September 9, 2022  — “Kung para sa’yo ang buhay ay para lang magpakasaya, magkaroon ng pera, kasikatan, kapangyahiran, seguridad, hindi mo na kailangan ng prinsipyo, kailangan mo lang ng mga pamamaraan. Sa katunayan, mabuti na lang na wala kang prinsipyo kung ganun, magiging sagabal lang ‘yan.

Sa kabilang banda, kung ang buhay sa’yo ay higit pa sa mga bagay na ito – kung ang kaligayahan ay higit sa pagpapakasaya, ang respeto sa kasikatan, ang karapatan sa kapangyarihan, at kung higit ang kapayapaan ng kaluluwa sa seguridad, kung ang kamatayan ay hindi winawakasan ng buhay kundi binabago ito – kung ganun, kailangan mong maging tapat sa sarili at sa iyong Diyos.”

Atty. Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno remarked, as he urged the graduating students to choose a life that reflects truth and justice in service of the Filipino people, in his keynote speech during the 2022 College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) recognition ceremony held July 26, 2022, at the Manila Metropolitan Theatre. 

Reading the letter of his then detained father, Atty Jose W. Diokno, he challenged the graduates to be individuals with integrity, love, accountability, courage, self-compassion and compassion for other people, humility, vulnerability, and hope. “Samakatuwid, [hinihimok ko kayong maging] isang taong hindi luluhod at susuko sa kapwa o kapalaran, kundi sa Panginoon lamang,” he said. 

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A total of 353 candidates were conferred their degrees with Tanya Corrine S. David from the Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics (DPSM) awarded as batch valedictorian. David was the first-ever CAS valedictorian from DPSM with an all-time high general weighted average of 1.103. 

 “Ang inyong mga digri ay magiging makabuluhan lamang kung gagamitin ninyo ng tapat at mahusay… Hinihikayat ko kayong mangarap, libre lang namang mangarap at mangarap ng matayog para sa sarili, para sa pamilya, sa komunidad, at sa bansa… Humayo kayong may pagmamalaki sa inyong mga puso, taglayin ang mga prinsipyo at mithiin ng isang nagtapos sa UP— sabik sa kaalaman, inuuna ang kapakanan ng bansa, at ibinibigay ang lahat at ang pinakamahusay sa bawat gawain,” Chancellor Carmencita Padilla urged the graduates. 

There were 305 graduates of the bachelor degrees and 46 in the masters degrees. Batch 2022 is considered record-breaking with the highest number of seven summa cum laude graduates. Special awards were also given to students who displayed excellence in the fields of art, research, and leadership. 

UPM-CAS Alumni Association (UPM-CASAA) President Ms. Benita C. Tayag led the induction of the graduates to the UPM-CASAA. To symbolize the transfer of student responsibilities from the outgoing to the incoming senior college students, Ms. David handed out the ceremonial lamp to Mr. Ivanne Joepert A. Idorot, a representative of third year students for the Academic Year 2021-2022.

Francis Nicole G. Maga