The Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) recognized its course completers and top learners in the Continuing Education Program (CEP) Closing Ceremonies held on 16 June 2018 at the Centennial Center for Digital Learning (CCDL) Auditorium, UPOU Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna.

A total of 119 completers from 10 courses have received their certificates of completion during the ceremonies. FMDS recognized 58 of these learners with distinction and 26 with high distinction. The awarding of certificates was facilitated by Asst. Prof. Rita C. Ramos, FMDS Secretary to the Faculty.

Entrepreneur and CEP alumna Heidie Ricca Cruz-Del Rosario was the guest speaker for the ceremonies. Ms. Del Rosario finished the Introduction to Electronic Commerce Course under the FMDS in December 2015 and is now the owner of a growing clothing brand, Half The Price (HTP). At the ceremonies, she recounted her struggles as a mother that led to the creation of her online clothing shop. From selling pre-loved clothes and RTW, her enterprise is now selling its original clothing lines to over 50 thousand followers on Instagram. Ms. Del Rosario has also been expanding her business with currently two offices and over 70 employees. In her speech, Ms. Del Rosario emphasized the importance of perseverance, which got her through the challenges she encountered when she was simultaneously starting her business and studying at UPOU.

The ceremonies also included messages from the top learners who completed in their respective courses. The representatives for the Health and Social Development Cluster were: Cristina Marie P. Tulio, Caring for the Child Special Needs; Jan Patrick S. Arrieta and Drexel Heinz M. Cruz, Financial Management in Nursing Practice; and Rame John L. Mina, Research Utilization in Nursing Administration.

For the Environmental Cluster, the top students who represented their respective courses were: June Vincent Manuel Gaudan, Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Management (DRM); Haydee D. Lasco, Organic Agriculture; and Ronald V. Gomeseria, Responding to Climate Risks in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management.

Lastly, the representatives for the Entrepreneurship Cluster were: Marco C. Suaze, Introduction to Electronic Commerce; Mary Scheree Lynn V. Herrera, New Enterprise Planning; Cezca Angelica J. Dimala, Personal Entrepreneurial Development; and Florabel L. Apolonio, Simplified Accounting for Entrepreneurs.

They emphasized the advantages of the flexible and convenient open and distance learning offered in UPOU. They also expressed their gratitude to the FMDS-CEP Team, their Course Coordinators, classmates, family, and friends.

Dr. Primo G. Garcia, FMDS Dean, delivered the opening remarks while Mr. Larry N. Cruz, FMDS-CEP Program Development Associate, gave the closing remarks. Ms. Jeniffer F. de Pasion, University Extension Associate, served as the Master of Ceremonies.

Completers who could not physically make it to the event remained connected with the ceremonies through the UPOU Networks live streaming. This service was provided by the UPOU’s Multimedia Center in collaboration with the UPOU’s Information and Communication Technology Development Office. The UPOU’s Information Office, on the other hand, provided assistance in the photodocumentation of the event. (ACDelValle)