By Allysa Nievera
The commencement rites for Universidad de Manila’s (UdM) Batch 2020 will be held next year, but they will also have virtual commencement rites on Monday (June 29), UdM President Malou Tiquia announced in a statement posted on the Manila Public Information Office Facebook page.
"COVID-19 has made all of us adapt to the new norm, but there are things that we will continually pursue and one of these is to honor college graduates because this is an event that happens once in a lifetime," Malou Tiquia said.
"The Batch 2020 graduates have also been assured of participation in the traditional march for Batch 2021 on June 2021," she added.
The virtual graduation was initially recommended by Dr. Ronald A. Herrera, UdM vice president for academic affairs. The ceremony will be livestreamed on social media platforms handled by UdM.
Around 1,306 graduates from the nine colleges of UdM will graduate in the virtual graduation, among them four magna cum laude and 14 cum laude graduates.
"In the tradition of higher education institutions, we have likewise amended the criteria for these so that Latin honor awardees represent the best from among the students," Tiquia said.