Far Eastern University (FEU) Batch 2025 aired their disappointment with the graduation toga rental staff’s alleged unfair guidelines and lack of professionalism in spite of the inclement weather during the Commencement Exercises this July 22 to 24. 

According to the guidelines posted by the University, graduands may rent their togas from Roxanne’s Academic Apparel, the supplier of the academic attires, during their respective institute schedules at the Engineering Building Lobby originally mapped out for June 2 to July 18. 

Returning of attires

Prior to the ceremony, graduands already expressed their worries regarding the safety and feasibility of pushing through the graduation rites due to flooding and non-passable roads brought by habagat. 

However, the graduation rites still commenced after “careful consideration” per the University’s statement released on July 22. 

Additionally, concerns from seniors surfaced on the Tamaraws’ unofficial Facebook group, One Piyu Community (OPC), regarding the supposed returning of the rented attires. 

In accordance with the terms and conditions, newly graduated Tamaraws are expected to return their academic attires the day following graduation to avoid the P150 daily penalty.

Moreover, students expressed their difficulties in traveling and returning the rented attires because of the inclement weather and still-flooded roads.

Efforts by seniors to negotiate a waiver of late return penalties with the suppliers were unsuccessful, with the staff citing FEU's decision as the reason.

Currently, FEU Central Student Organization (FEUCSO) President Raezon Gonzales shared in a personal Facebook post they have already coordinated with the concerned offices. The University is expected to provide an official announcement within the day.

Claiming proper

During their schedule, Tamaraw graduates were asked to fill out an order form including their height to determine the size of their togas prior to claiming on the same day. 

However, numerous seniors expressed their dissatisfaction with the service due to inconsistent scheduling and unprofessional behavior by the rental staff. 

In an online interview with FEU Advocate, BS Medical Technology graduate Kehn Russell Joshua Bruno pointed out the inconsistencies brought by the initially announced ‘toga fitting,’ as no fitting actually took place. 

“I was actually expecting na i-fi-fit ko muna siya pero binigay na siya sa'kin.. it was packaged already and babayaran ko muna siya bago nila ako bigyan ng toga (I was actually expecting that I’ll fit it first but when it was handed to me, it was already packaged and I have to pay first before getting the toga),” he shared. 

Additionally, according to Bruno, the graduation cap did not fit him but was told that it cannot be replaced as there is only one size available for everyone.

“Then I asked ate na nagbebenta if puwede pa niya palitan or are there any other sizes. What she told me was that ‘universal’ na raw ‘yung cap, iisa lang ang sizes for all and wala na siya ipapalit para sa akin (Then I asked the staff if they could replace it or if they have any other sizes, but they told me that the size of the cap is “universal” with only one size for all and she could not accommodate my request),” he added.  

Bruno also shared the inability of the suppliers to accommodate the number of students and needed sizes despite the scheduling.  

“When I arrived, most of the sizes were for reservation na lang, pero since matangkad naman daw ako (but since I am tall enough), I was able to get one, but for those less than 5’5, for reservation na sila. They weren’t able to account the number of graduates despite the fact that they already made separate dates for every institute,” he said. 

In addition, he highlighted that upon conversing with his fellow Medical Technology students deployed in Isabela for their clinical internship, they were unable to claim their togas during their schedule due to low stocks even after traveling for at least 10 hours, and was then asked to return instead. 

Service and quality 

Other than the sizing problems, Bruno also emphasized the dismissive attitude of the staff in dealing with concerns. 

“She wasn’t accommodating to the inquiries, she was dismissive to the concerns and she lacks proper customer service training. Hindi niya ginagawa nang maayos ang trabaho niya (She is not doing her job properly),” Bruno expressed.

Batch 2025 Tamaraws have also pointed out the poor quality, inconsistent colors, incomplete tassels, and wrong logos in the academic attire.  

Additionally, BS Tourism Management graduand Regina Abello shared her experience with scheduling conflicts where she was asked to return on a different date due to the low stock of her size. 

“Naglista ako ng name ko and ‘yung babae… specifically said that July 16 ko i-claim toga ko…. When it’s my turn na, hinanap ko name ko, binigyan na ako ng papel para sulatan, ngayon, bigla [sinabi] sa akin ‘ay ma’am 17 pa schedule mo’ (I wrote down my name and a female employee specifically said that I should claim my toga on July 16… When it was already my turn, they handed me a paper to write on. Suddenly, they said that my schedule was on the 17th instead),” she narrated. 

Abello emphasized that the suppliers should be more efficient with their scheduling and overall processes to avoid delays and hassles.

“Ang masasabe ko lang sa supplier sana ayusin nila ugali nila kasi graduating students hina-handle nila. Kung ayaw pala nila nagagahol sila, ayusin nila ‘yung scheduling kasi sila na mali, sila pa galit (What I can say is that I hope they fix their attitude because they’re handling graduating students. If they don’t want to be rushed, they should fix their scheduling because even if they were in the wrong, they were still the ones who were angry),” Abello expressed.

FEU Advocate has tried to reach out to Roxanne’s Academic Apparel but has yet to receive a response as of writing.

- Julliane Nicole B. Labinghisa and Lana Laurel

(Photo by Melvin James Urubio/FEU Advocate)