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https://up.edu.ph/search-for-the-next-up-diliman-chancellor/ | Search for the Next UP Diliman Chancellor – University of the Philippines | Search for the Next UP Diliman Chancellor Search for the Next UP Diliman Chancellor February 28, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The Search Committee for the Chancellorship of UP Diliman is accepting nominations until March 3, 5 p.m. Email the nomination papers, with the subject heading “Nomination for the UP Diliman Chancellor,” to the Office of the Secretary of the University (osu@up.edu.ph) and to the chair of the committee, Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete, PhD (mbramolete@up.edu.ph). See photos for more details. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-hosts-1st-asian-journalism-research-conference/ | UP hosts 1st Asian Journalism Research Conference – University of the Philippines | UP hosts 1st Asian Journalism Research Conference UP hosts 1st Asian Journalism Research Conference April 28, 2017 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Some 300 students and faculty from various universities in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Hong Kong attended the first Asian Journalism Research Conference last April 24-25, 2017 at the University of the Philippines (UP), the only academic conference for undergraduate students in the region. The conference was organized by the UP Journalism Department in partnership with the University of Sto. Tomas and the Universitas Gadjah Mada Yogyakarta, Indonesia. With the theme, “The Fourth Estate: Revisiting the Normative Ideals of Journalism in a Multimedia Era”, the conference tackled timely issues faced by today’s journalists, such as attacks from trolls, fake news and a lack of freedom of information. Keynote speaker and veteran journalist cum academic Dr. Cherian George from the Hong Kong Baptist University spoke about the challenges of journalism in the so-called post-truth era. He emphasized the need to check facts now more than ever. “Facts are still facts and should be the basis of reality,” he said, adding that so-called alternative truths are simply lies. He noted that in many regimes, politicians hide behind these alternative facts persuading the public to believe in their “perception of reality” rather than the hard truths. While, Dr. Azman Azwan Azmawati of the Universiti Sains Malaysia, gave a talk on stereotyping in the news. Chit Estella Journalism Award Winners 2017 From left: UP Asst. Prof Terry Conjuico, Tress Reyes of CNN, UP students Celine Samson, Bryan Gonzales, Nicole Lagrimas, Karen Macalalad, Ian Tapao, Ateneo de Manila students Stephanie Sayson and Patricia Sarmiento, UP Assoc Prof. Rachel Khan and emcee Kara David of GMA Network. Photo by Jeuel Barroso/UP Journalism Club. During the second day of the AJRC, the UP Journalism Department held its annual Chit Estella Journalism Student Research Award, named after the late Professor Lourdes Estella-Simbulan, who taught at the Department and was a trustee of Vera Files, an online news organization that practices investigative and long form journalism. University of the Philippines students Bryan Gonzales and Celine Samson bagged the Best in Investigative Journalism Award for their work entitled, “An investigative study on the implementation of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADACs) and its impact on local illegal drug activities.” UP students Nicole Lagrimas, Karen Macalalad and Arianne Tapao also bagged the Best in Special Projects for their documentary titled, “Ignored. Informed. Information: Dismantling health, societal hazards for Tondo’s scrap metal works”. Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University students Patricia Sarmiento and Stephanie Sayson won the Best in Academic Research for their paper, “A Case Study on the Visual Representations of Para-Athletes in Elite Sports Events by Print News Media and the Perception of these Portrayals of Persons with Disabilities.” The conference was sponsored and supported by the University of the Philippines Office of International Linkages, the UP Diliman Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development, the UP Diliman Office of Culture and the Arts, the University of Sto. Tomas, VERA Files, Philippine Press Institute, Jollibee Food Corporation, Prof. Roland Simbulan and family and the UP Journalism Club. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-tacloban-co-organizes-national-confab-on-filipino-psychology/ | UP Tacloban co-organizes national confab on Filipino psychology – University of the Philippines | UP Tacloban co-organizes national confab on Filipino psychology UP Tacloban co-organizes national confab on Filipino psychology December 2, 2021 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Together with the Pambansang Samahan sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino (PSSP), the Division of Social Sciences (DSS) of the University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College (UP Tacloban) organized the 45th Pambansang Kumperensiya sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino held on November 25-27, 2021 via Zoom. “#TindogTayo: Pagbangon at Paninindigan para sa Sarili, Kapwa, at Bayan,” this year’s theme, was a nod to both the PSSP’s comeback after being unable to hold the annual conference last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and UP Tacloban’s commemoration of the eighth anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda which devastated the campus and much of Eastern Visayas in November 2013. With almost 400 participants including psychology students, teachers, practitioners, and researchers, as well as licensed professional teachers, social workers, and guidance counselors, the conference aimed to: (a) discuss experiences of standing up for the self, others, and the nation; (b) examine the meaning of paninindigan in the Filipino experience; (c) feature new research on Filipino culture, society, and psychology; and, (d) share knowledge and skills in Filipino Psychology. Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, Executive Director of the St. Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center, gives his keynote presentation. Screenshot from the Pambansang Samahan sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino. Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, Executive Director of the St. Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center, served as keynote speaker. He shared experiences and reflections on his advocacy work in uplifting the lives of homeless people and supporting the widowed and orphaned families of those killed in line with the current administration’s war on drugs. The PSSP conference also featured various plenary sessions aside from parallel paper presentations. On the second day of the conference, the plenary session featured three speakers who discussed different ways of rising from life’s challenges. UP Diliman Associate Professor Anna Cristina A. Tuazon talked about the difficulties of long-distance relationships during the pandemic. Assistant Professor Pierce S. Docena shared some reflections and lessons learned from UP Tacloban’s mental health and psychosocial support initiatives in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda. Finally, Mr. Gerardo “Jun” V. Cabochan, Jr., Executive Director of the Pandayan Bookshop, highlighted their attempts to live up to the concept of kapwa in their business affairs. The plenary speakers. Screenshot from the Pambansang Samahan sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino. The last day of the conference featured two plenary sessions. Drawing on his expertise in Philippine history, Assistant Professor Emmanuel Jeric A. Albela from the University of Santo Tomas traced the development of electoral practices in the Philippines to elucidate various electoral reform issues facing the country. Atty. Golda S. Benjamin, a Silliman University College of Law faculty member, discussed human rights and the environment. In particular, she tackled the controversial proposal for the 174-hectare Smart City reclamation project that would have severely impacted Dumaguete’s protected marine areas. Top: UST Assistant Professor Emmanuel Jeric A. Albela. Bottom: Human rights lawyer Silliman University College of Law faculty member Atty. Golda S. Benjamin. Screenshots from the Pambansang Samahan sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino. The conference ended with a cultural presentation featuring song performances from the Sinirangan Chamber Singers and UP Tacloban’s psychology students from Batch Limbasog. The 45th PSSP conference was made possible through the efforts of the PSSP Board of Directors headed by its President, Dr. Jose Antonio R. Clemente, and Vice President and convention convenor, Darren E. Dumaop, in partnership with the psychology faculty of UP Tacloban DSS led by Assistant Professor Ruth Edisel Rylle B. Sadian-Cercado. The De La Salle University Department of Psychology, Good Shepherd Professional Training Services, and Center for Educational Measurement co-sponsored the conference. Screenshot from the Pambansang Samahan sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino. Article contributed by UP Visayas Tacloban College Assistant Professor Pierce S. Docena. |
https://up.edu.ph/joint-international-federation-for-theatre-research-conference-and-asian-theatre-working-group-colloquium-2018/ | Joint International Federation for Theatre Research Conference and Asian Theatre Working Group Colloquium 2018 – University of the Philippines | Joint International Federation for Theatre Research Conference and Asian Theatre Working Group Colloquium 2018 Joint International Federation for Theatre Research Conference and Asian Theatre Working Group Colloquium 2018 August 18, 2017 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines Diliman, through the Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (OICA), College of Arts and Letters (CAL) and the Asian Center (AC), is hosting the Joint 2018 International Federation for Theatre Research Conference and Asian Theatre Working Group Colloquium 2018 (IFTR-Asia 2018) with the theme Bodies in/and Asian Theaters from 20 to 23 February 2018. A growing interest on the body as a starting point of discourse is seen in the past decades. Even theatre studies has been involved on scrutinizing the body as an important performance aspect. In Western theatre practice, physical theatre is a well-articulated practical approach for understanding the body vis-à-vis theatre and performance. However, the increasing number of the most influential theorizations and conceptualizations has primarily, if not exclusively, focused on how the cultures in the West (Europe and the Americas) conceive it. Taking the cue from Asianists like Bryan Turner, Zheng Yangwen, Rey Ileto, Vincente Rafael and Kuan-Hsing Chen, it is important to note that peoples in Asia experienced colonization, decolonization and now globalization albeit different modalities. These contexts, as these Asianists suggested and implied, are important socio-political and historical factors for understanding the Asian body. With this, Bodies in/and Asian Theatres is envisioned to contribute to the study of the body, particularly its functions and placements in the different cultural performances in the Asian region. On the occasion of Katha-wan [a contraction of katha (creative creation) and katawan (body)] or the celebration of the UP Diliman Month 2018 vis-à-vis the National Arts Month in the Philippines, Bodies in/and Asian Theatres invokes the Asian bodies as creative and critical entities. IFTR-Asia 2018 attempts to answer these general questions: what do we mean when we talk about bodies in Asian theatres and performances? What do we mean when we talk about Asian bodies in different performances outside the region? How does theatre affect the way we think about the bodies of Asians? For more information about IFTR-Asia 2018, please visit http://iftr-asia2018.upd.edu.ph/index.html. Our keynote speakers include Dr. Susan San Kwan (University of California Berkeley), Dr. Julius J. Bautista (Kyoto University) and Ms. Agnes Locsin (Former Artistic Director Ballet Philippines). For more details of our keynote speakers, please visit: http://iftr-asia2018.upd.edu.ph/keynote-speakers.html. For the roundtable plenary, we have invited renowned physical theatre practitioners and dramaturgs: Mr. Pichet Klunchun (Thailand), Dr. Lim How Ngean (Malaysia) and Ms. Eisa Jocson (Philippines). Dr. Paul Alexander Rae (University of Melbourne) and Dr. Kathy Foley (University of California Santa Cruz) will facilitate the new scholars sessions. Founded in 1957, IFTR is the oldest and one of the most prestigious federations of performance practitioners and scholars. Its members are from different disciplines in the humanities and the social sciences interested on the study of theatre and performance vis-à-vis culture and society. As a federation, it boasts a membership coming from more than 60 countries including the United States, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Morocco, Israel, Iceland, Ireland, Nigeria, South Africa, Chile, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Serbia, Finland, Russia, Egypt, Portugal, China, the Philippines to name a few. For other information on the IFTR, please visit https://www.iftr.org. IFTR-Asia 2018 is now accepting abstract submissions. Before submitting your abstract, please note the following: Please make sure your abstract is related to the major theme Bodies in/and Asian Theatres or one of the sub-themes (http://iftr-asia2018.upd.edu.ph/call-for-papers.html) of IFTR-Asia 2018. Please limit your abstract to not more than 300 words. Otherwise, the system will not accept your submission. Please submit a short bionote of not more than 150 words. You will receive a confirmation email from the conference conveners as soon as your submission is received. Submission of abstract will end on 15 September 2017. Announcement of successful submissions shall start on 2 October 2017. To submit your abstract, please visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeyCdzDSdpPugz6wKcC8tE4GdeCU0Kl08W3g3mdzlx7XJ_FEA/viewform For inquiries, please email iftr-asia2018.upd@up.edu.ph or the conveners Sir Anril P. Tiatco at sptiatco@up.edu.ph and Bryan L. Viray at blviray@up.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/for-the-nation-for-the-people/ | ‘For the nation, for the people’ – University of the Philippines | ‘For the nation, for the people’ ‘For the nation, for the people’ October 18, 2017 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion National Artist Guillermo Tolentino’s original Oblation in the UP Diliman Main Library. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) In barricades embattled, fighting in delirium, Others give you their lives without doubts, without gloom. The site nought matters: cypress, laurel or lily: Gibbet or open field: combat or cruel martyrdom Are equal if demanded by country and home. The second stanza of Jose Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios translated above by National Artist Nick Joaquin has inspired many Filipinos to deeds both great and noble for the nation’s sake. Of all its fruits, however, perhaps none has been more firmly molded into the Filipino psyche than the Oblation. UP Baguio Oblation by Anastacio Caedo. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Oblation statue at UP Bonifacio Global City. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Since its cornerstone was laid down in 1931, National Artist Guillermo Tolentino’s masterpiece has served as a rallying point for selfless action for the public interest, as well as the most recognizable and enduring symbol of the University of the Philippines (UP). Commissioned by then-UP President Rafael Palma, the Oblation is a tangible representation of Tolentino’s interpretation of two of Jose Rizal’s writing’s—Mi Ultimo Adios and A La Juventud Filipina. The statue is an elevation of sacrifice on a pedestal, indicating a “clarion call for the youth to engage in the rigors of change and progress.” UP Cebu Oblation statue. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Oblation statue at the newly-built UP Cebu Professional Schools. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) The Oblation’s unveiling during National Heroes Day introduced a figure into Philippine society rich in nationalist symbolism. The statue’s height of 3.5-meters symbolizes three and a half centuries of Spanish colonial rule, while its pose of self-offering represents Tolentino’s interpretation of Rizal’s second stanza above—in particular the “unknown heroes who fell during the night.” Furthermore, its base is a stylized representation of the Philippine archipelago, with rocks from Montalban Gorge to highlight its cultural and historical significance. UP Diliman Oblation as the sun sets. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) UP Los Baños’ Oblation by National Artist Napoleon Abueva. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The katakataka or “wonder plant” (Brophyllum pinnatum) symbolizes the heroism of the Filipino people. Seeing that segments of the plant thrown anywhere would “sprout into a young plant,” Tolentino viewed the plant as a symbol of a patriotism that continually grows in different places throughout the country. UP Mindanao’s Oblation in the Oblation Plaza. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) UP Manila Oblation in front of the PGH. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Since the Oblation’s move from Padre Faura to Diliman on February 11, 1949 as part of UP’s transfer to a larger campus, the campuses that would compose what we now know as the University of the Philippines System would see the rise of their own versions of the beloved figure. The UP Open University Oblation (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Oblation at the UP Visayas Iloilo Campus. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Oblation at the UP Visayas Miagao Campus. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Renowned sculptors and artists, among them National Artist Napoleon Abueva, Anastacio Caedo who was also one of the models of the original statue, Fidel Araneta, and former UP Open University Chancellor Grace Javier Alfonso, would eventually make their own interpretations of the legendary figure in different constituent universities. Wherever it is to be found, the Oblation remains a symbol of strength, resilience and freedom of thought for UP and its graduates. According to UP’s Visual Identity Guide, the Oblation is a figure that demands respect in terms of use and visibility. It is always to be represented in its entirety, with the statue on its pedestal at all times to keep its historical and cultural significance intact. Splitting the figure or overlaying it with text is considered inappropriate; making the Oblation a mere decorative element violates the integrity of the University’s visual identity. ——————– Email the author at upforum@up.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/nominations-for-next-up-president-now-open/ | Nominations for next UP President now open – University of the Philippines | Nominations for next UP President now open Nominations for next UP President now open September 11, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The Board of Regents (BOR) of the University of the Philippines (UP) has opened nominations for the next UP President to succeed President Danilo L. Concepcion, whose term will end on February 09, 2023. This is according to a memorandum released by the UP Office of the Secretary of the University and the BOR on September 08, 2022. The UP BOR has constituted itself as the Search Committee for the next UP President. UP Presidents serve as the Chief Academic Officer, Head of the University Faculty, and Chief Executive Officer of the University for a fixed term of six years and are expected to pursue goals stated in Republic Act No. 9500 or the UP Charter. Concepcion’s successor as UP President will be the 22nd President of the country’s national university. Nominees must have the following minimum requirements: Holds a Master’s degree; doctorate preferred; Has substantial academic experience at the tertiary level; Should be able to serve the full term of six (6) years before reaching the age of 70; With no conviction for administrative or criminal offenses; Must possess administrative and managerial experience at the senior level. The UP BOR Search Committee will be accepting nominations from September 12, 2022 (Monday) until October 14, 2022 (Friday), at 5:00 PM. Each nomination should include the nominee’s curriculum vitae; their mission-vision statement and a statement of their willingness to serve; a brief justification for the nomination, two pages at most; and clearances from Sandiganbayan, Ombudsman, and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The nominees’ mission-vision statements should respond to the following questions: * If elected, what value would you add/bring to the University, and how will you achieve it? * Why should you be elected president of the University of the Philippines? * How will you operationalize and implement the mandates of the University under RA 9500? All nominations must be placed in a sealed envelope (two copies) addressed to Atty. Roberto M.J. Lara, Secretary of the University and the Board of Regents, and submitted to the Office of the Secretary of the University (OSU) located at the Ground Floor (North Wing) Quezon Hall, UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines. Please contact Ms. Jovita P. Fucio at 8981-8500 local 2535 or via borsecretariat@up.edu.ph. Download the official UP OSU Memorandum on the Call for Nominations here. |
https://up.edu.ph/the-search-for-the-next-up-president-heats-up/ | The Search for the next UP President heats up – University of the Philippines | The Search for the next UP President heats up The Search for the next UP President heats up December 2, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The six UP Presidential hopefuls with event moderator, UP VP for Public Affairs Elena Pernia (center). From left to right: UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo; Atty. Salvador B. Belaro, Jr.; former UP Regent, Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez; former UPD VC for Academic Affairs, Dr. Benito M. Pacheco; former UPLB Chancellor, Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez; and Catanduanes State University president, Dr. Patrick Alain T. Azanza. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO) The Search for the next University of the Philippines (UP) President heated up last November 11, 2022, as the nominees for the position gathered at UP Diliman’s Cine Adarna, UPFI Film Center, to present their respective visions for UP. All six (6) presidential hopefuls attended the event, ‘The Search: Public Forum for the Selection of the Next UP President”. The successful nominee will succeed current President Danilo L. Concepcion as the 22nd President of the University and will assume office when Concepcion steps down in February 2023. During the event, which was also broadcast live over TVUP, each candidate had 10 minutes to present their plans and programs. After this, the event host, UP Vice President for Public Affairs (VPPA) Elena Pernia, moderated a question-and-answer session, where each candidate responded to questions from different sectors of the UP community, including real-time online queries. Members of the UP community crowd into Cine Adarna to participate in ‘The Search: Public Forum for the Selection of the Next UP President”. The search was open to all UP community members across the System as the event was live-streamed to all UP constituent units. Outside the venue, UP organizations state their challenge to the next UP President. Photo by Bong Arboleda (UP MPRO) To listen to the presidential hopefuls were members of the search committee, composed of the University’s Board of Regents (BOR) led by Concepcion and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman J. Prospero de Vera. The UP President, de Vera, noted in his message that he is different from most other leaders of SUCs in that they serve six years with no reappointment. De Vera described them as products of a choice that “cannot be rectified by a second term.” Moreover, the next UP President would be considered a true leader in higher education because of UP’s geographic reach and the comprehensive nature of the programs it offers. CHED Chairman J. Prospero de Vera opens the UP presidential candidates’ forum. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO) First to the podium was Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez. Atty. Jimenez summarized his vision in six words: research power, digital transformation, and democratic access. Amidst the massive global changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, he stressed the need to leverage the advantages of a digital transformation within UP instead of being “nostalgic about the pre-COVID age.” Jimenez noted how the transformative powers of digital technology not only provide educational opportunities “at any time and place” but also help provide democratic access by closing the quality gap between each UP unit, as well as between UP and the SUCs of each region. Such accessibility, he said, is “true democratization.” Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO) Next to speak was Atty. Salvador B. Belaro, Jr. At the heart of his vision was to secure a higher budget for the University to achieve its goal of becoming a truly global university. To compare, Belaro narrated his experiences at Cornell University, which he said enjoyed a budget more than 14 times that of UP. He noted that Cornell’s higher budget contributed greatly to its global status and other advantages, such as a good working environment for faculty and staff and a healthy student-to-teacher ratio. Belaro stated that in addition to integrating the good points presented by his peers, it would take fighting for a much larger share of the annual budgetary pie for UP to become truly global, “not just in talk, but in action.” Atty. Salvador B. Belaro, Jr. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO) The third man up was UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo, who presented his vision statement for the chancellorship in the same venue just three years ago. Nemenzo’s vision, informed by his leadership experience in the Diliman community, was centered on three points: making an agile UP, a smart UP, and a high-impact UP. For him, being elegant meant utilizing UP’s academic research programs, such as new ones in bioinformatics, data science, and artificial intelligence, among others, to cope with disruptions. He agreed with Jimenez on the need for digital transformation, which is a key component of his idea of a smart UP. Nemenzo said that digitalization would lead to better collaboration and mobilization of resources and more efficient administrative processes. Lastly, being a high-impact university meant leveraging the diversity of critical knowledge produced across the UP system for UP to take a leadership role in issues of national importance, such as food security, health, culture, and the arts. Dr. Fidel R. Nemenzo. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO) The fourth nominee to present his vision for the University was Prof. Benito M. Pacheco. He served as UPD Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs from 2014 to 2017. His presentation focused on 15 possibilities that he envisions for UP, all aiming to improve: democratic access and diversity at admission; enrichment courses; regional public service programs; full-time equivalent student; full-time equivalent teacher; the limited practice of a profession; grading system; student ethics code; mobility across CUs; administration; and others. “If elected as President, I would serve as a Futures Thinker-Leader for the strategic reimagining of and advocacy for our University mandate for the long term: public service and outreach; teaching; research and creative work; faculty and staff development; and democratic governance,” concluded Pacheco. Dr. Benito M. Pacheco. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO) Dr. Patrick Alain T. Azanza, President of the Catanduanes State University, envisions the University as “Unibersidad ng Panghinaharap.” He explained that he aims to transform the present university system into a “multiversity” or “meta-versity” similar to what is being implemented by the University of California. He further said that the transformation would put UP at par with “universities of the future” while promoting diversity, a clearer sense of purpose, happiness, and human greatness. He said he would draw upon his experiences and the policies he had already implemented during his term as university president and having held various senior executive posts at the AMA Group of Companies (1997-2008), UPD, and other institutions. According to Azanza, the crisis faced by UP and society can only be resolved if the processes, policies, programs, and decisions are based on data science. Dr. Patrick Alain T. Azanza. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO) Lastly, Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. presented his vision for UP. He served as a two-term Chancellor of UP Los Baños (UPLB) from 2014 to 2020. According to Sanchez, if elected, he will prioritize benefits, facilities, opportunities, and inclusion to nurture and protect UP constituents. His presentation highlighted “synergy in diversity” in making UP a catalyst for inclusive national development. He aims to: strengthen UP’s alumni network; promote inter-UP collaboration for more inclusive programs that will create System-wide studies centers; secure UP’s academic leadership through System-wide mentorship; provide an enabling and inspiring environment; ensure the health and safety of UP students; improve internet access and connectivity; develop more creative and community-oriented spaces; enhance System-wide capacity building and lifelong learning programs; establish relevant and responsive graduate programs; and, a promote the internationalization of UP, among others. Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO) Q and A During the Q&A session, the nominees were asked about their responses to the most important concerns faced by UP constituents. The nominees were given two minutes to explain their opinions on UP’s commercial transactions or joint ventures with the private sector; each candidate’s plans to support or encourage growth in the Humanities and Social Sciences; their plans for the institutionalization of psychosocial services; their plans to resolve the lack of plantilla items in administrative offices and faculty positions; their plans to provide additional benefits for optional retirees; their plans to ensure the protection of constituents from red-tagging; their plans to offer health insurance coverage for faculty and staff and their immediate family members, in addition to Philhealth and eHOPE; their plans for utilizing UP’s land assets; and, other issues. The six candidates answer questions fielded by members of the UP community. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO) The full CVs and vision papers of the six nominees are available and can be accessed at the Office of the Secretary of the University and of the Board of Regents (OSU) website. The forum was live-streamed by TVUP and can be viewed via TVUP’s YouTube channel. Article written by Andre Encarnacion and Fred Dabu. |
https://up.edu.ph/mechanics-released-for-the-public-forum-for-the-selection-of-the-new-up-president/ | Mechanics released for the public forum for the selection of the new UP President – University of the Philippines | Mechanics released for the public forum for the selection of the new UP President Mechanics released for the public forum for the selection of the new UP President November 4, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Last month, the Board of Regents (BOR) of the University of the Philippines (UP) approved the nominations of six official candidates for the next UP President who will succeed UP President Danilo Concepcion. On Friday, November 11, 2022, at 1:00 p.m., the UP community will be able to hear from the six nominees for the UP Presidency. A public forum will be held where all six will present their plans and programs and respond to questions from the UP constituency. The public forum will be held at Cine Adarna, UP Diliman, and live-streamed to all UP constituent units. he UP Office of the Secretary of the University and the BOR have released the mechanics of the public forum, including the guidelines for the nominees’ presentations and guidelines for the audience and forum participants. Read the mechanics for the Public Forum for the Selection of the Next UP President here: |
https://up.edu.ph/former-up-regent-angelo-jimenez-to-succeed-concepcion-as-the-next-up-president/ | Former UP Regent Angelo Jimenez to succeed Concepcion as the next UP President – University of the Philippines | Former UP Regent Angelo Jimenez to succeed Concepcion as the next UP President Former UP Regent Angelo Jimenez to succeed Concepcion as the next UP President December 9, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Atty. Angelo Azura Jimenez. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). Following intensive deliberations, including interviews with the six nominees for the next President of the University of the Philippines (UP), the UP Board of Regents (BOR) announced today their unanimous selection of the next leader of the country’s national university: Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez, former UP Regent. Atty. Jimenez will serve as the University’s 22nd President, succeeding the current UP President, Professor Danilo L. Concepcion, whose term will end in February 2023. Jimenez will serve a six-year term from February 2023 to February 2029. Atty. Angelo Jimenez is an Of counsel with the Jaromay Laurente and Associates and a consultant of the Office of Rep. Pablo John F. Garcia. He served on the Board of Regents twice, first as a Student Regent in 1992, and again as a Regent from 2016 to 2021. He was a lecturer at the UP Law Center Institute of the Administration of Justice from 2016 to 2021; and a consultant of the UP Centre International de Formation des Autorites et Leaders or International Training Center for Authorities and Leaders Philippines (UP-CIFAL Philippines). He was also a trustee of the UP Foundation from 2017 to 2021. Atty. Jimenez earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in 1987, and his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1994, both in UP Diliman. He passed the Bar in 1994. He was a Lee Kuan Yew Fellow of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He earned his Masters in Public Management from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. Among the many awards he has received is the Outstanding Butuanon Award for Professional Excellence. In his vision paper, Jimenez stated that UP “must strive to become a global university”. Specifically, UP must lead as a research university by focusing on graduate and post-graduate programs and academic linkages; and as a public service university through extension service to the government and industry. UP must also advocate for an Open Data Policy. UP must likewise help raise the quality of undergraduate education in other SUCs, embrace digital transformation in learning and management, defend and enhance academic freedom in UP. As UP President, Jimenez will serve as the Chief Academic Officer, Head of the University Faculty, and Chief Executive Officer. He will be tasked with pursuing goals stated in Republic Act No. 9500 or the UP Charter. |
https://up.edu.ph/online-pre-registration-for-the-public-forum-for-the-selection-of-the-next-up-president-is-now-open/ | Online pre-registration for the Public Forum for the Selection of the Next UP President is now open – University of the Philippines | Online pre-registration for the Public Forum for the Selection of the Next UP President is now open Online pre-registration for the Public Forum for the Selection of the Next UP President is now open November 9, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Online pre-registration for onsite and off-site participants attending the Public Forum for the Selection of the Next University of the Philippines (UP) President is now open. Members of the UP community across the UP system are invited to send in their questions and pre-register for the event. For Zoom participants: bit.ly/UPPresZoom For Cine Adarna (F2F) participants: bit.ly/UPPresCineAdarna For the Questions: bit.ly/UPPresQuestion Open on 10 November (Thu),1:00 PM – 5:00 PM and 11 November (Fri), 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM During the public forum, the six nominees for the UP Presidency will present their platforms and answer questions from UP’s internal and external publics. The forum will be held this Friday, November 11, 2022, at 1:00 p.m., at Cine Adarna, UP Diliman, and live-streamed to all UP constituent units. Read the mechanics of the public forum here: Mechanics released for the public forum for the selection of the new UP President |
https://up.edu.ph/up-launches-learning-hub-the-2nd-of-its-kind-in-butuan/ | UP launches learning hub, the 2nd of its kind, in Butuan – University of the Philippines | UP launches learning hub, the 2nd of its kind, in Butuan UP launches learning hub, the 2nd of its kind, in Butuan April 25, 2022 | Written by Fred Dabu The newly launched UP Pook Aralan Student Learning Hub in Butuan City. Photo from the UP OSDS. The University of the Philippines (UP) launched its “Pook Aralan” learning hub in Butuan City last April 20 via Zoom. The learning hub is the second “Pook Aralan” under the Tabang sa Iskolar ng Bayan program, which offers free use of computers, internet, and printing services for all nearby UP students for a limited period. The hub is strategically situated in front of the Agusan National High School and the Social Security System office in Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte, on AD Curato Street. At least 12 UP students can avail themselves of online learning-related services and facilities for the second semester. A view of the cubicles of the learning hub. Photo from OSDS. The first “Pook Aralan,” located in Bato, Leyte, was launched on March 14 and will serve UP students until July. According to UP Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and Office of Student Development Services (OSDS) Director Richard Philip Gonzalo, the “Pook Aralan” project hopes to assist students in continuing their studies after Typhoon Odette hit. The “Pook Aralan” also provides the University a template for helping its students in remote areas, especially after typhoons and other calamities hinder them from continuing studies under the blended learning mode. Speaking during the launch of UP’s Pook Aralan: UP AVP for Academic Affairs and Office of Student Development Services Director Richard Philip Gonzalo [above]; UPLB Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Janette Silva [below]. Screenshot by UP MPRO. UP Los Baños Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (VCSA) Janette Silva said the students affected by recent typhoons and challenges due to the pandemic were glad to avail UP’s assistance through these projects. The OVCSA helped in conducting the feasibility study for this project. UP Padayon Public Service Office Director Jeanette Yasol-Naval said the Pook Aralan would ease the students’ burdens amid the pandemic and calamities. UP will also launch more learning hubs to respond to students’ needs. UP Padayon Public Service Office Director Jeanette Yasol-Naval [above]; establishment owner and Pook Aralan manager Michael Urgel [below]. Screenshot by UP MPRO. Establishment owner and Pook Aralan manager Michael Urgel expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be of service to the University. He assured us that the learning hub will always be a safe space for students. The OSDS administers the project in partnership with the UP Padayon Public Service Office, the UP System Ugnayan ng Pahinungod, the UP Foundation, the concerned units of UP constituent universities, and owners of the chosen sites. For inquiries about the Pook Aralan, please email studentwelfare.osds@up.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-mindanao-swimmers-triumph-in-araw-ng-dabaw/ | UP Mindanao swimmers triumph in Araw ng Dabaw – University of the Philippines | UP Mindanao swimmers triumph in Araw ng Dabaw UP Mindanao swimmers triumph in Araw ng Dabaw April 4, 2017 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office UP Mindanao’s Swimming Team won 14 gold medals, 6 silver medals and 5 bronze medals during the 80th Araw ng Dabaw Inter-School Swimming Competition at Ateneo de Davao University Matina Sports Complex on 1-2 April 2017. Agribusiness Economics sophomore Juan Antonio A. Mendoza was declared “Most Outstanding Swimmer”. Most Outstanding Swimmer Juan Antonio Mendoza. Photo from Rene Estremera, UP Mindanao. Aside from Mendoza, the Maroon contingent was composed of Bhazel Acac (BS Food Technology), Angelica Jem Verga (BS Architecture), Paula Yap (BS Computer Science), Joemer Aliman (BS Applied Mathematics), and Tobias Suico (BS Applied Mathematics). Coach Albert Ramos reported that his team’s proudest accomplishment was in the 4×50-meter relay, where UP won over Davao Merchant Marine Academy, this year’s defending champions. A total of 220 swimmers competed in the two-day event, representing 55 schools from Davao, Metro Manila and other regions in Mindanao. This year’s tournament also attracted delegates from overseas Filipino communities. The Annual Araw ng Dabaw Inter-School Swimming Competition serves as a qualifier for Batang Pinoy and the Philippine National Games. |
https://up.edu.ph/groundbreaking-ceremony-held-for-new-land-bank-up-diliman-building/ | Groundbreaking ceremony held for new Land Bank UP Diliman building – University of the Philippines | Groundbreaking ceremony held for new Land Bank UP Diliman building Groundbreaking ceremony held for new Land Bank UP Diliman building December 12, 2022 | Written by Franco Gargantiel II UP President Danilo Concepcion (2nd from right), LBP EVP Liduvino Geron (3rd from right), and officials from the UP System, UP Diliman, and the LBP, bury the time capsule during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new building of the Landbank of the Philippines to be constructed in the Diliman campus. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO) UP President Danilo L. Concepcion. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO) On November 21, 2022, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the construction of the new Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) branch located on the Diliman campus of the University of the Philippines. Notable attendees for this event included UP President Danilo L. Concepcion and LBP Executive Vice President and Head of the Branch Banking Sector Liduvino S. Geron, representing LBP President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo. The Landbank UP Diliman Branch Department Manager, Malaine P. Baui, hosted the event. During his short speech, Concepcion emphasized the importance of LBP as one of the only few banks that provide for people working under government agencies, as well as the importance of the banking agency to the University’s community. The new branch construction in the Diliman campus, he said, will not only be more accessible to people, but it will also be the biggest LBP branch, complete with its parking lot. LBP Executive Vice President Liduvino Geron. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO) As “UP is an agency of the government as well,” Concepcion said that UP would be used as a template and an example for other government agencies to help one another. “The long journey begins with a step, and this is a step towards this long journey,” he finished. Geron thanked UP for hosting the new LBP location and expressed his hope that this new strategic place would contribute to improving the economic activities within the area. He emphasized that the collaboration between Land Bank and UP aims to better serve the public, including students, faculties, and even those who reside outside the university. Geron mentioned LBP’s new services, such as installing QR codes and contactless cards to help the community make payments and even transfer funds to their accounts through their cards or phones. The services would remove the need for LBP’s clients to bring cash and reduce the long lines for transactions. He concluded by thanking UP for their longtime partnership, adding that the new branch will be open for business in less than a year. All attendees took part in the time capsule burial, which concluded the groundbreaking event. The new LBP UP Diliman branch across the UP College of Fine Arts. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO) |
https://up.edu.ph/up-diliman-food-hub-opens/ | UP Diliman Food Hub opens – University of the Philippines | UP Diliman Food Hub opens UP Diliman Food Hub opens January 4, 2023 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc “Gyud Food,” the UP Diliman Food Hub, opens its doors to the UP community. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). A new food center in Diliman, Quezon City, is open to the public. The UP Diliman Food Hub, with a landmark two-story multipurpose hall located along E. Jacinto St. near University Avenue and across the College of Fine Arts, was inaugurated on December 21, 2022, already with several concessionaires offering a wide enough array of food choices. University officials announced that food would be discounted for UP students, faculty members, administration staff, and researchers, ranging from 5% to 15%, with payment transactions facilitated by their Paymaya-enabled IDs. Two stories of delicious, healthy, and affordable food options. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). The UP Food Hub was also designed to become a congregation and activity area, with food courts located indoors and al fresco under the shade of trees. According to the project brief: “The Site Development of the UPD Food Park is meant to aptly handle vehicular parking needs that otherwise will be overflowing towards E. Jacinto St.” Leading the inauguration and unveiling of the marker were UP President Danilo Concepcion, Vice President for Development Elvira Zamora, UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Louise Jashil Sonido, Benedict Diamat, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Quezon City Second District Construction Chief, representing District Engineer Ramon Devanadera, and master lessee Jose Vizco. UP President Danilo Concepcion (3rd from right) and UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo (3rd from left), together with (from left to right) UPD Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Raquel Florendo, Potato Corner CEO and UPD Food Hub lessee Mr. Joe Magsaysay, UP Vice President for Development Elvira Zamora, and UPD Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Louise Jashil Sonido, cut the ribbon to open the UP Food Hub formally. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). Concepcion especially thanked the DPWH, then headed by Secretary Mark Villar, for allocating the budget for and constructing the complex. He emphasized that the core idea behind the project was “ginhawa” or convenience, wider choices, and discounts for UP students. “This food hub will offer our growing community a wider range of food choices,” affirmed Nemenzo. “This is a signal that UP Diliman is again opening up [to the public],” he added, referring to the restrictions imposed in the wake of the pandemic. Sonido expressed the hope that the venue would also be a model for environmental sustainability in line with a campus-wide goal. Al fresco dining at the UP Food Hub. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). |
https://up.edu.ph/up-secures-top-rankings-in-the-environmental-planners-licensure-exam/ | UP secures top rankings in the Environmental Planners Licensure Exam – University of the Philippines | UP secures top rankings in the Environmental Planners Licensure Exam UP secures top rankings in the Environmental Planners Licensure Exam August 4, 2023 | Written by Franco Gargantiel II Examinees from two different University of the Philippines campuses garnered the three highest places in the July 2023 Environmental Planners Licensure Examination, as announced recently by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). The top three examinees out of the 115 passers are, in order: Janine Montalban Tabares from UP Visayas Iloilo, with a rating of 82.45%; and, Frann Christian Regino Serrano and Alexisse Diarra Gucilatar Pablico, both from UP Los Baños (UPLB); with a rating of 81.55% and 80.10%, respectively. UP Diliman, on the other hand, is the top-ranked school in the July 2023 Environmental Planners Licensure Examination, with 31 out of 36 examinees passing, leveling it up to 86.11% passing rate. The Environmental Planners Licensure Examination was administered by the members of the Board of Environmental Planning. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-tops-cpa-licensure-exam-performance/ | UP tops CPA licensure exam performance – University of the Philippines | UP tops CPA licensure exam performance UP tops CPA licensure exam performance June 2, 2023 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo The UP Cesar EA Virata School of Business in UP Diliman, Quezon City. Photo from the Virata School of Business on Facebook. The University of the Philippines (UP) emerged as the top performing school in the Board of Accountancy’s May 2023 Licensure Examination for Certified Public Accountants (CPA). This was announced by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on May 30, when it released the official results. Out of the 59 exam takers from UP, 55 passed—a passing percentage of 93.22. The top performing school, as determined by the PRC, must have a minimum passing percentage of 80 with at least 50 examinees. In the previous CPA licensure exam held in October 2022, UP had a passing percentage of 88.24. It did not, however, meet the required number of examinees as it only had a total of 34 exam takers, 30 of whom passed. UP Diliman’s Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business offers the five-year Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accountancy program, which accepts anywhere from 60 to 90 students each academic year. |
https://up.edu.ph/food-tech-board-exam-topnotchers-hail-from-up/ | Food Tech Board Exam topnotchers hail from UP – University of the Philippines | Food Tech Board Exam topnotchers hail from UP Food Tech Board Exam topnotchers hail from UP August 18, 2023 | Written by Fred Dabu Examinees from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, UP Los Baños, UP Visayas, and UP Mindanao occupy the top 10 ranks of passers in the latest Food Technologists Licensure Examination (FTLE) conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in the National Capital Region, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Koronadal, Legazpi, Lucena, Rosales, and Zamboanga this August 2023. Of the total 1,133 first-time examinees coming from 42 schools, only 453 of them, or 39.98%, passed. UP Diliman (100% of 75 examinees passed), UP Los Baños (92.86% of 98 examinees passed), and UP Mindanao (83.33% of six examinees passed) were also announced as the top-performing schools based on the criteria set by PRC Resolution No. 2017-1058(C) series of 2017. Dominic Castro Panaligan from UP Diliman secured the FTLE’s top spot, with a rating of 87.25%. Ranking in second were Ma. Christina Romabiles Ilano, from UP Los Baños, and Jose Gabriel Lugue Luna, also from UP Diliman, whose ratings are tied at 86.75%. Portia Aliwanag Crisostomo (UPLB) and Ingrid Panaligan Puentespina (UPD) occupy 3rd place with a rating of 86.5% each. Other FTLE board topnotchers from UP are: at 4th place, Theresa Marie Tuason Rigor and Darwin Ray Librado Tuazon (UPD) with a rating of 86% each; at 5th place, Gerieka Ramos Anapi (UPLB) and Caleb Joshua Tychico Chingcuanco (UPD) with a rating of 85.75% each; at 6th place, June Vincent Ramos Blas (UPLB), Jenica Tagel Javier, Elden Pamiloza Muncal, Riann Martin Oliquino Sarza, Albei Keith Capito Tolete, and Mary Michelle Malabanan Velasquez (UPD), with a rating of 85.5% each; and, at 7th place, Patricia Victoria Acosta Abella, Jocelle Ramilo Del Rosario (UPD), Hannah Joy Agravante Segura, and Maria Sandra Renee Caraos Tapia (UPLB), with a rating of 85.25% each. Occupying 8th place, with a rating of 85% each, are: Abbie Glenn Montecalvo Estribillo (UPMin), Toni Abegail Enriquez Almosara, Sharmaine Therese Homeres Daya (UPLB), Joanne Kathrine Marcellana Escoreal, Donnel Paulo Gulifardo Signey, and Vanessa Gayle Tiu Tangcueco (UPD). At 9th place, with a rating of 84.75% each, are: Mary Denize Celine Villagomez Portal (UP Visayas-Iloilo City), Dave Antonio Agcaoili, Argel Arizala Largado, Justin Godfred Bantilan Peralta (UP Los Baños), Joshua German Palma and Ryan Nikkole Bondoc Pineda (UP Diliman). Lastly, at 10th place, with a rating of 84.5% each, are: Jan Carlo Cristobal Aningat, Judea Mae Cortez Estrada, Nikkie Del Agua Francisco, Gyle Doringo Tampil, Alyana Marie Chua Tanlimco (UPD), Cielo Therese Lait Manalo, and Angela Cantillo Viloria (UPLB). The PRC posted the results within three working days after the last day of examination given by the Board of Food Technology. |
https://up.edu.ph/president-danilo-l-concepcion-on-up-education-public-service-at-up-manilas-commencement-exercises/ | President Danilo L. Concepcion on UP education, public service at UP Manila’s Commencement Exercises – University of the Philippines | President Danilo L. Concepcion on UP education, public service at UP Manila’s Commencement Exercises President Danilo L. Concepcion on UP education, public service at UP Manila’s Commencement Exercises June 22, 2017 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Below is the full text of the speech delivered by UP President Danilo L. Concepcion during UP Manila’s Commencement Exercises on June 21, 2017. MORE THAN A SCHOOL, MORE THAN A HOSPITAL Speech by President Danilo L. Concepcion Commencement Exercises, UP Manila 21 June 2017 Esteemed members of our Board of Regents, the members of my executive team, Chancellor Menchit Padilla and the members of her administration, the faculty and staff of UP Manila, Director Gap Legaspi and the staff of the Philippine General Hospital, and the faculty and staff of our health science units in Palo, Baler, and Koronadal. But most of all let me greet and salute the graduates, their parents, and their families. Mabuhay po kayong lahat! I know that it has taken you much time, effort, and some expense to get to this high point of your lives, on the verge of your future careers. I guess that is true for any college graduate. But for a UP graduate, expectations run even higher. And they should, because from the very start, we have been held to a higher standard of honor, excellence, and public service. In the words of President Rafael Palma at his investiture in 1925, it was UP’s mission not just to produce graduates, but to encourage “original thinking and (assert) our individuality in the realm of mind (for) the positive benefit of the Filipino people.” A UP graduate has to be a willing, creative, and audacious agent of social transformation, going above and beyond the normal call of duty to find ways of uplifting the lives of our countrymen. Thankfully, in UP Manila, you have had more than a century of exemplary experience in conjoining higher education with public service. That’s largely because of the unique relationship between UP Manila’s role and offerings as a traditional university and its health sciences component bannered by the Philippine General Hospital. Up until today, especially during budget season, some lawmakers still have a problem understanding that relationship, insisting that PGH should be taken out of UP Manila. What we must make clear to them is that practically from the beginning, UP Manila—or indeed just UP as it was then—was always more than a school, and PGH was always more than a hospital. Few will recall that UP partly owes its existence to the Philippine Medical School, which was incorporated into UP in 1909. Within a year, it was considered at par with some of the better American medical schools. President William Howard Taft had wanted to put the School under the Department of Sanitation, but Dean Worcester—whatever else we may think about him—believed so strongly in the school’s educational mission that he pushed for the creation of a hospital to serve the training needs of the school. And thus was PGH born. PGH, of course, became the biggest and most modern Asian hospital of its time, and even a century later, it occupies pride of place as the hospital most Filipinos still think of when they require medical attention. In other words, it is the hospital closest to the Filipino heart. But even as it serves about 600,000 patients every year, many of them our poorest citizens, it has never forgotten its educational mission. This is why UP Manila has produced world-class doctors, world-class dentists, nurses, pharmacists, and so on. UP Manila exemplifies what a 21st century university should be: an institution with a special strength in a highly competitive and absolutely vital field, anchored on solid humanistic values and principles, and open to a diverse array of talents and interests. This brings me to a personal confession I have to make: When I was a school boy, I wanted to become a doctor. A surgeon, actually. Sadly, my dream was frustrated by life’s circumstances. My father was a bus driver, and my mother struggled to raise seven of us on our father’s income. I myself was a working student, and half of what I earned went to helping put my three younger siblings through school. So when I applied for a college scholarship with the National Science Development Board, I had to pick from a list of approved science courses. This list did not include medicine, and I needed to work to support myself and my siblings. So I chose agricultural engineering in a school I could easily commute to, and only later did I take up law at UP. I tell you this story not only because being with you today in a sense fulfills a childhood dream, but also to show that as significant as your graduation today is, you may never know for sure what your future will be until you get there. I recently came across a quote by the American author Nancy Levin: “Honor the space between ‘no longer’ and ‘not yet.’” This seems like a good description of where you are right now. Right here, right now, you are at a crossroads. This ceremony officially marks the end of your lives as college students of UP Manila, and you stand on the verge of becoming something and someone else: doctors, teachers, NGO workers, call-center agents, entrepreneurs, managers, performers, even politicians. That transition will be quicker and easier for some but not for others. But I can tell you now that this transition will never be complete, and rightly so, because you will always be UP students for the rest of your lives. You will forever be inquisitive, independent, assertive, ever ready to turn challenge into opportunity. These hallmarks of a UP education you will bear with you whatever career path you may choose, and wherever those paths may lead you. That education will be the anchor from which you can pivot into anything you want to be. In my case, it was UP and the College of Law that allowed me to realize my life’s mission, that is to learn and to use the law for public service, and later to produce more outstanding lawyers in the grand manner, as we like to say in the college. More recently, that mission has become even more complex, as I now have to deal not only with a college, not even just a university, but an entire university system. I have to admit that it’s a daunting responsibility, especially in an environment increasingly characterized by vicious political polarization. But precisely because many people—even respectable academics—no longer seem able to speak to one another in the language of civility. I find it even more vital to recreate the University as a special space, a common ground, within which we can all work together. My executive staff and I have been preparing the Strategic Plan that will guide my administration over the next six years. Because it requires extensive deliberation and consultation, it remains a work in progress, the details of which we will be sharing with you before too long. But I can tell you now that we will seek to create an enabling environment within which we can perform as a University at our full potential. If there is anything I firmly believe in, it is in the value of productive labor—whether that labor takes place in the classroom, the laboratory, the boardroom, the community, or the global arena. We have to find ways in which to work, and work together, despite and away from the growing toxicity of both national and campus politics. I do not mean to suggest that we will stop having or expressing opinions. Debate and dissent are as much a part of UP tradition as the Oblation and the Lantern Parade. But I surmise that at the end of the day, nothing achieves more than concrete action. Why, talk and analyze our problems to death, when our time might be spent seeking workable and consensual solutions. I have many plans for UP that I believe will occupy us in very productive ways. Again, the details will still have to be worked out, but we are studying the possibility of opening a new medical complex in Diliman. This medical complex shall be an extension of PGH, will serve not only the needs of our northern metropolitan population but also push the frontiers of medical practice and research. There will be resistance, for sure, UP being UP. You might be interested to know that in 1937, when President Quezon pushed for the transfer of UP from Padre Faura to Diliman, UP students led by a young editor named Armando Malay held a straw vote, that rejected the move by 84%. Then President Bienvenido Gonzalez was roundly vilified. Twelve years later, when the move had happened, Malay spoke again in UP Diliman, and acknowledged that it was time “for a closing of the ranks.” No one will argue now that moving the main campus to Diliman was a mistake. But it would also be grossly mistaken to say that Manila was abandoned and left behind. It’s true that it became a smaller campus by comparison, but it soon developed its own appeal and its own ethos as a university geared for the urban student. And of course there was always the PGH and the health sciences cluster, whose academic requirements made sure that UP Manila would grow well into another century. UP President Danilo L. Concepcion before UP Manila’s Iskolar ng Bayan graduating batch of 2017. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. Much has been said about UP graduates being iskolar ng bayan. Tunay kayong mga iskolar ng bayan sapagkat gumugol ang ating pamahalaan ng salapi mula sa kaban ng bayan upang kayo ay makapagtapos sa inyong pag-aaral. Kayo ay mga paaral ng taong bayan. Subalit huwag ninyong ituring na ang inyong edukasyon ay isang utang na dapat niyong bayaran sa taongbayan. Ito ay inihandog nila sa inyo ng buong puso sa pag-asang sa pagkakamit niyo ng husay at galing. Hindi lamang buhay ninyo ang bubuti at gaganda. Umaasa silang gaganda at iinam din ang buhay nila. Ang taong bayan ay hindi humihingi ng kabayaran mula sa inyo. Subalit sila ay umaasa na sa inyong paglipad paitaas, maalala naman ninyo na sila ay lingapin at bigyan ng pagpapahalaga. Ang bulok na bungang isasama sa kaing ng mga mahusay at maganda ay siyang tunay na sisira sa kanilang lahat na. Huwag sanang kayo ang magsilbing bulok na bunga na sa halip na magpabuti sa bayan ay siya pang magdudulot ng mas masamang kapalaran. Pahalagahan ninyo ang edukasyong ibinahagi namin sa inyo dito sa UP. Huwag nawa ninyong makalimutan na kayo ay higit na mas mapalad sa karamihan. Hindi lahat ng kabataan ay biniyayaan ng katulad ng inyong kapalaran. Noong kayo ay nagpasiya na pumasok at mag-aral sa UP, huwag ninyog kalilimutan na may Pilipino, katumbas ng bawat sa inyo, na nawalan ng pagkakataong makapasok at makapag-aral dito. Lubos na nakapanghihinayang kung ang edukasyong maari sana naging kanila, ay hindi ninyo pahahalagahan at hindi ninyo gagamitin para sa kaunlaran ng bayan. Huwag sana ninyong sayangin ang inyong natutunan; sana ay gamitin ninyo ito nang tama at wasto tungo sa kapakinabangan, hindi lamang ng inyong sarili at pamilya, kundi tungo sa kapakinabangan ng buong sambayanan. Tunay, hindi naghihintay ng kabayaran mula sa inyo ang ating mga kababayan. Subalit sila ay labis na malulugod, at hindi naman tatanggi, kung kayo ay magsusukli nang taos-puso sa kanila. Bago ako lumisan, hayaan ninyong bigkasin ko ang mga salitang namutawi sa mga labi ng ating bayaning si Gat Andres Bonifacio: Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya, Sa pagkadalisay at pagkadakila Gaya ng pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa? Aling pag-ibig pa? Wala na nga, wala. Salamat po at mabuhay kayong lahat! |
https://up.edu.ph/up-diliman-class-of-2020-told-to-lead-through-accompaniment-in-virtual-graduation-ceremony/ | UP Diliman Class of 2020 told to “lead through accompaniment” in virtual graduation ceremony – University of the Philippines | UP Diliman Class of 2020 told to “lead through accompaniment” in virtual graduation ceremony UP Diliman Class of 2020 told to “lead through accompaniment” in virtual graduation ceremony August 5, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion Screenshot of UP Diliman’s “109th Pangkalahatang Pagtatapos”, live streamed via UP Diliman’s official website. Replay can be viewed at the UP Diliman YouTube channel. The University of the Philippines Diliman community was up early on Sunday, July 26, 2020, to witness the very first virtual commencement exercises in the constituent university’s (CU) history. The event, formally titled “109th Pangkalahatang Pagtatapos”, was live streamed via UP Diliman’s official website at 7:00 AM in the morning, reaching the homes of its 3,789 graduates and their families. Replay can be viewed at the UP Diliman YouTube channel. Screenshots of UP Diliman’s “109th Pangkalahatang Pagtatapos”, live streamed via UP Diliman’s official website. Replay can be viewed at the UP Diliman YouTube channel. The UP Diliman Class of 2020 was led by 28 summa cum laudes, who graduated with a weighted average grade (WAG) of 1.20 or higher. Alongside them were 302 who earned magna cum laudes (WAG 1.40 or higher), and 683 cum laudes (WAG 1.75 or higher). Those who attended virtually got to know UP Diliman’s summa cum laude graduates better, as the program included their observations and reflections on their achievements amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Maglingkod, Magmalasakit, Maningidgan” was the theme of Diliman’s 109th commencement exercises. With this theme the graduating class was called upon to “serve the country with empathy and conviction so that excellence, rights, and justice might prevail”. Of the students who were conferred their degrees, 2,892 received baccalaureate degrees, while 897 received either diploma, master’s, or doctoral degrees. Screenshot of UP Diliman’s “109th Pangkalahatang Pagtatapos”, live streamed via UP Diliman’s official website. Replay can be viewed at the UP Diliman YouTube channel. This year’s commencement speaker was none other than former UP Diliman Chancellor and UP Professor Emeritus for Anthropology. Michael Lim Tan. The focus of his graduation speech concerned what he called the “art of accompaniment”, which he said he imbibed from Pope Francis’s 2013 apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium. It was described, Tan said, as the respect that involves “removing our sandals before the sacred ground of the Other”. “We are a culture of accompaniment,” Tan explained, citing the prevalence of the prefix ‘ka-‘ in Filipino languages, which is used to create nouns of inclusion and accompanied action. Drawing evidence from UP’s recent initiatives during the COVID-19 period, Tan praised both UP Diliman and the UP System for displaying “accompaniment” via its efforts to assist front liners, stranded students and staff, and other members of the UP community, citing efforts like the recent #KaagapayUP project. “Andito kami is becoming andito tayo,” said Tan. Screenshot of UP Diliman’s “109th Pangkalahatang Pagtatapos”, live streamed via UP Diliman’s official website. Replay can be viewed at the UP Diliman YouTube channel. The last few months, according to Tan, revealed the difference that a leadership based on accompaniment made when struggling against the pandemic, mentioning New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern as one example. “Rushing to the scenes of disaster to comfort people, to share their grief. To explain—that is so lacking in the Philippines. To give options when needed and then to speak out when needed with a firm resolve to bring justice.” Tan said he believed that the Philippines, too, has such leaders-in-the-making, and soon it would hopefully be their time to be recognized. “Don’t let your diplomas, don’t let your new positions get into your heads,” he advised the graduating class. “Leadership by accompaniment means you do not go off on your own for people to follow you. Accompaniment is being at one’s side and sometimes being behind them, watching their backs.” Photo above: UP President Danilo L. Concepcion (left) and UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo (right) underneath recognizing the graduates of 2020. Photo below: Members of Class 2020 shift their sablay to signify the change in their status from ‘student’ to ‘alumnus and alumna’. Screenshot of UP Diliman’s “109th Pangkalahatang Pagtatapos”, live streamed via UP Diliman’s official website. Replay can be viewed at the UP Diliman YouTube channel. Deans and heads of the 27 degree granting units of UP Diliman presented their respective graduates to the current Chancellor, Dr. Fidel Nemenzo, who in turn presented them to UP President Danilo L. Concepcion for the official conferment of their degrees. The ceremonial shifting of the sablay was also done virtually, signaling the graduating class’ official status as alumni of the University of the Philippines. UP Alumni Regent and President of the UP Alumni Association Reynaldo Laserna swears in the new crop of UP graduates. Screenshot of UP Diliman’s “109th Pangkalahatang Pagtatapos”, live streamed via UP Diliman’s official website. Replay can be viewed at the UP Diliman YouTube channel. The backdrop of the commencement exercises is the Dalunduyan, a triptych of arches depicting portals created by artist and UPD faculty Toym Imao. The title of the work is said to be a portmanteau of three words: ‘daluyan’ (channel or portal), ‘lunduyan’ (center) and ‘duyan’ (cradle). It will remain in Quezon Hall until December, marking the duration of the University’s lockdown due to the pandemic. Finally, the “UP Naming Mahal” was performed by the UP Symphony Orchestra (UPSO) to close the ceremonies. Photo above: The UP Symphony Orchestra performing ‘UP Naming Mahal’, a version of which can be found on the UPSO YouTube channel. Photo below: The arches of Dalunduyan. Screenshot of UP Diliman’s “109th Pangkalahatang Pagtatapos”, live streamed via UP Diliman’s official website. Replay can be viewed at the UP Diliman YouTube channel. |
https://up.edu.ph/427-graduate-from-upou/ | 427 graduate from UPOU – University of the Philippines | 427 graduate from UPOU 427 graduate from UPOU October 29, 2019 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo The UPOU Class of 2019 takes the Oath of Loyalty to the University. (Photo by Arlyn VCD P. Romualdo, UP MPRO) UP Open University (UPOU) conferred degrees and titles upon the 427 members of the Class of 2019 on October 12 in the UPOU Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna. Of the graduating class, 81 earned their undergraduate degrees while the rest received their graduate degrees. In the left photo, UP Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa (left) confers the degrees and titles upon the graduation class after they were endorsed by UPOU Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria (right). In the right photo, the graduates have just shifted their Sablay from the right shoulder to the left as a symbol of their graduation from the University. (Photos by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Ret. B.Gen. Eliseo Rio Jr., Undersecretary for Operations of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, delivers the commencement address. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) In his commencement address, Retired Brigadier General Eliseo Rio Jr., Undersecretary for Operations of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), said “ICT is now deeply embedded in human activities.” Access to information, he added, “is no longer a privilege, but a human right similar to food, shelter, and clothing.” He revealed that the DICT is spearheading the National Broadband Program, which will address the issues of the country having slow yet expensive Internet access. Rio said Filipinos will start feeling the improvement in telecommunication services next year. The graduates receive their diplomas and the new PhD degree holders go on stage for their hooding ceremony. (Photos by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Delivering the message on behalf of the graduating class was Joey Ramirez (Bachelor of Education Studies, magna cum laude), who captured the UPOU brand of education in his speech. “The UPOU experience is not for everyone. It’s anything but a walk in the park.” Joey Ramirez (Bachelor of Education Studies, magna cum laude) delivers a message on behalf of the UPOU Class of 2019. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) He explained that of the UP values of honor and excellence, “honor is even more emphasized [in UPOU] precisely because learners are largely left on their own.” There is that “implicit trust,” he said, that learners act honorably in their academic duties. UPOU students, he further stated, have the motivation to be excellent and their desire to learn, internal. “We [don’t have] somebody constantly following us around, making sure we follow the rules or do this or do that.” The UPOU graduates raise their fists in the singing of “UP Naming Mahal.” (Top photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO and bottom photo by Arlyn VCD P. Romualdo, UP MPRO) In the end, Ramirez enjoined his fellow graduates to “give back to those who gave so much for us to be where we are today.” He asked them to embody the phrase in “UP Naming Mahal,” “pag-asa ng bayan” or nation’s hope; “to be the solution and not to add to the country’s woes.” Fireworks end the 2019 UPOU Commencement Exercises. (Photo by Arlyn VCD P. Romualdo, UP MPRO) |
https://up.edu.ph/i-dont-see-myself-at-the-pinnacle-cristeta-comerford/ | ‘I don’t see myself at the pinnacle.’—Cristeta Comerford – University of the Philippines | ‘I don’t see myself at the pinnacle.’—Cristeta Comerford ‘I don’t see myself at the pinnacle.’—Cristeta Comerford November 13, 2019 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo White House Executive Chef Cristeta Pasia Comerford delivers a speech after she was conferred a degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, by the University of the Philippines. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Even as she occupies one of the top culinary posts in the United States, White House Executive Chef Cristeta Pasia Comerford does not consider herself as being at the highest point of her life. “I am still at a stepping stone to where life will lead me next,” she said in her speech after she was conferred a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, by the University of the Philippines on November 11 at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman. Comerford receives the hood as another of the three vestments given to a recipient of an honorary degree. She was given the academic gown beforehand to wear to the ceremony. UP President Danilo L. Concepcion is seen here adjusting Comerford’s hood as her husband, John (in blue), and her sister, Opel Pasia Aguila (in black), look on. Also on stage are, from left, Regent Francis C. Laurel, Staff Regent Mylah R. Pedrano, Commission on Higher Education and UP Board of Regents Chairman J. Prospero E. De Vera III, Faculty Regent Ramon G. Guillermo (behind Chairman de Vera), Regent Frederick Mikhail I. Farolan (behind Comerford), Student Regent John Isaac B. Punzalan, and UP Diliman University Registrar Ma. Theresa Payongayong (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Her appointment to the position on 05 August 2005, announced by then First Lady Laura Bush, broke “multiple glass ceilings: first minority, first Asian, first female, first Filipino”. Comerford revealed, however, that she did not immediately realize the impact of her ascendency to the post, a vacancy that took six months to fill, with 450 candidates vying for the position. She was promoted from her previous position as sous chef, which she had occupied since 1997. Comerford marked her 14th year in the post, making her one of the longest serving White House executive chefs to date. She has acknowledged her leadership role, telling UP students, “Being a leader doesn’t mean you have made it or you are exempt from hard work. Rather, [you] should set the pace for others. As a leader, you are given much. That is when you give more back. As students, we learn much. In turn, we teach others.” The last of the three vestments, the cap, is placed upon Comerford’s head by Commission on Higher Education and UP Board of Regents Chairman J. Prospero E. De Vera III (left) and UP President Danilo L. Concepcion (right). Also in this photo are, from left, Regent Francis C. Laurel, Student Regent John Isaac B. Punzalan, John Comerford, UP Diliman Chancellor Michael L. Tan (behind John Comerford), and Opel Pasia Aguila. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Looking at the successes of people around her, she said she sees both greatness and humility at the way they have used their gifts wisely. And so Comerford ended her address with the Filipino saying, “Ang palay ay parisan, habang nagkakalaman ay lalong nagpupugay” (translated in Damiana Eugenio’s Philippine Folk Literature: An Anthology as “Imitate the rice stalk; the more grains it bears, the lower it bows”). Comerford was a BS Food Technology major in UP Diliman before migrating to the US with her family in 1983. In 2013, the centennial year of the UP Alumni Association (UPAA), she received the UPAA Presidential Award. In September of this year, she was named by UPAA in America as one of the University’s distinguished alumni. Comerford receives her citation and diploma which are included in the items of distinction given to the honoree, apart from the vestments. With her in the photo are, from left, Secretary of the University and of the Board of Regents Roberto M.J. Lara, Staff Regent Mylah R. Pedrano, Regent Francis C. Laurel, Commission on Higher Education and UP Board of Regents Chairman J. Prospero E. De Vera III, Regent Frederick Mikhail I. Farolan (behind Comerford), John Comerford, Opel Pasia Aguila, UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, and UP Diliman University Registrar Ma. Theresa Payongayong. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Her appointment as White House executive chef made Comerford a member of Le Club des Chefs des Chefs, an exclusive organization of 26 chefs of heads of state around the world. It promotes culinary diplomacy, the safeguarding of culinary traditions, and healthy, well-balanced gastronomy. Comerford has served as a consultant and a resource person to US government agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of State, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Her position, as well as her advocacy for healthy eating has led her to become the subject of press interviews, a guest in many talk shows, a keynote speaker at conferences, and a lecturer-presenter in workshops and panels across the US. Sorsogon First District Representative Evelina G. Escudero introduces the honoree. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) She received the Gawad ng Pangulo Pamana ng Pilipino Award in 2014, one of the three Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas. It is awarded to individuals who “in exemplifying the talent and industry of the Filipino, have brought the country honor and recognition through excellence and distinction in the pursuit of their work or profession.” Throughout her career, she has been honored by various organizations for her achievements as a chef and a Filipino-American. UP’s conferment of the honorary degree upon Comerford was led by Commission on Higher Education and UP Board of Regents Chairman J. Prospero E. De Vera III, and UP President Danilo L. Concepcion. Video by KIM Quilinguing, UP Media and Public Relations Office |
https://up.edu.ph/up-confers-honorary-degree-on-defender-of-philippine-sovereignty-in-the-west-philippine-sea-justice-antonio-carpio/ | UP confers honorary degree on defender of Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, Justice Antonio Carpio – University of the Philippines | UP confers honorary degree on defender of Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, Justice Antonio Carpio UP confers honorary degree on defender of Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, Justice Antonio Carpio December 10, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Retired SC Justice Antonio Carpio (center) receiving his honorary degree from UP President Danilo Concepcion (left). Photo by Raden Agustin, UPMPRO. In a ceremony held at the Malcolm Hall, College of Law in Diliman on December 10 and livestreamed via YouTube, the University of the Philippines (UP) conferred a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, degree upon UP College of Law alumnus and retired Justice of the Supreme Court Antonio T. Carpio. The honorary degree is conferred by the University upon individuals for outstanding achievements in their fields and exemplary service to their fellowmen. In the citation for the conferment of the honorary degree, Justice Carpio was lauded for his “distinguished service to the nation” as Senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, “exhibiting impartiality, accountability and dedication to upholding the Constitution and the rule of law”; for ardently defending human rights and championing freedom of expression; for advocating “the protection and preservation of the country’s territorial rights and maritime sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea amid great adversity”; and for being “a true icon of the Filipino people, embodying a courageous life led in service to the country”, among others. After receiving his honorary degree, Justice Carpio delivered a lecture on defending the Philippines’ sovereign territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) against China’s incursions into the territory in violation of international laws. He exhorted “the best and the brightest legal warriors in our country” to stand up and fight to free the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from foreign encroachment using the rule of law. Justice Carpio obtained his law degree from UP in 1975, graduating valedictorian and cum laude, then placed sixth in the Bar exams that same year. He went into private practice after graduating and was a professorial lecturer at the UP College of Law from 1983 to 1992 until his appointment as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel. He served as a member of the UP Board of Regents from 1993 to 1998. He was sworn in as member of the Supreme Court on October 26, 2001, becoming one of the youngest appointees as Supreme Court Associate Justice. Since then, his exemplary service to the highest court in the land has earned him numerous recognitions including the Presidential Medal of Merit, and the UP Alumni Association’s Outstanding UP Alumnus in Public International Law award and, later, the Most Outstanding Alumnus award. He has been most recognized in his role in shedding light upon the issue of territory and sovereignty in the WPS. He retired from the Supreme Court in 2019. The ceremony was attended by members of the UP Board of Regents, officials of the UP System and UP Diliman, members of the academic community of the UP College of Law represented by its dean, Atty. Fides C. Cordero-Tan, and former UP Law dean and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Marvic MVF Leonen. A special musical tribute was offered to the honoree by the UP Singing Ambassadors, while a special video tribute to Justice Carpio followed the formal conferment ceremony and lecture. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-regent-nelia-t-gonzalez-her-life-her-legacy/ | UP Regent Nelia T. Gonzalez: Her Life, Her Legacy – University of the Philippines | UP Regent Nelia T. Gonzalez: Her Life, Her Legacy UP Regent Nelia T. Gonzalez: Her Life, Her Legacy June 22, 2021 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta UP Regent Nelia T. Gonzalez was conferred Doctor of Laws (Honoris causa) during the 44th Commencement of the University of the Philippines Los Baños on June 25, 2016, at the DL Umali Freedom Park. Photo from UP AVP Jose Wendell Capili. Many people received awards and adulations for their outstanding achievements. Still, very few have had the honor of having a flower named after them. University of the Philippines (UP) Regent Nelia Teodoro Gonzalez, who passed on last June 19 at 97, is one of these individuals. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Nelia T. Gonzalez’. Image from “Development of hibiscus hybrids’ Women in Public Service Series II’ and propagation studies on Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Cynthia A. Villar’” by Pablito M. Magdalita and Reynold B. Pimentel. The gumamela or hibiscus flower that bears her name, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Nelia T. Gonzalez’, was the first of the “Oblation Series” of hibiscus launched by the Institute of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture (now the College of Agriculture and Food Science), UP Los Baños, bred by Dr. Pablito M. Magdalita and Mr. Reynold B. Pimentel, as part of UP Los Baños’ contribution to the UP Centennial celebration. In the early summer of 2006, Regent Gonzalez accepted this honor during an occasion that also marked the launching of the Nelia T. Gonzalez Alumni Service Award and the Nelia Teodoro-Gonzalez Professorial Chair Grants. In a column published in the Philippine Star on April 4, 2006, columnist Domini M. Torrevillas recalled the event: “Dr. Desiree M. Hautea, who presented the Hibiscus tribute…said the Hibiscus was named after the honoree because ‘Hibiscus is the Queen of Flowers and therefore, a fitting title to a lady who holds court wherever she goes inside and outside her house.’ The gumamela is bright orange, with prominent red-eye and yellow edges. Orange is flamboyant, energetic, and vibrant, reflecting the honoree’s strength, enthusiasm, fascination, success, and encouraging quality. Dr. Hautea said, ‘Truly, it is not the flower that honors the woman. It is the woman that lends honor to the flower and the University that developed it, with her name.'” UP Regent Gonzalez (sitting, first from left) poses with National Scientist and UP President Emil Q. Javier during UPAA’s General Alumni-Faculty Homecoming and Reunion on June 22, 2013. With them are UP AVP Jose Wendell P. Capili, UPLB College of Development Communication Dean Maria Theresa H. Velasco, and UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena E. Pernia. Photo from UP AVP Jose Wendell Capili. Regent Nelia T. Gonzales (standing 3rd from right) during the 81st Birthday of UP President Francisco Nemenzo on February 6, 2016. Photo from UP AVP Jose Wendell Capili. What’s in a name? The life of UP Regent Nelia T. Gonzalez, or Tita Nelia, as she was fondly called by friends and colleagues, gives weight behind the name of the flower bred to honor her. Almost eighty years after she graduated from UP, Nelia Teodoro Gonzalez has come to be known by her many titles: agriculturist, agro-industrialist, social entrepreneur, resource developer, public administrator, civil servant, UP Regent, president of the UPLB Alumni Association, vice-president of the UP Alumni Association, a host of leadership titles in numerous agribusiness corporations, organizations, and foundations, holder of a UP Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa, one of the UPAA Lifetime Distinguished Achievements awardees named during its centennial in 2013, an icon for the Philippine agribusiness industry, and one of the University’s most outstanding alumni, a veritable pillar of the UP community. Following the footsteps of her agriculturist father, Gonzalez earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Plant Pathology from the College of Agriculture (CA), UPLB, in 1944, marching as the only female graduate in her batch. Later, she earned her Certificate of Government Management from the UP College of Public Administration in UP Diliman in 1977. UP Regent Gonzalez (third from left) cuts the ribbon at the inauguration of “Ani,” a modern and robust interpretation of UP’s first 100 years by artist Sandra Torrijos in UPLB, alongside UP President Emerlinda Roman (fifth from left), UPLB Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco (seventh from left) and other UPLB officials, on January 17, 2010. Photo from UP AVP Jose Wendell Capili. Agriculturist, agro-industrialist, entrepreneur After graduating from the UPCA, she served briefly as an agronomist at the Bureau of Plant Industry. She later helped the late industrialist Salvador Araneta manage the Araneta Institute of Agriculture (now the De Salle Araneta University) and the Republic Flour Mills (RFM). Finally, she served as General Manager and Vice President of RFM. She worked with a capable team to accomplish many things. National Scientist and former UP President Dr. Emil Q. Javier, in his essay first published in the Manila Bulletin on February 24, 2018, cited the lasting impacts of these achievements on the animal industry. He writes: “Easily the most notable contribution of Tita Nelia and her team was the introduction of broiler poultry contract growing. RFM was the first integrator, providing day-old chicks, feeds, veterinary supplies, and growing technology to contract growers and buying back the birds at competitive prices. The scheme proved to be very successful, and the rest of the industry followed suit. As a result, to date, the broiler industry is one of our most productive and regionally competitive sectors in agriculture.” Later, through the Punla sa Tao Foundation (PSFTI), which she headed, Gonzalez helped organized backyard poultry raisers into a cooperative, mobilized support from local government units, linked them with a microfinance entity (Sikap Bidani), and enrolled them with an integrator, Bounty Corporation–all done in a model small farmers contract growing scheme called Manok Mabuhay Program. Gonzalez was also a pioneer in the local production of corn and soybean hybrid seeds with the establishment of Phil Hi-Bred, Inc. in the early 1970s. “Sourcing the original seed parent materials from Pioneer Hi-Bred Seed Company in Iowa and mobilizing local expertise,” Dr. Javier writes, “she established hybrid seed production operations in South Cotabato, in a 40-hectare farm in Naujan Oriental Mindoro and a 1,000-hectare farm in Bansud, also in Oriental Mindoro.” After working for the RFM group, Gonzalez established ventures into real estate development, commercial fishing, and corn hybrid seed production. In 1980, she was named Assistant Minister of Agriculture by President Ferdinand Marcos. She played a vital role in the banner agriculture programs of the time—Masagana 99, Masaganang Maisan, Pagkain Bayan at Gulayan sa Kalusugan, and Bakahang Barangay. In addition, she supported area marketing cooperatives and credit and farm insurance. Throughout her illustrious career as an agro-industrialist, she established a pest control management business, a livestock and poultry magazine, and an agribusiness company. In addition, she served in the Manila Overseas Press Club board and introduced contract growing in the Philippines to enhance the partnership between the feed miller and the poultry raiser to assure an equitable sharing of profit in the animal industry. She also served at the helm of various real estate and agro-industrial businesses and rural communities. UP Regent Gonzalez received her Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Award during UPAA’s Centennial General Alumni-Faculty Homecoming and Reunion on June 22, 2013. Beside her are (from left) UP President Alfredo Pascual, UPAA President Ponciano Rivera, UPAA Vice President Rene Valdecantos and UPAA Board Member Alfredo Gonzalez. Photo from UP AVP Jose Wendell Capili. UP Pahinungod volunteer, UP Regent, Loyal Daughter of UP Dr. Javier describes Gonzalez’s commitment to UP as “legendary.” And in an interview with ABS-CBN News on July 6, 2015, Gonzalez herself mentions having served the University in various capacities graduating from UPCA. In fact, during the 44th UPLB commencement ceremonies held on June 25, 2016, when Gonzalez was conferred the Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, she noted in her acceptance speech that she has been serving UP for more than 70 years, shaping the future of the University both personally and professionally. Her involvement with the UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungod inspired the spirit of volunteerism in others, especially among UP students and alumni. Later, Gonzalez would consider her position as a UP Regent the most fulfilling assignment she has ever assumed. Her leadership in various UP alumni associations has left an indelible impact upon these UP alumni chapters and the university. For instance, as President of the UP College of Agriculture Alumni Association, she helped organize the presidents of different college alumni associations in UPLB to form a federation, the UPLB Alumni Association. Aside from her business network, Gonzalez built extensive linkages with influential political figures, national women’s organizations, national and local government agencies, and media people. She made full use of these linkages to become an effective fund-raiser, spearheading the fund-raising for the construction of the UPLB Alumni Center. As UPLBAA president, she successfully raised funds to support scholarships and professorial chairs for UPLB. In addition, she was instrumental in constructing the UPLB Rizal Centenary Carillon, which was inaugurated by President Fidel V. Ramos and the Ang Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman during her term as UPAA Vice President. The University recognizes her numerous achievements. The same day she was honored with the gumamela that bears her name, the Nelia T. Gonzalez Alumni Service Award was launched. During the annual UPLB Loyalty Day and Alumni Homecoming, the award is given to UPLB graduates who exemplify indefatigable service to the University. It is named after her in recognition of her services to UP and the country. As if having an award named after her didn’t honor her enough, Dr. Javier also launched the Nelia T. Gonzalez Professorial Chair Grants during the same event. Years after, Gonzalez was awarded the UPAA Lifetime Distinguished Achievements Award on June 22, 2013—during UPAA’s centennial year—to recognize her accomplishments as one of the country’s first top female executives and for inspiring generations of women across Southeast Asia with her business acumen. UP Regent Gonzalez (sitting) during her 95th Birthday on February 17, 2019, with UP President Danilo Concepcion and Atty. Ma. Gabriela Roldan-Concepcion. Photo from UP AVP Jose Wendell Capili. Civic organizer, advocate, private citizen with a mission During the conferment of her honorary degree, Gonzalez discussed her engagements with communities as Trustee of the Philippine Constitution Association and member of the Consultative Commission for Charter Change. In addition, she underscored her mission “to serve the public as a private individual.” For example, she served on the board of the Philippine Tuberculosis Society and foundations such as ERDA Tech, which provided quality education to children from low-income households. As an advocate for gender equality, she chaired the UP Center for Women’s Studies Foundation, Inc. She championed the cause of entrepreneurs as chair of the Small Enterprises Research and Development Foundation (SERDEF), a resource hub for SMEs in continuing partnership with UP Institute for Small-Scale Industries. As an expression of her spirituality, she also chaired the Order of the Carmelite Scholastics at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Carmel. She performed her public service duties well into her 90s. The story of her life will live on in Nelia T. Gonzalez: An Entrepreneur’s Journey (UPLBAA, 2015), a book of essays by UPLB faculty members and researchers. Scholars in agriculture, development, and women’s studies may also read about her in Nelia T. Gonzalez: The Woman, Her Life, Her Legacy (SEAMEO-SEARCA, 2002). UP Regent Nelia T. Gonzalez is survived by her family of six children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-message-of-condolence-on-the-passing-of-former-president-benigno-simeon-c-aquino-iii/ | UP Message of Condolence on the Passing of Former President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III – University of the Philippines | UP Message of Condolence on the Passing of Former President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III UP Message of Condolence on the Passing of Former President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III June 24, 2021 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III congratulating UP BS Mathematics summa cum laude graduate John Gabriel Pelias during UP Diliman’s 100th General Commencement Exercises held at the University Ampitheater on April 17, 2011, during which the president was conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacanang Photo Bureau University of the Philippines (UP) President Danilo L. Concepcion and the UP community condole with the country on the loss of former Senator and the 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines (2010-2016), Hon. Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III. During his term, President Aquino was a strong supporter of the higher education sector, including the University of the Philippines. He also understood the importance of high-value scientific research and innovation in the country and supported the various research initiatives within UP and collaborations between UP and the government sector. President Aquino was honored with a Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa, during the University of the Philippines Diliman’s General Commencement Exercises on April 17, 2011. He was cited “for providing leadership in rallying the people to stamp out corruption, campaigning for institutional reforms, and creating an environment for agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to act with dispatch on malfeasance in government, promote the rule of law, and respect people’s constitutional rights.” |
https://up.edu.ph/up-to-confer-honorary-degree-to-malaysian-pm-anwar-ibrahim/ | UP to confer honorary degree to Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim – University of the Philippines | UP to confer honorary degree to Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim UP to confer honorary degree to Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim March 1, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Photo from the Prime Minister’s Office Malaysia (PMO Malaysia) Facebook page. The University of the Philippines (UP) will confer the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on March 2, 8:45 a.m., Thursday, at the UP Theater in UP Diliman, Quezon City, during his official visit to the Philippines. J. Prospero E. De Vera III, Chairperson of the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) and Chairperson of the UP Board of Regents, and Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez, UP President and Co-Chair of the UP Board of Regents, will officiate the conferment of the honorary degree to the Malaysian Prime Minister. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia, will afterwards deliver his lecture entitled “30 Years from ‘Asian Renaissance’: Strategic Takeaways for ASEAN” for the audience consisting of members of the academic community, diplomatic corps, government officials, and the media. Anwar Ibrahim is an internationally renowned expert on Jose Rizal and economics, democracy, freedom, governance, Islam and democracy, and the need for accountability. He is respected for his principled stance against corruption and his management of the Malaysian economy during the Asian financial crisis. Anwar Ibrahim served as Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister from 1993 to 1998 and Minister of Finance from 1991 to 1998. He served as Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports in 1983; Minister of Agriculture in 1984; and Minister of Education in 1986. Malaysia enjoyed unprecedented prosperity and economic growth during his tenure as Finance Minister. His prescriptions saved the Malaysian economy during the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 and earned Anwar accolades, including the Asian of the Year from Newsweek International. Anwar held lecturing positions at St. Anthony’s College at Oxford, the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, and the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University since the early 2000’s. He was sworn in as Prime Minister by King Al-Sultan Abdullah on November 23, 2022. On March 1, the Prime Minister was welcomed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The two leaders held a bilateral meeting and exchanged views about areas of mutual concern for Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as regional and international issues. |
https://up.edu.ph/30-years-after-the-asian-renaissance-strategic-takeaways-for-asean/ | 30 Years After The Asian Renaissance: Strategic Takeaways for ASEAN – University of the Philippines | 30 Years After The Asian Renaissance: Strategic Takeaways for ASEAN 30 Years After The Asian Renaissance: Strategic Takeaways for ASEAN March 2, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Speech by Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, on March 2, 2023, in conjunction with the conferment of Honorary Doctorate by the University of the Philippines Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim delivering his lecture at the UP Theater, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque, UP MPRO. Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you this morning, greatly honoured by the presence of such an august gathering of intellectual luminaries, dignitaries, and eminent leaders. I feel doubly privileged and, at the same time, deeply humbled by the conferment of this honorary doctorate by the University of the Philippines, undoubtedly an institution of higher learning of great glory and magnificence. Words escape me to express my profound and infinite gratitude. So, let me just say: Maraming salamat mula sa kaibuturan ng aking puso (Thank you very much, from the bottom of my heart.) Ladies and gentlemen, In 1993, ASEAN was on the cusp of major expansion, which would eventually bring in all the then independent nations in Southeast Asia. Vietnam joined in 1995, followed by Laos and Myanmar two years later. Cambodia followed suit in 1999. ASEAN has changed dramatically in 30 years, which has led to greater achievements and opportunities even as we faced headlong our trials and tribulations. We have gone from a monolithic global order to a bipolar world to now a multipolar world. Yet, certain things remain, or as some would venture to say: “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose”– the more things change, the more they stay the same. That might be putting it rather cynically but let’s do a quick reality check. Global cooperation remains essential, ancient as well as conventional trade routes must be maintained for the stability and peace of the world, and that rests on ASEAN just as much as it does China, the US, or Europe or anyone else. The COVID-19 pandemic spared none of us. Geopolitical tensions and conflicts unleash consequences well beyond borders. For Asia in general, and particularly for ASEAN, our identities remain the same, that is, diverse and multicultural, yet united in the dignity of the nations we have carved out for ourselves in our colonial struggles and our adjustments to a globalised world. Conceptually, this was well articulated by the greatest of Malayans, Dr. José Rizal, in The Philippines a Century Hence, that this nation had gone from a scattered collection of islands, languages, cultures, and people but now is united as a Philippine Nation.[1] Nonetheless, Dr Rizal warned against the sliding into the comfort zone of routine which “is a declivity down which many governments slide.” Indeed, as we extrapolate this in the context of ASEAN, we could make a case that routine has led, to a certain extent, to the erosion of our bonds as individual states which must be united in the common cause of peace and stability. Even worse, routine has allowed the world to fall behind our future potential. Routine tells us to be divided in opinion and to hate one another, fuelled by the convenience and routine of social media, fake news, misplaced nationalism, and certainly, Islamophobia. The question is, what have we learned? We should not simply fear words – Communism, left, right, Muslim, Christian, Jew, capitalist, socialist, etc. No words can be cast aside if they have not been thought through. Today, ASEAN is a larger and more integrated association. We are now a community, with three distinct pillars – political security, economic, and socio-political. The ASEAN Community, its focus and scope, is in itself, a significant achievement. Yet while being more integrated, it is an organisation that has retained its plurality and sovereignty. The doctrine of ASEAN centrality is supposedly cast in stone. Yet, some, both inside and outside ASEAN, have questioned the effectiveness and efficiency of the regional organisation and this mantra of centrality. Criticisms particularly focus on two of its principles – decision-making by consensus, and non-interference. These critics often miss the central point – ASEAN would not have grown or evolved without these key boundaries being in place. And lest we forget, we are now heading into a larger grouping, with the impending admission of Timor Leste as the eleventh member. When I wrote The Asian Renaissance[2] in 1996, the East Asian region had undergone a period of transformative economic growth. The region’s average annual GDP growth for the three decades to 1996 was approximately 6.5 per cent. These were heady days indeed. It gave Asians a spring in their step, a renewed sense of confidence in ourselves, no doubt grounded in the gritty and harsh reality of decades of hard work, frugal spending, self-reliance and a strong focus on educating our youth. Today, decision-making by consensus continues to be a central tenet of ASEAN. This, however, does not mean that ASEAN should remain silent over developments in member states that affect the wider region, or particularly egregious violations of the ASEAN Charter by its own members. In all honesty, I believe that non-interference is not a license for indifference. Indeed, Wittgenstein, regarded by many as the greatest philosopher of the 20th century – as far as the West is concerned – reminds us that “Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent”.[3] But that’s because words have power, greater than the destructive and hateful actions of a few. Yet, if left unwritten and unread, then we are all in a lot of trouble. Hence, when I mentioned in Bangkok recently about the need to temporarily carve out Myanmar, on account of the blatant human rights violations, it was said in the larger context of the imperative to stay true to one of the key ideals of ASEAN, which is nothing less than to stand for the cause of justice and the rule of law. In this regard, it bears repeating these immortal lines from Dr. Rizal, who I must reiterate, remains truly an Asian Renaissance Man, that “Justice is the foremost virtue of the civilising races. It subdues the barbarous nations, while injustice arouses the weakest.” In the pursuit of justice, let us therefore celebrate our differences and praise our national unities. Let us look beyond our divergences and amplify our commonalities so that we can stand as cooperative partners working towards the betterment of all our people in a just and peaceful world. Hence, cooperation and collaboration across the board in all the crucial matters that bind us as a solid multilateral, multicultural, and diverse regional grouping must be the way forward for ASEAN. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar’s speech inspires applause from Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Zambry bin Abdul Kadir (in suit) and the members of the UP Board of Regents. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UPMPRO). Ladies and gentlemen, Back in 1996, here in the Philippines, I spoke of the Christian poet Dante Alighieri and how in his Divine Comedy, he skilfully wove the political convulsions of the Italy of his time into a universal, and timeless drama of the human predicament. Now, even after seven centuries, the question is, are we still entrapped in selva obscura, our own hard and savage dark wood of prejudice, confusion and uncertainty, or have we freed ourselves from the stranglehold of captive geopolitics, media-influenced mindsets, and zero-sum approaches on questions of national sovereignty? Till today, I still ask myself: in the continuum of Machiavellian machinations to Metternichian manoeuvres, where do we stand? In focussing on the minutiae are we not at risk of missing the forest for the trees? And what exactly is this forest – this big picture that continues to elude our vision? I humbly submit that what was articulated nearly 30 years ago in The Asian Renaissance, remains valid in that we are still groping in the dark in search of the guiding ideas of civilization. Indeed, while it has been said that the articulation of moral and political ideas, socio-cultural values, the institution of the family, and faith, is no longer the exclusive domain of the modern West, the fact is that this is not borne out by reality. The stranglehold of the international media, dominated by the rich and the powerful, in setting the narrative remains as tenacious as the proverbial lobster. Hence, in this exalted university and its rarefied air of academic and intellectual excellence, I urge for the resurgence of a robust and spirited cultural, social and political discourse of our time, without the need to be blindsided by the irrational exuberance of anti-Enlightenment or indeed unwarranted jingoistic rhetoric. To my mind, before us, remains a challenge so formidable that it transcends even the quest for a new world order. I say ‘remains’ because it isn’t one that has sprung up overnight but one that has latched on to us like a leech which simply refuses to let go. And this challenge is nothing short of the reconstruction of civilization itself. In facing this, we need to go beyond economic prosperity and political vitality to deep dive into the very foundations of humanitarian and civilizational ideals such as justice, compassion and moral uprightness. Without these firm foundations, no political order in the global context can remain for long. It is true that the Asian economy, as led by the phenomenal leapfrogging of China on to the top in terms of growth ranking, continues to gain attention. And ASEAN, not merely being within the region in geographical terms, is also strategically linked within the framework of a rules based multilateral trading system that is now bolstered by the world’s largest FTA, namely, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Nonetheless, economic growth, no matter how robust and the accumulation of wealth, no matter how vigorous, should never be attained on the sacrificial altar of justice, compassion and moral uprightness. I believe that it is only when faith and religious practice as underscored with justice and compassion, finds its convergence with economic prosperity, will society stay on the path of real and meaningful progress. Bereft of this, all the “voyage of our life will be bound in shallows and in miseries.”[4] This is not an academic issue. We’ve seen this before and we are seeing it still. For instance, today we continue to see men being exploited by their fellow men, l’exploitation de l’homme par l’homme, in the political and economic spheres, an exploitation which has spread to the rape of the environment, impacting the physical world we live in. In light of this, talk of strategic pathways for ASEAN, going forward, will ring hollow if the agenda for social justice remains only on the back burner, or if concerns on climate change and green-house gas emissions are only given lip service. These matters cannot wait. Housing, education, health must be of paramount concern. Hence, in the last three months of my taking office as Prime Minister, I have placed poverty eradication, reduction of cost of living, food security as well as health and education as overriding concerns. Certainly, within the larger context of ASEAN, I believe these concerns are no less important, and if we pool our efforts in dealing with these recurrent challenges, that will take us to economic sustainability and greater ASEAN cohesiveness. Ladies and gentlemen, In closing, let me congratulate the Philippines and the Filipino people for the courage of their convictions in the cause of democracy. You have demonstrated beyond the shadow of a doubt that you are able to confront arrogant powers and show to us, in ASEAN and beyond, that defeat in times of trouble is not an option. You have shown that democracy is not a mere slogan to be bandied about only in times of elections and that rightfully used, democracy does empower the people to determine their future for the better. In this regard, we too, in Malaysia, have recently undergone that same process where democracy has enabled me to take on the responsibility and trust of leading my people. Like the Philippines, I share with you that we will have no truck with religious intolerance, injustice, greed, and exploitation. On the contrary, like you too, good governance and democratic accountability will form the pillars of my administration that is underscored by the principles formulated as a philosophy of nationhood known as Madani Malaysia. In ASEAN, while we have arisen from the shackles of the colonial masters, we must remain ever vigilant against our own home-grown masters and this warrants a revisiting and review of our ethics and values. But let us not be fettered by the fear of failure. Instead, let us continue to build upon our communities on the firm foundations of a humane economy, compassion, justice, inclusiveness and shared prosperity. Thank you. [1] José Rizal, The Philippines – A Century Hence, Editor: Austin Craig; Translator: Charles Derbyshire, 2011 [2] Anwar Ibrahim, The Asian Renaissance, 1996 [3] Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. [4] Shakespeare, Julius Caesar Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (center) presents his diploma for Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, as he is flanked by (from left) Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry bin Abdul Kadir, Baguio City Lone District Representative and UP Regent Mark Go, UP President Angelo Jimenez and Regent Raul Pagdanganan. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque, UP MPRO. For more photos of the Conferment of the Honorary Degree on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, please click here. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-to-become-a-transformative-learner-centered-digital-university-as-new-up-president-takes-the-helm/ | UP to become a “transformative, learner-centered digital university” as new UP President takes the helm – University of the Philippines | UP to become a “transformative, learner-centered digital university” as new UP President takes the helm UP to become a “transformative, learner-centered digital university” as new UP President takes the helm February 23, 2023 | Written by Fred Dabu Watch highlights of President Angelo A. Jimenez’s speech via the video above. Video shot and edited by Al Nikko M. Nagutom, UP MPRO. UP President Angelo A. Jimenez accepts the University President’s mace from outgoing UP President Danilo L. Concepcion. Photo by Misael Bacani (UPMPRO). Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez started his term of office as the University of the Philippines (UP) President on February 10, 2023, in UP Diliman, Quezon City, vowing to transform UP into a “learner-centered digital university” engaged in transdisciplinary scientific, cultural, and artistic pedagogy, research, and public service. In the turnover ceremony titled “Singkaban at Balanghai: Pasasalamat at Pagsalubong” held at the Quezon Hall Lobby, outgoing UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, who was assisted by Atty. Roberto M.J. Lara, Secretary of the University, handed over the ceremonial mace of the University President to Jimenez, symbolizing the transferring of authority over the national university. Jimenez will serve as the Chief Academic Officer, Head of the University Faculty, and Chief Executive Officer of UP for the next six years. Concepcion and Jimenez delivered their respective valedictory and acceptance speeches in front of: family members and friends; officials of the UP System, the Board of Regents, and constituent universities; faculty, students, staff and alumni of UP; government officials and representatives of the private sector; and, international guests of UP, including a delegation of academics from Southern Taiwan and members of the Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Jimenez accepts the presidency In his acceptance speech, Jimenez praised Concepcion’s infrastructure accomplishments by referring to him as “Danny, the Builder” and “UP’s first Waterbender”. He also shared some of his visions for UP. “We need to acquire a global consciousness in carrying out our mandates. . . . UP is envisioned to be at the forefront of transformative scientific, cultural and artistic pedagogy, research and public service in local and global communities. Our mission is to foster efficacy, effectivity and efficiency to transdisciplinary engagement in teaching, research and public service,” Jimenez said. “Ang UP ay mananatiling Bulwagan ng Dangal at ipagpapatuloy natin ang simulain nito tungo sa husay at dangal,” he added. He also posed the question, “Aanhin ang husay at dangal kung walang malasakit at kung walang pakikipagkapwa-tao?” as he proceeded to explain some of his ideas for the next six years. He calls for more transformative and collaborative research within and among UP constituent universities that will uplift the lives of the Filipino people. Next, he aims to strengthen linkages with UP alumni who serve as the University’s partners and ambassadors to the world. Jimenez affirmed that UP must move forward attuned to 21st century education, with digital technology and digital learning, and to critically participate in the Industrial Revolution 4.0. “We will journey towards the transformation to a learner-centered digital university,” he said. “UP must replicate itself democratically,” Jimenez said, to be of better service to other state universities and colleges. He said UP must reach out to them and share its resources to “extend Honor and Excellence” to the towns and provinces. He also promised to respond to the lingering issues and concerns of UP faculty and staff, to look into improving benefits, incentives, and to dialogue with the University’s unions to promote the wellbeing of UP’s faculty and employees. Jimenez mentioned “pride of place” and “pride in people” for UP, making the campuses green spaces, safe spaces, and arts hubs. “The hallmark of UP in the next six years will be Service to the Nation,” Jimenez said. “Service to the Nation is constitutive to who we are and what we do,” he added. “UP will remain a bastion of academic freedom. We cannot achieve excellence without it,” he affirmed. “UP will be strong, courageous, critical and nurturing,” concluded Jimenez. Read the full speech of UP President Jimenez here. New UP President Jimenez delivers his acceptance speech before an audience consisting of UP officials, past and present, from the UP System and all the UP constituent universities; representatives from the private sector who supported UP; the families of the two UP presidents; guests from partner-universities from Southern Taiwan; members of the diplomatic corps; and members of the UP community. Photo by Misael Bacani (UPMPRO). Jimenez, the 22nd president of UP, is a renowned law practitioner specializing in labor and employment. From 1993 to 2007, he handled national interest cases at the Office of the Secretary of Labor. He served with distinction in major global hotspots where OFWs have been endangered. As Labor Attaché from 1997 to 2005, Jimenez developed overseas labor markets and delivered a broad array of critical government services. He served as Deputy Administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration from 2005 to 2007. He garnered two Presidential citations for his performance during crises in Iraq and Lebanon. Jimenez is a published writer and an internationally recognized resource person on labor and migration. He also served in the UP Board of Regents, UP’s highest governing body, twice, first as Student Regent in 1992 and as Regent from 2016 to 2021. In his vision paper, Jimenez spoke of a UP that is a “global university,” and a research university focused on graduate and post-graduate programs and academic linkages. He sees UP continuing as a public service university helping government and industry while being a bastion of academic freedom. Jimenez advocates an Open Data Policy and digital transformation in learning and management. He also envisions UP helping raise the quality of undergraduate education in state universities and colleges. Concepcion looks back with “deep pride and gratitude” Now former UP President Concepcion reports on the achievements of his administration in his valedictory speech. Photo by Misael Bacani (UPMPRO). The previous UP President, Concepcion, is also a lawyer, and served as the 14th Dean of the UP College of Law before he assumed the UP Presidency in 2017. As President, he led efforts to transform UP into the University of the Future. He steered UP through the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling the University to contribute directly to the country’s success in overcoming the public health crisis. “Much of what we achieved happened before, throughout, and despite the pandemic, and will benefit the University long after we put that period behind us,” Concepcion said during his valedictory address. Under Concepcion’s administration, the University instituted innovations in all its academic offerings and developed cutting-edge frontier programs. His administration succeeded in raising UP’s budget for research, securing additional faculty and staff items, increasing economic and non-economic benefits for all UP employees, and providing support and learning assistance to faculty, students, and staff. Concepcion said, “Under my leadership, UP began crafting its academic roadmap to harness technologies that would improve the quality of UP instruction and enhance the learning journey of our students. We planned our transition toward blended learning, strategizing how online delivery systems and a broadcast television network could complement our traditional residential learning.” From 2017 to 2022, 60 new degree programs were instituted in UP constituent universities. Academic and research programs were developed in three frontier areas: Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and the Omics sciences, leading to the creation of the Center for Intelligent Systems and the Masters and PhD programs in Data Science Analytics, Informatics, Bioinformatics, and Artificial Intelligence. He also mentioned important initiatives pursued by UP, such as “the establishment of the UP Noah Center in 2017 as the core component of the UP Resilience Institute, a proactive hub of benchmark innovative and research-based information vital to climate change mitigation and adaptation. . . and the completion of the cycle of drug discovery and trials at the newly-established Center for Early-Stage Drug Development in UP Diliman, which complements the Institute of Herbal Medicine at UP Manila’s National Institute of Health.” Facilities and infrastructure were completed, transforming the campuses. Concepcion said, “I strove to create an enabling environment for UP’s constituents, with safe, attractive, and sustainable infrastructure conducive to teaching, learning, and working.” Concepcion added, “We forged new academic partnerships with universities worldwide. Currently, we are in partnership with 350 higher education and research institutions in 43 countries: 49 in North America, 55 in Europe, 3 in Africa, 7 in the Middle East, 22 in Australia and Oceania, and 214 in Asia.” Also during his term, UP rose in world university rankings and is now among the top 500 universities in the world and the top 100 in Asia. To conclude Concepcion’s valedictory speech, he said “One thing I was never in doubt of was our capability to respond to crisis. The pandemic showed UP at its best, from the medical frontlines to the research laboratory and the communities and the media we serve. I will forever remain proud of our performance under this kind of unprecedented pressure.” “I will retire from my post with deep pride and gratitude for this opportunity of a lifetime, and welcome my successor with high hopes and expectations, trusting that he will sustain our progressive initiatives, defend our academic freedom as a prerequisite to excellence, and bring our beloved University of the Philippines to new heights of glory and service to our people,” Concepcion said. Watch the streaming video of the Turnover Ceremony here. Among the audience in the turnover ceremony for the UP Presidency are the officials who served in now former UP President Concepcion’s administration. Photo by Misael Bacani (UPMPRO). Singkaban and balanghai According to renowned multimedia visual artist and UP College of Fine Arts Professor Toym Imao, who conceptualized the program design: “Both singkaban and balanghai are fitting visual metaphors for a portal that welcomes and sends off our leaders in the UP community—our barangay.” Eight singkaban arches in the shape of the prow of the balanghai will represent the UP constituent universities. Singkaban refers to the folk bamboo welcome arch, and balanghai, to the Philippine ancient sea vessel. Singkaban art flourished in Bulacan, the home province of Concepcion. The best archaeological finds of the balanghai were discovered in Butuan, the home province of Jimenez. The UP Symphony Orchestra bids farewell to the outgoing UP President and welcomes the incoming UP President through an outstanding concert performance that earned them a standing ovation and three encores. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UPMPRO). From left to right: Tenor Malvin Macasaet, and sopranos Anya Evangelista and Kay Balajadia-Liggayu lend their voices to the UPSO’s stirring rendition of the “UP Naming Mahal”. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UPMPRO). The UP Symphony Orchestra (UPSO) Quartet and the UP ROTC Band provided music during the turnover ceremony. The UPSO also gave a concert the night before, February 9, at the UP Theater, to show their gratitude to outgoing UP President Concepcion and to welcome incoming UP President Jimenez. The concert, also titled “Singkaban at Balanghai: Pasasalamat at Pagsalubong, Musikang Alay ng Orkestra ng Bayan”, featured a repertoire consisting of favorite pieces of the two UP presidents, including Vincenzo Bellini’s Casta Diva, Giacomo Puccini’s O Mio Babbino Caro, Pietro Mascagni’s “Intermezzo” from Cavalleria Rusticana, “The Swan” from Camille Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals, Bernard Green’s Overture on Philippine Folk Songs, Chino Toledo’s arrangements of Mga Kantang Bisaya, Rosas Pandan, and Cebuano Love Songs, as well as Johannes Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture and Lucio San Pedro’s Jubilate. The UPSO was joined by soprano Kay Balajadia-Liggayu, soprano Anya Evangelista, and tenor Malvin Macasaet. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-launches-100-years-of-philippine-broadcasting-celeb-with-documentary-and-webinar/ | UP launches 100 years of Philippine broadcasting celeb with documentary and webinar – University of the Philippines | UP launches 100 years of Philippine broadcasting celeb with documentary and webinar UP launches 100 years of Philippine broadcasting celeb with documentary and webinar July 1, 2022 | Written by Fred Dabu Click through the image to watch the streaming video of the documentary hosted by DZUP on Facebook. The University of the Philippines (UP) officially launched the celebration of 100 Years of Broadcasting in the Philippines (100 YBP) with a documentary presentation and webinar hosted by the Department of Broadcast Communication (DBC) of the College of Mass Communication (CMC) in UP Diliman, on June 29, 2022, via Zoom and the DZUP 1602 kHz Facebook page. The documentary “Wika, Awit, Radyo, at Pananakop” tackles the origins and development of radio broadcasting in the Philippines, from the American Colonial period to the post-World War 2 era, as radios became more accessible and part of everyday life. This documentary, produced and written by Professor Elizabeth Enriquez and directed by Maps Arciga, utilized animation, archival videos, and printed sources. The joint SALIKHA Grants for Creative Projects of the K-12 Transition Program of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) supported the production of the documentary. Screenshots from the “Wika, Awit, Radyo, at Pananakop” documentary. From the livestream of the 100YB official launch on DZUP’s Facebook page. UP President Danilo Concepcion, UPD Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, UP Visayas Chancellor Clement Camposano, and UPD CMC Dean Fernando Paragas delivered their messages of support for the webinar and centenary celebrations. Concepcion acknowledged the role of UP educators and alumni in shaping mass communication in the country, especially in spreading accurate and valuable information through radio and television and keeping the broadcasting industry alive. “Wika, Awit, Radyo, at Pananakop” Enriquez explained that the Americans used broadcasting as an effective tool for colonization until it became helpful to local businesses and integrated into Filipino culture. “It was part of the American strategy to reshape the consciousness of Filipinos in the American cultural mold. The English language and popular music from the West were first heard on the radio and used as the standard by Filipino broadcasters. While Filipino listeners enthusiastically adopted the foreign sound, it did not take long for Tagalog and kundiman to enter the soundwaves.” The Japanese were the new colonizers during World War II. According to the documentary, they “attempted to purge America from Filipino consciousness. Tagalog and other local languages and local musical compositions and folk songs enjoyed airtime. Still, English and American music were not wiped out while Filipinos hardly learned Nihongo and did not become accustomed to Japanese music.” Clockwise from top left: Prof. Melba S. Estonilo, UP Department of Broadcast Communication; Dr. LJ Sanchez, UP Department of Broadcast Communication; Dr. Elizabeth Enriquez, UP Department of Broadcast Communication; Dr. Daphne Tatiana T. Canlas, Chair of the UP Department of Broadcast Communication; Dr. Alwin Aguirre, Academic Conference Chair for the 100YB. From the live stream of the 100YB official launch on DZUP’s Facebook page. “After the war, broadcasting spread throughout the country. The English language and popular music from the United States were back on the air. But so were Tagalog and other Filipino languages as new radio stations began operating in the provinces. Filipino singers and musicians performing on the air attained fame, especially when the local music recording industry took off,” Enriquez added. Activities for the 100 YBP celebrations include a virtual conference to be held on 18-21 October 2022 with the theme, “100 Years of Broadcasting in the Philippines, 1922-2022”. DZUP will air and stream various programs online to further the “Archives of Broadcasting in the Philippines, UP hosted the event in collaboration with the Philippine Studies Association (PSA), UP Diliman, UP Visayas, and UP System. |
https://up.edu.ph/rizal-and-the-aseans-way-forward-malaysian-pm-anwar-speaks-in-up-on-strategic-takeaways-for-asean-30-years-after-the-asian-renaissance/ | Rizal and the ASEAN’s way forward: Malaysian PM Anwar speaks in UP on strategic takeaways for ASEAN 30 years after The Asian Renaissance – University of the Philippines | Rizal and the ASEAN’s way forward: Malaysian PM Anwar speaks in UP on strategic takeaways for ASEAN 30 years after The Asian Renaissance Rizal and the ASEAN’s way forward: Malaysian PM Anwar speaks in UP on strategic takeaways for ASEAN 30 years after The Asian Renaissance March 7, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office A true scholar of the Great Malayan, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar quotes Rizal’s “The Indolence of the Filipino” in his special lecture. He cites the relevance of Rizal’s teachings as the ASEAN faces new challenges, and pushes for the building of a new consensus in ASEAN by amplifying commonalities and strengthening cooperation and collaboration across the board to create a truly multilateral, multicultural and diverse ASEAN. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UPMPRO). Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia, called for an ASEAN that is built “on the firm foundations of a humane economy, compassion, justice, inclusiveness and shared prosperity”, in a special lecture he delivered at the University of the Philippines (UP) Theater in its Diliman campus on March 2, 2023, as part of his recent two-day visit to the Philippines. Addressing an audience consisting of local and national government officials, representatives of the Philippine public higher education sector, members of the diplomatic corps, and UP officials, faculty, students and staff, PM Anwar delivered a lecture, “30 Years After The Asian Renaissance: Strategic Takeaways for ASEAN”. In his talk, he emphasized that “cooperation and collaboration . . . in all the crucial matters that bind us as a solid multilateral, multicultural, and diverse regional grouping must be the way forward for ASEAN.” The prime minister elaborated on ideas of Asian Renaissance Man and the Philippines’ national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, with references from Rizal’s “The Philippines–A Century Hence” and “On the Indolence of the Filipinos”, stating that Rizal’s words were still relevant and should provide guidance for scholars and leaders. Anwar quoted Rizal: “Justice is the foremost virtue of the civilizing races. It subdues the barbarous nations, while injustice arouses the weakest.” In his speech, PM Anwar also called on the ASEAN to address human rights violations in junta-led Myanmar. He explained that while “decision-making by consensus continues to be a central tenet of ASEAN . . . [this] does not mean that ASEAN should remain silent over developments in member states that affect the wider region, or particularly egregious violations of the ASEAN Charter by its own members.” He said, “non-interference is not a license for indifference.” “When I mentioned in Bangkok recently about the need to temporarily carve out Myanmar, on account of the blatant human rights violations, it was said in the larger context of the imperative to stay true to one of the key ideals of ASEAN, which is nothing less than to stand for the cause of justice and the rule of law,” he said. Read Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar’s speech in full here. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim receives the diploma for the Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa, from UP Regent Mark Go (left) and UP Pres. Angelo Jimenez (right). Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UPMPRO). Doctor of Laws, honoris causa PM Anwar’s special lecture was made in conjunction with the rites held by the University of the Philippines to confer the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, to PM Anwar on March 2, 2023. PM Anwar was cited for: his efforts in “nurturing the life of the mind and fostering intellectual discourse” in Malaysia and in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region; his advocacy of the concept of an Asian Renaissance; his devoted study of the life, works and teachings of Dr. Jose Rizal; and, his unstinting commitment to the pursuit of justice and democratic ideals and the attainment of a more inclusive, pluralistic Malaysia, among others. The ceremony was facilitated by Hon. Angelo A. Jimenez, UP President and Co-Chair of the UP Board of Regents; and Hon. Mark O. Go, Chair of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education and a member of the UP Board of Regents. Joining them on stage were: Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Zambry bin Abdul Kadir; UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo; Hon. Roberto MJ Lara, Secretary of the University and of the Board of Regents (BOR); and members of the UP Board of Regents. Homecoming to UP The ceremony was also a “homecoming” for PM Anwar who had frequently visited UP in his youth and who was a student of the late UP professor and historian, Cesar Adib Majul. The Prime Minister is an internationally renowned expert on economics, governance and accountability, and on Islam and democracy. He served as: Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports in 1983; Minister of Agriculture in 1984; and, Minister of Education in 1986. PM Anwar served as Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister from 1993 to 1998 and Minister of Finance from 1991 to 1998, during which Malaysia enjoyed unprecedented prosperity and economic growth. His prescriptions saved the Malaysian economy during the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 and earned him accolades, including recognition as the Asian of the Year from Newsweek International. Since the early 2000’s PM Anwar has held lecturing positions at: St. Anthony’s College in Oxford University; the School of Advanced International Studies in Johns Hopkins University; and, the School of Foreign Service in Georgetown University. View more photos of the Conferment Ceremony here. Written by Fred Dabu, UP MPRO and Celeste Llaneta, UP MPRO. Watch highlights from the speech of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the video below. Video by Al Nikko M. Nagutom, UP MPRO. |
https://up.edu.ph/celebrating-the-life-of-national-artist-f-sionil-jose-97/ | Celebrating the life of National Artist F. Sionil Jose, 97 – University of the Philippines | Celebrating the life of National Artist F. Sionil Jose, 97 Celebrating the life of National Artist F. Sionil Jose, 97 January 7, 2022 | Written by Franco Gargantiel II Writer. Publisher. National Artist for Literature. Photo from the Solidaridad Publishing House With his passing on January 6, 2022, the nation remembers and celebrates F. (Francisco) Sionil José and his legacy. His creative productions reflect the various social struggles the Filipino people have faced and continue to face—works that are proof of his tremendous impact on our country today and for years to come. Sionil José was born on December 3, 1924, in Rosales, Pangasinan. At the renowned Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the University of Santo Tomas, he studied Philosophy under Professor Ariston Estrada and Literature under pioneering fictionist Paz Latorena. Sionil José was UST Varsitarian editor in chief from 1948 to 1949. While studying, he was a staff member of The Commonweal from 1947 to 1948 and Assistant Editor for the United States Information Service from 1948 to 1949. He was Managing Editor of The Manila Times Sunday Magazine from 1949 to 1960. Eventually, he became the Editor of Progress, an annual publication of The Manila Times and Comment, a quarterly journal. Sionil José founded the Philippine Center of PEN International in 1957. In 1965, Sionil José and his wife, Teresita, founded the Solidaridad Bookshop and Publishing House in Ermita, Manila. In 1967, he established Solidarity, a journal that enabled writers, artists, politicians, scholars, and political and social activists from Asia and the Pacific region to share their works before a wider audience. In 1968, he founded Solidaridad Galleries, which provided young Filipino artists with opportunities to showcase their works. José received Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for “The God Stealer” (short fiction, 1959), “Waywaya” (short fiction, 1979), “Arbol de Fuego” (short fiction, 1980), “Tree” (novel, 1978), and “A Scenario for Philippine Resistance,” (essay,1979). He also received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts in 1980 and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Centennial Honors for the Arts in 1999. During its 1048th Meeting on March 26, 1992, the UP Board of Regents approved the conferment of Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, on Sionil José. He was named Philippine National Artist for Literature in 2001. In addition, he received the Order of Sacred Treasure from the Emperor of Japan (2001), the Pablo Neruda Centennial Award from The Pablo Neruda Foundation, Chile (2004), and Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of the Arts and the Letters) from the Government of France (2014). He is best known for his Rosales Saga. This five-novel epic narrates the lives of different generations of the Samsons that deal with the social struggles of the country. This epic consists of The Pretenders, Tree, My Brother, My Executioner, Mass, and Po-on. In an interview with Charlson Ong for the Likhaan Journal of the UP Institute of Creative Writing, Sionil José shares his advice for any young and aspiring writer: “One of the greatest tasks of Filipino writers really is how to make Filipinos remember. Not only to remember but to love this country… We must really look within ourselves for the kind of love that will transcend us as individuals… I remember the words of my favorite American jurist, Judge Learned Hand. He added: ‘Freedom is in the heart. When it dies there, no constitution, no court of law, can ever revive it.’ It’s the same thing with writing.” |
https://up.edu.ph/statement-of-the-up-presidents-advisory-council-on-threats-against-judge-marlo-magdoza-malagar-and-up-cebu-chancellor-leo-malagar/ | Statement of the UP President’s Advisory Council on Threats Against Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar and UP Cebu Chancellor Leo Malagar – University of the Philippines | Statement of the UP President’s Advisory Council on Threats Against Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar and UP Cebu Chancellor Leo Malagar Statement of the UP President’s Advisory Council on Threats Against Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar and UP Cebu Chancellor Leo Malagar September 28, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office We deplore and denounce in the strongest terms the thinly veiled threats made against our distinguished alumna, Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar, and her husband, University of the Philippines-Cebu Chancellor Atty. Leo B. Malagar. The threats emanated from a since-deleted Facebook post by former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) spokesperson Lorraine Badoy, who launched a vicious verbal attack against the judge for her decision dismissing the Department of Justice’s motion to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) as terrorist organizations. In a subsequent post, without offering any proof, she also tagged Chancellor Malagar as a CPP-NPA-NDF member. This is not the first time—nor, we believe, will it be the last—that Ms. Badoy has overstepped the bounds of human decency with her rabid and reckless assaults on free speech, human rights, and now, the judicial process itself, one of our last democratic recourses. While she may seek to evade legal action by resorting to seemingly hypothetical questions in her posts, the malice and moral depravity in her intent is evident, particularly her chilling statement about killing “this judge,” knowing full well that she is associated with the country’s military and intelligence establishment. Her feeble disavowal of her posts as “fake news,” despite ample evidence that she made them, only reinforces her lack of truthfulness. The University of the Philippines stands by its commitment to our people’s democratic rights and the rule of law. Personal threats and attacks against our judges and academic leaders are unacceptable in a free society, and their perpetrators should be held accountable, legally and morally, for any consequences of their actions. The University of the Philippines President’s Advisory Council (UP PAC) is composed of the President, the Vice Presidents and the Secretary of the University, the Chancellors of the eight UP constituent units, the Director of the UP Philippine General Hospital, and the Executive Director of the UP Bonifacio Global City campus. |
https://up.edu.ph/aupaeu-celebrates-its-academic-union-month/ | AUPAEU celebrates its Academic Union Month – University of the Philippines | AUPAEU celebrates its Academic Union Month AUPAEU celebrates its Academic Union Month November 2, 2017 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Forum on eHOPE held at the Main Library lobby, UP Diliman, AUPAEU-Diliman Chapter, Oct. 24, 2017 (Photo by Fred Dabu, UP MPRO) In celebration of its Academic Union Month last October, the All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) conducted a series of activities promoting the rights and welfare of employees and faculty of the University of the Philippines campuses across the nation. During the first week of October, the AUPAEU Baguio and Open University Chapters held their respective sessions for assessment and strategic planning. The All UP Workers Alliance-Manila (All UP Workers Union-Manila and AUPAEU-Manila), in partnership with Samahang Operasyong Sagip (SOS) and Medico International, conducted a public forum on “Preparing the Health Sector and Communities for the BIG ONE” on October 4 at the UP-PGH Science Hall, with Director Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) as resource person. Leaders of the union attended the first National Leadership Training Seminar sponsored by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers-State Universities and Colleges (ACT-SUC) at the PUP main campus in Manila. Participants of the seminar also joined the World Teachers Day mobilization on October 5. AUPAEU-Diliman’s Lakbay Aral for bakwit Lumad students, with UP NISMED and Save Our Schools Network, 20 October 2017 (Photo by Fred Dabu, UP MPRO) Week 2 was highlighted by the setting up of AUPAEU information materials at the UP Diliman Academic Oval and other key locations of UP campuses across the nation. The AUPAEU Iloilo Chapter held its general assembly and election of officers, while the AUPAEU-Diliman Chapter organized a Zumba session on October 11. Other activities during the week were: radio guesting at DZUP, film showing, office-to- office information campaign, and photo exhibits. The Academic Union Month’s week 3 featured the “Konsiyerto sa Kagutom” of the AUPAEU-Cebu Chapter and a psycho-social activity with “bakwit Lumad” students that was sponsored by the AUPAEU-Diliman Chapter on October 18. The AUPAEU-Tacloban Chapter held its strategic planning activity; the AUPAEU-Diliman Chapter, together with the UP National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (NISMED) and Save Our Schools Network, conducted a Lakbay Aral for “bakwit Lumad” students; and, the AUPAEU officers attended the Union-Management Monitoring Committee (UMMC) meeting held on October 20. The UMMC is the oversight body for the implementation of the Collective Negotiation Agreement between the AUPAEU and the UP. On October 23, the AUPAEU-Diliman Chapter held a forum on “Disaster Preparedness in the Workplace” at the UP Institute for Small-Scale Industries (UP ISSI). The forum covered topics on disaster preparedness, personal readiness, and related initiatives and programs. Resource persons included officers of the AUPAEU, the UP Resilience Institute, and Prepper Plus. AUPAEU-Diliman Chapter’s forum on Disaster Preparedness in the Workplace, 23 October 2017 at ISSI, UP Diliman (Photo by Fred Dabu, UP MPRO) The AUPAEU Open University and Los Banos Chapters sponsored the first livestreamed discussion on unionism in UP, “Unyonismo 101: Tungo sa Militante, Progresibo at Makabayang Unyonismo sa Pampublikong Sektor”. Dr. Judy Taguiwalo, AUPAEU first national president, and Dr. Melania Flores, AUPAEU founding secretary general and currently, director-at-large served as forum speakers. They discussed the history of unionism in the country and in UP, the impact of neoliberalism on Filipinos, and the need for militant, progressive and patriotic unionism. Issues and updates concerning UP employees’ benefits and welfare were also discussed with UPLB and UPOU officials and union leaders. (The video of the forum can be viewed on Youtube [https://youtu.be/spj6s0mAgmM]). A forum on UP’s Enhanced Hospitalization Program (eHOPE) was held at the lobby of the UP Diliman Main Library on October 24. Resource speakers were Dr. Hector Edrosa (UP Diliman) and Dr. Gene Nisperos (UP Manila). Members of the AUPAEU and eHOPE committee also responded to the concerns raised by forum participants. Prof. Carl Marc Ramota, All UP Academic Employees Union National President at the solidarity lunch and closing program of the Academic Union Month at the Quezon Hall lobby in UP Diliman, 27 October 2017 (Photo by Fred Dabu, UP MPRO) Solidarity lunch and closing program of the Academic Union Month at the Quezon Hall lobby in UP Diliman, 27 October 2017 (Photo by Fred Dabu, UP MPRO) To cap the month-long celebrations, a solidarity lunch was held simultaneously by Chapters of the AUPAEU, from the north’s UP Baguio to the south’s UP Mindanao, on October 27. At the Quezon Hall in UP Diliman, the closing program was held, together with members of the Alliance of Contractual Employees in UP (ACE-UP), All UP Workers Alliance, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, and Lumad teachers of the Association of Community Educators. The AUPAEU is the sole, recognized representative of research, extension and professional staff (REPS) and faculty in UP. (Fred Dabu, UP MPRO) |
https://up.edu.ph/all-up-cares-unions-are-for-wellness/ | All-UP Cares: Unions Are for Wellness – University of the Philippines | All-UP Cares: Unions Are for Wellness All-UP Cares: Unions Are for Wellness November 15, 2018 | Written by Fred Dabu (Photo courtesy of the AUPAEU-UPLB Chapter) Faculty and employees of the University of the Philippines (UP) are duly unionized and represented by the All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) and the All UP Workers Union (AUPWU), respectively, in collective negotiations with the UP administration, and in a multitude of activities inside and outside the UP constituent university (CU) chapters and the whole UP System. Although distinct and separate organizations on both the university and system-wide levels, the two unions share common principles and roots, are identical in their advocacies for the UP constituency and the Filipino people’s rights and welfare, and have been in close coordination since their inception. According to Dr. Gene Nisperos, president of the AUPAEU-UP Manila Chapter, the union adheres to the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” He explains that the overall health and wellness of all UP constituents are important aspects of union work. Jossel Ebesate, National PRO of the AUPWU and former Staff Regent of UP, said the union “views its advocacy of employees’ welfare from a holistic perspective, not only for UP employees, but for the Filipino people in general.” This view is explicit in the constitution and bylaws and the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA), in provisions such as “We fully realize that our effort to enhance the quality of our life forms part of the general movement to achieve a just and democratic social order, and a better standard of living. We affirm our responsibility to contribute to the unity and well-being of all Filipino workers and other disadvantaged members of Philippine society.” To ensure the promotion of employees’ rights, welfare and privileges, further specified in the CNA are the union’s committees on Organization and Credentials; Public Affairs; Research and Education; Finance; Grievance and Negotiations; Gender; and, Health and Safety. Professor Emmanuel Dumlao, president of the AUPAEU-UP Los Baños Chapter, emphasizes that “The AUPAEU’s reason for being rests primarily on its mandate to protect and promote the overall wellness of all faculty and REPS in UP by securing ‘the most just and reasonable terms of employment’ in the University, as stated in Art. II, Sec. 1 of its constitution and by-laws.” Union members participate in a broad range of activities such as forums, conventions, and protest actions. (Photos courtesy of the AUPAEU-UPLB Chapter) Dumlao adds, “Being an MPMU or militante, progresibo, at makabayang unyon, AUPAEU believes that this ‘effort to enhance the quality of our life’ in the University can’t be detached from the Filipino peoples’ struggles towards building a ‘just and democratic social order.’ In short, AUPAEU means paglilingkod sa sarili at sa sambayanan.” Union members and students of UP Manila welcome the arrival of the delegates of the 2017 Lakbayan ng Pambansang Minorya along Taft Avenue, Manila. (Photo courtesy of the AUPAEU-UP Manila Chapter) The University’s health sciences center Nisperos highlighted the role of UP Manila’s Union in efforts to obtain more benefits as a way of improving the well-being of Union members nationwide, since UP Manila is UP’s Health Sciences Center and is home to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), the largest government hospital in the country that is administered by UP. He said it is important to keep people healthy, not just by making health services available and accessible, but also by encouraging the maintenance of “good health.” Dr. Gene Nisperos, president of the AUPAEU-UP Manila Chapter, talks about the AUPAEU’s campaigns and the eHOPE during a forum held in UP Diliman. (Photo by Fred Dabu, UP MPRO) Ebesate recalls that in 1999, “The union’s Manila Chapter successfully lobbied for all UP Manila employees (except PGH that has already implemented it since 1997) being entitled to all the benefits under the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers (RA 7305). In 2001, the union was again successful in lobbying for the full implementation of almost all monetary benefits under the said law, such as hazard pay and subsistence allowance. It was later adopted in all Health Service Units of the University.” “In 2007, during the negotiation of the CNA of both sectors, the AUPWU, in coordination with the AUPAEU, launched a campaign for the University to provide health care assistance to employees especially those admitted in hospitals. The UP Administration responded with the Financial Assistance Program for Hospitalization Expenses (FAPHE),” he adds. The Union is also working for the institutionalization of Health and Safety Committees at the CU and System levels. The AUPAEU-UP Manila Chapter’s Union Cup 2017 featured bowling and darts games for their members. (Photos courtesy of the AUPAEU-UP Manila Chapter) “We promote wellness for our members. There are different groups in UP that conduct activities we support, such as zumba and yoga sessions, and sports. Last year, we held the Union Cup, a one-day event to foster camaraderie among AUPAEU members,” says Nisperos. He said UP Manila faculty and REPS, of all ages, participated in the friendly competitions in bowling and darts held at a nearby mall’s bowling complex. “This year we intend to have our Laro ng Lahing Pilipino,” he added, referring to the sports festival featuring Filipino games for union members and their families. Nisperos also revealed their efforts to increase the kind of laboratory tests included in the annual physical exams as the employee gets older, as well as having the elderly members’ yearly executive check-up and their needed medical treatment to be covered by UP as part of the implementation of the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers. He also hopes that the PGH can be the central hospital for all the constituent units of UP, so that UP faculty and employees from any UP campus can avail themselves of PGH services. Usapang eHOPE forum conducted by the AUPAEU-UPLB Chapter. (Photo courtesy of the AUPAEU-UPLB Chapter) In 2016, the UP Board of Regents (BOR) approved the Enhanced Hospitalization Programme (eHOPE) for the Faculty, REPS and Administrative Staff https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/up-enhances-hospitalization-benefits-for-employees/. Nisperos says the union aims to conduct more information campaigns about eHOPE, to expand its coverage, and to have UP’s contractuals included as well. Noting the high rate of mental health conditions in the country, Nisperos adds that the PGH and other units connected with the University can help more people reach out to psychiatrists, psychologists, and other specialists who can provide the necessary health interventions. “The union wants the University to be a healing or enabling environment for people who are recovering from mental health conditions,” he says. UPLB’s Tsikiting Korner and Diwang Makiling Dumlao takes pride in the initiatives of the AUPAEU-UPLB Chapter. “We’ve initiated two major projects: Tsikiting Korner and Diwang Makiling. Part of the union’s advocacy for a gender-responsive UPLB, Tsikiting Korner envisions every department of each college in the university to have a space where mothers can breastfeed and their children can play. Initiated by a group of mothers who are active union members, Tsikiting Korner is now a collaborative project between the Union and the UPLB College of Human Ecology administration,” he reports. “After a series of talks between the Union and concerned UPLB officials, the Office of the Chancellor has instructed the College of Human Ecology to find a place in one of its buildings for Tsikiting Korner and take charge of its implementation and administration. The Union considers this as a big step towards making UPLB a more conducive workplace for employees with young children,” explains Dumlao. Yoga sessions were among the AUPAEU-UPLB Chapter’s activities to promote psychosocial health among UPLB faculty, employees, and students. (Photo courtesy of the AUPAEU-UPLB Chapter) “Diwang Makiling aims to promote psychosocial health in UPLB. The team in charge of the project is composed of psychologists from the Department of Social Sciences and Union Representatives from Engineering, Mass Comm and other CAS departments. Aside from holding forums on mental health and work-life balance, Diwang Makiling also initiated ‘de-stressing’ activities like Ashtanga yoga and Asian dances, which were participated in by both students and faculty members,” continues Dumlao. The campus also has its Panday-Malay Makiling education program and cultural group. “Under this, we do the traditional Ikot-Unyon or office-hopping to conduct MPMU orientations and discuss significant issues and union concerns. In our efforts to be more creative in popularizing the union and raising awareness on its advocacies, we formed Himig Makiling, a singing group composed of Union members and student volunteers,” he says. Carrying on with caring “Union members help ensure that employees and faculty will get the needed health services. We in UP Manila, as the Health Sciences Center of the UP System, reiterate that being healthy is one of the primary aims of the Union. We are calling on all our members to know what is in the CNA and what programs are available to them, such as eHOPE. Thus, the Union will continue to conduct more activities and information dissemination campaigns,” Nisperos said. Ebesate declared that “There are many avenues and strategies in accomplishing the change that we need, from petition signing and ribbon-wearing to radical mass actions including rallies and strikes. The constant challenge however is the same: the widest participation of the rank-and-file employees of the university. If we want for our fellow employees to be with the union always, union leaders must know by heart, the needs and wants of our people, advocate for them, especially their needs, but never dictate or underestimate them.” Officers and members of the AUPWU chapters across the archipelago during the union’s National Assembly last July 2017, College of Home Economics, UP Diliman, Quezon City. (Photos by Fred Dabu, UP MPRO |
https://up.edu.ph/official-nominees-for-the-search-for-the-next-up-diliman-chancellor/ | Official nominees for the Search for the Next UP Diliman Chancellor – University of the Philippines | Official nominees for the Search for the Next UP Diliman Chancellor Official nominees for the Search for the Next UP Diliman Chancellor March 6, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The Search Committee for the Search for the Next UP Diliman Chancellor has announced the official nominees. They have also released a schedule of activities for the presentation of the nominees’ vision papers, as well as the sectoral consultations. Please read the committee’s announcement below. To view the the nominees’ respective Curriculum Vitae and Vision Paper, please click their names below. Prof. Fidel R. Nemenzo, DSc Prof. Victor Joaquin Paz, PhD Prof. Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan, LLB, LLM |
https://up.edu.ph/upcat-applications-are-now-open/ | UPCAT applications are now open – University of the Philippines | UPCAT applications are now open UPCAT applications are now open March 8, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The Office of Admissions has opened the portal for applications for the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT). Visit https://upcat2024online.up.edu.ph/ for details. Please take note of the important dates found on their announcement below. For questions, please contact the Office of Admissions by sending them a message via this email address: upcollegeapplications.oadms@up.edu.ph For updates, follow the official Office of Admissions Facebook page: https://web.facebook.com/UPSystemOfficeOfAdmissions |
https://up.edu.ph/up-bids-farewell-to-its-14th-president-dr-emanuel-v-soriano-87/ | UP bids farewell to its 14th President, Dr. Emanuel V. Soriano, 87 – University of the Philippines | UP bids farewell to its 14th President, Dr. Emanuel V. Soriano, 87 UP bids farewell to its 14th President, Dr. Emanuel V. Soriano, 87 April 22, 2023 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta President Emanual V. Soriano attending the graduation ceremonies of the university in 2012. Photo from his daughter Rinna Soriano’s Facebook account. The University of the Philippines (UP) community mourns the passing of pioneering Business Administration faculty member and 14th UP President, Dr. Emanuel Valdez Soriano, who passed away in the morning of April 22, 2023, according to a Facebook post by Ms. Rinna Soriano, his daughter. He was 87 years old. Dr. Emanuel V. Soriano, fondly called “Noel” or “Bob” by friends and colleagues, served as UP President from 1979 to 1981, succeeding Dr. Onofre D. Corpuz. President Edgardo J. Angara, in turn, succeeded President Soriano. Born on December 30, 1936, Soriano earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1959 and his Master’s degree in Industrial Management in 1962, both from the University of the Philippines. As a college student, he was active in student affairs, serving as vice president and acting president of the University Student Council under the UPSCA Party in 1957-1958 and 1958-1959, respectively. Soriano went on to earn his Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree from Harvard Business School. He was among the first group of Filipino faculty members to be sent to the United States for advanced studies in business during the term of UP CBA Dean Cesar E.A. Virata. The group included former deans of the UP CBA Jaime C. Laya, Magdaleno B. Albarracin, Jr., and Rafael A. Rodriguez. Soriano served as director of the UP Graduate School-Cebu, and as Executive Vice President during the term of UP President Onofre Corpuz. In September 1979, he took over the UP Presidency when Corpuz was appointed Education Minister by President Ferdinand Marcos. He is one of only two UP Presidents who are engineers, with the other being the 8th UP President, Dr. Vidal Tan. During the succeeding terms of Corpuz and Soriano, the Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, the Transport Training Center, the National Institute of Biotechnology and Microbiology, and the Third World Studies Program were established at UP. Once a supporter of President Marcos, Soriano became one of the opposition leaders from 1983 to 1986. He swore in the members of the restored University Student Council in 1980 after Marcos abolished it in 1973. On September 5, 1983, he published an open letter in the Business Day newspaper, calling for Marcos’ resignation in the wake of the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino, Jr. He was an active member of the Convenors Group that helped pave the way for the selection of Cory Aquino as the opposition candidate against Marcos in the 1985–1986 Snap Elections and went on to serve as the National Security Adviser to President Corazon Aquino from 1987 to 1989. He also served as a faculty member of the Asian Institute of Management until 1996. He published numerous books and papers on business policy and management in Asia, including The Big Powers in South East Asia in the 1990s: Their Interest and Roles, published by the Kuala Lumpur Institute of Strategic and International Studies in 1989. He remained in active service to the University he loved well after his term as UP President. He was recognized by the UP College of Engineering, his Alma Mater, and the UP Alumni Engineers as one of the 100 Outstanding Alumni Engineers. Details on the wake and the University’s tribute to its 14th President to follow. |
https://up.edu.ph/statement-on-the-regional-memo-on-the-removal-of-subversive-books-from-libraries-in-the-car/ | Statement on the Regional Memo on the Removal of “Subversive” Books from Libraries in the CAR – University of the Philippines | Statement on the Regional Memo on the Removal of “Subversive” Books from Libraries in the CAR Statement on the Regional Memo on the Removal of “Subversive” Books from Libraries in the CAR November 6, 2021 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office On October 21, 2021, the Commission on Higher Education Cordillera Administrative Region issued Regional Memorandum No. 113 series of 2021, encouraging “all Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in Cordillera Administrative Region… to join the region-wide removal of subversive materials both in library and online platforms.” For its purpose, the Memorandum defined “subversive materials [as] literatures, references, publications, resources and items that contain pervasive ideologies of the Communist-Terrorist groups (CTGs).” Accordingly, the Memorandum was made “in support of Executive Order No. 70 Series of 2018 “Institutionalizing the Whole-of-Nation Approach in Attaining Inclusive and Sustainable Peace, Creating the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and in cognizance to the Third Quarter Cordillera RTF-ELCAC meeting held on September 22, 2021”. We, the System-wide University Library Council of the University of the Philippines, strongly oppose the removal and banning of such books and materials from libraries in the CAR—and anywhere else in the country. While the Memorandum does not compel librarians and heads of universities and colleges to remove books and materials perceived to contain “subversive” ideas from their libraries, the call of a regional regulatory body for HEIs within its jurisdiction to join a region-wide movement to ban such materials has a compelling effect on the institutions it regulates. As such, it threatens to undermine the very foundation of the academic freedom guaranteed by the Constitution to all institutions of higher learning, whether public or private. That freedom rests on the untrammeled flow of information and knowledge contained in, among others, books, periodicals, documents, recordings, and such other media as libraries collect and distribute. As gatekeepers of knowledge, we librarians and officials overseeing the UP System libraries are ethically bound to resist any form of political interference that would diminish the access of students and scholars to any materials they may need in pursuit of their studies. We believe—as do our peers in other schools and departments of the University—that true learning results from the application of critical thinking to a range of ideas, and that even ideas deemed dangerous or inimical to society require critical analysis. If we are the democracy that we profess to be, then nothing can be more deleterious to that democracy than the suppression of books that contain such ideas. Book purges are practiced by dictatorships, not democracies; and inevitably, book purges prove futile, as those who banned the Noli and the Fili for being subversive eventually realized. Knowledge advances not by the exclusion of ideas, but by intellectual inquiry and scientific practice. Insurgencies are contained by addressing their root causes, not by banning books that explain how and why they happen. Libraries serve society as gateways to knowledge and culture, as platforms for learning, preserving and sharing knowledge, and shaping new ideas and perspectives. Like our laboratories, they should be protected as safe spaces for intellectual inquiry and research, beyond the transitory agenda of politicians in power and their instrumentalities. This is especially important in this age of fake news, which magnifies the responsibility of universities to seek and promote the truth, regardless of political consequences. As the repositories of knowledge, our libraries and their custodians are duty-bound to ensure that access is maintained to that knowledge in all its variety, in the service of the truth. We therefore call on our fellow librarians and university officials to protect our libraries from any form of censorship, and to resist any actions that will compromise academic freedom. We need to open minds, and not to close them. Since we believe in democracy, as our critics claim to do, we must remain open to ideas not necessarily our own and respect the right of our citizens to read about them in our libraries. The UP System-wide University Library Council was created in December 1986 following the confirmation by the UP Board of Regents of Administrative Order No. 20. It is composed of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs as Chair with the Vice-Chancellors for Academic Affairs, the librarians of the constituent units and a student representative as members. The University Library Council and its functions are reiterated in the University Library Organic Act which the Board of Regents approved in March 1991. Administrative Order No. PDLC 2021-54, issued in September 2021, added the Assistant Vice-President for Academic Affairs (Curriculum and Instruction)—a position that did not exist in 1991—as Vice-Chair of the Council. To download a copy of this statement, please click here. |
https://up.edu.ph/institution-of-task-force-to-review-and-take-immediate-and-long-term-actions-on-student-accommodations-across-the-up-system/ | Institution of Task Force to Review and Take Immediate and Long-term Actions on Student Accommodations across the UP System – University of the Philippines | Institution of Task Force to Review and Take Immediate and Long-term Actions on Student Accommodations across the UP System Institution of Task Force to Review and Take Immediate and Long-term Actions on Student Accommodations across the UP System February 11, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The new UP President, Angelo A. Jimenez, is saddened by the recent tragedy caused by the fire that transpired at Barangay Krus na Ligas on 9 February 2023. This tragedy caused the death of a student Leki N. Aquilino from UPD CSWCD. Pres. Jimenez and the entire UP Community are expressing sympathies to the aggrieved Aquilino family. The President vows to work with all Chancellors to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Concerning this, he has formed a Task Force to review and take immediate and long-term actions on student accommodations across the UP System. As the University prepares to return to face-to-face classes, the importance of providing more living spaces in UP’s campuses must be underscored. Accommodations on campus provide peer-to-peer support and can direct students to support and well-being services when needed. They also help foster a strong sense of community through a range of social events and cultural activities, as well as practical support. |
https://up.edu.ph/statement-of-the-university-of-the-philippines-presidents-advisory-council/ | Statement of the University of the Philippines President’s Advisory Council – University of the Philippines | Statement of the University of the Philippines President’s Advisory Council Statement of the University of the Philippines President’s Advisory Council May 13, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office We view, with grave concern, the most recent effort of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) to red-tag members of the UP community. On May 11, 2022, the NTF ELCAC released a statement cautioning against disruptors and destabilizers of peace and order, after sectors reported irregularities during the May 9 National Elections. On UNTV, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon cautioned against school walkouts as dangerous avenues for NPA recruitment. Such statements maliciously misrepresent legitimate forms of protests as “breeding grounds for terrorist recruitment,” violate civil liberties and carelessly endanger our students in their democratic exercise of constitutionally protected freedoms. These accusations are baseless and paranoid, and by themselves sow the discord that they purport to prevent. We will not stand down when our students’ lives are at risk. We will continue to defend our academic spaces. We will protect our students vigorously against red-tagging, harassment, and intimidation. We will safeguard the University from destabilizing forces. Critical thinking and service to community and country are hallmarks of UP’s tradition as an institution of higher learning. Hands off our students. Hands off our University. Defend academic freedom! * The UP PAC is composed of the President, the Vice Presidents and the Secretary of the University, the Chancellors of the eight UP constituent units, the Director of the UP Philippine General Hospital, and the Executive Director of the UP Bonifacio Global City campus. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-unions-score-wins-for-up-faculty-reps-staff/ | UP unions score wins for UP faculty, REPS & staff – University of the Philippines | UP unions score wins for UP faculty, REPS & staff UP unions score wins for UP faculty, REPS & staff December 23, 2021 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta UP President Danilo L. Concepcion and AUPAEU National President Melania Flores hold up the signed copies of the CNA. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UPMPRO. For the unions safeguarding the well-being of the University of the Philippines’ faculty, research, extension and professional staff (REPS), and administrative staff, the year 2021 ends with wins and milestones for the concerned sectors of the University. Grant of CNA Incentive The two unions—the All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) and the All UP Workers Union (AUPWU)—with the help of all the faculty, REPS, and administrative staff across the UP System, have successfully signed an agreement with the UP administration for the grant of Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) Incentive amounting to P25,000.00, which the UP Board of Regents has approved through a referendum conducted on December 17 to 21, 2021. Memorandum No. NGY 21-184, released by the UP Office of the Vice President for Administration (OVPA) on December 22, details the guidelines on the grant of the CNA Incentive for the Fiscal Year 2021. According to the memorandum, those covered by the agreement are: All regular full-time and part-time UP faculty, REPS, and administrative staff who have rendered at least a total or an aggregate of four months of service as of December 15, 2021; those whose services have been extended beyond compulsory retirement at age 65 as of December 15; and those who were separated from the University within the year and had rendered at least four months of service. For details, please read the guidelines on the AUPAEU’s Facebook page The CNA Incentive is granted to UP faculty, REPS, administrative staff, and officials as an act of goodwill and recognition of joint efforts to accomplish performance targets at lesser cost and attain more efficient and viable operations during the year. The CNA Incentive will be sourced from the allowable savings of the University’s Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) allotment under the General Fund, following the Department of Budget and Management’s Circular No. 2021-3 dated November 17, 2021. The savings became available due to cost-cutting and system improvement measures undertaken collectively by the University and its personnel, as the unions and the UP administration agreed to in a binding Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Other benefits won During the signing of the CNA and MOA between the AUPAEU and UP President Danilo L. Concepcion for the UP administration on December 3 at Quezon Hall, Dr. Melania L. Flores, National President of the AUPAEU representing UP’s rank-and-file faculty and REPS, announced the benefits won by the union and will be received by both AUPAEU members and non-members. Some of the non-economic benefits include sick leaves and special leave privileges; health and safety requirements; scholarship/study privileges for relatives of faculty and REPS without children; on-campus and off-campus housing facilities; medical assistance for retiring and retired employees; and constitution of grievance procedures and provisions for supporting REPS’ well-being. Economic benefits include a rice subsidy of P2,350 in four tranches; a year-end grocery allowance of P8,400 annually; a loyalty incentive award of P10,000 for the first ten years and P5,000 for every five years; and an annual incentive grant of P6,850 in two tranches. The AUPAEU after the signing of the CNA. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UPMPRO. Flores also stressed the union’s support for the fight for the UP budget and reported making strides in this area, such as raising the budget for the MOOE of the UP Philippine General Hospital. The union is also offering its support for other public sector unions in the country. “Ang UP bilang national university ay modelo sa usaping akademiko. Gusto din natin ang UP na maging modelo sa public sector unionism, kaya tayo ay nangunguna din sa public sector unionism,” Dr. Flores reiterated during the signing. UP and UP Diliman officials and officials and members of the AUPWU stand before the AUPWU’s new office. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UPMPRO. New home for AUPWU Aside from the signing of the grant of the CNA Incentive, the AUPWU, representing UP’s administrative staff, also made milestones this year, including the blessing of a new central office for the national union in what was once the UP Alumni Hostel in the Diliman campus, behind Fonacier Hall and beside the Benitez Alumni Center, on November 30—the same day the agreement for the grant of CNA Incentive and the MOA for the cost-cutting measures was signed between UP and the AUPWU. The national union, including the AUPWU chapter of UP Diliman, was forced to move as its old building was demolished in the construction of the new Shopping Center. AUPWU National President Jossel Ebesate credits the work of his predecessor, Mr. Alex Mejia of UPLB, as well as the support of the UP Diliman administration and the sponsorship of the ACT Partylist, as instrumental in securing the union’s new home. |
https://up.edu.ph/statement-on-the-disappearance-of-three-up-alumni/ | Statement on the Disappearance of Three UP Alumni – University of the Philippines | Statement on the Disappearance of Three UP Alumni Statement on the Disappearance of Three UP Alumni June 3, 2023 | Written by the Office of the President The University of the Philippines System expresses grave concern over the recent disappearance of three UP alumni, Gene Roz Jamil “Bazoo” De Jesus and Dexter Capuyan of UP Baguio, and Patricia Nicole Cierva of UP Manila. De Jesus and Capuyan are known indigenous peoples’ rights activists, while Cierva and her companion Cedric Casano, are peasant and youth organizers. The UP System urges all government agencies especially those engaged in the administration of justice and law enforcement, with the support of the public in general, to ensure that our missing alumni are located, and to guarantee their safety and to uphold their constitutional rights. The UP System reiterates its commitment to upholding human rights without which our freedoms cannot long endure. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-aupwu-officials-sign-new-cna-for-2020-2025/ | UP, AUPWU officials sign new CNA for 2020-2025 – University of the Philippines | UP, AUPWU officials sign new CNA for 2020-2025 UP, AUPWU officials sign new CNA for 2020-2025 December 18, 2020 | Written by Fred Dabu Officials of the University of the Philippines administration and the All UP Workers Union (AUPWU), represented by UP President Danilo L. Concepcion and AUPWU National President Alexis M. Mejia respectively, signed the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) during a simple ceremony on 11 December 2020 at the Quezon Hall UP Diliman, Quezon City. This CNA covers five years, from 27 April 2020 to 26 April 2025. The CNA negotiation was put on hold earlier this year after government declared a national State of Emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All UP Workers Union National President Alexis M. Mejia (sitting, left) and UP President Danilo L. Concepcion (sitting, right) during the signing of the CNA. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UPMPRO. The signing ceremony marks the University and the Union’s commitment to work harmoniously together for the enhancement of UP employees’ welfare and productivity as well as for effective and efficient public service. The signed document specifies the relationship between the UP administration and employees, their duties and responsibilities, privileges, benefits, mechanisms for promoting productivity and welfare, and role as union members in society, among others. Among the officials present were UP Vice President for Administration Nestor G. Yunque, members of the AUPWU National Executive Board, National Council, UP Diliman and Los Baños Chapters, and Union Representatives. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UPMPRO. |
https://up.edu.ph/keeper-of-the-greens/ | Keeper of the greens – University of the Philippines | Keeper of the greens Keeper of the greens May 10, 2017 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Picture UP Diliman and, aside from the Oblation, what comes to mind is its greenery—the lagoon park and acacia lanes. Many memories, often pleasant, have been formed under the trees, on the grass, at the tete-a-tete benches, and on the asphalted avenue, often rained over by small leaves and fruits of the raintrees or by yellow narra blooms. One would picture Zorro, the masked and caped sentinel giving joggers high-fives. Or perhaps, the SBs standing guard on the well maintained grounds. Invisible and unheard of to many is Seven Gie Acuzar, a frail-looking man better known by his colleagues in UP as “Bay” because of his Visayan accent. He has been keeping the area clean for a long time. “I started working in UP in August 2004,” he says in Filipino. “I was just 21, a high school graduate, and single. My brother, who was agency-hired to work here, convinced me to apply here.” Maintaining the UP grounds was a far cry from welding and handling cereals and nuts in factories in the Camanava area, where he had been a contractual worker. It was not difficult to move to UP despite similar contractual terms, as UP was nearer his place in Bgy. Pansol. A worker for the Campus Maintenance Office, he has covered the side of the lagoon south of the creek, AS Parking, and the one-kilometer stretch of Roxas Avenue from the main administration building to Vinzons Hall, where the tree-canopied road is most often photographed. Using tongs and a broom, and pushing a kartilya along, it takes him more than a day to pick up litter and sweep Roxas avenue clean. “You need to first pick up plastic, paper and other kinds of litter thrown by people. These are the first to be noticed by the joggers. Then you begin sweeping. There used to be trash receptacles around the Oval, which I was also tasked to empty. You do these the whole day for one kilometer, moving from Administration to Vinzons, and then back. You won’t finish on the same day,” he continues. At the lagoon, where he was assigned for more than 10 years, routine maintenance takes more than a week. “I was caretaker of the lagoon until I was assigned to only cover Roxas in 2015. My job covered the area bordered by the canal and Roces Avenue. Just picking up the puti [manmade garbage such as plastic and paper] took one day. The area required more than a week to clean.” These areas Bay has been assigned to remain the cleanest on campus, attracting a regular crowd, including bird-watchers. Asked about the beauty and significance of his workplace, he readily talks about wildlife. “Birds thrive here. They find food. Cranes, native doves, kingfishers, migratory birds coming here from October to March.” He could relate to them. “They too find a living. If you deprive them of a home, they lose their right to live and flourish,” Bay says. He is glad that UP affords wildlife a habitat. He is also happy about the trees reaching full growth, and once again, relates this to his life. “As the trees that abound in this place, we the workers too should grow and flourish. We should not be stunted, or dictated upon not to aspire to be higher.” Relying on his wages from UP, Bay began his own family. He now has three children, the eldest of whom is a young boy of 11 years and the youngest just two years old. His wife stays at home taking care of them. Bay’s greatest fear is not being able to provide for them, which is always a possibility given the insecurity of his contractual employment. His wage, barely above minimum, is just enough for their everyday needs. Without additional work-related benefits, he is not able to save money for his family’s future or to address emergencies. For several years, he operated under the “no work, no pay” principle, which kept him working through red-letter days and typhoons, exposed to wind, rain, and falling branches. “The worst typhoons for the workers happened around 2009 and 2010. They came one after the other in October and November. Many trees fell. In UP, it meant extra work. Our director decided on pooling all the workforce and assigned us all to first clean up the Areas. We had to work in houses hit by the falling trees. Drenched by the rain, we worked non-stop, and were cold and hungry,” Bay says. He does not readily recall witnessing any crime in the area. “I haven’t witnessed anything fearful.” But there were people who tested his patience. “At AS Parking, I would be sweeping the grounds and cars would be parked right where I was doing my job, like I’m invisible.” Despite the downsides, Bay has remained loyal to UP. He repeats his gratefulness for working near home. He can just walk or ride his bike between his home and UP. He can forage vegetables growing wildly among the greens and bring them home. He can eat his lunch at home. Bay has grown familiar with the UP people and could tell one from an outsider by how they handle their garbage. “I notice that those who litter are outsiders,” he says. More often, there is more garbage found at the Sunken Garden and the lagoon, UP Diliman’s “tourist spots.” UP constituents themselves are a family. Bay feels that they should be and look out for one another. “As workers of UP, we treat it as a parent, and we are its children, with different roles. UP would not be complete without us performing our role in ground maintenance. It would be a dump. We hope it realizes our worth, having worked here for very long,” Bay says. Late last year, he went through a sad state in his UP family life. He had the chance to apply for a regular item of Administrative Aide to be assigned to the same position of ground maintenance, at Salary Grade 3. Bay was confident, given his 12 years of UP work experience, seminars and training, Outstanding performance ratings for consecutive contractual terms, and having taken a short TESDA course in 2013 on automotive and small engine servicing. All papers had long been prepared, kept orderly and neat in a clear-book of credentials for such opportunities in the administration. “My mind was set on security of tenure, and the benefits that would cover my wife and children,” he recalls. It was the answer to every contractual’s prayer. Bay cried when he was informed later that another man had beaten him to the item. He hopes the decision can be explained to him more clearly, echoing the plight of many others in his situation. (UP President Danilo L. Concepcion has pledged to address the problem of contractuals during his term.) In recent years, Bay has involved himself with other contractual workers in the University for an alliance with UP’s workers and academic union in the work of collective action for the growth of UP personnel. He hopes to understand UP better. All throughout his life in UP, he has remained hopeful, looking at the day UP makes good at being one family, as it has been to him. |
https://up.edu.ph/statement-on-the-sigma-rho-fraternity-related-death-and-alleged-hazing-incident/ | Statement on the Sigma Rho Fraternity-related death and alleged hazing incident – University of the Philippines | Statement on the Sigma Rho Fraternity-related death and alleged hazing incident Statement on the Sigma Rho Fraternity-related death and alleged hazing incident September 30, 2019 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office On Sunday, September 29, 2019, it was confirmed that a member of the Sigma Rho Fraternity has died. This member was one of those named in an alleged online conversation among members of this fraternity involved in alleged acts of hazing. We in the University of the Philippines extend our deepest sympathies to the bereaved. We reach out in concern as well to all those who have been victimized by a persistent system of fraternity-related violence engendered by an underlying culture of toxic masculinity, patriarchal values and impunity. There is no place in the country’s national university for all forms of violence, harassment, discrimination and cruelty, whether committed through physical acts such as hazing and sexual violence, or through mental and emotional abuse committed through acts of bullying and cyberbullying. We are committed to eradicating fraternity-related violence and impunity on campus by carrying out a transformation within the culture of the University itself, where the values of compassion, empathy and equality are held as sacred as UP’s principles of honor and excellence by all members of its community. Finally, we are appealing to the public as well as to media professionals to exercise particular caution when sharing or reporting sensitive stories out of respect for the privacy of the bereaved. University of the Philippines System Administration September 30, 2019 |
https://up.edu.ph/a-statement-from-president-danilo-l-concepcion/ | A Statement from President Danilo L. Concepcion – University of the Philippines | A Statement from President Danilo L. Concepcion A Statement from President Danilo L. Concepcion August 29, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office I deeply regret the pain my appearance at the Kabataang Barangay reunion in UP Diliman last August 25 caused the UP community. I intended no offense, most especially to the UP community that I serve. My desire to be with old-time friends I had not seen for decades, no matter how briefly, made me overlook its effect on the sentiments of the UP community. Tao lang po! I would like to assure the UP community that the University under my watch will never forget the dark period of our country during the martial law years and will continuously hold in high esteem the University’s best and brightest who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for freedom and democracy. Danilo L. Concepcion President, University of the Philippines 29 August 2018 |
https://up.edu.ph/a-statement-from-president-danilo-l-concepcion-2/ | A Letter from President Danilo Concepcion to the UP Community – University of the Philippines | A Letter from President Danilo Concepcion to the UP Community A Letter from President Danilo Concepcion to the UP Community September 7, 2018 | Written by President Danilo Concepcion A Letter from President Danilo Concepcion to the UP Community 7 September 2018 |
https://up.edu.ph/virtual-roundtable-discussion-to-focus-on-the-future-of-human-mobility-in-a-post-covid-world/ | Virtual roundtable discussion to focus on the future of human mobility in a post-COVID world – University of the Philippines | Virtual roundtable discussion to focus on the future of human mobility in a post-COVID world Virtual roundtable discussion to focus on the future of human mobility in a post-COVID world April 27, 2021 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office In addition to its health-related impacts, the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally disrupted the patterns of how people move and travel to do business, go to work, seek education or meet family and friends. Human mobility at all levels, currently under the pressure of various restrictions as well as psychological barriers of fear, is undergoing a period of transformation with unknown implications for the future. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Centre International de Formation des Autorités et Leaders (CIFAL) Philippines have joined efforts to host a special virtual roundtable on the role and future of migration and human mobility in the post-COVID era. This event aims to spark discussion among practitioners and policy makers not only to point to the evident consequences but also to look beyond the horizon of the current pandemic and try to identify key trends and implications for human mobility in the long term. The UNITAR and CIFAL Philippines’ virtual roundtable discussion on “Human Mobility in the Post-COVID-19 Recovery: Looking Beyond the Horizon of the Current Pandemic” will be held on Thursday, 29 April 2021, at 9:00 (CET). Dr. Edna Co, Director of the UP-CIFAL (International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders) Philippines, will deliver the inaugural remarks for the virtual roundtable discussion. Register for the event here: http://ow.ly/UjuW50EvWf6 |
https://up.edu.ph/upd-civil-engg-professor-appointed-up-vp-for-administration/ | UPD Civil Eng’g professor appointed UP VP for Administration – University of the Philippines | UPD Civil Eng’g professor appointed UP VP for Administration UPD Civil Eng’g professor appointed UP VP for Administration August 4, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Vice President for Administration Augustus C. Resurreccion. Photo from the UP Diliman Institute of Civil Engineering website. Dr. Augustus C. Resurreccion, a professor at the UP Diliman Institute of Civil Engineering (UPD ICE) and former Director of the UP Diliman Human Resource Development Office, has been appointed UP Vice President for Administration, succeeding Prof. Nestor Yunque. As VP for Administration, Dr. Resurreccion heads the office directly responsible for administrative operations in the UP System. The Human Resource Development Office, Supply and Property Management Office, and Cash Office of the UP System are under the direct supervision and control of the Vice President for Administration. Dr. Resurreccion served as Director of the UP Diliman HRDO from 2020 to May 2023, and is a Professor of the Environment and Energy Engineering Group at the UPD ICE. VP Resurreccion earned his Bachelor of Science in Geodetic Engineering from UP Diliman in 1997. He finished his Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering degree, as well as his doctorate in Biological and Environmental Science from Saitama University, Japan, in 2002 and 2007, respectively. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-lends-a-hand-to-msu-marawi/ | UP lends a hand to MSU-Marawi – University of the Philippines | UP lends a hand to MSU-Marawi UP lends a hand to MSU-Marawi October 6, 2017 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office UP lends a hand to MSU-Marawi The University of the Philippines, through its UP Diliman Community and Musician Artists, sent donations and aid to fellow Filipinos who were affected by the ongoing crisis in Marawi City. Dr. Alma E. Berowa, Mindanao State University (MSU) Vice President for Academic Affairs, reported a total of PhP77,000 transmitted to their Marawi City campus to help students get back on their feet and continue with their studies. A relief distribution drive took place last September 4 for the benefit of internally-displaced students of MSU-Marawi City. “Your act of voluntary contributions… certainly gives us hope that there are many good people among Filipinos who believe that we are Muslims but we are not terrorists. That gives us the courage to go against all odds. Maraming salamat po,” wrote Berowa. The funds were raised largely through the “Tabang Para sa Katawhan” benefit concert held last June 21 at the Asian Center, initiated by Assoc. Prof. Roli Talampas with the support of President Danilo L. Concepcion. UP has also initiated a fund drive for Marawi online through its website at http://www.up.edu.ph. (J. Mikhail Solitario, UP MPRO) |
https://up.edu.ph/up-angthong-college-celebrate-70-years-of-philippine-thai-relations/ | UP, Angthong College celebrate 70 years of Philippine-Thai relations – University of the Philippines | UP, Angthong College celebrate 70 years of Philippine-Thai relations UP, Angthong College celebrate 70 years of Philippine-Thai relations January 28, 2019 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion ‘Dancers from Angthong College of Dramatic Arts perform The Pursuit of Supanna Matcha at the Abelardo Hall Auditorium. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO A 35-person team of performers and faculty members from Thailand’s Angthong College of Dramatic Arts showcased traditional Thai dances at the University of the Philippines Diliman’s (UPD) Abelardo Hall Auditorium on January 22, 2019. The event was made possible through the cooperation of the UP Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs, the UP Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (UPD-OICA), the UP College of Arts and Letters, The UP College of Music, the UP College of Mass Communication and the Royal Thai Embassy. This performance was held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the Philippines. It was attended by: H.E. Vasin Ruangprateepsaeng, Thai Ambassador to the Philippines; Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission Urawadee Sriphiromya; First Secretary Thassarany Noivong; and, other guests from the Royal Thai Embassy in Manila. UP’s contingent was led by Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia and UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan. The dancers from Angthong College began their performance with a rendition by two dancers of The Pursuit of Supanna Matcha, from the khon (masked dance-drama) performance of the Ramakien or the Thai Ramayana. It was followed by Natnaree Sri Ayothaya, which was a tribute to the beauty of Thai women and the delicate style of Thai dancing. Finally, the group ended by dancing the Rum Wong, a slow round dance where dancers move in a circular manner and with both male and female dancers participating. The second half of the event featured a performance by UP’s own Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipinas (Kontra GaPi). A rousing climax to that performance saw both Thai and Filipino participants, including UP officials, dancing together onstage to signify the unity and optimism of the representatives of both nations. A dancer from Angthong College offers a bouquet of flowers to Ambassador Vasin Ruangprateepsaeng. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO “Our countries are often referred to as twins,” said Vice President Pernia, referring to the Philippines and Thailand, “experiencing similar political and social issues over these many decades.” Beyond economic relations made salient by ASEAN integration, Pernia noted that it is in the realm of culture and the arts that enjoyable representations of both people’s values and aspiration were to be found. The event, therefore, Pernia added, was an important step towards understanding how, despite linguistic and cultural diversity found in the ASEAN Economic Community, both countries are committed to maximizing opportunities for mutually beneficial regional integration. Photo3: 3Q2A4887: ‘UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia (left) and H.E. Vasin Ruangprateepsaeng. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO’. Chancellor Tan, on the other hand, stressed the importance of more student exchanges at the undergraduate level between Thailand and Philippines. He publicly requested Ambassador Ruangprateepsaeng for assistance in finding more experts from Thailand who could teach both Thai music and language to interested students in Diliman. As his contribution to strengthening the relationship between the two countries, Tan also pledged UP Diliman funds to send Kontra GaPi to Thailand to learn from and perform in Thai universities. “I think it’s time that they went to Thailand for an exchange,” he said. “And we want them to spend time in Angthong College as well because you are the ones who came here.” Students from Angthong College performing Natnaree Sri Ayothaya. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO |
https://up.edu.ph/up-opens-law-classes-in-iloilo-city/ | UP opens Law classes in Iloilo City – University of the Philippines | UP opens Law classes in Iloilo City UP opens Law classes in Iloilo City September 16, 2021 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Photo from UP AVP Jose Wendell Capili. The first semester of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law starts on 17 September 2021. Its first-ever law extension classes in the UP Visayas Iloilo City Campus will also be officially launched. In collaboration with UP Visayas (UPV), the College of Law of UP Diliman will now be offering its Juris Doctor (JD) program to students based in the Iloilo City Campus. The pioneer batch of first-year students of the Iloilo extension classes consists of graduates of UP Visayas, UP Cebu, and UP Mindanao, and graduates of Mindanao State University and Central Mindanao University. The pioneer batch also includes students from Iloilo, Aklan, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, and Davao. Their first professors will include seasoned faculty of the College of Law who trace their roots from Iloilo and nearby provinces. The College of Law is planning to recruit more faculty based in the region. “UP has always been looking for ways to expand and democratize access to its academic programs. The launch of the law extension classes in our Iloilo City Campus in UP Visayas is a major step towards this end,” said UP President and former College of Law Dean Danilo L. Concepcion. He chose the UP Iloilo City campus as the site of the extension classes. On 5 May 2021, President Concepcion issued an administrative order creating an ad hoc committee to study the feasibility of opening College of Law extension classes in the UP Visayas Iloilo City Campus. The committee, composed of administrators and faculty of the College of Law and UP Visayas and chaired by College of Law Dean Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan, II, eventually submitted a report recommending the proposed extension classes. Proceeding from the said report, and with the endorsement of UPV Chancellor Clement C. Camposano, Dean Vistan formally requested for authority to administer extension classes of the College of Law in the UPV Iloilo City Campus. UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo and UP President Concepcion approved the request soon after that. Photo from UP AVP Jose Wendell Capili. According to UPV Chancellor Camposano: “The opening of extension classes of the UP College of Law at the UPV Iloilo campus is an affirmation of the University’s commitment to lead in the field of legal education. It is also a demonstration of our resolve to embrace the possibilities offered by digital technology and remote learning. This is an important step towards realizing the university of the future.” UPV Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Philip Ian P. Padilla also remarked: “I would like to welcome the pioneer batch of UP Law in UPV this First Semester AY 2021-2022. We wish you the best of everything in your law studies with UPV as host. This will hopefully lead to the strengthening of UPV’s mandate, as a SUC and the national university for quality higher education in the region in law, with a fisheries flavor and marine affairs as context. Mabuhay kag padayon!” To the pioneering batch, Dean Vistan said: “Let me extend a warm welcome to our first students in our UP Visayas classes. Recently, the norm has been to break the mold and break new ground as we adapt to meet the demands of our new world. Even then, our expectations of our students remain the same: honor, excellence, and service to the people. Our college’s commitment also remains the same, which is to deliver the UP brand of legal education to our students, wherever they may be.” |
https://up.edu.ph/two-webinars-on-food-security-and-human-migration-in-the-time-of-pandemic/ | Two webinars on food security and human migration in the time of pandemic – University of the Philippines | Two webinars on food security and human migration in the time of pandemic Two webinars on food security and human migration in the time of pandemic May 21, 2021 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Two social issues have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic: food security and human migration. But while the pandemic has brought about new or has worsened existing challenges, the “next normal” may also bring with it new solutions and new ways of perceiving and tackling these issues. The University of the Philippines–Centre International de Formation des Authorités et Leaders Philippines (UP-CIFAL Philippines) and the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) will be holding two webinars: the first on communities working to help address food security; and, the second on the new challenges to human migration during and after the pandemic, on 24 May at 9:00 a.m. (Manila Time) and 27 May at 12:00 p.m. (Manila Time), respectively. Click the QR code to register. Or visit bit.ly/community4foodsecurity The first webinar is on “CommUNITY for Food Security: Partnerships Against Hunger”. After enduring stringent quarantines for over a year, with households living in dire poverty being forced to rely on food packs distributed by local governments and other concerned organizations, millions of Filipino households are now experiencing hunger due to lack of food to eat. However, new initiatives in addressing hunger are also emerging, such as the community-organized pantries that have sprung up all around the country since the first community pantry on Maginhawa Street, Diliman, Quezon City. Through this webinar, UP-CIFAL Philippines aims to show how citizens can rise up to collaborate with local government in addressing food security issues, and how the Philippine experience can contribute to global action against hunger during the pandemic. The webinar also opens a venue for government officials, citizen groups, and even international organizations to discuss more sustainable efforts to fight hunger through partnerships. Ultimately, the webinar aims to link the local government and citizen partnership to the promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Mr. Emmanuel Hugh F. Velasco, Head of the Sustainable Development Affairs Unit of Quezon City, and Mr. Michael Adrian B. Non, representative for the community pantries in the Philippines, will serve as resource persons, while Ms. Brenda Barton, Representative and Country Director to the Philippines World Food Programme, will serve as reactor. Register for this webinar here. Or click on the QR code in the event poster. Click the QR code to register. Or visit bit.ly/PCGMWebinar2021S The second webinar, slated for 27 May, will focus on “Migration in the New Normal: Global Perspectives and Potential Directions Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic”. The pandemic has not only created an unprecedented health crisis and disrupted economies around the globe, it has also forced governments to implement restrictions of movement inside and outside of countries’ borders that have severely impacted people’s lives. Migrants face new and existing challenges made worse, such as separation, loss of employment, and difficulties in re-entering their country of origin. Migrant women have become even more vulnerable, and governments and organizations struggle to maintain and implement inclusion and reintegration. All of these take a major toll on migrants and migration practitioners, adding additional health issues to address, on top of the many new challenges to overcome. This webinar, which will discuss how the pandemic has affected migration, is divided into the sub-topics of: health, mental health and social protection; gender dimensions of migration; social inclusion and reintegration; and, the influence of media and communication. The webinar will target migration managers and practitioners, and members of academe and the general public who are interested in issues regarding migration. Register for this webinar here. Or click on the QR code in the event poster. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-explores-institutional-partnerships-in-vaccination-programs-vs-covid-19/ | UP webinar explores institutional partnerships in vaccination programs vs COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | UP webinar explores institutional partnerships in vaccination programs vs COVID-19 UP webinar explores institutional partnerships in vaccination programs vs COVID-19 June 16, 2021 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office As we build up our country’s defenses against COVID-19, partnerships among institutions have become more crucial than ever. One such partnership—between the academe and local government—is the focus of an upcoming webinar entitled “Community for Immunity: Partnerships for COVID-19 Vaccination Programs”, scheduled on Thursday, 17 June 2021 at 9:00 AM. Over a year through the pandemic, vaccines for COVID-19 have been developed and tested worldwide. In the Philippines, 2.13 million doses have been given, with a total of 343,000 Filipinos being fully vaccinated, or 0.3% of the total population, as recorded by Our World in Data on 5 May 2021. As there is an urgent need to efficiently distribute the vaccines to the most vulnerable populations, the local government of Quezon City, having the highest total COVID-19 cases in the country, launched several vaccination hubs across the city. In support of the vaccination drive, the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman partnered with the local government to launch Bakunahan sa Diliman (Vaccination in Diliman). The academic institution offered its facility, the College of Human Kinetics Gymnasium, to serve as one of the biggest vaccination sites catering to UP Diliman personnel and select UP Campus residents. The UP Centre International de Formation des Autorités et Leaders (CIFAL) (International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders) Philippines, through this webinar, will showcase how other institutions—in this case the academe—can partner up with the local government to combat COVID-19 and contribute to the ultimate goal of herd immunity. The webinar will also be an avenue for government officials, academic, medical, and other institutions to discuss how partnerships can take place to develop more efficient programs to fight COVID-19. The webinar in general associates the power of partnerships to the fulfillment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). This webinar is of special interest to: international, national and local government units; officials and employees in the health sector; academics and scholars interested in COVID-19 initiatives in the Philippines. Participants can register here: https://bit.ly/community4immunity |
https://up.edu.ph/up-alumni-and-friends-to-receive-2nd-up-gawad-oblation/ | UP alumni and friends to receive 2nd UP Gawad Oblation – University of the Philippines | UP alumni and friends to receive 2nd UP Gawad Oblation UP alumni and friends to receive 2nd UP Gawad Oblation January 17, 2023 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo The UP Oblation Award medal nested in its box (left and center) and the plaque accompanying it, to be given to the 38 UP alumni and friends in recognition of their “extraordinary service with or in the name of UP.” Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO) Thirty-eight awardees of alumni and friends of the University of the Philippines (UP) are set to receive the 2nd Gawad Oblation on the afternoon of January 17, 2023, at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman. The University President gives the award to UP’s alumni and supporters who have rendered “extraordinary service with or in the name of UP.” The award is named after UP’s enduring symbol, The Oblation, a National Artist Guillermo E. Tolentino’s sculpture inspired by the second stanza of Jose Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios. The Oblation signifies the offering of oneself in service. “Sa kagalingan mo ay akin ding handog…” Artist, production designer, and UP College of Fine Arts professor Leo A.C. Abaya designed the UP Gawad Oblation medal. According to the artist, the design of the Oblation Award Medal is essentially an articulation of the UP Oblation. In the Gawad Oblation medal, the UP Oblation is appropriated as the human figure surmounting the central image, which is a closeup of the Oblation’s hand, as it were in the gesture of offering. Transposed in this medal—golden, enlarged, and set against a mother-of-pearl disc—it has become the signifier of the eminent value of service through sharing. Surrounding this central image is a green enamel band inscribed in baybayin. The inscription is Andres Bonifacio’s translation from Spanish of the second line of the second stanza of Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios: “Sa kagalingan mo ay akin ding handog…” Close-up of the UP Gawad Oblation medal. Photo by Ylenette Reforzado (UP OAR). Each medal is set in maroon enamel. Its radiating sunrays are drawn from the early designs of the Philippine flag. Adding orgs to the rays creates a configuration of people holding hands. Abaya, who passed away on May 26, 2021, described this composite as connoting “the revolutionary spirit of our history and the importance of humanity in all our endeavors, which should serve as inspiration for us to achieve our goals as the country’s National University.” Helping UP undertake its mandates as a national university Given by the UP President, the UP Gawad Oblation or the UP President’s Oblation Medal recognizes alumni and friends, including individuals, organizations, and institutions, for their significant efforts in increasing the institutional visibility, international prestige, and recognition of UP as a National University, and for helping UP undertake its mandates under Republic Act No. 9500 or the UP Charter. Awardees also enhanced UP’s leadership in higher education and national development as a research, teaching, and public service university and as a regional and international university. The Gawad Oblation was first conferred upon 14 recipients on February 7, 2017, by then-outgoing UP President Alfredo E. Pascual. This second iteration comes toward the end of UP President Danilo L. Concepcion’s term. |
https://up.edu.ph/pasko-na-naman-sa-up-diliman-kasama-ang-up-symphony-orchestra/ | Pasko na naman sa UP Diliman kasama ang UP Symphony Orchestra! – University of the Philippines | Pasko na naman sa UP Diliman kasama ang UP Symphony Orchestra! Pasko na naman sa UP Diliman kasama ang UP Symphony Orchestra! December 6, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office For the past two years, the University of the Philippines Symphony Orchestra (UPSO) has continued its tradition of community concerts on the online platform. This year, for the first time since the pandemic, UPSO will be celebrating the holidays face-to-face with the Diliman community! Tagged as the orchestra for the people or Orkestra ng Bayan, UPSO serves as the official system-wide orchestra for the university. They maintain a roster of 65 members Exclusively from the alumni, students, faculty, and staff of all UP campuses. They have been under the direction of Maestro Josefino Chino Toledo since their inception in August 2018. In celebration of the season and the university, UPSO will be joined by four choirs from three different campuses: the UP Concert Chorus and the UP Singing Ambassadors from UP Diliman, the UP Los Baños Choral Ensemble, and the UP Manila Chorale. The UP Concert Chorus. The UP Los Baños Choral Ensemble. Photo from the UPLB Choral Ensemble Facebook page The UP Manila Chorale. The UP Singing Ambassadors. Ms. Mel Torre of The Blue Rats. The UP Symphony Orchestra will also be joined by alto soloist Mel Torre, known for her singing with the vocal trio Baihana and Manila’s longest-running blues band, The Blue Rats. The concert will feature a selection of popular tunes and holiday music to spread the joy and cheer of the season, including Lucio San Pedro’s Simbang Gabi, Juan Silos’ Kampana ng Simbahan, Maestro Toledo’s arrangement of Krismas Na, Darling (a medley of Pasko na Sinta Ko, I’ll Be Home for Christmas and Merry Christmas Darling), Ryan Cayabyab’s Mano Po Ninong, and many, many more! Catch UPSO on Thursday, 15 December 2022, at 6 pm at the University Amphitheater, UP Diliman! Free admission, with no registration required. See you there! |
https://up.edu.ph/new-up-president-to-take-the-helm/ | New UP President to take the helm – University of the Philippines | New UP President to take the helm New UP President to take the helm February 9, 2023 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez takes the helm as the University of the Philippines President on February 10, 2023, in UP Diliman, Quezon City. The turnover ceremony, to be held at 9 AM at the iconic Quezon Hall Lobby, will have outgoing UP President Danilo L. Concepcion and Jimenez delivering their respective valedictory and acceptance speeches. The UP Symphony Orchestra Quartet and the UP ROTC Band will provide music. On the eve of the turnover, at 6 PM at the UP Theater, a free-admission concert featuring the UP Symphony Orchestra and vocalists Kay Balajadia-Liggayu, Anya Evangelista, and Malvin Macasaet will be held to thank Concepcion and welcome Jimenez. Two UP Presidents Concepcion, a lawyer, is the 21st president of UP. He will be remembered as the UP president who “steered UP through the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling the University to contribute directly to the country’s success in overcoming the public health crisis” and “led efforts to transform UP into the University of the Future,” the program organizers said. Under Concepcion’s administration, the University instituted innovations in all its academic offerings and developed cutting-edge frontier programs. His administration raised UP’s budget for research, secured additional faculty and staff items, increased economic and non-economic benefits for all UP employees, and provided support and learning assistance to faculty, students, and staff. Facilities and infrastructure were completed transforming the campuses. During his term, UP rose in world university rankings, such that it is now among the top 500 universities in the world and the top 100 in Asia. Jimenez served in the UP Board of Regents, UP’s highest governing body, twice, first as Student Regent in 1992 and as Regent from 2016 to 2021. From 1993 to 2007, he served the government by handling national interest cases at the Office of the Secretary of Labor. He served with distinction in major global hotspots where OFWs have been endangered. As Labor Attaché from 1997 to 2005, Jimenez developed overseas labor markets and delivered a broad array of critical government services. Jimenez served as Deputy Administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration from 2005 to 2007. He garnered two Presidential citations for his performance in crises in Iraq and Lebanon., Jimenez is a published writer and an internationally recognized resource person on labor and migration. In his vision paper, Jimenez speaks of a UP that is a “global university,” and a research university focused on graduate and post-graduate programs and academic linkages. He sees UP continuing as a public service university helping government and industry while being a bastion of academic freedom. Jimenez advocates an Open Data Policy and digital transformation in learning and management. He also envisions UP helping raise the quality of undergraduate education in state universities and colleges. Singkaban at balanghai The programs for the turnover are titled “Singkaban at Balanghai: Pasasalamat at Pagsalubong.” Singkaban, the folk bamboo welcome arch, and balanghai, the Philippine ancient sea vessel—featured in the program visuals and numbers—hark to the origins of Concepcion and Jimenez. Singkaban art flourished in Bulacan, the home province of the outgoing president. Archaeological remains of the balanghai were discovered in Butuan, the home province of the incoming. According to renowned multimedia visual artist and UP College of Fine Arts professor Toym Imao, who conceptualized the design: “Both singkaban and balanghai are fitting visual metaphors for a portal that welcomes and sends off our leaders in the UP community—our barangay.” Eight singkaban arches in the shape of the prow of the balanghai will represent the UP constituent universities. The selection of the UP president undergoes a process involving a search committee, nomination, consultations, and election by the 11-member UP Board of Regents. A UP president serves a single six-year term as the Chief Academic Officer, Head of the University Faculty, and Chief Executive Officer. They are also co-chairs of the UP BOR. |
https://up.edu.ph/all-up-composers-featured-in-upsos-likhang-peyups/ | All-UP Composers Featured in UPSO’s Likhang Peyups! – University of the Philippines | All-UP Composers Featured in UPSO’s Likhang Peyups! All-UP Composers Featured in UPSO’s Likhang Peyups! March 3, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Catch the University of the Philippines Symphony Orchestra (UPSO) in LIKHANG PEYUPS on Friday, March 10, 2023, 6 pm, at the UP Theater! In alignment with the 2023 Arts Month theme “Kaloob”, the UPSO looks inward to salute the music of the UP Diliman community in its latest concert offering. The orchestra will perform the works of UP composers including those of National Artist for Music Ramon P. Santos, Josefino Chino Toledo, Christine Muyco, Marie Jocelyn Marfil, Mary Katherine Trangco, and Alexander John Villanueva. The homegrown composers of UP: (Clockwise from left) National Artist for Music Ramon P. Santos, UPSO’s Maestro Josefino Chino Toledo, Dr. Maria Christine Muyco of the UP College of Music’s Department of Composition and Theory, Alexander John Villanueva, Mary Katherine Trangco , and Dr. Marie Jocelyn Unajan Marfil of the UP College of Music’s Department of Composition and Theory. It is extremely rare for a full concert program to feature all living, Filipino composers of new music. However, it is precisely the kind of concert UPSO is proud to put together, especially as the Orkestra ng Bayan. Established by the Board of Regents during its 1337th meeting on August 30, 2018, UPSO serves as the official system-wide orchestra of the University of the Philippines, supported by the UP System Fund and hosted by the UP College of Music. Its main functions are as a repertory orchestra for musicians, a laboratory orchestra for Filipino composers, and a training orchestra for young conductors. Under the direction of Maestro Josefino Chino Toledo, the orchestra maintains a roster of 65 members exclusively from within the UP community including alumni, students, faculty, and staff, from all UP Campuses. They are the only orchestra in the country that regularly performs Filipino, Asian, contemporary, and new works in addition to the standard orchestra repertoire. Audience members will have the chance to meet the composers and ask questions about their works in Tanong at Kwentuhan on the same day at 5 pm, UP Theater Lobby. They can also win AUTOGRAPHED copies of FULL ORCHESTRA SCORES, with winners to be announced at the end of the concert! Likhang Peyups and the preceding Tanong at Kwentuhan are FREE and open to the public. The concert is produced in cooperation with the Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (OICA). Learn more about the concert, the composers, and the works to be performed on UPSO’s Facebook page and Instagram account. |
https://up.edu.ph/mga-tugtugin-ng-paglaya-sa-araw-ng-kalayaan/ | Mga Tugtugin ng Paglaya sa Araw ng Kalayaan – University of the Philippines | Mga Tugtugin ng Paglaya sa Araw ng Kalayaan Mga Tugtugin ng Paglaya sa Araw ng Kalayaan May 29, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The UP Symphony Orchestra during rehearsals at the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) in Taiwan. Photo by the UPSO. This June 12, the Philippines marks the 125th anniversary of its independence. It is an occasion that calls for jubilation as we celebrate not only freedom but what it means to be a Filipino. The University of the Philippines Symphony Orchestra (UPSO) and the UP College of Music will mount “Mga Tugtugin ng Paglaya” on June 10, 2023, 6:00 PM, at the UP Theater as an early Independence Day concert. The works to be featured include Lucio San Pedro’s Alamat ng Lahi and Kayumangging Malaya, Nicanor Abelardo’s piano concerto, Ryan Cayabyab’s Mi Ultimo Adios, and more. The UPSO will be joined by two faculty members of the UP College of Music: pianist Clement Acevedo, and baritone Raymond Leslie Diaz. This one-of-a-kind concert also marks the launch of the 60-piece UPSO Chorus made up of choristers from various colleges, institutions, and campuses of UP. The chorus will be led by chorus director Noemi Binag. From left: Prof. Clement Acevedo, pianist; Dr. Raymond Leslie Diaz, baritone; and Ms. Noemi Binag, chorus director of the soon-to-be-launched UPSO Chorus. Established by the UP Board of Regents during its 1337th meeting on August 30, 2018, the UPSO serves as the official system-wide orchestra of the University of the Philippines, supported by the UP System Fund and hosted by the UP College of Music. Known fondly as “Ang Orkestra ng Bayan”, the UPSO serves as a repertory orchestra for musicians, a laboratory orchestra for Filipino composers, and a training orchestra for young conductors. Under the direction of Maestro Josefino “Chino” Toledo, the orchestra maintains a roster of 65 members exclusively from within the UP community, including alumni, students, faculty, and staff, from all UP campuses. It is the only orchestra in the country that regularly performs Filipino, Asian, contemporary, and new works in addition to the standard orchestra repertoire. Mga Tugtugin ng Paglaya” is FREE and open to the public. For crowd control purposes, please register in advance at https://forms.gle/NuhiNgHeaepaeG3W8. Learn more about the concert and the works to be performed on UPSO’s Facebook page and Instagram account. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-cifal-philippines-offers-the-online-professional-course-on-global-migration-pcgm/ | UP-CIFAL Philippines offers the online Professional Course on Global Migration (PCGM) – University of the Philippines | UP-CIFAL Philippines offers the online Professional Course on Global Migration (PCGM) UP-CIFAL Philippines offers the online Professional Course on Global Migration (PCGM) April 6, 2021 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines Centre International de Formation des Authorités et Leaders Philippines (UP-CIFAL Philippines) offers the third Professional Course on Global Migration (PCGM) starting 6 April 2021. The PCGM is offered in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Philippines. The PCGM offers a comprehensive and pragmatic approach to addressing the challenges of migration governance and strengthening its relation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). The course aims to provide learners with a critical understanding of human mobility as linked to international laws, human rights, and gender equality and the diverse impacts of migration on social, cultural, and economic dimensions. The course offers an overview of the complex environment and processes of global migration and how these are addressed by states, civil society, private sector, and migrants and their societies. The pilot batch of the PCGM was launched in August 2019 with learners in mid- to senior-level positions from various government agencies. The second batch rolled out in December 2019 with learners from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Philippines. In 2021, due to a reasonable demand for such course, the UP-CIFAL Philippines, UNITAR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Philippines offers the PCGM via remote learning platform to international learners. Applicants for the first online PCGM come from 22 countries. For the first international batch, UP-CIFAL Philippines takes in at least 19 learners for the Spring Term (April to May) and another batch for the Fall Term (August to September). Some participants are on scholarship under the IOM Philippines and the Azure Scholarship. Learners from 15 countries are enlisted under the third run of the course for the Spring Term. PCGM professors and experts come from international organizations, local government, academe, civil society organizations, and the private sector, all with full experience and grounding on global migration. The course is conducted strictly online with both synchronous and asynchronous sessions. Queries related to the course may be sent to cifalphilippines@up.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-symphony-orchestra-to-celebrate-new-year-with-taiwan-partners/ | UP Symphony Orchestra to celebrate New Year with Taiwan partners – University of the Philippines | UP Symphony Orchestra to celebrate New Year with Taiwan partners UP Symphony Orchestra to celebrate New Year with Taiwan partners January 6, 2023 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta One of the most prominent performing groups from the University of the Philippines (UP) is headed to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, for its first international concert. The UP Symphony Orchestra (UPSO), representing the Philippines’ national university, will hold “Concerts of Good Will” on January 8 and 9. The UPSO, under the baton of Professor Emeritus Josefino “Chino” Toledo, will be performing Western, Taiwanese, and Philippine folk and classical works, including Dvorak’s Symphony 9 or the ‘New World Symphony,’ in celebration of a new era of friendship and cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines. The UPSO’s musical lineup is a celebration of the sounds of both cultures, featuring ‘Chinese Festival’ by Hsu Tsang-Houei and Professor Emeritus Chino Toledo’s ‘Kantus: Tagabawa,’ which is inspired by the chanting tradition of the Bagobo-Tagabawa people of southern Philippines. The UPSO’s “Concert of Good Will” on January 8 will be held at the prestigious National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) at 3:00 p.m. Ticket prices are 500, 800, 1000, and 1,500 NT$. Tickets are available at http://opentix.life or via email hanchien@stu.edu.tw. On January 9, the UPSO will hold a concert at the Conference Hall, Nanzih Campus, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST). For this concert, the UPSO will perform ‘Festive Overture’ and ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ to celebrate the hope and joy of the New Year. As a tribute to the overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan, the UPSO will also play ‘Overture to Philippine Folksongs’ and ‘Lahing Kayumanggi,’ written by National Artist for Music Lucio San Pedro to honor the Filipino race. Admission to the concert is free. To reserve tickets, please get in touch with Tzu-Yu Wu at (07)361-7141#22351 or email xcoffice01@nkust.edu.tw. The UPSO’s guest performer, mezzo-soprano Ms. Michelle Mariel Mariposa. Guest performer Ms. Michelle Mariel Mariposa will join the UPSO. Mariposa is a Filipino-Chinese mezzo-soprano. She is passionate about communicating truth and beauty through music, poetry, and rhetoric. She is pursuing her Master’s degree in Voice and Opera Performance at the Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA, under W. Stephen Smith. At Northwestern, Michelle is a recipient of the Eckstein Merit Scholarship. She has performed as a soloist for the Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble and the Bienen Contemporary Music Ensemble. The UPSO serves as the official university orchestra of UP, supported by the UP System Fund and hosted by the UP College of Music. A relatively young orchestra, the UPSO was established by the UP Board of Regents at its 1337th meeting on August 30, 2018. Its roster of 65 members comprises alumni, students, faculty, and administrative staff from all UP campuses. As such, UPSO functions as a training ground for composers and musicians and is the only orchestra in the country that regularly performs Filipino, Asian, contemporary, and new works in addition to the standard orchestra repertoire. The UPSO’s conductor and musical director, Professor Emeritus Josefino “Chino” Toledo. UPSO’s founding musical director Josefino “Chino” Toledo, is an international composer-conductor, a Professor Emeritus of composition, and a University Artist III at UP. Aside from directing the UPSO, he also serves as the chairperson of the Department of Composition and Theory of the UP College of Music. With its combination of musical virtuosity, commitment to the arts, creative spirit, and love for diverse musical traditions, the audience enjoys UPSO’s music programming. It always contains something new and exciting for them to experience. The orchestra ably represents UP and the Philippines worldwide with this performance in Taiwan. The UPSO’s two-day “Concert of Good Will” was made possible through the partnership and cooperation of its organizers: the UP System, the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Shu-Te University, and Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. It was co-organized by the Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan Association Incorporated, Association of Filipino Scholars in Taiwan (AFST) Century Voice Choir, and Association of Filipino New Immigrants in Taiwan (AFNIT). Follow the UPSO on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. In the spirit of academic partnership and cultural exchange, the UP Symphony Orchestra will hold its first international concert in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. |
https://up.edu.ph/call-for-auditions-for-the-up-symphony-orchestra/ | Call for auditions for the UP Symphony Orchestra – University of the Philippines | Call for auditions for the UP Symphony Orchestra Call for auditions for the UP Symphony Orchestra September 24, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Formally approved by the Board of Regents during its 1337th meeting on August 30, 2018, the University of the Philippines Symphony Orchestra (UPSO) will serve as the official system-wide orchestra of the University of the Philippines, supported by the UP System Fund and hosted by the UP College of Music. Under the musical direction of Prof. Josefino “Chino” Toledo, the orchestra shall consist of 65 members coming exclusively from within the UP community: including its alumni, students, faculty and staff from all UP campuses. It will function as a training ground for both composers and musicians, and as a representative of not only the University, but also of the country on the worldwide stage. The UPSO aims to mount at least six major concerts throughout every season. AUDITIONS FOR THE PIONEERING ROSTER OF INSTRUMENTALISTS ARE NOW OPEN! Please see the poster below for complete audition details. For inquiries, contact UPSO at: Email: info.upsymphonyorchestra@gmail.com Mobile: +63 920 9055175 Follow UPSO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/up.symphonyorch/ |
https://up.edu.ph/christmas-greetings-from-the-up-president/ | Christmas Greetings from the UP President – University of the Philippines | Christmas Greetings from the UP President Christmas Greetings from the UP President December 18, 2020 | Written by Office of the President Sa pagtatapos ng mapanghamong taon na ito, nawa’y ang ating pagmumuni-muni’y magpaalala sa atin sa mga bagay na tunay na mahalaga—ang biyaya ng pamilya at kaibigan, panahong binigyang-kabuluhan ng paglilingkod, at paniniwalang may magandang bukas na darating. Isang makahulugang pagdiriwang ng Pasko sa ating lahat! — Danilo L. Concepcion Pangulo ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas |
https://up.edu.ph/upd-caps-2021-with-2nd-virtual-lantern-parade/ | UPD caps 2021 with 2nd virtual Lantern Parade – University of the Philippines | UPD caps 2021 with 2nd virtual Lantern Parade UPD caps 2021 with 2nd virtual Lantern Parade December 23, 2021 | Written by Fred Dabu The winning virtual lantern of the UP Diliman College of Arts and Letters. Screenshot from the Livestream of the UPD virtual lantern parade. The much-awaited Lantern Parade 2021 of the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) campus was held online for the second year and on-ground at the College of Fine Arts (CFA) studio on December 21. This year’s parade hopes to inspire UP constituencies across the nation and every Filipino affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and recent calamities, such as typhoon Odette. The livestreamed year-ender featured messages of hope from top University officials, uplifting music and dance performances, and the presentation of creatively crafted Christmas lanterns made of hybrid multimedia materials and then finalized in video format. Honoring the frontliners of UP Diliman. Screenshot from the Livestream of the UPD virtual lantern parade. With the theme “Ugnayan at Pagpupugay: Tulay ng Buhay at Pag-asa Ngayong Pandemya” (roughly translated as “connecting and giving praise: bridge for life and hope in this time of pandemic”), this year’s lantern parade, held virtually since 2020 in observance of safety protocols during the pandemic, aims to rekindle hope and the spirit of unity in everyone, and to give due recognition to the University’s personnel, its pandemic frontliners, and various units, and their efforts in addressing the challenges currently faced by the nation. Watch the replay of the UPD virtual lantern parade here. UPD Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo explained that the annual celebration is vital to the UP community, although the Lantern Parade now is much simpler and more solemn. “Mahirap ang pinagdaanan nating lahat sa taong ito. Nariyan ang pandemya at sunud-sunod na trahedya. Pero huwag nating kalilimutang may liwanag sa gitna ng dilim. Tulad ng mga parol na inyong nilikha, sana lahat tayo ay maging instrumento ng pagkakaisa. Sana lahat tayo ay maging tanglaw ng pag-asa. Maligayang Pasko sa lahat,” Nemenzo said. UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, in the message read by Vice President for Public Affairs Elena E. Pernia, praised the entire UP community for all its efforts to save lives, promote health, and guide policymakers during the pandemic. He added that the lanterns symbolize the individual and collective initiatives that give hope to our lives. “Ang paglingap natin sa isa’t isa ay di magmamaliw, bagkus pinatatatag tayo bawat araw na tayo’y di nagpapagupo. Salamat sa isa na namang taong nasa inyong piling at pagsasama. Mabuhay ang UP nating mahal. Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon, mga ka-UP!” Concepcion said. UPD Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs (VCCA) Aleli B. Bawagan presented the participants and winners of the 2021 Lantern Parade. Of the almost 30 academic and administrative units and student groups that submitted their video lanterns for the virtual parade, the “Walang Hanggang Pag-alab” of the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) won first prize. The lanterns from the College of Home Economics (CHE), the Asian Center (AC), and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) received second, third, and honorable mention prizes, respectively. Also, livestreamed were the video lanterns from the following units: College of Architecture, College of Education (with UP Integrated School and National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development), College of Law, College of Science, Institute of Mathematics, College of Social Work and Community Development, Asian Institute of Tourism, College of Music and CFA, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration (OVCA), Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs (OVCCA), National College of Public Administration and Governance Student Council, and UP Business Administration Council. One of the video lanterns from Hall-of-Famer UP College of Fine Arts. Screenshot from the Livestream of the UPD virtual lantern parade. Video lanterns from the students of the CFA comprised a distinct category for the event. The winners were: for first prize, “Ang Ilaw ng Pag-asa” by Visual Communication (VC) 26 Block X under Prof. Melvin Calingo; for 2nd prize, “Ipagpatuloy ang Liwanag ng Pag-asa: Ang Kuwento ng Community Pantry” by VC FA 14 Block W under Prof. Jose Manuel Sicat; and for 3rd prize, “A Year in Automata” by FA 14 Materials Class Sections UID1 and UID2 under Profs. Michael Shivers and Fortunato dela Peña Jr. “Frontliners Araw-araw” by VC 26 Block Y under Prof. Joy Ilagan was awarded honorable mention. UPD Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (VCSA) Louise Jashil R. Sonido conveyed the University’s recognition and gratitude to the officials and personnel who comprise the UPD COVID-19 Task Force, UP Health Service, Silungang Molave, UP CHK Bakunahan sa Diliman, HOPE 7 (Kamia Temporary Isolation Facility), and the Philippine Genome Center. She also thanked the offices and staff that keep the University in operation: the OVCCA, with the Campus Maintenance Office, Public Safety and Security Office, Diliman Environmental Management Office; the OVCSA, with the Office of Student Housing and University Food Service; the OVCA; the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development; Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; and the committees that they formed. Screenshot from the Livestream of the UPD virtual lantern parade. Members of the UP Dance Company, UP Dancesport Society, UP Filipiniana Dance Group, UP Streetdance Club, UP Symphony Orchestra, UP Madrigal Singers, UP Concert Chorus, UP Staff Chorale, and many more personnel and students participated with their heartfelt performances during the virtual lantern parade and year-end program. College of Mass Communication alumna Rain Matienzo and CAL Prof. Marvin Olaes served as emcees. |
https://up.edu.ph/upsos-konsyerto-kamerata-to-present-chamber-music-and-the-philippine-premiere-of-pyagsawitan/ | UPSO’s “Konsyerto Kamerata” to present chamber music and the Philippine premiere of “Pyagsawitan” – University of the Philippines | UPSO’s “Konsyerto Kamerata” to present chamber music and the Philippine premiere of “Pyagsawitan” UPSO’s “Konsyerto Kamerata” to present chamber music and the Philippine premiere of “Pyagsawitan” March 22, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office In the late 1700s and early 1800s, a trend began of writing music for smaller groups of three, four, or slightly more. Friends and family members would gather around and play these pieces for entertainment at home or in smaller rooms—or “chambers”—resulting in what we know today as “chamber” music. UP College of Music’s Dr. Marie Jocelyn Marfil, composer of “Pyagsawitan”, which will premiere in this concert. Photo from the UPSO. Contributed photo. This coming March 25, 2022, the University of the Philippines Symphony Orchestra (UPSO) presents its second chamber music concert, “Konsyerto Kamerata”, featuring its members playing in smaller ensembles. Get the chance to hear all sections of the orchestra, starting with the strings playing movements from String Trio in G Minor by Alexander Borodin and 2 Morceaux de Salon, Op. 53 by Georg Goltermann. The woodwinds follow with an arrangement of Gustav Holst’s Jupiter for woodwind quintet and Ole Guapa by Malando, while the brasses perform two movements from Oskar Böhme’s Sextet for Brass in E-flat minor, Op.30, and a horn quartet arrangement of Astor Piazzolla’s Adios Nonino. The percussion section then takes center stage with their rendition of The Infantryman by Shaun Tilburg. UPSO takes pride in its diverse membership, featuring members from various campuses, colleges, and offices of the University. The concert will include Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto in B Minor for four violins, featuring a UP Diliman Chemical Engineering faculty member, a UP Los Baños BS Applied Physics graduate, a UP Manila Occupational Therapy student, and a UP Manila College of Pharmacy graduate. They will be accompanied on keyboard by a UP College of Music student. Lastly, the concert will include the Philippine premiere of “Pyagsawitan” by Dr. Marie Jocelyn Marfil. Dr. Marfil is an Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines College of Music, Composition and Theory Department, and also the Coordinator of the Associate in Arts, Music Program. Her compositions have been performed worldwide, including in the Philippines, Belgium, China, Japan, Malaysia, Ukraine, Vietnam, and the USA. She is a multi-awarded film music composer, researcher, and passionate bandurria player. Catch the premiere of “Konsyerto Kamerata” along with all previous and upcoming UPSO concerts on the orchestra’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. The premiere is set for Friday March 25, 7pm, and will be available for viewing until April 3. |
https://up.edu.ph/international-tenor-conducts-a-master-class-for-up-students/ | International tenor conducts a master class for UP students – University of the Philippines | International tenor conducts a master class for UP students International tenor conducts a master class for UP students October 19, 2022 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta University Professor Mario Antonio Diaz-Varas of the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg coaches a UP voice student in advanced techniques in solo singing at the UP College of Music. Photo from the UP System Office of International Linkages Facebook page. From October 3 to 7, 11 students from the Voice Department of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Music were given a master class in voice and solo singing by Univ. Prof. Mario Antonio Diaz-Varas, professor for solo voice at Universität Mozarteum Salzburg and international relations coordinator for the ASEAN European Academic University Network (ASEA-UNINET), of which UP is a member. The master class culminated in a concert performance by Prof. Diaz’s students on the evening of October 7 at the UP Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM) auditorium, with leading international pianist Ms. Tomoko Aikawa as accompanying artist. Officials from the UP System, the UP College of Music, the UP College of Science, and the IESM, as well as the friends and families of the student participants, attended the concert. Prof. Diaz and Ms. Aikawa onstage just before the concert that would conclude the five-day voice masterclass. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO) In her opening remarks during the concert performance, UP Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and UP System Office of International Linkages Director Imee Su Martinez thanked Prof. Diaz and Ms. Aikawa for visiting the Philippines and sharing their expertise with UP’s voice students. According to Martinez, Prof. Diaz was intrigued by Filipino singers’ skill and vocal knowledge and came to UP to find out the secret of Filipino singing at the very source. ” “As Prof. Diaz repeatedly said in his master class, the secret of Filipino singing perhaps is in the food. While our food may have made a difference in our vocal talents, in my opinion, the skills and talents of our students are honed and shaped by our wonderful and very dedicated faculty of the College of Music,” Martinez said. UP AVP for Academic Affairs and OIL Director Imee Su Martinez opens the concert by thanking the internationally renowned tenor for sharing his knowledge with UP students. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO) Diaz, a world-renowned tenor, echoed Martinez during his remarks, stating that throughout all his travels and exchanges in the ASEAN continent, “the most beautiful color of voices I hear is in UP.” He praised the student participants as “very, very intelligent” and expressed how “very, very happy” he was to work with them. He also thanked the UP College of Music for hosting his voice master class and described the College and UP as “a healthy university.” “I like when professors have different opinions. So long it’s like that, the University is alive because of the discussion, disputation, and argumentation to defend your thesis,” he said. Prof. Diaz praises UP students as “very, very intelligent,” noting that the “most beautiful color of voices” can be heard in UP. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO) Finally, he counseled the student participants that “sometimes an artist should take critique and do the critique because my philosophy about critique on the stage is that protection is good, but overprotection is destructive.” The 11 student-participants who performed songs by classical composers, arias from operas, and a Filipino kundiman during the concert were: Ms. Maria Isabel Zavala; Mr. Jedidiah Petuta; Ms. Daniella Silab; Ms. Lis Fortun; Mr. Ben Girard Valdez; Mr. Aadric Jan Cayanan; Ms. Ma. Francesca Louise Mata; Mr. Mart Nicholson Jaluag; Ms. Margarita Lugue; Ms. Lhareen Lazo; and, Mr. Archibald Dalupang. Prof. Diaz’s eleven students were waiting to show off what they had learned. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO) In his closing remarks, UP College of Music Dean La Verne C. Dela Peña thanked Prof. Diaz and Ms. Aikawa and especially thanked the student participants for giving the audience “a wonderful way to end a very special way for us at the College of Music.” He said that the voice master class is the “first time our students came back to celebrate our college fair to mark our 106th anniversary”—and the first time for many music students to set foot inside the University, let alone the College. “Two years of the pandemic has devasted our music community, especially our singers, who have been denied performance venues because of the nature of their art, so Maestro Diaz’s coming this week has allowed them to find their voice again,” he finished. UP College of Music Dean Laverne Dela Peña on welcoming Music students to UP—many for the first time. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO) Diaz began his musical career at an early age, studying concert guitar as a young student at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, followed by singing studies at the Stockholm University College of Opera with Maestro Nicolai Gedda. After completing his opera studies at Stockholm University College of Opera, he had his first engagement at the Royal Dramatical Theatre, where he demonstrated his acting talent under the direction of Ingmar Bergman. He worked with well-known conductors such as Carlo Franci, Bruno Rigacci, Sixten Ehrling, and Siegfried Koehler. He has been a professor at the Mozarteum University since October 2009 and accompanies young talents on their way into the opera world. Diaz has worked as a singing professor in the summer academy several times and is in great demand internationally for master classes. In 2018, he received the “Honorary Professor of the Kemerovo State University of Culture” of the Russian Federation. Until 2019 he worked in the senate of the Mozarteum University in Salzburg as curia spokesman for the professors. |
https://up.edu.ph/renovation-of-the-up-college-of-music-complex-is-now-underway/ | Renovation of the UP College of Music complex is now underway – University of the Philippines | Renovation of the UP College of Music complex is now underway Renovation of the UP College of Music complex is now underway December 12, 2022 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The soon-to-be new façade of the historic Abelardo Hall Auditorium of the UP College of Music. Image from the UP ODPI. The University of the Philippines (UP) College of Music held the first concrete-pouring ceremony for its new building to be constructed and for the renovation of the Abelardo Hall Auditorium on December 1, 2022. The UP Diliman College of Music complex is composed of the Abelardo Hall Auditorium (AHA), the Music Resource Hall (MRC), and the College of Music Main building and Annex building. A newly added structure, the Chamber Music Hall (CMH), is situated at the rear portion of the complex but has already ceased construction, leaving the building incomplete. The AHA, meanwhile, is in dire need of renovation, while the MRC, although recently completed, did not include proper cable management for its data and LAN systems. The existing annex building also needs renovations. UP President Danilo Concepcion. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO) According to a project brief prepared by the UP Office of Design and Planning Initiatives (UP ODPI), the project will include the completion of construction and finishing of the CMH; construction of the path walk and installation of data and LAN for the MRC; renovation of the ceiling and roofing of the Annex Building; renovation of the Abelardo Hall Auditorium; and, construction of the Abelardo Hall Auditorium Extension. The estimated project cost is a little over P90M. The brief program was attended by: UP President Danilo L. Concepcion; UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo, who gave the welcoming remarks; UP College of Music Dean Laverne David C. Dela Pena; Department of Public Works and Highways-Quezon City Second District Engineer Ramon P. Devanadera; and, other UP System and UP Diliman officials as well as officials, faculty and staff of the College of Music. UP Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell P. Capili served as master of ceremonies. During the ceremony, Concepcion congratulated the UP College of Music on its continued growth and commitment to nurturing the country’s best talents in music and dance, conducting outstanding research in music and the performing arts, and documenting and promoting the country’s indigenous music and instruments. Likewise, he said, the historic Abelardo Hall, which has seen the performances of many of the country’s premier musicians, including several National Artists, also deserves to be given importance and to prepare it to serve many more generations of UP music students. An aerial view of the proposed UP College of Music complex. The entrance to the UP College of Music complex. The courtyard. The Chamber Music Hall façade. The cafeteria at night. The dance studio. Above and below: perspectives of the renovated Abelardo Hall Auditorium. |
https://up.edu.ph/baletes-mouse-new-genus-of-shrew-mice-named-in-honor-of-filipino-biologist/ | “Balete’s mouse”: New genus of “shrew mice” named in honor of Filipino biologist – University of the Philippines | “Balete’s mouse”: New genus of “shrew mice” named in honor of Filipino biologist “Balete’s mouse”: New genus of “shrew mice” named in honor of Filipino biologist August 19, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office One of the members of the newly discovered genus, “Balete’s mouse, “was caught on camera. Photo by Danilo Balete. They might not get as much attention as the Amazon Rainforest or the Great Barrier Reef, but the mountains of the Philippines are some of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Inch for inch, these misty cloud forests are home to more unique species of mammals per square mile than anywhere else on Earth. Finding these mammals, most of which are tiny and hard to spot, is challenging work for even the most seasoned scientists. But the late biologist Danilo “Danny” Balete, University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños alumnus, lecturer at the UP Diliman Institute of Biology, and former research associate in the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, had a special knack for fieldwork. One of the mice he discovered turned out to be not just a new species but a new genus entirely. “In the past several decades, we’ve learned just how incredibly important the Philippines are in terms of being home to mammals that are found nowhere else, and a lot of that knowledge can be traced back to fieldwork led by Danny Balete,” says Larry Heaney, the curator of mammals at Chicago’s Field Museum and senior author of the paper describing the new mouse in the Journal of Mammalogy. “Naming a new species after anyone is a big deal, a major honor given to people who make long-term, high-impact contributions to biodiversity science,” says Dakota Rowsey, the study’s first author and the vertebrate collections manager at Arizona State University and research associate at the Field Museum. “Naming a new genus after someone is one of the highest honors biologists can bestow.” “Sky islands” in the Philippines The mountainous geography of the Philippines contributes to its biodiversity. Its high mountains are cooler and much wetter than the surrounding lowlands, making it difficult for small mammals to get from one mountain peak to the next. As a result, they tend to stay isolated on their own “sky islands,” evolving separately from each other and forming new species. “The taller and the bigger the mountain range, the more species of mammals will be living there that don’t live anywhere else in the world,” says Heaney. Filipino biodiversity scientist Filipino biologist Danny Balete posing with children. Photo by Larry Heaney, The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. Heaney has been studying the mammals of the Philippines for 40 years, and he first met Danny Balete in the late 1980s. At the time, Balete had completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from UPLB. He was already making a name for himself with his love of nature and skill at fieldwork. “I was establishing a research program and asked, ‘Who would be a good, enthusiastic young person to take into the field?’ And several people immediately said, ‘Danny Balete.’ So I invited him to do field work with me, and he did fantastically well,” remembers Heaney. “He was just a superb field biologist. Danny could identify every plant, every frog, every bug, everything that you encountered. It was just astounding.” Balete and Heaney went on to work together for the next 25 years until Balete’s sudden death in 2017. “Danny contributed hugely to scientific knowledge about biological diversity in the Philippines. His enjoyment of biodiversity was infectious, making him a mentor and inspiration to a generation of researchers and conservationists,” says Mariano Roy Duya, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Biology, UP Diliman, and co-author of the new publication. “By the time of his death at far too young, he was already one of the most prominent biodiversity scientists working in the Philippines.” Even after his death, Balete continues to shape what scientists know about Philippine mammals. When scientists discover something in the field, it often takes years for their work to be analyzed, written up, and published. That is the case with the newly described shrew mouse. A new kind of mouse Danny Balete in the midst of conducting fieldwork deep in the Philippine forests and mountains. Photo by Larry Heaney, The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. In 2007 and 2010, Balete went on expeditions to Mount Kampalili on the island of Mindanao as part of a Field Museum collaboration with the Philippine Eagle Foundation. The museum wanted to know what mammals lived alongside one of the largest and most critically endangered birds, the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi). While on Mount Kampalili, Balete and the team made a startling discovery: a dark brown mouse with small eyes and a long, tapering nose like a shrew, different from anything he had seen on that island. It looked more like mice he had seen hundreds of miles away on the island of Luzon. “High up in the mountains, Danny was able to get cell phone service, so he sent me a text message, saying, We just caught this animal that looks a lot like the ones from Luzon, and it should not be here,'” recalls Heaney. “So he immediately recognized that this was something cool.” Three specimens of the new mouse were shipped to the Field Museum for further analysis to confirm Balete’s hunch. And despite Balete’s death, his colleagues continued to study the specimens from his fieldwork. Rowsey, then a postdoctoral researcher with Heaney, led a DNA analysis of the shrew mouse and found that Balete was right. The rodent was different from any species known to science. “That DNA study demonstrated that the new mouse was not related to the species up in the northern Philippines but to species from Mindanao. It appears as though this is a remarkable case of what biologists call convergence—distantly related species that have independently evolved to resemble each other in ways that allow them to use habitats and resources in similar ways,” says Rowsey. “Balete’s mouse” Animals, plants, fungi, and other organisms, are named scientifically based on what their closest relatives are. Humans, for instance, are Homo sapiens. Sapiens is our species, and we are part of the larger genus Homo, which includes our now extinct closest relatives, such as Neanderthals, Homo neanderthalensis. And since a genus is a higher level group than a species, describing a whole new genus, like this mouse, is a bigger deal than finding a new species. “New species of mammals are being discovered globally at a considerable clip, maybe 50 to 100 new species per year,” says Heaney. “Finding a brand new genus, a previously unknown-to-science genus like this, only happens a couple of times per year. In our 40 years of intensive study of Philippine mammals, this is one of nearly 50 new species, but just the fourth new genus we discovered.” The new genus’ scientific name Baletemys means “Balete’s mouse,” in “honor of Balete’s work in discovering it and so many other creatures. “As we began picking up the pieces after his death, it became obvious to us that we had to name this new mouse after him. He deserves this,” says Duya. Of mice and eagles In addition to honoring Balete, the researchers say the new genus is essential because it is another puzzle piece in understanding the diversity of life in the Philippines. Demonstrating that Mount Kampalili is home to a mouse found nowhere else on Earth may bolster conservation efforts by indigenous communities, which would help the mouse’s neighbors, including the critically endangered Philippine eagles. “It’s really important to show that when we protect one species, like the magnificent Philippine eagle, we protect our unique biological wealth and cultural heritage,” says Jayson Ibanez, co-author. Ibanez is a senior lecturer at UP Mindanao, an adjunct professor at the UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management, and Director of Research and Conservation of the Philippine Eagle Foundation. The Philippine eagle and the new “Balete’s mouse” are neighbors to the indigenous Mandaya Ethnic Tribe of Mt. Kampalili. “Indigenous peoples get very excited whenever they learn that they share their homeland with a unique lifeform. And in this case, when we help protect Mt. Kampalili, we also protect the primary watershed, airsheds, and biocultural sanctuaries for much of southeastern Mindanao, giving huge benefits to all the people who live here. With all the threats from watershed destruction and climate change, we need all the help we can get,” says Ibanez. A snapshot of the mossy forest in Mt. Kampalili. Photo by Danilo Balete. Press Release by the Field Museum Public Relations, press@fieldmuseum.org. Sharon A. Jansa of the University of Minnesota and Eric A. Rickart of the Natural History Museum of Utah also contributed to the study. Download the Journal of Mammalogy paper here. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-mindanao-unveils-newest-food-security-research-to-the-press/ | UP Mindanao Unveils Newest Food Security Research to the Press – University of the Philippines | UP Mindanao Unveils Newest Food Security Research to the Press UP Mindanao Unveils Newest Food Security Research to the Press July 17, 2017 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office “Food security is one of our most basic concerns . Without it we endanger everything else that is vital to us – from political stability to social justice”. This urgent reminder from UP Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Dalisay, Jr. kicked off the Media Luncheon on Food Security for Sustainable Development held at UP Mindanao on the afternoon of July 6, 2017 by the Communicating Science and Technology in UP (CoST UP) Program. The event provided an opportunity for three scientists from UP Mindanao’s Food and Agribusiness research niche to have a conversation about their research with members of the Mindanao media. Taking a ‘ridge to reef’ approach, the featured scientists gave presentations and took questions on topics that contribute to food security and sustainability in both agricultural and marine settings. Joining guests from the media were faculty, students and officials from UP Mindanao, including Chancellor Sylvia B. Concepcion and the deans of all three of its colleges. Dr. Juma Novie Alviola took to the stage first, with a presentation on the use of sago flour to improve the nutritional profile of selected food products. Alviola’s team studied the effects of substituting various amounts of sago flour in products such as bread and puto. The team found that its use increased the crude ash and fiber content in these products, while decreasing their fat and protein content. However, for bread, no greater than a 10% substitution of sago for wheat flour resulted in preference by consumers that equalled that of regular bread – a problem that puto did not encounter up to the project’s substitution limit of 50%. This and other results are prompting additional research by Alviola’s team to find wheat alternatives that offer value-added products for the growing gluten-free market. Dr. Emma Ruth Bayogan presented research that hoped to combat the considerable postharvest losses in pummelo – the world’s largest citrus fruit. Knowing that prolonging the shelf life of the fruit via low temperatures was expensive, Bayogan’s team evaluated the use of the less expensive chemicals, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and chitosan on Magallanes pummelo for that purpose, instead. They found that using 500 parts per billion of 1-MCP and 1.5% chitosan both had great potential as postharvest treatments to maintain Magallanes pummelo quality under ambient conditions. Dr. Emma Ruth Bayogan of UP Mindanao answers a question about her research on the Magallanes pummelo. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Finally, Dr. Cleto Nañola presented his team’s research on the connectedness of reef fish populations along a 300-km. span that included Pujada Bay, Sarangani Bay and the Davao Gulf. Noting differences in body shape, mouths, fins and gills among three species of fish, Nañola’s team determined that even at shorter distances of around 100 km., populations of the reef fish were “completely different from each other” – highlighting the importance of helping preserve both the fish themselves and the environment they inhabit. These presentations were followed by an extensive question and answer segment, where members of the press got to exchange views with the scientists on issues ranging from better dissemination of these findings to reaching out to other government office with similar mandates. Members of the press in attendance included Boom Castillo (Sun Star Davao), Yas Ocampo (Mindanao Times), Joe Palabao (Business Week Mindanao/ Mindanao Daily), Nitz Escarpe (DXRP/Radyo Pilipinas Dabaw), Dhelle Alo (MSU-Gen San), Arnold Colama and Cy Bermudez (Radyo ni Juan), Bien Abanos (DXGN), Angelita “Alma” Mahinay (DXOW/DXKT), Roan Abasolo (City Info. Office), Rhodamae Hernandez and Bong Alis (Peoples Television), and Paulo Rizal (Davao Today) Joe Palabao of Mindanao News Daily kicks of the question and answer segment with a query to the presenting scientists. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) In his opening remarks, Vice President Dalisay highlighted the importance of strengthening the bridge between science and journalism through similar events to address the country’s food security problem and other issues. Despite its less-than-glamorous nature, Dalisay noted that the science beat in journalism was “one of the most important” due to the explicit need to develop a scientific culture in the country. “Artists and scientists have this in common – nobody listens to us. Far too often we leave our most important policy decisions to politicians, priests, generals, and businessmen. Far too often we rely on emotion and opinion to carry the day,” Dalisay said. The CoST UP project is one of the University’s primary initiatives to help bring science closer to both the media and the public. Also included in the project’s plans for 2017 in addition to this media luncheon, are holding the 21st Lopez Jaena Community Journalism Workshop for science communication in the Visayas and hosting the first-ever UP Science Journalism Awards. (Andre Encarnacion, UP MPRO) |
https://up.edu.ph/agham-sining-features-ups-best-technologies-and-creative-works-for-2022/ | “Agham + Sining” features UP’s best technologies and creative works for 2022 – University of the Philippines | “Agham + Sining” features UP’s best technologies and creative works for 2022 “Agham + Sining” features UP’s best technologies and creative works for 2022 December 15, 2022 | Written by Fred Dabu Some of UP’s most brilliant and productive faculty and researchers were recognized during the festival. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO) The University of the Philippines (UP) System, through the initiatives of the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, presented some of the best technologies and creative works from across all the Constituent Universities in a two-day event held at the Henry Sy Sr. Hall, UP Bonifacio Global City campus from November 28 to 29. Dubbed “Agham + Sining: UP Innovation and Knowledge Festival 2022”, hundreds of participants from UP units across the nation and the University’s government and industry partners attended the event on-site at the said venue and online via Zoom and TVUP’s live streaming platforms using YouTube and Facebook. Day 1 of “Agham + Sining” also featured the ceremonial signing of the memoranda of agreement with UP’s various partners from industry and government. Further research and creative works that promote quality education, health and wellbeing, innovation, culture, and the arts and address some of the UN Sustainable Development Goals were presented on Day 2. The University’s most brilliant and productive faculty and researchers were also given recognition during the festival. The names of the recipients of the Invention Disclosure Incentive and awardees of the UP Scientific & Arts Productivity System, UP’s Scientists and Artists for the years 2020-2022 onwards, were announced during the Conferment Ceremony. UP’s best technology partners were recognized during the “Agham + Sining: UP Innovation and Knowledge Festival 2022”. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). Gawang-Pinoy, Tatak UP Among the best technologies (product and partnership indicated) presented were: Bio-N (UP Los Baños and Agri Specialist Inc.); SARAI (UP Los Baños and Philippine Maize Federation Inc.); Dengue Kit and Covid PCR Kit (UP System and MTEK); Yerbabuena (UP Manila and Trevenodd); Mussel Glycogen (UP Visayas and BG Fruits and Nuts Manufacturing Corp.); VISSER (UP Diliman and Making Technology); Cordillera Weaving (UP Baguio Corditex and LGU Creative Baguio City Council); PteraBooster (UP Cebu and Chesed Farm); and TVUP Cignal TV Channel 101 (UP System and Cignal TV). For the ceremonial signing with industry partners, the following products were featured: Plasma Cleaning for Food Equipment (UP Diliman and Filipinas Oro de Cacao); Tuna Jerky (UP Visayas and Roselient Food Manufacturing); Lagundi for Covid (UP Manila and Trevenodd); sambong for Hyperurecemia (UP Manila and Pascual Pharma Corp.); Cordillera Weaving (UP Baguio / PTRI); and, DiWa–Disease Watch Web Application (UP Mindanao and DOH Regional and LGU). UP officials pose with some of UP’s various partners from government and industry. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO) Highly Informative Plenary Sessions The festival’s second day featured six plenary discussions addressing issues in education, health, culture, and some of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Discussants were: Dr. Grace Alfonso (UP Open University), Dr. Luis Sison (UP Diliman), Dr. May Lim (UP Diliman), Prof. Rita Ramos (UP Open University), Dr. Corazon de Ungria (UP Diliman), Prof. Nicolas Deocampo (UP Diliman), Dr. Joey Ocon (UP Diliman), Dr. Dante Canlas (UP Diliman), Dr. Raul Fabella (UP Diliman), Dr. Rizalina De Leon (UP Diliman), Dr. Rex Demafelis (UP Los Baños), Dr. Leo Armada (UP Diliman), Dr. Charlotte Chiong (UP Manila), Dr. Carissa Paz Dioquino (UP Manila), Dr. Roel Ocampo (UP Diliman), Dr. Cedric Angelo Festin (UP Diliman), Dr. Nathaniel Orillaza (UP Manila), Dr. Joel Hassan Tolentino (UP Mindanao), Dr. Annalyn Salvador-Amores (cultural heritage), Monica Gayle Alcudia (UP Cebu Fab Labs), Dr. Fortunato Dela Peña Jr. (UP Diliman Fab Labs), Ms. Rose Mueda (tuna jerky), Dr. Lilia Fernando (nanobiosensors), Dr. Melvin Pasaporte (direct lactic acid technology), and Dr. Joyce Ibana (Phil. Carabao Center). Some of the plenary speakers spoke during the festival’s second day. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO) UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, Vice President for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Banzon Bautista, and Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis G. Sison delivered inspiring messages at the start of the festival. Dr. Gonzalo Serafica, TTBDO consultant, shared tips on succeeding in the biotechnology enterprise. He said UP’s inventors and innovators should always inform University administrators of the kinds of support that they need for them to be able to scale up their research capacity and production capability and to make projects sustainable. He emphasized the importance of sustainability for projects to impact the health and development of the country. Some Tatak-UP products and creative works were displayed during the “Agham + Sining: UP Innovation and Knowledge Festival 2022”. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO) Presenting the UP products to the audience. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO) Audience members listen closely during the festival. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO) The “Agham + Sining” festival was live-streamed by TVUP and can be viewed via TVUP’s YouTube channel. Watch the replays: Agham+Sining: UP Innovation and Knowledge Festival 2022 | Day 1 [ Agham+Sining: UP Innovation and Knowledge Festival 2022 | Day 2 |
https://up.edu.ph/msi-expedition-kalayaan-island-group/ | UP sends off MSI’s expedition to the Kalayaan Island Group – University of the Philippines | UP sends off MSI’s expedition to the Kalayaan Island Group UP sends off MSI’s expedition to the Kalayaan Island Group October 20, 2023 | Written by Franco Gargantiel II An expedition for the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) is about to commence in October 2023. To celebrate this launch of this expedition, a send-off party was held at the BOR Room of Quezon Hall in UP Diliman, with UP-MSI and UP System officials in attendance. The expeditionary team, which is comprised of 13 researchers from UP-MSI, two from the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), and 11 ship crew of M/V PANATA, will sail to the Pagasa Island in the Kalayaan Island Group in Palawan. This expedition, which will take place from October 19 to 30, is part of the UP-MSI’s twice yearly cruise to Pagasa and is partly funded by the national government funded-project entitled “Philippine Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System” (POMPS). The project specifically aims to conduct field and oceanographic surveys as part of the periodic monitoring of the immediate environments around Pagasa island; to conduct maintenance activities on the Pagasa Island Research Station systems; and to survey the island for a possible location of an Earthquake Monitoring station on the island. This is the fifth such expedition the UP-MSI has undertaken this year. Representatives from the UP-MSI gave a brief overview of their upcoming expedition. These representatives include UP-MSI’s director Dr. Laura T. David, Chief Scientist of the expedition Dr. Cesar L. Villanoy, Dr. Caroline Marie B. Jaraula, Leilani A. Solera, Dolly C. Manic, Jimiah Villanueva, Mariel Jean Carreon, Natasha Charmaine Tamayo, and Yam Tolentino. UP-MSI Director Laura T. David (3rd from right) explains the details of the expedition. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UPMPRO) When asked about the importance of this expedition, David shared that only 40% of the coral reefs in the Philippines are in the West Philippine Sea. “And yet, we cannot monitor these regularly. So how do you manage it? How do you make adjustments to how you take care of it? How do you extract the resources from it?” she pointed out. She explained that it is important to make regular expeditions such as this to ensure the safety and protection of these natural resources. “The more ships we can have there, and the more institutes that can join us, the better,” she said. Among the UP System officials in attendance were Executive Vice President Jose Fernando T. Alcantara and Vice President for Public Affairs Rolando B. Tolentino, as well as Adviser for Collaboration and Alliance Building-State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Colleges and Universities (LCUs) Mr. Felizardo Colambo, and UP Political Science Assistant Professor Ranjit Singh Rye. UP System officials send off the UP-MSI’s expedition team. From left to right: Mr. Felizardo Colambo; UP Executive Vice President Jose Fernando Alcantara; UP Political Science Assistant Professor Ranjit Singh Rye; and UP Vice President for Public Affairs Roland Tolentino. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UPMPRO) Both the MSI and the UP System look forward to the success of this expedition and the benefits it will bring for both UP and the country. UP System and UP Marine Science Institute officials at the send-off. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UPMPRO) |
https://up.edu.ph/up-still-one-of-top-400-universities-in-the-world/ | UP still one of top 400 universities in the world – University of the Philippines | UP still one of top 400 universities in the world UP still one of top 400 universities in the world June 9, 2017 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office MANILA – The University of the Philippines (UP) jumped seven notches in the annual rankings of UK-based Quacquarelli Symonds, leaping to No. 367 from No. 374 last year. UP is the lone Philippine institution in the list of top 400 universities in the world, which was released on Thursday. Aside from UP, three other universities from the country made it to this year’s list. From its 501-550 ranking last year, Ateneo de Manila University fell to the 551-600 bracket. The De La Salle University, on the other hand, remained in the 701-750 bracket, while the University of Santo Tomas ranked 801-1000, lower than its 701+ ranking last year. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) retained its top spot for the sixth consecutive year, closely followed by Stanford University and Harvard University at second and third, respectively. Meanwhile, Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University at 11th place has overtaken National University of Singapore (15th), making it the highest-ranked Asian institution this year. For this year, QS has ranked over 950 universities from 84 different countries. (ABS-CBN) (Source: http://news.abs-cbn.com/life/06/08/17/up-still-one-of-top-400-universities-in-the-world) |
https://up.edu.ph/up-enters-top-100-for-development-studies/ | UP enters top 100 for development studies – University of the Philippines | UP enters top 100 for development studies UP enters top 100 for development studies March 7, 2019 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines has been named one of the world’s top 100 universities for development studies by British company Quacquarelli Symmonds (QS). It appeared in the 51-100 bracket in the 2019 QS World University Rankings by Subject Area published on 27 February. This is the first time since 2017 that UP has been ranked in the subject. The 2019 rankings cover 48 subjects in five broad areas. Although UP scored in 34 subjects, it was included in the rankings for only 14. The national university advanced several places in politics and international studies and was able to maintain its position in English language and literature, agriculture and forestry, medicine, environmental sciences, and sociology. This year likewise saw UP’s initial entry in geography, business and management studies, economics and econometrics, and law. However, UP slipped in the rankings for archaeology as well as in modern languages, and lost a place in the table for linguistics. QS says that it is “very unusual for an institution to qualify for consideration in all 48 subjects.” UP’s rank evolution by subject. Source: 2019 QS World University Rankings by Subject University Fact File The University has been ranked in four out of five broad subject areas: social sciences and management, arts and humanities, life sciences and medicine, and engineering and technology. UP fell in the rankings in all areas, except in life sciences and medicine where it managed to hold last year’s spot. It did not place in the natural sciences. Source: 2019 QS World University Rankings by Subject University Fact File There are four assessment indicators — academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per paper and h-index — which, depending on the discipline, are used in different combinations. For example, in development studies, all four measures are considered but for English language and literature, the h-index is excluded from the ranking system. In art and design, the ranking is based exclusively on academic and employer reputation. The variable approach recognizes that research cultures and publication rates differ significantly across academic disciplines. How the indicators are weighted also varies according to subject. In general, academic reputation has the highest value in the arts and humanities while academic reputation and employer reputation are given almost equal weight in engineering and technology. In life sciences and medicine, and the natural sciences, there is greater emphasis given to citation and h-index. The weightings tend to be mixed in social sciences and management. Academic reputation and employer reputation are determined by votes from global surveys while citations and h-index, a metric that attempts to measure both productivity and impact of papers, rely on Scopus publications. QS explains that an institution may not have results in a subject because “the program may not have published a sufficient number of papers or it may not have attracted a minimum level of recognition through the surveys.” UP maintained the top spot in country rankings for the 14 subjects and four broad areas. Earlier, QS released the 2019 World University Rankings in which UP placed 384th among more than 1,000 institutions from 85 countries. (Article originally posted at http://ovpaa.up.edu.ph/up-enters-top-100-for-development-studies/) |
https://up.edu.ph/the-researcher-as-storyteller/ | The researcher as storyteller – University of the Philippines | The researcher as storyteller The researcher as storyteller October 4, 2017 | Written by J. Mikhail Solitario “I talked to this jeepney driver who told me he had changed his mind about this administration. He was listening to this daily radio drama where one of the characters was a drug addict who got killed in a police operation. For him, it was a turning point.” This is how Assistant Professor Cleve Kevin Robert Arguelles retells a story of one of his interviewees for his research on populist publics which earned him the distinction of best thesis in his master’s program abroad. First love: research Like most Political Science majors, Cleve chose his undergraduate program as a stepping stone to Law. After several Political Science courses, he began to develop an interest in politics and its relatively “non-legal” aspects, such as political dynamics and political behavior. In his senior year, he became a research assistant to Professor Dr. Clarita Carlos of the UP Diliman Department of Political Science. Dr. Carlos mentored Arguelles in a wide array of research projects which he found fascinating. It was the demand to multitask that captured his interest: working with a different agency every day, from the Metro Manila Development Authority to the International Labor Organization. Prof. Arguelles in an interview at ANC’s Talkback The decision to teach came a little later, before graduation, when he realized that teaching was something he had been doing both as an activist and a former Regent, by going around UP’s constituent units and discussing UP issues with a big audience. His first applications for teaching went to other state universities in Manila because he wasn’t very confident that he would get accepted in UP. His primary motivation was still anchored on his first love: research. “We produce knowledge, but before we do that, you have to acquire knowledge first,” Cleve adds. His first years of teaching in the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila exposed him to realities outside UP—big classes, inadequate facilities, and different teaching styles. Looking back, he was thankful for the experience of teaching in other universities and handling students who were not political science majors. When he finally taught Political Science majors in UP Manila, the transition was not that difficult. Arguelles is currently the Chair of the Political Science Program which entails not just an academic but an administrative workload as well. He believes UP can excel further by blending research into teaching, which develops not just critical thinking skills but sparks the interest of students for research even in non-method courses. With a research mindset, UP students may be able to transition from being mere consumers of knowledge to producers as well. Prof. Arguelles poses with a marker in Central European University A different kind of training Arguelles finished finished an MA degree in Political Science (US diploma) and a Master’s Further Level Specialization Degree in Comparative Political Science (Hungarian diploma) in the Central European University (CEU) in Budapest, Hungary, with highest honors (summa cum laude). “I was already doing graduate studies here in Diliman in Philippine Studies first, before transferring to Political Science. However, I wanted to be acquainted with a different kind of training. UP is already the top institution in the country, but in the region and in the world, we still need to catch up,” says Arguelles. Prof. Arguelles with his graduating class in Central European University in Hungary He then looked into schools and programs, with two primary considerations: one, a leading institution in his field of interest; and, two, a program which he could manage to take given financial realities and considerations. He ended up getting a yearlong scholarship in Budapest, an Eastern European city which has a standard of living comparable to that of Manila. Armed with his intent to specialize in populism, Hungary proved to be the perfect fit, for it also has incumbent populist political leaders, with CEU’s Department of Political Science boasting of a strong roster of faculty members specializing in the that research area. CEU is an American university with 98% of its student body coming from outside Hungary and whose home countries may be experiencing challenges in democracy. Classroom exchanges on populism were expectedly vibrant and the exchanges were always unique with fresh perspectives from Russian, Venezuelan, Hungarian, and American classmates. Cleve says that he has been asked for tips on preparing for studying abroad. He advises prospective students to conduct their own research, ask those who already studied abroad, and check scholarship openings. “It doesn’t always have to be London or Paris or the US”, he says. According to him, there are many good university cities which offer not just academic training but professional development as well. Have your mentors check your application materials, as well, he advises. A research workshop on methodological innovations in the study of political participation at the University of Vienna Looking into populist publics During his thesis year in CEU, he was given a grant by the university to do research on populist supporters of the current administration. The research grant required a mobility factor which meant he had to work with a Philippine university other than his home institution, UP Manila. This led him to establish connections with the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), where he served as a visiting scholar. His award-winning research was hosted in the Development Studies Program of ADMU, where Dr. Jayeel Cornelio serves as one of his most trusted mentors. Cleve did research on populist publics or supporters. In media and even in academic literature, this segment of the population, according to him, was always negatively represented as unthinking and monolithic. During his research he discovered that these voters were actually thinking, but were motivated by factors different from those of traditional voters. His research established that the current president’s positions reflected those of his populist supporters in urban poor communities. Upon submission, Arguelles’ supervisor nominated his research for the award. His qualitative work eventually won the prize which had always been dominated by quantitative research. He is now developing the thesis project into a book. Eventually, he aims to publish other books on Asian populism. A political science class with Prof. Arguelles in UP Manila He advises concerned citizens who wish to tackle populism to use emotions, not just facts. He notes that a lot of well-meaning news organizations and civic groups resort to fact-checking and statistics; but unfortunately, populist supporters do not respond to these. Instead, they respond to how these facts and statistics affect their life experiences. Just like the jeepney driver’s story, an emotional connection was established which developed empathy through creative storytelling techniques. “We need to keep telling stories to humanize these facts and statistics,” Cleve Arguelles argues. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-presents-pioneering-research/ | UP presents pioneering research – University of the Philippines | UP presents pioneering research UP presents pioneering research March 30, 2022 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc The University of the Philippines (UP) presents the latest projects under its Emerging and Interdisciplinary Research (EIDR) Program on April 7 and 8, 2022, 1-5 PM, through a symposium via Zoom. The UP Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs invites the public to the event. The program features research on new materials, such as zinc-air batteries, polydopamine nano-coatings, and carbon quantum dots; studies of cinema and graphic novels for education; and the newest approaches to developing communities in terms of making them climate-smart or their tourism sustainable. Day 2 features interdisciplinary research on breast-milk composition as influenced by diet, medical compounds from shipworm bacteria, structural and prebiotic studies of oligosaccharides, fisheries management using molecular genetics and ear bones, in vivo and in vitro models for endometriosis, and components to make roads safer. These projects belong to the eighth cycle of the EIDR Program, which supports innovative, interdisciplinary, and inter-campus research projects to generate fundamentally new knowledge with beneficial applications. Those interested may register and view the research posters at the UP OVPAA website |
https://up.edu.ph/up-achieves-top-100-ranking-in-the-asia/ | UP achieves top 100 ranking in THE Asia – University of the Philippines | UP achieves top 100 ranking in THE Asia UP achieves top 100 ranking in THE Asia May 2, 2019 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines is now in the top 100 for Asia in two of the world’s most influential university rankings, after placing 95th in the newly released 2019 Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings. Since 2017, the national university has featured in the THE rankings for Asia but this is the first time that it made the top 100. UP soared 61 places from its 156th position in 2018 to sit in the upper 23 percent of 417 universities from 27 countries for 2019. It is one of only five universities from Southeast Asia in the top 100, with two from Singapore and the other two from Malaysia. UP remains the highest ranked university from the Philippines. The Asia University Rankings use the same 13 indicators of the World University Rankings, though “recalibrated to reflect the priorities of Asian institutions,” to gauge the performance of research-intensive universities across the region. The indicators are grouped into five areas: teaching (the learning environment), research (volume, income and reputation), citations (research influence), international outlook (staff, students and research), and industry income (knowledge transfer). Citations and research are the biggest determinants of scores at 30 percent each. UP’s scores for the World University and Asia University rankings. Source: Times Higher Education UP secured a place in the top 600 in the 2019 THE World University Rankings announced in October last year. Its rise in the global rankings has been consistent, from its debut at the 801-1,000 bracket in 2017 to its jump to 601-800 in 2018 and to 501-600 in 2019. Earlier this year, London-based THE also published the rankings for universities in emerging economies where UP made a 79-place leap to 87th, and in the Asia-Pacific region where UP edged into the 101-110 bracket from 150-160 in the previous year. For the fifth year running, UP was in the top 100 of the QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) Asia University Rankings, holding the 72nd spot in 2019. The rankings published by British company QS are also among the most recognized in the world. (Originally published at the OVPPA website via http://ovpaa.up.edu.ph/up-achieves-top-100-ranking-in-the-asia/). |
https://up.edu.ph/up-breaks-into-worlds-top-100-universities-for-the-performing-arts-development-studies/ | UP breaks into world’s top 100 universities for the performing arts, development studies – University of the Philippines | UP breaks into world’s top 100 universities for the performing arts, development studies UP breaks into world’s top 100 universities for the performing arts, development studies March 4, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc When it comes to the subjects of Performing Arts and Development Studies, the University of the Philippines ranks among the world’s top 100 universities, according to the rankings by subject released on March 4, 2020 by the British company, Quacquarelli Symmonds (QS). This is the first time the national university has been ranked for Performing Arts; and the second time in two consecutive years for Development Studies, in both years placing at the top 100. Last year, the Juilliard School was number one for Performing Arts; and, the University of Sussex, for Development Studies. The 2020 QS World University Rankings by Subject ranked 1,368 institutions in 48 subjects grouped into five broad subject areas. Source: The 2020 QS World University Rankings By Subject University of the Philippines Fact File The 51-100 ranking in Performing Arts was buoyed by high scores in the criteria of academic reputation and employer reputation. The reputations are based on a survey of 94,000 academics and “44,000 global employer votes.” The ranking of UP in Development Studies, also 51-100, was arrived at using two more criteria based on citations of published papers, aside from academic and employer reputations. The 2020 ranking by subject is also marked by the University getting high enough scores in the four criteria to be included in the ranking for four more subjects than in the previous year. On top of the breakthrough ranking in Performing Arts, UP also obtained debut ranking in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and Biological Sciences, and regained a ranking in Linguistics. Thus, from last year’s ranking in only 14 out of 48 subjects, UP now ranks in 18. In the Philippines, UP ranks number one in 16 of the 18 subjects, ranking number two only in Linguistics, and Business and Management Studies. In the world, UP is in: the top 101-150 in Politics and International Studies; top 151-200 in Archaeology, English Language and Literature, Agriculture and Forestry, and Geography; top 201-250 in Linguistics, and Sociology; top 251-300 in Modern Languages, Environmental Sciences, and Law; top 301-350 in Medicine; top 351-400 in Business and Management Studies, and Economics and Econometrics; top 451-500 in Electrical and Electronics Engineering; top 501-550 in Biological Sciences; and, top 551-600 in Computer Science and Information Systems. Source: The 2020 QS World University Rankings By Subject University of the Philippines Fact File The University obtained ranking in three of the five broad subject areas. These are in Arts and Humanities, Life Sciences and Medicine, and Social Sciences and Management. In the last subject area, UP improved its ranking from 280 to 258; but in Arts and Humanities, it fell from 283 to 304 and, in Life Sciences and Medicine, from 401-450 to 451-500. UP lost its ranking in Engineering and Technology, where it was in the 451-500 bracket, and remains unranked in Natural Sciences. Despite these, UP improved its ranking in the 2020 QS World University Rankings, placing 356th—up by 28 notches from the previous year—and making it to the top third of ranked institutions. The other Philippine institutions figuring in the 2020 QS World University Rankings are the Ateneo de Manila University, at the top 601-650; and De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas, both at the top 801-1,000. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-is-asias-69th-best-52nd-in-academic-reputation-qs/ | UP is Asia’s 69th best, 52nd in academic reputation—QS – University of the Philippines | UP is Asia’s 69th best, 52nd in academic reputation—QS UP is Asia’s 69th best, 52nd in academic reputation—QS November 25, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc The University of the Philippines placed 69th among the top 634 higher educational institutions (HEIs) of Asia in the latest rankings released by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). The QS Asia University Rankings 2021, where UP placed three ranks higher than in the previous year’s edition and emerged among the top 11 percent of Asian HEIs, was released today, November 25, 2020. Rank 69th is the highest UP has placed in the annual rankings since its 2016 edition, within which period UP placed between 75th and 70th. Its position in the top percentile steadily rose from the top 17.6 percent in the 2018 edition, to the top 14.3 percent in the 2019, the top 12.9 percent in the 2020, and the top 10.3 percent in the last. Similar to its World University Rankings, QS Asia University Rankings zeroed in on “published” institutions or those with at least 100 papers published within a five-year period, cited within six years from publication, all in Elsevier-based and Scopus-indexed publications. In the 2021 edition, UP published 4,885 papers for the period 2014-2018. Publications from UP were cited 22,921 times during the period 2014-2019. QS measured these published institutions in terms of other key indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty to student ratio, and international research network. The rankings also looked at the number of staff with PhDs, papers per faculty, international faculty and students, and inbound and outbound exchange students. Academic reputation was arrived at from 102,500 responses to a global survey of academics; employer reputation, from 52,000 responses to a similar survey of employers; and, international research network, from Scopus and Margalef indices of research collaborations. For these indicators, UP had outstanding Asian rankings. It was ranked 52nd in academic reputation; 53rd in employer reputation; and, 62nd in international research network. It ranked 116th in faculty to student ratio, and 301st and lower in the rest. UP performed way above the average in the country and in the region. UP’s overall score in the rankings—51.23 out of 100—was 113.2 percent above the regional average and 254.9 percent above the Philippine average. In the QS World University Rankings 2021, released in June 2020, UP achieved a ranking of 396th among the top 1,000 universities picked out from 5,500 institutions. Three other Philippine institutions were in the top 1,000: Ateneo de Manila University, which placed in the 601st-650th bracket; and De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas, both in the 801st-1,000th bracket. “The method [for the Asia University Rankings] retains key indicators of the global ranking. . ., but also considers a set of performance metrics carefully tailored for the region,” according to the QS Asia University Rankings 2021 fact file sent to the University. According to its website, QS, with the main office in London, is a “provider of services, analytics, and insight to the global higher education sector”. Its World University Rankings portfolio, inaugurated in 2004, is a popular source of comparative data on university performance. |
https://up.edu.ph/upou-pioneering-moocs-in-the-country/ | UPOU: Pioneering MOOCs in the country – University of the Philippines | UPOU: Pioneering MOOCs in the country UPOU: Pioneering MOOCs in the country May 10, 2017 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo If you’d like to teach 2,000 students at any given time but can’t cram them into one classroom, what do you do? The UP Open University (UPOU) has the answer—and the good news is, it’s free, it’s open to everyone, and you don’t even have to catch a ride to get there. It’s the massive open online course (MOOC), and the UPOU was the first in the country to offer it. It was in July 2013—eight months after the New York Times dubbed 2012 as “The Year of the MOOC”—when UPOU offered the introductory course on mobile application development using the Android platform to anyone who was interested, wherever they were in the world, free of charge. It was developed by the UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) in partnership with Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) as the result of a memorandum of agreement signed in February 2013. At that time, MOOCs had been around for five years. The term was coined in 2008 by Professor Dave Cormier of the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada to describe “Connectivism and Connective Knowledge,” a course offered by the University of Manitoba, also in Canada. Gaining global momentum The MOOCs phenomenon quickly gained momentum around the world, with top universities like Harvard and Stanford offering free online courses through sites like Coursera, edX, and Udacity. UPOU, the country’s leading open and distance e-learning provider, was quick to recognize the potential of MOOCs to reach an even wider audience, to make education more open and accessible, and to promote lifelong learning. Apart from these, “MOOCs can improve the quality of teaching and learning by fostering open educational practices (OEP),” Faculty Regent Patricia Arinto, former dean of the UPOU Faculty of Education, said in an interview. In essence, these practices are collaborative, where “resources are shared by making them openly available, and pedagogical practices are employed which rely on social interaction, knowledge creation, peer-learning, and shared learning practices,” explained Dr. Ulf-Daniel Ehlers, Vice President for Quality and Academic Affairs at the Baden Wurttemberg-State University, Germany, in a paper published in the Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning in 2011. Arinto added that apart from enrollment numbers and completion rate, the impact of MOOCs on “pedagogical perspectives, teaching and learning practices, and even the achievement of learning outcomes in specific contexts” are also indicators of success. Relying on its years of experience in open and distance education, with the evolution of its course materials from print to multimedia to hypermedia, its move toward e-learning, and the growth of many class sizes beyond 150 students, UPOU went to work on its first MOOC. The next logical step It was well prepared to do this. In an interview, UPOU Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria recalled that it was in 2011 when the idea of offering MOOCs was “crystallized with the conceptualization and implementation of the uLearn project.” UPOU had already been offering online courses for ten years; for four of those years, the courses were offered totally online. MOOCs were the next logical step. Bandalaria clarified that while UPOU MOOCs are designed to accommodate enrollment in the thousands, the development of these courses puts less emphasis on “massive” and more on “open”. This “openness” is reflected in UPOU’s practice of using only open educational resources (OER), and as much as possible producing these OERs, as well as employing open access software in its learning management system (LMS) and in all the applications integrated into its LMS. Since its first venture in 2013, UPOU has conducted numerous MOOCs workshops and “MOOCathons” or “unending conversations on MOOCs”, which led to an understanding of how its MOOCs target specific skill sets and social sectors. It has since offered courses on technopreneurship; business process management; child rights protection and promotion; inter-local government cooperation; Philippine arts and culture; art in ASEAN; Filipino language, culture, and society; and oral communication and conversational fluency in English, among others. Credits for college In fact, UPOU’s business process management MOOCs, under the Online Service Management Program or eSMP, have been approved by the Commission on Higher Education for credit under the tertiary education curricula of degree programs in information technology and management. This means that schools offering these programs can have their students enroll in UPOU MOOCs and, upon completion, apply credits earned from these courses toward earning their degrees. The MOOCs on child rights protection and promotion, on the other hand, are currently on their second run, following the success of the first one in 2015. These courses are the result of UPOU’s partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund-Philippines. This repeat performance is also part of the 2016-2019 plan of the openUP Flagship Program which aims to mainstream MOOCs as part of UPOU’s formal and non-formal program offerings. Bandalaria also reported that a new set of MOOCs on open and distance e-learning or ODeL is being offered by UPOU to assist higher education and technical-vocational institutions who want to go into the distance education or online mode of course delivery. This is in keeping with UPOU’s mandate under Republic Act 10650 or the Open Distance Learning Act, signed into law in 2014. Arinto, who is also theme adviser for MOOCs in the Digital Learning for Development program and deputy principal investigator of the multi-country research program of the Research on Open Educational Resources for Development in the Global South network, said that UPOU, through its international engagements, has made significant contributions to “critical work on MOOCs in developing countries,” an area currently lacking in literature. A pioneer in the field She added that in comparison with other Asian institutions offering MOOCs, “UPOU has done well in identifying the strategic focus of its initiatives” and, like other institutions around the world, UPOU is also faced with issues such as the digital divide, sustaining learner engagement, and the effective assessment of learning in MOOCs. Four years since that first MOOC on Android mobile application development, UPOU’s reflections on its MOOCs experience coupled with extensive research has resulted in the UPOU Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) Policies, Principles, and Guidelines, which was released on March 29 this year. It details UPOU’s policies in accordance with the mandates it was given when it was created by UP Board of Regents in 1995; principles in course design, course delivery, teaching and learning, and research and innovation that adhere to the highest standards of academic excellence; and guidelines in the stages of operation such as course proposal, course development, course delivery, and faculty load credits. UPOU’s pioneering efforts in shaping Philippine open and distance education over the course of its 22-year existence remain unparalleled. As it continues to navigate the ever-changing landscape of education and technology, UPOU performs its unique role within the UP System as an advocate for openness and accessibility of education in pursuit of public service, maintaining standards of academic excellence while keeping pace with advancements in technology. UPOU MOOCs can be accessed through the MODeL (Massive Open and Distance e-Learning) site at http://model.upou.edu.ph/. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-statement-on-the-latest-the-world-university-rankings/ | UP Statement on the Latest THE World University Rankings – University of the Philippines | UP Statement on the Latest THE World University Rankings UP Statement on the Latest THE World University Rankings October 13, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The UP Oblation Plaza in UP Diliman. Photo by Prof. Eric Augustus Tingatinga. UP is currently reviewing the indicators and data from the THE’s latest WUR to gain insights for the University’s future measures and directions. This latest ranking of UP’s standing among universities worldwide will serve as valuable insight in determining UP’s way forward in its mission to serve the nation, through the delivery of the highest level of education to our youth. UP congratulates the students, faculty, staff and alumni of the Ateneo de Manila University on ADMU’s placing in the 351-400 bracket in the latest Times Higher Education-World University Rankings (THE-WUR). Such accomplishments by Philippine HEIs are a net gain for the honor and prestige of the country and an inspiration for all Filipino scholars and academics. |
https://up.edu.ph/invitation-to-participate-in-the-10th-china-asean-education-cooperation-week-10th-caecw/ | Invitation to participate in the 10th China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (10th CAECW) – University of the Philippines | Invitation to participate in the 10th China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (10th CAECW) Invitation to participate in the 10th China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (10th CAECW) June 23, 2017 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Higher Education and Development (SEAMEO-RIHED) and the ASEAN China Centre (ACC) invite all interested university executives and professors to participate in the following two events of the 10th China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (10th CAECW) to be held in Guiyang, Guizhou province, P.R. China: 1. China-ASEAN University Presidents Forum for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Date: 28 July 2017 Host: Guizhou Institute of Technology (GIT) Email for reply slip: 931493448@qq.com cc: rihed@rihed.seameo.org by 30 June 2017 2. 1st Conference on China-ASEAN Cooperation of Science and Technology and the Unveiling Ceremony of China-ASEAN Institute of Science and Technology Date: 29 July 2017 Host: Tianjin University (ACNET-EngTech Secretariat) Email for reply slip: Ms. Qiu Shuang at acnet_engtech@tju.edu.cn cc: rihed@rihed.seameo.org by 2 July 2017 Funding support and logistical arrangements will be provided by the hosts. For inquiries regarding the events, please contact Ms. Supansa Kajavong, Programme Officer, at rihed@rihed.seameo.org. |
https://up.edu.ph/covid-19-vaccine-for-minors-are-we-ready-up-webinar-asks/ | COVID-19 vaccine for minors, are we ready? UP webinar asks – University of the Philippines | COVID-19 vaccine for minors, are we ready? UP webinar asks COVID-19 vaccine for minors, are we ready? UP webinar asks September 30, 2021 | Written by Deina Blancaflor The University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center, and in cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (PGH), invites you to join the fight against COVID-19. This Friday, October 1, from 12pm-2pm, join us for a special topic episode of the “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar series. Titled “COVID-19 Vaccines for Children: Ating Alamin”, the webinar will discuss the latest news on COVID-19 vaccine safety in minors ages 12-17 years old, the country’s plans and preparations for its possible rollout soon, and our current vaccination coverage overall. Last month, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved COMINARTY (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) made by Pfizer/BionTech for use on children under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) have also advised that children between 12 and 15 years old who are at high risk may be offered this vaccine alongside other priority groups. However, with our country’s limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines, the question remains, do we have enough to start vaccinating children? Speakers will be coming from the pediatric sector. Dr. Ma. Liza Antoinette Gonzales, a specialist in pediatric infections from PGH, will talk about the latest scientific evidence on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines for children. Meanwhile, Dr. Maria Consorcia Dizon, member of the Interim National Immunization Team, will discuss the epidemiology of children and COVID-19. Dr. Benito Atienza, President of Philippine Medical Association, and Dr. Jennifer Liquido, a pediatrician from Delaware, USA, will also share their own perspectives and reactions. The opening and closing remarks will be given by Dr. Efren Balanag, President of the Philippine Pediatric Society’s Northern Luzon Chapter, and Dr. Carmencita Padilla, Chancellor of UP Manila, respectively. The “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Register here and watch the live stream via TVUP’s accounts on Facebook and YouTube. You may also follow our account on Twitter for live tweets during the day. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-msis-ocean-spirit-making-learning-fun/ | UP MSI’s “Ocean Spirit”: Making learning fun – University of the Philippines | UP MSI’s “Ocean Spirit”: Making learning fun UP MSI’s “Ocean Spirit”: Making learning fun December 10, 2021 | Written by Franco Gargantiel II Screenshot by Rad Gerald Agustin, UPMPRO. Learning can sometimes be more challenging for some kids. That’s why most educators are developing more educational games. Children may enjoy more and learn more through fun and engaging activities. Enter the newest educational game with a uniquely Philippine marine ecology twist, “Ocean Spirit.” UPMSI’s Dr. Maria Vanessa Rodriguez shares the marine science and conservation behind the game during the launch. Screenshot by Rad Gerald Agustin, UP MPRO. “Ocean Spirit” is a personality quiz and screen share game about different marine species of the Philippines that aims to highlight the rich marine biodiversity in the country and the need for biodiversity conservation in a fun and entertaining way. It was developed by Balangay Entertainment for the University of the Philippines Center for Research and Awareness of Diverse Living Environments (UP CRADLE) at Puerto Galera under the UP MSI, through the support of Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation, Inc. “Ocean Spirit” is one of the first projects of the UP Puerto Galera Biodiversity Center, which will have a program focused on science communication and environmental education to protect the Philippines’ Verde Island Passage (VIP), the global center of marine biodiversity. Speaking during the launch, Dr. Laura David, UP MSI Director, had this to say about games and how influential they can be when it comes to learning: “Games are windows to a culture. They can highlight the value that we impart to our kids. Games can teach survival skills, communication skills, cooperation, competition, empathy. They can also be used to crystalize new concepts throughout experiential learning.” Dr. Laura David, UP MSI Director. Screenshot by Rad Gerald Agustin, UP MPRO. “Today’s launching of Ocean Spirit is a testament that we can do more when the academe and industry come together to pursue noble causes. I firmly believe that with this collaboration of UP and Toyota Motor Philippines, both institutions can achieve their common goal of reduced carbon footprint and enhanced biodiversity.” says Ronald Gaspar, TMPF Assistant Vice President and Operations Manager. Mr. Ronald Gaspar, TMPF Assistant Vice President and Operations Manager (right). Screenshot by Rad Gerald Agustin, UP MPRO. Watch the launch of the UP MSI’s “Ocean Spirit” interactive game on the UP MSI’s Facebook page. “Ocean Spirit” can be played via two methods: solo and multiplayer. The solo mode is a simple personality game where players can determine their ocean spirit animal based on their answers. A multiplayer mode allows players to share their screens and guess which ocean spirit best fits them for those who want to play with friends. Players can also learn more about the different ocean spirit animals with additional info after each round. They can even share their results with their friends and families through social media. Try the game today by yourself or with your friends at https://biome-upmsi.github.io/Ocean-Spirit/. Screenshot by Rad Gerald Agustin, UP MPRO. If you are looking for a fun and interactive learning experience about marine life in the Philippines and how to help in their conservation, then “Ocean Spirit” is the perfect game for you. It is enjoyable to all age groups and accessible while making important information about marine life easy to understand. Check out this link, https://biome-upmsi.github.io/Ocean-Spirit/, to play and discover what ocean spirit animal you are today! |
https://up.edu.ph/up-and-jcu-officials-discuss-future-partnerships/ | UP and JCU officials discuss future partnerships – University of the Philippines | UP and JCU officials discuss future partnerships UP and JCU officials discuss future partnerships May 12, 2017 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Officials of the University of the Philippines (UP) and James Cook University (JCU) of Australia, one of the world’s leading research institutions focusing on the tropics, explored prospects for collaboration at a meeting held last May 9, 2017 in the UP Board Room in Diliman, Quezon City. The JCU panel was composed of Chancellor Bill Tweddell, who served as Australia’s ambassador to the Philippines from 2012 to 2016; Deputy Vice-Chancellor Ian Wronski of the Division of Tropical Health and Medicine; Deputy Vice-Chancellor Iain Gordon of the Division of Tropical Environments and Societies; and, Pro Vice Chancellor International Melissa Banks. UP was represented by Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Bautista; Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Dalisay, Jr.; UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan; UP Los Baños Chancellor Fernando Sanchez, Jr.; UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla; UPLB Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Portia Lapitan; UPLB Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Rex Demafelis; Office of International Linkages (OIL) Deputy Director Aaron Villaraza; Marine Science Institute (MSI) Director Fernando Siringan; MSI Professor Porfirio Aliño; MSI Prof. Antonette Juinio-Meñez; Professor Emeritus and National Scientist Edgardo Gomez; Asst. VP for Academic Affairs (Research) Carla Dimalanta; College of Science Dean Jose Balmaceda; and, Professor Emerita and Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Rhodora Azanza. Photo by UP MPRO Possible research partnerships and joint projects on marine sciences, biodiversity, tropical ecology and environments, global warming, tropical medicine and public health care, and food security were proposed at the meeting. Based in Townsville, Queensland, and with campuses in Cairns and Singapore, JCU is a regional and global leader in many fields relating to tropical sciences and societies. (Fred Dabu, UP MPRO) |
https://up.edu.ph/up-updates-campus-activity-guidelines-for-1st-sem-ay-2022-2023/ | UP updates campus activity guidelines for 1st sem, AY 2022-2023 – University of the Philippines | UP updates campus activity guidelines for 1st sem, AY 2022-2023 UP updates campus activity guidelines for 1st sem, AY 2022-2023 September 7, 2022 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Photo of a typical pre-pandemic classroom in the university. UP MPRO file photo. The University of the Philippines (UP) has updated its guidelines for campus activities in the first semester of the Academic Year (AY) 2022-2023, following the August 29 press conference by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). In the press conference, CHED declared that unvaccinated students, faculty, and staff might return to campus for work and classes this semester, with higher education institutions (HEIs) deciding on their respective public health protocols. Further, CHED called on HEIs to facilitate the vaccination of the unvaccinated and partially vaccinated, as well as the booster shots of the fully vaccinated with either one or no booster dose. The UP Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA) issued the new guidelines through OVPAA Memorandum No. 2022-128 on September 1. The memo details the protocols for different campus activities, from no alert level to alert level 5. For all activities, the following are mandatory: (1) masks to be worn at all times as required by national authorities; (2) daily reports to the campus’ health monitoring system by faculty and staff conducting face-to-face (F2F) activities; (3) signages on minimum public health standards and other physical requirements; and, (4) pre-enrollment physical examination for students who started their programs in AY 2020-2021 and AY 2021-2022, or their submission of the medical clearance required for registration if they failed to submit this when they first enrolled in UP. From no alert level to alert level 5, a variation of UP’s three blended learning models will be used as class delivery modes for enrolled students (ES) and students of priority classes (PC). The latter refers to those with F2F activities for thesis, dissertation, internship, practicum, on-the-job training, special problem, or field studies, or those with essential F2F sessions that require the use of campus facilities and equipment or supervised hands-on practice. As explained in OVPAA Memorandum No. 2022-88 released on June 20, blended learning model 1 is fully online. It employs both synchronous online learning using a learning management system (LMS) and asynchronous online learning using web conferencing applications. Model 2 combines blocks of independent online study and intensive F2F sessions based on pedagogical and practical considerations. Model 3 alternates between F2F sessions and asynchronous online learning. Any of the three models may be used for ES and PC if there is no alert level and under alert level 1. For alert levels 2 and 3, model 1 will be for ES and any of the three models will be for PC. Under alert levels 4 and 5, only model 1 will be employed for ES and PC. Allowable indoor capacity when there is no alert level will be at 100%. It will be the same for alert level 1, but preferably with one-meter physical distance. Alert level 2 will be at 50% with one-meter physical distance and alert level 3 will maintain the said physical distance at 30% capacity. Rooms to be used should have proper ventilation. There will be no indoor activities for alert levels 4 and 5. When there is no alert level, classroom access will be allowed for ES. Under alert level 1, ES will still have access, preferably with one-meter physical distance. For alert levels 2 and 3, only PC will have classroom access. There will be no access under alert levels 4 and 5. With no alert level, access to other enclosed spaces such as libraries, learning hubs, offices, and sports facilities will be allowed for ES. Under alert level 1, ES will have access with the preferred one-meter physical distance. PC with approved reservations will be allowed access under alert levels 2 and 3; and there will be no access under alerts levels 4 and 5. From no alert level to alert level 3, ES will be allowed to use outdoor and open spaces on campus. Under alert levels 4 and 5, neither ES nor PC will be allowed to use such areas. Off-campus activities like internships and outreach programs will be allowed for ES when there is no alert level and when under alert level 1. These will be allowed for PC only under alert levels 2 and 3, and will not be allowed under alert levels 4 and 5. In instances where off-campus activities will be allowed, documentary requirements should have been fully satisfied prior to the start of the activities. Students should follow the alert level requirements of the localities where the activities will be conducted. From no alert level to alert level 3, access to accommodation facilities on campus will be allowed for ES. They may be allowed to share rooms with appropriate retrofitting as long as the facility has isolation capabilities. Under alert levels 4 and 5, access to campus accommodations will not be allowed, so students on campus must return home should these alert levels be imposed. The constituent universities may opt to let their students stay until the end of the semester or term if provisions can be ensured. From no alert level to alert level 3, general and comprehensive examinations will be allowed on campus for ES with permits only. The exams will be given online, under alert levels 4 and 5. Finally, F2F consultations with advisers and faculty members will be allowed for ES when there is no alert level. Under alert levels 1 to 3, ES will need appointments for F2F consultations. For alert levels 4 and 5, consultations will be done online. To read the full memo with the attached F2F guidance from the Hospital Infection Control Unit of the UP Philippine General Hospital, click here. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-to-allow-100-face-to-face-classes-in-undergraduate-courses-in-the-second-semester/ | UP to allow 100% face-to-face classes in undergraduate courses in the second semester – University of the Philippines | UP to allow 100% face-to-face classes in undergraduate courses in the second semester UP to allow 100% face-to-face classes in undergraduate courses in the second semester September 29, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office A typical classroom in UP Diliman. File photo from UP MPRO. The University of the Philippines will allow 100% face-to-face classes in all its undergraduate courses in the second semester of the current academic year, AY 2022-2023. This is complementary to the university’s adoption of hybrid and blended learning to equip students for the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and achieve educational resilience in a volatile and rapidly changing world. UP is already holding 100% face-to-face classes for laboratory, studio, and practicum courses, among others, and all courses in some of its constituent universities in the first semester of the current academic year. UP Manila began holding 100% face-to-face classes for its courses in the public health disciplines as early as July 2021. Details regarding implementing face-to-face classes in all courses and the learning delivery mode in the graduate programs are currently being finalized. |
https://up.edu.ph/public-service-writing-fellows-undergo-workshop/ | Public service writing fellows undergo workshop – University of the Philippines | Public service writing fellows undergo workshop Public service writing fellows undergo workshop November 19, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The Padayon writing fellows with Director Jeanette Yasol-Naval: Jude Vincent Parcon of UP Visayas, Rhonna Marie Vereña of UP Open University, Belinda Lalap and Nenita de Castro of UP Los Baños, Marilou Montiflor of UP Mindanao, Peñafrancia Ching of UP Manila, and Marion Micah Tinio of UP Diliman. Lucia Tangi of UP Diliman is not in photo. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) The UP Padayon Public Service Office has accepted its second batch of writing fellows and has oriented them on writing scholarly articles based on their public service programs. The eight teaching, research and extension personnel underwent a two-day “write-shop” on November 8 and 9, 2018 at the National Institute for Science and Math Education Development, UP Diliman. The fellows from six campuses went through sessions with University experts on qualitative and quantitative methods of research and on writing in the language that best applies to their writing projects. The write-shop fellows sing the National Anthem, with Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili and Padayon Public Service Office Director Jeanette Yasol-Naval. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) The fellows are: Marilou Montiflor of the UP Mindanao School of Management, Rhonna Marie Vereña of the UP Open University, Jude Vincent Parcon of the UP Visayas College of Arts and Sciences, Marion Micah Tinio of the UP Diliman Department of Geography, Lucia Tangi of the UP Diliman College of Mass Communication, Belinda Lalap of the UP Los Baños College of Human Ecology, Nenita de Castro of the UP Los Baños Institute of Animal Science, and, Peñafrancia Ching of the UP Manila College of Allied Medical Professions. The fellows are currently engaged in services in aid of community journalism and nutrition, community-based rehabilitation, folk media, basic education, land use plan preparation, vegetable industry interventions, and livestock training. Padayon Public Service Office Director Jeanette Yasol-Naval welcomes the fellows to the write-shop. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) They are each expected to be able to submit an article to a peer-reviewed journal in nine months. They will also be presenting their public service programs in conferences on public service and extension in higher education organized by the University. Prof. Neil Martial Santillan of the UP Diliman Department of History gives a personal account of using extension output for a research work. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) From UP Diliman, the resource speakers were: Dr. Neil Martial Santillan, Department of History chairperson; Dr. Rogelio Alicor Panao of the Department of Political Science; Dr. Manuel Sapitula of the Department of Sociology; Dr. Odine Maria de Guzman of the Department of English and Comparative Literature; and, Dr. Romulo Baquiran of the Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature. Panao and Sapitula ran the participants through the rigors and ethics of quantitative and qualitative research articles; and De Guzman and Baquiran, through the practice of English and Filipino writing for scholarly articles. Prof. Alicor Panao of the UP Diliman Department of Political Science gives examples for formulating research questions. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) At the start of the Writeshop, Santillan presented his own history of transforming Pahinungod documentation into scholarly papers. He said there was a dearth of research from extension activities, with literature mostly confined to mere documentation; even when research answered the need to assess impact, evaluate the processes, make comparative studies, and find ways to hasten impact. Prof. Manuel Sapitula of the UP Diliman Department of Sociology highlights the importance of the research framework. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Padayon Public Service Office Director Jeanette Yasol-Naval, who facilitated the workshop, said the writing fellowship was based on the notion that University public service can extend its relevance to a wider public and to policy-making through journal articles. Prof. Odine de Guzman of the UP Diliman Department of English and Comparative Literature begins by discussing theories of signs. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili highlighted the importance of a UP System-wide program in recognizing public service initiatives from different campuses in benchmarking the initiatives. He also mentioned a regional trend to engage communities in research, and giving such engagements equal academic weight as teaching and research. (Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO) Padayon Public Service Office Director Jeanette Yasol-Naval, with project coordinator Mimi Barretto, synthesizes workshop discussions after the final workshop session led by Prof. Romulo Baquiran of the UP Diliman Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) The 2018 writing fellows with the Padayon Public Service Office staff and workshop resource speaker Romulo Baquiran of the UP Diliman Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) |
https://up.edu.ph/programs-on-livelihood-health-children-and-culture-get-public-service-award/ | Programs on livelihood, health, children, and culture get public service award – University of the Philippines | Programs on livelihood, health, children, and culture get public service award Programs on livelihood, health, children, and culture get public service award March 6, 2019 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc The Gawad Pangulo for Excellence in Public Service Selection Committee members, Manuel Flores Bonifacio and Jaime Veneracion, the leaders of awarded projects, and special citation awardee Maria Cristanta Nelmida-Flores (all seated) are surrounded by UP System and UP constituent university officials, project team members, staff members of the Gawad administrator Padayon Public Service Office, and other guests from across the UP System, after the awarding ceremony in the College of Science Auditorium at the National Science Complex, UP Diliman. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP-MPRO Five programs in three UP constituent universities received the Third Gawad Pangulo for Excellence in Public Service in a ceremony held on February 28, 2019 in the College of Science Auditorium, National Science Complex, UP Diliman. These are: the UP Los Baños (UPLB) Bee Program of the UPLB Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension; the Partners in Leprosy Action of the Department of Medicine of UP Manila-Philippine General Hospital (UPM-PGH); the Patient-Centered, Family-Focused, and Community-Oriented Care for Families Enrolled at the Family Health Unit (FHU) of the FHU of the Department of Family and Community Medicine of UPM-PGH; the Disaster Risk Reduction, Training , Education, and Advocacy for Children’s Protection and Resilience Project (TEACH-DRR) of the UP Visayas (UPV) Center for West Visayan Studies; and, the Dayaw at Hanasan of the UPV Sentro ng Wikang Filipino. Prof. Jose Julie Ramirez (right) and Dr. Anna Guia Limpoco (left) deliver messages on behalf of the Gawad recipients, explaining the huge amount of work involved in their projects. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP-MPRO The five were selected out of 11 program nominees for the 2019 award. The selection committee was composed of Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia, Professor Emeritus of Sociology Manuel Flores Bonifacio, Dr. Jaime Veneracion of the UP Diliman Department of History, and Padayon Public Service Office Director Jeanette Yasol-Naval. “Public service initiatives, especially the brand that characterizes the University of the Philippines, are implemented with high ethical standards, professionalism, and service to the country,” Pernia said on excellence. “We must do projects that innovate, that are significant, progressive, and transformative.” “In the three years of the award, 21 public service initiatives have been recognized for excellence from a pool of over 50 nominations,” Pernia said. UP President Danilo Concepcion expresses his appreciation for the gathering of UP public service personnel coming from different campuses which displays oneness of the University. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP-MPRO According to President Danilo Concepcion, being a public servant is “perhaps the most honorable profession ever anywhere”, providing an opportunity for improving the lives of many. He then extended the definition of excellent public service to an attitude of treating the public as “boss”. “We must serve with a smile, with open hands, and gentle words,” he said in Filipino. The UPLB bee program conducts training for farmers, women, balikbayan, and partner state universities and colleges on apiculture and bee products, with a view of protecting indigenous wild bee species. The PGH program on leprosy screens households in locations with reported cases of leprosy and other skin NTDs (neglected tropical diseases), providing community awareness and training for barangay health units. The PGH program for family health involves the family, community, and multi-competencies in treating patients with chronic diseases. UPV’s TEACH-DRR is a child-centered disaster risk reduction capacity-building program for small, vulnerable island communities. UPV’s Dayaw at Hanasan offers lectures by National Artists for students, teachers, and artists; and trains teachers in the knowledge and pedagogy of regional language. Representatives of the UP Manila-Philippine General Hospital leprosy action project, led by Dr. Belen Dofitas (second from left), receive the Gawad from President Danilo Concepcion. With them are (on extreme right and left) Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia, Padayon Public Service Office Director Jeanette Yasol-Naval, and UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP-MPRO Representatives of the UP Los Baños Bee Program, led by Prof. Jose Rene Micor (middle, holding citation), receive the Gawad from President Danilo Concepcion. With them are (on extreme right and left) Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia, Padayon Public Service Office Director Jeanette Yasol-Naval, and UP Los Baños Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Rex Demafelis . Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP-MPRO Representatives of the UP Visayas TEACH-DRR project, led by Prof. Jorge Ebay (middle), receive the Gawad from President Danilo Concepcion. With them are (on extreme right and left) Staff Regent Analiza Fulvadora, Vice President for Administration Nestor Yunque, Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia, and Padayon Public Service Office Director Jeanette Yasol-Naval. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP-MPRO Representatives of the UP Visayas Dayaw at Hanasan project, led by Prof. Jose Julie Ramirez (fourth from right), receive the Gawad from President Danilo Concepcion. With them are Staff Regent Analiza Fulvadora (middle) and (on extreme left and right) Vice President for Administration Nestor Yunque, Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia, and Padayon Public Service Office Director Jeanette Yasol-Naval. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP-MPRO Representatives of the UP Manila-Philippine General Hospital project for enrolled families at the Family Health Unit, led by Dr. Anna Guia Limpoco (fourth from right), receive the Gawad from President Danilo Concepcion. With them are (on extreme left and right) Staff Regent Analiza Fulvadora, Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia, Padayon Public Service Office Director Jeanette Yasol-Naval, and UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP-MPRO Prof. Maria Crisanta Nelmida-Flores was also awarded a citation for her work as former director of the Padayon Public Service Office, with “steadfast commitment to the delivery of innovative and excellent public service in the University”. The office, which is under the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs, monitors and coordinates all public service initiatives in the UP System. It is the administrator of the Gawad. President Danilo Concepcion hands to Former Padayon Public Service Office Director Maria Crisanta Nelmida-Flores a certificate of recognition. With them are Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia, UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan, and Padayon Public Service Office Director Jeanette Yasol-Naval. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP-MPRO |
https://up.edu.ph/up-signs-up-for-2022-elections-watch/ | UP signs up for 2022 elections watch – University of the Philippines | UP signs up for 2022 elections watch UP signs up for 2022 elections watch December 1, 2021 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc UP President Danilo L. Concecion (extreme left, middle row) represents UP in the virtual signing ceremony for the Eleksyon 2022 alliance of GMA-7 with the academe. Image from GMA-7. The University of the Philippines (UP) joined an alliance for media coverage and an advocacy campaign for the 2022 Philippine national elections. A signatory to the GMA 7-led initiative, UP President Danilo Concepcion represented UP in the launch of the Eleksyon 2022 alliance and the “Dapat Totoo” advocacy campaign, held virtually on November 26, 2021. As in past partnerships for national elections coverages, UP is one of the top Philippine universities to make its research and expertise available for public educational purposes. UP has initiated its own elections awareness project called “UP sa Halalan,” which was implemented by the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs during the 2013 and 2016 elections. Since 2019, it has been administered by the Department of Political Science of the UP Diliman College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. For 2022, UP sa Halalan once again relies on UP’s network of academics, researchers, and stakeholders from the UP community and provides it space and opportunities for public discussions. It makes use of a web portal, halalan.up.edu.ph, to publish “content related to elections and Philippine politics that will provide media groups, civil society groups, political parties, and the general public relevant information about elections, voting, political parties, and issues pertinent to the 2022 elections”. GMA 7’s Eleksyon 2022, led by its chairman and CEO, Atty. Felipe Gozon brings together “51 partners representing the most respected names in the fields of telecommunications, media, education, business, law, and public service”. They pledge to keep a close watch on the electoral process. Leading the roster of GMA 7’s external partners is Commission on Elections Chairman Sheriff Abas. Meanwhile, UP Los Baños (UPLB) partnered with ABS-CBN and the “Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo” voter education program of the media network to launch #UPLBsaHalalan2022 with a voters’ Conversation on the Role of Youth, Academe, and Media in the 2022 Elections. Other partners in the initiative are the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE Philippines), STAR MAGIC, Bantay Halalan Laguna 2022, Radyo DZLB Ang Tinig ng Kaunlaran, and LB Times. Watch the livestream of the launch here and the #UPLBsaHalalan2022’s latest Voters’ Conversation on Political Participation and Implications on Academic Institutions here. |
https://up.edu.ph/pandemic-related-public-service-recognized-with-the-4th-gawad-pangulo-awards/ | Pandemic-related public service recognized with the 4th Gawad Pangulo Awards – University of the Philippines | Pandemic-related public service recognized with the 4th Gawad Pangulo Awards Pandemic-related public service recognized with the 4th Gawad Pangulo Awards December 23, 2021 | Written by Franco Gargantiel II Public service has never been an easy task, which is why the University of the Philippines (UP) hosted the 4th annual Gawad Pangulo Awards for Excellence: to honor the many Filipino men and women in public service. This year’s theme is “UP’s Public Service Initiatives in the time of the COVID-19 Pandemic”, focusing on awarding achievements that these Filipinos have accomplished that have helped the country during this global pandemic. Since the country is still under lockdown, this year’s awards ceremony was held virtually, hosted by UP Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell P. Capili. Watch the replay of the livestream on TVUP’s YouTube channel. The first speaker for the event was none other than UP President Danilo L. Concepción, welcoming all the attendants to this event honoring the 15 awardees for their achievements in public service. UP President Danilo L. Concepcion gives his welcome address during the 4th Gawad Pangulo Awards ceremony. Screenshot by Raden Gerald Agustin, UPMPRO. “The fourth edition of the Gawad Pangulo aims to honor the creative, innovative and practical strategies of UP units in responding to the pandemic’s unprecedented challenges and in ensuring the continuity of these programs and projects for the benefit of the different publics that the University serves,” he said. “This Gawad Pangulo is unique in that it distinguishes the initiatives that sought to address the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable sectors.” After the moving welcome address from the President, the next speaker to formally welcome the 15 awardees was UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena E. Pernia. She began by saying that the Gawad Pangulo awards have come at the most appropriate time as the country, especially our healthcare system, has reached many low points going into the two years of the global pandemic. However, she did mention the positives that have come during these hard times. UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia speaking during the awards ceremony. Screenshot by Raden Gerald Agustin, UPMPRO. “As I say this, the country’s positivity rate is at a low 1.80%, with infections on the decline and several hospitals, including our own UP Philippine General Hospital, reporting no new COVID-19 cases in the past few days.” She even mentioned the rise in vaccination numbers, with 35% of the total Philippine population that have gotten their two dosages. Pernia then went on to proudly say that UP has played a vital role at the front of the country’s multi-sectoral pandemic response, and that this year’s Gawad Pangulo awards will give us a peek into the different innovative and effective responses against the COVID-19 pandemic, due to in large part to the selfless people from UP. Following up Pernia are the head judges for this year’s Gawad Pangulo awards, all of whom are UP Professors Emeriti: former Vice President for Public Affairs Dr. Jose Y. Dalisay; Dr. Ma. Luisa T. Camagay; and former UP Visayas Chancellor Dr. Ida Josephine M. Siason. According to them, selecting this year’s awardees was both an easy yet difficult task. “Easy because it had a very timely focus—our university’s response to the COVID pandemic—but also difficult because we receive a large number of entries, each of them worthy and deserving in their own way,” said Dr. Dalisay. During the presentation of the awards, the following awardees were recognized for their achievements, followed by a short message from officials from the different UP constituent units, such as UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita D. Padilla; UP Open University Chancellor Melinda dP. Bandalaria; UP Mindanao Vice Chancellor for Administration Karen Joyce G. Cayamanda; UP Los Baños Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr.; UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo; UP Baguio Chancellor Corazon L. Abansi; and UP Visayas Chancellor Clement C. Composano. Here is the list of this year’s Gawad Pangulo for Excellence in Public Service awardees: UP National Institutes of Health-National Telehealth Center for their “Stop COVID DEATHS Webinar Series: Clinical Management and Virtual Grand Rounds”. Watch the playlist of the 82 webinars under the “Stop COVID Deaths” series on the TVUP YouTube channel. UP Manila College of Medicine for the UP Surgical Innovation and Biotechnology Program (UP SIBOL) UP College of Medicine for the “Bayanihan Na! Operations Center” UP Manila Philippine General Hospital for the UP PGH COVID TeleGabay Program UP Open University for the “#OpenFight (Open Fight Against COVID-19)” UP Mindanao School of Management for “SAVE Food Systems” UP Los Baños for the establishment of the UPLB COVID-19 Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory (CMDL) under Task Force Laban ng Bayan Kontra COVID-19 (LB Kontra COVID-19) UP Diliman College of Law for “Lingap Legal sa Panahon ng Pandemya” UP Diliman for the UP Diliman COVID-19 Task Force UP Diliman College of Engineering for the UP College of Engineering COVID-19 Response UP Diliman Office of the Chancellor for the UP Diliman Psychosocial Services (UPD PsycServ) UP Baguio College of Science of Mathematics and Computer Science and Office of Public Affairs for Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) of Baguio City COVID-19 cases: Daily updates UP system Philippine Genome Center for COVID-19 Biosurveillance and Testing UP Padayon Public Service Office Director Jeanette Yasol-Naval reiterating her office’s commitment to record, document and showcase public service initiatives across the UP System. Screenshot by Raden Gerald Agustin, UPMPRO. In her closing remarks, UP Padayon Public Service Office Director, Dr. Jeanette Yasol-Naval, expressed the UP Padayon’s commitment to continue to record and document the public service initiatives of the various units across the UP System so as to recognize and showcase the outstanding service being rendered by UP to the nation and the world. For those interested in learning more about these programs, watch the replay of the awards ceremony here. |
https://up.edu.ph/hirang-ng-bayan-up-launches-voter-education-campaign/ | “Hirang ng Bayan”: UP launches voter education campaign – University of the Philippines | “Hirang ng Bayan”: UP launches voter education campaign “Hirang ng Bayan”: UP launches voter education campaign April 1, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office On May 9, the Philippines will hold its 17th presidential and 16th vice presidential elections. These elections will decide the country’s future, and the voters have an enormous responsibility to choose a better life for all Filipinos. And to do this, voter education is the key. The University of the Philippines (UP) Office of the Student Regent, in partnership with the UP Office of Student Development Services (OSDS), the UP Media and Public Relations Office (MPRO), and the UP National Service Training Program (NSTP), has launched “Hirang ng Bayan,” a comprehensive voters education program consisting of UP’s various initiatives to help educate its community and the general public in line with the upcoming 2022 elections. The “Hirang ng Bayan” program features three main activities: “Mark It UP” is a UP Systemwide electoral survey that will serve as mock elections and survey the real issues that will determine the electorate’s choices. “Mark It UP” will simulate the electoral experience among UP constituents and prime its participants to prioritize the national problems, platforms, and policies in choosing their slate of candidates for the May elections. This survey will run from April 11 to 16, 2022. “Paaralang Panghalalan” is a five-part online series of capacity-building educational discussions for the upcoming elections. It aims to encourage greater political participation by educating and capacitating UP students to engage in the electoral processes beyond simply casting their ballots. The five forums, to be conducted via Zoom and Facebook Live, will be held from April 1 to May 13. Each panel will discuss ways to engage the participants’ different social circles, from intimate to larger spheres, increasing the scope after each forum. To participate, please register here: bit.ly/PaaralangPanghalalan “Lakas Botante 2022” is a series of short videos featuring UP faculty members sharing their views on crucial election concerns. The video series aims to provide students, especially newly registered voters, with practical information they can use to initiate meaningful discussions with their peers. The videos will be available for sharing through social media from April 1 to May 6, 2022. UP students interested in “Hirang ng Bayan” activities can contact the Office of Student Affairs on campus or email studentwelfare.osds@up.edu.ph or osr@up.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-barmm-ministry-sign-accords/ | UP, BARMM ministry sign accords – University of the Philippines | UP, BARMM ministry sign accords UP, BARMM ministry sign accords June 17, 2022 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc BARMM-MBHTE Director General Salik Jr. (left) and UP President Concepcion sign the MOU for the partnership between UP and BARMM-MBHTE. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM-MBHTE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for educational cooperation, during a ceremony on June 14, 2022, at Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. UP President Danilo Concepcion and MBHTE Director General for Basic Education Abdullah Salik Jr., representing Minister Mohagher Iqbal, signed both documents, with UP’s Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Director Marie Therese Bustos and MBHTE Director General for Madaris Education Tahir Nalg as witnesses. UP President Danilo Concepcion (right) and MBHTE Director-General for Basic Education Abdullah Salik Jr. hold up the newly signed MOU between UP and the BARMM-MBHTE. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). Other BARMM-MBHTE and UP officials, along with members of the technical working group for the partnership and heads of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod chapters in the UP constituent universities, attended the ceremony. Under the MOU, UP and the MBHTE agree to develop activities in mutual interest in academic and public service areas. These include the offering of graduate or certification extension programs, pre-service or in-service capacity-building for teachers, deployment of UP Gurong Pahinungod, establishing a Bangsamoro junior scientist program, enhancing a physical education and sports development program, research and capacity-building in food science and technology, exploring the possibility of establishing a tribal university, enriching Madaris education, strengthening the culture of educational research, and the promotion and cultivation of the Bangsamoro history, culture, and artistic tradition. UP President Concepcion cites the value of the partnership for UP as “an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the culture and history of Bangsamoro.” Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). The MOA primarily involves the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod for implementing a term of the MOU. UP volunteer teachers will assist the MBHTE in developing and implementing adaptive learning materials and other educational innovations. “This signing is the culmination of months of discussions between Minister Iqbal and his team on the one hand, and the UP System, UP Diliman, and UP Mindanao officials and staff on the other,” Concepcion said. “I welcome this partnership as an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the culture and history of Bangsamoro.” BARMM Police Regional Appellate Chair Ysnaira Ibrahim delivers Minister Mohagher Iqbal’s message. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). In his message delivered by BARMM Police Regional Appellate Chair Ysnaira Ibrahim, Iqbal said the BARMM is exploring ways to uplift its educational system and envisions producing at least one professional in every Bangsamoro family. “It is a heartfelt sense of assurance and affirmation having the UP System as the country’s national university to be alongside us to support our education reform initiative.” |
https://up.edu.ph/push-on-up-114-years-and-beyond/ | Push on, UP: 114 years and beyond – University of the Philippines | Push on, UP: 114 years and beyond Push on, UP: 114 years and beyond June 18, 2022 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo The University of the Philippines (UP) has come a long way since its establishment in 1908. It emerged from the ravages of World War II, fought through political upheavals, braved new frontiers of technology, and soldiered on in this current pandemic. Throughout its history, it has been guided by its traditions of honor, excellence, and public service. It has never wavered in its commitment to work for social transformation that benefits the Filipino nation and humanity. As UP marks its 114th anniversary, it looks back on its journey thus far, reflecting on lessons learned, actions taken, and challenges overcome. In the commemorative video especially created for this occasion, UP remembers its early years and highlights its achievements in the last year—from bringing faster connectivity to Barangay Kalinawan, Binangonan, Rizal just two days before lockdown, to the longed-for championship in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament. These markers in the University’s history serve to guide its journey forward. UP continues on, taking to heart its responsibilities to the country, its people, and the global community. Going into the next normal of UP life, the University remains attuned and responsive to the evolving needs of its constituents and the publics it serves, not backing down in the face of disruptions and forging ahead with courage. To borrow from a University cheer that its alumni would remember clearly: “Push on to victory with all your might . . . Push when the game goes hard . . . Push on, UP, and fight . . . Rise, rise, UP.” Video prepared by Al Nikko Nagutom, UP MPRO. Read more about UP’s history by clicking this link: University History: UP in the Past 114 Years |
https://up.edu.ph/tvup-now-on-cignal-tv/ | TVUP now on Cignal TV – University of the Philippines | TVUP now on Cignal TV TVUP now on Cignal TV June 24, 2022 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc TVUP and Cignal TV, Inc. partner to deliver quality educational TV programming through a UP digital channel. UP President Danilo Concepcion (2nd from left) and UP Vice President for Development Elvira Zamora (extreme left) sign on behalf of UP. Cignal TV, Inc., on the other hand, is represented by its President and CEO Robert Galang (middle), VP and Head of Industry Relations and Regulatory Affairs Erwin Galang (2nd from right), and Chief Finance Officer John Andal (extreme right). Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). UP President Concepcion describes the creation of a UP digital channel as a “perfect opportunity to nurture lifelong learning in our people.” Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). The University of the Philippines (UP) will have its channel on Cignal TV, where it can air hundreds of its video productions 24/7. UP President Danilo Concepcion, Cignal TV President and CEO Robert Galang, and Cignal TV Chief Finance Officer John Andal signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on June 23, 2022, at the new TVUP headquarters in the Student Union Building of UP Diliman. Cignal TV will make the UP channel available to more than four million homes via its satellite direct-to-home service. The channel will include TVUP productions, consisting thus far of 591 episodes of programs such as The Platform; Science Innovations; NOAH Updates; Maikling Pelikula; Kultura, Sining, Atbp.; DRRM; the Documentaries: The Filipino series; Kalusugan at Karapatan; Batas at Bayan; Gender Talks; Financial Sense; Health Issues; UP Talks; CHE FN1; and Gulayan sa Tahanan. According to TVUP, the offerings have been a resource for students and teachers for remote and blended learning. “Our friends from Cignal TV recognize the value of our work and our goal to extend our services to as many as possible, whether these are students looking to enrich their lessons or ordinary citizens who wish to gain more knowledge and develop skills,” Concepcion said after the signing. “What we have now is the perfect opportunity to nurture lifelong learning in our people, ” he added. Media Quest Holdings President and CEO Jane Basas, a UP BSBAA alumna, reiterates Cignal TV’s responsibility to enable every customer to be better informed and educated. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). “The launch of the digital TVUP channel presents an opportunity to give back not once but every day for the next 365 days and beyond to the entire Filipino community who happens to be carrying a Cignal service,” says Media Quest Holdings, Inc. President and CEO.Jane Basas. “We also have a responsibility to enable every single customer to become better informed and better educated so they can give back to the country as more discerning and responsible individuals,” she added. Cignal TV President and CEO Robert Galang touts the ability of satellite TV to reach the most remote parts of the country, which allows Cignal TV to expand its offerings and introduce distance learners to a new way of experiencing remote learning. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). “If you want to be able to reach the most remote parts of the country, only a satellite TV provider can do that,” Galang pointed out. “This partnership allows us to expand our offerings to our more than 4.1 million subscribers and introduce distance learners to a new way of experiencing remote learning,” he added. TVUP Executive Director Grace Alfonso introduced the directors of new TVUP operations as it expands into digital TV. TVUP Executive Director Grace Alfonso talks about the exponential growth of TVUP in service of its mandate to create and deliver open education resources. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). “Since its inception in 2016, we witnessed the exponential growth of TVUP in service of its mandate: to create and deliver open education resources that are freely shared for everyone; nationally, serving our students and teachers; and internationally, to reach our learners in other countries.” However, Alfonso adds, delivery had been limited to those with internet service.” Concepcion recalled the history of UP campuses in broadcasting, citing the establishment of DZUP and DZLB in the 1960s and DYUP in Iloilo in the 1980s. The first was a laboratory radio station for Mass Communication students, and the other two stations served farmers with educational programs. He said the UP Open University was the UP pioneer in television, producing a local television magazine program in Los Baños, Laguna, featuring research and science and technology issues. He said UP would have established a television station because of the need to disseminate UP expertise were it not for lack of available frequency. Concepcion said UP instead applied for digital TV channels. UP Vice President for Development Elvira Zamora and Erwin Galang Cignal, TV VP and Head of Industry Relations and Regulatory Affairs signed the MOA as witnesses. Also present at the signing ceremony were UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla, UP Los Baños Chancellor Jose Camacho, and Philippine General Hospital Director Gerardo Legaspi. UP and Cignal TV officials celebrate the signing of the MOA. Standing, from left to right: UP Vice President for Administration Nestor Yunque, Media Quest Holdings President and CEO Jane Basas, Atty. Gaby Concepcion, TVUP Executive Director Grace Alfonso, UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Ma. Cynthia Rose Bautista, UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla, UP Los Baños Chancellor Jose Camacho, UP Diliman Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Louise Jashil Sonido, UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, and UP-PGH Director Gerardo Legaspi. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). |
https://up.edu.ph/up-and-uma-ink-partnership-for-doctoral-students/ | UP and UMA ink partnership for doctoral students – University of the Philippines | UP and UMA ink partnership for doctoral students UP and UMA ink partnership for doctoral students February 8, 2023 | Written by Fred Dabu UMA Rector Jose Angel Narvaez Bueno (left) and UP President Danilo L. Concepcion (right) show the signed Memorandum of Agreement. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Universidad de Málaga (UMA) of Spain, represented by UP President Danilo L. Concepcion and UMA President Jose Angel Narvaez Bueno, respectively, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for doctoral students on February 1, 2023 at the Board of Regents Room in Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Concepcion said the event marks “a new milestone in the partnership” between the two universities. According to the MOA, graduates of the UP College of Law can enroll in a doctoral program at the UMA each academic year until the students complete their entire program. They may also choose between Spanish or English language courses. “I welcome this opportunity for graduates of our Law School to further deepen their knowledge and understanding of Philippine law and legal education, by studying in a university as renowned as the UMA, and in a country that shares strong historical, cultural and legal ties with the Philippines,” Concepcion said. “Through this Agreement, UP can help build up the country’s pool of legal experts and researchers who can push for much needed legal reforms and generate innovations that will enable our legal system to better respond to 21st century challenges and more firmly uphold the values of freedom, equality, democracy, justice, and respect for human rights and the rule of law,” Concepcion added. UMA Rector Jose Angel Narvaez Bueno and UP President Danilo L. Concepcion affix their signatures on the Memorandum of Agreement. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). The agreement is aligned with the objectives of the “Capacity building for Legal and Social Advancement in the Philippines” or CALESA project funded by the European Commission and coordinated by UMA with other international partner institutions in higher education. UMA Rector Bueno was accompanied by Professor José Manuel de Torres Perea, who is also the Project Coordinator of CALESA. Bueno said that the partnership provides the two universities new opportunities to work, grow and learn together in building a better world. The MOA signing was attended by UP System and UP Diliman officials: Vice President for Administration Nestor G. Yunque, Vice President for Public Affairs Elena E. Pernia, Vice President for Development Elvira A. Zamora, Secretary of the University and of the Board of Regents Roberto M.J. Lara, Vice President for Legal Affairs Hector Danny D. Uy, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (Internationalization) and Office of International Linkages Director Imee Su Martinez, Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo, Office of International Linkages Diliman Director Carlene Perpetua P. Arceo, College of Law Dean Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II, College of Law Associate Dean Solomon F. Lumba, and College of Law Professor Ma. Gabriela “Gaby” Roldan-Concepcion. Group photo of UP and Universidad de Málaga (UMA) officials taken at the iconic Quezon Hall lobby, February 1, 2023. From left to right: UP College of Law Professor and Associate Dean Solomon F. Lumba; then Office of International Linkages – UP Diliman Director Carlene Perpetua P. Arceo; Secretary of the University Roberto M.J. Lara; then UP Vice President for Administration Nestor G. Yunque; Universidad de Málaga Professor and CALESA Project Coordinator José Manuel de Torres Perea; UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo; UP College of Law professor Ma. Gabriela “Gaby” Roldan-Concepcion; then UP President Danilo L. Concepcion; Universidad de Málaga Rector Jose Angel Narvaez Bueno; then UP Vice President for Development Elvira A. Zamora; then UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena E. Pernia; UP College of Law Dean Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II; and then UP Vice President for Legal Affairs Hector Danny D. Uy. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). |
https://up.edu.ph/up-to-pioneer-feed-the-people-project-with-energies-ph/ | UP to pioneer “Feed the People” project with Energies PH – University of the Philippines | UP to pioneer “Feed the People” project with Energies PH UP to pioneer “Feed the People” project with Energies PH September 25, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Officials from UP and Energies PH launch the Feed the People program during the Pagtutulay, Pagtutuloy: Strengthening Partnerships in Philippine Public Higher Education Summit. (Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UPMPRO) University of the Philippines (UP) President Angelo A. Jimenez, Co-Chairman and CEO of Energies PH Antonio A. Ver, Co-Chairman Jorge V. Sarmiento, and other officials launched the “Feed the People PH” project during the “Pagtutuloy: Strengthening Partnerships in Philippine Public Higher Education”, the first-initiated gathering of leaders of state universities and colleges (SUCs) from across the country held at the Dusit Thani Grand Ballroom Davao on September 15. This Summit gathered together 114 SUCs from all over the country and was aimed at encouraging participation in interdisciplinary educational, research, and community service initiatives through collaborative projects. According to the proponents of the Feed the People PH project, they aim to help address the lack of food of impoverished Filipinos through partnerships with leading educational institutions of the country. They explained that collaboration with SUCs with expertise in agriculture, fisheries, and aquaculture will boost the modernization efforts, productivity and sustainability of the Philippines’ agricultural and fisheries sectors and make food affordable for all Filipinos. During the Summit, Antonio A. Ver mentioned that Feed the People PH is a culmination of the collaborative efforts UP President Angelo Jimenez and Jorge V. Sarmiento initiated more than a decade ago with the formation of the Asia Pacific Basin for Energy Strategy, which gained Special Consultative Status in UN ECOSOC in 2014 as an Energy and Economic Think-Tank, committed to pursuing and accomplishing the UN Sustainable Goals. The project’s funding will be provided through an Energy Fund, acting as a source for EnergiesPH, which in turn manages an Endowment program dedicated to both STEM and food initiatives. Earlier, at an executive meeting, UP Executive Vice President Jose Fernando T. Alcantara, UP Los Baños Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr., EnergiesPH officials, and other project co-proponents discussed possibilities on how the project can be funded while being implemented initially by UPLB’s AGORA. UPLB Chancellor Camacho expressed his thanks for the chance to co-create with UP’s new partners. These officials will be continuing their discussions on the technical and legal details of the partnerships, project implementation, and expansion. They will likewise be finalizing the terms for a memorandum of agreement to be signed in the future. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-and-nagoya-university-deepen-partnership/ | UP and Nagoya University deepen partnership – University of the Philippines | UP and Nagoya University deepen partnership UP and Nagoya University deepen partnership October 11, 2023 | Written by Franco Gargantiel II UP President Angelo A. Jimenez welcomes guests from Nagoya University. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. The University of the Philippines deepened its partnership with Nagoya University with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) establishing the Nagoya University Asian Satellite Campus at the Chancellors’ Hall, Ground Floor, Bienvenido M. Gonzales Hall of the UP Los Baños (UPLB). The signing ceremony was held on October 9, at the Office of the University President. The expansion of the partnership between the Nagoya University and UP, especially UPLB, would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of both Universities, particularly both presidents. This was a project between UP President Angelo A. Jimenez and NU President Naoshi Sugiyama aimed at building a long-lasting relationship between the Filipino and the Japanese people. The Nagoya University Asian Satellite Campuses Institute has already been established the UPLB Graduate School through a Memorandum of Agreement signed December 2, 2015. The establishment of the NUASC at UPLB is aimed at providing mutual benefits for both institutions by strengthening the collaboration between UP, through the UPLB, and NU in offering degree programs, scholarships, and research projects in the areas of agriculture, food security and international development. Ceremonial Signing of the MOU. From left to right: Vice Chancellor Nathaniel C. Batayan, Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr., UP President Angelo A. Jimenez, Nagoya University President Naoshi Sugiyama, Professor Akira Yamauchi. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. Nagoya University President Naoshi Sugiyama and UP President Angelo Jimenez exchange gifts. Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. According to the newly signed MOA, NU shall continue to implement the “Transnational Doctoral Programs for Leading Professionals in Asian Countries” it is offering to Filipino doctoral candidates who are enrolled in NU doctoral programs but are not required to be physically present in Nagoya for the whole period of the course. Along with the two presidents, three other University officials took part in the signing including UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr., UPLB Vice Chancellor or Research and Extension Nathaniel C. Bantayan, and Director of the Nagoya University Asian Satellite Campuses Institute Professor Akira Yamauchi. A short photo session followed the MOA signing, with officials from the UP System, UP Los Baños, UP Diliman, Nagoya University and other guests participating. All of this would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of both Universities, particularly both presidents. This was a project between UP President Angelo A. Jimenez and NU President Naoshi Sugiyama in building a long-lasting relationship between the Filipino and the Japanese people. In his welcoming speech, UP President Jimenez emphasized the importance of this newfound partnership, as well as “the manifestation of the shared vision and purpose between our two institutions: UP and Nagoya University of Japan.” “We are renewing our mutual commitments and charting an enhanced pathway for cooperation that promises to reach new heights of academic and research excellence,” President Jimenez added. The ceremonial MOA signing between UP and Nagoya University is capped by a photo session, with officials from the UP System, UPLB, UP Diliman, Nagoya University and other guests participating. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. |
https://up.edu.ph/speech-of-up-president-angelo-a-jimenez-for-pagtutulay-pagtutuloy-the-1st-up-suc-summit-on-excellence-and-equity-in-public-higher-education/ | Speech of UP President Angelo A. Jimenez for Pagtutulay, Pagtutuloy: The 1st UP-SUC Summit on Excellence and Equity in Public Higher Education – University of the Philippines | Speech of UP President Angelo A. Jimenez for Pagtutulay, Pagtutuloy: The 1st UP-SUC Summit on Excellence and Equity in Public Higher Education Speech of UP President Angelo A. Jimenez for Pagtutulay, Pagtutuloy: The 1st UP-SUC Summit on Excellence and Equity in Public Higher Education October 18, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office University of the Philippines (UP) President Angelo Jimenez delivering his speech at the UP-SUC Summit. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. CHED Chair J. Prospero de Vera III, PASUC President Tirso Ronquillo, Presidents of our fellow SUCs, Panel speakers, Colleagues in UP, Distinguished guests, Good morning. Pagtutulay. Bridging. Pagtutuloy. Continuing. We have come here to build long-lasting partnerships. Because together, we are stronger. Together, we are a body of more than 100 state universities and colleges—more than 500 if we count satellite campuses. With this combined strength, we can move Philippine higher education much further than we could as individual SUCs. This is why we are in this summit. We are bound by a shared commitment to ensure that we make truly meaningful and relevant contributions to national development. To guarantee that higher education truly serves our people and allows them to positively transform their lives. Today is the first day we take a step—no, a giant leap—as a network of SUCs hand-in-hand with CHED, moving forward in unison for the benefit of the Filipino nation. As SUCs, we have identical mandates on quality higher education, instruction, research, public service, equitable access, professional training, community engagement, innovation and technology transfer, culture and heritage, global competitiveness, and community engagement and social responsibility, among others. While our Charters are unique to our institutions, the University of the Philippines Charter of 2008, or Republic Act No. 9500, mandates UP, the national university, to perform its distinctive leadership role in higher education and development. In alignment with this mandate, the University of the Philippines organized this summit to provide the enabling environment that will allow us to see our shared pursuits and discover each other’s niche areas that may push us to move for increased interaction with our fellow SUCs. These distinct and common strengths can only be made stronger by banding together. This gathering is a recognition that we can and should learn from one another because there is no shortage of expertise, experience, insight, and wisdom among Philippine SUCs. Pagtutulay, Pagtutuloy will allow us to discuss and open up opportunities for academic exchange, collaborative research, and joint service programs, to name a few. We want to hear about each other’s best practices and innovative approaches to teaching, learning, doing research, and providing public service. And as we share and listen and find windows of cooperation, we also look beyond linking up. Because we want these links to last. These are long-term commitments for the common good. Let us talk about how we can maintain these partnerships and make them effective and sustainable. Our partnerships will be exemplars of scholarship in action—the translation of our higher education mandates and functions into actual practicable solutions to society’s problems. What we are doing in this summit is tapping into our cooperation in engaged scholarship as an approach with even greater potential to achieve social justice and equity. Let us become co-creators of new knowledge in as many fields as we possibly can. Let us find more teaching, learning, and education delivery pathways to accommodate learners, widen access, and promote lifelong learning. Let us explore new frontiers and pursue innovation through our combined expertise, facilities, and other resources. Let us join together to deliver public service that is sincere, appropriate, and life-changing. Just as UP organized this summit to gather all of us so we may work towards the achievement of a unified goal, we are also launching four programs to share with all of you. Philippine Massive Open Online Courses and the UP Archipelagic and Ocean Virtual University are new initiatives. The UP Data Commons and TVUP are existing UP resources whose inclusion in today’s launch means we are opening them to you, our fellow SUCs in the spirit of cooperation. I am very excited for the rest of this day. This summit brings so many possibilities and opportunities for us to transform the landscape of Philippine higher education and push it to the forefront of building the Filipino nation. Pagtutulay, pagtutuloy. We are here to build and sustain bridges of lasting partnerships between and among Philippine SUCs. Because we are stronger and can achieve much, much more together. Thank you. President Jimenez (foreground, in white), surrounded by colleagues from the various State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) of the country at the end of the UP-SUC Summit. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque, UP MPRO. |
https://up.edu.ph/investiture-speech-of-up-president-angelo-a-jimenez/ | Investiture Speech of UP President Angelo A. Jimenez – University of the Philippines | Investiture Speech of UP President Angelo A. Jimenez Investiture Speech of UP President Angelo A. Jimenez October 18, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office President Angelo Jimenez ends his Investiture Speech with a raised clenched fist, symbolizing UP’s tradition of activism. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque, UP MPRO. Panaad at Kabilin: Pagtatalaga kay Kgg. Angelo A. Jimenez bilang ika-22 Pangulo ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas 14 September 2023 | Thursday | 9:00 AM UP Mindanao Atrium, Tugbok, Davao City, Davao del Sur Thank you all for joining me here today, in one of our beloved University’s most meaningful rites of transition. I am honored and humbled by your presence—not only my colleagues in the University and comrades in arms, but our distinguished guests who have come from far and wide, and our gracious hosts in this beautiful and vibrant city of Davao. Today my heart is filled with joy, because I have come home—home to this great island of my birth, to the cradle of my hopes and dreams. Those hopes and dreams have never been mine alone. They have been nurtured and pursued by every Filipino born, as I was, far from what have become our country’s centers of wealth and power. I say this with some irony, because we often forget that once upon a time, Mindanao—and particularly my home city of Butuan—was that very center. As we often say where I come from, “Before there was the Philippines, there was Butuan.” It was a city of goldsmiths and shipbuilders, of a proud and industrious people who ventured far beyond their shores to make their mark in the world. I, too, have been fortunate to travel far, driven both by my hunger to learn and by the demands of my profession. I went as far as war-torn Iraq where, as a hostage negotiator, I physically grabbed Filipino hostage Robert Tarongoy into freedom and safety in the middle of Baghdad’s bloodied streets. My wife and I also came home with a new daughter, an infant left at our doorstep, a blessing from God whom I am delighted to be with us today. I also wish my dear parents were here to share this moment with me, but I know that they are watching and listening, happy if not a bit disbelieving how far in life their son has come. But no matter how far we go or how long it takes, we always come home. That is who and what we are. Like Ulysses, we roam the farthest ends of the earth in search of adventure and bounty—or, in the case of our 10 million OFWs, of a better future for their children. I am home today not to boast of what I have achieved by the grace of God, but to share what I have learned, and beyond myself, what this great institution I am now privileged to lead has achieved and what it can still offer. Datu Mankalagan to my Manobo family, and Angelo Azura Jimenez to everyone else, I humbly accept the honor and the challenge of serving as the 22nd President of the University of the Philippines. I do so with much optimism and enthusiasm, tempered only by my awareness, gained over these past six months of practice, that the leadership of this University is one of this country’s heaviest and most complex responsibilities. But it is also the opportunity of a lifetime—not just mine, but that of my generation—to serve the Filipino people with all I have learned from this institution and from my engagements with the world. I came of age under the shadow of martial rule. I learned that even under adverse circumstances, there was much that could be done to seek for ourselves and our society the benefits of knowledge and collective action. As a student leader, I felt and understood what burned in the heart of every Isko and Iska: the desire to serve and to make a difference in the lives of our people. Beyond our much-vaunted talent, this is the true hallmark of a UP native, the service gene that seems to have been coded into our DNA. We chose our own paths. I became a lawyer, and devoted myself to advancing the welfare of our working men and women. I never expected then that I would be where I am now, coming full circle, on an upward spiral, from student to president. But as I am reminded every day by the many exciting things that pass my way—a new research program, a request for UP’s expertise—I remain and will forever be a student. In these years ahead, I will listen to you, my dear colleagues, my seniors and my juniors, drawing on your wisdom and experience to make the best possible decisions for the good of our University and our people. “I pledge to be fair, to be transparent, to be accountable, and to serve you to the best of my ability.” President Jimenez makes this promise during his Investiture Ceremony held at the UP Mindanao Atrium, UP Mindanao campus, Davao City. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. I pledge to be fair, to be transparent, to be accountable, and to serve you to the best of my ability. If I do wrong, let me know how we can set things straight and move forward. If I do right, then encourage me to stay the course, to be firm and strong, and above all, to be humble. I’m especially honored to be joined today not only by my UP family, but also by the presidents and representatives of our State Universities and Colleges, for whom we have organized a summit meeting. This summit will explore the many possibilities for enhancing and strengthening partnerships between our institutions. I will address these possibilities in our meeting tomorrow, at length and in greater detail. But let me share with you today the three main concerns that have occupied my mind since I submitted myself to lead this University. First, UP has had more than a century to produce leaders of the highest intellectual caliber and technical expertise. And yet, too many of our people remain mired in abject poverty, in hunger and despair. When UP was founded, its brief was simple: “to give advanced instruction in literature, philosophy, the sciences and arts, and to give professional and technical training to every qualified student irrespective of age, sex, nationality, religious belief, or political affiliation.” Rafael Palma gave it a higher purpose: “In the struggle of the Filipino people for nationhood, the University is the embodiment of the hopes and aspirations of the people for their cultural and intellectual progress.” But beyond nurturing the Filipino mind and spirit, should UP have been more explicitly charged with raising our people’s material welfare? Are we doing enough at present to promote economic progress and social justice among our people? Second, UP was conceived as a university for the Filipino people—and by “people” today we mean more than 110 Filipinos spread out over 82 provinces and 17 administrative regions, not to mention almost 200 ethnolinguistic groups. But how well is this diversity represented in our student population, even across our eight constituent universities? About 60 percent of our students today come from private schools, and we know why. Our educational system remains terribly skewed in favor of children from privileged and urban-based families, and our admissions policy unfortunately does not do enough to correct that bias. If we are to be a truly national university, this has to be addressed. Third—and speaking of our special status as a national university—UP all by itself accounts for 20 percent of the national budget for higher education, with the balance to be shared by more than 100 other state universities and colleges. There are reasons for what seems to be our inordinately large budget, given UP’s advanced capabilities in both teaching and research. But with this tremendous privilege comes the commensurate responsibility to share what we have and what we know with others. A true national university cannot stand in isolation from its environment, but must nurture that environment. If not everyone can come to UP, then UP must go not only where it can help raise academic standards, but also where it can cooperate and collaborate as an equal partner, and learn from SUCs with advanced and specialized expertise in certain areas. Like myself, UP must remain an eager and active learner. In all these, our guiding principle must be service to our people and to humanity at large. When our chancellors, vice presidents, and strategic advisers met recently to help me chart the course of my administration, our most significant decision was to add one word to UP’s hallowed motto of “Honor and Excellence.” That simple but deeply meaningful word was “Service.” Honor and excellence inhere in the individual, but service looks beyond the individual and locates him or her in our nation and society. It reminds all of us that a UP education has been paid for by the sweat and the sacrifice of our people, and that every UP graduate has a lifelong responsibility to pay back that debt through service to society. As an institution, under my administration, UP will discharge that responsibility by sharing its knowledge and resources with other SUCs. I am also a firm believer in initiative and resourcefulness. We all deserve more support from the government, but there is much we can do by ourselves, among ourselves, regardless of what the government can provide. The synergy we can create—between and among our CUs within UP, and between and among our SUCs—can be a vast resource for Philippine higher education. In this age of globalization and artificial intelligence, and faced with threats and opportunities on all sides, we have little choice but to venture forth into that brave new world and meet whatever is out there—like Ulysses, that traveler to distant lands, driven by his desire “to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.” I have no doubt that with the right attitude and preparation, we will survive together, we will prosper together, and we will prevail together. Mabuhay ang UP, mabuhay ang Pilipinas, at mabuhay tayong lahat. Marami pong salamat! Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chair Prospero De Vera hands over to President Jimenez the University Mace, symbolizing the authority and responsbility vested in the University Presidency, at the Investiture Ceremony on September 14, 2023, at the UP Mindanao Atrium, Davao City. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. |
https://up.edu.ph/panaad-ug-kabilin-sa-yutang-gisaad/ | Panaad ug Kabilin sa Yutang Gisaad – University of the Philippines | Panaad ug Kabilin sa Yutang Gisaad Panaad ug Kabilin sa Yutang Gisaad October 18, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office President Angelo Jimenez speaking at the President’s Night. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. An Oath and a Legacy for the Land of Promise Message of University of the Philippines (UP) President Angelo Azura Jimenez at the Welcome Dinner and President’s Night. September 14, 2023, Dusit Thani Grand Ballroom, Dusit Thani Residence, Davao City. Maayong gabii kaninyong tanan, Magandang gabi sa inyong lahat! Good evening everyone! I am humbled by the privilege of once again being honored by our brothers and sisters from the indigenous communities, particularly here in Mindanao, and more so in this series of days when I am here professing my commitment to lead our country’s national university, while manifesting my love for the people of the Land of Promise. Karon pa lang, mangayo nako ug pasaylo sa atong mga kauban gikan sa Kaulohan kay mag-binisaya ko gamay, kini tungod sa akong dakong kalipay tungod sa pagpatigayon sa akong Investiture diri sa atoa, ug sa panalagsaon, ug unta dili katapusang higayon, nga ako ania sa Mindanao isip Pangulo sa UP. At this point, I beg the indulgence of our colleagues from Manila since I will speaking in Bisaya once in a while, and this is because I am overjoyed that the Investiture is held here in the land of my birth, and this is a very special, and hopefully not the last, opportunity to be here as the President of UP. Kaganihang buntag, ako nag-panaad isip Pangulo sa Unibersidad sa Pilipinas, nga akong tumanon ang iyang nag-inusarang mandato nga mangulo sa pagtudlo, panukiduki, ug pagserbisyo sa katawhan. Lakip na niini ang akong kaugalingong panaad nga akong pangulohan ang Unibersidad, dili lang isip usa ka Pilipino, kundili usa pud usab ka Mindanawon [This morning, I promised as the President of the University of the Philippines to fulfill its mandate to exercise distinctive leadership in education, research, and public service. Along with this, I also made a promise to myself that I will lead the University not only as a Filipino, but also as a Mindanawon]. When I took my oath in Sitio Mahayahay, in Anticala, Butuan City earlier this year, in the presence of school kids, I not only made a commitment to the University as its 22nd President, but also to Mindanao, the land of my birth, always known as the Land of Promise, with many of its youth still hungry and struggling to have access to the best academic, vocational, and economic opportunities which may allow them to realize their potentials, their dreams, and the promise of a better life for their families and their communities. Pasayloa ko, forgive me, if the weight of my being a son of Mindanao weighs heavily upon my shoulders. The thought of being the first President from this land of ours is a responsibility which I do not take lightly, as it is an opportunity to not only lead the University with the distinct perspective of someone from country’s literal and figurative South, but also someone who, with the support of the whole University community, may be able to bring UP closer to these islands of ours, which have had decades of conflict, distrust, neglect, and exploitation. Mindanao is more than the usual image of conflict that we have grown far too often see in the news. It is home to not only one or two faiths, but several, many being indigenous and important to the appreciation of our roots as Filipinos, or as we call it in Bisaya as Kagikan. Mindanao also hosts several of the country’s diverse cultural traditions which form part of our colorful and distinct heritage. The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples or the NCIP itself said in 2009, that about 61% of the country’s indigenous peoples are found in our island, while 33% are found in Luzon, and only 6% are found in the Visayas. That is not to say that the indigenous communities in other parts of the country are not important, but it serves to highlight how much this land of ours holds in terms of heritage or what we may call here as Kabilin. Tonight, let us celebrate the unique culture and heritage that not only forms part of the tradition and history of Mindanao, but also our identity as a nation. Isip kabahin sa mga Lumad sa Mindanaw, isa sa akong kanunay ipasigarbo ang akong pagka-Manobo, nga usa ka timailhan sa akong kalambigitan sa pagpanalipod, pagpakaylap, ug pagpatunhay sa atong kagikan [As someone who considers himself part of the Lumad of Mindanao, I am always proud of my Manobo identity, proof of my sworn duty to protect, promote and preserve our heritage]. There is no better venue to showcase what is Mindanao to our friends from other parts of the country and abroad than tonight, here in this event. And so, my friends, let us celebrate this evening and enjoy the performances, and take pride in the beauty, the culture, the history, and the people, that is Mindanao. Daghang salamat ug maayong gabii kaninyong tanan! Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chair Prospero De Vera shares a toast with President Jimenez during the President’s Night. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. |
https://up.edu.ph/keynote-speech-of-up-president-angelo-a-jimenez/ | Keynote Speech of UP President Angelo A. Jimenez – University of the Philippines | Keynote Speech of UP President Angelo A. Jimenez Keynote Speech of UP President Angelo A. Jimenez October 19, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office President Angelo Jimenez delivering his speech at the UP Scientific Productivity System (SPS) Awarding Ceremony for Batch 2022-2024 of UP Scientists in UP Los Baños. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. UP Scientific Productivity System (SPS) Awarding Ceremony for Batch 2022-2024 of UP Scientists 29 September 2023 | Friday | 1:00 PM Charles Fuller Baker Memorial Hall, UP Los Baños Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat. First of all, my warmest congratulations to the pride and inspiration of our country’s academic community, the lifeblood of our University: our outstanding UP Scientists for 2022 to 2024, who will be honored today at this UP Scientific Productivity System (SPS) Awarding Ceremony. I am deeply honored to be here with you today to recognize and celebrate academic and scientific excellence, relentless dedication and discipline, and groundbreaking contributions and innovations by the esteemed members of our community, especially the contributions and innovations that have directly impacted the lives of Filipinos for the better. The UP Scientific Productivity System was established by the Board of Regents in August 2005 with a clear vision: to support the development of science and technology, and to encourage and reward scientific productivity within the University of the Philippines. Today, we bear witness to the fruition of that vision, embodied in the remarkable individuals we are here to honor. UP has always recognized the importance of nurturing its scientists. Through the provision of research funds and various awards, we have worked to create an environment where academic and scientific excellence and artistic expression thrive, where creativity, invention, insight and innovation flourish. The “UP Scientist” Award is a testament to the University’s commitment to nurturing scientific development, as it not only bestows esteemed recognition but also provides material incentives and a conducive environment that fosters advanced scientific productivity for the betterment of our nation. You, our deserving scientists, researchers, innovators and mentors—our UP Scientists—are bestowed with this prestigious rank for a period of three years, accompanied by a monetary award. The rewards are well-earned, as your dedication to advancing the boundaries of knowledge and finding ways to harness this knowledge to benefit our people, especially the marginalized and neglected, is priceless. You have earned not only this recognition but also our deepest respect and admiration from us here in UP, and the honor and gratitude of the country. Since the inception of the UP Scientific Productivity System, the University has appointed 774 individuals to the UP Scientist ranks. With scientists retaining or improving their ranks, we are witnessing the tangible impact of our long-term campaign and initiatives to support our academic community in their pursuit of excellence and service to the nation. Let us take a moment to acknowledge the achievements of our UP Scientists over the years. Each batch of scientists has left an indelible mark on our University and the nation as a whole. This legacy of excellence extends from 2006-2008 to our most recent Batch 2022-2024, comprising 56 Scientist I, 9 Scientist II, and 12 Scientist III appointments, totaling 77 individuals who have pushed the boundaries of knowledge in their respective fields. These statistics, however, merely scratch the surface of the profound impact our UP Scientists have had on society. Your research, discoveries and innovations have changed lives and moved to transform our nation. You have created treatments, pharmaceuticals, and cutting-edge diagnostic and mapping tools that figured front and center in our government’s fight against the pandemic as well as other health problems. You have made discoveries and innovations that give our people, communities and sectors the tools to boost productivity through environmentally sustainable methods; to mitigate risk of disaster and disease; to communicate and learn more efficiently; to make valuable information more accessible. You have conducted wide-ranging explorations of Philippine society, delving deep into all facets of our histories, our cultures, our economic and sociopolitical realities—all that have made us who we are today, and all that would make us who we wish to be—and shared these with our leaders, policymakers, local governments and communities to provide much-needed shifts in mindsets that make all transformation possible. And perhaps most importantly, you have taught generations of UP students and young Filipinos the joys and the discipline of science and innovation, and how to harness these in real, concrete ways to benefit people and communities. Through your mentoring and example, you have nurtured new generations of Filipino scientists and innovators who will drive the nation’s development and enable us to face the challenges of the 21st century with fresh, new perspectives. Of course, today’s awarding ceremony is not just a celebration. It is also an opportunity for us to engage with one another, for our esteemed guests, faculty, UP Scientists, students and staff to come together, share current research practices, discuss major accomplishments with high societal impact, and lay out our proposed works for the future. I am confident that our programs and initiatives, partnerships and collaborations now and in the future will have at their core UP’s guiding principle of service to our people and to humanity at large. After all, service remains the ultimate measure of our success and relevance as academics, as scientists, as innovators, and as knowledge creators. Once again, my heartfelt congratulations to Batch 2022-2024 UP Scientists. As you receive your well-deserved awards today, remember that you are not only being honored for your past achievements but also entrusted with the responsibility to continue pushing the boundaries of science and technology for the betterment of our nation. Mabuhay ang mga Siyentista ng Bayan! Daghang salamat. Maayong hapon kaninyong tanan. President Jimenez (front, ninth from right) poses with this year’s batch of UP Scientists, along with members of the Board of Regents, officials of his administration and the UPLB administration. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. |
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