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https://upcebu.edu.ph/public-service/ | Public Service - University of the Philippines Cebu | PUBLIC SERVICE WHAT IS A FABLAB? Fab labs are a global network of local labs, enabling invention by providing access to tools for digital fabrication Fab labs share an evolving inventory of core capabilities to make virtually (almost) anything, allowing people and projects to be shared WHAT IS IN A FABLAB? WHO CAN USE A FABLAB? Fab labs are available as a community resource, offering open access for individuals as well as scheduled access for programs Commercial activities can be prototyped and incubated in a fab lab, but they must not conflict with other uses, they should grow beyond rather than within the lab, and they are expected to benefit the inventors, labs, and networks that contribute to their success HOW CAN BUSINESSES USE A FABLAB? Fablab UP Cebu, Cebu’s first Fablab and the second in the Visayas, is a partnered venture between the Department of Trade and Industry Cebu and University of the Philippines Cebu’s Product Design program. Created alongside a Negosyo Centre (government-funded business incubator) and its co-working space, the Fablab aims to equip makers, design students, professionals, MSMEs, and the public with democratic access to advanced prototyping, printing, and related equipment, as well as training/workshop facilities. Widely known as the furniture capital of the Philippines, Cebu shoulders 60% of all the country’s exports. This industry has developed a pool of traditional artisans and makers who have supplied skills, not just the furniture industry, but also for jewelry, gifts, toys and housewares manufacturing sectors. Running parallel to this is Cebu’s deeply rooted mercantile culture, breeding an urban environment receptive to entrepreneurship, startups and technological ventures. The establishment of a Fablab in Cebu encourages these industries to experiment beyond traditional manufacturing practices and to nurture a culture of interdisciplinary innovation and education. Its primary target clientele is the general public needing design and prototyping services as well as student and professional designers needing training workshops in basic and advanced design, engineering and electronics in general; in particular, the application of new digital technologies in the current art and design practice. PRODUCTS OF FABLAB 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425 Follow for more events/details Or send them an email! [email protected] STiiTCH, short for Students’ Teachers’ Innovation, Incubation for Technologies and Commercialization Hub, serves as the unifying office for UP Cebu’s different shared services facilities: ITSO, TBI, FabLab, GoNegosyo, and Creative Digital Media Production Center. It aims to cater to aspiring entrepreneurs and encourage people, especially students, to think of ideas to create innovative solutions that can be both helpful and profitable. STiiTCH serves as the unifying office for UP Cebu’s shared services facilities: ITSO, TBI, FabLab, GoNegosyo, and Creative Digital Media Production Center. STiiTCH encourages creativity and hopes to instill an entrepreneurial mindset to people starting with our constituents. They also aim to create an ecosystem that encourages interdisciplinary teamwork and collaboration. They cater to everyone (UP constituents and external clients) with innovative ideas, products, and/or services for commercialization. PRODUCTS BY STiiTCH 12345 🏫 GORORDO, LAHUG, CEBU CITY 6000 🕿 (032) 232 2642 🕿 (032) 232 8185 🕗 MONDAY TO FRIDAY 08:00 – 17:00 Copyright © 2018 UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES CEBU QUICKLINKS UP CEBU GUESTHOUSE UP SYSTEM UP DILIMAN UP LOS BAÑOS UP MANILA UP OPEN UNIVERSITY UP MINDANAO UP BAGUIO |
https://upcebu.edu.ph/contact-us/ | Contact - University of the Philippines Cebu | UP Cebu Directory As a constituent university of the UP System, UP Cebu is headed by a Chancellor who serves as the chair of the University Council. The Chancellor then appoints their Vice Chancellors for Academic Affairs and Administration. Contact any of the following numbers followed by the local numbers listed below. Direct numbers to specific offices are also listed. CONTACT (032) 232 8185 (032) 232 8187 (032) 232 2642 Office of the Chancellor Local: 103 Direct: (032) 231 3086 Email: [email protected] Public Information Office Budget Office Legal Office Technology Transfer Business Development Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Local: 124 Email: [email protected] Central Visayas Studies Center Gender and Development Office Office of Continuing Education Padayon Office of International Linkages Office of Student Affairs Office of the University Registrar Teaching Learning Resource Center Ugnayan ng Pahinungód University Library Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration Local: 123 Email: [email protected] Human Resource Development Office Supply Property Management Office Bids and Awards Committee Accounting Office Cash Office/Operator Campus Maintenance Office Office of the Campus Architect Information Technology Center Health Services Unit Safety and Security Unit College of Communication, Art, and Design Local: 315 Email: [email protected] Office of the Dean - College of Communication, Art, and Design Office of the College Secretary FabLab College of Science Local: 311 Email: [email protected] Office of the College Secretary Department of Computer Science Mathematics and Statistics Program College of Social Sciences Local: 203 Email: [email protected] Office of the College Secretary High School Department Master of Education School of Management Local: 306 Email: [email protected] Office of the Dean - School of Management Office of the College Secretary Master of Business Administration University of the Philippines Cebu © 2023 |
https://upcebu.edu.ph/up-cebu-cebu-city-ink-moa-for-firecheck-2-0-project/ | UP Cebu, Cebu City ink MOA for Firecheck 2.0 project - University of the Philippines Cebu | UP Cebu, Cebu City ink MOA for Firecheck 2.0 project Dec 19, 2023 | UP Cebu News Acting Mayor of Cebu City, Hon. Raymond Alvin Garcia, and UP Cebu Chancellor Atty. Leo Malagar, together with FireCheck 2.0 Project Leader Dr. Jonnifer Sinogaya and Cebu City Councilor and Chairperson of the City Council’s Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction Management, Hon. Joel Garganera signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the collaborative implementation of the FireCheck 2.0 project on December 14 in Cebu City Hall. FireCheck 2.0 is an urban fire hazard mapping and investment planning project covering fire-prone Cebu City. It introduces innovations in fire prevention using GIS and data science. It intends to produce fire hazard maps, neighborhood evacuation plans, and firefighting investment plans in cooperation with local disaster risk offices and fire stations. It is funded by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) through its Innovation Grants. Ten barangays in Cebu City will serve as both the project beneficiaries and collaborators. It will also establish one (1) firefighting facility at one of its selected project sites. Dr. Jonnifer Sinogaya was happy to announce that the FireCheck 2.0 project is one of the 25 approved projects out of the 300 who applied for the NEDA research grant. Lead researcher Mr. Jao Bañados and senior data analyst Mr. Ryan Dulaca presented the objectives, the timeline of the project, and the highlights of the MOA signed between UP Cebu and the local government of Cebu City. Acting Mayor Alvin Garcia expressed his happiness that the project will benefit Cebu City while highlighting the importance of collaboration between sectors to develop viable projects that will have a significant positive impact at the grass-roots level. Meanwhile, Hon. Garganera committed to looking for more funds to be able to install more firefighting facilities in the city that could be used for emergency purposes such as fire or drought. Also present to witness the MOA signing were UP Cebu Vice-Chancellor for Administration Hazel Trapero, UP Cebu College of Science-Science Research and Training Center Director Percival Forcadilla, and Insp. Pier Angelo Abellana from the Cebu City Fire Station. FireCheck 2.0 is a spin-off of the FireCheck project funded by the Department of Science and Technology—Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD). It was implemented in the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu from 2018–2020. |
https://upcebu.edu.ph/certificate-and-seal-of-registration/ | Certificate and Seal of Registration - University of the Philippines Cebu | Certificate and Seal of Registration |
https://upcebu.edu.ph/admissions/ | Admissions - University of the Philippines Cebu | Academic Programs in the University of the Philippines Cebu Degrees and Programs General Education Courses Senior High School Junior High School UP CEBU HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSION TEST OFFICIAL FB PAGE College of Communication, Art, and Design (CCAD) Bachelor of Arts in Communication Study Plan | Checklist Bachelor of Fine Arts (Product Design) Study Plan | Checklist Bachelor of Fine Arts (Studio Arts) Study Plan | Checklist Certificate in Fine Arts (Product Design) Study Plan | Checklist Certificate in Fine Arts (Studio Arts) Study Plan | Checklist CCAD OFFICIAL WEBSITE CCAD OFFICIAL FB PAGE College of Science (COS) Bachelor of Science in Biology Study Plan | Checklist Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Study Plan | Checklist Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Study Plan | Checklist Bachelor of Science in Statistics Study Plan Master of Science in Computer Science Master of Science in Environmental Studies COS OFFICIAL WEBSITE COS OFFICIAL FB PAGE College of Social Sciences (CSS) Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Study Plan | Checklist Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Study Plan | Checklist Master of Education Major in Biology, Chemistry, English as a Second Language, Filipino, Mathematics, Physics, Social Studies CSS OFFICIAL WEBSITE CSS OFFICIAL FB PAGE School of Management (SOM) Bachelor of Science in Management Study Plan | Checklist with Minor in Finance or Minor in Marketing option Master of Business Administration SOM OFFICIAL WEBSITE SOM OFFICIAL FB PAGE University of the Philippines Cebu © 2023 |
https://upcebu.edu.ph/up-cebu-officials/ | UP Cebu Officials - University of the Philippines Cebu | UP Cebu Officials EXECUTIVE OFFICIALS ASSO. PROF. PATRICIA ANNE G. NAZARENO, Ph.D. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (032) 2328187 local 124 Email: [email protected] ATTY. LEO B. MALAGAR, LL.M. Chancellor (032) 2313086 / (032) 2328187 local 103 Email: [email protected] ASSO. PROF. HAZEL A. TRAPERO, DIT Vice Chancellor for Administration (032) 2328187 local 123 Email: [email protected] ASSISTANT TO THE VICE CHANCELLOR PROF. MARY JOYCE L. FLORES Ph.D. Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (032) 2328187 local 124 Email: [email protected] DEANS ASSO. PROF. SHANE L. CARREON, Ph.D. Dean, College of Communication, Art, and Design (032) 2328187 local 309 Email: [email protected] ASSO. PROF. NELIA S. ERENO, MS Dean, College of Science (032) 2328187 local 311 Email: [email protected] ASST. PROF. FRANCIS MICHAEL C. ABAD, LL.M. Dean, College of Social Sciences (032) 2328187 local 203 Email: [email protected] ASSO. PROF. MARY GRETCHEN F. CHAVES, DBA Dean, School of Management (032) 2328187 local 303 Email: [email protected] ACADEMIC SUPPORT ASST. PROF. DHONG FEL K. GOM-OS, MEng. University Registrar (032) 2328187 local 120 Email: [email protected] ASST. PROF. MA. ALENA N. MACASIL, Ph.D. Director, Office of Student Affairs (032) 2328187 local 115 Emails: [email protected] ASSO. PROF. ROWENA V. MENDE, Ph.D. Director, Central Visayas Studies Center (032) 2328187 local 209 Email: [email protected] ATTY. ARCHILL NIÑA F. CAPISTRANO, MInternatRel Coordinator, Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment (032) 2328187 loc 203 Email: [email protected] PROF. AURELIO P. VILBAR, Ph.D. Director, Ugnayan Ng Pahinungod/UP Cebu Oblation Corps (032) 2328187 local 212 Email: [email protected] MYLAH R. PEDRANO, R.L., MSLS University Librarian (032) 2328187 local 316 Email: [email protected] ANNABELLE G. MAGLASANG, Ph.D., RGC Coordinator, Gender and Development (032) 2328187 local 211 Email: [email protected] ASSO. PROF. HAZEL O. ARCEO, D.Sc. Coordinator, Office of International Linkages (032) 2328187 local 310 Email: [email protected] ASST. PROF. JERIEL T. BERSANO Coordinator, NSTP (032) 2328187 loc 207 Email: [email protected] ASST. PROF. NIÑO Y. YBAÑEZ Coordinator, PE Program (032) 2328187 loc 207 Email: [email protected] ASST. PROF. NATIVIDAD VIRGINIA D. ESTILLORE, Ph.D. Coordinator, TLRC (032) 2328187 loc 314 Email: [email protected] ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT JANETTE K. LEPITEN, CPA Chief, Accounting Office (032) 232-8187 loc 104 Email: [email protected] LELIOSA P. BUGHAO Chief, Cash Office (032) 2328187 loc 101 Email: [email protected] ENGR. ALBERT B. BASCON Chief, Campus Maintenance Office and OIC, Office of the Campus Architect (032) 2328187 loc 306 Email: [email protected] DR. LOREL S. DEE Chief, Health Services Unit and OIC, Budget Office (032) 2328187 loc 317 Email: [email protected] JAE MARI D. MAGDADARO Head, Human Resource Development Office (032) 2328187 loc 119 Email: [email protected] ENGR. JONATHAN P. VICTOLERO Head, Information Technology Center (032) 2328187 loc 202 Email: [email protected] ATTY. KING ANTHONY Y. PEREZ Chief, Legal Office (032) 2328187 loc 125 Email: [email protected] GRACE L. MENDEZ Head, Supply and Property Management Office (032) 2328187 loc 121 Email: [email protected] JOSEPH PATRICK T. GUIEB Head, Safety and Security Unit (032) 2328187 loc 312 Email: [email protected] JASON A. NIEVA Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (032) 2328187 loc 208 Email: [email protected] ZENAIDA L. TABUCANON Dormitory Manager (032) 2328187 local 106 Email: [email protected] ASST. PROF. GREGG S. LLOREN Coordinator, Public Information Office (032) 2328187 local 313 Email: [email protected] DEPARTMENT CHAIRS, PROGRAM COORDINATORS and HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL College of Communication, Art, and Design ASST. PROF. MARK ANTHONY L. DAPOSALA Coordinator, Creative Writing Program (032) 2328187 local 315 Email: [email protected] PROF. DENNIS E. MONTERA, Ph.D. Coordinator, Fine Arts Program (032) 2328187 local 315 or 302 Email: [email protected] ASST. PROF. CRINA E. TAÑONGON Coordinator, Communication Program (032) 2328187 local 315 Email: [email protected] ASST. PROF. JAY NATHAN T. JORE Coordinator, Jose Joya Gallery (032) 2328187 local 315 Email: [email protected] ASST. PROF. PALMY MARINEL P. TUDTUD Coordinator, FabLab (032) 2328187 local 302 Email: [email protected] ASST. PROF. IVY MARIE B. APA Coordinator, FabLab (Workshop 3) (032) 2328187 local 302 Email: [email protected] INSTR. MAURICE JITTY M. VILLAESTER PIO, College of Communication, Art, and Design (032) 2328187 local 302 Email: [email protected] College of Science ASSO. PROF. GEOFE O. CADIZ, Ph.D OIC, Department of Biology and Environmental Science (032) 2328187 local 310 Email: [email protected] ASST. PROF. DHARYLL PRINCE M. ABELLANA Chair, Department of Computer Science (032) 2328187 local 206 Email: [email protected] ASST. PROF. RAMISES G. MANZANO JR., Ph.D. Coordinator, Mathematics Program (032) 2328187 local 205 Email: [email protected] MS. ANDREA DANELLE P. QUILANG PIO, College of Science (032) 2328187 local 206 Email: [email protected] College of Social Sciences ASSO. PROF. CATHERINE M. RODEL, Ed.D. Principal, High School Program (032) 2328187 local 301 Email: [email protected] ASST. PROF. ANA LEAH D. CUIZON, Ph.D PIO, College of Social Sciences (032) 2328187 local 301 Email: [email protected] ASST. PROF. KIM P. BONDOC, M.Ed. Coordinator, Master of Education Program (032) 2328187 local 204 Email: [email protected] ASST. PROF. ZENAIDA LIGAN-ASHBURN, MA Coordinator, Political Science Program (032) 2328187 local 203 Email: [email protected] ASST. PROF. JONATHAN C. DELA CERNA, MA Coordinator, Psychology Program (032)2328187 local 203 Email: [email protected] School of Management ASST. PROF. STEVENSON Q. YU, CPA, MBA Coordinator, MBA Program (032) 2328187 local 304 Email: [email protected] ASST. PROF. IVY R. JUMAO-AS Coordinator, BS Management Program and PIO, School of Management (032) 2328187 local 304 Email: [email protected] COLLEGE SECRETARIES College of Communication, Art, and Design PROF. BELINDA F. ESPIRITU, Ph.D. College Secretary, College of Communication, Art, and Design (032) 2328187 local 315 Email: [email protected] College of Science ASST. PROF. IAN JAY A. SERRA, M.S. College Secretary, College of Science (032) 2328187 local 310 Email: [email protected] College of Social Sciences ASST. PROF. PURITA T. BALTAZAR, M.Ed. College Secretary, College of Social Sciences (032) 2328187 local 210 Email: [email protected] School of Management ASSOC. PROF. MARIE JANE J. MATERO, Ph.D., CPA College Secretary, School of Management (032) 2328187 local 304 Email: [email protected] University of the Philippines Cebu © 2023 |
https://upcebu.edu.ph/about-up-cebu/ | About UP Cebu - University of the Philippines Cebu | ABOUT UP The University of the Philippines (UP) is the country’s national university. This premier institution of higher learning was established in 1908 and is now a university system composed of eight constituent universities and one autonomous college spread throughout 17 campuses in the archipelago. In 2012, the Commission on Higher Education declared 24 units of the university as Centers of Excellence; while 6 units have been declared as Centers of Development. For a more detailed list of the units and the programs they offer, please click here. Publications from the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs are also published on Issuu. Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow UP Diliman offers the most number of undergraduate and graduate degree programs and is composed of almost 50 percent of the entire UP System student population. Aside from the 493-hectare main campus in Quezon City—home to the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology—this constituent university also administers the UP Diliman Extension Program in Pampanga (UPDEPP). The latter is located at the Clark Special Economic Zone which is less than 20 kilometers north of Manila. Follow Follow Follow UP Los Baños in Laguna—roughly 65 kilometers south of Manila—is the country’s recognized leader in agriculture, forestry, and environmental management. Because of its location at the foot of Mt. Makiling and its fields of expertise, it is host to two international research institutions: the International Rice Research Institute and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture. As a pioneer in forest conservation, UP Los Baños has stewardship over the 4,244-hectare Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve. Follow Follow UP Manila is the leading academic institution in the health sciences. It is home to the National Institutes of Health and the UP Philippine General Hospital, the country’s largest government tertiary hospital. The UP Manila College of Nursing is the World Health Organization’s Regional Collaborating Center in Nursing Development, while the College of Public Health is the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Network in Tropical Medicine and Public Health Regional Center for Public Health. It has also established extension campuses of its School of Health Sciences in Luzon (Baler, Aurora), Visayas (Palo, Leyte), and Mindanao (Koronadal, South Cotabato). Follow Follow UP Visayas, with its three campuses in Iloilo City, Iloilo; Miag-ao, Iloilo; and Tacloban, Leyte, is the acknowledged authority in marine science education and research, fisheries, and aquaculture in the country. Its research endeavors are supported by the following facilities: Brackishwater Aquaculture Center, Freshwater Aquaculture Station, Batan Mariculture Station, and Marine Biological Station. It is also the base agency of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium. Apart from its focus on the sciences, this constituent university also prioritizes the preservation and enrichment of Visayan cultural heritage. Follow Follow UP Open University is the pioneer institution in distance education and open learning in the Philippines. While its base of operations is in Los Baños, Laguna, it is basically a virtual university—providing quality education to students in the country and abroad who are not able to attend conventional colleges and universities due to personal or professional constraints. At the UP Open University, students learn at their own pace and convenience. It has ten learning centers with 19 testing centers all over the country. For its students abroad, it has a virtual learning center to address their academic concerns. Examinations for these students, meanwhile, are either administered online or in the Philippine Consulates. Follow Follow UP Mindanao is the only constituent university created by law, in response to the clamor of the people of Southern Philippines to have equitable access to a UP education. Architecture, biotechnology, and agribusiness are UP Mindanao’s strongest programs. It is the Commission on Higher Education’s Zonal Research Center in Region 11 and was given a grant by the Department of Science and Technology for the Biotechnology Program for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Indigenous Bioresources in Mindanao. It also founded the Mindanao Science and Technology Park Consortium to help market the combined facilities and capabilities of nearby regional and local institutions. Follow Follow UP Baguio attained its status as constituent university in 2002. It is a leading institution in the areas of science and mathematics, social sciences, and the humanities in Northern Philippines. Through its research arm, the Cordillera Studies Center, UP Baguio contributes to higher education by focusing on the preservation of the cultural traditions of the Cordilleras, Northern Luzon, and Cagayan Valley. Follow Follow UP Cebu, formerly one of the UP Visayas campuses, became an autonomous college under the UP Office of the President in September 2010. Autonomy was granted to better serve the needs of its region—a region that is aggressively asserting itself as an area for direct and foreign investments. This is why its focus is on the strengthening of its information technology and business programs. In 2016, UP Cebu was declared a constituent university of the UP System. Follow Follow Follow 🏫 GORORDO, LAHUG, CEBU CITY 6000 🕿 (032) 232 8187 🕗 MONDAY TO FRIDAY 08:00 - 17:00 Copyright © 2023 UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES CEBU QUICKLINKS UP SYSTEM UP DILIMAN UP LOS BAÑOS UP MANILA UP OPEN UNIVERSITY UP MINDANAO UP BAGUIO UP VISAYAS UP TACLOBAN COLLEGE |
https://upcebu.edu.ph/up-cebu-publications/ | UP Cebu Publications - University of the Philippines Cebu | UP Cebu Publications 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 ANNUAL REPORT 2016 ANNUAL REPORT 2015 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 ANNUAL REPORT 2013 ANNUAL REPORT |
https://upcebu.edu.ph/admin-edit/ | Admin-edit - University of the Philippines Cebu | ADMINISTRATION As a constituent university of the UP System, UP Cebu is headed by a Chancellor who serves as the chair of the University Council. Management and handling of the College’s various administrative functions are shown below. UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES CEBU Organizational Chart ATTY. LEO B. MALAGAR, LL.M CHANCELLOR PATRICIA ANNE G. NAZARENO, Ph.D. VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS HAZEL A. TRAPERO, DIT VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ADMINISTRATION MARY JOYCE L. FLORES, Ph.D. ASSISTANT TO THE VCAA ATTY. KING ANTHONY Y. PEREZ CHIEF, LEGAL OFFICE DHONG FHEL K. GOM-OS UNIVERSITY REGISTRAR ROWENA V. MENDE, Ph.D. DIRECTOR, CENTRAL VISAYAS STUDIES CENTER ATTY. ARCHILL NINA CAPISTRANO COORDINATOR, OASH JANETTE K. LEPITEN, CPA CHIEF, ACCOUNTING OFFICE LELIOSA P. BUGHAO HEAD, CASH OFFICE MYLAH R. PEDRANO, RL UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN MA. ALENA N. MACASIL, Ph.D. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF STUDENT AFFAIRS GREGG S. LLOREN COORDINATOR, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE ENGR. ALBERT B. BASCON CHIEF, CAMPUS MAINTENANCE OFFICE LOREL S. DEE, M.D. CHIEF, HEALTH SERVICES UNIT HAZEL O. ARCEO, D.Sc. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL LINKAGES AURELIO P. VILBAR, Ph.D. DIRECTOR, UGNAYAN NG PAHINUNGOD LOREL S. DEE, M.D. OIC, BUDGET OFFICE JAE MARI D. MAGDADARO HEAD, HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE ENGR. JONATHAN P. VICTOLERO HEAD, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CENTER NATIVIDAD D. ESTILLLORE, Ph.D. COORDINATOR, TLRC ANNABELLE G. MAGLASANG, Ph.D. COORDINATOR, GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT JAY NATHAN T. JORE COORDINATOR, OICA ENGR. ALBERT B. BASCON OIC, OFFICE OF THE CAMPUS ARCHITECT GRACE L. MENDEZ HEAD, SPMO JERIEL T. BERSANO COORDINATOR, NSTP NIÑO Y. YBAÑEZ COORDINATOR, PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM JASON A. NIEVA TECH. TRANSFER AND BUSINESS DEV. OFFICE JOSEPH PATRICK T. GUIEB HEAD, SAFETY AND SECURITY UNIT ZENAIDA L. TABUCANON DORMITORY MANAGER COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION, ART, AND DESIGN COLLEGE OF SCIENCE COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT SHANE L. CARREON, Ph.D. DEAN NELIA S. ERENO DEAN ATTY. FRANCIS MICHAEL C. ABAD DEAN MARY GRETCHEN F. CHAVES, DBA DEAN BELINDA F. ESPIRITU, Ph.D. COLLEGE SECRETARY IAN JAY A. SERRA COLLEGE SECRETARY PURITA T. BALTAZAR COLLEGE SECRETARY MARIE JANE J. MATERO, Ph.D., CPA COLLEGE SECRETARY MARK ANTHONY L. DAPOSALA COORDINATOR, CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAM GEOFE O. CADIZ, Ph.D. OIC, CHAIR, DEPT.OF BIOLOGY AND ENVI. SCIENCE ZENAIDA LIGAN-ASHBURN COORDINATOR, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROGRAM STEVENSON Q. YU, CPA COORDINATOR, MBA PROGRAM CRINA E. TAÑONGON, Ph.D. COORDINATOR, COMMUNICATION PROGRAM RAMISES G. MANZANO JR., Ph.D. COOR., MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS PROGRAM JONATHAN C. DELA CERNA COORDINATOR, PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM IVY R. JUMAO-AS COORDINATOR, BSM PROGRAM DENNIS E. MONTERA, Ph.D. COORDINATOR, FINE ARTS PROGRAM DHARYLL PRINCE ABELLANA CHAIR, DEPT. OF COMPUTER SCIENCE CATHERINE M. RODEL, Ph.D. HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL KIM P. BONDOC COORDINATOR, MASTER OF EDUCATION PROGRAM 🏫 GORORDO, LAHUG, CEBU CITY 6000 🕿 (032) 232 8187 🕗 MONDAY TO FRIDAY 08:00 - 17:00 Copyright © 2023 UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES CEBU QUICKLINKS UP SYSTEM UP DILIMAN UP LOS BAÑOS UP MANILA UP OPEN UNIVERSITY UP MINDANAO UP BAGUIO UP VISAYAS UP TACLOBAN COLLEGE |
https://upcebu.edu.ph/puso-and-up-cebu/ | Pusô and UP Cebu - University of the Philippines Cebu | Pusô and UP Cebu The short video makes its metaphor clear: Education is like pusô, an iconic Cebuano street food consisting of rice boiled in packets of woven coconut leaves. In the video, the values of hard work, perseverance, strength, faith, and experience helps a young man earn his degree from UP Cebu, while his mother provides him support and pusô. Titled “Puso 2 – University of the Philippines Cebu”, the video is itself a symbol of the spirit of UP Cebu—steeped in the culture of the region, full of UP Cebu’s heart and sense of community, and showing a mastery of both technology and art. The video won the Most Creative Corporate Institution Video Award – Gold Prize during the 5th QS-Maple Professional Leaders in Education Conference and Exhibit in Doha, Qatar in May 2015. The win “puts UP Cebu on the map of academic institutions that lead in creative and persuasive visual communication,” says Prof. Gregg Lloren, the video’s creative director and assistant professor at the UP Cebu Arts and Humanities cluster (now the College of Communication, Art, and Design). Then UP Cebu Dean and now Chancellor Liza Corro was executive producer. The school that lived UP Cebu is no stranger to change or to struggle. In fact, in a PowerPoint presentation based on an article on UP Cebu’s history, author and UP Cebu history professor Dr. Madrileña de la Cerna includes a photo of Cebu College taken around the late ‘40s with the caption “The School that Refused to Die.” When it comes to perseverance, resilience and sheer tenacity, UP Cebu knows what’s up. An old photo of Cebu College, UP, taken from Dr. de la Cerna’s presentation. The Junior College of Liberal Arts in Cebu City was established on May 3, 1918, with classes at Warwick Barracks in front of Leon Kilat Street in Ermita District, near where Carbon market is now. The fledgling college soon faced challenges such as the lack of a permanent home, the effects of a global economic crisis, and opposition in Manila against the further expansion and continued existence of the college. But the will of the Cebuano people and the UP Cebu community prevailed, and the Junior College of Liberal Arts in Cebu City was granted a 13-hectare site in Lahug plus yearly funds by the Cebu Provincial Board. In 1927, Prof. Teofilo Reyes of the UP College of Engineering finalized plans for the Lahug campus and oversaw the completion of a two-story building, which was inaugurated by UP President Rafael Palma in 1929. In 1936, the Junior College became a permanent branch of UP through Act No. 4244, enabling it to expand its role in the province by offering more courses leading to degrees in Commerce, Education, General Preparatory Law and Preparatory Medicine. When war broke out, the College was forced to close on December 13, 1941. Its main building was used as an internment camp for American and British civilians and later as a stockade for condemned prisoners by Japanese forces. In 1945, the campus was returned to UP, and classes were held at the buildings the Americans had built. The main building and athletic field, which were damaged during the war, were repaired through funds from the War Damage Commission. A few years later, in 1950, the College was closed again when UP students protesting the actions of powerful Cebuano politicians and their armed goons during the presidential elections angered a Cebuano Senate President. As Dr. De la Cerna wrote: “Only the students of UP Cebu dared to lampoon these politicians in the editorial cartoons of their campus paper, The Junior Collegian, getting the ire of the powerful political lords of Cebu.” After UP alumni campaigned for it, the College was reopened in 1963. The next decades saw turmoil within the College, followed by changes in 1986-1987 that placed UP Cebu under the UP in the Visayas. In 1990-1991, the entire collegial organization was restructured, with academic programs clustered into five disciplines, namely Management, Humanities, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Social Sciences, and the High School. In 2010, the UP Cebu College was granted autonomy by the BOR. Then in 2011, UP Cebu grew again as construction began for its new campus in a five-hectare lot of Cebu City’s South Road Properties, which is now home to the UP Professional Schools, offering degree programs such as Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Computer Science, Master of Education and Master of Science in Environmental Studies. Finally, on the 27th of October 2016, the UP Cebu was elevated as the 8th constituent university with the installation of the former Dean to Chancellor, Atty. Liza D. Corro. Not bad for a tiny junior college that started out with 28 students and two faculty members. The UP Cebu Library (Photo by Bong Arboleda) The school of reinvention UP Cebu has gone through war and upheavals, political and administrative opposition, uncertainty and tension, and has risen above it all. It has mastered the art of rebirth and reinvention, changing its name eleven times throughout its almost 100-year history—from the Junior College of Liberal Arts in 1918 to Cebu College in UP in 1947, to the UP Graduate School in Cebu in 1963, to the UP Visayas Cebu College in 1987, to the UP Cebu College in 2010, and finally to UP Cebu. As the UP constituent unit born in the Queen City of the South, the campus wears both its history and the culture of the Central Visayas region proudly on its sleeve—most clearly evident in the campus’ iconic landmark, the Administration Building, in front of which the Oblation stands. The Administration Building was declared a historical landmark on December 2, 2010, by the National Historical Commission. The building is also featured prominently on UP Cebu’s logo, symbolizing both UP Cebu’s significance as the oldest campus outside Luzon and its resilient character, said Lloren. As if reflecting UP Cebu’s spirit of resilience and reinvention, the campus has evolved through the years. Other buildings were constructed during the ‘70s and ‘80s, and infrastructure development escalated further since the first decade of the 21st century. The campus today is a green, tree-lined haven featuring buildings with modern architectural designs such as the Arts and Science Building, and modern facilities such as the UP Cebu Library, which served as the media center during the Visayas leg of 2016 Presidential Debate; the Performing Art Hall on top of the Library, which served as the venue of the historic presidential debate of 2016; the Open Field where sporting events and the annual UP Cebu Cookout are held, and which now includes a Jogger’s Path; benches and gazebos that serve as student tambayans; sculptures and art installations scattered everywhere; and the site often featured in photographs of UP Cebu, the UP Cebu signage and seal in front of the Oblation and Administration Building. UP Cebu campus grounds (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) The school that looks forward With its history at its heart, UP’s youngest constituent unit has embraced the modern, the artistic and the high-tech, as befits its role as one of the country’s centers of excellence in design and information technology. For example, the Department of Trade and Industry inaugurated the first Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab) in Cebu last year under the UP Cebu’s College of Communication, Art and Design. The Fablab is a service facility established for UP Cebu’s Fine Arts program. It aims to give arts and design students, professionals, entrepreneurs, and the public access to advance prototyping, printing and related equipment, as well as training and workshop facilities. Through the Cebu Business Incubator in IT (CeBuinIT), UP Cebu and the DOST aim to create an environment that would help startup tech enterprises become sustainable and commercially successful. UP Cebu is also one of the implementing agencies for the DOST’s PHIL LiDAR 2 program, which aims to produce high-resolution maps and data to be used for ongoing government development programs. The UP Cebu SRP campus is a model of modernity and environmental awareness, featuring a circular e-Library with 53 computer units and green building design. And as proof of UP Cebu’s strength in creative design and IT, the Shu-Te University of Taiwan will begin offering a Master of Arts in Applied Arts and Design (MAAAD) program for interested graduates or professionals in arts and design through UP Cebu this year. As for the spirit of UP Cebu, Lloren says: “The campus is very much attached to its Cebuano heritage. Thus, we are proud to use the pusô to embody our ideals of resilience, hard work, nurturing spirit, and sharing. Our motto: Nurtured to Create, Inspired to Innovate, Destined to Serve. The first line represents our design thrust. The second represents IT. The third speaks of our mandate to serve the region and the country.” UP Cebu has thrived despite the odds with the support of the UP community and the Cebuano people. And like the young man in Lloren’s video, UP Cebu stands at a height, looking outward and forward to the future. Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta |
https://upcebu.edu.ph/ | Home - University of the Philippines Cebu | QUICKLINKS Enrollment Guide UPCAT Scholarship and Financial Assistance Colleges and Offices Online Forms Privacy Notice for Students and Student Handbook University Directory Get to Know UP Cebu with S.I.A.N. ABOUT US History of UP Cebu UP Cebu as a Constituent University The Junior College of Liberal Arts in Cebu City was established on May 3, 1918, with classes at Warwick Barracks in front of Leon Kilat Street in Ermita District, near where Carbon market is now. UP Cebu has gone through war and upheavals, political and administrative opposition, uncertainty and tension, and has risen above it all. It has mastered the art of rebirth and reinvention, changing its name eleven times throughout its 100-year history—from the Junior College of Liberal Arts in 1918 to Cebu College in UP in 1947, to the UP Graduate School in Cebu in 1963, to the UP Visayas Cebu College in 1987, to the UP Cebu College in 2010, and finally to UP Cebu. Pusô and UP Cebu Virtual Tour of UP Cebu Missing the UP Cebu campus life? Take a quick virtual tour and revisit the places you miss the most! Click Here LOCATION Lahug Campus: Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City SRP Campus: Cebu South Road Properties, Cebu City OFFICE HOURS Monday to Friday: 8am – 5pm Weekends: Closed CONTACT (032) 232 8187 [email protected] CALENDAR ACADEMIC CALENDAR View Google Calendar View Teamup Calendar MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION View Google Calendar MASTER OF EDUCATION View Google Calendar All Calendars NEWS UP Cebu, Cebu City ink MOA for Firecheck 2.0 project Dec 19, 2023 Acting Mayor of Cebu City, Hon. Raymond Alvin Garcia, and UP Cebu Chancellor Atty. Leo Malagar, together with... read more UP Cebu & DOST 7 Hold Turnover Ceremony of First Standby Well in Cebu City Dec 14, 2023 After eight months of hard work, UP Cebu turned over the first standby-well and community-based firefighting facility... read more UP Cebu Fine Arts students win in 56th Shell NSAC Dec 1, 2023 Students from the UP Cebu Fine Arts program received major awards in the 56th Shell National Students Art Competition (NSAC) awarding ceremonies on November 28, 2023, at the Ayala Museum. read more SEE MORE UP CEBU NEWS ANNOUNCEMENTS UP Cebu joins the observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women Nov 24, 2023 Schedule for the SET Administration for the 1st semester, AY 2023-2024 Nov 16, 2023 Join the GHG Project: Calculate Your Commute’s Carbon Footprint Oct 27, 2023 SEE MORE UP CEBU ANNOUNCEMENTS OUR MISSION The University of the Philippines Cebu promotes scientific, socio-economic, cultural, and environmental progress in Central Visayas, the nation and the world through creative and innovative instruction, research, intellectual productivity, and public service — OUR VISION A lead university in pioneering research, creative design, ICT-driven innovation, responsible governance, and community service in Central Visayas and the global society RESEARCH AND ACADEMICS Local Adaptations to Central Government Shortcomings: COVID-19 Responses in the Cities of Iloilo and Cebu, Philippines by Juhn Chris Espia, Weena Gera, Rosalie Arcala Hall The Philippine national government’s largely ineffective response to the COVID-19 pandemic sets the context for a diversity of policy adaptations at the local level. This article focuses on the two largest metropolitan areas in the Visayan Islands, Cebu City and Iloilo City. The Cebu City government, with strong personal ties to President Rodrigo Duterte, acquiesced to the national government’s takeover with uniformed personnel deployed for enforcement. Municipal Level-Democratic Dialogue Towards Empowerment and Genuine Community Development: The Municipal Talakayan Experience by Ana Leah Dungog-Cuizon The “Municipal Talakayan” (Talakayan for brevity), translated in the Visayan Dialect as “Panaghisgutay” is an internal evaluation tool which brings together the local stakeholders to a municipal level democratic dialogue. It is both a diagnostic and capacity-building tool. The goal of the Talakayan which is to build local capacities is best achieved through knowledge generation, sharing and collaborative self-assessment among stakeholders. Technocratic and Deliberative Nexus in Policy Analysis: Learning from Smart City Planning in Chiang Mai, Thailand by Noe John Joseph E. Sacramento and Piyapong Boossabong Strengthened by rigorous developments in foundational principles and methods, the technocratic-vs-deliberative debate has long lapsed in policy analysis discourse. We attempt to remedy this debate by illustrating the case of Fah Ham smart city planning in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT): In the Lens of Philippine Decentralization by Ana Leah Dungog-Cuizon, Cyril Bryan Cuizon, Roselle Jardin While there had been several initiatives aimed at evaluating the effectiveness and impact of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, not one has zeroed in on which political set-up the CCT is best compatible with. This study examined how the decentralized political set-up of the Philippines affects the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the achievement of its goal as a development initiative. Authoritarian Values and Institutional Trust: Theoretical Considerations and Evidence from the Philippines by Ronald R. Pernia Studies on authoritarian values, which have mostly focused on authoritarian regimes and on democracies with spells of authoritarianism, suggest trust in public institutions. However, limited empirical evidence has been carried out in the Philippines where cycles of regime change and authoritarian leadership have characterized its post-authoritarian landscape. Duterte’s Tight Grip over Local Politicians: Can it Endure? by Weena S. Gera and Paul Hutchcroft The major trend in central-local relations in the Philippines under the regime of President Rodrigo Duterte has been the capacity of the presidential palace to exert a very tight grip over local politicians—arguably the tightest since the martial-law dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos (1972-1986). Musikang Bayan (People’s Music) and the Militant-Materialist-Progressive-Nationalist Music by Noe M. Santillan Music is a cultural Ideological State Apparatus (Althusser 1971, 143- 148). In such a lens, this paper proceeds in the manner of Althusser’s argument, and the critique applies to popular music in the Philippines vis-à-vis Gramsci’s cultural hegemony. With such a framework, this paper looks into the albums of Musikang Bayan (People’s Music) from 2001 to 2019 and employs qualitative content analysis. Order out of Court: Insights on the Lawyers’ Role in the Success and Failure of Mediation in Cebu City, Philippines by Francis Michael C. Abad To address the problem of overwhelming cases pending before the judiciary, mediation has been sought as a means to settle disputes speedily and amicably. This article argues that much of the success or failure of a mediator to reach a settlement among litigants is owed to the role of lawyers who assist the parties in mediation conferences. Women Choosing Younger Men: Exploring Evolved Mate Preferences and Mate Choice Copying by Rowena V. Mende The present study explored the phenomenon of women choosing younger men—seemingly a violation of evolved mate preferences of males preferring young mates and females preferring resource-laden mates who are usually older. The study explored this issue through two perspectives: evolved preferences and social learning. SEE MORE RESEARCH AND ACADEMICS University of the Philippines Cebu © 2023 |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/up-fetes-donors-of-centennial-professorial-chairs-in-engineering/ | UP fetes donors of Centennial Professorial Chairs in Engineering – UP Alumni Website | UP fetes donors of Centennial Professorial Chairs in Engineering January 27, 2017 by UP System “Forging new ties and strengthening of existing ties with the donors of Engineering Professorial Chairs is one way of realizing greater academic productivity that elevates the quality of teaching and excellence through conferences and research,” Dean Rizalinda L. de Leon said in her welcome message at the reception for donors of Centennial Professorial Chairs in Engineering on January 11 at the UP Board Room in Quezon City. The new batch of donors was dedicated to the “Centennial” Engineering Professorial Chairs as this marked the centennial anniversary of the respective departments receiving the donations, according to former College of Engineering Dean Aura C. Matias. “It is also fitting that we begin the New Year by returning to our roots, in this case by going back to one of our core values, the same values that hold our culture and society together. The five Professorial Chairs in Engineering that we are commemorating today are demonstrations of this revered value as much as they are expressions of a generous and supportive spirit and a far-sighted vision. What values are these? Nothing less than honoring the people and institutions who have made us who we are—our parents, and our Alma Mater,” UP President Alfredo E. Pascual said in a message delivered by UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Gisela P. Concepcion. Former UP Diliman College of Engineering Dean Aura Matias speaking before the donor families. Photo by Jun Madrid, UPSIO. The five Professorial Chairs in Engineering are the following: The Edgardo and Agnes Paynor Electrical Engineering Centennial Professorial Chair is named after Engr. Edgardo Paynor, a UP Electrical Engineering graduate and founder of Telmarc Cable, and his wife Mrs. Agnes Paynor, who is also a UP graduate. The Don Benito Yao Metallurgical Engineering Centennial Professorial Chair was donated by SteelAsia Manufacturing Corporation President Mr. Benjamin Yao in honor of Mr. Yao’s father, Don Benito Yao. The company has been a great supporter of the College of Engineering as it has been hosting since 2015 such projects as summer internship programs, study grants, and the completion of the Civil Engineering building. The Pedro and Francisca Maniego Professorial Chair in Industrial Engineering is named in honor of the parents of UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation Inc. (UPERDFI) Chair and former National Renewable Energy Board Chair Pete Maniego, who is also a graduate of the UP College of Law. Honoring the life and legacy of the late Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary and Senator Vicente Paterno is the Vicente T. Paterno Mechanical Engineering Centennial Chair, which recognizes Sen. Paterno’s outstanding achievements as a businessman and public servant. He was also recognized as one of the distinguished alumni of the UP Alumni Engineers. The Quintin and Norma Calderon Chair in Civil Engineering is named in honor of UP Civil Engineering alumnus and pioneer in Philippine construction Quintin Calderon and his wife, Norma. Its donor is Engr. Rosario “Chato” Calderon, the incumbent vice-president of the UPERDFI and former president of the UP Alumni Engineers. Also present at the reception were the families of the donors, as well as UPERDFI President Alfonso A. Aliga, Jr. To view more photos from the event, please click through the album: https://www.facebook.com/upsystem/posts/1673095089380045 Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/up-fetes-donors-of-centennial-professorial-chairs-in-engineering |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/1st-gawad-oblation-awarding-ceremony-to-be-held-on-7-february/ | 1st Gawad Oblation Awarding Ceremony to be held on 7 February – UP Alumni Website | 1st Gawad Oblation Awarding Ceremony to be held on 7 February February 2, 2017 by UP System The University of the Philippines, through the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs and the Office of Alumni Relations will hold the 1st Gawad Oblation Awarding Ceremony on 7 February 2017, 6:00 p.m. at the UP Bonifacio Global City Auditorium, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. Among the awardees for this year’s Gawad Oblation are: former Budget Secretary Florencio ‘Butch’ Abad, Representative and former UP Regent Pilar Juliana ‘Pia’ Cayetano, Senator Francis Joseph ‘Chiz’ Escudero, Senator Lorna Regina ‘Loren’ Legarda, former Senator Manuel ‘Manny’ Villar, Jr., former Public Works Secretary Rogelio ‘Babes’ Singson, Davao City Third District Representative Isidro Ungab and Commission on Higher Education Chair and UP Regent Patricia Licuanan. The full list of awardees will be made available during the ceremony. Attire for the occasion will be business or smart casual. Invited guests are expected to be seated by 5:45 p.m. For more information please contact: Michelle/ Juvy (632) 929-8226 or (632) 981-8500, local numbers 4251 and 4252. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/1st-gawad-oblation-awarding-ceremony-to-be-held-on-7-february |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/up-launches-gawad-oblation/ | UP launches Gawad Oblation – UP Alumni Website | UP launches Gawad Oblation February 27, 2017 by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc, UP MPRO The UP Gawad Oblation, an award given by the UP President to UP alumni and friends for “extraordinary service with or in the name of UP,” was launched and conferred on 14 individuals from government and industry in a ceremony held on February 7, 2017 at the UP Professional Schools in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The awardees each received a medal designed by Prof. Leo Abaya. The first Gawad UP Gawad Oblation awardees were: Florencio Abad, former Department of Budget and Management secretary, represented by his daughter, Julia Abad, former Cabinet secretary; Magdaleno Albarracin Jr., businessman; Alfonso Aliga Jr., engineer; Pia Cayetano, former senator and now Taguig representative; Francis Escudero, senator; Ignacio Gimenez, businessman; Robina Gokongwei-Pe, corporate executive; Loren Legarda, senator; Patricia Licuanan, Commission on Higher Education chair; Rogelio Singson, former Department of Public Works and Highways secretary; Hans Sy, businessman; Reynaldo Tagudando, Department of Public Works and Highways regional director; Isidro Ungab, former Davao City representative; and, Manuel Villar Jr., businessman and former senator. In various capacities, the awardees in recent years have helped UP come up with more than the usual resources and means in order to perform a leadership role in higher education and national development. “Your initiatives have truly made a positive impact on the development of UP and have allowed us not only to make great strides but take giant leaps in our journey towards the path for greatness in the 21st century,” the UP outgoing president, Alfredo Pascual, said to the awardees. He described the Gawad as the highest honor UP can give as expression of gratitude. The UP Gawad Oblation recipients with UP President Alfredo Pascual and Vice President for Public Affairs Edna Estifania Co singing “UP Naming Mahal”. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. The outgoing vice president for public affairs who oversaw the award, Edna Co, said “extraordinary service” includes “exceptional teaching, research and public service, creative production, efficient public and university administration, exceptional generosity and voluntarism, and fund raising”. The awardees should have increased the institutional visibility and international recognition of UP, and have helped fulfill its mandate as national university. Villar, speaking on behalf of the awardees, congratulated Pascual for “steering UP to new heights during his presidency” and for sharing with the awardees the dedication and passion to give back to the university and country. “The award represents our lives coming full circle. Certainly, that’s how I feel,” Villar said. He added that it is an affirmation of UP moulding individuals into leaders. UP alumni engineers represented by UP Diliman Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Benito Pacheco, Rogelio Singson, Alfonso Aliga Jr., and Magdaleno Albarracin also took the occasion to present Pascual a token of appreciation for his support of the UP Diliman College of Engineering. (Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc, UP MPRO) For more photos of the event, please click through the album here. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/up-launches-gawad-oblation |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/up-alumni-engineers-vow-to-give-back-more-to-up/ | UP Alumni Engineers Vow to Give Back More to UP – UP Alumni Website | UP Alumni Engineers Vow to Give Back More to UP March 15, 2017 by Andre DP Encarnacion, UP MPRO Newly-elected UP Alumni Engineers (UPAE) President Engr. Adrian S. Arias pledged to step up its efforts give back to both UP and the College of Engineering, amidst notable changes in the University’s academic landscape this year. Arias spoke during the induction ceremony of the UPAE’s new set of officers on March 6, 2017 in Quezon Hall. Arias, who takes over from the outgoing UPAE president, Levy V. Espiritu, invited his fellow alumni engineers to invest in the College, its people, and the various projects of the UPAE. He noted that such investments would reap benefits for them not only as alumni, but also as Filipinos “contributing to the betterment of the College, the University and the country”. The UPAE is well-known for spearheading initiatives such as the Study Now Pay Later (SNPL) program, which provides a monthly allowance of P5,000 for needy but deserving students of the College. In addition to the 10 students currently availing of this program, the UPAE under Arias seeks to add 12 more beneficiaries this 2017. As part of its continued support of faculty development, the UPAE also pledged to formally turn over P1.2 million to the UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (UPERDFI) to revive the UP President Vidal Tan and Dean Crisostomo Ortigas Professorial Chairs in Engineering. UP President Danilo L. Concepcion congratulating members of the new UPAE officers. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. In addition to its other contributions, the UPAE vowed to assist the College’s infrastructure program. It will also urge industry partners to provide more internships and “real-world learning experiences” for students and faculty members. Aside from its various institutes, the new UP Engineering Centennial Library will also move to the newly-constructed UP Engineering Complex by 2018. The College will fully implement its new curriculum next school year. UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, who was guest of honor during the induction ceremony, suggested that the UPAE should also refurbish UP’s dormitories and assist in the maintenance of iconic campus landmarks such as the UP Lagoon. He also encouraged the organization to see how student loans can be adjusted vis-a-vis the thrust toward free higher education in Philippine state universities and colleges (SUCs). The other new UPAE officers are: Maj. Gen. Silvino Alcabasa, Jr., Vice President-Internal; Engr. Dante Abando, Vice President External; and Engr. Gerardo M. Angeles, Secretary; together with new members of the UPAE Board of Trustees. Engr. Carlos Antonio Berba will continue as UPAE Treasurer. (Andre DP Encarnacion, UP MPRO) Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/up-alumni-engineers-vow-to-give-back-more-to-up |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/coe-honors-professorial-chair-donors/ | COE honors professorial chair donors – UP Alumni Website | COE honors professorial chair donors March 22, 2017 by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo, UP MPRO The UP Diliman College of Engineering (COE) held a reception for donors who funded the establishment of one professorial chair and provided additional support for four existing professorial chairs, on March 15 at the National Engineering Center. The newly established endowment was for the Honorio T. and Elisa F. Allado Professorial Chair in Civil Engineering, donated by the Allado Construction Company, Inc. According to the deed of donation which was signed that day, the company, through the creation of the professorial chair, “desires to honor its late founder, a distinguished alumnus of UP belonging to BS Civil Engineering Class of 1934, and his late wife, Elisa.” The annual amount of P120,000 will be awarded by the company starting in the next academic year, with a pledge to fund the professorial chair for at least five years. In his message, President Ramon F. Allado of the Allado Construction Company, Inc. talked of how his father loved construction. He asked COE to produce more graduates highly adept at construction management as they were truly needed by the industry. The four professorial chairs which received additional funding were: the UP President Vidal Tan Professorial Chair in Engineering, the Dean Crisostomo A. Ortigas Professorial Chair in Engineering, the Alejandro Melchor Professorial Chair in Engineering, and the Ambrosio Magsaysay Professorial Chair in Engineering. The UP Alumni Engineers (UPAE) donated P1.2 million to support the Tan and Ortigas Professorial Chairs, the deed of which was also signed that day. The amount of P120,000 will be given annually to each chair holder for a period of five years, starting in the next academic year. Both endowments started with funds from the Ford Foundation and were established by the UP Board of Regents (BOR) in its 829th meeting on January 25, 1973. The chairs were originally named “The Vidal A. Tan Professorial Chair in Environmental Engineering” and “The Crisostomo A. Ortigas Professorial Chair in Materials Sciences.” UPAE President Adrian Arias said that the donation was made up of “small contributions” from members of the alumni group. Sa ngalan po ng UP, malugod ko pong tinatanggap at pinapahalagahan ang inyong suporta, kabaitan, at kagandahang-loob.”UP President Danilo L. Concepcion expresses his appreciation for the support extended by the alumni engineers. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. The other chair established during that BOR meeting in 1973 was “The Alejandro Melchor Sr. Professorial Chair in Systems Engineering,” which also began with a Ford Foundation donation. Additional funds to this professorial chair were given by COE alumnus, former regent, and Senior Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman Magdaleno B. Albarracin Jr. of the Philippine Investment Management Consultants, Inc., along with fellow alumnus and chairman of D.M. Consunji, Inc., Isidro A. Consunji. The deed of donation was signed on July 21, 2016. Albarracin said that a large part of who he was and what he has achieved was due to his UP education. Consunji, meanwhile, particularly addressed COE Dean Rizalinda de Leon when he said, “You can count on us—not just in the present, but in the future.” The Magsaysay Professorial Chair started with a P150,000 donation from the daughter of Ambrosio Magsaysay, renowned artist Anita Magsaysay-Ho, and was established by the BOR in its 980th meeting on August 29, 1985. Magsaysay was appointed instructor of graphics in 1911, when COE was only two years old. The University of the Philippines Bulletin No. 15, published in 1932, listed Magsaysay as “Professor and Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering” under the COE’s “Faculty of Instruction.” He is co-founder of A. Magsaysay Inc. His remaining children and grandchildren continue to fund the endowment, with the latest deed of donation signed on July 21, 2016. Magsaysay’s granddaughter, Mariane Magsaysay-Pratte, delivered a message on behalf of their family. She said that she hoped more would be like her grandfather, who was a pensionado or government scholar sent to the United States to earn his college degree but chose to come back to the Philippines after he graduated so he could serve the country. UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, who thanked the donors on behalf of the University, said, “Professorial chairs are not just monetary awards for us here in UP; they are gifts of hope and confidence in our faculty. These are acts of compassion that tell them we—you as donors and UP as the implementing body—believe in their capability to achieve more than what they already have.” He went on to say that these endowments for faculty development encouraged the conduct of advanced research and inspired further excellence in the mentoring of future engineers. (Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo, UP MPRO) For more photos of the event, please click through the album here. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/coe-honors-professorial-chair-donors |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/leonardo-q-liongson/ | Leonardo Q. Liongson – UP Alumni Website | Leonardo Q. Liongson April 12, 2017 Dr. Leonardo Liongson (Photo from the website of the UP Engineering Alumni Association) Academician (Acd.) Leonardo Q. Liongson, a renowned Filipino expert in the field of hydrology, hydraulics and water resources engineering and management, flood control, lahar flow control and disaster mitigation joined his creator on April 5, 2017 at the age of 68. The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST, PHL), the country’s highest recognition and advisory body on issues concerning science and technology, joins the scientific community in mourning the demise of Acd. Liongson. He has done most of his work in National Hydraulic Research Center (NHRC) projects for infrastructure development or for engineering operations. A very passionate man, his works made an impact not only on the local science and technology community but had made substantial benefits on Philippine society. Acd. Liongson has done scholarly work in mathematics and computer modelling of fluid flow,written software for water resources management, built a database of groundwater resources for Metro Manila and the Laguna Lake basin, and studied historical aspects of Manila’s drainage system and the country’s physical infrastructure. He was elected to the National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines as academician in 2007. He was appointed by the NAST PHL Executive Council as the Focal Person on Water Issues right after his election. He led the NAST activities pertaining to hydrology, hydraulics, flood mitigation and water resources engineering. Acd. Liongson’s research achievements earned him significant awards, such as Professional Award in Engineering in 2004 by UP Alumni Association (UPAA), Outstanding Alumnus in Engineering Research by UP Alumni Engineers (UPAE) in 2000, and Achievement Award in the field of Engineering and Technology in 1998 from National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP). He was also a recipient of Gregorio Y. Zara Award in Water Resources, 1995, by the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science (PHILAAS), UP Alumni Engineers Most Outstanding Teacher in 1994 by UP College of Engineering and UP Alumni Engineers Most Outstanding Researcher, UP College of Engineering in 1993, among others. Born on 7 October 1948, Acd. Liongson obtained his BS Chemical Engineering magna cum laude (1969) and MS Engineering Sciences (Hydraulics) (1973) from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, and PhD Water Resources Administration/Hydrology (1976) from the University of Arizona, Tucson. Necrological service was held last April 9, 2017 at St. Peter Chapels Commonwealth. Source: http://www.nast.ph/index.php/13-news-press-releases/310-academician-leonardo-q-liongson-68 |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/upv-oar-launches-the-alumni-cafe-jam/ | UPV OAR launches The Alumni Café Jam – UP Alumni Website | UPV OAR launches The Alumni Café Jam May 4, 2017 by UP System The Alumni Café Jam was launched recently by the UP Visayas (UPV) Office of Alumni Relations (OAR), with various alumni groups, classes, batches and associations as co-sponsors. An al fresco musical jamming session at the UPV Alumni Terrace, The Alumni Café Jam aims to strengthen ties between and among UP alumni groups, associations, classes and batches. The kick-off session was sponsored by UP High School Batch ’92 on March 24, 2017. UPV Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Prof. Evelyn Belleza, Prof. Dea Doromal, UP Hamili/Hamilia Alumni Association members, Pretty Farm Boys, and UPAA officers and board members, led by UPHS Batch ’92 Class President and UPV UPAA President Rosendo Arandela III, graced the event. Photo by GC Castro, UPV-OAR As part of its 52nd Anniversary festivities, the UP Hamili/Hamilia Alumni Association hosted The Alumni Café Jam‘s second session on April 21, 2017. The session featured a live acoustic performance by UP Hamili alumnus Pablito Araneta. The UP Hamili/Hamilia Alumni Association, UPHS Batch ’89, and Sotech Alumni Association will co-host other Alumni Café Jam sessions later this year. The Alumni Café Jam is open to UP alumni. The UPV Alumni Terrace can accommodate a maximum of thirty people. Musical sessions usually run from 4:00-7:00 p.m. UP alumni groups are encouraged to perform soft, light and, easy music from their years as UP students, featuring individuals or a duo. For queries, call UPV OAR at (+6333) 3368837, email at [email protected] or visit www.facebook.com/upvoar. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/upv-oar-launches-the-alumni-cafe-jam |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/promoting-tolerance-through-books-and-education/ | Promoting tolerance through books and education – UP Alumni Website | Promoting tolerance through books and education May 10, 2017 by Khalil Ismael Michael G. Quilinguing, UP MPRO “At 22, people say that I am ‘accomplished’ and they expect that I’ll be even more accomplished as I grow. This induces a lot of pressure, and the fear of not living up to people’s expectations can cripple anyone. However, I have to remind myself that these accolades are just decoration. The real work lies in the everyday toil that no one sees. The real achievement lies in building and growing things that are quietly changing lives.” That’s what University of the Philippines alumna Arizza Ann Sahi Nocum says when asked how she feels about being constantly recognized for her efforts to promote dialogue between Christians and Muslims through the Kristiyano-Islam or KRIS Peace Library. The daughter of a Roman Catholic father, Armand Dean Nocum, and a Muslim mother, Annora Sahi, she shares the passion of her parents in bridging the gap between two of the country’s most active religious groups. On February 9, 2017, Arizza was chosen as one of this year’s Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) and recognized in a ceremony held at the Heroes Hall of Malacañang Palace in Manila. Her efforts to promote education through books and libraries in conflict areas in Mindanao, while maintaining her academic standing in UP Diliman, were cited as reasons for the award. The engineer turns advocate Prior to the TOSP award, Arizza’s efforts had been recognized with the Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs Award in 2011, when she was still a freshman at the University. In 2016 she was also chosen as a Young Leader of the Extremely Together initiative of the Kofi Annan Foundation and One Young World. Aside from these, she was also part of the team of UP Diliman Industrial Engineering students who brought home the championship title from the Industrial Engineering Competition at the Institut Teknologi Bandung in Indonesia in January 2016. And during her time in the University, she enjoyed a full scholarship as an Oblation Scholar, having been among the top 50 passers of the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT). Graduating with a degree in Industrial Engineering, magna cum laude, in 2016, Arizza now spends most of her time with the non-profit organization which she and her family started in 2008, in an effort to provide books to hard-to-reach areas in Zamboanga. Libraries for peace This industrial engineer started working for KRIS Peace Library in 2011, which at that time she says “was very informal. Essentially, it was just me and my family doing projects on the fly that were not expertly planned, maintained, and evaluated.” The KRIS Peace Library maintains six libraries all over the country, one each in Zamboanga City; Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City; Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay; Bangkal, Zamboanga Sibugay; Rodriguez, Rizal; and Davao City. Aside from providing books and educating children, the Kris Peace Library promotes dialogue and understanding between groups of different faiths and brings these groups together through education. Asked what advice she could give to people of different religious convictions, she suggests, “Exercise empathy. Before judging, blaming, pointing the finger, or fearing a person who may be different, try to put yourself in that person’s shoes. Live out his or her story. Expand your capacity for understanding.” Acting as overall head of the organization, Arizza tries as much as possible to divide her work days equally, half of the day working for the library, leaving the other half for other commitments. But she admits she does find it difficult. “I average about 16 hours of total work every day,” she says. “Unfortunately, I don’t have much of a social life at the moment,” she adds with a wry smile. When asked about her student involvements in college, Arizza says she joined the UP Industrial Engineering Club where she headed several teams which did outreach work. “Being part of IE Club really taught me the soft skills which I otherwise wouldn’t have learned in my classes, such as handling people, managing my time, and resisting distractions,” she says. As for her favorite haunts in Diliman, Arizza recalls that she was usually to be found at the Bahay ng Alumni. She also used to frequent the Engineering Library 1, the Engineering cafeteria, and the Main Library. She would also hang out with her friends at the UP Town Center along Katipunan Avenue. As for her preferred spaces for peace and quiet, she says that “I have always loved the Main Lib and walking around the oval.” A turning point While she admits she has had many memorable experiences in her years in the University, she says there was one particular instance which she considered to have been a significant turning point. “During the day of the Engineering Job Fair in my senior year, I felt very uneasy because, while everyone else was excited handing out resumes, I decided to withhold mine and not apply to anything. This was my heart telling me that these jobs were not for me; that I was being pulled to take on a different path. I’m glad that happened to me,” she says. Since graduating from college, Arizza has made several changes on how the Library does its work. “In that year, I formed the first volunteer core team. Our team then set the strategic direction for KRIS, set our first mission and vision on paper, created a working structure, recruited more volunteers, started systematizing operations, and hired our first full-time coordinator,” she says. But she also candidly adds that they are “still very much a work in progress.” For those considering non-profit or non-government organization work after university studies, this is what she had to say: “Concentrate on the people. Get people around you who are equally passionate about your cause. Find people with resources and connections who can support you as you secure funding and other needs. Find leaders from your target beneficiaries or communities who can bridge your work to these communities.” She also adds that it is important to focus on one’s self, particularly on one’s internal strengths. ”Build on your resilience to failure and disappointments, and choose to be happy in your work even if other people think you should be working somewhere else. This is your life, after all. Right now, I have this quote by Bob Dylan plastered on my desktop: ‘People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent.’” Asked if there was one important lesson she learned from UP, Arizza says that “I think the most important life lesson I got from my UP education is humility. Having met so many talented, hardworking, and genuinely intelligent people, I often felt challenged and would always aspire to be a better version of myself. Outside the university, humility is what keeps me growing and learning with every chance I get.” Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/promoting-tolerance-through-books-and-education |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/upaa-hosts-forum-on-federalism/ | UPAA hosts forum on federalism – UP Alumni Website | UPAA hosts forum on federalism May 10, 2017 by UP System The University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) hosted the “Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP”, a regular public forum for nationally relevant issues, on April 18 at the Ang Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman, Quezon City. Resource speakers discussed the pros and cons of having to shift the Philippines form of government to federalism. In his presentation, “Establishing a Stronger, and a More Efficient, Effective, Responsive, and Accountable Philippine Democracy”, Dr. Jose V. Abueva, President of Kalayaan College and former UP President, discussed the need for system change. Abueva favored a shift to a unitary and parliamentary form of government to resolve the country’s decades-long problems arising from the current system which he said constitutes a weak nation and an unconsolidated democracy. Counterarguments to the Duterte administration’s proposed shift to federalism, on the other hand, were given by Hon. Vicente V. Mendoza, retired Supreme Court Justice. His presentation supported more decentralization and local autonomy in government as he cautions against federalism and Constitutional amendments. According to Mendoza, federalism will intensify regionalism, create new problems, and lead to fragmentation. He explained that more decentralization and local autonomy in government, not federalism, can help resolve the issues posed by those who are pushing for federalism; and that the desired developments can be attained without changing the form of government. Atty. Ramon M. Maronilla, UPAA president; Atty. Reynaldo C. Laserna, UPAA 2nd vice president; Atty. Domingo C. Palarca, UPAA director; Atty. Oscar P. Palabyab, UPAA 1st vice president; and Atty. Pastor Marcelo M. Reyes, Jr., UPAA Public Issues Committee chair, facilitated the forum. Additional photos of the event can be viewed by clicking here. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/upaa-hosts-forum-on-federalism |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/up-concert-chorus-wows-audiences-with-music-and-environmentalist-spirit/ | UP Concert Chorus wows audiences with music and environmentalist spirit – UP Alumni Website | UP Concert Chorus wows audiences with music and environmentalist spirit May 10, 2017 by UP System The UP Concert Chorus (UPCC), one of the country’s foremost internationally awarded choral groups and the University’s premier show choir, brought their Filipino audiences to their feet with stirring performances of foreign religious, inspirational, Broadway and pop music, and of original music and classic OPMs, during their concert at the UP Diliman Carillon Plaza on May 5. The concert was their farewell performance before they embark on their 2017 international concert tour dubbed “Musikalikasan”, as they take the message of music and environmentalism to Europe with them. The concert at the Carillon Plaza was held under the aegis of the UP Alumni Association’s (UPAA) Carillon Concert Seasons, in partnership with the Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity Chancery. This made the UPCC, also known as the Korus, the fifth internationally awarded UP performing group to perform in the series, following the UP Madrigal Singers, UP College of Music’s premier opera singers, the UP Arco String Orchestra, and the UP Jazz Ensemble. The UPCC performs “I Believe” (Drake/Graham/Shirl/Stillman/arr. S.Beard & B.Beard) with Dr. Ramon “Montet” Acoymo as guest soloist during the first half of their Carillon Concert performance. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO The UPCC, which celebrates its 55th anniversary this year, pioneered ChoreoCapella or choreographed a capella, and won the Grand Prix at the 6thInternational Krakow Choir Festival in Poland on June 14, 2015, besting 23 other choirs from all over Europe and the US. Led by its conductor and musical director, Prof. Janet “Jai” Sabas-Aracama, the UPCC took the message of zero waste and environmental protection for which UPAA Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Awardee Ms. Luz Escalante-Sabas, mother of Prof. Aracama, has been an advocate. Ms. Sabas’s advocacy work, along with that of others like her, has helped lead to the signing of Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. Ms. Sabas was honored during the concert with an original song composed and arranged by Prof. Aracama that drew direct inspiration from her mother’s own words on taking care of the environment. In another song, Dr. Ramon G. Acoymo, one of the country’s premier classical singers and creative, artistic and music director for the Carillon Concert performance, joined the UPCC in another emotional number. The UPCC performs their final number for the night, a medley of the most famous OPMs during the Metropop era (choral arr. Eman De Leon), with conductor/musical director Prof. Jai Sabas-Aracama joining the choir onstage. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO Aside from launching the UPCC on its 2017 summer international tour, the UPAA sees the Carillon Concert Season as a way to generate support for the development, improvement and maintenance of the Carillon Tower and the surrounding Carillon Plaza. “We would like to make [this] a first-class venue for special events…at no expense to the alumni,” said UPAA President and UP Alumni Regent Ramon M. Maronilla in an interview before the Friday concert. He believes that special projects such as the musical performances being held at the Carillon Plaza will draw in sponsors and donations from UP alumni and friends. “Abroad and here in the Philippines, if the UP alumni see that we are having a renaissance and reformation in our culture and the arts like this one—and we’re presenting this for free—maybe they will help us. And this should be a big booster in our alumni projects and programs for the benefit of everybody in the UP community,” Maronilla said. As for the UP alumni in Europe and other countries who will be treated to the music and environmentalist spirit of the UPCC very soon, Maronilla thanks them for their full support for “Musikalikasan”, the UPCC, and for all the UP graduates who participate in international competitions and events, “especially coming from our College of Music, where we have the most talented and brilliant artists in all aspects of our cultural life. This is what we want to really promote. In our little way, whatever we can contribute [to the UP Community], we will do it.” The 5th presentation in the UPAA Carillon Concert Season was also supported by the Offices of the UP President and the UP Diliman Chancellor, and the UP Theater under Director Josefina Estrella. The UPCC demonstrates one way to recycle waste by using trash items and discarded water bottles as instruments during a song in the second act of the concert. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/up-concert-chorus-wows-audiences-with-music-and-environmentalist-spirit |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/5943/ | Learning from chaos – UP Alumni Website | Learning from chaos May 10, 2017 by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta, UP MPRO “I love chaos. That’s why I love being Executive Vice President of UP. You can quote me on that.” With good humor, a booming laugh, and an enthusiasm that fills up a room, Dr. Teodoro “Ted” Javier Herbosa—trauma surgeon, UP College of Medicine professor, disaster medicine and emergency medical care specialist, and former Department of Health (DOH) undersecretary—explains what just might be his main qualification for the job of UP’s first EVP in decades: “I love blood, guts and gore. My line is trauma, and I get excited in a chaotic environment. I get bored with routine. . . so I’m the ideal guy to put in an environment of chaos.” UP, a chaotic environment? When university leaders around the world have compared managing academics to herding cats? Say it isn’t so. “I step in, and there’s the conflict over general education already,” Ted points out with a laugh, describing the situation that greeted him upon his appointment as EVP. For him, it was all “very interesting.” A UP EVP for the 21st century It is also in a sense quite new. As the first EVP since the time of UP President Edgardo Angara, Herbosa has the task of dusting off the position and updating it to fit the realities of a massive university system in the 21st century. “The EVP is the alter-ego of the President,” he explains. In a corporation, the equivalent of the EVP is the Chief Operating Officer, who sees to the day-to-day operations of the company and makes sure everything is well coordinated and running smoothly, as well as performing any other tasks designated by the President. “We’re still in a state of flux. Because we haven’t had an EVP in a long time, I have no model to follow. All the previous EVPs came before the chancellor system,” Ted continues. Now, however, we have a system in which the chancellors of UP’s eight constituent units customarily report straight to the UP President. “It’s an interesting model. I noticed the chancellors are not used to it. Like them, I’m also looking for my sweet spot.” He is also well aware of the challenges of running a university. “It’s a little different from my position as undersecretary,” says Herbosa, who served as DOH undersecretary from 2010 to 2015, where he achieved the DOH’s objective of implementing universal health care coverage. Although, as a government agency, the DOH is much larger than UP, the chain of command was hierarchical, with Herbosa serving as chief of staff directly under the DOH secretary. “It’s very linear. It’s like a military organization. Civil servants follow the mandate of authority.” This is in clear contrast with an academic institution like UP, where every decision is subject to debate and every opinion has an equal and opposite opinion. However, before Herbosa became DOH undersecretary, he was already a faculty member of the UP College of Medicine and a doctor at the UP-PGH. His background as a UP teacher stands him in good stead. “My style of leadership is very liberal, so I think I will fit well in the academic world. I grew up in an academic environment in UP Manila, so I understand this. The opinions of different people, all looking at the same thing from a different light—it’s enriching.” Enriching, sure, but it can also be frustrating. He laughs: “I like that. ‘Frustrating but enriching.’ Well, I’m an optimist, so that’s one thing that got me to where I am in terms of positions.” Twists and turns Optimism, coupled with a willingness to take risks, to learn new things, and to get out of his comfort zone. For example, he describes himself as a baby-boomer who is also a techie, having founded the Philippine Medical Informatics Society in addition to being certified for COBIT 5 for governance and IT management during his time in the DOH, making him the highest-ranking Filipino government official with that certification. But the path that Herbosa’s life took, which eventually led him to the position of UP EVP, also featured some surprise twists and turns. “I didn’t plan to be EVP of the University,” he confesses. “I just wanted to be a good teacher. And now I’m here.” As a matter of fact, neither did he plan on becoming DOH undersecretary. “You know what I planned? I wanted to be Director of the PGH. I didn’t get it, but I did become DOH undersecretary, the director of many hospitals. Then I said, I want to run for UP Manila Chancellor. But because of politics, I decided, never mind, I’m done with this leadership role. Then here comes the UP President asking me to be his EVP.” He adds, laughing, “Funny how life goes.” Few people know that Ted and his lawyer sister Tess, the Securities and Exchange Commission chair, are descended from Jose Rizal’s elder sister Lucia, who married an Herbosa. Life’s plot twists actually began during his childhood. For one thing, he didn’t start out wanting to be a doctor. “I wanted to be in Fine Arts, because I drew a lot and very well.” As a medical student tasked with drawing the organ specimens they were studying, his classmates used to laugh at him for putting such an inordinate amount of effort into sketching and shading his drawings. “Eventually, my mother killed that, because she said I would only end up starving. I sometimes say, if only my mother were still alive, she’d know how much I pay for paintings now.” Ted and his wife, Grace, channel their love of art now into collecting choice artworks and appreciating good art. Later in high school, Ted realigned his life plans and entered a Benedictine monastery with every intention of becoming a monk. “I was in the abbey for, like, six months. But then my mother and oldest sister convinced me to go to college first, and if I still wanted to become a monk after that, then they said they would even pay for my education.” So out of the monastery and into UP he went, becoming a BS Biology student in Diliman. And the boy who had heretofore attended an exclusive boys’ school discovered something that pretty much nixed his plans to become a monk: the opposite sex. “I had a girlfriend by second year college,” he says with a laugh. He entered UP in 1975, at the height of student activism. “UP was like an independent island, like an oasis of free thought and free thinking. I joined rallies, of course, because everybody was joining rallies. You joined the boycott because when there was a call for a boycott, no one went to class. Even the professor didn’t go to class.” He was in his second year in residency in surgery when the first EDSA revolution broke out in 1986. “We were one of the first to go to EDSA. We brought an ambulance with a team. We were scared it would get worse, so we wanted to be ready to provide healthcare. We witnessed history change.” From trauma surgery to emergency care The days after the EDSA revolution brought a new sense of hope, a kind of energy he channeled into being part of the administration and helping develop the country. During Dr. Alfredo Ramirez’ term as chancellor of UP Manila, the PGH Trauma Unit was created, and Herbosa joined the team. Chancellor Ramirez sent him to take an international postgraduate course in Surgery in 1991 at Tel Aviv University, on a scholarship offered by the Israeli government. Aside from the training, Ted, who had once aspired to monkhood, appreciated the chance to study in Israel for another reason. “That scholarship brought us on weekends to all the holy sites, so I had a second certificate of pilgrimage to all the holy sites—Nazareth, Bethlehem, the Mount of Beatitudes. I value that more than the international diploma from Tel Aviv University.” He even made a wish during his visit to the Wailing Wall. “I put my wish there to marry my girlfriend. And when I came back home, we got married.” When he returned from his training abroad, he joined the UP Manila faculty and as a teacher in the PGH’s trauma division. He also served as part-time head of trauma in the Jose Reyes Hospital. Prior to his stint as undersecretary, he also served the DOH under then Secretary Juan Flavier by developing a disaster program called the STOP D.E.A.T.H. Program (Strategic Tactical Option for the Prevention of Disasters, Epidemics, Accidents and Trauma for Health). The program drew the attention of the World Health Organization, which offered him a scholarship to the University of Geneva in Switzerland, where he earned a diploma in Emergency and Crisis Management, the first such program in the world. Using a module he developed as his thesis in the University of Geneva, Herbosa developed an elective course on disaster and crisis management for medical students, although he eventually had to give up teaching the course because too many students were enrolling in it. He also established the Fellowship Program for Trauma and Residency Program in Emergency Medicine and headed the Emergency Department in the PGH. His stint as DOH undersecretary had him handling mostly policymaking and administrative work. For example, he was charged with pushing for the sin tax as a health bill, with managing the DOH’s public-private partnerships, and with IT development in the DOH. But his expertise in emergency medical care and disaster medicine came to the fore in 2013 when Super-Typhoon Yolanda struck. As chair of the Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Taskforce for Yolanda, he coordinated and managed 180 foreign medical teams in the wake of the most devastating tropical cyclone recorded at landfall. “That was the highlight of my being a disaster expert,” he says. “Imagine, the strongest typhoon in the world, and your boss tells you, ‘O, ikaw bahala dyan.’ And to have this level of gratification—we had no epidemics, no diarrhea outbreaks. We did fairly well. I think we can do better,” he adds, “but we showed the world what we could do with good coordination.” UP and the four Cs of disaster management There were plenty of lessons to be learned in the aftermath of Yolanda. “You always learn in a disaster. You always learn in a war. Chaos is a good teacher,” Herbosa says, reflecting a principle in trauma surgery and emergency care. And among these lessons gleaned from managing crises and medical disasters are some that can well be applied to UP even in a non-crisis situation. “I think UP has a very unique role in the development of the country and of human society in the Philippines,” Herbosa says. “We’re always regarded as the kontra sa gobyerno. We educate our youth by showing them what’s wrong with the government. We are always opposing. Speaking as a guy in disaster work, you can’t do that in a disaster.” There are three Cs that are key to disaster management: collaboration, coordination, and communication. Regarding the first C, “I think we as a national university should learn to collaborate with each other in the different specialties, and with other universities,” Ted says, adding that the increasing number of research collaborations and partnerships between UP and foreign universities is a very good sign. On the second C, coordination: “I think the way to work is to work with government and work for government. We’re a government-funded institution; we are part of every administration that comes in. We don’t have to be political, but we can be coordinated,” He said. One example is the training of local government officials being done by the National College of Public Administration and Governance—services that directly impact communities and transcend political parties and administrations. He also mentions the many UP medical alumni who are now serving the people as department heads and directors of public hospitals. “I’d like to see UP continue to do that.” On the third C, communication: Ted emphasizes the need for people in UP to cross disciplinal boundaries and communicate with one another. For instance, he says, he took a tour of UP Los Baños, and discovered a lot of health-related research being conducted and products being produced there, from nutrition gardens to larvicides—things not a lot of people within the UP System, let alone the greater public, know about. “I see a lot of potential in what UP can offer, but we need to communicate it,” he says. “I think UP is really about all the professors who work here and the great ideas they have.” And these kinds of hidden treasures are what we must share with the world. He adds a fourth C, which is not quite disaster-related but very much aligned with UP’s purpose: creation and innovation. “The University’s role is really to create new knowledge that is relevant to society. That is my vision of what a university does,” Herbosa says. “So we need to collaborate, coordinate and communicate to create and innovate. “I think the way to lead our professors, our National Scientists and National Artists, is to lead from the back. Academic administration, they say, is a paradox. How can you administer professors and National Scientists and National Artists? You can’t. You just allow them to blossom. So my job, and even the UP president’s job, is to make sure they continue to be in an environment that allows them to be creative.” And where else is creativity born if not from chaos? Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/learning-from-chaos |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/eva-estrada-kalaw/ | Eva Estrada Kalaw – UP Alumni Website | Eva Estrada Kalaw May 27, 2017 Former senator Eva Estrada Kalaw passed away at the age of 96 on Thursday, May 25. She was a leading political opposition leader during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos. Eva Estrada was among the few female students of the Commonwealth era who dared enroll in the University of the Philippines, which was then based in Manila. Her enrollment in UP was a daring feat because back then, Catholic high schools for girls discouraged their graduates from enrolling in UP on the mistaken assumption that UP is a godless institution. She was a member of the Sigma Delta Phi, an exclusive sorority and the counterpart of the equally exclusive Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity. Source: http://thestandard.com.ph/opinion/columns/hail-to-the-chair-by-victor-avecilla/238344/eva-estrada-kalaw-1920-2017-.html |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/an-announcement-from-the-university-of-the-philippines-office-of-the-vice-president-for-public-affairs/ | An announcement from the UP OVPPA – UP Alumni Website | An announcement from the UP OVPPA May 27, 2017 by UP System Upon verification of the official records of the Office of the University Registrar and the Office of Alumni Affairs, the University of the Philippines can find no record of a former student or alumnus by the name of Isnilon Hapilon. This clarification is being made in light of recent news reports identifying Mr. Hapilon as a UP graduate. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/an-announcement-from-the-university-of-the-philippines-office-of-the-vice-president-for-public-affairs |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/gma-news-onlines-scitech-editor-receives-fulbright-scholarship-to-mit/ | GMA News Online’s SciTech editor receives Fulbright scholarship to MIT – UP Alumni Website | GMA News Online’s SciTech editor receives Fulbright scholarship to MIT June 2, 2017 by Aya Tantiangco/BM, GMA News GMA News Online’s Science and Technology editor Timothy James Dimacali has been officially admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Graduate Program in Science Writing as a Fulbright scholar. “The application process was pretty straightforward: I was asked what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go. My response was just as frank: I wore my geek heart on my sleeve! I told them that I love science and I want to pursue science communications,” Dimacali said. Wee School of Communication and Information in Singapore in October 2016. He added, “I honestly didn’t think I would get in, because my grades and test scores, though decent, weren’t particularly stellar. All I really had to show for myself was my passion for science and love of the written word.” Dimacali received assistance from the Philippine American Education Foundation (PAEF), the Institute of International Education (IIE), and a few generous benefactors who wish to remain anonymous. The help is not unwarranted, as Dimacali’s accomplishments are an assurance that he is committed to excellence in his work. Dimacali, a graduate of Creative Writing from the University of the Philippines, joined GMA News Online in 2009 and has been in charge of the Science and Technology section since 2010. He is a recipient of the Department of Science and Technology’s Gawad Scriba Award for Science Communications and an alumnus of Asia Journalism Fellowship, the Netherlands Fellowship Program, CERN School Philippines, the Silliman University National Writers Workshop, and the Iligan National Writers Workshop. With the launch of the space program and the exciting discoveries of new species in recent years, Dimacali expressed his enthusiasm in telling more stories from the new frontiers that the country is exploring. He hopes to use what he learns from the graduate program to help build on the science classes and courses in his alma mater. “My commitment to the Fulbright program means coming back to the Philippines to help develop our still-nascent science communications field,” he shared. The MIT Graduate Program in Science Writing is one of the most eminent science communications courses in the world, with fewer than 10 students accepted per year. It counts among its faculty physicist and novelist Alan Lightman, author of the best-selling book “Einstein’s Dreams.” (Aya Tantiangco/BM, GMA News) Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/gma-news-onlines-scitech-editor-receives-fulbright-scholarship-to-mit |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/nast-honors-four-up-scientists/ | NAST honors four UP scientists – UP Alumni Website | NAST honors four UP scientists June 20, 2017 by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc, UP MPRO The Philippine National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), the country’s highest recognition body in science and technology, announced the elevation of another UP scientist to the Academy, and the granting of its 2017 awards to three other UP scientists. In a letter to UP President Danilo Concepcion, NAST Director Luningning Samarita-Domingo said Cesar Villanoy (Physical Oceanography, UP Diliman) has been named member of the Academy. 2017 NAST Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) awards will be given to Phillip Alviola (Biology, UP Los Baños), Nathaniel Hermosa II (Physics, UP Diliman, in Physics) and Aletta Concepcion Yñiguez (Marine Biology and Fisheries, UP Diliman). NAST logo from http://www.nast.ph Villanoy, Alviola, Hermosa II and Yñiguez will receive medals, trophies, and cash prizes at an awarding ceremony on July 13, 2017 at the Manila Hotel. Villanoy is a UPLB BS Zoology alumnus. He earned his MS and PhD degrees in Physical Oceanography from the University of Sydney. He is a Professor at the UP Marine Science Institute. His publications include extensive research on milkfish feed, phytoplankton and algal blooms, upwelling areas and movement of water, biophysical environments of water bodies, and satellite remote sensing of Spratly Islands. He led the Benham Bank expeditions in 2016 and 2014. Alviola obtained his BS Biology and MS in Wildlife Studies from UP Los Baños. He is also the curator of UPLB’s Museum of Natural History for small and volant mammals. Hermosa earned his BS (Applied Physics), MS and PhD (Physics) degrees from UP Diliman. Currently, he is the program coordinator of the UP National Institute of Physics (NIP) Photonics Research Laboratory. Yñiguez is a UPLB BS Biology alumnus. She earned her PhD in Marine Biology and Fisheries from the University of Miami. She is an Assistant Professor at the UP Marine Science Institute, where she continues to work on population and ecosystem dynamics, and ecological modeling and management. (Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc, UP MPRO) Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/nast-honors-four-up-scientists |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/donate-now-tulong-ng-up-sa-marawi/ | DONATE NOW: Tulong ng UP sa Marawi – UP Alumni Website | DONATE NOW: Tulong ng UP sa Marawi June 21, 2017 by UP System The University of the Philippines is accepting donations for our brothers and sisters in Marawi City. You may donate to the UP Foundation, Inc. with bank details: UP Foundation, Inc. Account Number 102270018964 Unionbank Commonwealth Branch Deposits in any Unionbank branch shall carry no inter-branch fee. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/donate-now-tulong-ng-up-sa-marawi |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/the-carillon-relaunched/ | RELAUNCHED: The Carillon issue (2017) – UP Alumni Website | RELAUNCHED: The Carillon issue (2017) June 27, 2017 The Carillon is the official UP alumni newsletter, published since the1950s. Its publication and distribution are managed by the Office of Alumni Relations, UP System, with the Director as official editor. With the objective of giving UP alumni a continuing communication link with and a sense of connection to the University and fellow alumni, The Carillon contains original news and feature articles, press releases as well as reprints of news articles from the different UP units, the UP Alumni Association, the different UP alumni chapters, and from fellow individual alumni. UP alumni, their family members, and friends are encouraged to contribute news articles and photographs. They are also encouraged to send in biographical updates for the UP alumni database. UP Carillon 2017 issue |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/this-doc-sees-dead-people/ | This doc sees dead people – UP Alumni Website | This doc sees dead people July 28, 2017 by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo, UP MPRO She always cleaned the fish her mother Amelia bought. It was a chore she loved doing. Little did the young Raquel Barros Del Rosario know she was preparing for a future as Dr. Raquel B. Del Rosario-Fortun, the first Filipino woman forensic pathologist. “Evisceration! That’s what it was,” she said with a knowing smile, connecting that childhood task with disemboweling bodies during autopsies. She had always wanted to become a doctor despite coming from a clan of lawyers and admitted that her father Benjamin was “a bit disappointed.” It was her doting aunt, Dr. Lourdes Del Rosario, who inspired Raquel. Her photo is the only one on Raquel’s desk at the Department of Pathology chairperson’s office, UP Manila College of Medicine (UPCM). “Because of her, I associated fun with being a doctor.” Even going with her to a hospital in Tondo, Raquel wasn’t fazed. “That hospital smell didn’t bother me. I saw all these doctors in white coats like her, respected by everyone. I thought it was so cool.” Dr. Raquel Fortun in her office as UP Manila Department of Pathology chair (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Dreams vs. reality Going into college, she wanted something that could be a pre-med degree but could also guarantee employment if she couldn’t pursue medicine because it was expensive. She enrolled in the UP Diliman (UPD) BS Psychology program in 1979 after graduating from the UP Integrated School. Three years on, she felt certain she wanted to be a doctor. She “wanted to shift to a pre-med program focused on the sciences like Biology or Zoology,” but chose to be more practical and finished psychology. Raquel wasn’t accepted to UPCM, so she went to the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay (UERM) College of Medicine, graduating in 1987 and completing post-internship in 1988. She began residency training in anatomic and clinical pathology in 1989 at UPCM, where she was also made instructor. The medicine-law mix While the pull of medicine was stronger, law was also Raquel’s interest. She saw the possibility of mixing both through Dr. Pedro Solis, a lawyer-doctor and her UERM Legal Medicine professor. She took and passed the law aptitude exam of the UPD College of Law (UP Law) twice, in 1989 and 1993. UPCM just advised against the pursuit in 1989 because it was her first year of residency. “Passing twice, I thought I might have an aptitude for law after all.” Raquel laughed when recounting her law experience. “I quit! After 10 days, maybe 2 weeks, I just quit! This is so embarrassing, but that’s what happened. Law wasn’t for me.” She found it “too abstract, the opposite of medicine’s tangible and concrete.” She may have quit, but more than ten years later, she was invited by UP Law to teach. “I believe some eyebrows were raised, that I, a non-lawyer, was teaching a course at UP Law.” She learned about forensic pathology from one of her seniors at the department. “I realized it was probably what I was looking for: the field of medicine, particularly pathology, applied to law. The tangible applied to the abstract.” Raquel went to Seattle, Washington in 1994 to train at the King County Medical Examiner’s (ME) Office. “My first day there, I fell in love with forensic pathology. That was it. I knew it was the field I was meant to be in.” She had the stomach for it, too—dead bodies, whether fresh or decomposing, with maggots or reduced to skeletal remains. Heartaches and headaches She vividly remembers the day she left. It was a Sunday. She and her husband Vincent, an obstetrician-gynecologist, left their three-year-old daughter Lisa playing at her paternal grandmother’s place. Raquel cried so hard the night before that she almost didn’t want to leave. “It was very difficult.” When she wasn’t examining bodies and collecting evidence at the ME’s office, Raquel would feel terribly homesick. She racked up a massive bill on overseas calls in her first month and was forced to cut down—ten minutes on Saturdays. She thought things would be easier when she returned. “It was like my daughter didn’t know who I was. That hurt.” Raquel feared her one-year absence may have caused trauma on Lisa. “What have I done?” she asked herself many times. Professionally, she was full of enthusiasm because of everything she had learned. “But there was no solid practice for a forensic pathologist here. I’ve seen the ideal and I wanted us to be at par with international standards.” That desire for improvement, however, wasn’t welcomed by some in the medical field and government. “We didn’t have a death investigation system here that was fully state-funded and independent from law enforcement. We didn’t have medical examiners or coroners, and medical investigators. We still don’t. Have I cried over this? Yes, out of sheer frustration at how death investigations were being done.” Raquel continued teaching. Over the years, she has been asked to consult on cases, some of them high profile and controversial: the Ozone Disco fire, the Dacer-Corbito case, the Asian Spirit tragedy, the Maguindanao massacre, and the death of Ted Failon’s wife, Trina Etong. Her popularity as an expert grew, but so did the number of her enemies. “Evidence doesn’t take sides. It is what it is. If you don’t like what it tells you, that’s not my fault. I just call it as I see it. That’s how the science works.” She clarified that she never claimed to be an all-around forensic expert. “Forensics involves a lot of disciplines. Mine is forensic pathology. Although my training has exposed me to other forensic aspects of death investigation, I always defer to experts in other forensic fields. I know my limitations.” She calls this her “real” office as UP faculty member for almost two decades (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Choosing to stay Forensic pathology is a lucrative field and Raquel could be earning so much more if she worked abroad, in full practice, and did part-time teaching. “My fate is here, teaching full-time as a UP professor and doing cases on the side,” she said. “I’m ten years from retirement.” She has tried working outside, where the monthly pay was twice her teacher’s annual salary. “But I wasn’t happy. I realized it wasn’t about the money. UP has an environment that’s hard to find elsewhere. I am free to speak my mind. The students are very intelligent. The interaction with my colleagues is great.” As for the future of forensic experts and forensic pathology in the Philippines, she hopes that coming generations will have an easier time; that funds for material and human resources would be given to support a UPM forensic pathology fellowship program; that the UP Board of Regents-approved establishment of the Forensic Science Institute in 1999 would materialize; and that a death investigation system fully supported by the state, independent of law enforcement, free from politics, unbiased, and unafraid to expose the truth would finally exist. Until then, Raquel will just do the usual: Try to beat the morning rush. Drink coffee in the car when she arrives too early and too afraid to enter the dark building, even with a guard on duty. Do administrative work. Teach. Maybe do an autopsy. Stay in her real office—the one with creaky wooden floors, a huge collection of crime novels, shelves full of skull/skeleton figures, and that old and frayed yet comfortable couch. Endure evening traffic. On weekends, garden or buy plants. Listen to her CDs. Perhaps be the “HandyMa” and visit her favorite hardware stores for do-it-yourself projects. Along with Lisa, take care of her mother and do household chores. And at any given time, tweet as @Doc4Dead. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/this-doc-sees-dead-people |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/nowhere-to-go-but-the-baryo/ | Nowhere to go but the baryo – UP Alumni Website | Nowhere to go but the baryo July 28, 2017 by Stephanie Cabigao, UP MPRO So what’s a tall 26-year-old bachelor doing in the scenic but remote municipality of San Isidro, Bohol, a town of rice fields, banana and coconut groves, 32 kilometers away from Tagbilaran City? Adrian Sampang is no stranger to the town’s 9,800 people, being the only doctor-to-the-barrio (DTTB) assigned in the community for the past eight months. Shortly after his graduation, the young Kapampangan passed the medical board examination in September 2016, then went straight to the DTTB program of the Department of Health, along with 81 doctors from various medical schools who signed a two-year contract in November 2016. From the baryo A probinsyano himself, Adrian had lived a simple life growing up in Lubao, Pampanga. “I thought I had my life planned out for me—go to a local college on a local scholarship, then spend the rest of my life working in an office. I’m lucky that I got these awards and scholarships from elementary all the way to high school, but I never planned my future,” he says. However, his exposure to the health situation in the Philippines is rooted in his childhood. “I often got sick because I had asthma. I saw the bad situation in the district hospital – crowded, inefficient, long lines, dilapidated facilities. I didn’t want to be a doctor after that. It was my first actual experience seeking medical attention,” he says. Dr. Sampang with his barangay health workers during their visit to the last of 3 GIDA Barangays in Barangay Candungao. (Photo from Dr. Adrian Sampang) A UP education Back in 2006, his mom filled up his UPCAT form. Since Nursing was the trendy program then, his mom made it his first choice, and Behavioral Science his second. He called it luck passing the latter course. “I might have not gone to med school if I had passed Nursing,” he recalls. He became an active member of seven organizations, including the Student Council for ASAP-Katipunan. His program, which delved into the social sciences especially Anthropology, took him closer to the realities of Philippine society. “As any Iskolar ng Bayan knows, a UP education is very different. They make sure that you at least get exposed to these social issues, then it is up to you to explore them more,” he adds. “We went to farmers and urban poor communities. Actually, my internship was with the Philippine Human Rights Information Center, a non-government organization. We did research on human rights abuses such as militarization in the countryside and on mining. We joined protest rallies. Once, we stayed with a community of sugarcane farmers in Batangas for a week to discuss their health situation,” he says. Secretly, he applied for a scholarship in med school. He passed and finished his studies, the first UP graduate in his family to do so. He was part of the first batch affected by the University’s calendar shift, which put interns at the Philippine General Hospital preparing for the medical board examinations on a tight schedule. “If you’ve been through the UP-PGH internship, you get the most interesting, the rarest, and most hopeless cases sometimes. That’s where you see the gaps in the health system—like late referrals, where basically they really just don’t have the money to get themselves treated. And if ever they finally do have the money, perhaps with the help of some politician or by selling their properties, even a carabao, it is too late, and there’s only palliative care left to do. But don’t get me wrong, there’s a system and funding coursed through DOH for the indigent. However, with expensive medical treatment, this budget gets easily spent,” he recounts. To the baryo “My perspective, especially coming from my social sciences background, has taught me that there’s a need to give back. In a way, I’m indebted to the Filipino people,” Dr. Sampang declares. He explains that DTTB is basically focused on primary and community care. Different from hospital care, it uses a preventive rather than curative approach. It means that before diseases even set in, the doctor has to make sure that the community has a healthy population. “Actually, if there’s one thing that needs to be addressed, it’s primary care. We have no proper health-seeking behavior primarily because of poverty, and that’s one of the things I’m trying to correct.” He functions not only as a health doctor, but also as an administrator, being the Medical Health Officer of Barangay San Isidro, with the power to select the necessary programs and their implementation. “Of course, I choose the ones that are high-impact and the most practical to do, the most relevant for the community. You are given the power to decide where the budget would go. So, you can configure what you want to do for the community. Health education is another intervention necessary in a community setting,” he emphasizes. Dr. Adrian Sampang summing up a week of completed visits to all 12 barangays in San Isidro, Bohol. (Instagram photo from Dr. Adrian Sampang) Today, the young doctor is focused on the ongoing construction of a rural health unit (RHU) in his municipality, which is one of his legacy projects. There has been a lack of the RHU since the Bohol earthquake in 2013. “I will leave them a functioning RHU especially equipped with a birthing station for delivery,” he says. His work is also committed to permanently place efficient barangay health stations (BHS) and emergency response systems in key areas of the municipality. Dr. Sampang is currently completing his Master’s class in public health systems development. He wishes that whatever he has learned from this will guide his community work, with special focus on teenage pregnancy. He is also hopeful that more young Filipino doctors will take this road to the baryo as there are still many far-flung communities that have not had doctors for years. “I have always kept that mission-vision of UP Manila, to serve quality health care directed to the underserved community, as my personal mission. My journey that is a story I can share with my own family. I want to leave a mark so that, even without me, San Isidro will have an efficient and sustainable health system. People should be empowered and educated, most especially about their health,” he says. He has yet to figure out his future. But right now, Dr. Sampang is just focused on his community. “Money really isn’t the reward. It’s the thank yous that I get from patients. It is the feeling of accomplishment that I was able to help,” he says. His advice to others, he admits, is a cliché, but a good one. “Follow your heart to whatever makes it happy. I’m happy with the path I’ve chosen. You’ll get that gut feel that it’s the right thing to do. It took me several leaps of faith that led me to where I am today. I didn’t plan anything. I just went for it and it felt right. Life isn’t really that easy, but just make sure that you make the best of what’s given to you, and have fun along the way.” Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/nowhere-to-go-but-the-baryo |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/the-south-remembers/ | The South remembers – UP Alumni Website | The South remembers July 28, 2017 by Andre DP Encarnacion, UP MPRO UP alumna Gloryrose Dy-Metilla and her friends are on a mission to give indigenous Mindanao architecture its rightful place in the public eye. “It’s dying,” said Gloryrose Dy-Metilla. A deep sense of urgency ran through the voice of the professional architect and UP alumna, as if she were referring to a friend about to be taken before his time. Her subject, however, was no single person but a time-honored way of being and doing. Dy-Metilla observed how traditional Mindanao architecture and design were beginning to disappear, even within tribal communities themselves. That fact was not lost on her co-founders at the Swito Corporation (swito: a Bisaya term that means “wise guy”—a Davao-based social innovation hub where Dy-Metilla joins her sister Glorypearl Dy and fellow alumni Marben Jan Picar and Angely Chi as Chief of Design and Innovation. Gloryrose Dy-Metilla, founding partner of Switocorp, Inc. and founding architect of Swito Designs (Photo by Swito Designs, Inc., http://switodesigns.com) It all began when Gloryrose and her colleagues began holding digital storytelling workshops among Mindanao’s different ethnolinguistic groups. The group had been collecting interesting, personal narratives from members of their far-flung villages for a few years when the architect in Gloryrose could not help but ask: “Where are all the traditional houses?” As it turned out, in spite of the otherwise strong pride of place among residents that they observed, many of the island’s indigenous peoples were slowly moving away from their own traditional architecture. This, as Gloryrose saw it, was part of a much bigger problem—the lack of a general consciousness of even the existence of diverse indigenous designs all over the country. “We mostly just know about our bahay na bato and our bahay kubo,” said Gloryrose, who only gained a full-fledged appreciation for that diversity herself as an Architecture student in UP Mindanao. “I think the reason why it’s dying is that it was never really promoted anywhere. People never really got to know about it”. Pooling together their brains and resources in 2013, Gloryrose Dy-Metilla and her colleagues decided to do something to change that. Empowering communities That decision led to the establishment of Switodesigns, Inc., a multidisciplinary design studio based in Davao City that seeks to promote traditional architecture, Mindanaoan cultural identity, and participatory practices in design. To its founders, the roots of the company in the act of storytelling is self-evident. What they hope to do is to provide the “tangible structures” that house the lived experiences that the people of Mindanao seek to share. One major aspect of the work is helping indigenous communities to remember and restore their own communities. The process begins with the team visiting and holding workshops in a specific location. To take a recent example, the Switodesigns team led by Gloryrose and principal architect Henna Dazo gathered community members of the Ata-Manobo tribe in Davao to engage in a process of “remembering” and a joint re-creation in miniature of the tribe’s designs. This process is essential, Gloryrose said, because many of the peoples they visit have no tribal community to speak of at all due to armed conflict or natural disasters. The process, they say, guides both community members and Switodesigns to construct tribal villages in the communities’ ancestral domains. Through the process of remembering, Dy-Metilla considers both process and product to be of indigenous ownership. “We are just here to facilitate the remembrance of what they had almost forgotten.” In the case of the Ata, the centerpiece project of the cooperation is the building of their Panuluanan, or “school of living traditions.” The school is where members of the Ata community engage in “cultural remembering”. It is where an indigenous craft expert in disciplines, like weaving or dance, can impart their knowledge to younger generations. The construction of this and other structures in the cultural village are completely IP-led, with labor and building materials provided by community members themselves. The second aspect of Switodesigns’ mission involves spreading awareness of Mindanao’s traditional architecture through their clients and projects. “We suggest indigenous designs to our local clients, because we don’t just want to help communities without educating the clients themselves,” Gloryrose said. “We want them to appreciate that this is from Mindanao, and that we are promoters and advocates of Mindanao.” Swito Designs, Inc. is dedicated to bring the virtues of peace, unity and interaction among cultures through their projects and workshops. (Photo by Swito Designs, Inc., http://switodesigns.com) The greenest ever Recently, the use of indigenous designs and elements has been catching on among the company’s non-IP clientele—a fact that pleasantly surprises Dy-Metilla herself. “We found that people really want to know about and want to have these kinds of structures.” “When we talk to people, they ask us: why is it that when we go to Thailand, we get to see Thailand [architecture] immediately? When we go to Cambodia, we see Cambodia. Why can’t we have this in Mindanao?” One practical reason for the rising popularity of Switodesigns’ structures is the innate suitability of indigenous designs to Philippine climate and geography. “It’s the greenest we can ever have,” Dy-Metilla remarked proudly. The ridged bamboo and rattan roofs of the Maranao torogan, for instance, offers the kind of cool air flow closely associated with “tropical designs” currently in vogue. Indigenous designs also offer not only comfort but the potential to save lives. The exceptionally long eaves generally found in indigenous roofs and the awning windows protect residents from the ravages of the winds and rains. Moreover, structures like the torogan are very earthquake- and flood-resistant. “We all know they said the Japanese introduced the [earthquake-resistance] concept to us,” she said. “But it was already being used by the Maranaos.” Gloryrose and her colleagues believe that more than any single element, the innate empathy that pervades and inspires indigenous designs makes them a true source of Philippine pride on the world stage. “Empathy for self, empathy for nature, and empathy for the people around you. If you can make a framework for what Mindanao architecture is, it includes all of these.” 3D puzzles Even with a string of recent successes, Gloryrose and her friends from Switocorp are not resting on their laurels. Just last year, the group launched Balay Balay 3D Architecture, their newest initiative to promote Mindanao design. Inspired by Dy-Metilla’s passion to spread the appreciation of Mindanao’s indigenous structures among adults, the group is hoping to do the same with children by crafting 3D puzzles modeled after native houses and other traditional spaces. “What can represent our country as a structure?” asked Marben Jan Picar, one of Switocorp’s co-founders. Shaken by the fact that they could find no other structure besides the nipa hut that most fit the bill for most people, the group launched the project with the aim to make Mindanao architecture as ingrained in the consciousness of Filipino children as Legos and yoyos. Each of Balay Balay’s puzzles goes through a long process of validation before being made. Consultations are done with indigenous peoples, academics, and NGOs before the month-long process of carving and painting begins. Their work has caught the eye not only of children and their families who view their works, but also of indigenous peoples who are struck with nostalgia when they see the pieces. Gloryrose recalls a number of Maranao visitors from Lanao who saw their torogan model and said that they would work to rehabilitate their own, which had become dilapidated over the years. “People who visit our exhibits would say, ‘That’s where we used to play, in-between the torogan posts. And that was like 20 or so years ago’.” Balay Balay 3D Puzzle of the Maranao Torogan. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Whether it involves reigniting the spark of nationalism in their fellow Mindanaoans or helping young Filipinos gain insight into their rich and complex heritage, Gloryrose Dy-Metilla hopes that their efforts open the door for more people to appreciate Mindanao and the rest of the country better. “I think for us Filipinos,” she explained, “we are instilled early on with the idea that everything foreign is good. We yearn for that green card, for our family members to finally get to the US, and things like that. They just don’t know enough about our culture. And if there aren’t enough people who will show them, how will they find out?” Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/the-south-remembers |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/chief-presidential-legal-counsel-discusses-martial-law-2017-in-upaa-forum/ | Chief Presidential Legal Counsel discusses Martial Law 2017 in UPAA forum – UP Alumni Website | Chief Presidential Legal Counsel discusses Martial Law 2017 in UPAA forum July 31, 2017 by Fred Dabu, UP MPRO Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo, guest speaker at the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) “Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP”, explained the reasons for President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao. Panelo said Duterte’s martial law aimed to crush terrorist and drug groups and networks. He also shared his thoughts on establishing a “constitutional dictatorship”, wherein, to address the problems of the state, dictatorial powers were to be exercised by the president, yet these powers would be limited by the constitution. The Kapihan was held on July 18 at the UPAA Board Room of Ang Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman, Quezon City. In the open forum, Panelo answered questions from the audience. Several issues were raised, such as: the scope and duration of martial law in Mindanao; apprehension about a possible extension of military rule; rights violations committed by government troops; relief and rehabilitation efforts; and, the overall welfare of the evacuees who were most affected by the Marawi crisis. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo explains the need for declaring Martial Law in Mindanao. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Panelo, an alumnus of UP Diliman and the UP College of Law, served as legal counsel of several high profile and controversial personalities, such as: Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., Senator Bong Revilla, former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos, and the family of former President Ferdinand Marcos. Facilitators of the forum were: Atty. Ramon M. Maronilla, UPAA president; Atty. Bienvenido I. Somera, Jr., UPAA Legal Counsel; Atty. Domingo C. Palarca, UPAA director; Atty. Oscar P. Palabyab, UPAA 1st vice president; Atty. Reynaldo C. Laserna, UPAA 2nd vice president; Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa, UPAA 3rd vice president; and Atty. Pastor Marcelo M. Reyes, Jr., UPAA Public Issues Committee chair. The “Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP” is the UPAA’s regular public forum for nationally relevant issues. (Fred Dabu, UP MPRO) Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/chief-presidential-legal-counsel-discusses-martial-law-2017-in-upaa-forum |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/uplb-choir-wins-world-grand-prix/ | UPLB choir wins world grand prix – UP Alumni Website | UPLB choir wins world grand prix August 3, 2017 by Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO The UP Los Baños Choral Ensemble, beating finalists from five other countries, won the grand prize at the 10th Orientale Concentus International Choral Festival on July 10, 2017 at the Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore. The 26-member choir earlier won in the mixed choir category and the sacred music category; and conductor Roijin Suarez received the Special Jury Prize for the Most Promising Young Conductor. Organized by Singapore’s Ace 99 Cultural Company, the festival was open to non-professional choirs and amateurs. The cover photo of the UP Los Baños Choral Ensemble’s Facebook page taken a moment after the group won the 10th Orientale Concentus International Choral Festival grand prize on July 10, 2017 at the Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore. Celebrating with the members are philanthropist Wong-Mah Jia Lan and festival officials and adjudicators. The grand prix competitors were nominated from category winners or groups earning top five scores. The grand prix winner received a trophy and S$20,000. The five-member international adjudicating team included Mark Anthony Carpio of the UP College of Music and of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. Edward Vinluan of the UP Alumni Association in Singapore (UPAAS) said, in a heads-up to the UP Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs, that the UPAAS helped arrange the choir’s accommodation, rehearsal venues, and post-victory meeting with the Philippine ambassador to Singapore. According to its Facebook page, the choral ensemble has conducted concert tours, and participated and won several awards in choral festivals in Germany, Belgium, Amsterdam, Australia, France, Spain, Indonesia, China, Japan, and Switzerland. At home, the ensemble is a National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) grand prix winner. The UPLB Choral Ensemble was founded in 1991 by former members of the UP Rural High School Glee Club. It is now composed of UPLB students and alumni. On campus, it is recognized as a student cultural organization. (Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO) Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/uplb-choir-wins-world-grand-prix |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/up-welcomes-back-alumni-in-general-homecoming/ | UP welcomes back alumni in General Homecoming – UP Alumni Website | UP welcomes back alumni in General Homecoming August 4, 2017 by UP System The UP Alumni Association (UPAA) decided to push back its annual general homecoming two months later than usual in view of the academic calendar shift of the UP System which transferred the start of classes from June to August. The 2017 UP General Homecoming is set to take place on August 19 at the Bahay ng Alumni in University of the Philippines Diliman. The theme “Itanghal ang Dangal” will focus on notable achievements as well as fond memories of the Jubilarians, who are celebrating their 60th (Class of 1957, Diamond), 50th(Class of 1967, Golden), 40th (Class of 1977, Ruby), and 25th (Class of 1992, Silver), respectively. The General Homecoming will also recognize the 2017 UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awardees headed by Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio, Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, and Senator Cynthia A. Villar whose extraordinary achievements in their respective fields have embodied honor and excellence. UPAA General Alumni Homecoming 2017 Other activities surrounding the UP General Homecoming are meetings by the Alumni Council and various chapters of UPAA. The UPAA will also release a yearbook to commemorate the events. More details may be found on their website at http://www.upalumni.ph. You may get in touch with the UPAA Secretariat at (02) 920-6868 and (02) 920-6871, or email [email protected]. Sources: http://www.upalumni.ph/preparations-afoot-for-2017-up-general-alumni-homecoming https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/up-welcomes-back-alumni-in-general-homecoming |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/upaa-names-its-distinguished-alumni-for-2017/ | UPAA names its distinguished alumni for 2017 – UP Alumni Website | UPAA names its distinguished alumni for 2017 August 4, 2017 by UP System The UP Alumni Association (UPAA) has recently named the UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awardees for 2017. The list is headlined by prominent names honored as 2017 UPAA Most Distinguished Alumni—Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio, Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, and Senator Cynthia A. Villar. According to the UPAA website, the UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awards are “conferred on alumni who have demonstrated extraordinary achievements and excellent contributions in their chosen fields that bring about substantial benefits to society and distinct honor to the University.” The rest of the main awards include UPAA Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Awardees: United Nations Ambassador Lilia Bautista, Former SC Associate Justice Vicente Mendoza, literary critic Dr. Elmer Ordoñez, National Artist for Music Dr. Ramon Santos, and Atty. Renato B. Valdecantos who served various government positions. Distinguished Alumni Awards 2017 The 2017 awards are also given to alumni who pioneered significant breakthroughs in the following fields: business and countryside development, community empowerment, corporate social responsibility, culture and the arts, entrepreneurship, financial management, health research, medicine, public health service, poverty alleviation and rural development, public service and good governance, science and technology, and women empowerment. UPAA will also recognize outstanding alumni, alumni chapters, and multi-generation UP alumni families with service awards. The UPAA Alumni Awards will be part of the program of the UP General Alumni Homecoming on August 19, 2017 at the UP Bahay ng Alumni. For the full list of awardees, click here. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/upaa-names-its-distinguished-alumni-for-2017 |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/pio-p-frago/ | Pio P. Frago – UP Alumni Website | Pio P. Frago August 22, 2017 Former Director of the Human Resource Development Office and Professorial Lecturer of the National College of Public Administration, Pio Perez Frago (AB, 1958, LLB, 1963, CGM, MPA, 1978) died of cancer last August 14, 2017 at the age of 78. Pio Frago was considered as an institution by the community for having served in UP under several presidents, from Dr. Vicente Sinco (late 1950s) to Dr. Jose V. Abueva (early 1990s). Known for his cheerful disposition, Atty. Frago, as fondly called by many, had a solution to every concern. Many sought his legal, as well, as personal advice due to his encyclopedic memory, vast experience and compassionate heart. He was survived by his wife, Erlinda and two daughters, Perlita and Maria Carina. |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/maria-lilia-f-realubit/ | Maria Lilia F. Realubit – UP Alumni Website | Maria Lilia F. Realubit August 22, 2017 Dr. Maria Lilia Fuentebella Realubit passed away on August 17. She is a retired professor of the University of the Philippines College of Arts and Letters (Department of English and Comparative Literature), and a recipient of Masirang na Bituon kan Kabikolan (Lifetime Achievement Award) in the first Premio Tomas Arejola para sa Literaturang Bikolnon (Tomas Arejola Prize for Bikolano Literature) in 2004. She is the founder of Kabulig Bikol and Bikol Heritage Society, Inc. As a prominent Bikolano writer, her writings include an English translation of Mariano Goyena del Prado’s cultural work “Ibalon: Ethnohistory of the Bikol Region” (Ibalon: Monografia historica de la region bicolana) (1983); “Bikols of the Philippines” (1984); “Bikol Dramatic Tradition” (1989); “Haliya Anthology of Bikol Poets and Poems” (2004); “Bikol Literary History” (2004); and “Jose T. Fuentebella: Nationalist and Statesman” (2004). In February 2011, she published “Bikol Poetry Galore At Last A Report,” a critique of modern rawitdawit (Bikol poetic narrative). |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/baltazar-d-aguda/ | Baltazar D. Aguda – UP Alumni Website | Baltazar D. Aguda August 22, 2017 Dr. Baltazar Aguda passed away on August 20. He was also a Research Professor in the University of the Philippines. He earned his BS Agricultural Chemistry degree from UP Los Baños and his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Alberta (Canada). Dr. Aguda was a multidisciplinary scientist who started his scientific career as a theoretical-physical chemist investigating the nonlinear dynamics of complex biochemical reaction systems, developing methods for predicting interaction network instabilities and the construction of predictive computational models. He and his co-workers published mechanistic models of other cellular processes associated with hallmarks of cancer, and in 2008, his book Models of Cellular Regulation was published by Oxford University Press. Dr. Aguda held faculty positions in Canada (Laurentian University) and the USA (Boston University School of Medicine. He delivered lectures at Harvard University (USA), Caltech (USA), Weizmann Institute (Israel), University of Cambridge (UK), and Humboldt University (Germany). Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/in-memoriam-august-2017/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/roger-d-posadas/ | Roger D. Posadas – UP Alumni Website | Roger D. Posadas August 22, 2017 Former UP Diliman Chancellor Roger D. Posada passed away last August 20. He was 72. Dr. Posadas earned his BS Physics degree from UP Diliman in 1964, and his PhD in Relativity Physics from the University of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania, U.S.A.) in 1970. Dr. Posadas was UP Diliman Chancellor from 1993 to 1996. Previously, he was UPD College of Science Dean from 1983 to 1993, and Physics Department Chair from 1980 to 1992. He conceptualized and initiated the development of the UP Science Complex, spearheaded the establishment of the College of Science in UP Diliman, and instituted the Philippines’ first PhD Program in Physics. He also formulated a 5-year development plan for the Department of Physics that paved the way for its designation by the national government as a national center of excellence called the National Institute of Physics. He taught in UP Diliman for more than 50 years. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/in-memoriam-august-2017/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/ananias-b-aurelio/ | Ananias B. Aurelio – UP Alumni Website | Ananias B. Aurelio August 22, 2017 Retired UP Assistant Secretary of the University and of the Board of Regents Ananias B. Aurelio passed away on August 20 after a long battle with acute myeloid leukemia. He was 82. Long before computers and search engines, Mr. Aurelio remembered significant dates, policies, personalities, and landmarks in the university. He is the father of UP Journalism alumna Julie M. Aurelio of The Philippine Daily Inquirer. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/in-memoriam-august-2017 |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/secure-reed-bank-now-justice-carpio/ | ‘Secure Reed Bank now.’—Justice Carpio – UP Alumni Website | ‘Secure Reed Bank now.’—Justice Carpio August 23, 2017 by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo, UP MPRO “Luzon will have ten to 12 hours of brownouts every day less than 10 years from now.” Philippine Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio warned of this grim possibility during the annual UP Alumni Council Meeting on August 18 at the Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman, where he was the featured speaker. He said that this eventuality looms large if Reed Bank is not secured by the Philippines as soon as possible. It is intended to replace the Malampaya gas field, which supplies 40 percent of the energy requirement of Luzon and is projected to run out of the resource in less than a decade. Reed Bank, which is well within the 200- nautical mile (NM) Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ), is being claimed by China, which is more than 500 NM away. This warning was part of Carpio’s lecture, “The South China Sea Dispute: Philippine Sovereign Rights and Jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.” In it, he explained how the Philippines won its arbitration case against China at the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Tribunal, talked about the Philippine claim to Scarborough Shoal, and allayed fears of a possible war with China. He first discussed each of the five major issues raised by the Philippines which were resolved in the country’s favor by the UNCLOS Annex VII Tribunal and began with China’s claim to historic rights using its nine-dash line map. To counter this claim, the Philippines presented Chinese maps as early as 1136 that showed China’s southernmost territory to be no farther than Hainan. And even when it expanded that part of its territory in 1932, it only reached the Paracel Islands, 145 nautical miles (NM) from Hainan. China’s nine-dash line map, which claimed 85.7 percent of the South China Sea, was presented to the UN in 2009. To strengthen its position, the Philippines showed Abraham Ortelius’ 1595 map of the South China Sea, which was then known as the Champa Sea. In Jan Huygen Van Linschoten’s 1596 map, the names of islands within the Champa Sea started with “Pulo,” which means island in Tagalog. Vincenzo Coronelli’s 1688 terrestrial globe also showed the then unnamed Spratly Islands to be within Philippine territory. Fast forward to 1734 with Pedro Murillo Velarde’s “Carta Hydrographica y Chorographica delas Yslas Filipinas,” known as “The Mother of all Philippine Maps,” that showed not only the Spratlys but also Scarborough Shoal, named Panacot at that time, as part of the Philippines. The Tribunal also upheld the Philippine position that “no geologic feature in the Spratlys is capable of human habitation or economic life of its own” to generate a 200-NM exclusive economic zone (EEZ) that overlaps with Palawan’s EEZ. Even the inhabited Itu Aba, the largest among the Spratly Islands, does not satisfy the requirement for a 200-NM EEZ, which the Tribunal said should have the “objective capacity, in its natural condition, to sustain either a stable community of people or economic activity that is not dependent on outside resources or purely extractive in nature.” On Scarborough Shoal, also called Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, the Tribunal agreed with the Philippines that it is a high-tide elevation entitled only to a 12-NM territorial sea, and not a 200-NM EEZ because it is a rock that is incapable of sustaining human life. It also ruled that “the territorial sea of Scarborough Shoal is a traditional fishing ground of Filipino and Chinese fishermen, as well as fishermen from other countries”, so China does not have the power nor the authority to stop Filipino fishermen from fishing in the area. The Philippines also raised the issue of China causing severe harm to the marine environment by dredging and building islands on seven reefs. In addition, it failed to “prevent its fishermen from harvesting endangered species like sea turtles, corals and giant clams in the Spratlys and Scarborough Shoal.” In effect, Carpio said, “China violated its obligation under UNCLOS to ‘protect and preserve the marine environment.’ ” He then pointed out that China was, in fact, very active in the negotiations for UNCLOS, which began in 1972 and was finalized in 1982. According to the Tribunal, China “caused permanent and irreparable harm to the coral reef ecosystem.” Carpio revealed that it was “the first time an international tribunal applied the UNCLOS provision on protection and preservation of the marine environment.” Finally, the Philippines asserted that China committed unlawful acts within the Philippine EEZ by interfering with Filipino fishing activities, including: imposing a fishing ban; preventing petroleum activities of Filipino vessels; failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing; and, constructing islands and structures not only within the Philippine EEZ but also on its continental shelf. The Tribunal agreed on all points. Carpio then gave a brief background on the Philippines’ claim to Scarborough Shoal, highlighting the Treaty of Washington in 1900, the second treaty between Spain and the US. Scarborough Shoal was not inside the treaty lines during the first treaty between both countries in 1898, the Treaty of Paris, which is commonly taught in Philippine basic education. It is in the 1900 treaty where Spain stated that it also ceded to the US, “all title and claim of title, which [it] may have had at the time of the conclusion of the Treaty of Peace of Paris, to any and all islands belonging to the Philippine Archipelago, lying outside the lines” of the Treaty of Paris. Carpio bemoaned the lack of significance placed upon the Treaty of Washington in Filipino school books. On the question of a possible war between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea dispute, he said, “War is not an option, and has never been an option. First, the Philippine Constitution prohibits war as an instrument of national policy. Second, the UN Charter has outlawed war as a means of settling disputes between states. That is precisely why the Philippines filed the arbitration case against China, because war was never an option.” As for China launching an armed attack against the Philippines, Carpio explained that China’s policy is to conduct what it calls its “The Three Warfares.” He said that in the South China Sea dispute, these tactics have been evident. First is public opinion warfare, where a historical narrative is repeatedly asserted so it is universally accepted even if it has no basis in fact. Second is legal warfare, “assert a legal basis for the historical claim to justify that claim as an exception to prevailing legal norms.” Third is psychological warfare, where might, power, and capability are overtly displayed to intimidate other parties into submission. Carpio is one of the UP Alumni Association’s Most Distinguished Alumni this year. The Alumni Council Meeting precedes the annual general homecoming of the University and is a venue for the discussion of high impact, relevant, and meaningful issues. (Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo, UP MPRO) Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/secure-reed-bank-now-justice-carpio |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/relaunched-the-carillon/ | RELAUNCHED: The Carillon – UP Alumni Website | RELAUNCHED: The Carillon August 25, 2017 by UP System The Carillon, the University’s official alumni magazine is now out with a maiden relaunch issue after an absence of several years. This June-December 2017 issue includes news tailored for the hundreds of thousands of UP alumni here and abroad, with features such as the new set of UP System officials, UP’s expanding map, and updated facts and figures about the entire UP System. The Carillon is a publication of the UP Media and Public Relations Office. For inquiries, email UP MPRO at [email protected]. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/relaunched-the-carillon |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/the-non-music-man/ | The “non-music” man – UP Alumni Website | The “non-music” man September 4, 2017 by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo, UP MPRO “It’s not really music. Not in the strictest sense.” National Artist for Music, composer, ethnomusicologist, and UP University Professor Emeritus Ramon Pagayon Santos was referring to his area of research—non-Western indigenous expressive traditions included in the genre called “ethnic music.” Music, he said, is a Western concept defined by elements such as structure, counterpoint, harmony, texture, and form, among others. “I prefer calling it ‘non-music’ because it doesn’t fit that idea.” Santos began questioning the use of “music” to refer to such expressive practices because of an incident at a Philippine music festival he organized when he was dean of the College of Music. “I had invited three guitarists and a dancer from Batangas to participate. Imagine my surprise when two jeepney loads arrived!” During the performance, he said the others acted as bystanders who would react loudly and throw money at the performers. “That type of ‘music’ wasn’t meant for just listening because it wouldn’t have the intended effect. It needed the participation of the ‘community.’ There was an experiential condition.” The “non-music” man, Ramon Santos, in one of the Center for Ethnomusicology’s rooms at the UP Diliman College of Music. (Photo by Misael A. Bacani, UP MPRO) He also cited the kwintangan kayu of the Yakan, an instrument made of wooden logs set up after planting, which is played non-stop until the seeds have sprouted. “You can listen to it and enjoy it but its purpose really is to encourage the growth of what was planted. It doesn’t follow what conventionally defines music.” Other cultural expressions like the bayok of the Maranao and the badiw of the Ibaloi are similarly dependent on the occasions where these are performed. Breaking out: from classical to experimental Santos has been challenging the use of “music” as an ethnomusicologist since the 1980s. But as a composer, Santos has been pushing against tradition for far longer—as early as his undergraduate days in the early ‘60s. There’s a popular saying about learning the rules first before breaking them. And that’s what Santos did. His mother and grandmother were pianists, so “music was ordinary” to him. They were taught solfège and how to play the piano. When he went to San Jose Seminary for high school, he “fell in love with schola cantorum,” the singing of ecclesiastical chants. “My interest in music was intensified. I joined the choir and spent most of my leisure time listening to music.” But music wasn’t his only interest. He wrote poetry and later realized that literature inspired his passion for music, even prompting him to create music for Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poems. Like his brother, Santos also painted. Such was his inclination that his parents thought he would study painting in college. But when asked, he told them his choice was Music. “Just like that!” he said, snapping his fingers, “I said I wanted to take Music.” He was about to enroll at the University of Santo Tomas because it seemed like the logical choice after the seminary. If it hadn’t been for the long lines at enrollment, his father deciding to postpone it until the next day, and his sister who was a UP alumna asking why he was going to UST, Santos wouldn’t have gone to UP. So the next day, that fateful day in 1958, he went to UP and eventually earned his degree in Composition and Conducting. Before he even graduated, he had already formed the Immaculate Conception Choir in Pasig, written choir music and a whole Mass, and led the choir in presenting operettas. He even joined the symphonic ode category of the Bonifacio Centennial National Composition Contest, where he was the only declared winner at second place. There was no first or third place awardee. “The first honorable mention was my teacher,” he said with a sheepish smile. He was a regular at the library, always looking for new records to listen to. There he discovered Edgard Varèse, a French composer recognized for using sound outside the confines of musical tradition. “Wow! Is this music? If this was recorded, there must be something to it.” “I was very happy with everything I was learning,” Santos says of his days as a Music major in UP. (Photo by Misael A. Bacani, UP MPRO) He was also amazed by Jose Maceda, a visionary composer and a member of the UP faculty who pioneered avant-garde music in the country. “He is my greatest idol in composition and I’m proud to say he recruited me then to play his pieces,” Santos said, before adding with a laugh, “which were very difficult!” He credits Maceda with inspiring him as a composer because his ideas were deeply rooted in Philippine culture and how “we feel and experience music.” Dissonances had already become part of Santos’ work. “I think my teacher thought it wouldn’t get me anywhere.” But his leanings toward unconventional compositions mixed with his interest in non-western cultural expressions allowed him to forge a path in contemporary Philippine music. His groundbreaking body of work—both in composition and in ethnomusicology—would earn him the rank of National Artist in 2016. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts describes his style as one with “open-ended structures of time and space, function as a compositional concept, environmental works, non-conventional instruments, the dialectics of control and non-control, and the incorporation of natural forces in the execution of sound-creating tasks.” His latest project, “Likas-an” or “Nature-ing,” was performed in the Iloilo City campus of UP Visayas on August 25. “I composed that in 1978 using instruments that I made, like kantawayan, metal junk, whistle flutes, and sound coming from nails being pounded, for example.” His performers in 1978 were not musicians but administrative staff and the same was true for Iloilo. But because he believed the performance of his compositions must adapt to changing times, he made an additional composition for a choir in the recent “Likas-an.” As for the future of ethnomusicology and composition in the country, Santos is quite happy that the number of composer-ethnomusicologists is increasing, although he admits genuine Philippine music still has a long way to go. “We always need to be conscious of the fact that we are not Westerners, that we should not merely follow Western trends. Our experiences are different. Our sentiments are different. Our culture is different. I hope that we can eventually have a name for what I call ‘non-music.’” Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/the-non-music-man |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/the-student-in-the-boardroom/ | The student in the boardroom – UP Alumni Website | The student in the boardroom September 4, 2017 by J. Mikhail Solitario, UP MPRO On her first Board of Regents (BOR) meeting, Student Regent Ma. Shari Niña G. Oliquino admitted her overwhelming anxiety. UP President Danilo Concepcion turned to her and asked her for a few words. Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Patricia Licuanan then prompted her to discuss a student issue.Shari took the chance to inquire about the tuition collection policy of the University. This helped her realize that while she now had the task to put student issues on the table, it was not an impossible task after all. In the past, according to Shari, only a student observer was allowed inside meetings of the Board of Regents, the highest policy-making body of the University. The student observer could raise student concerns during discussions but he or she had no voting power. Eventually, the Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP campaigned for genuine student representation with voting power in the BOR, to participate more directly in crafting policies affecting students. Today, the Student Regent represents the biggest constituency in the entire UP system. (The BOR also includes a Faculty and a Staff Regent.) Oliquino believes that the Office of the Student Regent is crucial in light of the signing of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which grants free tuition and other subsidies to qualified undergraduate students in state universities and colleges. She sees obstacles remaining for students of law and medicine, as well as those struggling academically. She asserts that education is a right to be enjoyed by all regardless of socioeconomic status, and hopes for the support of all UP students from Baguio to Mindanao, knowing she can’t possibly succeed in her advocacy alone. SR Oliquino takes her oath before members of the Board of Regents- University President Danilo Concepcion and CHED Chairperson Patricia Licuanan. (Photo from SR Ma. Shari Niña G. Oliquino) Accepting the challenge Asked what made her decide to accept her nomination as Student Regent from UP Mindanao, her response was short: “I didn’t even think twice about it.” Graduating with honors with a degree in Broadcast Communication from the College of Mass Communication in Diliman, she could have taken a break from being a student leader from her grade school days in the UP Integrated School (UPIS). But in the midst of an intensifying campaign for free education, she couldn’t refuse the call. “I wasn’t going to do it for myself, and serving my fellow students had become my passion, so why not?” she added. Shari considers former Student Regent and human rights lawyer Krissy Consti as her model. Shari admires Krissy’s boldness in staging mobilizations all by herself even before other students had assembled in the Palma Hall lobby. Conti was also instrumental in the recent release of Maricon Montajes, a Film student and political prisoner. While her dreams of being a lawyer like Conti remain intact, Shari also recognizes former Student Regents as mentors in addressing multiple and sometimes simultaneous concerns from eight constituent units in the University. During the selection of this year’s Student Regent at the UP Visayas Miag-ao campus through the General Assembly of Student Councils (GASC), Oliquino presented her vision for forging unity among students in sustaining campaigns. As she went around the System, she saw more specific problems, such as huts being used as men’s dormitories in UPV Tacloban. She also stressed the need to preserve UP’s public character by ensuring that idle assets are used for academic and research purposes. She called for unity with other members of the UP community, such as the manininda(vendors) and ordinary employees, recalling an exchange during the GASC where a representative of UPV’s College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences drew attention to the concerns of fisherfolk. What’s work like for the Student Regent? After scheduling and prior to leading student summits for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao spread across September and October, Oliquino takes care of requests for interviews, especially on free education. She also meets with student councils regularly, apart from the monthly BOR meetings. Starting young Oliquino traces her roots in student-leadership to her formative years in UPIS. She characterized UPIS education as “progressive,” where they were taught societal issues such as the disparity between the country’s natural resources and levels of poverty. She vividly remembers an Araling Panlipunan class where her teacher drew a can of gasoline with wings and strings tied to basic goods attached to the can. At a young age, she was exposed to issues that had to be discussed within the University. She served as president of the Grade 3-6 and Grade 7-10 councils. She used what she learned in her History classes as joined UP campus politics, moving from classroom to classroom and consulting student organizations about projects, events, and services. SR Oliquino joins a USC mobilization in her days as an undergraduate student leader. (Photo from SR Ma. Shari Niña G. Oliquino) When she entered UP, Oliquino held key leadership positions in her organizations such as the UP Broadcasters’ Guild and UP Beta Sigma Ladies Corps. As early as her freshman year, she was asked to run for the University Student Council (USC), but she declined. After a year, she ran twice for the same position and won, ranking fourth among 12 councilors. She eventually headed the USC Committee on Students’ Rights and Welfare. The major difference, according to her, was that party lines are drawn more sharply in university politics than in UPIS politics. Holding the position of Student Regent is a different challenge as the SR should be a unifying, rather than dividing, force among students, and is expected to be more inclusive and more consultative. A bigger challenge lies the dynamics between the SR and members of the BOR who are mostly administrators, legislators, and Malacañang appointees. Moving forward Looking back on what her term has accomplished so far, Shari considers the signing of the free education law a leap forward and the fruit of years of student activism from campaigning in the streets to lobbying. However, she warns that the movement must not rest for the fight is far from over until all mechanisms to make students pay cease to exist. She is currently enrolled in the Master in Community Development program in the College of Social Work and Community Development, believing it to be the best program for her to be able to integrate with communities. “If we want genuine social change, we need to fight alongside other sectors.” In eventually pursuing law studies, she aspires to become a people’s lawyer who will expose and oppose the system by freeing political prisoners, upholding human rights, and strengthening the mass movement. She envisions her legacy to be the actualization of free tuition after decades of struggle. At the same time, she wants to be remembered as an approachable and accessible Student Regent. “I never want to be too far from my constituents!” Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/the-student-in-the-boardroom |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/whos-afraid-of-the-endocrine-witch/ | Who’s afraid of the Endocrine Witch? – UP Alumni Website | Who’s afraid of the Endocrine Witch? September 4, 2017 by Andre DP Encarnacion, UP MPRO While her online supporter base knows her better as the Endocrine Witch (and her equally popular recent moniker, “Dok Bru,” short for “Doctor Bruha”), UP-PGH Endocrinologist Iris Thiele Isip-Tan has certainly become many things to many people in recent years. The wife and mother of two sons is best known to her official patients as an endocrinologist—an internist, or duktor ng lamang loob, in her terms, specializing in thyroid, diabetes, adrenal, and other hormone disorders. To her colleagues at the UP College of Medicine, she is a highly innovative teacher—the first-ever Gawad Pangulo Award winner for Progressive Teaching and Learning and an advocate of blended learning. To many of her online followers, however, Iris still best known as perhaps the best online local source for educated views on endocrinology. Moreover, as the current head of the UP Manila Medical Informatics Unit and the Director of the UP Manila Interactive Learning Center, she is currently helping others utilize digital technology to improve the Philippine health landscape. Iris’ moniker was famously adopted early on from the sisterhood of strict mentors in endocrinology who were themselves called “witches.” “One of my mentors said, ‘You’re even proud to be called a witch.’ But then I told them that we already have characters like Hermione Granger from Harry Potter, who go against the traditional concept. So that’s how it started.” The right information With several definitions of “health informatics” floating in cyberspace, Iris had to construct one for herself. “Health informatics is that field where we aim to get the right information to the right person at the right time,” she says. This overarching vision, though simple to some, has become a guiding philosophy for her, one which she can easily impart to the lay person. There are few avenues in this doctor’s life that reflect this more than her Facebook page. Begun in 2012 as a complement to her official web pages (dokbru.endocrine-witch.net and endocrine-witch.net), it emerged to give her readers access to her content on “free data” packs. Despite not being able to give actual consultations online, Dr. Isip-Tan thought there was at least some information she could give out to help the public make better health decisions. The Endocrine Witch is the first ever Gawad Pangulo awardee for Progressive Teaching and Learning. “I noticed in PGH that there were many illnesses that should not have worsened if only the people had the proper information,” she says. “So I said, OK, you can ask questions and I will answer, albeit with certain limitations.” Doing this has surprisingly helped her in her clinical practice as well. “There were things that I thought I could explain well, but then I found that not all patients got what I said. So it had to be simpler.” Iris also committed herself years ago to using Filipino in her public social media communications to make her advice accessible to countrymen from all walks of life. Lifelong learners Dr. Isip-Tan’s passion for getting the right information out can also be seen in the classroom. She currently teaches HI 201, an introductory graduate course in health informatics. One notable requirement of hers is that her students create their own blogs for class. “The primary reason I ask them to do this is because health informatics is not yet fully in the mainstream here. When you say you’re taking your Master’s in Health Informatics, people reply, ‘What’s that?’ So with the blogs, students can be able to leave a bit of an online footprint for health informatics in the country.” Having blogs also allows her students to get comments from actual practitioners and graduates of the program. “That was the premise for applying for the Gawad Pangulo Award, that there was a social aspect to it,” she says. “Even the higher-year students are guiding the first-year ones.” While some applicants to the program initially worry about their lack of experience in coding and quantitative methods, Iris says that these are things that can be mastered along the way. What she looks for in students is the willingness to take something on and learn on the spot. “Every day you just learn new things… But as a doctor, you have made the commitment to be a lifelong learner. And that’s the same quality that I look for in my graduate students—that they are willing to learn and accept challenges.” Spinning off Despite the hectic demands of balancing three aspects of her professional life—being a physician, a professor, and a health informatics practitioner—Dr. Isip-Tan says she has a lot more planned. Beyond UP, she is also a founding member of #HealthXPH, a multidisciplinary collaboration to discuss and use emerging technologies and social media to change the Philippine health landscape. #HealthXPH began as an idea among doctors connected over social media to begin conversations (inspired by the famous ‘Doctors 2.0 & You’ conference in Paris) on health. Together with friends like Dr. Gia Sison, Dr. Remo-tito Aguilar, and Dr. Narciso Tapia, Iris began this by hosting Twitter chats every Saturday evening for everyone interested in health topics. Dr. Isip-Tan in one of her famous public lectures. With their growing following and with a little help from entities like the DOST-PCHRD, the group was eventually able to launch the first ever Healthcare and Social Media Summit in the country three years ago. The last event, which drew hundreds of participants, also produced an important spinoff. “MentalHealthPH came out of our second conference,” she says. “The young people behind it met during our brainstorming session. Now they have their own tweet-chat with the hashtag #usaptayo.” With her busy schedule, she also plans to explore telemedicine, both as a service and as a necessity—provided, of course proper protocols are in place to protect her patients. “Abroad, people are already exploring things like Skype to follow up people with diabetes,” she notes. “It’s not yet that common here, and I never thought I would eventually need to do it. But there is a need, considering the traffic these days. I also have patients from the Visayas and Mindanao who fly in and then all of a sudden I can’t make it to the clinic. I have to do something for them. And that’s also where I see the future of medicine is heading.” Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/whos-afraid-of-the-endocrine-witch |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/danilo-l-concepcion-installed-as-21st-up-president/ | Danilo L. Concepción installed as 21st UP president – UP Alumni Website | Danilo L. Concepción installed as 21st UP president October 3, 2017 by UP System Atty. Danilo Lardizabal Concepción was formally installed as the 21st president of the University of the Philippines on September 20 at the University Theater, UP Diliman. He has been in office for seven months. Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Patricia Licuanan, who heads the UP Board of Regents, presided over the investiture rites. As part of the ceremony, she handed over the symbols of the presidency such as the mace and medallion to Concepción. Pres. Danilo L. Concepcion receives the mace from CHED and UP BOR Chair Patricia Licuanan (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) CHED and UP BOR Chair Patricia Licuanan affixes the medallion on Pres. Danilo L. Concepcion’s academic robe along with his wife Atty. Gabriela Roldan Concepcion (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Philippine Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo graced the event along with other government officials. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte had been invited but sent his regrets along with his “felicitations to the University and its new leadership.” Members of the diplomatic corps, National Artists, National Scientists, academic leaders, former UP presidents, and University officials from across the UP System were among those who attended the ceremony. When Concepción was still a nominee, his vision sought to redefine UP’s culture, enhancing its time-honored traditions of honor and excellence to include “malasakit” or compassion—a virtue he considers as “UP’s moral core as the national university.” In his investiture speech titled “Compassion, Our Common Ground,” he defined compassion as genuine care for UP, for the professions, and for each member of the University. “When we genuinely feel compassion, we are truly careful with our words and deeds; very careful of our every move so as not to hurt or harm the things we value and care for,” he said. Speaking both in English and Filipino, the new UP President began by looking back at UP’s 109-year-long history and noting that while “dissent has been coded into the University’s DNA,” the current atmosphere of political polarization in the country and even the university had taken its toll on “truth, reason, and respect.” He called for the promotion of “consensus over conflict, civility over calumny, and collaboration over confrontation. We must foster strategic thinking over short-sightedness, honest labor over opportunism, and shared effort over self-promotion.” He said that he would “focus on finding, in this University, a common ground, a clearing—a safe, free, and congenial space within which its constituents can teach, study, and work productively to their full potential.” Pres. Danilo L. Concepcion takes his oath as the University’s 21st president (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) He acknowledged the implementation of the new free tuition policy as his administration’s first major challenge. While tuition is now free, Concepción raised another important student issue: democratizing admissions. A good number of underprivileged students who wish to go to UP fail the UP College Admission Test. To address this, he proposed a voluntary return service agreement for UP students benefitting from free tuition. There are three options: agree to teach in senior high school for one year after graduation with compensation, opt out by paying tuition, or opt out after graduation by paying the cost of their UP education. Concepción was optimistic that UP students would choose to render service. On student protests and rallies, he promised to “guarantee their right and freedom to express their ideas, beliefs, and principles. We will never even attempt to suppress what they want to say, or oppress them for what they fight for.” For UP faculty, Concepción discussed the vigorous pursuit of funding for development programs; easing up the rules on tenure and promotion; the rise of the new and improved Faculty Center in three years; and the establishment of an office to help faculty members prepare for retirement, which includes assisting them with their needs, like housing. Campus rehabilitation is also on his list of priorities. He appealed to the UP alumni for support, specifically for the rehabilitation and upkeep of dormitories. Concepción also revealed plans for a Philippine General Hospital in Diliman, a medical complex that will include a College of Medicine and the Genomic Cancer Research Institute. It will serve northern Metro Manila and nearby areas. Another campus concern Concepción brought up was the presence of informal settlers across the University. He said that his family was, at some point, like them, so he knows how it feels to be one. “Their welfare will be included in all of our plans to put in order our campuses. My sincere prayer and hope is for them to also have compassion for our University and our community.” On staff development, Concepción emphasized the need to match operational requirements with administrative workforce. He also said that his administration has begun the process of regularizing contractual employees. Concepción explained that regularization entails the creation of plantilla items, which takes time. While waiting, non-UP contractuals are being moved up to UP contractual status for now, to let them enjoy the same benefits as regular UP employees. Concepción also talked about seeking reforms in the procurement process, automation of operating systems, and in the allocation and use of funds and resources. He mentioned the drive for more collaborative activities with other universities and colleges. Prior to assuming the presidency on February 10 this year, he was the executive director of the UP Bonifacio Global City campus. He also served as Vice President for Legal Affairs in the administration of his predecessor, Alfredo Pascual. From 2000 to 2002, he was president of De La Salle Araneta University. He has also been serving as the Dean of the UP College of Law since 2011. Born in 1958, Concepción earned his Master of Laws degree from the University of London in 1986 as a Chevening Scholar. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree, cum laude, from UP Diliman in 1983. In 1979, he received his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering degree, summa cum laude, from De La Salle Araneta University. He was elected to the position in November 2016 by the 11-member Board of Regents, UP’s highest governing body. UP’s presidents have traditionally held their investiture several months after taking office. To view a copy of his speech, click here. Click here to view photos taken during the investiture. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/danilo-l-concepcion-installed-as-21st-up-president |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/the-researcher-as-storyteller/ | The researcher as storyteller – UP Alumni Website | The researcher as storyteller October 4, 2017 by J. Mikhail Solitario, UP MPRO “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 populism 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 opinions. In his junior 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—small rooms, 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 a Master’s Degree in Political Science in the Central European University (CEU) in Budapest, Hungary. “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 panel discussion with fellow foreign classmates 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. 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. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/the-researcher-as-storyteller |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/reconnecting-with-up-through-the-oar/ | RECONNECTING WITH UP THROUGH THE OAR – UP Alumni Website | RECONNECTING WITH UP THROUGH THE OAR October 4, 2017 Recognizing the important role of the alumni in the life of the university, the University of the Philippines (UP) established the Office of Alumni Relations (OAR) in 1961 under the Office of the President. The OAR serves as the key UP institution connecting the alumni with the rest of the academic community. Since its inception, the OAR has sought to encourage the maximum participation, involvement, support, and commitment of the alumni to the University of the Philippines’ various social missions. It remains the primary link between the University and its Alumni Association (UPAA) in identifying, cultivating, and involving the alumni in institutional and alumni programs, events, and activities. It also represents the UP and the UPAA at institutional and alumni programs, events, and activities both locally, on and off-campus, and foreign venues whenever possible. The strategic mission of the OAR is to broaden and deepen connections and interactions between the University and its alumni community. It aims to achieve by: Ensuring quality service for the UP and its alumni; Actively promoting a positive image of the UP to its alumni, maintaining the loyalty, goodwill, and support of the alumni to the University’s programs and projects; and Encouraging, facilitating, and enhancing professional and social networking between UP, UPAA, and friends. The OAR serves the University and its alumni community by Developing and maintaining the alumni records and website; Organizing various activities that recognize alumni achievements; Coordinating and assisting the UPAA in homecomings and reunions, raising funds for scholarships, professional chairs, and faculty grants; and Organizing activities between networking with alumni chapters and friends and assisting Alumni Institutes. UP alumni interested in giving to or simply just reconnecting with UP may start by linking up with the OAR. The OAR is currently headed by Assistant Vice-President and Director Maria Angelica “Rica” D. Abad and can be reached by phone (929-8226/981-8500 local 4251 or 4252) or by email at [email protected]. To learn more about the OAR and its various services for the alumni, please visit its website at http://alum.up.edu.ph. |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/swimming-with-the-dugongs/ | Swimming with the dugongs – UP Alumni Website | Swimming with the dugongs October 5, 2017 by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Marine mammals—such as whales, dolphins, dugongs—are descended from ancestors that lived entirely on land. Fleeing from terrestrial competition, they turned to the waters and the vast resources of its depths. The Philippines is rife with marine mammals, a fact confirmed by stranding incidences—more than 800 recorded since 2005—exceeding the normal numbers in the region. Professor Lemnuel Aragones is UP’s foremost expert on marine mammals and heads its only laboratory for marine mammal research. This research includes processing strandings. Though unfortunate and still largely unexplained, strandings provide the opportunity for closely studying marine mammals in their environment. When not responding to or saving stranded marine mammals, or doing office, mentoring and laboratory work in UP and various training venues, or Skype-meeting with colleagues, Lem is farther offshore, swimming with grazing dugongs of Busuanga, Palawan, or spotting dolphins at Tañon Strait in central Visayas. But Lem has not always been at sea. Like marine mammals, Lem saw his career make a decisive step from land to sea. Lem after scuba diving in Mantalip Reef of southern Tañon Strait, a marine mammal hot spot, off Bindoy, Negros Oriental, to help an MS advisee with thesis research. Photo courtesy of the UPD-IESM Marine Mammal Research and Stranding Laboratory By the river in Africa As a child, Lem traveled across the globe with his father, who was a consultant of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. From 10 to 14 years old, he moved back and forth between the Philippines and Malawi, where his father taught at the Bunda College of Agriculture. He stayed at Lilongwe, the capital. Located in the Great East African Rift Valley, Lilongwe was strange land with a nature sanctuary in the middle, surrounding the Lilongwe River that drains to Lake Malawi. Often, the car little Lem was riding in had to stop and let wild animals cross the road. “Giraffes, elephants, zebras, and antelopes! So many!” the adult Lem excitedly recalls. But back then, he lived in a gated subdivision, guarded, and ferried in VIP vehicles. He watched from a car window. “Big animals have a certain majesty,” he says. Malawi left him with a legacy of fascination. Returning to the Philippines, Lem was sold on a Zoology course in college. He would graduate in UP Los Baños in 1986 with a special project on bats and a non-thesis degree in Field Zoology. His graduation prize from his parents was a solo trip to Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Lem meets a duyong Officially an adult, he was free. In Puerto Princesa, he jumped onto fishing boats and sailed off with the crew to remote islands. As the fishermen laid out the nets, Lem would put on his mask, snorkel, and fins, and swim alone in the open sea. One day off San Vicente, Palawan, on a second dive near the coast, he saw billows of murk rising from the bottom. As he dove deeper, a gray mass began to move in the murk. It was bigger than he. Lem frantically swam toward the boat. “Help!” he shouted, grasping an outrigger. “Shark!” The crew saw the dark figure peek at the surface before gliding back under. “Ay, that’s a duyong!” they said. Lem would not be eaten. The animal was simply grazing on the seagrass on the bottom, stirring up sediments. Even as a graduate of Zoology, Lem had not heard of duyong. Returning to Los Baños, his father advised him to consult the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Manila. “We have dugong in the country,” the DENR officer said. The animal he saw was most likely it, but the officer could not give details. At that point, Lem vowed to study the big marine animal that had scared him so much. He ended up earning a master’s in Marine Science in UP Diliman. Lem helping restrain a stranded dolphin being rehabilitated at the Subic Bay Freeport Area to rehydrate the animal through an “entubation” technique. Photo courtesy of the UPD-IESM Marine Mammal Research and Stranding Laboratory Stranded, they tell a tale Lem’s expertise on marine mammals was triggered as much by his “near-death” experience off San Vicente as by the deadly experience of dugongs stranded off Australia. He was taking his PhD on tropical marine ecology at James Cook University and had to be stationed on the Queensland coast to study the feeding ecology of dugongs. Then a cyclone blew in, followed by reports of a massive marine mammal die-off. With a group led by top veterinarians, Lem was deployed as assistant to one of his PhD advisers and responded to the incident. At one section of a vast white beach, Lem saw the dark cluster of dugong carcasses. They estimated the fatalities at nearly a hundred. He needed to assist in six necropsies a day. It meant gutting the carcasses and hauling away intestines. Inspecting entrails, he found traces of food only at the cloaca, the end of the digestive tract. Checking the sea, they found the seagrasses wiped out. Lem explains how the endless seaboard allows the dugongs no escape from cyclones and the devastation of feeding grounds. Smaller islands, such as in the Philippines, let sea animals go to the other side when storms blow in from the other, he says. Still, the Philippine is rife with strandings. Returning from Australia, Lem helped Ocean Adventure and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to create the country’s own stranding network in 2005. Under his leadership, the network now has 3,866 responders, 80 veterinarians, and several specially trained fisheries and LGU personnel. The Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network or PMMSN has become a model for neighboring countries. Lem at the bow with Professor Helene Marsh, world-renowned dugong expert and his PhD adviser, recently off Calauit Island, Palawan, “acclimatizing” a dugong (partially seen) for underwater observation. Photo courtesy of the UPD-IESM Marine Mammal Research and Stranding Laboratory From the strandings, research has been done on marine toxins, bacteria, pathogens, and parasites, giving clues to disease life cycles and ecological conditions. Studies of stranding sites have offered clues to environments affecting marine mammals, including seismic, acoustic, and dynamite impact. The pioneer remains fascinated Acknowledging his leading role in marine mammal research and protocol-setting in the Philippines, Southeast Asian colleagues elected Dr. Lemnuel Aragones president when they formed the Southeast Asian Marine Mammal Stranding Network in 2013. Recently, the network expanded into the Asian Marine Mammal Stranding Network, of which he remains president. Up to his neck in work, he will not be revisiting Malawi anytime soon. But up to this day, Lem goes back to Palawan. He would go to Calauit, his study site during his master’s program. Along with dugong on the coast, Calauit offers a sanctuary for safari animals imported from Africa. That way, when not swimming with the dugongs of his present, Lem visits the animals of his childhood. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/swimming-with-the-dugongs/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/the-passion-of-john-gabriel-pelias/ | The passion of John Gabriel Pelias – UP Alumni Website | The passion of John Gabriel Pelias October 7, 2017 by Stephanie S. Cabigao, UP MPRO On April 17, 2011, under the scorching heat, I and 3,281 other graduates listened keenly to the words of our UP Diliman class valedictorian John Gabriel Pelias. We were all in awe of what the 19-year old Mathematics major — who made UP history with a general weighted average (GWA) of 1.016, breaking a mark set in 1948 — had to say. Even six years later, as I sat eagerly for a short talk with him, I could vividly remember him saying, “You graduated not from any university but from a university named after the nation. Use your talents to contribute to the country.” As a fellow iskolar ng bayan who chose to stay and serve the University, I wanted to know what made him decide to do the same. Today, John Gabriel Pelias is a professor at the University of the Philippines Institute of Mathematics in Diliman, where he also took his master’s degree. Prof. Pelias discusses “projective spaces” at the International Conference on Mathematics and Mathematics Education in Hong Kong, July 2016. Why Math? “I’m fond of Math. Ever since I was young I liked Math and Science. My first choice for UPCAT was Physics, but between Math and Physics, I was told that Math could get you a high paying job with insurance companies, compared to Physics,” he teased. He continued, “Taking BS Mathematics was more of an inspiration from my high school teacher, and I went on to finish MS Mathematics because of what I saw in my undergraduate years.” Interestingly, John wasn’t that interested in mathematical computation. “It wasn’t the math in Math that I saw and liked,” he says. “I’m bad at arithmetic. For example, I get stressed by having to compute, say, the price of Mayonnaise A versus that of Mayonnaise B and figuring out which is the better deal. But that’s the scaffolding to the better, the more real math that’s happening out there, which is what I saw in math. That math is not just about computation. Math is an art. For example, if you try to prove something, you’re trying to establish an eternal truth, a truth that cannot just be derived from observation. “Observations will supply your assumptions but it is the deductive logic of philosophy that enables you to arrive at a conclusion. I suppose I like the feeling of certainty. I like order. And I think math is not just a scientific endeavor, but also an artistic endeavor. And I think mathematicians appreciate their craft because it is beautiful. You discover order in the cosmos, deciphering that pattern of the universe,” he added. Why UP? Finishing a master’s degree in MS Mathematics, he focused on differential geometry as his thesis, and plans to pursue it in his postgraduate work. “Actually, the reason I chose to take up further studies in differential geometry is that it has applications for Physics. And this is a chance for me to go back to my first love.” He’d like to do this in the United States. As an avid fan of the American TV series The Big Bang Theory where his favorite mainstay actor Sheldon Cooper is a resident physicist of Cal Tech, John is determined to pursue his studies at the same California Institute of Technology. Among his other options are UCLA, UC-Berkley, Harvard, and MIT. Six years after graduation, I asked our Class of 2011 poster boy the very same question he was asked then: why UP? Why choose to stay, when there are bigger opportunities professionally and financially in other industries both here and abroad, especially for someone like John Gabriel Pelias? He eagerly replied, “Out of love and optimism for the university. First, I have my loyalty to my discipline. I hate computations. I’m not saying that they’re wrong, it is just that I don’t find joy in it. I knew that if I taught high school, that was what I would be doing. I also knew that if I worked in a company, I couldn’t use the math I knew, because I’d be dealing with business and that’s not the kind of work I want to do. In the university, you just do your academic work. My colleagues in the department have this goal of trailblazing in the field of differential geometry. It will benefit all of us,” he added. Studying abroad for his postgraduate degree stems from that sense of loyalty to UP. “What I like and expect, being in this university, is having students who are critical thinkers. Even without an application, they can bring up ideas worth discussing. Why do we even have to ask why we need it? That’s why I greatly appreciate being in a university. You have no right to teach here if you don’t value critical thinking. Universitas is the totality of knowledge that you can muster and acquire. If you think literature is useless in life, you’re wrong. It’s this appreciation of the humanities that some students lack, which is why they also can’t appreciate the pure beauty of the eternal truth that mathematics provides. If you’re a mathematician, you should be passionate about literature as well,” he added. The calculus professor confessed that he loves teaching but at the same time hates checking papers. Taking a break from teaching this midyear season, he has found the time to read his favorite authors such as Franz Kafka, Jean Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Fyodor Dostoyevsky, while working on his requirements for his postgraduate program in 2018. Rounding up our conversation, John pondered the “Why” question some more and continued, “I think I can use whatever I learned here and not somewhere else. Also, I love the diversity I see in UP. Because of its non-sectarian character, I get to see and meet people who are Muslims, Christians, Catholics, and atheists at the Academic Oval. I can express myself freely, and you’re not judged based on what you wear. I appreciate the unity in this diversity we have in the University. The vision of UP is that you can think of anything for as long as it is sound, and you can stand by and prove what you’re saying.” The John Gabriel Pelias whom I gazed at admiringly in 2011 spoke to me just as profoundly during that afternoon interview. Despite the challenges he now faces as a faculty member, he pledged, “I want to live the last days of my life as a professor here in UP, where I can do what I want to do.” Well said, Professor! |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/the-house-that-stories-built/ | The house that stories built – UP Alumni Website | The house that stories built October 7, 2017 by Andre DP. Encarnacion, UP MPRO The video begins with a plaintive piano track to accompany the visuals. Hand-drawn and labeled with black pencil, the story is told via a series of drawings depicting the day Typhoon Pablo made landfall. A figure resembling a truncated arrow with near-perfect circles for wheels represent the Isuzu Elf truck carrying survivors towards the purple parallel lines of the bridge over Mindanao’s Mayo River. The narrator’s voice is impactful, going through every painful detail of how a flood that seemed as “wide as the ocean” scattered families and neighbors in their barangay. The relief in that voice when she found her family alive after fleeing to higher ground is a far cry from the polished pitch found in typical documentaries. It was a survivor’s voice, telling her own story the best way she knew how. Meet the UP alumni behind the company giving a digital voice to Mindanao’s voiceless. For more than five years now, teaching the people of Mindanao to craft and share such stories to the world has been the mission of sisters Glorypearl Dy and Gloryrose Dy-Metilla. Together with cofounders and fellow UP Mindanao alumni Marben Jan Picar and Angely Chi, the pair are the force behind the Swito Corporation (swito, a Bisaya word, translates to “wise guy”)– a global impact innovation hub dedicated to the promotion of Mindanaoan culture. While their services have expanded to include a firm upholding traditional Mindanao architecture and handcrafted 3D puzzles of the same, Swito Corporation is undoubtedly a house built on stories. With the expressed intent to provide a voice for Mindanao’s voiceless, what they now call the Swito Digital Storytelling service started it all, helping those in need create their own digital stories since 2012. Digital empowerment Digital storytelling is, as groups like Storycenter.org define it, the use of digital tools to empower people to construct their own personal narratives. It allows the common person to bypass the expensive crew and equipment typically associated with big productions to produce their own personal stories with simple gadgets that can be made accessible with a click. Glorypearl Dy first encountered the medium as a Communication Arts student in UP Mindanao. Seeing its potential to both help people in far-flung communities get their voices heard and use accessible technologies to help them do so, the partners pooled their knowledge to informally begin the enterprise in 2011. The very first digital storytelling workshops began soon after. This small initiative among friends to provide digital literacy to sensitive populations in public school classrooms or barangay halls soon drew attention from a great number of larger entities — including non-government organizations (NGOs) and local government units. It soon became clear to everyone that the stories they were producing also held immense psychosocial and organizational promise for both participants and host communities. Scholars and organizations soon began approaching the group for help in their data collection and impact assessments. “Our friends from the NGOs started to hire us and saw what we were doing was good,” Picar recalls. Other partners included them in anthropological research, working with the group to get a feel for how individuals, children in particular; view themselves vis-a-vis their communities. As it turns out, putting creative tools in the hands of stakeholders allowed them to make their unfiltered views and reactions reach decision-makers muck quicker. It was, however, only in 2013 — when the team joined the British Council’s I am a Changemaker Social Enterprise Ideation Camp — that the idea dawned on them that they could turn the practice into a sustainable business that they could do, in their words, “forever.” That year, efforts to turn what they had into a long-term, socially-minded enterprise began in earnest. A three-day workshop While Swito Digital Storytelling offers specialized versions for a broad range of stakeholders that can last up to a week, the typical workshop lasts around three days. The first day is reserved for introductions, an understated phase in the storytelling process. The group found that without a solid foundation of trust, getting people share to share their stories was difficult if not impossible. “Our tried and tested method,” the group agreed, “was to have participants create cut-out puppets of themselves, like a mini-you representing how you view yourself”. Picar, who usually facilitates, remembers a workshop with children where the icebreaker question was “What you want to be when you grow up.” He adds, “Me, I drew a superhero. Because I wanted to be a superhero when I was growing up.” What follows is what the group calls the “story circle.” This segment allows participants to sit face-to-face and discuss the workshop topic. For thematic cases, one participant begins by expressing his or her say on an issue, which others can build on afterwards. This is followed by breakout sessions, where participants separate to draft their individual stories. Afternoons are then dedicated to training participants to create storyboards that serve as guides for their final outputs. During the second day, the process of video-making begins. Participants create the graphics — either drawn or photographed — that best represent their stories. Perhaps the most powerful part of the entire process is the recording of participants’ voices, which many of them had never heard on tape before. A considerable number of participants get very emotional and even break into tears when hearing their stories told with their own voices for the first time. The second day ends with facilitators guiding participants in the process of editing their videos and getting them ready for presentation. All outputs are produced with inexpensive, readily available gadgets and open source software. The final day is dedicated to a group viewing session of these digital stories. This is a process that gives a considerable sense of pride and accomplishment to many of their creators. Participants are then debriefed before goodbyes are said and the workshop concludes. Giving voice to the unheard While some of these groups workshops are straightforward sessions where participants can engage in free-for-all storytelling, it’s holding sessions with Mindanao’s underserved and unheard communities that gives the group the greatest satisfaction. To date, they have conducted peacebuilding workshops for survivors of armed conflict, as well as workshops for disaster survivors, domestic violence survivors, traditional birth attendants and other indigenous peoples, among others. One particular workshop with children with special needs is what the group considers among their most memorable to date. Dy herself distinctly remembers a video from that session where a deaf-mute participant used a combination of sign language and subtitles to create a memorable story about fashion modelling. The delivery was unique but entirely appropriate, as it was “the way the storyteller actually communicates,” she says. Moreover, it was an opportunity to both make the story known and to allow viewers to see things from the vantage point of the literally voiceless — something they hope to achieve on a broader scale. Today, Dy and her partners are focused on helping more Mindanaoans realize the inspirational and purgative power of sharing their digital stories, taking every opportunity to provide the service for free for sensitive groups and organizations. The lasting value in the process, they believe, is that it helps Filipinos everywhere communicate in the digital age using a medium and tradition innate to all of us — an oral one. “We want to give them the power to tell their own stories without our intervention,” Dy says. “Especially those in far-flung communities. Why not give them that chance?” |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/washington-z-sycip/ | Washington Z. SyCip – UP Alumni Website | Washington Z. SyCip October 9, 2017 By: Pathricia Ann V. Roxas – Reporter / @PathRoxasINQ Calling him the “Sage of our Age,” Senator Grace Poe offered her tribute to Washington SyCip who passed away on Saturday evening. “I join the nation in mourning the passing of a great man, Mr. Washington SyCip,” Poe said in a statement on Sunday. “He was a man who radiated intelligence and inspired respect, and while he was of slight physical stature, he towered over all of his contemporaries. He was the ‘Sage of our Age,’ and was one of the persons I greatly admired,” the senator added. Poe said she had shared advocacies with Sycip, who gave him “guidance and compassion.” “We shared many advocacies such as access to quality education and alleviation of poverty. I actively sought his counsel and learned from his wisdom,” said Poe. “Mr. Wash, thank you for your guidance, your compassion and your contributions to the nation. We will cherish your memory and legacy,” she added. Meanwhile, Senator Richard Gordon also offered his message to SyCip. “It’s with great sorrow that I learned this morning of the death of Washington SyCip, a visionary leader who influenced many generations,” Gordon posted on Twitter. “I recall Wash providing me w/ valuable advise in d establishment of SBMA (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority) on challenges to be addressed in developing & attracting investors,” he continued. SyCip passed away en route to New York City. He was 96. He is the founder of accounting firm SyCip Gorres Velayo & Company (SGV & Co.) and a known philanthropist in the areas of public education, micro finance and entrepreneurship, and public health. Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/936442/poe-hails-sycip-as-the-sage-of-our-age |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/ruperto-p-alonzo/ | Ruperto P. Alonzo – UP Alumni Website | Ruperto P. Alonzo November 8, 2017 Professor Ruperto P. Alonzo passed away yesterday, November 7, 2017. He was 70. Professor Alonzo served the University for 45 years, joining as Professorial Lecturer in July 1968 and retired in February 2013 as Professor 12. Prof. Alonzo served UPSE as Director of the Program in Development Economics, Director of the Public Affairs Office and Department Chair. He also served UP as Vice President for Development (2005-2009) and Director of the Institute for Small Scale Industries (2004-2009). In 2016, Prof. Alonzo became a Professor Emeritus. His body lies in repose at the Sta. Maria dela Strada Church, Katipunan Road, Quezon City. The UP School of Economics family is organizing a necrological service in his memory on Friday, 10 November 2017, 3:00 PM at the Sta. Maria dela Strada Chapel. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/in-memoriam-november-2017/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/ncpag-alumna-wins-best-paper-award-in-hawaii/ | NCPAG alumna wins Best Paper Award in Hawai’i – UP Alumni Website | NCPAG alumna wins Best Paper Award in Hawai’i November 8, 2017 Maria Margarita R. Lavides, an alumna of the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG), bagged the Best Paper Award during the First International Conference on Multidisciplinary Filipino Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) at Hilo on 27-28 October 2017. Lavides is working on her PhD in Public Policy as a New Zealand ASEAN Scholar at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT). Her winning paper, entitled “The Exercise of Rights of Biracial Children in Angeles City, Philippines”, bested papers from U.S. and foreign universities. Maria Margarita R. Lavides, an alumna of the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) She was a Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) Scholar at the National University of Singapore, where she earned her Master in Public Policy degree in 2016. She was Executive Director of Pearl S. Buck Foundation-Philippines, Inc. (PSBP) from 2012 to 2015. Lavides earned her Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration (BAPA) degree, cum laude, from UP Diliman in 2001. She was ranked first among that year’s batch of 113 BAPA graduates. The First International Conference on Multidisciplinary Filipino Studies was organized by UH Hilo Department of Languages Chair Dr. Rodney C. Jubilado and Dr. Norman Q. Arancon from UH Hilo’s College of Agriculture, Forestry & Natural Resource Management (CAFNRM), under the auspices of UH Hilo’s Filipino Studies Program. According to Jubilado, the conference aims “to provide an excellent venue for the exchange and sharing of ideas, researches, studies, experiences, and other academic pursuits, endeavors and interests related to Filipinos and the Philippines.” UP System Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs and UP Diliman College of Arts and Letters (CAL) Professor Jose Wendell P. Capili delivered the inaugural conference keynote address. UH Hilo CAFNRM Dean Bruce Matthews was plenary speaker. (MPRO) Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/ncpag-alumna-wins-best-paper-award-in-hawaii/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/plant-science-for-the-people/ | Plant science for the people – UP Alumni Website | Plant science for the people November 10, 2017 by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo He dreamed of becoming a doctor and now he is addressed as Dr. Pablito Magdalita. Instead of a medical degree, however, he has a PhD in Plant Breeding and Plant Biotechnology from the University of Queensland, Australia. “I went from wanting to help human health to plant health. It’s ultimately about wanting to help improve lives through science. I loved all my science classes in high school,” Magdalita says. Going into medicine was something his family couldn’t afford. His father was a coconut farmer and his mother was a storekeeper. Practicality and a scholarship from the Philippine Coconut Producers Federation, Inc. prompted him to take up agriculture at Luzonian University (now Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation) in Lucena City, Quezon in 1978. If it weren’t for that decision, Magdalita wouldn’t have started the journey to becoming the scientist he is today—one known for his work on numerous hibiscus hybrids, several varieties of fruits, and on plant breeding, genetics, and diseases. He holds a patent for the ACC oxidase gene and its use and is currently awaiting the grant of another patent from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines for the coat protein of the papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). With principal breeder Dr. Violeta Villegas, he co-developed the papaya hybrid Sinta, which is tolerant to PRSV. The other fruit varieties he co-developed include the Aguinaldo guyabano, Amarillo rambutan, Mabini jackfruit, Mapino chico, Red Princess cashew, Roja rambutan. Dr. Pablito Magdalita shows a specimen of Saba banana variety in his study on species that can adapt to climate change. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “At first it was curiosity, then it was excitement about the possibilities of how I could make crops better. I was inspired by the challenges posed by my professors in plant breeding to create improved crops through breeding and selection,” he explains about his agriculture courses. Just like that, the dream of becoming a medical doctor was soon forgotten. Married to his career “The environment in UP is competitive, so I am inspired to be productive,” Magdalita says, describing his 35-year stint in the University. He started as a research aide in 1982 at the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) and enrolled in UP Los Baños’ Master of Science program in 1983, majoring in Plant Pathology and Plant Breeding. Moving up the ranks to become a research assistant, research associate, and eventually a university researcher, Magdalita spent most of his UP life conducting various studies and experiments on the development of ornamental and fruit crops. After his doctoral and post-doctoral studies on plant breeding, plant biotechnology and genetic engineering from the University of Queensland in the late 1990s, he was asked to teach molecular biology and biotechnology courses at the Institute of Biological Sciences, but not as a full-time faculty member. It wasn’t until 2010 that he officially joined the ranks of UP faculty at the College of Agriculture and Food Science. Specimens of Sinta hybrid papaya that Dr. Pablito Magdalita continues to do research on, despite the variety having been released in 1995. “You can always improve the variety,” he says. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “I realized I had more to offer as a teacher because of my almost 30-year research experience. Being able to share knowledge, especially those that I’ve applied myself, is a remarkable feeling.” And he hasn’t stopped doing research. Magdalita begins a typical workday by waking up at 4 am to get some writing done for his journal articles. “I do a little work before physically going to work.” He’s in the field around 8 to 9 am, then proceeds to his classes, does paperwork for administrative committee assignments, checks up on his laboratory at the IPB, and then goes home. He doesn’t usually work on Sundays. He attends Mass, walks his dogs, and works in his garden. “Well, it’s like I have a second field at home because I also use my crops as fresh specimens for my classes.” It’s clear he loves what he does and even jokes, “My colleagues tell me I’m married to my career!” Better crops for everyone Scientists like Dr. Magdalita are often invisible to the public they serve, but he doesn’t seem to mind. He has been honored by his scientific and academic peers for his research. And while he takes pride in his accomplishments, they don’t compare to the satisfaction of knowing his work helps farmers and local communities, contributes to countryside productivity, and is enjoyed by the wider public. “It usually takes at least ten years to come up with a good fruit crop variety and you have to wait even longer to see how far the crop has gone in terms of distribution, production, and consumption. We released Sinta papaya in 1995 and now it’s in Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.” Dr. Pablito Magdalita shows one of the papaya trees among the numerous crops outside his laboratory at the Institute of Plant Breeding. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) His work on ornamentals and fruits continues. He reveals that they are looking into creating varieties of different-colored sampaguita and thorn-less bougainvillea, among others. He is interested in exploring other crops with health and wellness benefits as well. He also says we should watch out for three new varieties of papaya, which they started working on in 2005. In three years, the sweet Hirang, Liyag, and Timyas hybrid papayas are expected to hit the market. “We still need more high-yielding, disease-resistant, and climate change-resistant crops. And I want to continue working on answering those needs. This is my life as a scientist in UP. To work here is to work for the people.” Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/plant-science-for-the-people/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/ups-pride-2017-national-book-awards-winners/ | UP’s pride: 2017 National Book Awards winners – UP Alumni Website | UP’s pride: 2017 National Book Awards winners November 23, 2017 The University takes pride in the accomplishments of its faculty, alumni, and the UP Press in this year’s National Book Awards. Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell P. Capili, who teaches at the UP Diliman (UPD) College of Arts and Letters, won for Migrations and Mediations: The Emergence of Southeast Asian Diaspora Writers in Australia, 1972-2007, in the Literary Criticism/Literary History category. Susumaton: Oral Narratives of Leyte by UP Visayas Tacloban College Professor Emeritus Merlie M. Alunan won Anthology in Waray. Francis C. Macansantos, who passed away in July, was awarded in the Poetry in English category for Snail Fever: Poems of Two Decades. He used to teach at UP Baguio. Among the winners, 14 are graduates of UP. In the Literary Division, Catherine Torres (UPD, ‘02) won Short Fiction in English for Mariposa Gang and Other Stories. Alvin B. Yapan (UPD, ‘10) won Short Fiction in Filipino for Sangkatauhan, Sangkahayupan: Mga Kuwento. Marcos Martial Law Never Again by Raissa Robles (UPD, ‘78) won Non-Fiction Prose in English. Poetry in Filipino went to Rowena P. Festin (UPD, 2012) for Banayad: Mga Tula. Victor N. Sugbo (UPD, ’74, ’76, ’83, ’92) won Poetry in Waray for Taburos Han Dagat. Remembering/Rethinking EDSA by JPaul S. Manzanilla (UPD, ’02, ’11) and Caroline S. Hau (UPD, ’90) won Anthology (Bilingual). Anthology in Filipino went to Christine S. Bellen (UPD, ’92, ’95, ’03) for Batang Rizal at iba pang dula. Maria Cecilia Locsin-Nava (UPD, ’91) won the Translation category for Shri-Bishaya, a Hiligaynon novel by Ramon Muzones she translated into English. In the Non-Literary Division, Francisco J. Lara Jr. (UPD, ’79) won for Out of the Shadows: Violent Conflict and the Real Economy of Mindanao in the Social Sciences category. He co-edited the book with Steven Schoofs. Pinoy Manners: A Modern Guide to Delicadeza for All Generations won the Leisure category. It was written by Joy Lumawig-Buensalido (UPD, ’71, ’79). Pocholo Gonzales (UPD, ’99) won for Gusto Kong Maging Voice Talent: Mga Sikreto sa Likod ng Dubbing, Voice-over at Voice Acting in the Professions category. EIGA: Cinema in the Philippines During World War II by Nick Deocampo (UPD, ’81) won the Art category. Finally, Karl Fredrick M. Castro (UPD, ’08) won Book Design for Colonial Manila, 1909-1912: Three Dutch Travel Accounts edited and translated by Otto van den Muijzenberg. The UP Press published the winning books of Capili, Macansantos, Festin, and Sugbo, as well as Peryodismo sa Bingit: Mga Naratibong Ulat sa Panahon ng Digmaan at Krisis by former Philippine Collegian features editor Kenneth Roland A. Guda. (Arlyn Romualdo, UP MPRO) |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/flerida-ruth-p-romero/ | Flerida Ruth P. Romero – UP Alumni Website | Flerida Ruth P. Romero December 11, 2017 By: Julius N. Leonen – @inquirerdotnet Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Flerida Ruth P. Romero died on Friday, Dec. 8, at the age of 88, according to SC Public Information Office. The SC PIO has yet to provide details on Romero’s wake following its announcement of the retired justice’s death on Twitter. Romero was born in Tondo, Manila on Aug. 1, 1929. She received her law degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1952, and her Master of Laws from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 1955. Prior to her appointment to the SC, Romero served as director and dean of the UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations from 1962 to 1963. Romero became a special assistant of former President Corazon Aquino following the 1986 EDSA Revolution. She served as secretary general of the 1986 Constitutional Commission. Aquino then appointed Romero to the high court as a replacement of Associate Justice Abraham Sarmiento in 1991. Romero retired on Aug. 1, 1999 after reaching the compulsory retirement age of 70. Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/950824/flerida-ruth-romero-supreme-court |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/up-alumni-awards-2018/ | UP Alumni Awards 2018 – UP Alumni Website | UP Alumni Awards 2018 January 15, 2018 The University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) has announced the search for nominees for the UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awards 2018. The award ceremonies will be held during the U.P. General Alumni Homecoming on Saturday, August 18, 2018, at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, U.P. Diliman Campus, Quezon City. The awards are conferred on alumni who have demonstrated in their chosen fields of endeavor exceptional achievements and outstanding contributions that bring about substantial benefits to society and distinct honor to the University. Recognition is given for accomplishments that impact the communities in which the alumni are or have been active, whether on the local, national, or international level. Nominations are considered in such thematic categories as public service and good governance, poverty alleviation and human development, peace and social cohesion, gender equality and women empowerment, community empowerment, environmental conservation and sustainable development, entrepreneurship and employment creation, institutional or corporate social responsibility, culture and the arts, science and technology, education and health, or as defined by the achievements of a deserving nominee. This year, UPAA is making a special effort to identify for nomination unsung alumni achievers—those whose achievements in little-known corners of the country or foreign lands are exceptional, but have remained unrecognized. Nominations for the awards are accepted from any U.P. alumnus or alumni chapter until April 2. For details, please contact the UPAA Secretariat at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, Magsaysay Ave, U.P. Diliman, Quezon City, tels. 920-6868, 920-6871, 920-6875; or email [email protected]. Click here for the UP Alumni Awards 2018 General Information and Guidelines. |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/up-min-student-projects-receive-funds-from-alumni/ | UP-Min Student Projects Receive Funds From Alumni – UP Alumni Website | UP-Min Student Projects Receive Funds From Alumni January 23, 2018 UP Alumni Association of America (UPAAA) gave its seal of approval to civic-oriented project proposals from six UP-Mindanao student organizations and granted a total of US$1,600 to be distributed among the student orgs for their implementation. This was done thru the signing of a memorandum of agreement on 17 January between the student orgs and UPAAA secretary Jovenia “Joy” Celo, representing UPAAA President Nelsie Parrado. Dugong Antro organization of BA Anthropology students will use their funds to purchase food, farming tools, and school supplies for their “Pahinungod: A Community Integration and Literacy Workshop in a Lumad Community College”. Phil. Association of Food Technologists-Lambda Chapter (PAFT-Lambda) will use theirs for “Panagtigiay: 8th Region-wide Inter-High School Quiz Bowl and 2nd Poster-making Competition”. UP Mindanao Mountaineering Society has three projects, “Project Binhi”, “Environmental Discussion Summit”, and “Project Solidarity Bracelets”. Association of Pre-Medical Students will hold their “Medical Mission and Solidarity-Building”. A consortium of the organizations Navigators, PSALM, Youth for Christ, Students of Destiny, Youth to the Nations, and SEED will hold the fellowship “F.U.S.E. UP (For the Unity and Solidarity of Every Student in UP)”. SPARCS (Society of Programmers and Refined Computer Scientists) will hold “Lit it SPARCS: Literacy on Information Technology” for youths in barangays. UPAAA, also called “UP Triple-A”, is the umbrella organization of UP alumni associations in the United States and Canada. This is the UPAAA’s second year of support to projects by UP-Mindanao students. The linkage between UPAAA and the students was arranged by UP Alumni Association Davao and the UP Mindanao Office of Extension and Community Service. Signatories to the agreements were Kate Opimo (BA Anthropology) for Dugong Antro, Jozille Leyble (BS Biology) for F.U.S.E. UP, Yrneh Ladera (BS Bio) for Association of Pre-Med, Alnyssa Cornell (BS Food Technology) for PAFT, Lorraine Barabat (BS Computer Sci.) for SPARCS, and Garelle Bacaron (BA Anthro) for Mountaineers. Witnessing the signing were OECS Director Michael Gatela, Student Affairs Director Teody Perez, UPAAA rep Ed Celo, and UP-Min alumnus Reuben Cabrera. SIGNING OF AGREEMENT between UP-Min students and UPAA-America is done by (seated, left-right) Kate Opimo (BA Anthropology), Jozille Leyble (BS Biology), Yrneh Ladera (BS Bio.), Joy Celo (UP Alumni Association of America), Alnyssa Cornell (BS Food Technology), Lorraine Barabat (BS Computer Sci.), and Garelle Bacaron (BA Anthro.). Witnessing the signing are (standing, left-right) Extension and Community Service Director Michael Gatela, Student Affairs Director Teody Perez, UPAAA representative Ed Celo, and UP-Min alumnus Reuben Cabrera. |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/up-mobilizes-in-response-to-mayon-volcano-eruption/ | UP mobilizes in response to Mayon Volcano eruption – UP Alumni Website | UP mobilizes in response to Mayon Volcano eruption January 30, 2018 The University of the Philippines is mobilizing its resources to respond to the destruction caused by the ongoing eruption of Mayon Volcano in Albay. Through its Resilience Institute (RI), UP sent three experts to Albay last January 24 to coordinate on-ground efforts and provide technical assistance to the Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Local Climate Change Adaptation for Development, Inc. UP’s top disaster scientist and RI executive director Dr. Mahar Lagmay is in charge of coordinating the university’s aid efforts. RI is working with different sectors of the university including the University Student Council, UP NOAH Center, Padayon Public Service Office, UP Vanguard, UP Reserve Officer Training Corps and the Office of Regent Spocky Farolan, among others. Resilience Institute Executive Director Mahar Lagmay and Regent Spocky Farolan lead a coordination meeting with representatives from the UP MMDA Volunteer Corps, UP Vanguard, TVUP, ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya, RAHA Volunteers, UP Diliman University Student Council, UP Diliman NSTP Office, and UP Manila PGH for the UP Mayon relief initiative. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) UP is now accepting donations—preferably canned sausages and corned beef, dried fish, and empty 5-gallon water containers with faucets—for affected families in Albay. These can be dropped off at Peralta Hall, Department of Military Science and Tactics (DMST) Grounds, Ylanan Street, UP Diliman, Quezon City, starting today, January 30, until Saturday, February 3, 2018. Cash donations will also be accepted at this account: UP Foundation, Inc. Account Number: 102270018964 Unionbank Commonwealth Branch For monitoring purposes, depositors are requested to send a photo or scanned copy of the deposit slip to [email protected]. Volunteers may sign-up at http://bit.ly/UPMayon and a confirmation SMS will be sent. Inquiries can be directed to the UP Resilience Institute via email at [email protected] or via mobile at (0939) 390 4814 and (0975) 851 3046. The UP Board of Regents, during its 1332nd meeting, formally authorized President Danilo L. Concepcion to mobilize the UP System in helping the communities affected by the eruption of Mount Mayon. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/up-mobilizes-in-response-to-mayon-volcano-eruption/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/the-artist-as-storyteller/ | The artist as storyteller – UP Alumni Website | The artist as storyteller February 9, 2018 by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Funny Komiks made Mervin Malonzo realize he could tell stories with drawings. His family had just moved into another rental house and the former occupants had left copies lying around. The future magna cum laude graduate and National Book Award winner was in the third grade then. “I don’t remember a time I wasn’t drawing. And those comics made me decide I wanted to create comics, too.” Slips and bumps It hasn’t been easy. “We weren’t rich. My father repaired watches. My mother was a housewife.” He drew on his old notebooks, and an aunt who was a teacher gave him test papers she had finished checking, the blank sides of which he used. That same aunt, who Mervin had thought was encouraging him, also told him he couldn’t make a living out of his illustrations because he “could only succeed if he was good at it.” Perhaps it was because he was an achiever in school who excelled in math and science that his aunt wanted him to go for a more lucrative career. But even if he was the eldest of five children, his parents never expected him to be the breadwinner. They just told him to “do what made him happy,” so he planned to take up Fine Arts in UP Diliman (UPD) to help him achieve his dream of making comics. Mervin’s workspace sits on one corner of his family’s bedroom. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) But Mervin didn’t make the cut. He fell short of the required UPD grade. He did qualify for his next choice: BS Chemistry at UP Los Baños. There he was, disappointed, but ready to put his dream on hold. He had already found a dorm and was set on enrolling. Until he learned that the talent determination test in the Fine Arts program could still get him in. In 2001, he entered UPD as a Painting major and all throughout, Mervin was a Pitoy Moreno scholar. It wasn’t hard for him to maintain the scholarship grade requirement. The genuine desire to learn that made him excel in his younger years persisted when he entered UP. “I didn’t struggle too much with the studying part of UP life. Finances were harder to deal with.” Love, horror, and making a living He met Princess when she was a freshman at the Asian Institute of Tourism and he was a year from graduating. A friend had given him her number in hopes of setting them up because she was in UP, too; but it was months before he did something about it. It was December 2013 and he had been living in a relative’s house without electricity for roughly a year. He was continuing to develop the story that had been brewing since he was 17—a story inspired by, but not quite similar to, the characters in Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, mixed with Philippine mythology and horror, all of which interested him greatly. Princess and Mervin laugh about how awkward he was early on in their relationship. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “Living alone in a dark house can be scary but I fought that fear through the horror in my story. It was horror I controlled.” But loneliness was another matter, so he reached out to Princess. To his surprise, they were actually classmates in Natural Sciences 2 and were practically neighbors! They only met in person when classes resumed, and as their relationship developed, so did his story. After he graduated in 2005, he took on jobs as an in-house artist and designer for some companies. “I wanted to show people I could earn a living as a Painting graduate.” So despite his dream of creating comics, his story, Tabi Po, had to wait. Breaking free He learned how to use digital art tools for work and it didn’t take long for him to translate traditional painting practices into the new medium. In 2010, he uploaded Tabi Po online, making it freely available for anyone to read. It gained popularity and for a while, Mervin was content with simply sharing his work with the world. An incident at his workplace years later forced him to reassess his career. He was the creative head of new media who was suddenly denied entry because of the leather sandals he usually wore. It then occurred to him that success in that track meant doing things that didn’t fit his personality; so he quit shortly after. The first three issues of Tabi Po. (Photo from Mervin Malonzo’s online store, www.mervstore.com) He became a freelance artist who did illustration and web design jobs. He had more time to devote to Tabi Po and the clamor for a print version was increasing. In just a year, Tabi Po Isyu 1 was published and won the 2014 National Book Award for Graphic Literature. He reveals it was one of his proudest moments. “I was recognized not only as an artist but also as an author. I got an award for realizing my dream of telling a story through comics. It was better than all my academic honors combined.” He still feels bad though, that dengue prevented him from going to the awards ceremony. What followed was an offer to turn it into a live action TV series. From the time he won until Tabi Po was aired in 2017, Isyu 2 was printed, Isyu 3 was being completed, he and Princess had gotten married, and baby El was born. He had also decided, at the end of 2016, that he would just focus on comics—as a creator, illustrator, and publisher. With the full support of Princess and together with friends Aliyah Luna and Adam David, Haliya Publishing was born. One of its first releases was Tabi Po Isyu 3. A balancing act As co-founder and co-owner of Haliya, Mervin continues to learn the ropes of publishing, including production, marketing, and sales, among others. Even with added work, he and Princess continue to be hands-on parents to El. He admits with a laugh that the one-year-old is, in fact, “the boss.” When they both need to work, El is looked after by Mervin’s parents and siblings who live with them. Mervin signs a copy of Tabi Po Isyu 3. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The balancing act hasn’t hampered his creativity. He is continuing the Tabi Po series with another story arc. Mervin the artist and storyteller is also no longer content with letting people merely read his stories and enjoy his illustrations. He has created sculptures of his Tabi Po characters. He is animating not just his work but also others published by Haliya. Based on the online reception, people can’t get enough of his creations. “I want more people to appreciate the stories of Filipino writers, through comics or graphic novels, through animation. I want to show everyone that Filipinos can do these things and do these well.” Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/the-artist-as-storyteller/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/from-beauty-queen-to-iska/ | From beauty queen to iska – UP Alumni Website | From beauty queen to iska February 9, 2018 by Stephanie S. Cabigao During the Miss Universe 2017 visit in the country with the past Miss Universe-Philippines title holders (Photo courtesy of Venus Raj) She is just as honest as she was during her final question-and-answer portion at the Miss Universe contest in 2010. But this time, eight years later, she admits that she has a major, major problem when asked why she wanted to take up a master’s degree in Community Development. “I’ll be very honest with you,” says the towering Bicolana beauty Venus Raj. “I had no idea what Community Development was at first. Someone told me to enroll in it as I was interested in going back to my roots and serving the community. Those were the selling points for me,” she continued. The Community Development department panel raised the same questions that she, too, had bombarded herself with. “Why did you come here? Of all the courses, why Community Development, and why study? They were thinking, even myself, that I already had a nice job as a television personality, model, beauty queen, so why still pursue this kind of endeavor?” With these two things in mind—going back to her roots and serving communities—the Bicol University graduate got her chance of a lifetime as the doors of UP opened to her. Medical mission in her hometown, Bato, Camarines Sur in partnership with Freedom Fest, LCC Foundation, and the community’s church (Photo courtesy of Venus Raj) One with the community “I’m telling you, life in UP is way different. Yes, I studied for four years in a university and graduated from my program in Journalism. But when I entered UP, as I said in one of my interviews then, I felt like I was sent to another beauty pageant, go there and compete!” Venus says. She is thankful to all her professors who guided her along the way. “And I think the one thing that also helped me in painstakingly coping and understanding all the jargon was my classmates,” she emphasizes. “I have been inspired by my friends, classmates and professors who are working in the various sectors, especially when they speak about empowerment and organizing communities. Then, I would think about my contribution; how do I really do community organizing?” A relocation site in Bustos, Bulacan opened her eyes to what community organizing really meant. Staying for a month there to fulfill a class requirement, Venus resided along with three other classmates in a vacant housing unit. “During the first week, residents consistently knocked on my door asking for photos with me or an autograph. Of course, from my line of work, it is automatic for me to take selfies with them. But one of the important things I have learned from my professors, when it comes to organizing, is that you should be one of them. You’re an effective organizer when they don’t see you as an outsider. When you’re one with the community, then you’re effective in what you’re doing.” Fieldwork in Bicol (Photo courtesy of Venus Raj) The star mania died down and eventually she took part in the community customs, food sharing and celebrations. “It is nice that they look at me as part of their community, a neighbor and not an outsider who just came to bring in some kind of charity to the community. It is a very fulfilling experience that gave me the realization that you can empower communities by allowing them to let them know that they can thrive on their own.” Fieldwork in Bustos, Bulacan (Photo courtesy of Venus Raj) Venus graduated in 2017, with a thesis that focused on women in disaster stress management. “Basically, the topic was looking at spirituality as a pillar in disaster-resilience, because most of the time, we know that there is physical intervention in disaster stress management. It became an interest because I grew up in Bicol where disasters happen often. So, I integrated community development, spirituality, and DRRM in the context of fisherfolk in my hometown in Lake Bato, Camarines Sur,” she added. Between work and worship Entering politics, representing an NGO, becoming a teacher, mixing community work with show business were just some career paths that most would think for her to take it to the next level. However, serving the community took on more depth and meaning when she became an active member of the Christ Commission Fellowship (CCF) in 2014, while taking her master’s program. She was quick to say with conviction, “What do I do now? Where do I put this education to good use? Is it for the glorification of God’s name? Yes.” Venus Raj with her CCF mentoring group (Photo courtesy of Venus Raj) She explains: “I think the misconception is this, when you have the Lord in your life, your life will be very easy. Your wants will be provided. That’s not true. There will always be trials, there will always be challenges; but the difference is, in those trials, in those challenges, you know that you are not alone, you know that you have someone. You know that you have the Lord to battle with you.” “In CCF, we have a lot of programs, like for example the UPLIFT program, which is a ministry. We send students to school, to college, in partnership with ALS, and create programs as well as livelihood projects for communities. From my experience, it’s really important that your heart is in what you are doing. As long as I am able to put all that I have learned from my community work and journalism courses, in church, even in life, and to reach as many people, I will never get tired of doing community work.” Looking back on her studies, struggling to balance work and worship, everything was a humbling experience, at the same time an empowering one because she realized that work is also a form of worship if done for the Lord, according to Venus. “It kept me grounded. No matter how much I have achieved in life, I know what it is like to have nothing. I have been there.” (Photo courtesy of Venus Raj) If there’s one thing that she thinks will work best for Philippine community development, it’s the bibingka approach. “The community should be allowed to decide on its own, and be consulted, while at the same time, the government takes care of enforcement. At least we have some people like my professors Judy Taguiwalo and Aleli Bawagan who are fighting for marginalized communities. We see them working on a national scale and lobbying for the people.” Venus Raj certainly proves that beyond beauty and brains, what matters in an iska is her heart. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/from-beauty-queen-to-iska/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/a-up-lawyer-in-the-palace/ | A UP lawyer in the Palace – UP Alumni Website | A UP lawyer in the Palace February 12, 2018 by J. Mikhail Solitario “When I face an ordinary Filipino citizen, and he asks me who I am, I want to be able to tell him that I know what he’s going through and that we can help each other.” This is what keeps Attorney Hanna Keila Garcia serving in government despite criticism from some people, including family and friends. Kei, as people fondly call her, has lived a life of conflicts and contradictions. While she had always seen herself eventually taking up Law, her undergraduate degree in Sociology made her ask whether this was the right step to take. Sociology forced her to to question a lot of things. It taught her that, most of the time, getting the right answers meant asking the right questions, too. Twin tools Initially, she saw the study of law as something rigid, with set ways, and not dynamic enough when it came to interpretations of the law. So instead of going straight to law school after graduation like some of her batchmates, she took a gap year and taught Sociology in a state university before finally taking up law. Now, she finds the twin training of sociology and law as helpful tools in her policy work as a staff member of the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for General Administration in Malacañang. She has also devoted most of her life to public service, starting in student government as early as when she was in the third grade. While her batchmates in University of the Philippines College of Law focused on getting good grades in order to get recruited by big law firms as interns and eventually as associates, Kei knew from the very start that she wasn’t interested in joining the private sector, wanting to link her education with her advocacy. She continued teaching Sociology in all her years in UP Law, enriching her lessons with what she learned in Malcolm Hall. At the Mabini Hall’s Executive Secretary Gallery with Attorney Hanna Keila Garcia (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Kei joined the Office of the President (OP) towards the end of the previous administration while waiting for the results of her bar examinations. With the start of the current administration in 2016, her immediate boss, Deputy Executive Secretary Michael Ong, himself a graduate of UP Law, offered her an opportunity to stay in the OP and continue to be part of his staff and of the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES). Given a week to decide and with other offers to work in the offices of a senator and several representatives, she chose to stay in the Palace. “I honestly wanted more action, to be in the middle of things with great impact. I wanted to see how things were run, and to learn more about governance firsthand,” she says. A seat in policy-making Her normal workload includes regular monthly high-level policy meetings. Work in the Palace is naturally diverse, given its wide mandate and functions, so Kei appreciated how they were initially asked about their interests and advocacies. When she expressed interest in development work, she was assigned to represent the OES in policy meetings with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), particularly the Investment Coordination Committee and the Social Development Committee. Apart from NEDA meetings, she has also had the opportunity to sit in Cabinet cluster meetings, such as the Economic Development Cluster and the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster. In these meetings, discussions on the formulation of policies take place. Her UP Law education greatly helps her in dealing with heated discussions with various senior representatives from other government agencies. Her experience as a law student has helped her in projects involving a certain level of policymaking, such as the drafting of a UP Diliman Students’ Magna Carta. According to Kei, the current administration’s policy direction is infrastructure-heavy as seen in its “Build, Build, Build” program. Before projects like a subway system, airports, seaports, or railways are approved, technical aspects need to be ironed out. How many families will be displaced? Where will they be relocated? How much traffic will this cause? Are there right of way issues? Are these projects economically viable? Loyal to the institution While some issues generate controversy, Kei admits that one cannot win all the arguments. She declares, however, that “We are winning the battle for better infrastructure and faster implementation of infrastructure projects.” Her hope is that ten or twenty years down the road, when this infrastructure helps Filipinos gain social mobility not just physically but also economically, she can proudly say she had a hand in the projects when they were just on paper. She reveals that one of her proudest moments at work was to be assigned to draft and evaluate the Executive Order (EO) on the Establishment of Smoke-Free Environments. She is happy to hear feedback from smokers and non-smokers alike on how the EO has been a deterrent to smoking simply because it makes smoking more difficult with restrictive measures. She stands by the EO and is confident that it will hold in court. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO Of course, working in the Palace—an office both highly political and highly politicized—will always raise a few eyebrows. Kei, however, recalls a seminar conducted by the Civil Service Commission on public service ethics and accountability, from which she learned to know where one’s loyalty should lie. She is firm in her belief that government work is public service and that it is always important to keep in mind the constitutional principle that public office is a public trust. In this light, one’s loyalty must always be with the institution and the people it seeks to serve. For many lawyers, it’s easy to say that an official act will violate a specific law. However, in her work in formulating, evaluating, and recommending policy, she has to take into consideration more than just possible legal implications. As such, she is often guided by questions like “How would this benefit Filipinos?” and “What would be the impact of this policy?” Hope, not anger “Many people don’t know how these kinds of evaluations are done because they have no experience in government work. If your principles are intact and you are true to your core, while some criticisms are definitely warranted and necessary, others just become noise,” she adds. With her decision to stay in public service, she offers this piece of advice for those who are thinking of working in the government as well: “There are so many things to be angry about. It’s okay to be angry. But if you’re just angry, you might as well give up. I refuse to just be angry. I want to be hopeful as well. Through this journey, I want to be equipped enough so when the time comes and I find myself in a position where I am able to make a greater, more direct impact in the lives of Filipinos, in whatever capacity that may be, I can say that I have the right experience, knowledge, and motivation for the job. People who are motivated by goodwill and good faith, with the capacity and willingness to be equipped, are always a necessity in whatever administration.” Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/a-up-lawyer-in-the-palace/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/napoleon-v-abueva/ | Napoleon V. Abueva – UP Alumni Website | Napoleon V. Abueva February 19, 2018 National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon Abueva (Photo credits: Documentary on the story of the Philippine national artist for sculpture, Napoleon Abueva by Katrina Ventura) National Artist, recognized “Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture” and esteemed alumnus of the UP College of Fine Arts Napoleon Abueva passed away Friday morning, February 16, at the age of 88. This was confirmed by the Abueva family to the news media and announced by Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Vice President and Artistic Director Chris Millado in a Facebook post. According to Abueva’s Facebook page cited by a report from CNN, the sculptor had been confined at the National Kidney Transplant Institute where he was being treated for pneumonia since December 31. Abueva was born in 1930 in Tagbilaran, Bohol. He had six other siblings, including Jose Abueva, former president of UP. In a 2003 interview with Dr. Jose Wendell P. Capili, he recounted that his own artistic career began in as early as primary school and high school where they were required to do gardening and he encountered clay for the first time. He graduated high school at Rafael Palma College in 1949 and entered the UP College of Fine Arts as one of the second batch of Fine Arts students who moved from the old campus in Padre Faura, along with his contemporaries Jose Joya and Federico Alcuaz before he left for Spain. Abueva was mentored by National Artist and sculptor of the Oblation Guillermo Tolentino. Since the 1950s, his sculptures have been winning prizes in art prizes in local and international competitions and have been installed and exhibited in prominent locations around the world, such as The Sculpture at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. He was an expert in both the academic representational style and modern abstract, and has utilized almost all kinds of material in his art, from hard wood to adobe, metal, stainless steel, cement, marble, bronze, iron, alabaster, coral and brass. According to the National Commission on Culture and Arts, among “the early innovations Abueva introduced in 1951 was what he referred to as ‘buoyant sculpture’—sculpture meant to be appreciated from the surface of a placid pool.” Some of his major works include Kaganapan (1953), Kiss of Judas (1955), Thirty Pieces of Silver, The Transfiguration (1979), Eternal Garden Memorial Park, UP Gateway (1967), Nine Muses (1994) at the UP Diliman Faculty Center, Celebration of Life at the UP Manila campus, Sunburst (1994) at the Peninsula Manila Hotel, the bronze figure of Teodoro M. Kalaw in front of National Library, and murals in marble at the National Heroes Shrine, Mt. Samat, Bataan. He also did the Blood Compact Monument in Bohol and designed the door handles in all the National Museum galleries. In 1976, he was named National Artist for Sculpture in the field of Visual Arts at the age of 46, the youngest to be named National Artist. In the 2003 interview mentioned above, Capili asked Abueva how he wished to be remembered. Citing the inscription to one of his designs—a door to a parish chapel—Abueva said: “Whatever desire is expressed in form, one conceives in realm of design. The mind in the hand can falter or surpass: if you answer which one and how much was done by love.” Abueva is survived by his wife, Cherry Abueva, and three children, Amihan, Mulawin and Duero. His wake will be in the Delaney Hall of the UP Diliman Chapel starting Friday, after 8 p.m. Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/national-artist-and-father-of-modern-philippine-sculpture-napoleon-abueva-passes-away-88/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/remembering-the-well-loved-professor-geronimo-manahan/ | Remembering the well-loved professor Geronimo Manahan – UP Alumni Website | Remembering the well-loved professor Geronimo Manahan February 23, 2018 Dean Manahan was an educator who taught students and colleagues the meaning of what it is to be a man for others. Written by Joven Ignacio Melchor Hall in UP Diliman was the one of the first homes of UP’s College of Architecture. Gernonimo Manahan was the first Cum Laude graduate of the program in 1962. | Photo via Pinterest (Jaycee Gopez) Dean Geronimo Manahan was an educator who taught students and colleagues the meaning of what it is to be a man for others. He is a friend who tries to unite head with heart, offers advice on issues other than academic matters, and is honest enough to tell you what he feels the real reason is why things aren’t working out. His stock knowledge is legendary. He was always willing to share his knowledge and as a consequence was frequently called upon to answer the random trivia question, which is why he was often called a walking encyclopedia. Geronimo V. Manahan | Sketch by Mel Patrick Kasingsing He showed me the joy of discovery and the virtue of thinking clearly. He was a model of integrity and courage in the face of adversity. Many professors, architects, designers, planners, and developers went into their professions because of his encouragement. We would never have found the courage to persevere if our teacher had not opened our eyes and taught us how to work with others. We admire so many mentors, successful professionals in their own respective fields, but once in a while, there is one who continues to inspire and whose guidance continues to be felt even after one has graduated, gotten jobs, transferred companies and changed zip codes. You could say his influence has transcended time and space. Geronimo V. Manahan was a former dean of the University of the Philippines College of Architecture. He was also the 8th recipient of the United Architects of the Philippines’ Likha Awards. http://bluprint.ph/geronimo-manahan/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/national-scientist-bienvenido-juliano-dies-at-age-81/ | National Scientist Bienvenido Juliano dies at age 81 – UP Alumni Website | National Scientist Bienvenido Juliano dies at age 81 February 27, 2018 The National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) has announced that National Scientist Bienvenido O. Juliano, a known Filipino expert on organic chemistry, died on Wednesday, February 21. He was 81. Juliano was known for his outstanding contributions to chemistry and technology of rice and rice food products, which rationalizes breeding strategies for rice grain quality all throughout the world; his extensive and primary research works on rice starch and its constituents; and for his enviable capacity to train many scientists from the national rice programs of many countries and other segments of the academe. His important research activities in collaboration with scientists in related disciplines had produced socio-economic impact among the rice-eating countries of the world. Spanning 32 years working as a chemist, Juliano worked for the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) from 1961 to 1993 as in charge of grain quality research, where he contributed much to the basic knowledge in differences between varieties of grain quality of rice. He demonstrated that the amylose (a linear polymer made up of D-glucose units) content of starch determines the quality of milled rice in Asia. In addition, he also delved into the nutritional quality of rice and formulated an innovative and improved methods for grain quality evaluation. He was author and co-author of more than 370 scientific papers on rice chemistry and quality and technology and rice in human nutrition and compiled essential data on world rice. He edited and contributed to several chapters of the 2nd edition of the American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) monograph “Rice Chemistry and Technology” in 1985, wrote “Rice in Human Nutrition” for FAO in 1993, and “Rice Chemistry and Quality” for PhilRice in 2003. He was an M.S. and Ph.D. theses adviser to several scholars, fellows and research assistants, a number of postdoctoral fellows and visiting scientists who did research in his laboratory. He also produced competent IRRI laboratory trained chemists from national rice breeding programs of many countries. Considered a world authority on rice grain quality, Juliano has been recipient of many awards and citations, including the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award in Science in 1964, the Jose P. Rizal Pro Patria Award for Rice Chemistry in 1976, the Japanese Society of Starch Science Medal of Merit in 1982, the Thomas B. Osborne Medal Award from the AACC in 1988, the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) National Researcher Award in Physical Sciences in 1993, and the ASEAN Outstanding Scientist and Technologists Award in 1998, among others. In 2004, he was included in the Institute of Scientific Information Highly Cited Researchers. He is in the Editorial Board of Journal of Cereal Science and Food Reviews International. Recognizing his important researches done at IRRI and in collaborative studies with scientists in related disciplines, he was elected member of NAST in 1979 and eventually National Scientist in 2000. Juliano completed his undergraduate degree in B.S. Agriculture from the University of the Philippines Los Baños magna cum laude (1955). He finished his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at the Ohio State University in 1958 and 1959, respectively. He was the youngest Ph.D. graduate of the university at the age of 22. His research activities and collaborative initiatives with other scientists in the field provided an in depth physicochemical analysis of rice grain quality being requisite to the improvement of rice grain productivity. The augmented grain quality led to an increase national welfare by raising the value of rice to either consumers or producers leading to expanded market, improved quality of products, and development of new rice products. Improved quality and shelf-life of selected rice food products has also added market value particularly for export into targeted markets, thus allowing more efficient competition in the world market. Upon retirement, he was senior consultant at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Los Baños since his voluntary retirement from IRRI in June 1993. State necrological services will be held on February 24 at 10:00 AM in St. Therese of the Child Jesus Chapel, Los Baños, Laguna. Source |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/2018-up-visayas-alumni-and-faculty-homecoming/ | 2018 UP Visayas Alumni and Faculty Homecoming – UP Alumni Website | 2018 UP Visayas Alumni and Faculty Homecoming March 8, 2018 This coming August 24-26, 2018, revisit your Alma Mater for this year’s U.P. Alumni & Faculty Homecoming. Gather and represent your batches and acad orgs during the highlight event Homecoming Dinner & Awards Night on August 26, 2018. For more details call 336-8837. UPV Office of Alumni Relations FB page |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/a-farewell-to-dr-arsenio-talingdan-ups-action-agad-alumnus/ | A Farewell to Dr. Arsenio Talingdan, UP’s “Action Agad” Alumnus – UP Alumni Website | A Farewell to Dr. Arsenio Talingdan, UP’s “Action Agad” Alumnus May 3, 2018 Dr. Arsenio Talingdan Dr. Arsenio P. Talingdan, former Assistant Professor in Political Science at UP Manila, former Administrator of the Philippine General Hospital, and founding president of the UP Alumni Association in America, Inc., passed away in his home in Teaneck, New Jersey, USA. last Friday, April 20, 2018, at the age of 88. With his passing, the University of the Philippines has lost a proud son and alumnus, and the UP Community a beloved former mentor, colleague, supporter, and friend. From his childhood, Dr. Talingdan, known among his friends and fellow UP alumni as Dr. Arse or APT, was committed to living his life in accordance with his mottos of “Action agad” and the Boy Scouts’ “Be Prepared.” He was born on March 30, 1930 as the youngest of eight children of Mariano and Candida (nee Preza) Talingdan of Dolores, Abra. He was born with a physical handicap that people ascribed to being “conceived of the crab”. He overcame this handicap through a combination of industry, persistence, patience, and ambition, qualities that enabled him to achieve success throughout his life. He earned three degrees from UP: Associate in Arts in 1951, Bachelor of Arts in 1953, and Master of Public Administration in 1955. He went on to earn four more degrees from various higher educational institutions, including a BSC in Accounting, an MA in Organization and Management, an MBA in Health Services, and a doctorate degree in Health Care Administration. By dint of hard work and forward-thinking, he completed these degrees while working full-time as a public administrator or business general manager, and while teaching part-time as a professional lecturer in economics, business and public administration. In 1959, Dr. Talingdan became Management Consultant of Philippine President Carlos P. Garcia’s Presidential Committee on Performance Efficiency (PCAPE). In this role, he reorganized the Philippine Civil Service, developed and installed the national appointment system, and drafted the Civil Serve Law of l959. He also reorganized the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), establishing the first six BIR Regional Director offices, the Bureau of Printing and Department of General Services, and developed the National Rice and Corn Program. The list of projects and systems that he developed for the Philippine government does not end there. Some of his projects also include designing and installing the first performance budgeting system in Philippine National Government; writing the Work Simplification Handbook that was distributed to all departments of the Philippine Government; and developing and installing the National Disbursement System and National Cash Flow System. He also became the first Director of Financing at the Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration, granting loans to farmers cooperative marketing associations all over Northern Luzon. In 1970, Dr. Talingdan returned UP to become Administrator of the Philippine General Hospital, where he made numerous changes to their established programs. He was also the Assistant Professor in Political Science and Chairman of the Social Sciences Department in UP Manila. Then in May 1973, he and his family immigrated to the US. Once there, he worked in various administrative positions until on June 2, 1977, he was appointed Regional Medical Care Administrator to the New York State Department of Health. In 1978, he was promoted to Associate Medical Care Administrator of the New York State Department of Health. In 1978, he was promoted to Associate Medical Care Administrator, the highest administrative position achieved by a Filipino-American in the Department. In this role, he pioneered and installed the first Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) and served the people of New York. In 1981, he became one of the founders and the first president of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America (UPAAA), whose primary aim is to unite different UP alumni associations in America and to work for the preservation of the University as the national center for academic excellence, freedom, and service. Through the years, the UPAAA has served as a venue for UP alumni in America to find fellowship and camaraderie and share their experiences of life in UP with their fellow alumni, to honor UP alumni achievers and loyal members, and to initiate projects, programs and fundraising drives that help support the University through scholarships and professorial chairs, and to strengthen the relationship between UP and its US-based alumni. After 26 years of outstanding service, Dr. Talingdan retired on March 29, 2003. Retirement, however, did nothing to slow down this lifelong hard-worker. Instead, he committed himself to supporting several of his relatives in America and in the Philippines, offering his home, financial aid or simply his academic wisdom to any family member that asked. Dr. Talingdan was an avid storyteller, and often regaled party crowds with stories about his pet carabao, Kalangtangan, and his childhood in the rice fields of Abra. He enjoyed watching golf and basketball, and competed on bowling teams late into this retirement. He also continued to be active with the Filipino American Society of Teaneck (FAST), an organization that he led as the first president. He was also active in the Philippine American Community Center of Bergen County (PACBC, http://www.pacbc.org). Dr. Talingdan also had a passion for gardening, and he loved to give the fruits of his labor away. A visionary, charming, thrifty and dynamic man, Dr. Arse will always be remembered for his wit, storytelling, intelligence, and smile. His passing is preceded by his wife, Josefa Biason Talingdan. He is survived by his five children—Melda, Arsenio Jr. and wife Regina, Jocelyn and husband Patrick, Mariolindy and wife Luzel, and Abelardo and wife Hazel; and his nine grandchildren—Nathan, Aileen, Celine, Meghan, Christian, Francis, Khalista, Kathereina, and Lukas. Written by Celeste Llaneta (UP MPRO) |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/five-nimbb-students-awarded-prestigious-international-research-prize-internships/ | Five NIMBB students awarded prestigious international research prize internships – UP Alumni Website | Five NIMBB students awarded prestigious international research prize internships May 9, 2018 Five students at the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB) in UP Diliman will be spending part of their summer at prestigious research institutes in Switzerland, Germany and Taiwan. After a three-round screening process, Marian Abigaile Manongdo was chosen as one of 20 international graduate students who will participate in this year’s Novartis Next Generation Scientist Program from June 1 to August 31 in Basel, Switzerland. The immersive internship is offered jointly by Novartis and the University of Basel and allows students to work on research projects with expert mentors in their field of interest. The three-month internship also incorporates a leadership development program to enhance the decision-making, communication and presentation skills of the participants. Carmela Rieline Cruz and Arman Ghodsinia will spend two months (August to September) at the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum or DKFZ) in Heidelberg, Germany to work on cutting-edge cancer research. They are two of only twenty or less accepted by DKFZ each year. Like the Next-Generation Scientist Program of Novartis, the DKFZ Summer Internship includes professional development courses on scientific presentations and communication. J-Ann Marie Lego was chosen as one of this year’s interns under the International Internship Program of the Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP-IIP). TIGP is supported by Academia Sinica, the most prestigious research institution in Taiwan. Ms. Lego will join Jose Gabriel Hilario who will also do an internship in Academia Sinica from July-August, as part of his prize during the 2017 Youth Science Forum at the Philippine Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’s Annual Convention. Manongdo, Cruz, Ghodsinia and Lego are MS MBB students while Hilario is a senior undergraduate. This brings to six the total of international prize internships awarded to NIMBB students this year. Ryan Timothy Yu, the 2017 winner of the Sanger Institute Prize, is currently on a 3-month internship at The Sanger Institute in Cambridge, United Kingdom. All six students are from the Disease Molecular Biology and Epigenetics Laboratory. Source: REYNALDO L. GARCIA, PhD MPhil (cantab) |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/new-dot-chief-is-an-old-hat-at-marketing-promotions/ | New DOT chief is an old hat at marketing, promotions – UP Alumni Website | New DOT chief is an old hat at marketing, promotions May 11, 2018 By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo THE new Secretary of Tourism is virtually an old hat at marketing and promotions, a major asset in selling Philippine tourism destinations to the world. In Photo: In a photo on her Facebook page, newly appointed Secretary of Tourism Berna Romulo Puyat picks grapes in Bauang, La Union in 2016. As agriculture undersecretary, Bernadette Fatima Romulo Puyat is known for her advocacy in gender and development, marketing agriculture products, and being a foodie. She brings to her new job a passion for countryside development. Special Assistant to the President Bong Go announced her appointment as head of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Tuesday evening. A favorite cover girl of glossy lifestyle magazines, Romulo Puyat has also been a keen supporter of tourism projects, such as the widely popular Madrid Fusion Manila, with the Department of Agriculture sponsoring regional lunches that put together the country’s agricultural products with the nation’s most revered chefs and food enthusiasts. She is second to the youngest in the brood of five of former Foreign Affairs Secretary and ex-Senator Alberto Romulo and his wife, Lovely Romulo nee Tecson. Her father is currently chairman of the Development Bank of the Philippines, an appointee of President Rodrigo Duterte. Romulo Puyat is said to have the ear of Duterte, and in many instances, the President has openly expressed admiration for the young widow. She has two children with her late husband, lawyer David Puyat, Vito, 22, and Maia, 21. She is currently seeing Tarlac Rep. Charlie Cojuangco, widower of the late beauty queen and actress Rio Diaz. Trained as an economist at the University of the Philippines, Romulo Puyat later became an economics professor at the state university, and after nine years, took a stab at politics by running as representative of the first district of Quezon City in 2004. She later joined the Macapagal Arroyo administration in 2005 as consultant to the powerful Presidential Management Staff, before joining Arthur Yap who became DA Secretary. “I asked him what I would do there, and he answered, ‘Bahala ka.’ (It’s up to you). In other words: make yourself relevant,” said Romulo Puyat in an interview with the BusinessMirror in 2015. The job really piqued her interest, she said, because it was something her father didn’t know anything about, as his expertise lay elsewhere. “Somehow you want to be known for your own accomplishments, and not because you’re the child of so and so,” she stressed. As assistant secretary at the DA, she took care of the foreign grants, a job which she enjoyed, as she made sure the monies were properly channeled to farmer beneficiaries. “They’re overjoyed and extremely grateful when we’re able to help them,” said Romulo Puyat. But it was her work with rural women beneficiaries that really made her devoted to her work, as she helped implement microfinance programs; provided technical support and provision of seedlings, planting materials, fermentation boxes and processing equipment for Manobo women farmers; undertook product promotion and market linkage support for coffee farmers in Kalinga, Bukidnon and Mt. Kanlaon, as well as pili, cacao, and cassava farmers in Camarines Sur; established an organic village for indigenous women farmers in Davao; and provided production and technical support for organic farmers in Bukidnon, to name a few. “This job gives you fulfillment,” Romulo Puyat said with obvious pride. “I enjoy it. Nothing beats being right there in the provinces—no one really knows you, and yet you’re helping a lot of people.” Romulo Puyat was promoted to DA Undersecretary by President Benigno Aquino III, then retained at her post by Duterte. https://businessmirror.com.ph/new-dot-chief-is-an-old-hat-at-marketing-promotions/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/a-grand-opportunity-to-serve-edgardo-j-angara-1934-2018/ | “A grand opportunity to serve”: Edgardo J. Angara, 1934-2018 – UP Alumni Website | “A grand opportunity to serve”: Edgardo J. Angara, 1934-2018 May 15, 2018 He was considered one of the best Presidents the country could have had, one of the most accomplished legislators in contemporary Philippine history, and a respected mentor to junior leaders. He was a tireless advocate for science, technology and innovation, multidisciplinary research to support national policymaking, education reform, and the people’s right to education. In his long, colorful life, he served as educator, lawyer, farmer, diplomat, and patron of the arts. Before he passed away last May 13, he was appointed special envoy of the Philippines to the European Union. But for the University of the Philippines, Edgardo Javier Angara will be remembered first and foremost for his service as UP’s 15th president from 1981 to 1987. For the UP community, Angara was the president who worked to strengthen UP’s general education program, installed the seven-year Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine (Intarmed) Program, energized the liberal arts program and strengthened the humanities and sciences in UP, and built a multi-campus university organization. He also rallied UP alumni to support the University during its Diamond Jubilee celebration in 1983 and its Centennial celebration in 2008 as chair of the UP Centennial Commission, serving UP twenty years after his term as UP President ended. The boy from Baler Born in Baler, Aurora in 1934, Edgardo J. Angara earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines, and his Master of Laws degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1964. Upon his graduation from UP, he became a lifetime member of the Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society and the Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society. While studying in UP, he joined the Sigma Rho Fraternity. He later went on to found the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW) in 1972, which would become one of the country’s most recognized and prestigious law firms. In 1975, Angara became president of the Philippine Bar Association, and in 1979 he became president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. In 1980, he was founding president of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Law Association. The outsider President Angara’s selection in 1981 as UP President sent shock waves through the University at the time, since he was perceived as having come from out of the blue—specifically, from the distinctly non-academic world of corporate law. In his biography of the former UP President, Edgardo J. Angara: In the Grand Manner (UP Press, 2015), author and current UP Vice-President for Public Affairs Jose Y. Dalisay Jr. wrote that Angara himself had expressed his doubts about his own preparedness to take on “such a lofty academic position,” given that his only teaching experience to date had been as a lecturer for two semesters after his return from the University of Michigan. Despite his misgivings, Angara dove right into the difficult job of UP President, working to reorganize and streamline UP’s bureaucracy, revamp its academic programs, and secure fiscal autonomy for the university. Angara’s massive fundraising drive among UP alumni in the country and abroad raised a substantial amount of funds for faculty development, scholarship, student assistantship programs, and massive infrastructure development. It was also during UP President Angara’s term that the UP Colleges of Fisheries and Veterinary Medicine were transferred to UP Visayas and UP Los Banos, respectively. A defender of dissent Angara’s legacy lives on in part through the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP-CIDS), which was born from Angara’s vision of a policy research unit that would harness the multidisciplinary expertise of the University toward the resolution of the nation’s critical problems. The UP-CIDS provides a venue for the recipients of the UP President Edgardo J. Angara (UPPEJA) Fellowship to present the results of their multidisciplinary research. The UPPEJA is the largest single grant available to UP Professors, which the UP Board of Regents established in Angara’s honor. As his son and now senator Sonny Angara once said, his father was “best remembered for defending the state university’s tradition of dissent and obtaining fiscal autonomy. His efforts contributed to upholding its reputation for academic excellence as the country’s premiere educational center.” A storied political career Angara’s storied political career began in 1971 with his election in Quezon Province as one of the youngest delegates to the 1971 Constitutional Convention, where he authored constitutional provisions such as the protection of public domain from undue exploitation by developers. After his term as UP President, he was elected senator, first from 1987 to 1992, then from 1993 to 1998. He served as Senate President from 1993 to 1995, then in August 1995, he resigned from the Senate Presidency and was elected as the Minority Leader of the Senate. Angara was set to run for president in the 1998 Philippine election, but yielded to popular vice president Joseph Estrada, running as his vice-presidential candidate instead. During the Estrada Administration, Angara was named Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Philippine National Bank, serving from 1998 to 1999, before being appointed Secretary of Agriculture in 1999. During his term as Agriculture Secretary, he implemented his legislative creation, the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA), to oversee an improvement in food production programs and support services. In 2001 at the height of Estrada’s impeachment trial, Angara was appointed Executive Secretary following the resignation of Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora, although he only served for 14 days before the Estrada administration was toppled by the EDSA II Revolution. A legacy of laws Angara was reelected senator in 2001, and again for a fourth term in 2007, making him the longest-serving senator in the post-EDSA revolution legislature. His achievements as legislator include authoring and passing measures for: the Free High School Act to ensure that the poorest will be able to finish secondary education; the creation of the Commission on Higher Education and the technical Education and Skills Development Authority, thus freeing up the Department of Education to focus solely on basic education; the National Health Insurance Act or PHILHEALTH, providing health insurance to every citizen; the Senior Citizens Act, known as the Angara Law, enabling the elderly to avail themselves of substantial discounts for medicines and public transportation; the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act, providing farmers and fisher folk improved seeds and plant materials, better irrigation, better financing and market access; the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE), the biggest scholarship program; the Renewable Energy Act; the Procurement Reform Act; the creation of the Aurora Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), which was later amended to Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority or APECO; the creation of the new National Museum and National Commission on Culture and the Arts; the National Book Publishing Industry Development Act and the National Cultural Heritage Law. Angara was also an avid Hispanist, moving to rekindle the Philippines’ historic ties with Spain and Mexico, and institutionalizing the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day Act and the Dia del Galeon. He was known for his vast collection of antiquarian maps, books, and works of art, and he championed the creation of a Department of Culture. His fourth term as senator ended in 2013, and in 2017 he was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as special envoy to the European Union. “It’s been a far from perfect life, fraught with accident—sometimes happily so—and misadventure,” Angara mused in his biography. And so it would seem to anyone reading an account of his legacy, one marked by both achievement and adversity. Then Angara adds: “But it has also been a grand opportunity and privilege to serve the Filipino people as lawyer, lawmaker, and educator.” (The University will honor former President Angara in necrological rites to be held on Friday, May 18, at Malcolm Theater following a Mass at 6 pm. Interment will follow over the weekend in Baler.) Wrtiten by UP MPRO source |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/atty-hermenegildo-c-dumlao-1935-2018/ | Atty. Hermenegildo C. Dumlao (1935-2018) – UP Alumni Website | Atty. Hermenegildo C. Dumlao (1935-2018) June 5, 2018 Atty. Hermenegildo C. Dumlao The University of the Philippines regrets to announce the passing of Atty. Hermegildo C. Dumlao on 27 May 2018. Atty. Dumlao served as Assistant to the UP President during the terms of President Salvador P. Lopez and President Onofre D. Corpuz spanning eight years of service from 1971 to 1979. He finished his Bachelor of Laws at the UP College of Law in 1965 and was a member of the University’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and the UP Vanguard since 1958. In 1960, he was the Lord Chancellor of the Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity. He also served as the Director of the University Student Union and as Manager of the Rockefeller Foundation-UP Faculty Development Program. Atty. Dumlao also taught at the UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations. In 2015, he was sworn in as a member of the Board of Directors of the UP Alumni Association under UPAA President Ramon Maronilla, Sr. Outside the University, Atty. Dumlao was Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports from 1979 to 1986. He held teaching posts at the Manuel L. Quezon University, the Technological University of the Philippines, and the Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology. At one time, he chaired the Board of Visitors of the Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police Training Command. His work in recent years focused on his expertise as a lawyer, educator, and development administrator. He served as vice president for Luzon of the Philippine Constitution Association. With the rank of Undersecretary, he was the Executive Director of the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle Area covering the Ilocos Region, the Cagayan Region, and the Cordillera Administrative Region. He also volunteered as an arbitrator of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board under the Department of Labor. Written by J. Mikhail Solitario, UP MPRO |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/the-carillon-issue-2018/ | The Carillon issue (2018) – UP Alumni Website | The Carillon issue (2018) June 17, 2018 Enjoy the latest edition of Carillon, the University’s official alumni magazine. This January-June 2018 issue includes news tailored for the hundreds of thousands of UP alumni here and abroad, with features such as UP Cebu’s centennial celebrations, Upsilon Sigma Phi’s 100th year, life of former UP President Senator Edgardo J. Angara, UP in several iconic films, and much more! UP Carillon Magazine 2018 issue Download a PDF copy here. Written by MPRO |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/upaae-place-grant/ | UPAAE – PLACE Grant – UP Alumni Website | UPAAE – PLACE Grant June 18, 2018 The members of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Edmonton invite interested parties to apply for grants from our UPAAE-PLACE Grant Fund. We are interested in supporting academic and educational projects undertaken by individuals and groups whose lives had been and continue to be adversely affected by Typhoon Haiyan, also known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Yolanda. We are looking to fund five different projects such as (but not limited to): ● Completion of a degree, diploma, or certification, ● Fulfilment of eligibility requirements to practice a trade or profession, ● Skills development of members of a community or organization to perform better services, and ● Capability build-up for the rehabilitation of affected communities. We value projects that: ● Improve the quality of life of the underserved and often overlooked members of the community, or ● Encourage community-building, collaboration and cooperation, or ● Raise the level of social awareness and sense of responsibility for the environment, or ● Evoke generosity, optimism, and commitment. Award There will be one award of $1,000 and four of $500 each (in Canadian dollars). Important Dates The deadline for 2018 applications is Friday, August 10, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. Applications after this deadline will not be considered. A Screening Panel will review all project proposals. All applicants will be notified of the results by email on Monday, September 3, 2018. A public announcement of successful awardees will be made thereafter. Further Inquiries For information, contact UPAAE Secretariat, by e-mail [email protected] . UPAAE-PLACE Grant Application Form https://upaaedmonton.wordpress.com/upaae-place/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/calling-up-ruby-jubilarians-class-1978-and-silver-jubilarians-1993/ | Calling UP Ruby Jubilarians (Class 1978) and Silver Jubilarians (1993) – UP Alumni Website | Calling UP Ruby Jubilarians (Class 1978) and Silver Jubilarians (1993) July 9, 2018 Graduates of Classes 1978 and 1993 of the University of the Philippines are enjoined to attend the UP General Alumni Homecoming to be held at Ang Bahay ng Alumni on Saturday, August 18, 2018, at 2:00 P.M. For particulars, please contact the president of 2018 Ruby Jubilarians, General George L. Aliño at (0927)924-0335, or the UPAA Secretariat, at 920-6871 (look for Shirley Bilbao). |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/bpi-trust-appoints-new-head/ | BPI Trust appoints new head – UP Alumni Website | BPI Trust appoints new head July 9, 2018 BPI Asset Management and Trust Corp. appointed chief operating officer Sheila Marie Tan as its new president and chief executive effective July 1, 2018. She succeeded Mario Miranda, who served in the trust department for over three decades. Tan, a lawyer, joined BPI AMTC in 2017, after a four-year stint as head of strategic advisory at BPI Capital Corp. and just as Bank of the Philippine Islands spun off its trust department as a stand-alone trust corporation. She has almost 20 years of experience in the real estate industry and served as chief legal counsel of Ayala Land Inc. and co-managing director of Ayala Group Legal before joining BPI. “I am excited and grateful for the opportunity I have been given. Taking BPI AMTC forward today—where the markets are challenging and the investors want more—is certainly daunting. But with an organization that has been built on a culture of excellence and innovation, we will make success happen,” said Tan. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, where she also obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree. Source |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/up-singing-ambassadors-win-the-grand-prize-at-the-sing-berlin-international-choir-competition/ | UP Singing Ambassadors win the grand prize at the Sing Berlin! International Choir Competition – UP Alumni Website | UP Singing Ambassadors win the grand prize at the Sing Berlin! International Choir Competition July 10, 2018 The University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors is the grand prize winner of the Sing! Berlin International Choir Competition and Festival. UPSA announced the good news on Twitter on Saturday. “It’s a win for UP and for the Philippines! We are happy to share that the UP Singing Ambassadors is the Grand Prize winner of thevSing! Berlin International Choir Competition!” UPSA was also a category winner of the Sacred Music and Mixed Choirs competition. The group said they are dedicating their win to God and the whole country. “We dedicate this victory to all the people who supported us in this musical journey! We promise to continue working hard in our endless pursuit for excellence.Para sa Diyos at Lupang Hinirang!” It's a win for UP and for the Philippines! We are happy to share that the UP Singing Ambassadors is the Grand Prize winner of thevSing! Berlin International Choir Competition! UPSA is also the category winner of the Sacred Music and Mixed Choirs competition. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/UykoimH9ax — UP Singing Ambassadors (@upsambassadors) July 8, 2018 We dedicate this victory to all the people who supported us in this musical journey! We promise to continue working hard in our endless pursuit for excellence. Para sa Diyos at Lupang Hinirang! (2/2) pic.twitter.com/rtg1dlLdT4 — UP Singing Ambassadors (@upsambassadors) July 8, 2018 The singing group competed against groups from the countries Sweden, Germany and USA. The competition was held at the Friedrich Handel Gymnasium from July 4-7. — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News Source |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/upd-tops-june-2018-environmental-planner-licensure-examination-eple/ | UPD tops June 2018 Environmental Planner Licensure Examination (EPLE) – UP Alumni Website | UPD tops June 2018 Environmental Planner Licensure Examination (EPLE) July 26, 2018 (JUNE 26) Seven alumni of the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) landed in the top 10 of the June 2018 Environmental Planner Licensure Examination (EnPLE). Amillah S. Rodil notched the top spot with a grade of 83.05 percent. She was followed by Alvin F. Veron (82.00%), Rio C. Yonson (3rd, 81.55%) and Ace G. Ligsay (4th, 81.40%). The other UPD alumni who made it to top 10 were Maja Cielo H. Jose (6th, 81.25%), Gemeniano B. Crisante Jr. (7th, 81.15%) and Weslene Irish Uy (8th, 80.95%). The other topnotchers are from Southwestern University, Saint Louis University, UP Los Baños (UPLB) and Bicol University-Legazpi. UPD was also the top performing school with 127 of its 148 examinees passing the EnPLE for a passing rate of 85.81 percent, followed by UPLB with 115 of its 139 examinees passing the examination (82.73%). The top performing schools have 50 or more examinees and with at least 80 percent passing percentage. According to the Professional Regulation Commission, 1,891 passed the EnPLE out of 4,729 examinees for a national passing rate of 39.99 percent. This was slightly lower than last year’s 42.50 percent. This year’s examinees came from 582 schools compared to last year’s 332 schools. The past five years saw a steady increase of examinees from 138 in June 2013 to 1,739 in June 2017. Environmental planning (EnP), according to Republic Art (RA) 10587 or the Environmental Planning Act of 2013, is “also known as urban and regional planning, city planning, town and country planning, and/or human settlements planning,” and “refers to the multi-disciplinary art and science of analyzing, specifying, clarifying, harmonizing, managing and regulating the use and development of land and water resources, in relation to their environs, for the development of sustainable communities and ecosystems.” According to the Act, the EnPLE can be taken by a Filipino or foreigner whose country or state has a policy on reciprocity in the practice of the profession; a holder of any of the following degrees from accredited institutions (a graduate in EnP or its equivalent; a post-graduate diploma in EnP or its equivalent and with at least one year of on-the-job training (OJT); a bachelor’s degree in EnP or its equivalent and with at least two years of OJT; a masters or doctorate degree in either architecture, engineering, economics and other related disciplines acceptable by the Board of Environmental Planning (BEnP) and with at least three years of OJT; and a bachelor’s degree in either architecture, engineering, economics, public administration and other related disciplines acceptable by the BEnP and with at least five years of OJT); an incumbent holder of planning positions in government offices or agencies who is also a holder of professional civil service eligibility and has undergone at least 80 hours of in-service training or distance learning in developmental planning from recognized institutions; of good moral character; and not convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of competent jurisdiction. RA 10587 is the latest updated law governing the profession which was first regulated through Presidential Decree No. 1308 or the “Law Regulating the Practice of Environmental Planning in the Philippines” signed by former Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos in Mar. 2, 1978 through the work of the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP) which was established in 1969. The 2018 EnPLE was administered by the BEnP on June 6 and 7 in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Tacloban and Zamboanga. For a complete detail of the June 2018 EnPLE result, visit http://www.prc.gov.ph/article/june-2018-environmental-planner-licensure-examination-results-released-three-3-working-days. |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/doctors-for-the-people/ | “Doctors For the People” – UP Alumni Website | “Doctors For the People” July 26, 2018 Commencement Speech of UP Professor and Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Y. Dalisay Jr., PhD before Batch 2018, UP College of Medicine INSPIRING BEYOND WORDS: Dr. Jose Y. Dalisay, Jr. is a writer with sixteen (16) Palanca awards, author of Soledad’s Sister, and also one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of 1993 for his creative writing. He currently serves as the Vice President for Public Affairs of the UP System. Photo by Markyn Kho (Class 2020) of UP Medics. Chancellor Carmencita Padilla, Dean Charlotte Chiong, Members of the Graduating Class of 2018 and their proud parents, fellow members of the faculty and staff, friends, ladies and gentlemen: Thank you all for this great honor of being invited as your commencement speaker. I’m still not sure exactly why a Professor of English is speaking to a corps of medical graduates and professionals, and I know that many of you will be wondering as well what I have to say. But I will do my best to make it worth your time—and mine—for at least one good reason. This will probably be the last time I will be wearing this sablay as a UP official, as I will be retiring six months hence after 35 years of service to the University. So this, too, is my commencement as much as yours—the start of another phase of life. This, too, is my valedictory, my final opportunity to share with you some insights gleaned from my life in UP as student, teacher, and administrator. And, may I add, as a writer of fiction, which beneath all these robes and titles is what I really am—a storyteller. Thirty-six years ago, as a young and aspiring writer, I wrote a story about a doctor. The story was set in the Philippine Revolutionary War, and it dealt with an old, cynical doctor named Ferrariz who had made a mess of his life and, seeing few other options, had signed up to become a doctor with the Spanish army, fighting the Filipino insurgents up in the mountains. His unit is taking heavy losses, but one day they capture a rebel—a fifteen-year-old boy named Makaraig, who is badly wounded. Ferrariz’s superior, a major, orders Ferrariz to save the boy’s life. Let me quote briefly from the story: … For three days he worked like a driven man, cleaning out and dressing the boy’s wounds, setting the arm, packing cold compresses upon the swellings. He felt godlike in that mission. He unpacked his books from their mildewed boxes, brushed off the fungi and reviewed and relived the passion of the way of healing. He watched miracles work themselves upon the boy and stood back amazed at his own handiwork. When he was through, when he faced nothing more than that penance of waiting for the boy to revive, Ferrariz realized that his eyes were wet. Not since he stepped into the University, knowing nothing, had he felt as much of an honest man. In other words, this doctor, who had lost faith in his talents and in his hands, suddenly finds himself revived and redeemed by his mission of curing a battered boy. By saving Makaraig, he saves himself. But the story doesn’t end there. The major has his own reasons for bringing a rebel back to life—to torture and interrogate him, and eventually to kill him, and that’s where the story closes, in a long scream that pierces the doctor’s newly awakened soul. That story, titled “Heartland,” went on to win in the 1982 Palanca Awards for Literature—my very first First Prize. But why did I write a story about a doctor who saves a patient, only to have him murdered by others? Why did I write a story about self-redemption? The story behind the story was that while I was only 28—and I’ll have something to say about being in one’s 20s later—I felt like Ferrariz, an old man who had gone adrift and who was just going from job to job with mechanical indifference. It was martial law, and despite the fact that I became a political prisoner at 18 and spent seven months in a camp in what we now call Bonifacio Global City, I had been working as a government propagandist for the past eight years, churning out press releases, speeches for President Marcos, and glowing articles about his New Society. I needed to remind myself that I could write good fiction (what I was writing for work was bad fiction), that somewhere in me was truth waiting to be said. But beyond my personal story, I have always been fascinated by doctors—as subjects of stories, and as writers themselves. Almost thirty years ago, as a graduate student in Wisconsin, and again for some strange reason, I was invited by the Philippine Medical Association of Michigan to speak at their annual dinner in Detroit. I later wrote an essay about that memorable experience, because the doctor who met me—a very accomplished man—did so in a gleaming black-and-white Rolls-Royce, and I had to check my shoes before stepping in. I don’t know how many doctors actually listened to me above the chatter and the clink of glasses, but I gave a talk about “Writing as Healing: Doctors, Writers, and Doctor-Writers,” in which I noted how many well-known writers were actually doctors by training: the French Renaissance satirist François Rabelais, the Russian playwright and short story master Anton Chekhov, the American essayist and poet Oliver Wendell Holmes (father of his namesake, the equally famous Supreme Court Justice), the American poet William Carlos Williams, and the British writer W. Somerset Maugham. In our own literary history, of course, we have Jose Rizal, and the short story writer Arturo Rotor. In modern times, we have William Nolen, Michael Crichton of Jurassic Park fame, Oliver Sacks, and my favorite of them all, the brilliant essayist, fictionist, and surgeon, Dr. Richard Selzer. In his book of essays entitled Mortal Lessons: Notes on the Art of Surgery, Selzer addresses his central interest, the relationship between passion and pathology: “Someone asked me why a surgeon would write…. Is it vanity that urges him? There is glory enough in the knife. Is it for money? One can make too much money. No. It is to search for some meaning in the art of surgery, which is at once murderous, painful, healing, and full of love….” This quote demonstrates the strength of Selzer’s writing, which is inspired, graceful, and precise. (“Surgery,” Selzer writes, “is the red flower that blooms among the leaves and thorns that are the rest of medicine.”) At the same time, Selzer also shows what to some of his fellow MD’s might seem a weakness—that is, his refusal to separate philosophy or spirituality if you will from physical medicine. If you think it silly to speak of a colostomy in the same breath that you would speak of love, then Selzer may not be for you. Beyond Nolen and perhaps even Crichton, Selzer has gone on to write serious fiction about the world of healing—not only about doctors, but about their patients and the lives they lead beyond the hospital. In one of his stories, a woman’s husband dies and his organs are given away to seven different recipients in Texas; she is happy for them, but, of course, is unhappy for herself who now has absolutely nothing left of him. So she tracks down the man who has received her husband’s heart, and much to his surprise, requests him to let her listen to her husband’s heartbeat through his bare chest for one hour. The man and his suspicious wife refuse. She persists, and finally he relents. It is a bizarre and also funny story—a superb illustration of the humanism we all aspire to, in that it reminds us that the simple needs of human life are still more complex than all the transplantation technologies we can dream of. In dealing with this widow’s grief, Selzer achieves physicianship on more than one level. This perfect synthesis of writer and healer, of sensitivity and technique, was on Selzer’s mind when he answered his own question: “No, it is not the surgeon who is God’s darling. He is the victim of vanity. It is the poet who heals with his words, stanches the flow of blood, stills the rattling breath, applies poultice to the scalded flesh…. Did you ask me why a surgeon writes? I think it is because I wish to be a doctor.” Not all doctors can write—although many write prescriptions that can hardly be read. But one doctor who did write, of course, was Jose Rizal, one of my personal heroes whose travels and haunts I have tried to follow around the world from Dapitan, Singapore, and Hong Kong to San Francisco, Madrid, and Barcelona and, two years ago, to his medical studies in Heidelberg. When my creative writing graduate students in their mid-20s sometimes tell me that they have nothing to write about, or are too young and too new to strive for greatness, I remind them of Rizal, who many forget was only 25 when Noli Me Tangere was published. Twenty-five, and already by then approaching the perfect synthesis of the arts and the sciences in the one same person. Rizal’s example underscores the need to embrace and imbibe art and science as corporal elements of ideal citizenship. To create a viable national community, we need to promote rational, fact-based thinking and discourse over political hysteria and hyperbole, just as we need to actively recover, strengthen, and sustain the cultural bonds that define us as a people. Speaking of political hysteria, one of my hobbies is collecting antiquarian books, and one of my recent acquisitions was a bound volume from 1822 of a Boston-based magazine called The Atheneum, which collected articles from other magazines from around the world. I was attracted to this book because it carried a report titled “A Massacre in Manilla,” about of a brutal massacre of foreigners—English French, Danish, Spanish, and Chinese, among others—that took place in Manila in 1820. Scores if not hundreds of people were killed by a rampaging mob, following a false report that they were responsible for fomenting a cholera epidemic that had decimated the natives by giving out poisoned medicine. Does this sound familiar—alleged mass murder by vaccine? So history keeps repeating itself, partly because, despite all the wars and dictatorships we have suffered through, we never seem to learn, although some of us try to teach. For the past 110 years, that has been part of the mission of the University of the Philippines, our national university, the bearer and champion of our people’s hopes. Or at least, that’s the noble intention. Through our general education program, we try to produce graduates who can be as conversant about Greek tragedy as about the Law of the Sea and thermodynamics. The premise is that a well-rounded, well-educated student will elevate not only himself or herself but also his or her community and society, bringing people together in common cause. Again, that’s the ideal case. We know that, in practice, while UP has produced scores of such exemplars as Wenceslao Vinzons, Fe del Mundo, Jovito Salonga, Manuel and Lydia Arguilla, and Juan Flavier, and while we graduated 29 summa cum laudes from Diliman this year, we also know that many UP students and alumni have flunked, and flunked badly, especially in the moral department. In other words—and it saddens me as a UP professor to say this—intelligence never guaranteed moral discernment or rectitude, and as proud as we may be of our nationalist traditions and contributions to national leadership, much remains to be done to ensure that we imbue our students not only with skills but with principles. In other words, just as we ask physicians to heal themselves, we educators first have to teach ourselves. This is why I began this talk with my story about Dr. Ferrariz and his seemingly futile gesture. What that story really wants to ask is: What is life without freedom? What is knowledge without values? What does a cum laude mean or matter if it will not be used to relieve human suffering but only to enrich oneself and one’s family? Of what use is a glittering GWA of 1.25 if your moral GWA is a murky 3.0? How can you study to save lives and yet remain silent in the face of its wanton loss—not even by disease or accident, but by willful human policy? There is, indeed, no more life-affirming mission or profession than yours, and in a season of slaughter, to affirm life can be a radical and even dangerous proposition. It needs to be pointed out that, contrary to popular misimpression, UP has never been monolithically radical. For every activist who walked out of class to join a protest rally, at least five remained behind, intent on simply finishing his or her studies, no matter what. Those of us in the active opposition were always in the minority—a loud minority, which took more than a decade to generate the critical mass to topple Marcos and martial law. Indeed, like our country itself, the history of the University of the Philippines has been full of ironies and paradoxes. For example, while some would later see it as a bastion of Marxism or at least nationalism, and certainly of secularism, few remember that UP’s first president was an American and a Protestant pastor named Murray Bartlett—who incidentally championed UP as “A University for Filipinos.” In reality, therefore, UP like other state universities is still a microcosm of society at large, reflective of its divisions and its differences. And then again, any self-respecting university cannot be content with the realities on the ground, but has constantly to reach for the unreachable star. It cannot be just a microcosm, but something better than the rest of society—better not necessarily in terms of intellectual superiority bordering on arrogance, but better in terms of the quality of its discourse. That quality of discourse, informed by scientific reason and artistic empathy, can be education’s best contribution to national community. UP—and our other universities—can and must be the providers and drivers of the truth, and of the careful and insightful analysis that can ventilate issues of national significance—like Constitutional change, our territorial integrity, the delivery of justice, human rights, and the eradication of mass poverty, hunger, and disease. The way to help unite a nation is to imbue all sectors of society with an understanding of and a commitment to larger things at stake. And UP is that functional meeting place between the Filipino rich and poor, with our admissions profile now almost evenly divided between upper and lower income students. Beyond dealing with the larger national issues as teachers, researchers, and experts, we in education must ourselves be avatars of reason, compassion, and tolerance, while remaining steadfast in our defense of academic freedom as the requisite of knowledge generation. In our classrooms and conference halls, we must create and provide the forums that will ventilate these issues in ways that social media cannot. And we have to learn how to listen again, to see why people of different opinions believe what they do. As President Concepcion said in his investiture speech last year, we in UP should focus “on finding, in this University, our common ground, a clearing—a safe, free, and congenial space within which its constituents can teach, study, and work productively to their full potential. “UP must be that special place within which it should still be possible—despite all divisions and distractions—to work together with the University’s and the nation’s strategic interests in mind. “There should be no better home in this country for the expression of ideas, without fear of violent retribution from one’s colleagues or from the State itself. There should be no more welcoming environment than UP for cutting-edge research, timely policy studies, exciting new exhibits and productions, and provocative art and literature—in other words, the work we have always been meant to do, and do best.” Let me end with a quote from a favorite source—me—and share something that I have said to every UP graduating class I have been honored to address: To be a UP student, faculty member, and alumnus is to be burdened but also ennobled by a unique mission—not just the mission of serving the people, which is in itself not unique, and which is also reflected, for example, in the Atenean concept of being a “man for others.” Rather, to my mind, our mission is to lead and to be led by reason—by independent, scientific, and secular reason, rather than by politicians, priests, shamans, bankers, or generals. You are UP because you can think and speak for yourselves, by your own wits and on your own two feet, and you can do so no matter what the rest of the people in the room may be thinking. You are UP because no one can tell you to shut up, if you have something sensible and vital to say. You are UP because you dread not the poverty of material comforts but the poverty of the mind. And you are UP because you care about something as abstract and sometimes as treacherous as the idea of “nation”, even if it kills you. Sometimes, long after UP, we forget these things and become just like everybody else; I certainly have. Even so, I suspect that that forgetfulness is laced with guilt—the guilt of knowing that you were, and could yet become, somebody better. And you cannot even argue that you did not know, because today, I just told you so. May you be the best doctors of and for the people that you can be, and thank you all. Mabuhay ang UP at mabuhay tayong lahat! Source |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/atty-andres-g-gatmaitan-june-30-1940-july-252018/ | Atty. Andres G. Gatmaitan (June 30, 1940-July 25, 2018) – UP Alumni Website | Atty. Andres G. Gatmaitan (June 30, 1940-July 25, 2018) July 30, 2018 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Attorney Andres G. Gatmaitan, age 78, on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. He was born June 30, 1940 to Manuel Gatmaitan and Esperanza Gatmaytan and raised in Paombong, Bulacan. He married fellow accomplished lawyer, outstanding UP alumna, and devoted mother to eight children, Attorney Asuncion Yatco on February 22, 1960. A renowned lawyer, Attorney Gatmaitan was most recently Senior Counsel at Sycip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaitan, the largest law firm in the Philippines, a firm which he also led for 18 years as Managing Partner and Chairman of the Executive Committee, guiding it as it received national, regional, and international recognition during his tenure. He was concurrently chairman for a number of international law networks, on the boards of national and multinational companies and foundations, and President of the Yale Club of the Philippines, among many other leadership positions he held during his long career. A cum laude graduate of UP, former editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian, and valedictorian of his UP College of Law Class of 1961, he began to practice law in New York, working as a foreign associate for the Wall Street law firms Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts and Cahill, Gordon, Reindel & Ohl, right after earning his Master of Laws and Doctor of Laws degrees from Yale Law School. Upon the invitation of the late Supreme Court Justice Florentino P. Feliciano, he returned to the Philippines to join the Sycip Law firm, where he rose to partner at the early age of 30. Along the course of his career, he pursued his many passions with similar success, as a competitive chess player and major promoter of the sport in the country, a dedicated environmentalist, and a mentor to many aspiring legal professionals at home and abroad. Best and most of all, he served and will continue to serve as an inspiration to all of his children, with his quiet leadership, with his thoughtful patience, and with the deepest care and compassion he has given to each of us, and to many others, which he will always be remembered by. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Asuncion; his children James (Yvette), Jonathan (Gina), Geraldine, Gwendolyn (Ray), John (Mimi), Peter (Karisia), Joshua (Patricia), and Jerome (Margie); brother Bienvenido, sisters Celia and Jeanette, predeceased by sisters Ding and Esther; grandchildren Jacob, Joachim, Jared, Andy, Ryan, Spencer, Marco, and Ian; many cousins, nephews, and nieces. Family and friends are invited to the memorial service to be held this Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at the Sanctuario de San Jose in Greenhills, San Juan beginning at 12 noon. There will also be a mass at 7pm. Rest In Peace, Dad. We will carry you in our hearts always. (Joshua Yatco Gatmaitan) |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/alice-g-guillermo-writes-30/ | Alice G. Guillermo writes 30 – UP Alumni Website | Alice G. Guillermo writes 30 August 1, 2018 Dr. Alice G. Guillermo, professor emerita and former chair of the UP College of Arts and Letters Department of Arts Studies (DAS), passed away on Jul. 29 after a long illness. She was 80. In May this year, the DAS, together with the College of Fine Arts and Alliance of Concerned Teachers, organized a fundraising event for Guillermo who suffered an acute intraparenchymal hemorrhage or hemorrhagic stroke and an acute kidney injury. Guillermo, a renowned art critic, writer, researcher and Philippine art professor, was born on Jan. 6, 1938 in Quiapo, Manila. According to the CCP Encyclopedia, Guillermo finished her Bachelor of Arts in English and Bachelor of Science in Education, magna cum laude, in 1957 at the College of Holy Ghost. She obtained her MA in Comparative Literature and PhD in Philippine Studies at UP Diliman. She was awarded by the French government a scholarship at the Université d’Aix-Marseille in France. She was a UP Diliman faculty member and taught art history, art theory and humanities from the 1970s to 2003. She was appointed professor emerita by the UP Board of Regents at its 1179th meeting on Feb. 26, 2004 according to the UP Gazette Volume XXXV, Number 1 (January to March 2004) issue. Guillermo authored several books on Philippine art such as “Diosdado Magno Lorenzo: Art Rebel to Legend” published by the Philippine-Italian Association & Tantoco-Rustia Foundation, Philippines in 2009, “Protest/Revolutionary Art in the Philippines 1970-1990” (UP Press, 2005) and “Image to Meaning: Essays on Philippine Art” (Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2002). Meanwhile, the DAS in a message posted on their Facebook page announced her passing. They consider her “a pioneering force in Philippine Art. Along with other esteemed faculty members, she helped set new directions in the field of art scholarship. Among her legacies are her multiple books and essays on art history, art criticism and cultural studies that serve as foundation for Art Studies in the Philippines.” She is survived by her husband, poet and essayist Gelacio Guillermo, and children, Ramon and Sofia. Guillermo’s family announced in the Art for Alice’s Facebook Page that “There will be no wake for Alice Guillermo. Her ashes will be brought home. Her family thanks everyone for the many tributes and the great outpouring of support.” Photo 1—Art for Alice’s Facebook Page https://www.facebook.comArtforAlice/photos/a196077864337467.1073741829.184898698788717/250475728897680/?type=3&theater Photo 2—Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/photo/author/8504925.Alice_G_Guillermo Source: https://upd.edu.ph/alice-g-guillermo-writes-30/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/diplomat-jose-apolinario-l-lozada-jr-68/ | Diplomat Jose Apolinario L. Lozada, Jr., 68 – UP Alumni Website | Diplomat Jose Apolinario L. Lozada, Jr., 68 August 2, 2018 FORMER Ambassador Jose Apolinario L. Lozada, Jr. passed away on Tuesday at the age of 68, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. According to reports, Mr. Lozada was confined at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) after suffering from a brain hemorrhage. In 2014, the diplomat was diagnosed with prostate cancer and declared cancer-free the following year. In a statement, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano offered his condolences to the family of the late ambassador. “I join the men and women of the Foreign Service in mourning the passing of an astute diplomat and legislator in Ambassador Lozada. I send my condolences and prayers to his family and friends in this time of great sadness,” Mr. Cayetano said. “Ambassador Lozada and I were good friends and seatmates during the 11th Congress in 1998. I will always remember him as one who championed the welfare of our diplomats and kababayan abroad,” he added. Mr. Lozada is survived by his wife and four children. Mr. Lozada served as ambassador to Palau, the Holy See, Vienna, Austria, and Baghdad, Iraq. He also served as Negros Occidental 5th district representative from 1998 to 2004. He became the chairperson of the House committee of foreign affairs and pushed for the passage of Republic Act No. 9225 or the Dual Citizenship law and Republic Act No. 9189 or the Overseas Absentee Voting Law. Prior to becoming a lawmaker, Mr. Lozada also became as Appointments Secretary and Chief of Protocol to then President Fidel V. Ramos. Mr. Lozada obtained a Mathematics undergraduate degree in the De La Sale University (DLSU), a master’s degree in Public Administration in the University of the Philippines (UP), and another master’s degree in Physics at the Siliman University. — Camille A. Aguinaldo Source: http://www.bworldonline.com/diplomat-jose-apolinario-l-lozada-jr-68/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/2018-u-p-general-alumni-homecoming-bannered-by-theme-mga-haligi-ng-lahi/ | 2018 U.P. General Alumni Homecoming Bannered by Theme “Mga Haligi ng Lahi” – UP Alumni Website | 2018 U.P. General Alumni Homecoming Bannered by Theme “Mga Haligi ng Lahi” August 2, 2018 The 2018 UP General Alumni Homecoming, annually hosted by the UP Alumni Association (UPAA), will have for its theme “Mga Haligi ng Lahi” (“Pillars of the Nation”). The reunion will be held on August 18, 2018, Saturday, at 3:00 p.m., at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, R. Magsaysay Ave., UP Diliman, Quezon City. The 2018 reunion will highlight the celebrating Jubilarians – members of the 60th, 50th, 40th, and 25th Jubilee classes, namely, Class of 1958 (Diamond), Class of 1968 (Golden), Class of 1978 (Ruby), and Class of 1993 (Silver). They will stage presentations reminiscent of their college days at the different U.P. campuses. In the same event, the 2018 UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awardees will be honored as shining examples of “Mga Haligi ng Lahi” for having best exemplified the Alma Mater’s ideals of service, excellence and leadership – with their outstanding accomplishments and services rendered to their communities which have brought glory upon glory to our alma mater, the national university. Other activities scheduled during the Homecoming week are the annual Alumni Council meeting and UPAA Chapters meeting, which will convene on Friday, August 17, 2018, at 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively. Jubilarians are encouraged to actively participate in the Homecoming, as well as contribute articles to the 2018 UP Alumni Homecoming Yearbook, which will commemorate the affair. To be featured in the yearbook’s photo gallery, Jubilarians must submit passport-size pictures (preferably in formal or semi-formal attire) to the UPAA. (If emailed, photos should have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi.) All UP alumni and friends are also invited to place greetings, group photos, family portraits, and company advertisements in the yearbook (rates are on the UPAA website). Deadline is May 31, 2018, but it will be greatly appreciated if materials can be submitted much earlier. For more particulars about the UP General Alumni Homecoming, please contact the UPAA Secretariat at (02) 920-6868 and (02) 920-6871, or email [email protected]. http://www.upalumni.ph/2018-u-p-general-alumni-homecoming-bannered-by-theme-mga-haligi-ng-lahi/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/up-college-of-education-celebrates-100-years-alumni-homecoming-set-on-aug-19/ | UP College of Education celebrates 100 years; alumni homecoming set on Aug. 19 – UP Alumni Website | UP College of Education celebrates 100 years; alumni homecoming set on Aug. 19 August 9, 2018 Since 1908, the UP College of Education has been the torchbearer of the education of the students from the grade school up to graduate studies. It has also been the center for national teacher education. The UP College of Education is at Benitez Hall inside the UP Diliman campus. UP College of Education website This year, 2018, the UP College of Education is celebrating its 100 years of service to the nation. The UPCE Alumni Association, through its President, Mercedes P. Adorio is inviting all alumni of UP Eduk to attend the homecoming on Sunday, August 19, 2019 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the College of Education, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. For details please call Norma at 02-9293386 or the UP Trunkline: 9818500 local 4258 or send an email to [email protected]. Press release from UPCEAA Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/cbb/content/662963/up-college-of-education-celebrates-100-years-alumni-homecoming-set-on-aug-19/story/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/physics-professor-bags-top-pcieerd-rd-award/ | Physics professor bags top PCIEERD R&D award – UP Alumni Website | Physics professor bags top PCIEERD R&D award August 10, 2018 (AUG. 3)—UP National Institute of Physics (NIP) professor Maricor N. Soriano, PhD, received the 2018 Outstanding R&D Awards for the Emerging Technology Category from Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD). The award is open to all research and development (R&D) projects undertaken for the last three years by Filipino scientists, researchers and engineers from universities and colleges, R&D institutions, and private industries under DOST-PCIEERD’s sectoral concerns clustered into four categories: Industrial Technology, Energy, Utilities and Systems, Emerging Technology, and Special Concerns. Soriano was awarded for her research project “Integration of ARRAS and CRAVAT Tools,” a DOST funded project under the program Coral Reef Assessment and Visualization-Advanced Tools or CRAVAT. According to Soriano, CRAVAT is a two-year project (2014-2016) with the objective of developing coral reef monitoring tools that can go deeper, see wider, analyze higher-dimensional data, and process data faster. The CRAVAT program and its predecessor the Automated Rapid Reef Assessment System (ARRAS) are programs for local governments and environmental monitoring agencies for coral reef monitoring that are easy to acquire, use and maintain. To date, outputs of the CRAVAT and ARRAS projects are being used by 28 different agencies (local governments, schools and non-government organizations). Soriano added that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources supplied additional funding to allow training of its regional officers in the use of these technologies. Soriano’s team has obtained videos and produced maps covering 2000 km of coral reefs out of the estimated 10,000 km of coastlines with reefs in the Philippines. The permanent visual records can be used as a baseline to monitor changes in the coastal marine resources. Soriano and her team was awarded with a trophy and a cheque worth P300,000 during PCIEERD’s 8th anniversary celebration on June 29 at Novotel Manila, Araneta Center. A Professor 7 at NIP, Soriano earned her PhD in Physics from UPD in 1997. Her research interest is in color, video and image processing. She has collaborated with marine scientists to create tools to visualize coral reefs, with museums to digitally preserve and analyze paintings, and with public health experts to create smartphone-based tools for microscopic diagnosis. For her multidisciplinary work, she was recognized in 2006 as Outstanding Young Scientist in Applied Physics by the National Academy of Science and Technology-Philippines; one of nine Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service in 2013; and the Leaders in Innovation Fellowship by the UK government in 2015. Source: https://upd.edu.ph/physics-professor-bags-top-pcieerd-rd-award/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/dr-raymundo-s-magno-a-longtime-dundalk-family-physician-dies/ | Dr. Raymundo S. Magno, a longtime Dundalk family physician, dies – UP Alumni Website | Dr. Raymundo S. Magno, a longtime Dundalk family physician, dies August 15, 2018 Dr. Raymundo S. Magno, a longtime Dundalk family physician who cared for generations of families and was also known for his charitable work in his native Philippines, died Thursday at a daughter’s home at Rehoboth Beach, Del., from kidney disease. The Towson resident was 83. Dr. Raymundo S. Magno was known for his compassion and care for patients, regardless of their ability to pay, and for his interest in helping those in his native Philippines. (Handout) “I was devastated when I heard that Raymundo had died,” said longtime friend and medical colleague Dr. Ruben Ballesteros, a retired surgeon who lives in the Phoenix area of Baltimore County. “When I think of him, I think of the play, ‘A Man for All Seasons.’ He was a man for all seasons.” “He will be missed by those he touched in his life,” said Dr. Claro PioRoda, a medical school classmate and retired Baltimore surgeon who lives in Lutherville. “He took care of grandparents, their children and grandchildren.” Clarita DeJesus first met Dr. Magno when she and her husband immigrated to Baltimore from the Philippines in 1970. The doctor and his family made the young couple feel welcome. “He was a pillar of the Filipino community, a great doctor,” said Ms. DeJesus, a Cockeysville resident. “He was the most caring doctor; if his office was closed and a patient called, he’d open it. He took the time and interest in getting to know his patients and their families.” Raymundo Solomon Magno was born and raised in Munoz, the Philippines. One of 10 children, he was the son of Paulino Magno, a school teacher, and Cayetana Magno, a homemaker. After graduating from high school in Munoz, he entered the University of the Philippines School of Medicine, and obtained a medical degree in 1960. Dr. Magno came to Baltimore that year and completed his residency in internal medicine. He was initially at the old Church Home and Hospital on Caroline Street in East Baltimore; then completed a fellowship in internal medicine with a sub-specialty in nephrology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. While at Church hospital he met and fell in love with Maria Belen Burce, a Filipina student nurse. They married in 1964. In 1971, Dr. Magno established a general medical practice in the 7800 block of Wise Ave. in Dundalk, with his wife serving as nurse. He eventually expanded the practice to include satellite offices in Rosedale and Bel Air. Dr. Romina Magno Thomas, a daughter, joined her father and mother in the practice after receiving her medical degree. “As a kid, I’d walk his patients home down the alley and I would go on house calls with him. Those are some of my happiest memories,” Dr. Thomas said. “I got to see what a great doctor he was. He was always compassionate with his patients and never lost that mission as a doctor.” Dr. Magno was more like the country doctor than an urban physician. “He was the old type of physician and served generations of Dundalk families. Patients had our home phone number and they became like family,” his daughter said. “It really was an old-fashioned relationship.” “I have known Ray for more than 40 years and I’ve always been so impressed by his accomplishments,” said Dr. Ballesteros. “He always gave [patients] competent care and took care of them regardless of their ability to pay. Wealth didn’t mean a thing to him.” “He was dearly loved by his patients,” Dr. PioRoda said. “He went out of his way to make them comfortable and made sure they had access to good care. His patients became friends and golfing buddies.” “Sharing a profession and working side-by-side with my father was the most gratifying experience I could ever ask for,” said Dr. Thomas, who lives in Rehoboth Beach and is on the staff of the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in Georgetown, Del. “I learned from my father that medicine is all about service and helping people.” Dr. Magno had been president of the Association of Philippine Physicians in Maryland and “provided a voice for international medical graduates within MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society,” his daughter said. Proud of this Filipino-American identity, he was one of the founders and was the first president of Katipunan, the Towson-based Filipino-American Association of Maryland Inc. Its mission is to develop social and educational programs that promote Filipino culture and support charitable causes not only in Maryland, but also the Philippines. “I can’t tell you how many fundraisers he held, and made sure that money was sent to the poor in the Philippines,” said Ms. DeJesus. “At his own expense he sent money for school supplies for poor children and clothing. Helping the less fortunate was a very big deal with him.” Dr. Magno was also a co-founder of the Foundation for Aid to the Philippines, which organized medical missions and created developmental projects to benefit needy Filipinos. “He was always trying to help his fellow man back home,” Dr. Ballesteros said. “His efforts and medical missions helped bring fee care to the needy.” “Ray worried about the plight of our fellow countryman after disasters happened. He spent a great deal of time fundraising and returned to the Philippines many times,” Dr. PioRoda said. Dr. Magno was an inveterate golfer and member of the Towson Golf and Country Club. He was a lifelong New York Yankees fan, and despite experiencing some confusion in the last days of his life, “could still name the starting Yankees lineup,” his daughter said. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 13305 Long Green Pike, Hydes. In addition to his daughter and his wife of 54 years, Dr. Magno is survived by a son, Raymar Magno of Elkridge; another daughter, Rebecca Chider of Towson; four sisters, Florian Ward of Abingdon, Carlota Sumbilla of Windsor Mill, Marcelina Miguel of Quezon City, Philippines, and Bernadina Undan of Munoz, Philippines; and six grandchildren. Written by Frederick N. Rasmussen Source: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bs-md-ob-raymundo-magno-20180813-story.html |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/phl-wont-be-left-out-now-in-space-program/ | PHL ‘won’t be left out now’ in space program – UP Alumni Website | PHL ‘won’t be left out now’ in space program August 15, 2018 ‘WE [the Philippines] do not want to be left out…we want to build our space technology capability” in order for the country to benefit from it, Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña declared after Maya-1 cube satellite (CubeSat), the second Philippine satellite, was deployed from the International Space Station on the afternoon of August 10. In Photo: The exact replica of the 10 cubic centimeter Maya-1 cube satellite displayed at University of the Philippines Diliman Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute in Quezon City during the CubeSat’s deployment into orbit from the International Space Station on August 10. De la Peña, University of the Philippines President Danilo Concepcion, UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan, Japanese Embassy and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency officials witnessed—from the UP Electrical and Electronic Engineering (UP EEE) Institute—the deployment of Maya-1 through live streaming. The CubeSats of Bhutan and Malaysia were deployed together with Maya-1 through the Japanese Experimental Module Small Satellite Orbital Deployer in the module, the same one used to deploy the Philippines’s Diwata-1 two years ago. At a briefing after Maya-1’s deployment, the DOST chief said the bill in Congress on the development of the country’s space agency is a top priority of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). “We are trying to build our own capability in building satellites because we foresee that we really need a go for this. We are also going to the next higher levels,” de la Peña said. “This is just the start. Actually this is part of our long-term sustainability program for our space technology development agenda and we look forward to a continuation of this,” he said as he congratulated the DOST, UP and Japanese experts for the successful deployment of Maya-1. The Philippines is the sixth among the 10 Asean countries which have space programs. The other Asean countries which have long developed their space agencies or have deployed satellites in space are Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand, according to Seasia.co. While Maya-1 was just deployed, Maya-2 is already in the drawing board. Research Engineer Israel Bautista told the BusinessMirror he will be bound for Japan next month to prepare for Maya-2. De la Peña explained: “Capability building is very important. We cannot learn it by reading books or listening to lectures. We really have to do it. So this aspect of doing it [making the CubeSat in Japan] and launching it is a very important step.” Applications HE added: “This space tech program has many components. We have statistics, interpreting the messages, educational aspect, human-resource development, we have the industry development, because there can be industries that can come out of the space tech program.” He said different outputs from the data that will be released or taken from the satellites may be used by government agencies, with beneficial uses for the country. Possible applications of Maya-1’s radios, including the Store and Forward (S&F) system, are collecting data to generate early warnings for landslides and flash floods, complementing systems for monitoring health conditions of people in remote areas, and systems for tracking endangered species like the Philippine eagle, and fishing vessels. Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano Jr., program leader of Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Microsatellite Program (PHL-Microsat) and director of DOST-Advance Science and Technology Institute, said the CubeSat development is still an experimental platform, but with the radios it is carrying, can store data and relay them when it passes over the mission control in Quezon City. In monitoring floods, Marciano said, “If we can develop sensors that are compatible, we can transmit the data as long as it is within the capacity of the CubeSat.” Maya-1, being part of an academic program, costs less than others at about $0.25 million, Marciano said. It will remain in orbit for one year. The Maya-1 experts may get data from the CubeSat within next month. “We will first establish contact [at 8:01 p.m. on August 10] to receive the signal to know that it is [working]. Then we will start turning on different systems on how they perform,” Marciano said. He said Maya-1 is on the second phase of the PHL-Microsat, named “State Support for Space tech and applications, mastery, innovation and advancement,” or “Stamina for Space.” “We need that [stamina] for the country if we want to sustain the gains we have in the [space] program. It is not the end of the journey, it is just the beginning. All promises of the technology will just be realized…. We will try to maximize the learnings we will get,” Marciano explained. He said starting January, PHL-Microsat is offering a graduate program, which is already existing, but this one has a track which will tap students who will build cube sats in UP EEE Institute. “Our facilities are not yet complete, so part of the scholarship is testing in Japan,” he said. The program’s name is Stepup, short for Space Science and Tech Proliferation through Partnerships under the Masters of Electrical Engineering. Written by Lyn Resurreccion Source: https://businessmirror.com.ph/phl-wont-be-left-out-now-in-space-program/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/diwata-2-microsatellite-nears-completion-handover-to-jaxa/ | Diwata-2 microsatellite nears completion, handover to Jaxa – UP Alumni Website | Diwata-2 microsatellite nears completion, handover to Jaxa August 15, 2018 Filipino engineers in Japan’s Tohoku, Hokkaido, Kyushu universities up to the challenge In case some still doubt that the Philippines has already sent its first eye in the sky into space, maybe a second microsatellite would make them believe it is so. In Photo: The scale model of Diwata-2 microsatellite, which was exhibited at the National Science and Technology Week in World Trade Center in Pasay City in July. Another 50-kilogram satellite shall soon be sent into orbit by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through its partner, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa). It should be recalled that the DOST had the Philippines’s first microsatellite—the maiden Diwata-1 that was designed, developed and assembled in Japan by nine pioneering Filipino engineers and scientists along with their “sensei” (instructors) from the Tohoku University (TU) and Hokkaido University (HU). Diwata-1 was launched into the International Space Station onboard the Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft on March 23, 2016. It was deployed from the ISS into her orbit on April 27 by the Japanese Experimental Module (JEM)—”Kibo” or Hope—around 400 km above Earth’s surface. Now, two years and four months later, the government is about to unveil the second iteration of Diwata-1—named Diwata-2. Would there be a Diwata-3? Obviously, that’s the plan of the DOST and its attached agencies, especially the Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-Asti) and the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD). The name of the DOST space-related undertaking is the Philippine Scientific and Earth Observation Microsatellite (PHL-Microsat), along with a ground receiving station dubbed the Philippine Earth Data Resources Observation (Pedro), a two-year program. PHL-Microsat is being put into motion by the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman in Quezon City. Early-September Thus, it should surprise no one that DOST is about to add to its list of groundbreaking technological innovations designed to benefit every Juan and Juana. Diwata-2 is targeted for launching onboard Jaxa’s H-IIA rocket from Tanegashima Island in Japan, and direct into her orbit before the Year of the Dog sounds off its last bark, probably in the fourth quarter. In an exclusive interview, via Facebook’s Messenger, Ariston Gonzalez, one of the nine Diwata-1 pioneers, now a researcher/lead research and development engineer for PHL-Microsat at DOST-Asti, gave updates on status of Diwata-2, whose design, development, and assembly immediately followed Diwata-1’s successful history-making launch and deployment. Gonzalez, one of the leaders of the “Magnificent 9,” so-called for being the pioneer Filipino satellite builders, relayed to the BusinessMirror that “the completion of Diwata-2 is near. She will be delivered to Jaxa by early-September.” Gonzalez said what remains to be done in the building of Diwata-2 are “the final electrical tests and vibration tests of the flight model.” Amateur radio module He confirmed that the Philippines’s second microsatellite would carry an amateur radio module through which communication can be made using ham radios. For the uninitiated like this journalist, “amateur radio [or ham radio] is a popular hobby and service that brings people, electronics and communication together.” “People use ham radio to talk across town, around the world or even into space,” ARRL.org said. Another Internet source said it uses “radio frequency spectrum.” The Diwata-1 and Diwata-2 builder said what is called amateur or ham radio handsets are like the walkie-talkies used for talking between individuals, more so the police and Red Cross personnel. He said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has access to such handheld radio devices. Sounds great for a country like the Philippines that suffers at least 20 typhoons a year that like Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) in 2013 Eastern Visayas lost totally all communications infrastructures and facilities for a few days. It was when communication was nonexistent in Leyte province, the hardest hit. Gonzalez said the “target use for ham radio [of Diwata-2] is for emergency situations wherein all commercial communications are down.” Enhanced camera, with ‘wings’ On the other hand, he said the second microsatellite would have mostly the same mission with the first eye in the sky. The difference is the addition of an enhanced resolution camera (ERC) and a wider field-of-view or coverage of her other cameras, the multispectral imaging camera, the high-precision telescope, wide field camera and middle field camera. Those are not the only enhancements, though. “In the satellite BUS system, Diwata-2 has a deployable solar array panels. She will look like Diwata-1 but with wings,” Gonzalez said, adding that the solar panels were aimed at increasing her solar power charging capability. Relay station between space and Earth Gonzalez explained that Diwata-2’s amateur radio facility would serve as a relay station in space between and among people on Earth. As it is in space, the microsatellite’s ham radio will function even when there is no communications facility on Earth as a result of disasters. (He invited Filipinos to follow for updates on Diwata-1 and Diwata-2 on https://www.Facebook.com/PHLMicrosat.) “All one has to do is tune in [a ham radio] to the frequency of Diwata-2 to send voice messages while the other party stands by to receive the voice message,” he said. “What Diwata-2 does is to serve as a relay or connecting point for two persons communicating with each other,” he pointed out. A voice call will not be included in the amateur radio function, he said. Diwata-2’s amateur radio will serve as a temporary replacement for the fallen communications towers, he added. One can also store messages on Diwata-2 that can be broadcasted repeatedly across and over the Philippines, such as prerecorded emergency messages in times of disasters, calamities and other kinds of emergency. In connecting to the microsatellite’s ham radio, nothing special has to be done, only tune in to the official frequencies. Good for weather stations, flood monitoring Gonzalez hastened to add that communicating with Diwata-2 has limitations, saying there are specific time windows when it is available, which will be determined and set once she is in her orbit, which is going to be higher than Diwata-1’s. “We are also planning to activate with Diwata-2 what we call ‘Store-and-Forward mechanism,’” he said. This means the mechanism will collect data from floating buoy sensors deployed offshore by the DOST, a safe and better alternative than sending people to manually collect the data specially when the weather is not conducive. “So, instead of people going directly to the buoy to collect the data [on weather, etc.], it could be that there is one buoy sensor that will automatically collect the data from nearby nearby sensors, and the [buoy sensor collecting the data] will upload it to Diwata-2. “Then, when Diwata-2 passes over DOST-Asti’s Pedro ground receiving station, we can just download the data and distribute it to stakeholders,” said the Filipino engineer. He said the Store-and-Forward mechanism is not limited to just specific sensors. “We can modify even the existing one on the field so they can have the capability to upload data to Diwata-2.” This is good with weather stations with certain kind of sensors, such as flood monitoring sensors. They can upload directly to Diwata-2, which is very useful, especially when the sensors are in remote location. Sustain space development, technology He said there is no definite plans yet about Diwata-3. “But we definitely want to sustain the stamina we have for space development and technology. What we want to pursue in the immediate feature is to see the growth of the local industries sector; more active involvement and augmented capabilities.” Gonzalez emphasized that there is no intent to cut the umbilical cord that links the PHL-Microsat to foreign technology when they will build the next iteration of the satellites. “But we definitely want to leverage the capability we already have in the Philippines, and cultivate new ones.” Data is the ‘new oil’ He noted the importance of the DOST’s space technology development program, citing data transformation as the new oil. “I think, in a general sense, when we send out satellites into space, what we are primarily getting is data. And I think it’s getting to a point now that data is becoming the new oil. Data is now a resource that can drive a country forward. Be it in economy, security, sustainability and many others, data is now playing an important role. “Secondarily, delving in space technology does not mean we only have impact when we send out things in space. In fact, when we delve with space technology, we drive industries and create products that trickle down to other relevant industries/sectors. For example, in automotive, electronics, manufacturing and many others.” The “trickle down,” he said, could be in the form of the so-called attitude or orientation control that is being implemented in satellites, saying they are important in pointing the cameras of the satellite into a specific target on Earth. “This technology can be used on automated vehicles on the ground and in the air. Unmanned aerial vehicles, or self-driving cars, etc.” These are something to ponder on. Written by Edd K. Usman **** Usman is a freelance journalist who is on science, information technology, current events, etc. He won the “Best Science Feature Story” in the first University of the Philippines Science Journalism Award 2018 on February 17, and the DOST-PCIEERD “Kabalikat Award” for Print Media on June 27, 2014. Source: https://businessmirror.com.ph/diwata-2-microsatellite-nears-completion-handover-to-jaxa/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/the-carillon-2019/ | The Carillon issue (2019) – UP Alumni Website | The Carillon issue (2019) August 15, 2018 The July 2018-May 2019 issue of Carillon, the University’s official alumni magazine is finally here! The new issue has UP Los Baños the Maria sa Banga landmark in its front cover and features such as Beta Epsilon’s 90th year celebration, UP Alumni excellence in the Arts, cover story of the volunteer service Ugnayan ng Pahinungod, and many more! Browse it here: UP Carillon 2019 issue Download your PDF copy here |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/ex-acting-dfa-boss-manalo-named-ambassador-to-germany/ | Ex-acting DFA boss Manalo named ambassador to Germany – UP Alumni Website | Ex-acting DFA boss Manalo named ambassador to Germany August 16, 2018 Manalo, who served under 3 presidents as foreign undersecretary for policy, is now taking up another overseas post NEW ROLE. DFA Undersecretary Enrique Manalo has been appointed ambassador to Germany. File photo by LeAnne Jazul/Rappler MANILA, Philippines – Foreign Undersecretary Enrique Manalo has been appointed the Philippines’ new ambassador to Germany. President Rodrigo Duterte signed his appointment on August 7, according to appointment papers sent by Malacañang to media on Friday, August 10. He is replacing Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek who retired last January. Manalo is the longtime DFA career official who served as acting foreign secretary after the Commission on Appointment’s rejection of Perfecto Yasay Jr. The post was eventually given to then senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Duterte’s runningmate in the 2016 national elections. DFA Undersecretary Enrique Manalo, who had served as acting DFA chief before appointment of Alan Cayetano, is PH's new ambassador to Germany. pic.twitter.com/fjYbd0MDnB — Pia Ranada (@piaranada) August 10, 2018 Manalo, who joined the DFA in 1979, served as foreign undersecretary for policy under 3 presidents – Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Benigno Aquino III, and Duterte. A University of the Philippines economics graduate, he has at at least 12 long assignments abroad under his belt, plus nearly two dozen international meetings, most of which he chaired. He has served as Philippine ambassador to the United Kingdom, Belgium, and head of the Philippine Mission to the European Union, among others. Manalo hails from a family of ambassadors. His late father, Armando, was ambassador to Belgium and political adviser of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations. He was also a journalist. His mother, Rosario, was the first female career diplomat of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Like her husband, she also once served as ambassador to Belgium, among other posts like Sweden and France. She was eventually elected rapporteur of a United Nations committee to stop discrimination against women. – With reports from Paterno Esmaquel II/Rappler.com Written by Pia Ranada Source: https://www.rappler.com/nation/209266-enrique-manalo-ambassador-germany |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/how-neil-felipps-craft-and-charm-got-him-a-spot-in-crazy-rich-asians/ | How Neil Felipp’s craft and charm got him a spot in ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ – UP Alumni Website | How Neil Felipp’s craft and charm got him a spot in ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ August 22, 2018 Rappler catches up with Cebu-based Neil Felipp to talk about his craftsmanship and how his designs ended up in the highly-anticipated ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ movie INTRICATE DESIGNS. Neil Felipp’s minaudieres aren’t just fashion pieces – they’re works of art. Images courtesy of Neil Felipp The Crazy Rich Asians lifestyle is what some aspire to have. The fancy cars, first class flights, to the most decadent fashion, and the most exclusive parties allure the imaginations of people. What really happens in the lives of society’s top 1%? The book piqued curiosity of those who want to have a glimpse of this very exclusive world, in a way dipping their toes in the lives of the privileged set. That, and a whole lot of fun and funny circumstances in the story make it an easy and enjoyable read. Author Kevin Kwan brought the spotlight to a different Asian lifestyle, elevating stereotypes on the stature, style, and culture in the east. Now a major Hollywood motion picture, Crazy Rich Asians is deemed groundbreaking with its all-Asian cast. And, no… I don’t think there are any martial arts stunts in this movie. One lucky Filipino designer captured the creative eye of Kwan. Photo courtesy of Neil Felipp Cebu-based Neil Felipp’s accidental encounter with Kwan was not even personal. This was a literal case of letting the work speak for itself. It lead to a friendship, and eventually Felipp’s brand was mentioned in Kwan’s novel, Rich People Problems – the third book in his trilogy. His “Suzy Wong Black” minaudiere is seen in the still of the upcoming Crazy Rich Asians movie carried by Gemma Chan’s character, Astrid Leong. Felipp is a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Industrial Design graduate from the University of the Philippines – Cebu. No less than internationally renowned designer, Kenneth Cobonpue, handpicked Felipp to be an apprentice in his design studio. A few years after, Felipp received the local Look of Style Awards Accessory Winner in 2013 which awarded him with a scholarship at Sheffield Hallam University in England. He was also recognized as a Rising Creatives Awardee, chosen for his exceptional talent in Philippine arts & design. I’ve known Neil for a couple of years. Beyond his playful and bubbly demeanor lies an artist steadfast in creating uniquely beautiful, yet impeccably crafted pieces. You’d easily be seduced and covet a piece. Before the global fame intensifies and even friends need to book an appointment just to talk to him, I caught up with him for a brief interview. Did design come organically? How did you hone your skills? At a young age, between 7 or 9 yrs old, I already started sketching dresses. I always thought then that I would be pursuing fashion apparel. That changed when I met Kenneth Cobonpue during a highschool career symposium. During his speech, I became more curious about Industrial Design. When I found out he would become a mentor in the University of the Philippines – Cebu for the new Industrial Design Program, I decided to apply as a student. During that time, I became one of his apprentices in his studio. There, I was able to expand my perspective on the creative process. During my college years, I went through various internships that tackled interior design, installation, furniture, fashion apparel, and home accessories to further broaden what I wanted to specialize in. It was only right after graduation when I worked for an exporting company specializing in brass work for home accessories that I further played with brass on fashion accessories. Are you concentrating on minaudieres or are you venturing into other pieces? For now, the concentration is minaudieres. But I have been exploring other fashion accessories such as necklaces, earrings, and rings. And quite soon, home accessories. Being based in Cebu, was that a hindrance since most of the focus on art and fashion is in Manila? Being based in Cebu was never a hindrance for me since we now live in the digital age, making it more accessible to get the latest information such as fashion trends, art, business and politics. What key elements or inspirations can we look forward to in your next pieces? For sure, you will find my signature elements: the intricate brass details with every piece. For the incoming next pieces, I’m looking at creation itself as my source of inspiration. When I mean creation, I’m looking at creating my own concept of how the universe was born. Meeting Kevin Kwan, how did that happen? What made you and him get along so well? It began when a good friend and client of mine brought with her a Suzy Wong minaudiere during the first Manila tour of Kevin Kwan for his book, Crazy, Rich, Asians. When she was about to interview him, the first thing that Kevin noticed was her minaudiere and asked her permission to take a photo of it for his instagram account. When the post came out, everyone started tagging me. At that time, I didn’t know who he was. I sent him a direct message saying how grateful I am for his post. We started communicating after that. The only time we finally met was when he came back to the Philippines to promote his third book, Rich People Problems. I think one of the things that we enjoyed the most during our conversations was our love of Asia, from the diversity of cultures to the amazing craftsmanship that each culture has. Another would be that we enjoyed sharing each other’s creative process on how he creates stories through literature while I create stories through my minaudieres. What were Kwan’s reactions to your designs? [He said] he loved the intricacy of my designs, especially the brass details. But the more I shared with him the stories that inspired each piece, the more he became fascinated with my work. If you were to describe Kwan in one word, what would it be? Generous. From our conversations, he was always generous when it comes to advice and talking about the Neil Felipp brand to others – which I truly appreciate. On the other hand, how did you react to the book Crazy Rich Asians? Reading the book, I was greatly entertained as there were moments I found relatable with certain characters, traditions and cultures. For me, the book is a definite must-read. Which of your pieces should we watch out for in the movie? How did the selection process of which to include in the movie happen? From the 10 pieces that I sent, there were two that were used – the Siren Minaudiere and the Suzy Wong Minaudiere. Here is a statement from Head Costume Designer of the film Crazy Rich Asians, Mary Vogt on the minaudieres. The interview came out on Vanity Fair: “Most of his handbags were on Astrid (Gemma Chan), and she pretty much always had one… They’re just absolutely beautiful. A gold sculpted mermaid! I mean, the bags really are art pieces.” (Editor’s note: Gemma Chan, who plays the fashion icon Astrid Teo, is using one of Neil’s clutches during an equally intricate scene in the movie – Colin and Araminta’s wedding, no less. She is also seen holding a Felipp piece during a tense scene with her husband Michael, played by Pierre Png.) When it came to the selection process, I presented them images of my minaudieres via email. From there, they selected the designs that will be used and shared with me who the possible actors that will be using them, as well as the scenes that the minaudieres will most likely be in. The book and the movie has, in a way, given you global recognition. Given the chance to give your piece to an international celebrity, who would be your top picks? A few of my top picks would be Oprah, Beyonce, Amal Clooney, Angelina Jolie and Michelle Obama. I chose them is not only for their impeccable fashion sense, as well as how do they use their celebrity status to help others. This can be done through various ways such as providing scholarships, relief goods to victims, and constantly inspiring hope to others. What I seek the most in a celebrity is the charitable work that they would do in order to make the world a better place. Do some Filipinos embody the whole Crazy Rich Asians lifestyle? Yes, there are quite a few and I find it quite intriguing that each one has their own take on the Crazy Rich Asians lifestyle. For more of Neil Felipp’s design, check his Instagram account, @neilfelipp. Crazy Rich Asians premieres in the Philippines on August 22. – Rappler.com Written by: Tedrick Yau Source: https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/fashion/210046-how-neil-felipp-craft-charm-got-him-spot-crazy-rich-asians-movie |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/uplb-is-top-school-in-veterinarian-exam/ | UPLB is top school in veterinarian exam – UP Alumni Website | UPLB is top school in veterinarian exam August 23, 2018 With its passing percentage of 93.55% (58 passers out of 62 examinees), UPLB has emerged as the only top performing school in the August 2018 Veterinarian Licensure Examination administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). The PRC’s requirement for a school to earn the said distinction is to have at least 80% passing percentage and 50 or more examinees. Leading the new UPLB veterinarians are two topnotchers: eighth placer Shaira Mitchie Gangan Ortiz (82.62%) and tenth placer Alay Maria Consuelo Barin Paz (82.40%). The national passing rate is 47.89%, with 455 passers out of 950 takers in the country. UPLB is the sole top performing school in the three out of four recent editions of the said exam. (Mark Jayson E. Gloria, with information from www.prc.gov.ph) Source: http://uplb.edu.ph/academic/uplb-is-top-school-in-veterinarian-exam/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/son-of-chicharon-vendor-is-up-tacloban-batch-2018-magna-cum-laude/ | Son of chicharon vendor is UP Tacloban batch 2018 magna cum laude – UP Alumni Website | Son of chicharon vendor is UP Tacloban batch 2018 magna cum laude August 28, 2018 KIM D. Limosnero, 21, grew up in a family of chicharon (deep-fried pork rind) vendors in Palo, Leyte. TACLOBAN. Kim D. Limosnero, the Class 2018 top graduate of the University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College (UPVTC), poses with his proud mother Rosalina and sister Loelie, during the University’s 42nd Commencement Exercises on Tuesday, June 26. (photo courtesy of Kim D. Limosnero) (photo courtesy of Kim D. Limosnero) Although his father, Loe, died from liver cirrhosis before he entered grade school, Limosnero already has a clear memory of how his parents manufactured and sold the popular Filipino snack to support the family. “As small children, the only help my two brothers, sister and I could offer was to pack chicharon pieces by hand into small transparent cellophane. A pack of chicahron is normally sold for P2 in small sari-sari stores,” he recalled. With the untimely death of his father, Limosnero looked up to his mother, Rosalina, as his source of strength and inspiration. (photo courtesy of Kim D. Limosnero) His mother, became the breadwinner of their family, successfully managing their chicharon business by herself despite not being able to finish college. “Throughout the years, I have seen how my mother untiringly supervised alone the operations of our family business. My mother is one of the most hardworking persons I have ever known — even more diligent than I am,” he said. “Every morning, she would wake up around 4 a.m. to start managing our business — estimating how many packs and bundles of chicharon she could sell for the day, communicating with our suppliers regarding the availability of the primary inputs to our manufacturing operations, transacting with numerous wholesalers and retailers, and at times negotiating with them on quantity discounts,” added Limosnero. According to him, his mother regularly leaves their home, riding their family-owned multicab occasionally driven by his older brother and during other times by a paid driver, to deliver bundles of chicharon to their customers in Samar and Leyte. They travel hundreds of kilometers in each delivery cycle, he said. As he doesn’t really want his mother to “spend so much” for his personal needs and education, Limosnero also tried selling chicharon to his classmates at Palo National High School where he finished as valedictorian and at the University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College (UPVTC) where he successfully topped in the entire graduating Class 2018 as Magna cum laude, with cumulative GWA of 1.256, in Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. When the emcee started to call the honor graduates during the university’s 42nd Commencement Exercises on Tuesday, June 26, her mother, who was sitting in front, shed tears of joy, completely surprised about the overall academic achievement of her son. “To my mother, the summa cum laude of my life, you have sacrificed so much to bring me to where I am today. Hindi ka na nakahanap ng ‘forever’ sa kakatrabaho mo for over 15 years, since Grade 1 pa lang ako, and halos wala ka pang masyadong pahinga araw-araw para lang maitaguyod kami ni Kenneth, JR, and ate Loelie,” said Limosnero as he delivered his valedictory speech. “Kahit di ka man nakapagtapos ng kolehiyo, nakakamangha na nakaya mong buhayin at pag-aralin mag-isa kaming apat na magkakapatid sa loob ng labin-limang taong iyon. At ang mas nakakamangha pa dito ay nakaya mong i-manage ang sarili mo, na manatiling young, beautiful and parang walang ka-stress stress. Ikaw nga talaga ang tunay na summa cum laude ng buhay ko. “This sablay and medal are for you Ma. Sorry if I never told you that I was graduating as the valedictorian of our batch. I intended to make this day super special and memorable to you by surprising you on this day of the graduation. “By passing the CPA Licensure Examination this October 2018, I hope that I can finally lift up the burden on your shoulders and help earn income for the family and contribute as well for the education of my younger brother,” added Limosnero, who turned emotional during his speech. Limosnero is also a review scholar of SyCip Gorres Velayo & Company (SGV & Co.), the country’s top multidisciplinary professional services firm. Message to fellow ‘Iskolars ng Bayan’ While expressing his gratitude to the University and to all the professors for the “values of honor and excellence” they inculcated to them, Limosnero urged fellow scholars to “always remember that we owe our UP education to the Filipino people.” “Currently, the state of the Philippines is rough. Several million Filipinos are still unemployed. Great inequality still exists across income brackets, regions and sectors. Public resources and facilities are still not equally accessible to the people. Moreover, the Philippines’ political landscape continues to be challenging and unstable. Truly, our society has become complex, confused and divided,” said Limosnero, who was also an outstanding student awardee. “These problems that our country faces are real and extensive. As Iskolars ng Bayan, it is our responsibility to extend our compassion for the oppressed. We should always be ready to be engaged with our fellow people, ready to listen to their daily struggles; because by understanding their current situation, we become more motivated to do something for our country,” he added. According to Limosnero, it becomes increasingly important for the UP scholars “to remain vigilant and aware of the actions of the government and various socio-political groups, so that we can provide our support and our criticisms.” “After all, the common end that we seek is a productive and well-functioning society — a country that prospers not at the expense of the minorities and the underprivileged, but an all-inclusive nation that leaves no one in a poor state,” he said in his speech. (SunStar Philippines) Source: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1750038/Tacloban/Feature/Son-of-chicharon-vendor-is-UP-Tacloban-batch-2018-magna-cum-laude |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/rev-dr-federico-i-agnir-1939-2018/ | Rev. Dr. Federico I. Agnir (1939-2018) – UP Alumni Website | Rev. Dr. Federico I. Agnir (1939-2018) August 29, 2018 The Rev. Dr. Federico (Fred or Eddie) Agnir, a longtime prominent resident of Greenfield, Massachusetts and Wesley Chapel, Florida, passed away on July 9 in his Wesley Chapel home, after an 8-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Rev. Dr. Federico I. Agnir A 1959 graduate of the University of the Philippines, he majored in history and speech. He married the former Ruby Ordinario, also a 1959 graduate of English speech and drama, in 1961. He and Ruby met in the choir of the Church of the Risen Lord. They were active in the music program of the church and with the UP Christian Youth Movement (UPCYM) of which he became president. Agnir was a member of the Beta Sigma Fraternity as well as Jose Abad Santos Chapter of DeMolay International, of which he became Master Councilor. He taught at the Lyceum for a couple of years, after which he and his wife moved to Davao City, Ruby’s hometown, where he served as the registrar of Rizal Memorial Colleges for three years. Their children were born in Brokenshire Memorial Hospital, Mirla (Dawn) in 1962, Rowena (Row) in 1964 and Frederick (Rowen) in 1967. In 1964, Agnir and his family moved to Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, where he obtained his Master of Divinity (magna cum laude) from Silliman University Divinity School. Agnir spent his seminary internship at, and became assistant pastor of, the Church of the Risen Lord. He and his family went back to Silliman University where he taught seminary courses and his wife Ruby taught English, speech and theater arts. In 1971, Agnir left for Syracuse University in New York. His family followed in 1972. The Agnir family then went to Greenfield, Massachusetts, in 1974 after he earned his master’s degree in mass communications from Syracuse University. For 30 years, he taught oral communication in Greenfield Community College, where he was the advisor of the GCC honor society, Phi Theta Kappa. He also trained GCC debaters and brought them to competitions throughout the U.S.A. At the same time, being an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ, he became senior pastor of several churches in Greenfield and neighboring towns. Among these are the congregational churches of Shelburne, Leverett, Easthampton, and South Deerfield. The Greenfield churches he served were Robbins Memorial and First Congregational. He was the main organizer of SUACONA, Silliman University Alumni Council in North America, and received the Outstanding Silliman Alumnus Award in Pastoral Ministry in 2005. He was also an active member of the Board of Directors of UPAAA, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America, which awarded his wife Ruby the Distinguished Alumna Award in Culture and the Arts in 2011, and him the Distinguished Alumnus Award in Pastoral Ministry and Education in 2017. A singer and theater enthusiast, he and his wife Ruby performed in many programs and theater productions in the area. They sang and were soloists in several church and community choirs, as well as the Pioneer Symphony Chorus of Franklin County. He was producer of Green Room Players, a community theater troupe of Franklin County founded by Ruby, and appeared in most of its productions. His favorite role was the king in “The King and I,” produced by both Country Players and GRP. The proceeds of GRP productions, a total of about $50,000, went to charitable causes, including the Franklin Pastoral Counseling Center, the Order of the Eastern Star charities, Greenfield Public Schools, churches, and the ALS research fund of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. A published author, Agnir’s autobiography, When God Calls, which is available from Amazon, has become a best-seller purchased both here and abroad. Agnir was also a master chess and table tennis (ping-pong) player, coaching enthusiasts and holding simultaneous chess competitions in the community as well as in prisons. Retiring from both education and church professions in 2003, he and Ruby moved to Wesley Chapel, Florida, in 2004. They became members of the Springfield (MA) chapter in 1977 and the Tampa Bay (FL) chapter in 2004 of American MENSA. He was a member of Republican Lodge (Greenfield, MA) and Zephyr Lodge (Zephyrhills, FL) of Free and Accepted Masons, and the Egypt Shrine of Shriners International. He and Ruby were also past Worthy Patron and Matron of Arcana and Bethlehem chapters (MA), and dual members of Crescent Chapter (FL), of the Order of the Eastern Star. Agnir is survived by his wife, Ruby; daughters Mirla Thompson and Rowena Rantanen; son Frederick Agnir; grandson Steven Curtiss; granddaughters Kayla and Rachel Agnir; Elysse, Katherine, and Laura Rantanen; sons-in-law Brian Thompson and Eric Rantanen; and daughter-in-law Christiana Carter Agnir; as well as several siblings and relatives in the U.S. and the Philippines. He and Ruby celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary on April 28, 2018. For those who would like to send donations in his memory, these may be sent in his name to the American Cancer Society or to the Agnir Memorial Music Fund of Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 State Rd. 54, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543). Sympathy cards may be sent to 6119 Weatherwood Circle, Wesley Chapel, FL 33545. Source: Mrs. Ruby Agnir |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/fil-am-wins-democratic-primary-in-florida-congressional-district/ | Fil-Am wins Democratic primary in Florida congressional district – UP Alumni Website | Fil-Am wins Democratic primary in Florida congressional district August 30, 2018 A Filipina who immigrated to the United States has won the Democratic primary, defeating her rival by more than 20 points, a report on Weartv said. Jennifer Zimmerman, who immigrated to the US 25 years ago, will face Republican Matt Gaetz for Florida’s district one seat in November. “I am overwhelmed with the support I have received from the constituents of District 1,” she said in a Facebook post. “To those who came out last night and to those who supported me from home, THANK YOU. This victory belongs to all of us.” https://www.facebook.com/jenniferzimmermanforcongress/posts/496425294159281 According to her website, Zimmerman — or Dr. Z as she is known in her community — was born in the Philippines to a father who was a POW during World War II and a mother who was not allowed by her father to attend school. The eldest of six children, Zimmerman received a full academic scholarship to attend the University of the Philippines, where she majored in Zoology. She obtained her medical degree at the University of the East before moving to the US. At the US, the happily married mother of three children completed her residency training in Pediatrics at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York. Zimmerman has been a resident of Florida since 1997. —KBK, GMA News Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/pinoyachievers/665965/fil-am-wins-democratic-primary-in-florida-congressional-district/story/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/the-reason-for-our-being-to-get-the-story-and-to-keep-getting-it-right/ | The reason for our being: To get The Story and to keep getting it right. – UP Alumni Website | The reason for our being: To get The Story and to keep getting it right. August 31, 2018 Veteran broadcast journalist and GMA News and Public Affairs pillar Jessica Soho received the 2018 Gawad Plaridel for Outstanding Journalist, the highest honor given by the University of the Philippines System for media practitioners who have “performed with the highest level of professional integrity in the interest of public service.” Below is her address upon receiving the award. Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat. There is one question that’s often asked in our newsroom, then and now, especially to our reporters and news teams, going to or returning from the field: What is YOUR story? Anong istorya o balita mo? Na para bang to everyone in the newsroom, THAT was all that mattered. Your worth or market value for the day. No, “How are you’s” or “Are you okay’s.” It is an accepted fact among journalists that you’re only as good as your last story. Great if you had a scoop or an exclusive or you covered something important. Sorry ka na lang if your story did not amount to much, although there is always another day to make up for it. These days, a lot of people are asking that same question, even outside the newsroom and even among non-journalists. What is your story, your truth or your messaging or your narrative? Mine is actually very simple. A Promdi, or a small town girl, who made good. As one of my cameramen used to say, pinabili lang ng suka, naging reporter na. Which was true to a certain extent because I did not plan on becoming a journalist. Journalism, as a course in college, was just an escape from the 12 units of Math required in Political Science. Babala, mga bata. ‘Wag gagayahin. Lubhang mapanganib! Had it not been for Professor Louie Beltran who inspired us with stories about his exploits as a journalist and who brought to class excellently written news articles from the New York Times and who also just happened to casually mention to our class one day that his friend, Tony Seva of GMA News, preferred to hire journalism graduates even for broadcasting, I would not be here today. Today, I stand before you as you honor me and my life’s work when really, the credit should also go to everyone who has helped me in my more than 33 years in broadcast journalism. Napakarami po nila. From my earliest mentors in the newsroom – reporter and deskman Rey Vidal, audio-visual head Steve Serna and my cameramen; to my former bosses – Tony Seva and Tina Monzon-Palma, Marissa Flores, Nessa Valdellon, Grace dela Pena-Reyes; to those who taught me how to connect better to a wider set of audience – Bobby Barreiro and Tony Tuviera; to Atty. Felipe Gozon for putting me on primetime and for all the help; Jimmy Duavit and Felipe Yalong for all their support and to all my colleagues in GMA News and Public Affairs including the current and former staff of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, BRIGADA and State of the Nation with Jessica Soho. Thank you very, very much. Wala ako rito, kung hindi dahil sa inyo. I started out tabula rasa, like a blank sheet of paper, walang alam bukod sa makapal ang mukha at nakahandang gawin ang lahat, magkatrabaho lang. I would not have minded had they made me answer the telephones or make coffee or man the teleprompter. There was just so much to learn and it was all so very exciting! The Story. I cannot overemphasize that enough. Because THAT is what we’re really here for; the reason for our being, if you will, and what we should all continue working hard for. To get it right! Going after The Story has brought me to some of the most dangerous places on earth. In 1989, my crew and I joined a team of government and military officials for a trip to the Spratly Islands long before many Filipinos have heard of it. Our small airplane lost its way and worse, almost ran out of fuel. We all thought we were going to die and there was nothing to do but pray. But just in time, only minutes before our plane’s engine conked out, our pilots spotted a small island, in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. Miraculously, it had an airstrip! We were saved but because the island was in the southernmost tip of Palawan, near Borneo and before there were satellite or mobile phones; our office and families in Manila were already preparing for the worst, and even our obituaries. 2002 saw me and my crew in Kabul, Afghanistan. This was one year AFTER the Taliban fled the city and I thought we were safe… until a landmine almost killed us. You’ve probably seen the video, thanks to Mannix Lazaro, our cameraman who was only about 10 feet away from the explosion. Of course, I love my job but I also sometimes ask existential questions: Why am I here? Is it all worth it? Why we do the things we do and for what? Every time I ask those questions or rant, it goes back to the same answer: The Story. Many journalists have died pursuing it. Tyrants resort to killing, hoping they’d kill The Story, too. Leaders in the Philippines and even in the United States have fallen because of it. It sounds so basic and fundamental but The Story is very powerful! I’ve had my share of fighting battles to defend it. Some were won, some were lost but life goes on. Some people may think there is a dichotomy or a difference between being a Filipino and being a journalist but I don’t. I am both. I am a Filipino journalist and I am not torn between public interest and the truth. I do not see any conflict there because at the bottom of it all is The Story. The Truth. The Story can never be changed nor revised, even if memories are short. What happened, happened! Pagbali-baligtarin man natin ang mundo. And I have Tina Monzon Palma to thank for, for this most important lesson that saw me through some pivotal crossroads in my career. She was the one who hired me and it was also through her example and courage that my newsroom contemporaries and I learned the value of upholding the truth, no matter what. To defend the integrity of The Story. And we need more of this in these perilous times. When journalism and journalists are under attack by those who try to discredit us and undermine our credibility. In a manner both cunning and brillant, let’s grant them that – by mirroring us and our content and passing those as news, when clearly it’s not. I say fake news is nothing more than a deliberate distortion of the truth and of reality. Some people can’t handle the truth so they make their own or their version of reality, which is really nothing more than falsehoods or lies. And so today we hear of post-truths, alternative realities and the latest — truth isn’t truth. At a time when we’re supposed to be knowing better and communicating more. The scary part is: fake news has been weaponized. It has become so powerful it is believed to have influenced the outcome of the US elections, no less! What could be worse than that? Imagine, the most powerful person of not only the most powerful country but of the whole world, a beneficiary of fake news! How do we fight it? Simply by being more discerning. Get your news from trusted sources, not primarily from your own news feeds. Don’t believe anything just because it’s been repeated or retweeted or liked a million times. It is never a popularity contest. The Truth is determined NOT by algorithms or the number of posts, likes,tweets or engagements but by facts and facts alone. And please, fact-check. You have the tools and the apps and all you need is the click of a button or a swipe of a finger. Let’s all dig deeper, work even harder. The only antidote to fake news is The Truth. The Story. Professor Rachel Khan has asked me to include in my speech or lecture the importance of having the right values. Kaya pasensya na kayo, mga millennial diyan, alam ko you don’t like being preached to. But I think it’s important that we all do our share and because this is supposed to be a lecture too, I don’t mind if you take down notes. Here goes: For those of you wanting to join us, in broadcast or print or digital or film or communication research — I think it is very important for you to have the right values. The technical stuff you need to learn and store in your head but the right values, you need to live by and encode in your DNA. Importante siyempre ang laman ng utak, pero mas lalong mahalaga ang laman ng puso. The three functions or purposes of communication–to inform; to educate; and, to enlighten; all go hand in hand. It’s a package deal and ideally should not be taken separately. Just as the University’s code of honor and excellence, as Professor or Tita Winnie Monsod has so aptly put it, should also be lived by TOGETHER and in THAT order! Honor. Before. Excellence. Excellence alone will not suffice. It needs honor and honor should be FIRST! And please indulge me more, minsan lang naman ito, as I share some more life lessons: Read, read, read. Do your homework. Because, substance is key! Content will always be King! The internet is only the platform or the distribution highway. The story is THE story! It is never about you! It should not be about you. UNSELFIE. You will never, ever know enough so to learn more, be humble. Ask the tough questions; not the motherhood or generic ones. Listen well. Failure is a prerequisite to learning and success! Prepare for it and once it happens, get back on your feet fast and learn good. There are no mistakes in life, only lessons. Positivize your hugot. Journalists should not have comfort zones! Every day, every story is different. Stress, sleep deprivation, missed meals, cancelled or shortened vacations are guaranteed. Deadlines rule!!! Like a colleague once said, Journalism is never easy; it is a far bigger cause than any of us. Go for the terror teachers! They’re really the best! Do the right thing. Even when all else fails and even if you’re the only one doing it. As our election coverage battlecry goes, and may I claim credit for it, Dapat Tama! Sa totoo lang, when I was asked to give my mantra in life for today’s souvenir program, it did not come easy. In the end, I settled for “Every story is important”- which is really what I live by. Every story is important. A small, minor story could lead to a major expose! Kidneys for Sale, my documentary on poor Filipinos who sold their kidneys, started out as a mere follow-up story to a crime. It was not a major story; it was in the inside pages. A prominent kidney doctor was ambushed; he survived but not his daughter who was with him in the car. When I went to the police station to get an update; the station commander turned out to be an old acquaintance from my years of covering the military and the police. Next thing I knew, he was showing me pictures of about a dozen men from Baseco compound in Tondo, with diagonal cuts on the side of their torsos where one of their kidneys was harvested. You connect the dots, as they say, but first you have to find those dots and ask the right questions to the right people. Looking for missing people was just an out-of-the-box idea in Jessica Soho Reports, our late-night news magazine program before they put us in primetime with Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho. We couldn’t brainstorm good topics on a particular week when there wasn’t much breaking news. And so I asked why don’t we do a story about missing kids? The following day, after our episode aired – the three missing kids we featured were all happily reunited with their families. If we harness television’s immense power, reach and impact, wala pang social media nun, you can help people solve their problems! From that episode was born a weekly program locating missing people: Sana’y Muling Makapiling, followed by Reunions with an average of 3 families reunited per week or a total of 800 families reunited in a span of six (6) years. The same story concept has been carried on in Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho. KMJS reunited Joel and his biological mother after more than three (3) decades! Joel was lost when he was 5 and adopted and brought to Australia by his adoptive parents. Ryan, the OFW from Italy was likewise reunited with his biological mother, 38 years after he was given up for adoption. A staff member put it all together when he said — “more than the ratings, we’re gaining points in heaven”. To be a journalist is to be a truth-seeker. Someone said that to seek the truth is to shine the light even on the darkness of our soul. We also need to somehow keep the hope alive. By capturing a reality where not only the bad happens but the good too. The world may be broken but it can be fixed and the good people still outnumber the bad. Our generation and those before us have failed to solve many of our problems. But I am hopeful you, our millennials, will do better. With so much power in your hands and your limitless potentials, please turn things around! Make this world a better place, no matter how much of a cliché that sounds. Use your so-called “sense of entitlement” to demand and make possible better things for your generation and those to come. They say your generation is more inclusive and more open to possibilities. That should also mean less barriers, less walls to overcome; that you will be more accepting of others and to stop the spread of hatred not only on social media and to level up the discourse or discussions on issues! As we say in UP, Kung hindi tayo/kayo, sino? Kung hindi ngayon, kelan? I say — That should be The story of every Iskolar ng Bayan. Written by Jessica Soho Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/opinion/content/665871/the-reason-for-our-being-to-get-the-story-and-to-keep-getting-it-right/story/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/alumni-push-for-scientific-research-agri-devt/ | Alumni push for scientific research, agri dev’t – UP Alumni Website | Alumni push for scientific research, agri dev’t September 4, 2018 The UP Alumni Council, the advisory body of the UP Alumni Association (UPAA), passed resolutions on the pursuit of scientific research and the development of the agriculture sector in its meeting on August 17 at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman. The Council meets each year on the day before the general homecoming. UP Alumni Association President and Alumni Regent Ramon Maronilla welcomes the members of the Alumni Council and calls the meeting to order. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) On scientific research and development, the Council agreed that the UPAA will do the following: urge the UP administration to prioritize scientific research and development in the curriculum; and, “exhort UP alumni in congress and the executive branch to legislate and implement laws that encourage and enhance scientific research and development in the country”. To develop the agriculture sector, the Council resolved that the Association will encourage and help create non-government organizations (NGOs) that will promote agricultural management and productivity based on the Coalition for Agricultural Modernization in the Philippines, Inc. (CAMP) model. It will aim to “raise awareness on the plight of the agricultural sector and to create public discourse on finding solutions to the problems through public symposia”. These solutions will then be endorsed to concerned government agencies for action. The UPAA will also urge the legislative and executive branches of government to “prioritize the development of the agricultural sector to reduce poverty and attain food security” in order to satisfy the requirements of the country’s growing population. These resolutions were based on the earlier presentations of the meeting’s main speakers, 2018 UPAA Lifetime Achievement Awardee, Engr. Filemon Berba Jr., and 2018 UPAA Most Distinguished Alumnus, Dr. Ruben Villareal. Engr. Filemon Berba Jr., 2018 UPAA Lifetime Achievement Awardee (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Dr. Ruben Villareal, 2018 UPAA Most Distinguished Alumnus (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Berba’s “Science and Technology: Addressing Long-Term Inclusive Growth” highlighted the role of S&T in economic development. The former UP regent lamented the fact that the Department of Science and Technology had one of the lowest budget allocations and he advocated for better technology-based vocational courses. Berba is a staunch advocate of S&T and is the president of the Philippine Foundation for S&T, a non-stock, non-profit private organization. He cited the Foundation’s Philippine Science Centrum and its travelling exhibit as great examples of ways of sparking interest in S&T among Filipinos. Villareal, on the other hand, talked about CAMP, a non-stock, non-profit NGO where he serves as a board member. The former UP Los Baños chancellor said that the organization was a think tank that provided services such as policy recommendations and technical advice to improve the capabilities of the agriculture sector. One of its initiatives is the promotion of farming viable produce apart from rice, such as fruits and vegetables, which helps address food security and contributes to economic gains. (Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo, UP MPRO) UP President Danilo Concepcion shared news on infrastructure development in the University at the Alumni Council Meeting. Read the full story here: PDLC updates Alumni Council on infra projects Written by UP MPRO Source: https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/alumni-push-for-scientific-research-agri-devt/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/pacita-abad-a-million-times-a-woman-an-artist/ | Pacita Abad: A million times a woman, an artist – UP Alumni Website | Pacita Abad: A million times a woman, an artist September 4, 2018 Written by: Mary Jessel Duque There are two things we must know about Pacita Abad’s “A Million Things to Say,” now on exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD). First is that the exhibit is billed as a “reintroduction” rather than a retrospective of the artist. Second, in MCAD’s decade-long existence, this is the first show headlined by a woman. It’s curious how these two pieces of information are tied together. By not calling it a retrospective, the circles and wayang puppets that Abad is known for are absent. Both the museum’s curator and the show’s co-curator — Joselina Cruz and London-based artist and Pacita’s nephew, Pio Abad — underscore the importance of what it means to be a global contemporary artist. Global suggests that the artist has an awareness of what happens in the wider sphere of things — something that is abetted by Abad’s lifelong experience of travel, first as an activist student sent to San Francisco by political parents, to study law and to avoid the long arm of a would-be dictator. She then met and married Jack Garrity, with whom she spent a year hitchhiking from Istanbul to Manila. Her husband’s work as a diplomat with the World Bank would then take them around the world, mostly to developing countries, which informed her early art that depicted social realist scenes. But we see none of these paintings. Instead, when one enters MCAD’s cavernous space, one is met with the gigantic masks from Abad’s “Masai” and “Bacongo” series suspended from the ceiling and held up by metal rods, and done in the trapunto technique that Abad has developed throughout a career that spans more than three decades. Trapunto means “to quilt” in Italian, coming from the Latin word pungere, meaning to prick or to pierce the fabric. It’s a method of quilting that uses two layers of cloth, usually cotton canvas with stuffing in between. It is then embroidered with running stitches, then embellishments are added. There is precision in Pacita’s technique. While her works are larger than life and flowing with color, when one looks at the back, one can see the neatness of the stitches. Her masks are remarkable in that she did not work from studies, as her nephew Pio attested. She worked directly on the canvas, with intuition, but always with precision. The backs of the works are as interesting just to see how this mind, while seemingly freewheeling, was actually focused on the singular display of craftmanship. Pacita Abad’s works make use of rickrack, buttons, sequins, fabrics like ikat and batik, and in one painting, even a flattened aluminum tube of paint. In her underwater series, like in “Puerto Galera at Night,” the branches of the corals use beads often seen in necklaces, little mirrors stitched on the canvas refract sunlight coming in from several hundred feet above the water. But in the hands of Pacita Abad, trapunto becomes three dimensional, almost a kind of sculpture. “L.A. Liberty” by Pacita Abad Moving from Abad’s figurative works at the entrance to the more abstract works in her later years at the back of the first floor of the exhibition, one is awed by the expanse and talent on display. Why then did MCAD take 10 years to feature an exhibit headlined by a woman? One can’t help but think of that question posted by Linda Nochlin all those years ago: “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?” It’s a question that even the fashion world asked recently, when a shirt in the spring-summer 2018 collection of the House of Dior asked that same question. For the first time in 70 years, Dior finally had a woman creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri, who sent a shirt to the runway last year that read, “We Should All Be Feminists.” There was a controversy, similar to this year’s question. But really, 70 years or 10, why are our institutions only recognizing female talent now? In the case of Abad, her piercing of the grand male tradition of great artists goes back to 1984, when she was the first woman to be given the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) award. Artists, older and younger, all men, are questioning an award given to a rather privileged young woman of color, an Ivatan from Batanes, who travels the world footloose and childless with her husband, and yet, if she were male, wouldn’t she be celebrated for her dedication to her art? In the second floor of the museum, Abad’s version of Lady Liberty raises her flame to the world. Alongside the artist’s timeline from her birth in Batanes to her death from cancer in the early 2000s, there is an interview with Felice Sta. Maria that starts innocuously enough. “What is your ideal working space?” the interviewer asks. Abad answers that she works wherever she finds herself. Sometimes in a small space, sometimes in a hotel room. She makes whatever space she finds will work. Sometimes, her mother and sister helps her sew. Then comes the question about the “life cycle” of a woman. Essentially the interviewer is asking: at what point in an artist’s life should she work on having a family, fulfilling the traditional female role of motherhood? Isn’t that important to a woman, too? We come to a realization that perhaps women of Pacita’s generation, like the interviewer, were tied to notions of femininity and what it means to be a woman. Yes, you’re a very prolific artist, but shouldn’t having a family and children be on your agenda, too? Pacita smiles this quiet smile. Down the hall, she stares back under the yellow glow of the flame in “L.A. Liberty.” Downstairs, near the entrance, after the masks, Pacita is sailing away from time, the waves carrying her downstream to a time when the descriptive “woman” is not important; there is only the artist. (Mary Jessel B. Duque is one of the winners in this year’s Purita Kalaw-Ledesma Prizes in Art Criticism. As one of the prizes, Duque gets to write a column for The Philippine STAR. She teaches courses in art, literature and the Philippine soap opera at the De La Salle University Manila. She has also previously taught with the Department of English and Comparative Literature at University of the Philippines in Diliman, where she has also earned her BA and MA in Creative Writing. Her essays and short stories have been published in local anthologies including Sawi and Hoard of Thunder: Philippine Short Stories in English Volume 2 and have won her fellowships at the UST’s J. Elizalde Navarro Workshop on Criticism and the IYAS Creative Writing Workshop. She has written scripts for major television networks in the Philippines and Singapore.) Source: https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/arts-and-culture/2018/09/03/1848056/pacita-abad-million-times-woman-artist |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/refusing-to-be-daunted-by-failure-mother-graduates-with-2-children/ | Refusing to be daunted by failure, mother graduates with 2 children – UP Alumni Website | Refusing to be daunted by failure, mother graduates with 2 children September 4, 2018 “When two of our children were about to graduate in the same university that brought me and my husband together many years ago, I decided to take a leap of faith and enroll in Math 100. I’ve been thinking, wouldn’t it be nice if the three of us all graduate at the same time?” (Lorelei Aquino / MANILA BULLETIN) Two decades in the making, Lorelei Aquino joyfully marched in her “sablay”, alongside her two children, after she finally got hold of her most desirable undergraduate degree from the University of the Philippines on Sunday. Earning the Business Management degree wasn’t easy for the 44-year old mother as she had to balance her time between being a parent and studying in the university for two semesters. “Going back to school had not been easy for me, though. It was, in fact, extremely difficult and challenging.” Aquino first enrolled in UP Diliman Extension Program in Clark, Pampanga, but as soon as she failed her calculus class in her last semester, she decided to drop out of school. At that time, she was also pregnant with her first child, Mark Romeo. Her children, Mark Romeo and Lorielle Ann, who studied chemical engineering and biology, respectively, both graduated as cum laude. After more than 20 years, which also marked her children’s final year at the university, she finally decided it was time for her comeback and to face one of her biggest fears: Math. She then also decided to make her son as her tutor. Pursuing the degree wasn’t easy as she was still unable to pass the subject. With the endless support of her family, Aquino did not stop and re-enrolled at UP Diliman. “I found comfort in my husband and children’s assurance that there was no shame in what happened. I did my best, and that was what’s most important, they said,” she stated. Aquino attended a one-hour class four times a week in the university. “My children could take as many as seven subjects in a sem, and I would expect them to bring home impeccable grades, while there I was, allowing myself to abandon my long-time dream of earning a diploma, to give up the fight even before it started, to be daunted by the obstacles that a single subject entailed,” she said. “And so, with my children as my inspiration, I went ahead and kept going,” she wrote. Despite getting more white hair and reacquired migraine, nightmares and panic attacks, losing weights and endless sight of square roots and absolute values or greater integer functions, Aquino still chose to look at the brighter side. “I have come to appreciate more the effort that my children have been putting into their studies. But, most importantly, I was able to accomplish my goal.” Written by Marjaleen Ramos Source: https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/06/25/refusing-to-be-daunted-by-failure-mother-graduates-with-2-children/ |
https://alum.up.edu.ph/pdi-columnist-among-2018-toyp-honorees/ | PDI columnist among 2018 TOYP honorees – UP Alumni Website | PDI columnist among 2018 TOYP honorees September 7, 2018 Political analyst Richard Heydarian (AB 2009; MIS 2012), who writes the weekly column “Horizons” for the Inquirer, has been named as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) honorees this year by the Junior Chamber International (JCI). Richard Heydarian JCI, a nonprofit international nongovernment organization (NGO) of young people between 18 and 40 years old, cited Heydarian for his work as a leading global expert on security issues across Asia. “Richard Javad Heydarian uses his writing skills to address the growing need for the public to understand the changing landscape of political thinking,” it said. “As an academic and global affairs expert, he has authored close to 1,000 articles and is regularly interviewed by leading media outlets such as BBC, Bloomberg and CNBC. With each article, publication and appearance, Heydarian advances his mission to inspire a new generation of leaders who push boundaries to create positive and lasting change for a better Philippines and a better world.” Heydarian, 31, started his “Horizons” column in April. He is the author of three books, including “The Rise of Duterte: A Populist Revolt against Elite Democracy,” published in 2017. He coauthored four other books discussing Asean and South China Sea issues. He was among the Ten Outstanding Young Men in the Philippines in 2016, recognized for his contributions to the social sciences. Another Filipino honoree is nurse and educator Ronivin Pagtakhan (BSN 2004), who founded the organization LoveYourself, an NGO that has opened self-sustaining resource centers that offer education and counseling to youth and LGBT communities. JCI cited Pagtakhan for doing “what he can in his daily life to help people by taking to Twitter to answer health questions and providing compassionate answers to people seeking honest and accessible health advice.” Every year, JCI honors 10 outstanding young people under the age of 40 for making sustainable impact on their communities and across the globe through innovative actions and service. The other eight honorees this year come from Syria, Romania, Mongolia, United Kingdom, Nepal, Turkey and Nigeria. Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1027243/pdi-columnist-among-2018-toyp-honorees |
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