PLM holds first online graduation for Class of 2020

COVID-19 Special Issue Volume 40, Issue 4

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Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Facebook Page

PLM holds first online graduation for Class of 2020

Mecaela Mae GUMADE

PLM honors the Class of 2020 graduates on its first-ever virtual graduation rites aired online last June 30, 2020, in accordance with imposed national health protocols on the current COVID-19 pandemic.

With this year's theme, “Solidarity and Hope: Living beyond the COVID-19 pandemic”, the 52nd commencement exercises recognized the momentous milestone of 1,033 graduates as they bravely took on the challenge of thriving beyond the uncertainty of the present time.

University President Emmanuel Leyco led the commencement rites with his opening remarks, addressing the pressing weight of today's global pandemic situation, especially on the poor. Despite the restrictions of physical distancing, he encouraged to further strengthen our solidarity, bearing in mind the hope of a better tomorrow.

Acknowledging his remarkable support on the local COVID-19 response, a Doctorate Degree in Public Health, honoris causa, was conferred to Ramon S. Ang, the president and chief operating officer of San Miguel Corporation.

Manila Mayor Francisco 'Isko Moreno' Domagoso expressed his salutations to the new graduates, impelling them to uphold the PLM values of karunungan, kaunlaran, at kadakilaan, and to remain steadfast during trying times.

“Most of all, maintain a close relationship with God and you shall never lose your way,” the Mayor said. The University graduates’ names, consisting of 674 undergraduate degrees and 354 master’s and doctorate degrees, were read alongside their degrees and special citations, conferred by University President Leyco.

Batch valedictorian and magna cum laude Gerald V. De Asis delivered his address, encouraging his fellow graduates to persevere on achieving their goals despite hurdles. “Believe that nothing can hinder us from achieving our defined success. Not our past failures nor this crisis”.

He reminded them to take a break when needed, as he emphasized that ‘progress and healing are not linear’. He also encouraged the youth to speak loud and clear in the face of injustice.

“The future of our country lies on the capability of the youth”, De Asis said in his valedictory address. “This is the time to be loud. So loud, so the adults and authorities will hear us as we demand transparency, accountability, and aligned solutions. No one can measure the power of collective humanity amongst us”.

The airing of the commencement exercises was moved from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and were viewed by the graduates and their families through Facebook, YouTube, and the PLM website.

PARENTS, GRADUATES VOICED OUT DISMAY ON THE AIRED COMMENCEMENT RITES

As the online graduation rites proceeded on honoring the graduates, apparent disappointment from families and students were expressed on the comment section as the presentation flashed, criticizing on what they deemed to be an insufficient effort of making such a significant occasion satisfactory for the viewers.

Christina Cerezo, BS Psychology graduate, admitted that she’s upset on the said presentation. “I was really disappointed sa pagpresent nila ng graduates; sobrang pinagsisikan sa isang slide ‘yung faces to the point na halos hindi na ma-distinguish and hindi na talaga nababasa ‘yung names. The editing was really bad.”

Despite her discontent, she hopes that such circumstances served as a lesson for the university’s administration to further ensure the appropriate management of future significant events.

“Although I’m not satisfied sa naganap na graduation, I was thankful sa Pamantasan for giving us a high-quality education,” Cerezo added.

University President Leyco addressed such grievances in his statement released the same day of the online graduation. He apologized and assured that they will work with their outsourced production crew to re-do the presentation, ‘showing individual graduates with their earned degree and honours, if any’.

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COVID-19 Special Issue Volume 40, Issue 4

Photo by:

Ang Pamantasan

ELECTION POSTPONEMENT

SSC, CSCs to holdover positions

Nicole Anne MENDOZA

The PLM Student Commission on Elections (PLM COMELEC) announced the postponement of the 2020 PLM Supreme Student Council (PLM SSC) and College Student Council (CSC) elections last June 3, 2020 on their official Facebook page.

With the graduation and resignation of some officeholders, particularly in the presidential positions, the independent student constitutional commission resolved to have a holdover of positions with respect to the PLM SSC constitution.

Initially, according to PLM COMELEC’s Board Resolution No. 04-2020, the incumbent vice president shall take over and temporarily assume office as an acting president when the presidential position is made vacant.

Second, “non-graduating incumbent officers shall assume the office on an interim basis and shall temporarily assume the duties, functions, and responsibilities until a new set of officers shall be qualified and elected in a regular election.”

Third, an acting officer will be elected by a majority vote of the SSC officers and he/she shall serve for the unexpired term, or the election, depending on the case.

Other pointers tackled the probable cases of conflict, the temporary guidelines on resignation filing and filling vacancies, and the outgoing officers’ clearances.

The holdover of positions placed SSC officers on an interim basis: Hannah Enriquez as the PLM SSC Acting President, Erica Jane E. Padilla as the PLM SSC Acting Vice President, Aubrey Mae P. Retardo as the PLM SSC Acting Executive Secretary, Jon Ehroin L. Barawid as the PLM SSC Acting Treasurer, Mark Christian U. Bamo as the PLM SSC Acting Auditor, and Ryan Joshua O. Caragdag as the PLM SSC Acting Public Relations Officer, together with the respective college representatives additionally.

Currently, strategies are being devised and practiced to ensure that all student concerns are properly addressed. In an interview with Enriquez, she stated that compressing SSC commissions is one important adjustment.

Given that some annual projects cannot push through due to the constraints brought by the current situation, they agreed to compress their respective commissions to a skeletal team.

Specifically, this skeletal team is composed of the Commission on Information and Communication (CIC), Commission on Health and Wellness (CHAW), Students’ Rights and Welfare Commission (STRAW), Department of Finance and Operations (FINOP), and Commission of Collegiate and Civic Affairs (COLCIV).

According to the PLM SSC Resolution No. 17, s. 2020, “several departments and commissions are headed by multiple officers from the Core Committee and serve different purposes for the council and the university.”

Also, in order to effectively divide their time for student council work and personal matters, they have resolved within the council to take the weekends off. According to Enriquez, they believe that these strategies are working alongside their team dynamics.