Several students conducted a traditional “lightning rally” during the 111th general commencement exercises of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City on Sunday, GMA News reported.
Before the ceremony ended, groups of students gathered in front of the stage of the amphitheater, holding banners with inscriptions: “Ipagtanggol ang Kasaysayan at Katotohanan, Marcos-Duterte, Itakwil”, “Serve the People”, “Defend Press Freedom”, “Itaas ang Sahod,” among others, according to Luisito Santos on Super Radyo dzBB.
They were also chanting “Iskolar ng Bayan, Ngayon ay Lumalaban”, and “Never Again to Martial Law,” GMA News reported.
The university conducted face-to-face graduation rites more than two years after the COVID-19 pandemic started.
According to UP Diliman (UPD), this year’s theme was Dásig,”—a Cebuano word of various nuances: most commonly, liveliness and cheer; more profoundly, strength of spirit and resolute determination.
“The theme reflects the University’s collective resolve to celebrate the students who, with strength of mind and spirit, finished their degrees amidst the challenges of the pandemic,” UPD said.