THE PAMANTASAN ng Lungsod ng Maynila on Thursday revealed that 129 undergraduate and 304 master’s and doctorate students will graduate this year.

“They form the second batch to secure their diplomas in the middle of the Covid19 crisis, having spent an entire academic year under distance learning due to pandemic-induced restrictions,” the university said.

“The Board of Regents approved the conferment of academic honors to students at its meeting last July 21st,” it added.

Despite the hardships brought by pandemic restrictions, PLM shared that seven students finished their respective programs as cum laude.

They are Bernadette M. Canapit (BS Accountancy), Raven F. Ferry (BS Architecture), Gulienne Randee Mickhaela U. Zamora (BS Architecture), and John Emmeth E. Ardiente (BS Civil Engineering).

For the first time, PLM said three graduates from the College of Medicine will be recognized as cum laude — Karla Joyce S. Badong, Jenny Lynn A. Karunungan and Philip Patrick P. Lee.

University President Emmanuel Leyco and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso will deliver congratulatory messages during the commencement exercises.

“Congratulations to our dear graduates of Batch 2021! We are happy and proud to see all of you pull through the past year despite the unprecedented hardships brought about by our health and economic crisis. It is no easy feat, but you have all made it,” Leyco said.

“At this time of great need, we hope that you will be able to use your knowledge to become productive members of society and ready to serve the people in your own ways. May the spirit of bayanihan and compassion lift us through these tough times,” he added.

Anna Patricia Non, founder of the community pantries movement during the pandemic, will be the commencement speaker.