By Mark Vincent A. Durano

Far Eastern University (FEU) announced that after “careful consideration,” the 2025 Commencement Exercises will push through despite the onslaught of the enhanced southwest monsoon. However, Tamaraw graduates and their loved ones were quick to point out that the University did not carefully consider their situation against flooded houses, non-passable roads, and rapid downpours.

At the eve of the 2025 Commencement Exercises last July 21, DOST-PAGASA had already raised Metro Manila to a red rainfall warning.

The torrential rainfall has caused several floods in Metro Manila including España Boulevard and Taft Avenue, as well as other non-passable roads in various areas as reported by MMDA.

In a statement response to the onslaught mere hours before the graduation, FEU announced the event will follow its original schedule at the Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT) from July 22 to 24, and that they will find alternative ways to celebrate those who cannot attend.

“After careful consideration, we wish to reassure our graduates and their families that the Commencement Exercises will proceed as scheduled… For those who cannot attend, we will find alternative ways to celebrate your achievements,” it read.

FEU has already limited comment access for the same post.

Yesterday night, Mayor Isko Moreno declared a state of calamity over the City of Manila due to the ongoing effects of habagat.

Struggling to travel

Several graduands and their family slammed the University for not weighing in personal struggles that put them at a crossroads to either attend the commencement exercises or prioritize their safety instead.

In an interview with FEU Advocate, Vitchelle Cruz, the mother of a Nursing graduate, stressed that the University lacked consideration in pushing through with the nine-session event.

“The safety of your students is the priority… Your postponement of the graduation would have helped greatly the families of your graduates. We are heavily disappointed with your lack of consideration and empathy,” she said.

Cruz hails from Balagtas, Bulacan where a state of calamity was also recently issued. According to her, the flood reached a knee-deep level while heavy rains continue to make it harder for them to travel.

FEU should have known that many of their students live along flood-prone areas and that their safety would be at risk, according to the mother.

While roads surrounding NPAT are not entirely flooded, students decried in Facebook group One Piyu Community that their parents still came from distant provinces. Tamaraws also shared that floodwater has reached inside their homes, bearing more burden to not only keep the water out, but also keep their whole family safe.

Selling tickets

In worse cases, some have decided to sell their guest tickets even if their loved ones would miss their long-awaited graduation.

The struggle doubled for Internal Auditing senior Rinnah Faith de Leon. Besides selling her mother’s ticket, she ultimately decided to not attend the ceremony last July 22 to prioritize her safety while living in a highly flooded area in Sampaloc, Manila.

In an interview with FEU Advocate, she expressed dismay over her mother’s cancelled trip from Tarlac who would have watched her graduation onsite.

“My mom’s attendance to my graduation ceremony was deeply important to me since she was the one who provided for everything all throughout my college life. From my tuition fees, my allowance, rent and bills—she provided all of those but aside from all the financial provision, she was also the one who supported me and pushed me to keep going and finish college,” the graduate said.

It was de Leon’s way of saying “thank you” to her mother—to finally see her walk on stage and receive her diploma. However, despite the hope of getting through the flood, her mother’s bus turned back after floodwaters failed to subside.

While de Leon understands that the University could not postpone the ceremony for multiple reasons such as prior preparations, she asserted that their situation could have been acknowledged more in light of the risk of heavy rain and flooding.

Similarly, Communication graduand Floyd Cyrus Clemente also sold his ticket as his father could not pass through the flood in Rizal.

For Clemente, the harsh weather is already a burden, made worse by his family missing such an important day in his life.

“I’m the last one who will graduate in our family, therefore it’s a big milestone for my parents as they will witness their bunso to get his diploma,” he said.

Pushing through

In a separate interview, Christine Angelica Quiambao chose to formally accept her Internal Auditing degree last July 22 despite uncertainty brought by the rising water level in the Marikina River where they closely reside.

“Actually, hindi kami sure kanina [July 22] if makakadaan kami, since ‘yung Marikina River is tumataas talaga siya. So nung una, nagde-decide ako if ibebenta ko ba ‘yung ticket or ipu-push through ko, pero sabi nga ng Mother ko is minsan lang ‘to and kahit anong mangyari, meron namang mga daan na passable pa rin,” she said.

Quiambao persevered through the rain to honor the studies sponsored by her relatives.

The graduate also decried the financial burden of simply attending the commencement exercises―including fees, transportation costs, and even the tuition at FEU itself.

Newport World Resorts waived overnight parking fees last July 22, and provided temporary shelter and free Wi-Fi for those who will stay in the place.

Additionally, FEU Central Student Organization (FEUCSO) submitted a recommendation letter urging the Administration to let other graduands who were not able to attend the earlier ceremonies to join the sessions today and tomorrow.

However, the University cannot let the absentees join other sessions in NPAT due to its limited capacity according to FEUCSO President Raezon Gonzales during their dialogues with concerned offices. Instead, a separate event for the graduates who were unable to attend the original schedule was proposed.

The same petition also asked FEU to provide transportation assistance to the graduants and to initiate collaborative contingency planning between the two bodies.

While the southwest monsoon continues to bring heavy rains, two new low pressure areas (LPA) in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) have evolved into Tropical Depression Emong and Tropical Storm Dante. 

DOST-PAGASA is also monitoring another LPA outside of the PAR as of writing. Metro Manila has been under a yellow rainfall warning since 5 p.m.

Office operations in FEU have been suspended since Monday while Malacañang has called off government work and classes for today and tomorrow, July 24. But “after careful consideration,” FEU is still poised to proceed with the last day of the 2025 Commencement Exercises tomorrow, brushing aside the concerns of graduates and their proud loved ones to prioritize safety.

- With reports from Thea Danielle Morin

(Photo by Melvin James Urubio/FEU Advocate)