A barangay in Bulacan holds DIY online graduation ceremony for its constituents

Barangay Tibag in Pulilan, Bulacan decided to hold a DIY graduation for its constituents who are set to graduate this year.

How? Through a live video on Facebook.

In a report by MJ Geronimo on Stand For Truth, Barangay Tibag Captain Renz Bryan Esguerra said his constituents kept asking if their graduation will push through amid the quarantine. So he thought of doing this system for the 312 graduating students in his barangay.

"'Yung mga kabarangay po namin, lagi po nilang tinatanong sa amin kung 'Kap, matutuloy ba 'yung graduation namin?' Wala akong maisagot sa kanila so ang sabi ko, 'why not gamitin natin itong pa system para ma-experience ninyo 'yung graduation," Esguerra said.

Teachers from the Tibag Child Development Center gave out names of the graduating students from Kinder, Grade 6, Grade 10, senior high school and college students.

Kathleen Faye Esguerra, a mother from the Barangay who has a child graduating from daycare said she decided to let her child wear the uniform on the day of the online graduation.

"Naisipan ko na habang tinatawag 'yung panaglan nung anak ko, pagsuotin ko siya ng uniform. Kasi second time na niya mag-day care so 'yung naging medal niya last year, pinasuot ko na rin sa kanya," she said.

She said her child was disappointed after learning that the graduation won't push through due to the ECQ.

"Kasi fulfillment 'yun sa bata 'di ba? 'Yong 10 months silang napagod, gumising nang maaga, nag-ready para sa school every day, tapos 'yung nilu-look forward nilang graduation, hindi pala nila mae-experience," she narrated.

Graduating college students Angelika Pineda and Jay Ruiz said it's their goal as a couple to graduate together but the ceremony set in August might be postponed due to the ECQ.

"Nalulungkot po ako nun kasi imbes po na ito pong months po, dapat na 'to is nag-aayos na po ako ng mga requirements. [Pero] dahil nga po dito, na-postpone po 'yung lahat ng dapat gawin," Angelika said. 

Jay said he was supposed to go on OJT before graduating in August but due to the unfortunate circumstances he said everything will be postponed.

Although they are graduating from different schools, their names were announced consecutively.

Each graduate was given a "graduation" certificate and 1/4 kg dried fish or tuyo to commemorate their milestone.

Despite it not being an actual graduation, the students were happy they were recognized as graduates by their Barangay.

President Rodrigo Duterte placed the whole Luzon on enhanced community quarantine on March 17 to contain the spread of COVID-19, which prohibits mass gatherings including graduation.

On Tuesday, Duterte extended the quarantine until April 30 to curb the spread of COVID-19.

According to the Department of Health on Monday, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 3,660 with 163 deaths and 73 recoveries. — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News