A provincial office of the Department of Education (DepEd) strongly discouraged anyone from giving money bouquets or garlands during and after the graduation ceremony.
In a statement, the Department of Education Schools Division Office of Antique told the parents that they must maintain the simplicity of the graduation ceremony and show off their lavish gifts to their children.
“As the 537 public elementary and secondary schools in Antique hold their graduation ceremonies starting today, the principals and school heads are reminded to keep their ceremonies as simple as possible,” DepED Antique Schools Management Monitoring and Evaluation Education Program Specialist II Eric Cortejo said.
“Parents, if possible, are also being told to refrain from giving their children money garlands or bouquets to their graduating children,” he added.
The reminder also included the private schools operating in Antique.
He believed that not everyone could afford to give such gifts, so he believed that it must be discouraged to avoid issues.
Aside from giving money garlands, DepEd Antique also asked the schools to stop doing production numbers that may force students to spend money for their costumes.
Contributions for food, decorations, and other expenses should not be allowed unless the parents voluntarily give them them.