2017 CSSP NSTP Graduation Ceremony

The College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) held a graduation ceremony for the students who completed their classes in the National Service Training Program (NSTP) for the 2nd semester of Academic Year 2016 to 2017.

This was held on on May 15, 2017 at the Palma Hall Lobby from 9:00 in the morning to 12:00 noon (for the morning NSTP classes) and from 2:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon (for the afternoon CSSP classes). The graduation program with the theme, “Naglilingkod sa KAPPwa, Naglilingkod sa Bayan!” aimed at showcasing and celebrating the achievements of the CSSP-NSTP graduates.

The program additionally featured an exhibit which ran from May 15 to May 19 at the lobby. The exhibit opened on May 15 from 8:30 to 9:00 in the morning with opening remarks from the CSSP-NSTP Coordinator, Assistant Professor Arlyn P. Macapinlac. Asst. Prof. Macapinlac explained the purpose and theme of the exhibit which was to visually share the community service done by the students. Displayed were Community Engagement Posters and Community Engagement Photos, and those which won the best in each of the two categories decided by a group of judges from the CSSP faculty. The panel of judges were also recognized during the exhibit. Apart from these, the Common CSSP-NSTP Project entitled “AlaLayb” was also highlighted wherein all NSTP students covered books from the CSSP Library and the Library of the Department of History. The exhibit was formally opened with an unfurling of the ribbon facilitated by Dean Grace H. Aguiling-Dalisay, PhD and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Ma. Theresa T. Payongayong.

In both the morning and afternoon graduation ceremonies, the program began with the singing of the national anthem and the opening remarks given by Dean Aguiling-Dalisay in the morning ceremony and Associate Dean Payongayong in the afternoon ceremony. During the morning ceremony, Dean Aguiling-Dalisay congratulated the graduates and all those who organized the well-prepared event. She also hoped that the student graduates of CSSP-NSTP discovered and continues to discover the meaning of service beyond NSTP as a required subject. During the afternoon ceremony, Associate Dean Payongayong extended her message of service, thanks, and congratulations to the graduating classes. Assistant Professor Leander P. Marquez from the Department of Philosophy then introduced the keynote speaker for both ceremonies, Congresswoman Sarah Jane I. Elago who is a representative from the Kabataan Party List. Ms. Elago shared that service does not stop with completing a course in NSTP although NSTP ought to ensure that students become more conscious of social issues. The true challenge, she remarks, is in the maximization of all avenues for service outside NSTP to remedy problems in education, job security, social services, land distribution, and the like.

The recognition and awarding proper of the program then commenced. Certificates were first awarded to recognize the members of the CSSP-NSTP Core Group. Also recognized here were the partner organizations and communities which helped make the CSSP-NSTP projects possible. Second to be awarded were those groups who won Best Community Engagement Poster, Best Community Engagement Photo, and Best Community Engagement Video. Throughout the program, the video presentations of each group from different NSTP classes were played for the entire audience of students, teachers, and administrators. Last to be awarded were all the graduating students of CSSP-NSTP. The CSSP-NSTP Coordinator, Asst. Prof. Macapinlac, facilitated the awarding of all certificates. During the closing of the program, an oath-taking led by Professor Josefina C. Santos from the University of the Philippines, Diliman-NSTP took place to induct the graduates as new members of the National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC). All the new inductees also wore their respective NSRC pins and sang the NSTP song. The closing remarks were then given by Associate Dean Payongayong during the morning ceremony and by Dean Aguiling-Dalisay during the afternoon ceremony. To formally end the recognition event, all those in attendance sang the university hymn, UP Naming Mahal.

The emcees of “CSSP-NSTP: Naglilingkod sa KAPPwa, Naglilingkod sa Bayan!” were Assistant Professor Aaron Abel T. Mallari and Rogelio R. Nato, Jr.