Spotlight on Marawi as Maranao student leads UP commencement

MANILA, Philippines - Twenty-two-year-old Arman Ali Ghodsinia remembers very little of Marawi City. 

But on Sunday, when he delivers the valedictory speech during the graduation rites of the University of the Philippines-Diliman, he will pay tribute to his roots and put the spotlight on the ongoing crisis in his hometown.

“I want to make people more aware of what is happening in Marawi,” Ghodsinia told The STAR in a phone interview yesterday. “I will emphasize that we must always remember our duty to help our country in whatever way we can.”

Ghodsinia will graduate with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology summa cum laude. His weighted average is 1.176.

He will lead the roster of 36 students who will receive the highest honors during commencement exercises at the UP campus in Diliman, Quezon City.

On Monday, the university announced that Ghodsinia was chosen to deliver the speech on behalf of the graduating class.

He said he was surprised when he started receiving a barrage of requests for interview following the announcement. “I am not used to this,” he said.

Born and raised in Manila, Ghodsinia admits that he has very little recollection of the one time he went to Marawi when he was still a child.

It was his mother who was originally from Marawi, but she later came to Manila and met her future husband, an Iranian national who later became a naturalized Filipino.

“I really want to go back there,” Ghodsinia said when asked if he wants to visit his relatives after the conflict is over. “Half of who I am came from Marawi.”

A practicing Muslim, he said he will also use the opportunity on Sunday to call for unity among those practicing different religions. 

He stressed that the ongoing conflict in Marawi should not be branded as motivated by religion, saying even Muslims are against such bloodshed.

UP Diliman chancellor Michael Tan said having roots in Marawi was not a factor in Ghodsinia’s selection as the valedictory speaker.

“He was clear of course that he was proud of being a Maranao and was spiked with passion, especially with what is going on in Marawi,” he told The STAR in a text message.

“UP Diliman is very proud of him – an iskolar ng ummah (the Muslim community), an iskolar ng bayan,” he added.

Even before receiving top awards at the UP graduation, Ghodsinia has already reaped numerous recognitions for his research on genetic mutations tied with cancer.

Diokno to deliver remarks

Meanwhile, the university said Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno will deliver the commencement address of UP Diliman on Sunday.

Diokno, a professor emeritus at the UP School of Economics, will also receive a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

The secretary was chosen to be the guest speaker after President Duterte declined the invitation of the university.

UP earlier received criticism after it offered to confer an honorary degree on the President.

It has been a tradition to offer the honorary degree to sitting chief executives, although former presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declined.

Both Estrada and Arroyo, however, attended the graduation and delivered remarks.

Former president Benigno Aquino III received the honor and was the guest speaker in 2011.

36 summa graduates

Aside from Ghodsinia, 35 other candidates for graduation will receive the university’s top honors.

They include Williard Joshua Jose and Rangel Daroya and Marco Angelo Samonte (BS in Electronics and Communications Engineering); Patricia Sy (Bachelor of Arts in Sociology);Victor Carlo Irene (BA Philosophy); Stephanie Ann Lopez, Arla Mae Nicole Salcedo, Corinna Victoria Martinez and Angelica Cielo Gozar (BA Psychology); Paollo Deo Reyes, (BS Statistics); Martin Anthony Salud (BA European Languages).

Others are: John Ian Baytamo (BS Mechanical Engineering); John Alexander Soriano (BS Business Administration and Accountancy); Jeynald Jeyromme Endaya and Clare Feliz Tan (BS Computer Science); Johntee Tantuco and Quirby Angelo Alberto (BS Industrial Engineering).

Also graduating with top honors are Philip Christopher Cruz (BS Physics); Krizzia Elyse Mañago and Marly Vea Clarisse Elli (BA Linguistics); Jose Monfred Sy (BA Comparative Literature); Jan Patrick Tan and Ryan Timothy Yu (BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology); Kristine Larissa Yu and Christian Cariño (BS Chemistry); Christine Darla Bautista, Marco del Valle and Erica Camille Lau (BS Business Administration) and Jennifer Rucio (BS Tourism).

Completing the list are Ian Christian Belando Fernandez (BS Computer Engineering); Katherine Adrielle Bersola (Bachelor of Sports Science); Mary Anne Balane (BA English Studies); Angelo Rafael Arcilla, (BS Business Economics); Teod Carlo Cabili (BS Statistics), and Kamille Anne Areopagita (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Communication).