Erap graces UDM graduation

MANILA, Philippines - Former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap“ Estrada commended the 2,179 graduates of Universidad De Manila (UDM) for their success in raising the standard of the school at par with private universities.

In his message delivered during the 19th commencement exercises last April 12 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Estrada pledged his continued support to the university’s endeavors to pursue academic excellence citing UDM’s outstanding performance in board examinations under university president Ernesto Maceda Jr.

Keynote speaker Education Secretary Leonor Briones urged the graduates to prepare for competition and changes as the country is now geared toward being a “tiger economy.”

She said the process of integration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will create jobs for Filipinos in the field of engineering, technology and tourism.

Former defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., another keynote speaker, reminded the graduates of the power of the internet, higher computing power, powerful sensors which have become cheaper and smaller, artificial intelligence and robotics that would help look for answers to our technological needs.

He challenged the graduates to conduct researches and innovation to find answers to the country’s needs.