Former associate justice of the Supreme Court and former ombudsman of the Philippines Conchita C. Carpio-Morales said the exercise of democracy does not start and end at the polling stations, it instead must be lived every day through vigilance.
Carpio-Morales made the assertion in her address at UP Diliman’s (UPD) 115th General Commencement Exercises on the morning of July 5 at the University Amphitheater.
“Democracy is not only about voting during elections; it is about ensuring that laws are fairly applied, public officials are held accountable, and institutions serve the people with integrity. The future of our democracy depends on citizens who value truth, responsibility, and respect for the rule of law,” she said.
Carpio-Morales urged the graduates to make full use of their liberal UP education to “remain steadfast in promoting and defending truth” amid the misinformation and disinformation spreading on social media.
“To young graduates, do not be deceived. Character is not revealed in loud, even screaming, and incoherent voices. It is best revealed in your everyday conduct. How you speak, how you listen, disagree, obey rules, exercise power and treat other people who are vulnerable and different,” she said.
At the same time, Carpio-Morales expressed concern over the Commission on Higher Education’s proposed policies, standards, and guidelines for the reframed general education curriculum, which proposes to cut the minimum number of general education units tertiary students must take from 36 to as low as 18.
“Education should abandon the false dichotomy between technology and hard skills on one side and the arts, humanities, and social sciences on the other. We need truth to win our case for the future. Engineers and architects need ethics. Artists and journalists need platforms. Scientists need imagination. Humanists need technological literacy,” she said.
After Carpio-Morales’ address, the rite of Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Maria Vanessa Lusung-Oyzon presenting the graduating class to UPD Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II commenced. The deans of the colleges individually moved forward and ceremoniously presented the graduating class of their individual units to Vistan.
Vistan, in turn, presented the graduates to UP President Angelo A. Jimenez, who conferred to the graduates their respective academic degrees and titles.
This was symbolized by the traditional ceremonial shifting of their Sablay from the right shoulder to the left shoulder, signifying the completion of their degrees.
Speaking for the graduating class was Janine Sofia Marie Umiten, who earned her Bachelor of Science (Social Work), summa cum laude, from the College of Social Work and Community Development.
The general commencement exercises, with the theme Gumagalang, was livestreamed on the UPD website and YouTube channel and featured performances from OJ Mariano accompanied by the Jenny and Jeff Band, who sang Saranggola by the Ben&Ben and Iisang Bangka by The Dawn.
This year’s bachelor’s degree holders number 3,795, combined with the 1,227 post-baccalaureate-level graduates bring the class of 2026 to 5,022. Of those at the graduate level, 93 have completed their doctorate degrees, 929 have earned their masters degrees, and 205 finished their graduate diplomas. The College of Science produced the most with 171, followed by College of Engineering with 152, followed by the Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business with 121. Among the 3,795 bachelor’s degrees holders, 1,995 finished with Latin honors. One hundred fifty-four graduated summa cum laude, 927 graduated magna cum laude, and 914 graduated cum laude. The honor of summa cum laude is granted to students who graduated with a weighted average grade of at least 1.20.