21/09/2026
PUP ADMIN, HEED OUR CALL! LET STUDENTS USE THEIR LIVED NAMES WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT!
On September 12, the use of lived names during the Graduation Ceremony was permitted. However, before students can exercise this right, the administration, as prescribed by the University Legal Counsel Office (ULCO) to the Gender and Development and Social Inclusion Office (GEDSIO), requires graduating students to secure a consent form from their parents or guardians permitting the use of their lived names.
During the September 12 dialogue, the petition letter presented to Vice President for Student Affairs and Services (VP-SAS) Tomas Testor already included the proposed mechanism for the use of lived names, including the consent form requirement. This concern was therefore already raised and made known during the dialogue.
The Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Konseho (ANAK) PUP and the Office of the Student Regent (OSR) have since raised their concerns regarding this requirement. From the beginning, our position has been clear that we do not agree that parental consent should be necessary for a student to use their lived name during the Graduation Ceremony.
For students, being recognized by the name they use is not simply an administrative preference. It is a deeply personal matter tied to their identity, dignity, and agency. Requiring them to obtain permission from their parents or guardians places an additional condition on something that should ultimately concern how the student themselves is recognized.
On September 13, ANAK PUP held a special meeting where it was collectively decided to remove the parental consent requirement from the sensing forms to be distributed by the Local Student Councils (LSCs).
In the succeeding days, concerns from the Local Student Councils regarding the implementation of the lived-name mechanism were also raised, including concerns over the holding or delay in the submission of lived-name information while students and student leaders awaited clearer guidance from the administration.
There was also an instance when President Manuel sought to speak with the concerned student leaders regarding the lived-name issue. The matter was likewise discussed in relation to Vice President Testor as efforts continued to clarify the administration’s position.
On September 14, university offices were closed. A meeting with Vice President Testor was initially planned for September 15, and an initial time had already been discussed. However, the meeting did not proceed at the agreed time due to the unavailability of the concerned officials.
In the days that followed, the Office of the Student Regent and the student councils continued their efforts to reach and speak with Vice President Testor. However, no dialogue between the Office of the Student Regent and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Services (OVPSAS) took place from September 16 onwards.
Despite this, the Local Student Councils continued coordinating with their respective local administrations and proceeded with the collection of students’ consent while awaiting further clarification.
Then, on September 20, Vice President Testor reiterated that the consent form is indeed necessary.
We respectfully but firmly disagree.
We recognize that the administration may have considerations in implementing the graduation ceremony. We also understand that parents and guardians are important parts of the lives of many graduating students, and that the university may want to ensure that families are properly informed. However, informing families should not require students to seek their permission.
If the concern is that parents or guardians should be properly informed and will not be surprised during the ceremony, this can be addressed through proper communication and notification. Parental consent should not be made a prerequisite for a student to be recognized by their lived name.
Graduation is a celebration of the students who have worked, struggled, persisted, and finally reached this milestone. They deserve to walk across the stage and hear themselves being called by the names they use without having to first secure a permission.
More importantly, the use of lived names is a rightful form of recognition. It should not be treated as a privilege that can only be exercised upon parental approval. Students should be able to be recognized by the names they use, particularly during a milestone that celebrates their own achievements and the completion of their university journey.
The use of lived names was already permitted during the graduation ceremony. We therefore call on the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) administration to uphold and fulfill the agreement and commitment to recognize students through their lived names, without imposing parental consent as an additional condition!
We likewise continue to appeal for arrangements that would allow parents and guardians to accompany graduating students on stage, where possible. We understand the logistical considerations surrounding the ceremony, but we hope that a way can be found for families to share this once-in-a-lifetime moment with their graduating students.
At the heart of this issue are Iskolars ng Bayan who want to be recognized as themselves on the day they celebrate everything they have accomplished.
Let students be called by the names they use. Let them be recognized as themselves. And most importantly, let PUP fulfill its commitment to a truly pro-student graduation and University!
