For the first time in history, the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman will confer degrees on 3,778 candidates through a virtual graduation ceremony due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The online ceremony is set for 7 am on Sunday, July 26, led by 28 summa cum laude graduates.

This year’s commencement theme is “Maglingkod, Magmalasakit, Manindigan” which, according to UP, calls on the Class of 2020 “to serve the country with empathy and conviction so that excellence, rights, and justice may prevail.”

“It pays tribute to the frontliners and those who lost their lives to COVID-19 and is also a protest against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and Congress’ vote to not renew ABS-CBN’s franchise,” UP said in a statement on Wednesday, July 22.

Protests during UP graduation rites have been a tradition since the Martial Law period. The pandemic, though, could make protests on the ground difficult.

A total of 302 graduates will receive the Latin distinction of magna cum laude while 682 will graduate cum laude, according to the figures of the Office of the University Registrar as of Wednesday.

Of the total candidates for graduation, 2,884 will receive a baccalaureate degree and 894 will be conferred graduate degrees in the diploma, master’s, and doctoral levels.

Steffi Eunice Ramos, a summa cum laude graduate and the class representative, will deliver a virtual speech on behalf of her batch mates.

Former UP Diliman chancellor Michael Tan is this year’s commencement speaker.

The virtual graduation ceremony will be streamed through this link. – Rappler.com