Academic Dress - Academic Dress By Country - Philippines

Philippines

Most colleges and universities in the Philippines follows the traditional mortarboard, hood and gown during graduation. In some schools of the country, the colour of the gown corresponds to the school colour (Blue for Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Ateneo de Manila University, Green for De La Salle University, and Red for San Beda College). Some schools like the University of Santo Tomas, due to its Spanish heritage, follows the Spanish academic attire such as the academic biretta and mozetta. Also, the academic colours use the Spanish academic colours depending on the faculty or college a student or an academe belongs into. A unique graduation garb by the University of the Philippines is the use of the Sablay. The Sablay was inspired from the Malong of Muslim Mindanao thus, giving it a Filipiniana look. It features the indigenous baybayin characters for "U" and "P". During the commencement ceremony, graduates wear the Sablay at the right shoulder, it is then moved to the left shoulder after the President of the University confers their degree, "similar to the moving of the tassel of the academic cap." The Sablay is worn over traditional Filipino attire - Barong Tagalog for men and Filipiniana dress for women.

• UP graduates preparing for the march

• UP graduation ceremonies

• The Rector Magnificus of the University of Santo Tomas in full Spanish academic attire, wearing the academic biretta and the mozetta.