UP Diliman to graduate 4,000

Two summa cum laude will lead some 4,000 candidates for graduation today at the 93rd General Commencement Exercises of the University of the Philippines in Diliman.

The top honors are awarded to graduates with a general weighted average (GWA) of not lower than 1.2.

Leading the candidates are Kristine Lourdes Darang (1.170, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accountancy) and Margot Aisaa Tan (1.185, BS Economics). Darang will deliver the graduating class’ valedictory address.

Dr. Josette Biyo, a professor at the Philippine Science High School at Western Visayas, Iloilo City, is this year’s commencement speaker. She received the 2002 Intel Excellence in Teaching Award, besting four other finalists from China and the US, and 4,000 teachers worldwide. For this feat, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in Boston named a minor planet after her. Planet Biyo rotates around the sun between Mars and Jupiter.

The late poet, humanist, and scholar Ricaredo Demetillo will also be conferred with a posthumous Doctor in Humanities, honoris causa. He is considered the most prolific of writers born during the middle years of the American colonial regime (1916-1925).

With the theme Isko: Higit sa Lahat, ang Bayan the commencement exercises will be held at 3 p.m. today at the University Amphitheater.

To accommodate the flux of attending graduates and guests, traffic within the UP Diliman campus will be rerouted for the duration of the commencement rites. Motorists are advised to expect heavy traffic.

Participants to the graduation ceremony in private vehicles will be directed by the UP Diliman Traffic Police to parking areas based on auto passes.