In a powerful display of community spirit and maternal care, Marikina City announced it will shoulder the full cost of graduation for approximately 8,000 public school students, ensuring that financial hardship does not dim the brilliance of their academic success.
Against the backdrop of a global oil crisis and rising costs of living, Mayor Maan Teodoro is turning a moment of potential stress into a milestone of pure joy, declaring that the city’s Grade 6 and Senior High School graduates will walk across the stage free from the weight of economic worry.
“As a mother, I know how sacred this day is—not just for the children, but for the entire family,” Mayor Teodoro shared to FrontpagePH.com, grounding the policy in empathy. “In Marikina, we are making sure that the triumph of every student is a reward, not a burden. This is about more than just a ceremony; it is about protecting the dreams of our youth and the pockets of our hardworking parents.”
The city’s comprehensive support package covers every detail of the commencement experience, providing free togas, professional graduation portraits, and the full setup of the ceremony’s stage, lights, and sound.
To ensure the day feels like a true community festival, the local government is also providing snacks for the graduates and their families. By removing these financial barriers, the city allows families to focus entirely on the pride of the moment. “On this day, the only focus is celebration,” Teodoro added. “No thoughts of expenses—just pure happiness with the family. Simple care, but a profound relief.”
To further ignite the fire of excellence, the city is gifting the top-performing graduates with tools for their future: a laptop for the valedictorian and tablets for the second and third-ranked students. This investment in the next generation’s digital future mirrors the city’s recent efforts to support its labor force, having recently earned praise for the compassionate and efficient distribution of fuel subsidies to over 9,000 transport workers.
From providing grocery packs and hot meals to jeepney drivers to ensuring a child’s graduation gown is free of charge, Marikina is proving that in times of economic challenge, the strongest currency is compassion.
Under the leadership of Mayor Teodoro and 1st District Representative Marcy Teodoro, the city continues to build a sanctuary where success is shared, and no family is left to celebrate their milestones alone.