CHED open to recognizing students’ lived names at graduation rites

MANILA — The Commission on Higher Education is open working on a policy on recognizing the lived names — often different from those assigned at birth — of transgender, queer, and non-binary students in commencement exercises, Makati City 1st District Rep. Monique Lagdameo said as she sponsored the agency’s budget.

She noted that official school records will still have to reflect the names on the students’ birth certificates.

Lagdameo issued the statement in response to the query of Akbayan Party-List Rep. Percival Cendaña, referencing news that the Polytechnic University of the Philippines would allow lived names at its rites.

“Napakahalaga po sa mga transgender people, non-binary at queer people ‘yung kanilang lived names, kasi hindi palagi na kung ano ang nasa birth certificate nila ay ‘yun na ang pangalan by which they live with,” Cendaña said.

(Lived names are very important to transgender people, non-binary and queer people because the names on their birth certificates may not be the what the live with.)

He said that “a handful of other educational institutions” have also allowed it, adding the practice can help show students’ achievements and highlight that they managed to overcome discrimination in school.

“May we ask the CHED if they are open to considering a policy issuance on the recognition of lived names across higher education institutions?” Cendaña asked.

Lagdameo said CHED “actually does not see any legal impediment” to that and is open to discussions as long as official records will not be altered. 

“But other than that, they do not see any restrictions needed for this,” she said.

 “Recognizing a person’s lived name during a life milestone such as college graduation is an important first step to make them feel seen, recognized, and included within a formal education institution,” Cendaña said.

Cendaña, meanwhile, raised an incident, which he perceives as “discrimination and harassment” against a transgender woman at a university in Lipa, Batangas.

He said the student was made take of her bra because of the school’s gendered dress code.

“Ano po kaya ang mas mahalaga sa CHED? Pamamahiya sa ngalan ng dress code o dignidad ng ating mga estudyante?” he said.

(Which matters more to CHED? Humiliation for the sake of a dress code or the students’ dignity?)

“The CHED does not wish to be branded as such,” Lagdameo said, adding it has issued orders “recognizing rights of our learners and of course their personal preference.” 

She said the university may not be aware of CHED policies, but said the commission “will definitely look into it and address the same.”