THE UNIVERSITY of the Philippines will confer academic degrees on 3,167 candidates for graduation during its 110th General Commencement Exercises on Sunday.

A total of 2,099 baccalaureate and 1,068 graduate students will graduate for the year, according to the Office of the University Registrar.

“This year’s theme is Kanlungan (Sanctuary), as homage to UPD that provided temporary shelter to individuals hit hard by the pandemic, whether physically, financially, emotionally, or psychologically,” the school said.

“Set to speak before the graduates is Prof. Gerardo D. Legaspi, MD, director of the Philippine General Hospital. Known as Dr. Gap, Legaspi is the first person to legally receive a COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines,” it added.

UPD Class of 2021 is led by 29 summa cum laude, an academic distinction for graduates who earned a weighted average grade of 1.20 or better.

Bachelor of Music Voice major Michelle Mariel C. Mariposa has the highest WAG of 1.072. She was followed by Maria Margarita R. Magbuhos, BA Anthropology (1.096); Francesca Anais Y. Siasoyco, BS Business Administration/BS BA (1.097); Nerice Athalia C. Yu, BS Business Administration and Accountancy/ BS BAA (1.104); Kobi Christian S. Go, BS Chemical Engineering/BS ChE (1.117); and Gabrielle Marie L. Chungunco, BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology/BS MBB, (1.121).

The next Top 10 are Spencer Shaun S. Keh, BS BAA (1.134); Kimberly Joy R. Sanchez, BSBA (1.137); Gene Audrey U. Tan, BS Computer Science/BS CS (1.137);Maria Andrea Kristina S. Onglao, BS Industrial Engineering/ BS IE (1.140); Eunice Valerie L. Chua, BS BAA (1.149); Trenton L. Tan, BS BAA (1.150); Micaela Neslin Z. Fadriquela, BS Psychology (1.151); John Virgilio B. Afable Jr., BS CS (1.153); Francesca Louise C. Villanueva, BS BA (1.158); and Alyssa Nicole M. Loveres, BA Philosophy (1.160).

Joining them are Kate Allison S. Co, BS MBB (1.161); David Martyn R. Vinluan, BS IE (1.162); Jian Lorenzo G. Chan, BS CS (1.167); Filbert Heinrich T. Wee, BS CS (1.176); Julia Bernadette L. Edralin, BA Psychology (1.184); Anton Raphael S. Cabalza, BA Anthropology (1.185); Nathan Joseph P. Oranga, BS BAA (1.189);Elaine C. Tan, BS BA (1.189); Sabrina Nicole T. Blanco, BS ChE (1.190); and Carmela Maria P. Berba, BS Biology(1.193).

Rounding out the top honors are Stephanie Nicole O. Go, BS Applied Physics (1.193); Anna Beatrice B. Sancio, BA Broadcast Communication (1.196); and Chynna Therese Nicole d. P. Reyes, BS Psychology (1.199).

Reyes, who is representing the class, will speak on behalf of the graduates, the university said.

Meanwhile, UPD-OUR data also revealed that 199 will receive the Latin distinction of magna cum laude (WAG of 1.45 or higher), while 456 will graduate with cum laude honors (WAG of 1.75 or higher).