There were no black caps and togas, marches, or confetti showers during the batch 2020 graduation rites.
As the current pandemic forced educational institutions to postpone traditional commencement exercises, De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) hailed 575 new alumni through its first-ever virtual graduation streamed through the institutional website, Jul. 1.
At the comfort of their homes, Lasallians and their families attended this year’s 32nd graduation program and were conferred with their degrees from the College of Law (CoL), College of Business, Economics, Accountancy, and Management (CBEAM), College of Education, Arts, and Sciences (CEAS), College of Information Technology and Engineering (CITE), College of International, Hospitality, and Tourism Management (CIHTM), and College of Nursing (CON).
Gracing the ceremony as the guest speaker was motivational speaker and best-selling author Arun Gogna, who shared with the graduates his secrets on how to prosper and succeed in life, reminding them to surround themselves with people they love.
“Just follow the three principles [execution, environment, envision] and you will be successful. The most important success is that you will be surrounded by people you love,” Gogna said.
In his thanksgiving address Aldwyn Mercado, BS Electrical Engineering graduate and the batch valedictorian, reminded his batchmates to use their life skills and the Lasallian education they have gained as a weapon in facing the new normal amid the pandemic.
“As Lasallians, we have to be resilient […]. There is a bright future waving and waiting for us with faith in God and Lasallian education as our weapons,” Mercado said.
Ma. Theresa Mangulabnan, program co-chairperson of the graduation committee also clarified that the recently concluded ceremony shall serve as the only commencement program for this year’s graduates as there is still no certain chances on when the normal operations will be allowed.
“The virtual graduation will be the only graduation for Batch 2020. […] Possible pa rin ang face-to-face [graduation] next year. Kaya lang, wala eh, we really don’t know what will happen. The time is very uncertain, “ Mangulabnan said.
