The End of School Year (EOSY) Rites are a significant milestone for students, as they mark the conclusion of the entire school year. It represents the culmination of the students’ hard work, effort, and perseverance in their studies, as well as symbolizing the next stage in their educational journey.
Publicly calling out students, especially in the middle of the ceremony, can be seen as an excessive act and may overshadow the achievements being celebrated by the students. Many would argue that such issues could have been addressed privately or at a different time, preserving the dignity of the event while still upholding school standards.
The Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Office in Antique has instructed the principal of Colonel Ruperto Abellon National School in Laua-an town to explain a disruption during the school’s graduation ceremony involving the prescribed attire.
The viral video, which is now circulating on social media, shows the principal addressing the graduating class on stage in the middle of the ceremony, reprimanding them for wearing graduation togas that were allegedly not approved.
She directed the students to remove their togas and wear only their school uniforms and sashes. Additionally, she instructed the class advisers to take note of the students who violated the supposed dress code.
“We are training our learners to be disciplined and obedient to authority… I don’t want our learners to be bastos,” the principal said.
However, while she was speaking, a man wearing a yellow Barong Tagalog appeared to intervene.
The video also showed the principal pointing her finger at the man until a woman dressed in a Filipiniana intervened to calm the situation and escorted the man away, as the disturbance was becoming more visible to everyone.
Profanities can also be heard in the circulating videos, seemingly coming from some of the students being reprimanded by the principal.
The Schools Division of Antique released a statement on April 16 addressing the issue.
“The Schools Division of Antique is saddened by the incident that happened in Col. Ruperto Abellon National School (CRANS), Guisijan, Laua-an, Antique, on April 15, 2025, during the conduct of the End-of-School-Year (EOSY) rites.
“This Office has already organized an Investigation Team and ordered the School Head and other concerned officials to submit an incident report with an appropriate intervention plan. These documents will act as references for the necessary action to be taken by this Office.
“The investigation is currently ongoing, and further updates shall be issued by this Office through appropriate channels. We are committed to providing a comprehensive and accurate account of the incident. Rest assured, this Office treats this matter with utmost urgency, importance, and diligence.
“While waiting for the incident reports from all concerned parties, we assure the public that this Office shall exhaust all means to ensure that affected learners will not be deprived of their rights and privileges as graduates, such as receiving their diplomas, certificates, and other credentials.”
“Moreover, appropriate interventions shall be implemented as soon as possible to ensure that learners’ mental and psychological needs shall be appropriately addressed,” they said.
The DepEd Main Office likewise confirmed that the incident has been brought to their attention and clarified that wearing graduation togas or sashes during EOSY rites is not prohibited but is instead optional.
“For clarification, DepEd policy does not prohibit the wearing of togas. There is no prohibition under DepEd Memorandum No. 27, s. 2025, and under DepEd Order No. 009, Series of 2023. The prescribed attire for graduation and moving-up ceremonies includes casual or formal wear or the school uniform. The toga or sablay may be worn as an optional supplementary garment,” the department emphasized via the DepEd Philippines official Facebook page.
DepEd also reiterated its “directive to all school officials to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, compassion, and respect in implementing policies, ensuring at all times the protection of the rights and dignity of every learner.”
DepEd Order No. 9, s. 2023, revises the protocols for holding end-of-school-year ceremonies under the K to 12 basic education programs, where “casual or formal wear, or school uniform, shall remain as the recommended moving up or graduation attire. Toga or ‘sablay’ can be worn as an additional garb.”
The DepEd also ordered the principal involved to explain the incident as part of their intervention and investigation.
