates prepare to enter the workforce, pursue further studies, and contribute to national development.
As the ceremony drew to a close, members of the graduating class loudly and repeatedly chanted, “Mga kurakot, panagutin!”
The chant, which called for corrupt officials to be held accountable, referred to government officials allegedly involved in what participants described as the country’s biggest corruption scandal.
The demonstration briefly echoed across the commencement venue before the program concluded.