After Krisel Mallari’s interrupted graduation speech made rounds in the internet and caused online uproar, another graduation speaker is becoming the talk of the town.
The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) invited its alumna Dr. Sibyl Jade Peña to be the keynote speaker of the University’s special recognition ceremony for PhD and MA degree candidates. In the invitation letter sent to her on March 11, the university asked her to provide an advanced copy of her speech.
After receiving the invitation, Paris-based Dr. Peña immediately agreed to be the school’s keynote speaker, but informed them that she can only provide an advanced copy of her speech on her flight to Manila.
Dr. Peña, a medical doctor working for Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders), had to book a flight going to Manila, file a leave from work, and rearrange work schedules to accommodate the event. In her Facebook post, Dr. Peña revealed that she even paid for her ticket going back to Manila.
But it was only on March 25 that Dr. Elvira Manalang, the dean and chair of PLM’s hooding committee, informed her that she is going to be replaced with another speaker since she can’t send an advanced copy of her speech.
In her Facebook account, Dr. Peña shared a copy of the letter sent to her.
Dr. Manalang wrote: “As you have indicated yesterday, an advance copy of your speech is not possible until the time of your arrival in the country. In this case, we might not have ample time to meet the requirements or make necessary adjustments in preparation for the said event.”
The PLM’s decision to “disinvite” Dr. Peña got her upset since she already made an effort to make way for the event. However, she announced that she will still be coming to the Philippines since the trip has been finalized.
Speaker Gets “Reinvited” After Social Media Post
In her latest announcement on Facebook, Dr. Peña revealed that the PLM has reinvited her as inspirational speaker.
“Latest update – I have been re-invited as inspirational speaker. The Dean has been asked to rectify her mistake by the Univ President Dr. Leonora de Jesus. Thank you for all the support. I have just received the mail, this time there is a signatory in the mail (at least there’s a name that I can respond to now),”