President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was awarded the Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa—the highest accolade granted by the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM)—during the university’s 58th Commencement Exercises held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Thursday.
The university bestowed the academic distinction on the Chief Executive to acknowledge his administration’s initiatives supporting educational access, economic growth, public health, social equity, and the rule of law.
Addressing the graduating class, Marcos emphasized that a diploma carries a duty to uplift others, noting that true success lies in dedicating one’s knowledge toward nation-building rather than purely individual advancement.
“This recognition affirms a principle that my Administration shares with the PLM: that education must remain a pathway to opportunity, a catalyst for progress, and a cornerstone of nation-building,” Marcos said.
“May your learning be guided by wisdom, your success measured by the lives that you uplift, and your achievements dedicated to the progress of our nation,” he urged the new graduates.
Highlighting ongoing state initiatives to lower barriers to higher learning, the President pointed to the implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education act alongside student assistance schemes like the Tulong Dunong Program, the Tertiary Education Subsidy, and the newly launched Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program for outstanding senior high school graduates.
He stressed that technical-vocational courses also serve as vital pathways to stable employment, ensuring that every learner, particularly those from marginalized groups, gains a fair chance at securing a better future.
“Every Filipino who completes higher education or training represents far more than a diploma or a certificate earned,” Marcos noted.
“This achievement gives someone a fairer chance to succeed, brings a family closer to a better future, equips a worker with the knowledge and skills for greater opportunities,” he added.
“Wherever life takes you, remain true to the ideals of this university. Use what you have learned to help build a stronger, more prosperous, and more compassionate Philippines,” he concluded.