For advocates, CHED’s openness to lived names policy brings hope

PRIDE. Members of the LGBTQ+ community gather at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City for the annual Pride March, June 28, 2025.

Jire Carreon/Rappler

There is no blanket policy yet that would allow transgender and queer students to be recognized by their lived names during graduation rites

AT A GLANCE

• The Commission on Higher Education is open to discussing a policy that would allow transgender students to use their lived names during graduation ceremonies, which advocates view positively.
• Advocates emphasize the need for comprehensive legislation, such as the SOGIESC bill, to promote inclusivity and address discrimination.

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MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has expressed openness to discussing a policy that would allow transgender and queer college students to use their lived names during graduation ceremonies, bringing hope to advocates.

Lived names are the chosen names of individuals used in daily life, different from their legal names. 

“CHED actually does not see any legal impediment. CHED is, in fact, very open to a discussion regarding this,” Makati City 1st District Representative Monique Lagdameo said on September 23, during the plenary deliberations on the commission’s proposed 2027 budget in the House of Representatives.

Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña brought the matter to the plenary after the Polytechnic University of the Philippines committed to allow its trans graduates to be recognized using their lived names during commencement exercises.

A similar policy was also implemented in other institutions such as the University of the Philippines, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Philippine Normal University, De La Salle University, and Ateneo de Manila University, according to Cendaña.

However, Lagdameo, who spoke on behalf of CHED as its budget sponsor, noted that official records would still reflect the students’ names based on their birth certificates.

“I think maganda rin po itong way (this is a good way) for us to really navigate, how to literally open our minds and open our government into accepting and fully recognizing trans people and queer individuals with their lived name as well,” said Jira Samson, 22, who was not permitted to use her lived name during her graduation ceremony.

In an interview with Rappler, Samson, who recently graduated from Batangas State University, said the possible policy may benefit her “trans-siblings” who have just started their college journey. 

Francheska Louise Chua, a 26-year-old medical student, said the openness to talks is a “big step forward” that could make a difference in the future.

But worries persist. “We are all scared, because as much as it is a conversation, hindi pa siya (it’s still not) undergoing implementation. So there’s still a big chance [a policy will not be issued],” she told Rappler.

“Obviously, there will be voters for yes or no, and it’s a long process…. This openness to conversations such as this is already a big step. So, as much as we are scared, we are still hopeful.”

Challenge for genuine inclusivity

Samson said university staff were sympathetic to her request to be recognized using her lived name during their graduation. But it was not granted as there was no specific CHED policy allowing for it to happen.

She noted that being recognized using one’s lived name is part of the gender-affirming and transitioning process of transgender and queer people, which must be respected.

Other than the recognition of lived names, Samson said dress code policies should be inclusive for LGBTQ+ students, and gender-responsive education must be strictly implemented.

“Ano ba naman po ‘yong i-recognize kami ng graduation, eh kung buong taon kami nakakaranas ng discrimination? Wala rin, ‘di ba?” she said. (What’s the use of being recognized by our lived name during graduation, if the whole year we experience discrimination? It would be useless, right?)

Recently, at Batangas State University, a transgender student was allegedly harassed by a security official as she was told to take off her bra in public because of dress code violations.

“It is just sad to note [that] such [a] university has not communicated this incident to CHED. But now that you have brought it to the attention of CHED, please know CHED will look into it and address the same,” Lagdameo told Cendaña during the September 23 budget deliberations.

CHED maintained it has existing memorandum orders recognizing the rights of students, as well as observing inclusivity in campuses.

Stalled legislation

Chua, who is a beauty queen, also conducts awareness campaigns about the LGBTQ+ community in Iloilo province.

But more than that, she believes the passage of a bill banning discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) “will really promote genuine inclusivity.”

In the 20th Congress, there are seven pending SOGIESC bills in the House, and two in the Senate.

The proposed measure has been languishing in Congress for over two decades already. (READ: Why is it taking so long to pass the SOGIESC bill?)

Ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address in July, his son, House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, said he would be “happy to pass it when one comes to light,” but added that consultations are needed on whether or not it should be a priority bill.

Another pending proposal is the lived identities recognition bill, which seeks to allow transgender, intersex, and non-binary people to amend legal documents, specifically for name change and gender recognition, without going to court. – Rappler.com