SENATOR Francis Tolentino lauded the Department of Education for allowing the conduct of limited face-to-face graduation ceremonies in low-risk areas amid the declining number of Covid19 infections in the country.

DepEd recently decided to allow in-person end-of-school-year rites in schools in areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2.

Tolentino said graduation rites is a once in a lifetime achievement not only of every student — following years of academic hard work inside and outside the classroom — but also of their parents who sacrificed time, money, and even personal dreams just to ensure a better future for their children.

“Minsan lamang po ito sa talambuhay ng isang estudyante kaya pinaghahandaan ito nang husto ng hindi lamang ng mga estudyante kundi ng kanila ring mga butihing magulang. Hindi po matatawaran ang kanilang sakripisyo, mapagtapos po lamang at mabigyan ng mas magandang kinabukasan ang kanilang mga anak,” said Tolentino.

Tolentino raised the idea of having limited face-to-face graduation/recognition ceremonies as early as February, suggesting it could be done per batch to prevent the possible gathering of huge crowd that may lead to another round of surge in Covid19 infection.

“As former US Senator Orrin Hatch once said, ‘Graduation is not the end; it’s the beginning.’ Kaya nararapat lamang na bigyan ng magandang simula ang ating mga mag-aaral sa panibagong hamon sa kanilang mga buhay,” Tolentino added.