MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has backed the proposal of an education official for elementary and high school graduates to use the indigenous “sablay” instead of togas in graduation ceremonies.

MANILA, Philippines — The toga, long at odds with the Philippines’ tropical climate, has persisted as a graduation staple. A new proposal from a Department of Education (DepEd) official, however, may ...

In Philippine colloquialism, “sablay” presents a duality of meaning. In everyday language it signifies failure, but for University of the Philippines (UP) alumni, it embodies the hard-earned, esteemed ...

University of the Philippines students stand out for their graduation attire. Instead of the traditional toga and mortarboard, Iskos and Iskas don the Sablay. Over 5,000 students from the UP Diliman ...