The UP Asian Center and Tri-College PhD Philippine Studies Program will be holding the 2022 Commencement Exercises on 30 July 2022, 2:00 pm, Philippine Standard Time (GMT+8), at the GT-Toyota, Asian Center (on-site) and via Zoom. The on-site event is exclusive to graduates and their guests. Registration to Zoom is required for online attendees.

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SEMANGAT: DIWA, SIGLA, GAWA

The theme for this year’s graduation is “Semangat: Diwa, Sigla, Gawa.” This is in line with the University of the Philippines Diliman’s commencement theme, “Dasig,” which means “full of life” and signifies resilience and determination in Visayan. Semangat (aka sumangat) is an equivalent term to dasig found in parts of the Southern Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia which refers to “spirit, zest, energy, enthusiasm.” The word also implies the idea of rising above adversity. The theme urges our graduates to rise up with great spirit and to be enthused by the challenge of nation building and meaningful social change in the face of seemingly insurmountable adversity. The theme, therefore, aims to inspire our graduates as they move forward to the next chapter of their lives.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Professor Randolf "Randy" S. David is a Professor Emeritus at the Department of Sociology, University of the Philippines Diliman. He is also the founding director of Third World Studies Center of the same university. Being a multi-awarded journalist, Professor David is currently a columnist at the Philippine Daily Inquirer. He was also a host, writer, and producer of various public affairs television programs from GMA and ABS-CBN.

Professor David is known for publishing several books about Philippine society, such as Understanding Philippine Society, Culture, and Politics; Nation, Self, and Citizenship: An Invitation to Philippine Sociology; Silence; and Public Lives: Essays on Selfhood and Social Solidarity. In 2019, he was granted the Fukuoka Grand Prize in recognition to his public service. The award is given to individuals who have contributed to peace, unity, and understanding between cultures and communities in Asia.

THE GRADUATES

In total, there are 65 graduates who would march for this year’s commencement exercises: 30 graduates from AY 2021–2022, 15 graduates from AY 2020–2021, and 20 from AY 2019–2020. Two students from the Asian Studies and Philippine Studies Program would offer short pieces of speech: Mx. Gregorio “Gio” R. Caliguia III would represent the graduates from the Philippine Studies Program and Mx. Katrina Kae S. Principe for the Asian Studies Program.

PERFORMERS

“Traditional Modern Dance sa pagitan ng Japan at ng Pilipinas”

Jose Marie M. Flores (MAS-Japan Graduate)

“Handog” at “Magsimula Ka”

Ricardo Juanito Balledos, Student, Masters in Guitar Performance, College of Music, UP Diliman

John Philip Mateo Bautista, Tenor and Voice Teacher

Bb. Ronadae Paola Ruiz, UP Dance Company

For inquiries, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman offers M.A. degrees in Asian Studies with four fields of specialization: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. The UP Asian Center also has an M.A. program in Philippine Studies that allows students to major in Philippine society and culture, Philippine foreign relations, or Philippine development studies. It also offers a Ph.D. program in Philippine Studies in conjunction with the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. For an overview of these graduate programs, click here. As an area studies institution, the Asian Center also publishes Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia, the latest issue of which can be downloaded at the journal's website.