Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto urged the 2022 graduating class of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig (PLP) on Monday, July 11, and Tuesday, July 12, to aim higher and go after their dreams following the return of face-to-face graduation ceremonies in the city.
"Lahat po ng nakikita ninyo na matagumpay sa buhay, sa negosyo, bilang mga propesyonal, mga bahagi ng medical field - lahat ng mga successful sa kani-kanilang ralangan sa buhay -- ay nagsimula rin naman kung saan kayo nakaupo ngayon. Taasan niyo lang ang pangarap ninyo (Every person you've seen who is successful in their field and have triumphed in their life, business, or as professionals, started out from where you are seated right now. Aim higher)," Sotto said.
Two out of four batches of graduates flocked to the Tanghalang Pasigueño for the PLP's 18th commencement exercises.
Students who finished their degrees in Computer Science, Information Technology, Entrepreneurship, Accountancy, Business Administration, and Hospitality Management received their diplomas during the two-day event.
The mayor told the graduates that he was very proud of their achievements and for continuing their education under an abrupt online set-up that came with the pandemic.
"Nakakabilib po kayo dahil sa lahat ng pagsubok na pinagdaanan ninyo, kinaya niyo po ang mga ito, at nandito na po kayo ngayon. Walang ibang batch na makakapagsabi na pinagdaanan nila ang lahat ng naranasan ninyo sa nakaraang dalawang taon (I am proud of you all because you hurdled the many challenges and hardships that came your way. No other batch can say that they experienced what you had in the past two years)," he said.
In a Twitter post, Sotto said that he is very excited for the graduates' future.
"Kami naman po, mula sa lingkod na pamahalaan at board of regents hanggang sa inyo ng faculty and staff, kami po ay nagtitiwala sa inyo ng galing, talino, kahusayan. Higit sa lahat, sa inyong perseverance at inyong character na inyong naipakita (We, from the local government and the board of regents to the faculty and staff, trust in your skills, smarts, and expertise. Most importantly, we trust your perseverance and the character you have shown us)," Sotto added in his speech.
Throughout the pandemic, the Pasig City local government has aided the students of PLP in their studies.
At the height of the pandemic in 2020, the local government allocated around P1.3 billion to buy some 140,000 tablets for public elementary and high school students, as well as 5,225 laptops for teachers.
Aside from offering blended learning modes, students were each given P500 worth of connectivity allowance per month starting in 2021.
The tuition fee and educational expenses of PLP students, particularly scholars, are also shouldered by the local government since the implementation of the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) in 2019.
The last two batches of 2022 PLP graduates will hold their graduation rites on August 26 at Tanghalang Pasigueño.