TSU holds 1st online commencement exercises  

Tarlac State University held its first ever online commencement exercises on June 29-30, 2020 via Facebook Live through the official page of the Office of Public Affairs (OPA) sending off a total of 1,105 graduating students.

The production, spearheaded by OPA director Ms. Jazzel Llaneli M. Manabat, is in compliance with Section A.1.f of the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) COVID Advisory No. 7 which prohibits higher education institutions (HEIs) from conducting mass gatherings including graduation ceremonies.

The online graduation followed the traditional program of the annual exercises where University President Dr. Myrna Q. Mallari virtually conferred the degrees of 509 graduates on the first day and 596 graduates on the second day.

The number of graduates is broken down as follows:

In place of the distribution of diplomas, college deans and respective department chairs announced the names of the graduates one by one which are then flashed on screen.

The valedictory address by Micah M. Aguilar, AB Communication graduate, was delivered from the comfort of her home.

Meanwhile, Tarlac 2^nd district representative Hon. Victor A. Yap also sent a video of his commencement speech from the House of Representatives.

“Admittedly today's very different from the traditional modes of graduation ceremonies we have always known, but it is through these kind of moments in history that sets you apart as different from the rest,” he said empathically.

University directors Prof. Redemptor G. Toledano and Dr. Grace Anne C. Hasegawa, and student regent Harold Joseph Duane D. Hilario were recognized virtually for their distinguished services to the university as outgoing officials. Their respective vice presidents accepted the awards of recognition on their behalf.

The online 31^st Commencement Exercises is still available for viewing under the videos tab of the OPA Facebook Page at https://facebook.com/opaitsu. [Jodie Andrea G. Pangilinan]