Dr. Virgilio S. Almario, National Artist for Literature, addressed some 4,000 graduates at UP Diliman’s (UPD) 98th General Commencement Exercises on April 26 at the University Amphitheater.
An esteemed poet and critic in Filipino, Almario is better known in literary circles by his pseudonym Rio Alma. He is likewise recognized as an outstanding translator, editor, teacher and cultural manager.
He was conferred the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ng Sining or the National Artist for Literature award in 2003. The distinction, jointly administered by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, is the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts.
Almario is presently the dean of UPD’s College of Arts and Letters, a post he was appointed to in June 2003. He served as Director of the UP Institute of Creative Writing from June 2002 to May 2003 and Sentro ng Wikang Filipino from 1993 to 1996.
He joined UPD in 1971 as Lecturer and became Full Professor in 1990. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1963 and a Master of Arts in Filipino in 1974, both from UPD. In 2009, the University of Regina Carmeli conferred upon him an honorary Doctor of Literature degree.
Eighteen summa cum laude led the graduates. Heading the list is Scott Riley K. Ong, BS Biology, who has a general weighted average (GWA) of 1.036. The highest academic honor is bestowed on graduates with a GWA of 1.20 or better.
The other top honors, in the order of their GWAs, are as follows: Juan Lorenzo B. Pablo, BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (1.061); Maria Patricia Rouelli G. Sabino, BS Computer Engineering (1.082); Mikhail P. Solon, BS Physics (1.084); Joseph Ray Clarence G. Damasco, BS Mathematics (1.107); Frances Antoinette C. Cruz, BA European Languages (1.109); Laureen Carmela B. Lukban, BS Psychology (1.114); Anna P. Canlas, BA Broadcast Communication (1.117); Jan Carlo B. Punongbayan, BS Economics (1.151) and Mark Joseph S. Tan, BS Chemical Engineering (1.16).
Completing the list are the following: Angelo Aresenio de Guzman Santos (1.169) and Joseph Jeeben R. Segui(1.173), both to obtain a BS Mathematics degree; Christina Marianne G. Mantaring, BS Computer Engineering (1.178); Angelo C. Ani, BS Industrial Engineering (1.191); Luther Paul dela Rosa Caranguian, BS Electronics and Communications Engineering (1.192); Shyne De Vera Galapon, BS Chemistry (1.193); Andreo C. Calonzo, BA Journalism (1.198) and Ma. Theresa S. Pamintuan, BS Business Administration and Accountancy (1.2)
Segui delivered the response on behalf of the graduating class.
In addition to the top honors of summa cum laude, UPD produced 192 magna cum laude and 810 cum laude graduates. The magna cum laude is awarded to a graduate with a GWA 1.45 and the cum laude for a GWA of 1.75.
UP President Emerlinda R. Román conferred more than 3,000 undergraduate and 800 post graduate degrees, of which 55 graduates were hooded onstage for obtaining their doctoral degrees.