Flash protest punctuates Diliman grad rites

Students hold a lightning rally during Diliman's
graduation rites today. The protesters denounced what
they called an "education crisis" and US military
presence in the country. Maroon Blues

DILIMAN—A lightning rally against increasing costs of education and the US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) punctuated today's commencement rites at UP Diliman.

Student protesters stormed the area in front of the stage at Quezon Hall bearing placards denouncing demolitions, Aquino's K+12 program, and US military presence in the country, among other things. Many of them were graduates in ecru barongs and dresses.

Flash protests are common in college and university graduation rites in UP. Activist groups attempted the same thing last year, when President Benigno C. Aquino was the guest of honor, but were stopped by security personnel.

More than 4,000 students graduated from UP Diliman today. Nineteen of them finished summa cum laude (with highest honors), 222 magna cum laude, and 862 cum laude, Diliman's Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Ronald S. Banzon said. •