MANILA, Philippines – Actor and Quezon City 5th District Councilor Alfred Vargas has graduated as valedictorian of the Urban and Regional Planning program at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman.
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| Photo courtesy: Alfred Vargas / Facebook |
Vargas earned the highest distinction from the School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP) with a General Weighted Average (GWA) of 1.0288.
He was awarded the Dean’s Medallion, the school's top academic honor.
The UP Diliman general commencement exercises were held on Sunday, July 6.
In his valedictory speech, Vargas stressed that urban planning must be rooted in empathy and public service.
He reminded graduates that maps and zoning should serve people, not the other way around.
Vargas also dedicated his academic achievement to his longtime manager of 21 years, Lolit Solis, who passed away on July 3.
He concluded his speech by urging graduates to remain kind, principled, and committed to fighting for what is right.
“This graduation is meaningless if we choose indifference over kindness, if we prioritize ourselves over others, or if we abandon our principles and fight for what is right,” he said.
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express