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https://up.edu.ph/the-philippine-genome-center-stockpiling-for-covid-19/ | The Philippine Genome Center: Stockpiling for COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | The Philippine Genome Center: Stockpiling for COVID-19 The Philippine Genome Center: Stockpiling for COVID-19 March 10, 2020 | Written by KIM G Quilinguing Video recorded and edited by KIM Quilinguing, UP Media and Public Relations Office, with additional materials from RVTM and Manila HealthTek, Inc. On February 13, 2020, President Rodrigo R. Duterte addressed the nation on television as fears over the spread of the Novel Coronavirus 2019 or Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) gripped many. Speaking in a video message recorded at the Malacañang Palace, he assured the public that his administration was taking all the necessary measures to limit the spread of the disease. “I call on our people to remain calm, vigilant, responsible. And I also ask [for] your trust and cooperation, support as we face the challenge,” he said. Earlier during the day, the Manila HealthTek Inc. posted on its official Facebook page a photo of the COVID-19 test kit developed by experts from the Philippine Genome Center and the National Institutes of Health of the University of the Philippines Manila. The GenAmplify Corona Virus Disease-2019 rRT PCR Detecion Kit. Courtesy of Manila HealthTek, Inc. on Facebook. The GenAmplify Corona Virus Disease-2019 rRT PCR Detection Kit was the product of several days and hours of intensive research and testing by experts from the University who built upon the genome sequence of COVID-19, made available by the World Health Organization on its website. According to PGC Executive Director Cynthia Palmes-Saloma, the kit was made possible after genetic experts from others countries used Next Generation DNA Sequencing in trying to understand the nature of the COVID-19 virus. Among the facilities of the center is its DNA Sequencing Laboratory which was established in 2013. Dr. Cynthia Palmes-Saloma, Executive Director of the Philippine Genome Center. Photo by KIM Quilinguing, UP MPRO DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid is the building block of every living being. These molecules contain the genetic makeup of an organism, it is composed of nucleotides guanine, cytosine, thymine and adenine (G-C-T-A). Sequencing is the process of determining the order of the nucleotides in a DNA. For the molecular biologist, Dr. Saloma, Next Generation Sequencing is essential in understanding the nature of living things, including viruses and bacteria. And it can even be used to determine the identity and properties of unknown organisms. “If there’s an emergency and there’s a totally unknown organism, and some might say that it’s a virus, it’s bacteria, or it’s an unknown, then Next Generation Sequencing will come in handy,” she said. The same process, she quickly added, was used in understanding the Novel Coronavirus from Wuhan, China. Next Generation Sequencing, also known as Massive Parallel Sequencing, is a process by which several DNA samples can be simultaneously sequenced using computers, which produces more results when compared to the Sanger Sequencing, which can only process one DNA fragment at a time. Dr. Benedict Maralit, Director, DNA Sequencing Core Facility, Philippine Genome Center. Photo by KIM Quilinguing, UP MPRO For Dr. Benedict Maralit, since DNA is found in all living organisms, it can be used in determining the nature of a bacteria or a virus. DNA sequencing is, he said, “a manner of characterizing DNA.” Through this method of analysis, he and his team can determine if a DNA is unique or comparable to those of other organisms. As head of the PGC’s DNA Sequencing Core Facility, he leads the center’s unit, which takes the first crack at the specimens which are sent to their institution for analysis. After a specimen is sequenced, it is then forwarded to another unit of the PGC called the Core Facility for Bioinformatics. The unit, according to its supervisor, Dr. Jan Michael Yap, will subject the sequenced samples to a verification process to establish its proper attributes. Dr. Jan Michael Yap, Director Computational Genomics and System Biology Program and Supervisor, Core Facility for Bioinformatics, Philippine Genome Center. Photo by KIM Quilinguing, UP MPRO In the case of the COVID-19, Yap, who is also the director of the Computational Genomics and System Biology Program, will head a team which will help in the process of sequenced DNA specimen to determine if a patient under investigation (PUI) has contracted the virus or not. He said, “We will verify if, with some degree of confidence, the person has a confirmed infection of NCOV [COVID-19].” With the PGC, NIH and Manila HealthTek, Inc. successfully creating a locally made COVID-19 test kit, the center’s Deputy Executive Director Raul Destura has instructed his team to stockpile the produced kits in anticipation of a possible need by the country’s public health agencies. “We are currently manufacturing them, just in case,” he said. The test kit produced by the collaboration has been presented to the Department of Health and is currently undergoing review and evaluation. Related: FDA OKs COVID-19 test kits developed by UP scientists Dr. Raul Destura, Deputy Executive Director, Philippine Genome Center. Photo by KIM Quilinguing, UP MPRO An infectious disease specialist and microbiologist by training, Dr. Destura, who is also affiliated with both the NIH and is the president and the chief executive Officer of Manila HealthTek, Inc. said they initially have started stockpiling kits for at least 1,000 persons. With a grant from the Department of Science and Technology, they are planning on adding more kits in anticipation of the possible need for testing more persons. The Manila HealthTek, Inc. is a company founded by Destura as an avenue for research and development efforts in creating affordable, portable and reliable testing kits for infectious diseases. He considers it as a spin-off from the studies conducted by experts in the university, where they can see the practical application of their research. An earlier test kit for dengue he and his team developed, is also being produced by the company under a license granted by the university’s Board of Regents. For now, Destura, Yap, Maralit and Saloma, prepare for the worse that COVID-19 might bring, as they continue to stockpile on test kits, observe the virus and identify possible avenues where they can extend their assistance to other government agencies. As of March 10, 2020, the DOH has recorded a cumulative total of 725 patients under investigation (PUIs), of which 657 have been discharged from hospitals. There are now 24 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, with one resulting in the death of a Chinese tourist. Worldwide, the virus has spread to more than 104 countries and territories, resulting to 109,577 cases and 3,809 deaths. Majority of the cases are still in China, with significant numbers in South Korea, Italy and Iran. |
https://up.edu.ph/isang-pagsaludo-sa-mga-intern-ng-philippine-general-hospital/ | Isang Pagsaludo sa mga Intern ng Philippine General Hospital – University of the Philippines | Isang Pagsaludo sa mga Intern ng Philippine General Hospital Isang Pagsaludo sa mga Intern ng Philippine General Hospital March 17, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Last March 14, 2020, the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges gave out a directive to pull-out medical interns out of all NCR hospitals. However, over 100 interns at the Philippine General Hospital volunteered to go back on-duty to help the patients and the remaining health care workers in the hospital. The PGH Administration has since welcomed these reinforcements with assurances of PPE, food, lodging, and standby medical care for all of them. The University salutes the hard work and bayanihan spirit among the frontliners, health workers, and medical professionals in the country’s battle against COVID-19. Mabuhay po kayo! *Featured image courtesy of Manila Bulletin |
https://up.edu.ph/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-advice-for-the-up-community/ | Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the UP Community – University of the Philippines | Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the UP Community Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the UP Community February 10, 2020 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Advice for the UP Community as of 14 February 2020 On December 31, 2019, an outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus or novel coronavirus disease, previously called 2019-nCoV, was first reported from Wuhan, China, and has since spread across the globe. Coronaviruses belong to a large family of viruses found in both animals and humans. Some of these viruses cause illnesses that include both the common cold and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). With over 20,000 cases reported across 24 countries, including the Philippines, it is important to know what we must do to prevent an infection. For us in the UP community, the University has a set of protocols if we or someone we know contract what the World Health Organization has named the COVID-19 acute respiratory disease. Positive for exposure If you have traveled to China, Macau, Hong Kong or other areas with confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection, or if you have had close contact (within one meter) with a confirmed case of COVID-19 infection, you should stay at home and monitor yourself for symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath, for 14 days from the date of arrival or exposure. While current data show that people who have symptoms contribute most to the spread of the disease, it may also be possible that people infected with COVID-19 may be infectious before they even show any symptoms. If you have come into close contact with a confirmed case, or you have been exposed to potential infection during your travels, please seek consultation with the University Health Service on campus, or at the nearest health facility, and undergo a health assessment before resuming your daily routine. At this point, you will be considered a Person Under Monitoring (PUM), and you will be advised to go on self-quarantine for 14 days. Here are some home quarantine instructions for PUMs: Stay at home except when getting medical care. Separate yourself from the other people in your home. Avoid sharing household items. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water and sanitize with alcohol. Cover your cough and sneezes with tissue. Wear a face mask with the colored side facing outward. Monitor your symptoms. Call ahead before visiting your doctor. Positive for symptoms If you have been exposed to COVID-19 through your travels or through close contact with a confirmed case, and you are showing respiratory symptoms, here is what you should do: Seek consultation with your University Health Service on campus or go to the nearest health facility. Once there, you will be asked to fill out a form that will include questions about your travel history and/or if you have come into contact with a confirmed case. Make sure you wear your face mask properly and call ahead. You will be brought to a holding area where the physician on duty will more closely investigate the timing of your symptoms. At this point, you will be designated as Patient Under Investigation (PUI). The physician will inform the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (CESU) or the Municipal Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (MESU), and will continue to coordinate with the CESU/MESU in monitoring your condition, which will include admitting you to specialized hospitals with the capacity to treat the disease. Preventive measures When it comes to good health, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. For the members of the UP community who have not recently traveled to China, Macau, Hong Kong or come into close contact with a confirmed case, follow these infectious respiratory disease-prevention rules from the Department of Health and World Health Organization: OBSERVE PROPER HAND HYGIENE. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds (or two rounds of “Happy Birthday”), and, if available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. REMEMBER THAT YOUR FACE IS SACRED. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Your hands may have touched contaminated surfaces, and you can transfer germs from the surface to yourself. RESPECT PERSONAL SPACE. Avoid crowded places and maintain at least a one-meter or three-foot distance between yourself and other people, particularly those who are coughing, sneezing and have a fever. PRACTICE GOOD COUGH ETIQUETTE. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and properly and immediately dispose of the tissue. Wash your hands properly afterward. (Refer to Item No. 1.) You may be asked to wear a face mask to protect others. WEAR THE FACE MASK PROPERLY. Wear the face mask with the colored side facing outward, fully covering the nose, mouth, and chin. Never touch the mask with your hands. Remove the mask by holding only the strings. Properly dispose of the mask. Wear a face mask only when necessary, such as if you are immunocompromised or have a cough and cold. AVOID EATING RAW OR IMPROPERLY COOKED ANIMAL PRODUCTS, as COVID-19 is also animal-transmitted. WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP AND WATER AFTER CONTACT WITH PETS. Although there is no evidence yet that pets can be infected with COVID-19, this will help prevent the spread of other germs such as E. coli and Salmonella. Also, wash your hands with soap and water after visiting an animal market or wet market, and avoid unprotected contact with wild or farm animals. WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER HANDLING THINGS SUCH AS DOOR KNOBS AND TABLE TOPS. Although coronaviruses do not survive long on objects such as letters and packages, they have been detected on places like door knobs, table tops or other surfaces. KEEP YOUR GADGETS AND PERSONAL ITEMS CLEAN. Disinfect your mobile phones, tablets, laptops, bags, eyeglasses, etc. regularly. GET YOUR INFORMATION ONLY FROM THE PROPER AUTHORITIES to prevent the spread of fake news and disinformation. Proper health authorities include your University Health Service on campus, the Department of Health and its city and regional offices, and the WHO. BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM by eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep and exercise, and drinking plenty of water. A strong immune system will be better able to fight off COVID-19, as well as other diseases. Know who to ask To prevent the spread of misinformation and undue alarm, it is important that we get our information only from the proper authorities. For questions and concerns, please contact the Public Health Unit of the University Health Service on campus or in the health facility near you. For UP Diliman, call (02) 8981-8500 local 2709, 2701, or visit the UP Diliman Public Health Unit’s Facebook page. For UP Manila, call (02) 8554 8400 local 2076 and 2077; or (02) 8523 5350 For UP Baguio, call (074) 442 0363. For UP Los Baños and the UP Open University, call (049) 536 6238. For UP Cebu, call (032) 232 2642 local 305. For UP Mindanao, call (082) 293 0863 local 9051. For UP Visayas’ Miag-ao campus, call (033) 315 8301; for its Iloilo campus, call (033) 337 8594. For daily updates and information about COVID-19, please visit the DOH website and the WHO website. Infographics version of infographics References ABS-CBN News. (2020, January 31). Coronaviruses on Made-in-China goods, door knobs? DOH chief distinguishes fact from fiction | ANC [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seLvkqH4Euw Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020 February 2). About 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020 February 2). Frequently Asked Questions and Answers. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html Department of Health. (2020, February 3). FAQS on novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Updates on Wuhan coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-NCOV ARD). Retrieved from https://www.doh.gov.ph/2019-nCov/FAQs Department of Health. (2020, February 3). Infographics. Updates on Wuhan coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-NCOV ARD). Retrieved from https://www.doh.gov.ph/2019-nCov/infographics Department of Health. (2020, February 3). Updates on Wuhan coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-NCOV ARD). Retrieved from https://www.doh.gov.ph/2019-nCov Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 2019 Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) Taskforce. (2020, January 31). Algorithm for triage of patients with suspected 2019-nCoV infection. UP Health Service, UP Diliman. (2020, January 31). Memo for all UP Diliman Community Members on the subject of the 2019-nCoV update. World Health Organization. (2020 February 2). Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 World Health Organization. (2020 February 2). Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) advice for the public. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public World Health Organization. (2020 February 2). Q&A on coronaviruses. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses World Health Organization. (2020 February 3). Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) situation as of 3 February 2020, 16:00 (CET). Retrieved from http://who.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/c88e37cfc43b4ed3baf977d77e4a0667 *Featured image courtesy of UP MPRO photo archive |
https://up.edu.ph/up-officials-discuss-the-establishment-of-up-pgh-bayanihan-operations-center/ | UP officials discuss the establishment of UP PGH Bayanihan Operations Center – University of the Philippines | UP officials discuss the establishment of UP PGH Bayanihan Operations Center UP officials discuss the establishment of UP PGH Bayanihan Operations Center March 18, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office From left, UP President Danilo Concepcion, UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla, and UP Philippine General Hospital Director Gerardo Legaspi discuss the establishment of a formal system and structure to facilitate the University’s reception of support for its frontline workers. While UP has the financial capability to readily procure personal protective equipment for its health and medical personnel, the challenge has been on the supply end. “Necessity is the mother of invention,” the idiom goes and there is certainly no better time like the present for ingenuity. Dealing with supply shortage and delays in regular government procurement of PPEs, UP’s health workers need to get creative. Here, Dr. Gerardo Legaspi dons a makeshift face shield made of ordinary office supplies such as acetate, cardboard, and staples or tape. |
https://up.edu.ph/message-from-up-president-danilo-l-concepcion-on-academic-matters/ | Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion on academic matters – University of the Philippines | Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion on academic matters Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion on academic matters March 20, 2020 | Written by Danilo L. Concepcion Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion on academic matters March 20, 2020 Dear members of the UP community: As you all know, our national government has placed all of Luzon under enhanced community quarantine. Regions south of Luzon are also undergoing similar safety measures within their localities. All of these is part of our government’s effort to contain the spread of the COVID-19 disease. In light of these developments, the UP System has suspended all classes, both residential and online, as well as alternative learning activities, across all constituent units until April 14, 2020, with the UP Open University as the only exception. A new schedule for online classes will be announced in an upcoming Memorandum. Moreover, the deadline for dropping and filing leave of absence for the second semester of AY 2019-2020 has been lifted. New deadlines will likewise be announced soon. We are continually assessing the situation throughout the UP System, including factors such as students’ access to the Internet and digital technology and the time needed for faculty to shift their curricula to online and alternative modes of delivery. In the meantime, we exhort our faculty to continue exploring the different avenues for blended learning, and to be as creative and resourceful as possible so as to give all students equal access to the lessons and learning materials, and an equal chance to interact with the class and submit requirements, regardless of Internet access. The use of UP’s learning management system such as Zoom, which can now be accessed by all UP faculty and REPS at up-edu.zoom.us, is highly encouraged to aid faculty in transitioning to online and blended learning. Please refer to the email sent out by the UP System ITDC for more information and support. The UPOU also provides webinars on how to migrate to online teaching formats. While the March 23 deadline for the submission of revised syllabi is lifted, we must all continue to learn, to adapt, and to help one another by sharing our ideas and insights. The situation at the local and national levels remain in a state of flux. We need to be nimble and flexible in responding to the shifting conditions under which our academic systems are operating. We in the administration remain on the highest alert, and we are constantly strategizing ways to facilitate learning, manage academic requirements, and maximize our academic resources in this time of COVID-19. Above all, we continue to prioritize the health and wellbeing of all members of the UP community. This is an extraordinarily challenging time and it demands much of us. But UP has survived wars, natural disasters, civil and political turmoil, and martial law, and it has done so with brilliance, courage, an unshakable sense of unity, and a bayanihan spirit. UP will do so again. Naglilingkod, Danilo L. Concepcion COVID-19 UPdates: Information and Resources |
https://up.edu.ph/message-from-up-president-danilo-l-concepcion-ups-response-to-covid-19/ | Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion: UP’s response to COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion: UP’s response to COVID-19 Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion: UP’s response to COVID-19 March 11, 2020 | Written by President Danilo L. Concepcion Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion UP’s response to COVID-19 11 March 2020 Dear members of our UP community and fellow Filipinos, As the national university, the University of the Philippines is mandated to take the lead in the nation’s quest for true, equitable and sustainable development by harnessing the expertise of its academic and scientific community to address the nation’s most pressing problems, one of which is the COVID-19 outbreak. The University can only fulfill this mandate through the active cooperation of and partnership with other national and local government agencies and the private sector. In this light, we in UP welcome the Certification of Exemption by the Food and Drug Administration for the SARS CoV-2 PCR detection kit developed by UP Philippine Genome Center Deputy Director Dr. Raul Destura and other scientists and researchers from the UP Manila National Institutes of Health and the PGC. This SARS CoV-2 detection kit was developed with funding from the Department of Science and Technology through the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development. It is currently being manufactured and stockpiled by Manila HealthTek, Inc. The GenAmplify™ COVID-19 rRT-PCR Detection Kit, as it is called, will be used for field testing coupled with gene sequencing at the PGC. Using the local GenAmplify™ will cost only around Php1,320 per test, in contrast to the foreign kit which costs around Php8,500 per test. Around 200 GenAmplify™ kits can be produced in a week, and enough kits are in stock now for around 6,000 tests, with more orders for around 20,000 tests already expected. This SARS CoV-2 detection kit developed by UP scientists will greatly help in the early detection and effective treatment of COVID-19. The FDA’s issuance of a Certificate of Exemption for the kit will ensure that this locally produced technology will be made available to a greater number of Filipinos at much less cost. With the increased availability of testing, we can expect that the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 will likely grow in our country and perhaps in our university community. This might become a source of anxiety and concern, even fear. However, we assure you that the UP administration is taking immediate and appropriate action in response to this outbreak, with the guidance of our experts from the PGC, PGH and UP Manila. To respond to the possible increase in the number of patients infected through local transmission, the PGH has protocols in place, which include: 1. Setting up hospital response to assure readiness and safety of health staff triage, diagnose, manage patients suspected and confirmed to have the COVID-19, including the creation of an Incident Command System or COVID Task Force. 2. Training front-liners and paramedical staff to address technical proficiency and emotional/occupational concerns related to COVID-19. 3. Disseminating information and communicating risk about COVID-19 to the members of the UP community and the public. 4. Preparing the public for COVID-19 through public education. I strongly exhort all the members of our university community and the public to please study and practice the good habits and measures to prevent infection, as described in our previous health advisory. For members of the UP community who have a travel history to countries with confirmed cases and are exhibiting respiratory symptoms, please seek consultation with your University Health Service on campus or go to the nearest health facility. We must all work together to keep our campuses and our communities safe, not just for ourselves but for all members of our University. Ultimately, the development of the nation and the protection of health and wellbeing of its people are the purpose of the University of the Philippines. UP stands at the ready to serve the Filipino people with honor, excellence and compassion. Sincerely, Danilo L. Concepcion President Related: Protocols carried out as 2 UP faculty members undergo test for COVID-19 |
https://up.edu.ph/message-from-up-president-danilo-l-concepcion/ | Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion – University of the Philippines | Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion March 20, 2020 | Written by Danilo L. Concepcion March 20, 2020 Dear members of the UP community: I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to you all for your amazing response to this crisis—a global situation the likes of which we have not seen in our lifetimes. We have been forced to suspend classes, work and all other campus activities, and to stay inside our homes and practice social distancing, all to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and to keep our healthcare system from being dangerously overwhelmed. For some of us, the effects of these measures on our finances, work, and social lives, and on our mental and physical health, have been devastating. Yet, I have seen UP rise magnificently to the challenge. Every constituent unit, every sector, and every member of the UP community has demonstrated and continues to demonstrate incredible courage, resourcefulness, intelligence, selflessness, and compassion. Our scientists have used their knowledge to help their fellow Filipinos. Our medical and health practitioners, including our interns, are serving heroically at the frontlines of this war. Our faculty are exploring new ways and alternative platforms to fulfill their mission to teach, no matter the circumstances. Our skeleton staff are working to keep our University running and to protect our communities. Our administrative officials have been tirelessly steering the University through rough waters. And our students, alumni and campus residents are doing their part by using their training to build sanitation tents for public use, or by donating food and supplies to fellow members of the UP community in need, or by campaigning for support for our doctors, nurses and health centers, or by simply doing what they can to educate, to ease people’s burdens, and uplift their spirits. You are all an inspiration to us. Ang iskolar ng bayan ay tunay na maaasahan. I cannot say for certain how the future will be shaped by this global crisis. However, I can assure you that we will keep moving forward as one UP community. We will continue to harness the expertise of the country’s premier community of scholars to make thoughtful and informed decisions. We will continue to communicate with you and disseminate information as often as possible. We will support your efforts to help yourselves, your families and your communities. Together, we will emerge stronger, better, and more united than ever. We must and will remain in touch with one another. To facilitate this and to make sure that we disseminate and receive only official and verified information at a time when misleading and even dangerous rumors abound, we are opening a dedicated webpage at https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/covid-19-updates/ for the UP community. I urge you to bookmark and to follow that page for future announcements and updates, and stay safe. Once again, I thank all the individuals and teams who are toiling bravely through this uncertain time. Thank you for showing the world what honor and excellence in the service of the Filipino people truly mean. Maraming salamat po. Naglilingkod, Danilo L. Concepcion COVID-19 UPdates: Information and Resources |
https://up.edu.ph/bayanihan-na-up-pgh-launches-covid-19-ops-center/ | Bayanihan Na! UP-PGH launches COVID-19 Ops Center – University of the Philippines | Bayanihan Na! UP-PGH launches COVID-19 Ops Center Bayanihan Na! UP-PGH launches COVID-19 Ops Center March 31, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Manned by 60-70 student volunteers, the UP-PGH Bayanihan Na! Operations Center is equipped with Hotline Number 155-200 dedicated for UP’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Screenshot from the Launch of UP-PGH COVID-19 Bayanihan Operations Center. 155-200 is the number to call. And it’s open 24/7. The UP-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) launched its Bayanihan Na! COVID-19 Operations Center on March 30 to answer queries related to COVID-19, including how to volunteer and donate. [Watch the livestream of the launch] This, just 13 days after it was initially discussed by UP President Danilo Concepcion, UP Manila (UPM) Chancellor Carmencita Padilla, and UP-PGH Director Gerardo Legaspi; and only a week after UP’s acceptance of UP-PGH’s designation and responsibility as a COVID-19 referral center. These initiatives are on top of another COVID-19 effort: the field validation by the UPM National Institutes of Health of GenAmplify, the University-developed testing kit. In partnership with PLDT, which provided 20 lines for the hotline, and the PGH Medical Foundation Inc. (PGHMFI), which will facilitate donations, the University is housing the Ops Center at the Nurses Home within the UPM compound, separate from the UP-PGH. It is currently being manned by 60-70 student volunteers in three shifts, although around 20 to 30 more are needed. UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla. Screenshot from the Launch of UP-PGH COVID-19 Bayanihan Operations Center. Padilla revealed that volunteer developers from the UP Resilience Institute and the UP Center for Student Innovations, a student organization from the UP Diliman Department of Computer Science, along with Cocoy Mercado of Unexus Medical Solutions Inc. and NowheretogobutUP, were instrumental in fixing the platform and applications to be used in the contact center for efficient data tracking and documentation. UP President Danilo L. Concepcion. Screenshot from the Launch of UP-PGH COVID-19 Bayanihan Operations Center. In his message, Concepcion thanked the University’s partners in all its efforts to find solutions to the increasing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. He made special mention of the doctors, nurses, and medical and hospital staff, without whom the needs of sick Filipinos will not be addressed. “Naglilingkod ng buong puso, buong husay, at walang takot, buhay man nila ang nakataya,” (Serving wholeheartedly, with utmost excellence, and without fear, even with their lives on the line) was how Concepcion described the frontliners. He said that they embodied the Oblation by offering themselves to heal the nation. PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel Pangilinan. Screenshot from the Launch of UP-PGH COVID-19 Bayanihan Operations Center. PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel Pangilinan, in a message read by UPM Vice Chancellor for Research Armand Crisostomo, called helping set up the Ops Center a “no-brainer” and a “perfect fit” as PLDT has been working to provide communication support to frontline agencies and personnel and UP-PGH has been designated as a COVID-19 referral hospital. PGHMFI President Telesforo Gana Jr. Screenshot from the Launch of UP-PGH COVID-19 Bayanihan Operations Center. In a video message, PGHMFI President Telesforo Gana Jr. pledged the organization’s willingness to partner with the UP-PGH in this endeavor to protect all the health and institutional workers who care for COVID-19 patients. UP-PGH Director Gerardo Legaspi. Screenshot from the Launch of UP-PGH COVID-19 Bayanihan Operations Center. Legaspi closed the brief program by announcing that together with the launch of Bayanihan Na!, the hospital was also launching the first ward for COVID-19 positive patients. He thanked St. Luke’s Medical Center for providing 48 electric beds and everyone that donated personal protective equipment and cash for the purchase of such. He added that Citystate Tower Hotel volunteered all its rooms to house hospital personnel. Legaspi also explained that the schedule of volunteers was arranged so that they will have time off to rest and de-stress from the physical, mental, and emotional toll of dealing with the health crisis. With the launch of the UP-PGH Bayanihan Na! COVID-19 Operations Center, its website has also gone live at https://publicservice.up.edu.ph/uppgh-bayanihan-na/. |
https://up.edu.ph/message-from-up-president-danilo-l-concepcion-to-the-pgh-community/ | Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion to the PGH community – University of the Philippines | Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion to the PGH community Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion to the PGH community March 26, 2020 | Written by Office of the President Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion to the PGH community 26 March 2020 To the Staff and Administration of UP-PGH, On behalf of our community at the University of the Philippines—indeed, on behalf of the Filipino people—let me thank you, first of all, for your courageous, selfless, and outstanding service in these very trying times. Our nation and our people are suffering from a devastating scourge, and those of you at the frontlines are performing a heroic and unenviable function. You have been through this before. During the Second World War, your wards overflowed with the victims of that conflict. You treated Filipinos, Japanese soldiers, and American internees alike, doing your utmost with pitifully depleted supplies. Rather than be drafted as foot soldiers, your interns were pressed into the medical service ahead of their time. But even, and especially, in more ordinary times, you have attended to our people’s needs, especially our poorest. “PGH” has become synonymous with hope and caring, with compassion and commitment, even in the direst circumstances. You never give up, you always give your all, often beyond the call of duty, and certainly beyond your pay grade. Today, we all face the gravest threat of this generation to our nation’s well-being, and once again we have been called upon to close ranks and face the enemy—an infectious and insidious pathogen—with you, our Infectious Disease Specialists and Medicine personnel, at the spearhead of our defense. It is with deep humility that those of us who march with you and behind you acknowledge that we may not be able to do as much, but we will also do our best to support you, so no effort and no sacrifice will go to waste. In accepting the formidable responsibility passed on to UP-PGH to serve as a Covid-19 Referral Center, let me assure you that we will also protect and take care of our own ranks through specific measures, such as: – Securing enough PPEs and instituting proper Infectious Control Measures in the hospital, – Ensuring a strict one-week tour of duty followed by a two-week period of quarantine, – Arranging for free lodging and accommodation as well as transportation requirements for all our HCWs in PGH during this crisis, – Providing adequate nutrition and physical as well as psychosocial support, especially to those in the clinical areas and frontliners, and – Ensuring full support from the DOH and the Philippine government as well as partner private hospitals for the augmentation of our manpower, technical, technological, and financial needs. We deeply appreciate and encourage your strong spirit of volunteerism, but let me also say that PGH will allow only those who are fit to join. PGH agreed to become a Covid referral hospital on the condition that you may continue to serve other patients with other ailments, and that the Covid Wing be exclusive and segregated from the rest of the hospital, with its own ER. We agreed also on the condition that the DOH will give us additional medical personnel for the Wing and that all its needs, e.g. PPEs, will be provided. If these conditions are not met, we shall restrict admission of cases to keep them at a safe and manageable level. These are extraordinary times, calling for extraordinary efforts and extraordinary people. I have no doubt that once again, the brave men and women of UP-PGH will rise to the occasion and respond to their country’s call with steadfast courage, abounding talent, and exemplary professionalism. The entire UP community salutes you. Your people crown you with their gratitude. Mabuhay po tayong lahat, at patnubayan tayo nawa ng Panginoon. Ang inyong tagapaglingkod, Danilo L. Concepcion President *Featured image courtesy of UP MPRO photo archive |
https://up.edu.ph/academic-programs/# | Academic Programs – University of the Philippines | Academic Programs A Accountancy UP Visayas Agribusiness Economics UP Mindanao Agribusiness Management UP Los Baños Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering UP Los Baños Agricultural Biotechnology UP Los Baños Agricultural Chemistry UP Los Baños Agricultural Economics UP Los Baños Agriculture UP Los Baños Anthropology UP Diliman UP Mindanao Applied Mathematics UP Los Baños UP Visayas UP Mindanao Applied Physics UP Diliman UP Los Baños UP Manila Architecture UP Diliman UP Mindanao Art Studies UP Diliman B Behavioral Sciences UP Manila Biochemistry UP Manila Biology UP Diliman UP Los Baños UP Manila UP Visayas UP Mindanao UP Baguio UP Cebu Broadcast Communication UP Diliman Business Administration UP Diliman UP Visayas Business Administration and Accountancy UP Diliman Business Economics UP Diliman C Chemical Engineering UP Diliman UP Los Baños UP Visayas Chemistry UP Diliman UP Los Baños UP Visayas Civil Engineering UP Diliman UP Los Baños Clothing Technology UP Diliman Communication UP Baguio Communication and Media Studies UP Visayas Communication Arts UP Los Baños UP Visayas UP Mindanao Communication Development UP Diliman Community Development UP Visayas Community Research UP Diliman Community Nutrition UP Diliman Comparative Literature UP Diliman Computer Engineering UP Diliman Computer Science UP Diliman UP Los Baños UP Manila UP Visayas UP Mindanao UP Baguio UP Cebu Creative Writing UP Diliman D Dental Medicine UP Manila Development Communication UP Los Baños Development Studies UP Manila E Economics UP Diliman UP Los Baños UP Visayas Education Studies UP Open University Electrical Engineering UP Diliman UP Los Baños Electronics and Communications Engineering UP Diliman Elementary Education UP Diliman English (Creative Writing) UP Mindanao English Studies: Language UP Diliman English Studies: Literature UP Diliman European Languages UP Diliman F Family Life and Child Development UP Diliman Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas UP Diliman Film UP Diliman Fine Arts UP Diliman UP Baguio UP Cebu Fisheries UP Visayas Food Technology UP Diliman UP Los Baños UP Mindanao Forestry UP Los Baños G Geodetic Engineering UP Diliman Geography UP Diliman Geology UP Diliman H History UP Diliman UP Visayas Home Economics UP Diliman Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management UP Diliman Human Ecology UP Los Baños I Industrial Engineering UP Diliman UP Los Baños Industrial Pharmacy UP Manila Interior Design UP Diliman J Journalism UP Diliman L Landscape Architecture UP Diliman Language and Literature UP Baguio Library and Information Science UP Diliman Linguistics UP Diliman Literature UP Visayas M Malikhaing Pagsulat sa Filipino UP Diliman Management UP Visayas UP Cebu Management Economics UP Baguio Mass Communication UP Cebu Materials Engineering UP Diliman Mathematics UP Diliman UP Los Baños UP Baguio UP Cebu Mathematics and Science Teaching UP Los Baños Mechanical Engineering UP Diliman Metallurgical Engineering UP Diliman Mining Engineering UP Diliman Molecular Biology and Biotechnology UP Diliman Multimedia Studies UP Open University Music UP Diliman N Nursing UP Manila Nutrition UP Los Baños O Occupational Therapy UP Manila Organizational Communication UP Manila P Pharmacy UP Manila Philippine Arts UP Manila Philippine Studies UP Diliman Philosophy UP Diliman UP Los Baños Physical Education UP Diliman Physical Therapy UP Manila Physics UP Diliman UP Baguio Political Science UP Diliman UP Manila UP Visayas UP Cebu Psychology UP Diliman UP Visayas UP Cebu Public Administration UP Diliman Public Health UP Manila UP Visayas S Secondary Education UP Diliman Social Sciences UP Manila UP Visayas UP Baguio Social Work UP Diliman Sociology UP Diliman UP Los Baños UP Visayas Speech Communication UP Diliman Speech Pathology UP Manila Sports Science UP Diliman Statistics UP Diliman UP Los Baños UP Visayas T Theater Arts UP Diliman Tourism UP Diliman V Veterinary Medicine UP Los Baños |
https://up.edu.ph/upcat/# | UPCAT – University of the Philippines | UPCAT As the premier State University, UP offers a wide range of degree programs. Some degree programs are offered in only one campus (e.g., BS Nursing, BA Filipino) while others are offered in two or more campuses (e.g., B Fine Arts, BS Statistics). Most of these require qualification through the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT). To maintain its high standard of education and to maximize its limited resources, UP has had to limit slots for freshman admission to each campus and to its various degree programs. If you decide to take the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT), you will be one among many thousands who aspire to enter the University of the Philippines. The UPCAT consists of 4 subtests: Language Proficiency, Science, Mathematics and Reading Comprehension. Standardized scores on these subtests are combined with the weighted average of final grades in the first three years of high school to determine qualification into UP. Moreover, to implement the policy of democratization to make the UP studentry more representative of the nation’s population, socio-economic and geographic considerations are factored in the selection of campus qualifiers. Conditions for Eligibility To be eligible to take the UPCAT, you must meet certain specific requirements. First: You must belong to one of the categories listed below: 1. Senior students (e.g., Fourth Year, Grade 12, Senior 6) of DepEd-accredited schools or secondary schools abroad (expecting to graduate at the end of the school year); 2. Graduates of DepEd-accredited schools or secondary schools abroad; or 3. Those declared eligible for admission to college after taking the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT). NOTE: Graduates of DepEd-accredited schools or secondary schools abroad and those declared eligible for admission to college after taking the PEPT 1. Must not have taken any college subject/s previously; 2. Must not be taking any college subject/s at present; and 3. Will not be taking any college subject/s prior to or for the semester/academic year for which the UPCAT is to be taken. Second: You must also have: Final grades for the First, Second and Third Years of the 4-year secondary school curriculum in schools with DepEd recognition/permit to operate said curriculum (or Grades 9, 10 and 11 or, their equivalent for international or foreign schools); and Third: You must also NOT HAVE TAKEN the UPCAT previously. Taking the UPCAT 1. Go to your designated Test Center on the date specified in your Test Permit. Be there by 6:30 for the morning session or by 12:30 for the afternoon session. 2. Bring only your Test Permit, two good quality pencils, a sharpener, a rubber eraser and snacks. (The test administration will last about five hours). The use of cellphones and/or calculating devices during the test is strictly prohibited and can be a cause for disqualification. After the UPCAT 1. Check the UPCAT website (http://www.upcat.up.edu.ph) for announcements and posting of UPCAT Results (towards the end of March). 2. A list of qualifiers from your school will be sent to your Principal. Individual notices will also be sent to all examinees.If you qualify for admission to UP, register according to the instructions provided by the college or unit to which you have been accepted. On Scholarships Since 1991, the UP Oblation Scholarship has been awarded to the top fifty UPCAT qualifiers. The benefits include free tuition, miscellaneous and laboratory fees, a semestral book subsidy and a monthly incentive and transportation allowance. Recipients may enjoy the UP Oblation Scholarship throughout the normal length of time required to finish their chosen degree program, provided they maintain the required grade point average. For those in the accelerated medical program (INTARMED), however, only the first four years are covered by this grant. The University of the Philippines has a Socialized Tuition System. It provides possible tuition discounts and/or additional financial assistance for financially needy students in the form of monthly subsidies for living and travel expenses and a semestral book allowance. A number of scholarships, study grants and awards donated by government and private companies or individuals, are also available for the Office of Scholarships and Student Services. Most are intended for financially needy students, though some are awarded in recognition of outstanding academic performance. Important Reminders -There is no minimum high school average grade requirement for taking the UPCAT. -The UPCAT can be taken only once. For more details on the UPCAT and how to take test, click here. |
https://up.edu.ph/undergraduate-admissions/# | Undergraduate Admissions – University of the Philippines | Undergraduate Admissions General Admission Requirements Graduates of foreign and Philippine high schools accredited by the Department of Education (DepEd) may be admitted as freshmen into the University based on the following: Performance in the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT); and Weighted average of final grades obtained in high school. Those who wish to study at the university take the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT). For more details, please go to the Office of Admissions website. Undergraduate Programs Requirements for academic programs vary according to those set by the colleges and units. The programs offered by the constituent universities can be browsed over through the following links: UP Diliman UP Los Baños UP Manila UP Visayas UP Open University UP Mindanao UP Baguio UP Cebu Transferees For transferees, here are links with the necessary information. UP Diliman UP Los Baños UP Manila UP Visayas UP Open University UP Mindanao UP Baguio UP Cebu Foreign students Information on admission of foreign students may be found at the following pages: UP Diliman UP Los Baños UP Manila UP Visayas UP Open University UP Mindanao UP Baguio UP Cebu |
https://up.edu.ph/institutional-linkages/# | Institutional Linkages – University of the Philippines | Institutional Linkages Internationally recognized as the leading educational institution in the country, UP is the only Philippine university in the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), where membership is based on the nomination and votes of member universities. UP is also the only Philippine university in the ASEAN-European University Network, a network of universities offering comprehensive graduate degree programs. It is a founding member of and is one of only three Philippine universities in the ASEAN University Network (AUN). The University of the Philippines lives as a nerve center for most local and foreign private and government and non-government institutions by providing the much needed academic, professional and leadership training in the undergraduate, graduate, post-doctoral and even professional levels. To date, UP, being the National University, has Memoranda of Agreement or Memoranda of Understanding with about three hundred foreign academic institutions throughout the world that also play a significant role in the formation of their societies. The Office of International Linkages The Office of Institutional Linkages is a unit under the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. It is mandated to identify and explore areas of cooperation and linkages with foreign and local institutions. It promotes academic collaboration with local and foreign universities in the form of student and faculty and student exchange, joint research, exchange of publication, sponsorship of conference and other academic activities. The office is engage in the initiation, planning, implementation and monitoring of linkage activities. The office also participates in the implementation of student exchange program with partner universities. It facilitates the application and endorsement of UP students who wishes to participate in the exchange program with local or foreign universities. Also, it provides assistance to foreign exchange students who are studying in UP under the benefit of memorandum of agreement between their home university and UP System. For more on UP’s linkages with other educational and research institutions, please visit the Office of Institutional Linkages website. |
https://up.edu.ph/philippine-transparency-seal/vision-and-mission/ | Vision and Mission – University of the Philippines | Vision and Mission Our Vision for UP A great university, taking a leadership role in the development of a globally competitive Philippines. Driven by: Academic excellence and operational excellence; Strong research and creative capability, supported by an expanded graduate program and geared to addressing the country’s problems; Excellent faculty and staff working in an environment conducive to outstanding performance and high productivity; The best and brightest students from across the country prepared for successful careers and responsive citizenship; Strong support from the alumni and other stakeholders; High visibility and effective public service; Modernized physical facilities and technological infrastructure for teaching, research and administration; and Financial sustainability achieved by resource generation and administrative efficiency, while preserving its public character. For more information on the the Vision and Mission of the University, please click here. |
https://up.edu.ph/philippine-transparency-seal/mandate-and-functions/ | Mandate and Functions – University of the Philippines | Mandate and Functions Section 3 of the UP Charter of 2008 (Republic Act 9500) states that: As the national university, a public and secular institution of higher learning, and a community of scholars dedicated to the search for truth and knowledge as well as the development of future leaders, the University of the Philippines shall perform its unique and distinctive leadership in higher education and development. The University shall: Lead in setting academic standards and initiating innovations in teaching, research, and faculty development in philosophy, the arts and humanities, the social sciences, engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, and technology; and maintain centers of excellence in these disciplines and professions. Serve as a graduate university by providing advanced studies and specialization for scholars, scientists, writers, artists, and professionals especially those who serve on the faculty of state and private colleges and universities. Serve as a research university in various fields of expertise and specialization by conducting basic and applied research, promoting research and development, and contributing to the dissemination and application of knowledge. Lead as a public service university by providing various forms of community, public and volunteer service, as well as scholarly and technical assistance to the government, the private sector, and civil society while maintaining its standards of excellence. Protect and promote the professional and economic rights and welfare of its academic and non-academic personnel. Provide opportunities for training and learning in leadership, responsible citizenship, and the development of democratic values, institutions, and practice through academic and non-academic programs, including sports and enhancement of nationalism and national identity. Serve as a regional and global university in cooperation with international and scientific unions, networks of universities, scholarly and professional associations in the Asia Pacific Region and around the world. Provide democratic governance based on collegiality, representation, accountability, transparency, and active participation of its constituents; and promote the holding of fora for students, faculty, research, extension and professional staff (REPS), administrative staff, and alumni to discuss non-academic issues affecting the University. For a full text of the UP Charter, please click here. |
https://up.edu.ph/sally-campus-bachelor-of-physical-education-up-diliman-college-of-human-kinetics/ | Sally Campus, Bachelor of Physical Education, UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics – University of the Philippines | Sally Campus, Bachelor of Physical Education, UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics Sally Campus, Bachelor of Physical Education, UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics July 29, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Sally Campus, a freshman studying at the UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics as a Physical Education major and a member of the UP Track and Field Team, becoming a UP student is a special source of pride: in her family of nine siblings, she is the sixth child and the first one to go to college. This knowledge is also a source of worry. “Nakakakaba, kasi po baka hindi ako maka-survive dito. Mahirap masyado [I feel anxious about it, because I’m afraid I might not be able to survive here. It’s hard],” she admitted. It is also not surprising that her close-knit family has been worried about her living so far away from her hometown of Digos, Davao del Sur, particularly at a time of unprecedented crisis such as the global pandemic. But Sally is excited to go home and see her family again. “Noong June po sana eh kaso na-cancel [It should’ve been in June but the trip was canceled],” she explained. It also doesn’t help that travel restrictions in Davao have been particularly strict during the quarantine. For Sally, the first in her family to travel so far away from home, adjusting to life in UP Diliman was made easier through the help of her teammates. Life had been fairly busy before the lockdown. “Madami pong requirements na pwede pong ipasa. Pero kinakaya din naman po kasi tinutulungan din naman ako ng mga ka-teammate ko po dito. Kasi ang sabi po ng Coach namin magtulungan na lang po, kung sino yung mga freshie. At tsaka i-guide po nila kami. Tsaka rin po mahirap yung mga subject na kinukuha ko [There were a lot of requirements we had to pass, but I managed them with my teammates’ help. And our Coach [Rio Dela Cruz] urged us to help and guide one another, especially us freshies. Also, some of the subjects I took were hard].” Since the lockdown in March, she has spent her time at Balay Atleta, where she boards along with other UP athletes, working on finishing their academic requirements for the past semester and waiting for the chance to be reunited with their families. Fortunately, UP athletes are provided lunches and dinners during weekdays by the University Food Service, although the athletes are left to find other sources of meals during weekends. However, the lockdown has worsened the academic challenges that Sally had to face. “Noong March, nanghihiram po ako ng laptop sa kasama ko po. At tsaka nagpatulong na din po magpa-video. Hiramin ko din po yung cellphone nila gamit na pang-video sa akin, kasi kailangan kasing mag-pasa ng mga video kasama sa mga requirements [Back in March, I would borrow the laptop computer of one of my companions, and I’d ask for help as well. One of my courses required me making videos, and I had to borrow my teammates’ cell phone and ask for help in making videos],” Sally related, saying that her own phone’s paltry memory could not handle the demands. Life during lockdown was “mahirap po eh. Pinapangunahan po ng pangamba, takot po, ganon. At tsaka naiinggit po ako sa kasamahan ko po eh kasi nakauwi na sila, ako wala pa po eh. Gustong gusto ko na po kasing umuwi eh tsaka miss ko na din po sila. Mag-one year na din po kasi ako nandito, hindi ko po sila nakikita [Life was so hard. We had to deal with the dread and fear. And on top of that, I was so envious of my teammates who were able to go home. I really miss my family; it’s already been a year since I last saw them],” she confessed. Kaunti lang po kasi yung may laptop sa amin eh. Yung senior na nandito ngayon…Nahihiya na din po ako eh, lagi na lang sila yung tinatakbuhan ko. Baka kung anong sabihin nila. – Sally Campus, Iskolar ng Bayan Her companions going home meant she had even fewer technological resources with which to finish her academic requirements. “Kaunti lang po kasi yung may laptop sa amin eh. Yung senior na nandito ngayon at tsaka yung isa na umuwi na po [There are so few of us who have laptops. I’d borrow the laptop of my seniors here].” She had to wait until they were finished working on their own requirements, of course. “Nahihiya na din po ako eh, lagi na lang sila yung tinatakbuhan ko. Baka kung anong sabihin nila. Buti na lang mababait [I felt embarrassed about always running to them to borrow their laptop. It’s a good thing they’re so nice],” she said. For Sally, to survive and thrive in UP, especially when remote learning has become the “new normal” by default, one needs the basic tools. A laptop computer is of course, a must, as is a good cell phone “para pagdating sa pasahan ng requirements eh madali na lang po [so passing academic requirements would be easier],” she said. “Tsaka mahirap din po kasi kapag nandun kami sa amin, mahirap ang signal doon. Kailangan ko din ng load na pang-Internet access [It will also be hard to study back in our home because there’s no signal there. I also need load for Internet access].” Pag naka-graduate po ako at maging coach or teacher, educate ko po yung mga students at tutulungan ko sila para makapag-aral din sila at makatapos. Magko-coach din po ako doon sa amin ng mga bata na may potential na maging athlete. Importante po sa akin ang pagiging athlete kasi dahil sa pagiging athlete ko nakapag-aral ako dito sa UP. Nabigyan po ako ng scholarship. – Sally Campus, Iskolar ng Bayan She dreams of becoming a coach or an educator when she graduates. “Pag naka-graduate po ako at maging professional na coach or teacher po, educate ko po yung mga students at tutulungan ko sila para makapag-aral din sila at makatapos. Magko-coach din po ako doon sa amin ng mga bata na may potential na maging athlete. Importante po sa akin ang pagiging athlete kasi dahil sa pagiging athlete ko nakapag-aral ako dito sa UP. Nabigyan po ako ng scholarship [I want to educate students and help them to be able to finish their studies. I want to coach the children in our community, especially the ones who have the potential to become athletes. I want to help them become athletes, because becoming an athlete is important to me. It’s how I am able to earn a scholarship and study in UP].” Dapat hindi mag-alinlangan, dapat magsikap po sa kabila ng mga pangangailangan. Patuloy lang sa pangarap. – Sally Campus, Iskolar ng Bayan She also urges her fellow students who are also going through similar challenges not to give up. “Dapat hindi mag-alinlangan, dapat magsikap po sa kabila ng mga pangangailangan. Patuloy lang sa pangarap. At tsaka hindi po dapat mahiya na maghingi ng tulong sa mga seniors [We have to work hard despite the struggles. We have to keep going. And we shouldn’t be embarrassed about asking for help from our seniors],” she added. To support the remote learning needs of Sally and other Iskolar ng Bayan, please visit http://kaagapay.up.edu.ph. #KaagapayUP For assistance, contact the Kaagapay secretariat at 0916 723 1200 or kaagapay@up.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/peter-lachica-bachelor-of-physical-education-up-diliman-college-of-human-kinetics/ | Peter Lachica, Bachelor of Physical Education, UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics – University of the Philippines | Peter Lachica, Bachelor of Physical Education, UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics Peter Lachica, Bachelor of Physical Education, UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics July 30, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Video edited by KIM Quilinguing, UP MPRO The only child of a single mother living in their hometown of Surallah, South Cotabato, UP Diliman freshman Peter Lachica is aware of the risks of the viral disease that has brought the world to a standstill. The knowledge that there are more confirmed COVID-19 cases in Quezon City than in South Cotabato and the very real danger of bringing this virus home with him are the reasons he is having second thoughts about going home, even though he and his fellow UP students staying in the dormitories have longed to return to their families for months. “Iyan din yung worry ko [That’s what I’m worried about],” he confessed, noting that the last few people who went home initially tested negative but then picked up the virus en route home. Another reason he’s having second thoughts: the challenges of completing his academic requirements in all his subjects. As a Bachelor of Physical Education student at the UP College of Human Kinetics (UP CHK) and a member of the UP Track and Field Team, Peter has been hard at work completing the 18 academic units he took for the last semester, a job made more difficult given severe limitations involved. He recalls what life was like before the pandemic and the lockdown. “Shempre po masaya. Napupuntahan namin lahat ng gusto namin. Nakakapag-training kami sa Acad Oval, and then nagte-training kami dyan sa [Athletic] Oval. Masaya po kasi kasama naming kumain yung teammate namin, nagkwekwentuhan, may regular class, minsan nagwo-worry ka kasi may assignment na gagawin, sasakay ng jeep, ganon. Normally ginagawa ng isang UP student [It was fun. We could go anywhere we wanted. We could train at the Academic Oval and Athletic Oval. We’d have fun eating out and chatting with our teammates. We had regular classes, and sometimes we’d worry about the assignments we had to do, about taking the jeep to get to class on time . . . things that a UP student would normally do,” he said. Having no laptop or personal computer of his own had not been that big an issue, since Peter was able to use the computers at the UP CHK, at the library in Palma Hall or in the College of Arts and Letters. Other times, he managed with his cell phone and his access to free WIFI through UP DilNet. Then with the escalation of the COVID-19 outbreak and the resulting quarantine, everything changed. “Noong una po, akala namin hindi ganito kalala yung mangyayari. And then after a few months, ayun na, biglang lumala. Tapos nagulat kaming lahat na nasa dorm na bigla na lang hindi na kami lumalabas, bawal na kaming mag-jogging, tumakbo, and then bawal na rin kaming pumunta sa iba’t malalayong lugar na pinupuntahan namin usually. Tapos yung mas nakakalala pa doon is that na-stop yung class. So naisip namin, papaano yung learning namin nito? [At first we thought it wouldn’t be that bad. Then one day my fellow dormers [at the Ipil Residence Hall] and I were surprised to find that we were not allowed to go outside anymore. We weren’t allowed to go jogging or to train, and we couldn’t go to the places we used to go to. Worse, the regular classes stopped, and we were all worried about our learning],” he related. Sinabing magiging online na daw yung class, so nag-worry po kaming mga students na wala masyadyong gadgets. Yung ginagamit ko lang po is phone, and then wala po akong laptop or computer. Kaya sabi ko, hala papaano ito, walang laptop? Papaano yung mga projects, ganon? Yung mga papers? – Peter Lachica, Iskolar ng Bayan “Noong una hindi namin alam ang gagawin namin. Naghihintay kami ng email galing sa mga professor namin. Naghihintay din ng update galing sa UP mismo. And then, noong may natanggap kami ng email and then sinabing magiging online na daw yung class, so nag-worry po kaming mga students na wala masyadyong gadgets. Yung ginagamit ko lang po is phone, and then wala po akong laptop or computer. Kaya sabi ko, hala papaano ito, walang laptop? Papaano yung mga projects, ganon? Yung mga papers? [In the beginning, we didn’t know what to do. We kept waiting for email updates from our professors and from UP. Then we received an email informing us that classes would be online, which worried us students who didn’t have gadgets of our own. All I had was my phone, so I wondered how I’d be able to do my projects and papers without a laptop or computer].” In order to work on his assignments, Peter had to borrow the laptop of his teammate and fellow dormer. However, he couldn’t do this all the time as his teammate also had to use his laptop to complete his own assignments. “May time na kailangan kong mag-submit ng paper namin sa Bio, parang na-delay ako dahil may ginagawa din sya and then na-late yung pag-submit ko. Eh, kinonsider naman po ng professor ko [One time I had to submit a paper for a biology class, but because my teammate also needed to use the laptop, I ended up submitting my own paper late. Our professor accepted it anyway].” Malaki po yung mga challenges nakikita ko, yung gap between sa mga taong merong access sa gadgets, sa Internet and wifi. Masyadong malaki po yung gap. Malaking sagabal po kasi wala po kaming masyadong access. – Peter Lachica, Iskolar ng Bayan Peter knows that with the implementation of remote learning, a lot of UP students are going through the same difficulties. “Malaki po yung mga challenges nakikita ko, yung gap between sa mga taong merong access sa gadgets, sa Internet and wifi. Masyadong malaki po yung gap [I see a lot of challenges, starting with the gap between the students who have access to gadgets and the Internet and the students who don’t. This gap is too wide],” he points out. “Kasi kagaya ko, nahihirapan ako kasi wala akong laptop, wala masyadong gadgets. Yun nga po sa pag-enlist ko, hindi nga po ako natanggap kasi wala po akong laptop at cellphone na magamit para makapag-enlist. Malaking sagabal po kasi wala po kaming masyadong access [Students like me have a much harder time than those who have gadgets and laptops. Even just enlisting online for subjects was hard. Having little or no access to the Internet is a very serious obstacle].” Babalik po ako doon sa amin para tulungan pa yung mga kapwa ko atleta na makamit din ang pangarap nila kagaya ko, na makapag-aral sa mga ganitong mga unibersidad, sa pinakamagandang unibersidad dito sa Pilipinas, which is UP. Proud po ako doon dahil dito po ako nakapag-aral. Yun po ang gagawin ko, and yun po ang number one goal ko pag makapagtapos ako dito sa UP. – Peter Lachica, Iskolar ng Bayan When asked what his plans are if and when he earns his degree in UP, Peter said that he would stay true to his commitment as an athlete. “Galing ako sa amin bilang atleta. Babalik po ako doon sa amin para tulungan pa yung mga kapwa ko atleta na makamit din ang pangarap nila kagaya ko, na makapag-aral sa mga ganitong mga unibersidad, sa pinakamagandang unibersidad dito sa Pilipinas, which is UP. Proud po ako doon dahil dito po ako nakapag-aral. Yun po ang gagawin ko, and yun po ang number one goal ko pag makapagtapos ako dito sa UP [I came from our hometown as an athlete, and I plan to go back home to help my fellow athletes achieve their dreams like I did, to be able to study in good universities—in the best university in the country, which is UP. I’m so proud that I am able to study here. That’s why my number one goal is to complete my studies at UP].” He said that he would become an athletic coach. And more than that, he said, “If ever pong papalarin, ipro-proceed ko po ito sa pagiging lawyer. During quarantine, kasi meron akong books dyan about Law at Pre-Law, mga 20 plus na libro na binabasa-basa ko na rin po [If possible, I would like to go on to study law. I have over 20 law and pre-law books here, and I’ve been reading them during this quarantine].” As someone who knows how to make the best use of his time, he has also been learning to play the guitar during the lockdown. He considers the friendships he forged with his fellow dormers who all come from different provinces and different fields the silver lining in an otherwise dismal period. Huwag po tayong mahiyang humingi ng tulong mula sa mga taong kayang tumulong sa atin kasi sa panahon natin ngayon, napakahirap po talaga dahil sa pandemyang ito. Hindi po natin alam kung anong mangyayari sa mga susunod na araw, kaya huwag po tayong sumuko, lalong-lalo na sa pag-aaral natin. – Peter Lachica, Iskolar ng Bayan He exhorts his fellow students who are in the same situation not to give up on their studies. “Huwag po tayong mahiyang humingi ng tulong mula sa mga taong kayang tumulong sa atin kasi sa panahon natin ngayon, napakahirap po talaga dahil sa pandemyang ito. Hindi po natin alam kung anong mangyayari sa mga susunod na araw, kaya huwag po tayong sumuko, lalong-lalo na sa pag-aaral natin [Let’s not be afraid to ask for help from the people who can help, because life is so hard during this pandemic. We don’t know what will happen in the coming days, which is why we can’t give up, especially on our own education].” And to the people who would be generous enough to support students like him, Peter stresses how much this help would mean to him and his fellow students. “Hindi po namin kaya na kami lang ang mag-suporta sa amin, napakahirap po talaga. Kaya sana po matulungan niyo po kami [We can’t do it on our own. That’s why we’re hoping you can help].” To support the remote learning needs of Peter and other Iskolar ng Bayan, please visit http://kaagapay.up.edu.ph. #KaagapayUP For assistance, contact the Kaagapay secretariat at 0916 723 1200 or kaagapay@up.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/profiles/# | PROFILES – University of the Philippines | PROFILES Doktor Para sa Bayan, Kasama ng Bayan Jessica Franco Perez Magna cum laude Doctor of Medicine UP College of Medicine I am Jessica Franco Perez, 32 years ... Read More Love life and don’t give up Hannah Patricia E. Bringas Doctor of Dental Medicine UP College of Dentistry I am Hannah Patricia E. Bringas, a graduate ... Read More Finding your own groove Virgilio Roi C. Adaptar Cum laude BS Food Technology College of Science and Mathematics, University of the Philippines Mindanao My ... Read More Padayon Nixie E. Serna Magna cum laude BA in English (Creative Writing) College of Humanities and Social Sciences University of the ... Read More Peter Lachica, Bachelor of Physical Education, UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics Video edited by KIM Quilinguing, UP MPRO The only child of a single mother living in their hometown of ... Read More Sally Campus, Bachelor of Physical Education, UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics Sally Campus, a freshman studying at the UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics as a Physical Education major and a ... Read More ‹ 1 2 3 4 5 › |
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https://up.edu.ph/the-education-of-an-iska/ | The education of an Iska – University of the Philippines | The education of an Iska The education of an Iska October 5, 2018 | Written by Stephanie Cabigao Edeline Payawal shares the stoke from sea to school. When the air conditioning unit inside her hotel room in Leyte woke her up with its loud noise, Edeline Payawal could not have known how her life was going to change. Payawal is an Iska whose achievements have only become more meaningful since that fateful day on November 8, 2013. As the UP College of Mass Communication alumna tells it, “At the hallway, a guest told me to transfer to the hotel’s main building while the water was ankle-deep. I went back in to our room to check on my friends; however by the time we had to leave the building, the water was already neck-deep. Then suddenly, the roof broke down so that the rain started to pour on our floor. And we only had our room’s window to access the hotel’s main building by crossing over a water tank right beside it. We were 40 people in the building who had to climb out the window and cross over the water tank while braving the gusting winds of Typhoon Yolanda.” “I can vividly remember the sound of everyone in despair. At that moment, I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to die that day. I prepared myself for that moment. But all of us were able to get to the main building,” she continues. Standing right outside the hotel’s main building after the storm, she saw a pushcart loaded with two pale, lifeless teenagers retrieved by rescuers. “From the horror of possibly dying to seeing actual death, I was seriously in a state of shock. At some point I thought I had an out-of-body experience, thinking that it could have been us,” she confesses. For several months after the storm surge, the cum laude graduate kept questioning herself why she had been spared, while too many victims did not deserve to die. “I always asked, what meaningful thing did I do? Is it really all about finishing college with honors, having my own research firm, and being successful? Those who lost their lives in Typhoon Yolanda had families on their own, who were pillars of their communities, as compared to me. Nobody would be concerned more than my parents.” From sea to school The Yolanda experience led her to establish Surf to School. Surf buddies and Iskas Edeline Payawal and Nika King began this program in 2013. “That year was a time of giving. So, I asked friends who were willing to join in this donation drive. The immense support from friends and other networks inspired me to organize the program, and make it sustainable rather than remain a one-time charity project,” Payawal explains. Zambales leg of the Surf to School Program (Photo courtesy of Edeline Payawal) “The Surf to School Program is a collective effort of wave lovers to help these children sustain their interest to stay in school. It aspires to persuade them to live a balanced life both in school and in the sea,” she continues. Catching up with Surf to School’s Siargao leg this year, the program brought volunteer facilitators for various arts workshops and sports clinics, and donations of school bags and supplies to the island. Since its establishment, the program has already reached the shores of Baler, Pundakit, La Union, Puraran, Bagasbas in Quezon, Pagudpud and Sorsogon. Residual funds were used to set up surf competitions with scholarships as grand prizes, according to Payawal. Young wahines converge from La Union, Baler, Siargao and Lanuza for Surf to School’s Siargao leg (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Surf to School’s Girl Grom and Wahine surf competition at the Cloud 9 tower, Siargao (Photo courtesy of Edeline Payawal) “Surf to School saved me at that critical point in my life,” Payawal says. “My favorite reaction I got from the kids was overhearing them talking about how happy they were to have food, school supplies, prizes from the competition, and scholarships. I cried, as that was exactly what I wanted for them to feel, to feel special and appreciated. This is not just about charity or helping the poor. This is about making a lasting impact. You do it once, twice, but never to make yourself look good, but to have a commitment in serving others,” she continued. The cool in school The UP MBA alumna anchors her professional and socio-civic activities on her UP education. “Learning is very valuable to me because I believe in the University so much. That’s why UP has been the greatest influence in my support for education as well as in public service,” she said. Medals and other prizes for Surf to School’s Girl Grom and Wahine Camp in Siargao (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Another thing that is known to her as part of Tatak UP is every Iskolar ng Bayan’s resourcefulness. “It is not just about the intellect or intelligence that’s being imparted to you by UP, but also being maparaan. Until now, whenever I recommend individuals for jobs, I place top priority on UP graduates because of this special skill,” she says. Payawal herself is now the managing director of Carillon Consumer Research & Growth Strategists, a market research firm. “You should be shaken to the very core—that’s UP for me,” Payawal asserts, “so that you become a total person who has both a heart and a mind.” Edeline takes her daughter Quinn to Surf to School’s activities (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) “As a mother, I’d like for my daughter to go through the same education I got from the University and make the most of it as I did, and to have that sense of continuous learning even beyond degrees and diplomas,” she concludes. |
https://up.edu.ph/plant-science-for-the-people/ | Plant science for the people – University of the Philippines | Plant science for the people Plant science for the people November 9, 2017 | Written 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.” |
https://up.edu.ph/the-gene-doctor-will-see-you-now/ | The gene doctor will see you now – University of the Philippines | The gene doctor will see you now The gene doctor will see you now March 28, 2019 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion National Institutes of Health Director and Dangal ng Bayan Awardee Eva Maria Cutiongco-de la Paz. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO If there is anything that Dr. Eva Cutiongco-de la Paz seems not to enjoy, it’s getting undue credit. The winner of the 2018 Dangal ng Bayan Award was admittedly nervous when her mother, a former faculty member at the UP College of Education, suggested having their photo taken with the tarpaulin celebrating her feat. “I was hoping nobody was there,” she said, “and that nobody would recognize me when we were having our family picture taken at the Oblation Plaza.” As far as her research is concerned, Cutiongco-de la Paz is quick to laud the contributions of her collaborators over her own. The clinical geneticist and current executive director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has certainly published on a broad range of subjects, from the genes implicated in rare diseases to our population’s genetic diversity. When asked, she tends to downplay her role in each of them. “None of these is just about me,” she says. There is, however, one topic that she talks about with pride. And that is her passion as a clinician-scientist. Having fuelled a career that earned her an award for “sustained contributions in the field of genetics,” this passion involves using her knowledge of genes to provide accurate diagnoses of illnesses to families and managing their multidisciplinary care. This passion, which describes the field of clinical genetics in a nutshell, has shaped her character as a scholar, a teacher, and, most importantly, a healer. Getting to this point was a journey that took Cutiongco-de la Paz nearly around the world. After surviving disasters abroad and receiving genetics training from some of the world’s top institutions, the pediatrician by training hopes that what she learned can now be used to help Filipinos and their families live healthier, more dignified lives. Deviation from form Graduating from the UP College of Medicine in 1989 was something Cutiongco-de la Paz thought would necessarily lead to a conventional career as a physician. An invitation to avail of a research fellowship at Kobe University’s Graduate School of Medicine in 1995, however, would change these plans forever. While there, she had the opportunity to study a condition called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in great depth. The disease is associated with a mutation in a gene on the X-chromosome and is mostly found in males. This mutation causes abnormalities in a protein called dystrophin in our muscles that makes them fragile and easily damaged. Afflicted children typically fall over and become wheelchair-bound. Since the heart and diaphragm consist themselves of muscle, those who fail to manage the illness typically die before age 30. Dr. Cutiongco-de la Paz is conferred the Dangal ng Bayan Award by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Although her stint in Kobe University introduced her to how deeply human genetics can influence a patient’s well-being, it was cut short unexpectedly by the Great Hanshin Earthquake—Japan’s second strongest in the 20th century. This coming before the age of social media, her survival was confirmed only after a nail-biting wait. “My mother couldn’t eat for a few days, because she didn’t know if I was alive or dead,” she recalled. She decided instead on coming home, to develop her knowledge elsewhere. Cutiongco-de la Paz was accepted soon after for a fellowship in clinical genetics at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. She said her initial plan was to study the genetics of infectious diseases, which seemed logical given the country’s needs. But it was in this hospital that she got fully exposed to the grim consequences of what she called dysmorphology—the study of congenital anomalies, more commonly known as birth defects. “‘Morph’ means form,” she explained, “and ‘dys’ means a deviation from usual form.” Dysmorphic children, therefore, tend to possess genetic abnormalities that give them altered appearances when compared even to family members. “I got exposed to the clinics and I saw how the families needed help. With an appropriate diagnosis, you could actually provide them with the proper management.” Homecoming Upon finishing her fellowship, Cutiongco-de la Paz came home and joined UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla, a geneticist herself, who actually served as her inspiration to get into the field of Genetics, in setting up comprehensive genetic services needed by the country. Together, they established a Clinical Genetics Fellowship Training Program at the PGH. This is the first and only one of its kind, teaching and training program in the subspecialty of Genetics in the country. The program is designed to provide the knowledge, understanding and skills required for the competent evaluation, management, genetic education and counseling of patients with genetic disorders and their families. Dr. Cutiongco-de la Paz (center) at the Malacañang Palace to receive her award. “And what we did, because Dr. Padilla was trained in Australia and I trained in Canada, was to put our training programs together to get the best of both”. They began opening the program to physicians willing to be trained in different clinical genetics sub-areas, from the laboratory to the counseling room. To date, they have graduated twelve clinical geneticists, with four more in training. Around the same time, she made it a point to do research on more complicated illnesses that more commonly afflict Filipinos. Together with colleagues like Dr. Rey Garcia of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, UP Diliman, they set out mapping genes and mutations in the population associated with colon cancer. “Why do we need to study our population?” she asked. “Because we’re seeing in research that even if we’re all part of the human race, our genetic makeup is unique compared to other population groups such as Chinese, Japanese and Americans. So we need to understand our uniqueness, ‘genetically speaking’ to gain a better understanding of diseases that our common to our people.” A poignant condition highlighting our specificity is that of X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism (XDP), locally known as lubag. This condition is, like DMD, caused by a mutation in a single gene in the X chromosome, and causes involuntary muscle contractions, dystonia, later on progressing to Parkinsonism. Dr. Cutiongco-de la Paz provides genetic education, testing and counseling to patients with XDP and their families. She teaches patients and their families about the genetic basis of XDP, counseling them on how it is passed on from one generation to the next, and finding support mechanisms for them to cope better. “What we want,” she added, is to see families and help them deal with the diagnosis. Hopefully we can reach a diagnosis with the help of genetic tests. Then we can tell them what caused the condition. That it’s not about what they did or did not do.” “This is important,” she said, especially here, where knowledge of genetics could be improved, “because some mothers, they blame themselves for birth defects that their children have.” An empowered course This year, Cutiongco-de la Paz can make this vision a reality. In addition to being recognized as an exemplary and ethical government employee via the Dangal ng Bayan Award, she also recently received a multi-million grant to set-up a shared genomics core laboratory at UP’s Philippine Genome Center (UP PGC). This next generation sequencing facility establishes a base for her and her colleagues to do more genomics research and provide affordable genetic screening services that tackles the diseases mentioned above and more. Dr. Cutiongco-de la Paz explains the process of precision medicine at the recent launch of the UP PGC’s Shared Genomics Core Laboratory (SGCL). Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. She used Angelina Jolie’s story as an example of the power of genetic information. “Her mother died of breast and ovarian cancer. Her mother’s sister died of breast cancer, and her grandmother of ovarian cancer. They were all diagnosed with what we call hereditary breast-ovarian cancer before the age of 50.” “She had herself tested even before a cancer diagnosis and found she carried the gene. And she took an empowered course in life; she had a prophylactic mastectomy, so the cancer would not have tissue to grow on. That dramatically drops her risk of developing breast cancer.” Popularizing translational medicine, the science of bringing laboratory innovations to the bedside, is what she hopes this grant will enable her to do. “That means creating tools from what you find from research that ordinary Filipinos can use. Right now, the test for breast cancer genes, when sourced abroad, costs around US$3,000. But if we have the machines here, and the trained personnel to use them, we can offer those at an affordable price. And that’s what we want to do!” This year the Civil Service Commission is already accepting nominations for its Honors Award Program–Lingkod Bayan, Dangal ng Bayan and Pag-asa ng Bayan awards. Deadline is end of March 2019. Related: UP inaugurates Genomics facility |
https://up.edu.ph/academic-calendar/ | Academic Calendar – University of the Philippines | Academic Calendar Pace yourself accordingly. Know when the midterm and final exam periods are or check the enlistment period for the succeeding terms. Click on the links below to view or download the academic calendar of your constituent university. Diliman Los Baños Manila Visayas Open University Mindanao Baguio Cebu Other sections which you might be interested in: Socialized Tuition System Student Academic Information System/Computer Registration System How to get to UP Diliman Campus Maps |
https://up.edu.ph/campus-maps/ | Campus Maps – University of the Philippines | Campus Maps For maps of the constituent universities, please click on the images below. |
https://up.edu.ph/how-to-get-to-up-diliman/ | How to get to UP Diliman – University of the Philippines | How to get to UP Diliman Via C-5/Katipunan Avenue a. For those with private vehicles: From the South, take C-5 and go straight ahead. After crossing Kalayaan Avenue, Makati, take the bridge past the elevated the u-turn. Go further ahead and take the flyover that crosses Ortigas Avenue. This flyover is just past Tiendesitas, which is on the left side. Go straight ahead. Take the Libis flyover and then take the tunnel, which is on the left side. You are now along Katipunan Avenue. Drive along and take the Katipunan flyover. Upon getting off the flyover, you will see the Ateneo de Manila University to your right. Go straight ahead and turn left at the traffic light, which is just past Miriam College, the La Vista gate, and Petron. You are now along CP Garcia Avenue. Drive along the avenue and turn right at the end. You are now along the University Avenue. Straight ahead is a checkpoint where you can ask for directions to the specific building you wish to go to. b. For commuters: Except for taxis, there is no other public transport that will take you to UP Diliman via C-5. If you are taking a cab, use the route for private vehicles described above. If you are coming from Marcos Highway or Aurora Boulevard, whether by jeep or fx, get off at Katipunan Avenue. You will see the jeepney terminal under the Katipunan flyover. Ride the jeep that goes inside the UP campus. Be sure to ask which ones enter the campus as there are jeeps that will only drop you off at the Magsaysay Gate because they are not allowed inside UP. If you are coming from areas served by the LRT-2, take the train and get off at the Katipunan Station. Walk to the corner of Katipunan Avenue and Aurora Boulevard. You will pass St. Bridget School. You will see the jeepney terminal under the Katipunan flyover. Ride the jeep that goes inside the UP campus. Be sure to ask which ones enter the campus as there are jeeps that will only drop you off at the Magsaysay Gate because they are not allowed inside UP. Via Philcoa a. For those with private vehicles: If you are coming from the South (Makati, Mandaluyong, San Juan, etc.) via EDSA, turn right at East Avenue. Go straight and turn right at the end. You are now along the Elliptical Road. It goes around the Quezon City Memorial Circle. There are street signs along the Elliptical Road. Turn right at Commonwealth Avenue. The entrance to the campus is just beyond the commercial complex to your right. The entrance also bears a University of the Philippines marker. Straight ahead is a checkpoint where you can ask for directions to the specific building you wish to go to. If you are coming from the North (Novaliches, Caloocan, etc.) take North Avenue. Go straight until you reach the Elliptical Road. It goes around the Quezon City Memorial Circle. There are street signs along the Elliptical Road. Turn right at Commonwealth Avenue. The entrance to the campus is just beyond the commercial complex to your right. The entrance also bears a University of the Philippines marker. Straight ahead is a checkpoint where you can ask for directions to the specific building you wish to go to. If you are coming from Manila, take Quezon Avenue. Go straight until you reach the Elliptical Road. It goes around the Quezon City Memorial Circle. There are street signs along the Elliptical Road. Turn right at Commonwealth Avenue. The entrance to the campus is just beyond the commercial complex to your right. The entrance also bears a University of the Philippines marker. Straight ahead is a checkpoint where you can ask for directions to the specific building you wish to go to. If you are coming from Fairview, go straight along Commonwealth Avenue until you reach the Elliptical Road. When allowed, you can make a u-turn to go to the campus. If it is not allowed, you have to turn right and drive along the Elliptical Road. Turn right at Commonwealth Avenue. The entrance to the campus is just beyond the commercial complex to your right. The entrance also bears a University of the Philippines marker. Straight ahead is a checkpoint where you can ask for directions to the specific building you wish to go to. b. For commuters: Take a bus, jeep, or fx going to Fairview. They ply the route on Commonwealth Avenue. Ask the driver to drop you off at Philcoa. There are jeeps that enter the UP campus from there. If your area is near the MRT, take the train and get off at the Quezon Avenue Station. There are jeeps that go inside the UP campus from there. If you are near SM City North EDSA or Trinoma, there are terminals with jeeps to the UP campus from there. If you are coming from Fairview, take a bus, jeep, or fx that plies the route on Commonwealth Avenue and ask the driver to drop you off at Philcoa. Cross the footbridge to the commercial complex. There are jeeps bound for UP from there. You might also want to look at the Campus Maps |
https://up.edu.ph/the-evolution-of-an-activist/ | The Evolution of an Activist – University of the Philippines | The Evolution of an Activist The Evolution of an Activist June 6, 2023 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Executive Vice President Jose “Pepe” Alcantara during the interview for the UP Forum. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. To the UP community, the name Jose “Pepe” Alcantara is up there in the annals of the brave as one of the UP student-activists who opposed martial law. Now, coming back to UP, not as a student leader but as Executive Vice President (EVP) in President Angelo Jimenez’ administrative team, Jose Fernando Tagum Alcantara still carries the fire of activism, purified by struggle and experience, and channeled into a different form. Answering the call The call to activism came early, although it took the form of another kind of calling, the priesthood. This led the young probinsyano from Batac, Ilocos Norte to enter Christ the King Seminary of the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) in his first year of high school. Life in the seminary was all about routine. “You wake up at 5:00 in the morning, shower at 6:00, then go to Mass. At 7:00, you prepare for school. Seminary life gave us some kind of discipline and structure.” Alcantara added with a laugh: “Pagpasok mo sa UP, grabe, total change.” He entered UP in 1976, a year he described as a time when UP students, faculty and those in non-academic sectors reawakened after the numbing shock immediately following the declaration of martial law. “The year 1976 was the beginning of questioning: ‘Bakit pinataw ang martial law? Makatarungan ba yan?’ The community started holding symposia and outdoor activities, even though these were not allowed by the government and the military.” He immediately took to UP’s liberal spirit, and by his second year, became president of UP Namnama, a student organization for Ilocano students. He was also part of the founding group of the Sandigan para sa Mag-aaral at Sambayanan (SAMASA). “In the seminary, we were exposed to social realities, so that when they talked about political issues, madali kong na-absorb. Naging automatic na nagustuhan kong makiniig, magsalita, until I became part of student activism in UP.” “I was told that I was the very first student to be arrested inside a classroom in Palma Hall. I was detained and imprisoned for two long years because of activism.” – Alcantara Two years of darkness His activism soon drew the attention of enforcers of the regime, and in 1979, he was arrested while inside the campus by a military intelligence group. “I was told that I was the very first student to be arrested inside a classroom in Palma Hall,” Alcantara recounted. “I was detained and imprisoned for two long years because of activism.” He was brought to Camp Crame, where he spent six months in a small room, roughly six by eight feet. The walls were painted black and the room had no windows, no light, and the constant darkness made it impossible to ascertain whether it was night or day. Afterward, he was transferred to the Bicutan detention center. Return to student activism After his release in 1981, Alcantara wanted to recoup his strength and focus on his studies, but fate had other ideas. “I was asked to run for the Student Council. It was a difficult decision, but it was in the blood, so umoo naman ako.” He urged a younger student, a “very talkative straight-shooter” named Lean Alejandro, to take on the chairmanship; but when Alejandro refused out of respect for seniority, Alcantara became the second chairperson of the Student Council, serving from 1982-1983 after Malou Mangahas. Executive Vide President Alcantara taking his bike out for a spin in UP Diliman. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. It took Alcantara five years to finish the four-year Bachelor of Arts in Political Science program. He marched in the commencement exercises in 1983, and received the UP Diamond Jubilee Scholarship Award. He had been Chairman of the UP Student Council, founding Chairman of the Center for Nationalist Studies and KASAMA sa UP, and founding National Chairman of the League of Filipino Students. That same year, Alcantara left for the USA. He earned his masteral degree in International Economics from the University of South Carolina in Columbia in 1987, then his Doctoral Residency in International Economics at the London School of Economics in 1991. Life in the corporate world “In London, I was asked to help a team working on the integration of the Philippine Stock Exchange,” he related. The Manila Stock Exchange and the Makati Stock Exchange were merged and became the Philippine Stock Exchange in 1997; and Alcantara, who was Vice President for International Trade for the Philippine International Trading Corporation from 1995 to 1997, became Senior Vice President of the Philippine Stock Exchange from 1997 to 2001. His experience in the private sector spans 32 years. He worked in various top positions in an array of industries, and served as executive adviser and consultant for economic, business and infrastructure projects in both the private and the public sector. Returning to UP Then in 2023, another call to serve came when new UP President Jimenez asked Alcantara to join his team. “I have to admit, it was a difficult decision. I’m technically a retired professional.” Still, not one to shy away from the call no matter how it came, Pepe Alcantara chose to serve. “There is excitement or the feeling of challenge,” he said about returning to UP. “And I love the work. This is the time to help the President, the UP System, to take a transformative direction.” For Alcantara, being EVP means fulfilling two main functions: “Number one is to closely assist the President, to make things happen, to implement and realize his decisions. In doing so, I look at barriers and gaps between point A and point B.” He enumerated those barriers: the lack of money, the lack of policy to provide direction, and the lack of programs to enforce said policy. The second function of an EVP is to advise the President. “I am there to create a supportive, loyal check and balance. My role is to provide an alternative way of looking at it and maybe give him a better way to decide.” “Hindi tayo nauubusan ng talino at plano sa academe. Yung kailangan is the patience and the science and art of making things happen.” – Alcantara Shifting to higher education administration After three decades in the private sector, taking on the administration of a university is quite a change. “We have to accept that the UP work culture is totally different compared to private enterprise, pero merong mahahango sa corporate na magagamit dito, which is my expertise,” Alcantara said. One such area is in the implementation of projects. “In UP, we have so many plans, but translating that into implementation requires the discipline and eagerness of a corporate enterprise. Hindi tayo nauubusan ng talino at plano sa academe. Yung kailangan is the patience and the science and art of making things happen.” Some of the initiatives he is helping the UP President with include performance measurements. “We have created a good governance committee that will review the systems, procedures, and the relationships of functions so that we can also now digitally transform the entire UP System, which is the President’s top priority,” Alcantara said. “Those are the things that we have to do to make our work easier and more enjoyable. How I wish we were so efficient that we could work only four days in a week, and by 3 pm pwede na tayong umuwi so we can climb trees, go biking, swimming and kayaking,” he added. An activist, then and now How would Alcantara know that he will have succeeded as EVP of UP? “I would like to make sure that our staff are healthy and they enjoy what they do.” A seminarian, student leader, and political detainee in his youth; a CEO during his professional years; a university administrator at the cusp of retirement. Yet, his activism has remained constant throughout the seeming contradictions he has lived through. “When I was a student, my calling was to be an activist. But as you move on, you redefine yourself to become more relevant. I look at it as a process, not as contradictions. It’s part of the growing. “If you ask me, I’m an activist,” Alcantara declared. “When I make decisions, I’m an activist. Why? Because I think outside the box.” Read more stories from the UP Forum Read the latest News from UP Read UP’s Announcements |
https://up.edu.ph/leading-the-transformation-into-a-digital-national-university/ | Leading the Transformation into a Digital National University – University of the Philippines | Leading the Transformation into a Digital National University Leading the Transformation into a Digital National University June 6, 2023 | Written by KIM G Quilinguing Adviser to the President on Digital Transformation Emmanuel C. Lallana during his interview with the UP Forum. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. “Digital transformation is really about changing the way we educate our students.” – Lallana Not everyone can make the jump from teaching political science to advocating the use of information technology for better governance and education. But Dr. Emmanuel C. Lallana has certainly proven that he can. “I am a political scientist who knows technology,” he describes himself. From being a student leader in the waning days of the Marcos dictatorship to becoming one of the country’s leading advocates in digital transformation, the former UP associate professor of Political Science has certainly gone a long way from what was then the College of Arts and Sciences in UP Diliman to becoming a member of UP President Angelo Jimenez’s executive team. As the new university administration’s Adviser on Digital Transformation, Dr. Lallana is given the challenging task of providing the backbone for the realization of Jimenez’s dream of a digital national university. He admits that it is a vision he and the new president have long been discussing even back then when Jimenez was a still a member of UP’s Board of Regents. “Digital transformation is really about changing the way we educate our students,” Lallana said. As a UP student during the height of the Martial Law years, Lallana recalls how different and difficult it was back then to communicate with fellow students and the rest of the University community. He shared how they had use typewriters to prepare materials on the burning issues of the day, and how the same documents were mass-produced using mimeographing machines, producing copies which were then disseminated to the University community. Nowadays, with smart phones, students can easily communicate and disseminate information and organize events. After finishing his studies in Political Science in Diliman, Lallana took up teaching Political Science in 1979, where once he was designated Acting Chair of his department. While teaching in UP, he was also appointed Director of the Center for Integrative Development Studies, one of the University’s leading research units which regularly publishes research work on social issues and other challenges that confront Philippine society. Lallana’s fascination with what can now be considered his advocacy began during his time as a graduate student in Hawaii, when he started using a laptop computer for his studies. And as a political scientist, he was not only enamored by the technology, but also with its potentials in improving research, education, public service, and governance. He earned his Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1982 and 1986, respectively. According to Lallana, digital transformation is different from digitalization. Digitalization is the mere adoption of electronic devices and work processes for analog devices and procedures. Digital transformation on the other hand requires not only a change in instruments and practices, but more importantly, in the mindset towards how an organization performs its functions and delivers its services to its stakeholders. “You may design the best application for payroll for instance, but if people refuse to use it, and have the wrong attitude towards it, the best designed software still will not work,” he said. For Lallana, technology can only be considered successfully used when people ‘own’ it or regard it essential to their day-to-day activities. An example he provided was how short message service or SMS in phone networks, or what is called by many as text messaging, started as a tool to test signals. And in the case of the Philippines, this was used for social movements, and at the same time, personal relations. “It became a way for people to get in touch with one another, to communicate, to fall in love,” he added. Aside from teaching in UP, Lallana also served as Deputy Director of the of the Foreign Service Institute, after he was appointed by President Fidel V. Ramos. As part of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ research and training unit, he was involved with the Philippine delegation in talks with Indonesia on boundary delimitation, as well in discussions with China on the islands in what was then called the South China Sea. Retiring from teaching in UP in 2000, Lallana served as Executive Director of the eASEAN Task Force, which was an advisory body intended to enhance the region’s information and communications technology competencies. “Technology, ICT applications and systems, are socio-technical systems, which means that you have to look at the social side of technology. Technology is embedded in society. But at the same time, technology also changes society.” – Lallana In 2004, he was appointed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Commissioner in the Commission on Information and Communications Technology, one of the agencies instrumental in the later formation of the Department of Information Communications Technology. In the commission, Lallana headed the Human Capital Development Group, which developed several programs, among which were: eSkwela, an electronic learning platform for out-of-school youth; iSchools, an ICT initiative for high school students; and, the eQuality Program, which worked to upgrade the information technology teaching capacity of Philippine state universities and colleges. Since then, Lallana has advocated the use of technology not only for the improvement of communication systems in the country, but more importantly, for better governance, access to education, and skills enhancement among the youth. He sees technology not only as a tool to improve the means of communicating ideas, but also as transformative tools for a better society. “Technology, ICT applications and systems, are socio-technical systems, which means that you have to look at the social side of technology. Technology is embedded in society. But at the same time, technology also changes society,” he said. For UP, Lallana hopes to see the possibility of providing faculty and students more flexibility in the teaching and learning of courses. When both conventionally meet at least once a week for an hour, he envisions the conduct of courses that will be more convenient for both. Essential to the realization of this idea will be the reduction of face-to-face sessions and the use of alternative means of conveying lessons. An example he shared was based on his experience back then teaching Political Science, where he spent several hours every semester talking about Plato’s ideas, when those could have been done using an engaging video material available online for students. Aside from the use of different modes of teaching and using various forms of media materials for lessons, Lallana hopes to see the availability of courses online, which students can go over at their own pace. While this is already being practiced in the UP Open University, he envisions a widespread adoption of this mode of learning for the whole UP System. “We have to change the way we teach. We hope to change the way students learn,” he added. While digital transformation may change the way courses may be taught in the University, Lallana emphasized that it only provides additional innovative means of conveying lessons. It does not take away a faculty member’s choice to pursue the more traditional mode of teaching. “Technology is just a platform. It’s still teachers who will design the course. You will still have face-to-face [classes] if you want,” he added. Asked about possible challenges to digital transformation in UP, Lallana admits the task is herculean, given that the term of the Jimenez administration is only six years. But he also said that it must be done, as UP is already behind when compared to other universities abroad. “We cannot afford to be left behind further. If we don’t start now, we may not be able to catch up,” he said. While he acknowledges the efforts in digitalization by previous administrations, he added that much still remains to be done. Read more stories from the UP Forum Read the latest News from UP Read UP’s Announcements |
https://up.edu.ph/as-cool-as-a-university-secretary/ | As cool as a University Secretary – University of the Philippines | As cool as a University Secretary As cool as a University Secretary June 6, 2023 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Secretary Lara in this interview with the UP Forum. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. At the end of the interview, Atty. Roberto M. Lara, Secretary of the University and of the Board of Regents (OSU), announced: “Ako ang pinaka-gwapong naging Secretary ng UP.” After a beat of silence, he reconsidered what he had said, “Sabagay, patay na yata lahat ng naging lalaking Secretary of the University, ano?” Thus, because none of the male University Secretaries in the past are still alive to possibly protest, he jokingly declared once again: “Ako ang pinaka-gwapong Secretary ng UP!” Simply no place like (UP College) Manila A few minutes into the interview and already one gets the feeling that conversations with Sec. Lara are rarely boring. A proud UP graduate, he earned his degree in Bachelor of Arts in Social Science in 1982 from UP Manila (UPM). Back then, it was the UP College Manila, when it was still under UP Diliman before becoming an autonomous university. “If you are a working student, you inevitably ended up in UP College Manila, kasi Manila lang ang may evening classes and I was a working student,” recalled Lara, who worked as a clerk at the Department of Justice, “Clerk 1, which is I think one rank higher than the janitor,” he said. Most of the students in UPM at the time were freshmen and sophomores, at least until 5:30 PM, when classes for working students in their third and fourth year in college began. “Masaya Manila noon!” enthused Lara, whose fondest memories of his undergrad days tend to range from PG-13 to R-18. For instance, there were the White House and the Doctor’s Club, which had to have the stuffiest establishment names ever, but which were actually popular watering holes frequented by UP students for the cheap beer they sold. And of course, right outside the campus was Mabini Street which, Lara pointed out, was already the lively Mabini Street even back then. He experienced both the UP Manila and UP Diliman of the 70s and 80s, having earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the College of Law in 1987. He was admitted to the Bar a year later, and went on to earn his Masters of Law degree in Commercial Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in 1999. Over the years, he worked in various government agencies, including as Senior Technical Assistant to then Senator Rene A.V. Saguisag, and as Chief of Staff of former BIR Commissioner Liwayway Vinzons-Chato. He left government service in 1998 and went into private law practice until February 2017, when then UP President Danilo Concepcion appointed him Secretary of the University and the Board of Regents. “Of course, I am very proud to carry the mace. Siempre, you’re carrying the symbol of the authority of the University.” – Lara Serving six years and six years more When current UP President Angelo Jimenez asked him to continue on as University Secretary for another six years, Lara agreed. “It wasn’t a difficult decision. I had known the new President because he had been a member of the BOR for some time. Of course, I would like to help him.” Still, he first needed to secure his boss’ permission. Wait, his boss? “My wife,” Lara said, laughing. And what did his boss say? “She wasn’t thrilled, let’s put it that way. But of course, she said yes.” What does Lara envision for the OSU in the next six years? “Well, I do not know how the OSU can further evolve from what it’s been doing. It is doing what it is supposed to be doing. If anything, it’s a matter of getting the right people, which I think to a large extent we have addressed in the past six years.” Improving the OSU’s human resources is foremost, and gains have already made in this area. “We hired some very good people. We had them take exams—all of them, even our driver. And we got the best from among the candidates. I believe that we have a very good team already.” “Basically, my goal for the OSU is that it should be able to operate without a Secretary,” Lara shared. “Meaning even if the Secretary is away, it would still be able to perform its functions. The OSU should make the Secretary redundant.” Of mace and men His experience as a lawyer serves him well in his role as University Secretary. “The work of the University Secretary is basically the same as that of a corporate secretary, so it’s not anything new to me. I think most lawyers, some time in their career, would have performed the duties of a corporate secretary or done something in relation to that kind of practice.” The role of University Secretary is not easy. Even during the interview, Lara was fielding calls and preparing for yet another meeting. But when asked what the most challenging thing was about being University Secretary, his answer was both unexpected and obvious, in hindsight. “The most challenging thing is carrying the mace,” he said, an answer which had the UP Forum staff trying hard to stifle their laughter. He said that was not even to mention having to attend all those formal University ceremonies, which could get tedious, especially when the ceremony was being held outdoors and one was sweating bullets inside that heavy gown. “Of course, I am very proud to carry the mace,” Lara said with a smile. “Siempre, you’re carrying the symbol of the authority of the University.” And while the title of hottest male University Secretary may be up for debate, Lara may easily be the coolest. Read more stories from the UP Forum Read the latest News from UP Read UP’s Announcements |
https://up.edu.ph/becoming-lawyers-for-up/ | Becoming Lawyers for UP – University of the Philippines | Becoming Lawyers for UP Becoming Lawyers for UP June 6, 2023 | Written by Fred Dabu Vice President for Legal Affairs Abraham Rey M. Acosta in his interview with the UP Forum. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. “We better assume a new role, aside from the traditional role…. This time, we should also provide legal assistance to those who engage the communities.” – Acosta Atty. Abraham Rey M. Acosta, UP’s Vice President for Legal Affairs, envisions his office to serve a more dynamic role during the Presidency of Atty. Angelo Jimenez, to be “lawyers for the people and not just lawyers for the UP administration,” since UP, under Republic Act 9500 or the UP Charter, is mandated to be a public service university. The Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs (OVPLA) provides timely and expert legal advice, guidance, and support to UP officials, to facilitate the University’s pursuit of its mission of teaching, research, and service. It also handles administrative cases, student disciplinary tribunal cases, cases involving UP properties, and contracts being entered into by UP, among others. “One of the priorities of the current administration is engagement with the public. We show the nation what UP really is, who we truly are, and that engagement will also require legal support,” Acosta said. He explained that UP’s students, researchers, staff, and teachers doing field work, advocacy and volunteer work, and other University-linked activities in various communities and sectors of society, often encounter situations that require legal assistance. However, when problems occur, like harassment or arrests, students and faculty members immediately contact public interest lawyers’ groups for help and not UP’s own lawyers. “We better assume a new role, aside from the traditional role…. This time, we should also provide legal assistance to those who engage the communities,” Acosta further stated. Prior to his appointment as VP for Legal Affairs, Atty. Acosta practiced law in Cebu, taking on dispute resolution, patent drafting, prosecution and litigation, and corporate registrations and housekeeping. He served as Municipal Administrator in Compostela, Cebu (2022-2023), as Partner in A Acosta & Associates Law Offices (since 2014), and as Associate in Quisumbing Torres (2011-2014) and Sycip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan. He also served as Director of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City Chapter (2021-2023), and as Co-Chair of the IBP Cebu City Legal Aid Committee, which handles developmental legal aid, volunteer legal aid caravans, and jail decongestion, among others. Atty. Acosta has also been teaching Criminal Law as Senior Lecturer in the UP College of Law since 2020. His advice to students: study hard but also do volunteer work, and enjoy UP. “Enjoy UP! UP has a lot of things to offer, especially if you live on campus. Even if you don’t live on campus, ang daming pwedeng gawin, pwedeng maaral,” he said. “Go near the College of Music and you will hear wonderful music. Go to the College of Science, you will see lots of lectures, in the College of Engineering… [attend] free public lectures. Ang daming pwedeng matutunan ng UP students, kaya nga don’t just stay in your classroom. Lumabas din, kahit within UP lang.” “And if possible, volunteer outside UP. Because even as a UP student, meron na tayong responsibilidad sa bayan natin. Bayad yung tuition natin ng sambayanan eh, kaya kahit konti naman maybe we can volunteer our time. Kahit yung mga reading initiatives sa mga public libraries, teaching kids how to read, or tumulong sa mga barangay natin, to show that, us being UP students, this is what UP students are like. Engage the community. Volunteer. Yun yung gusto kong sabihin sa mga students natin,” Acosta exhorted. VP Acosta was a dormer, student council member, and campus journalist during his undergraduate years in UP Diliman. He was editor-in-chief of the Logscript, the official student publication of the College of Engineering. Elected Councilor in 1995, he headed the Community Rights and Welfare Committee of the University Student Council (USC). He joined the news section of the Philippine Collegian after his term in the USC. Molave Residence Hall was his “home away from home” for four years. Acosta shows the hallway of the 2nd floor of the Molave Residence Hall where his room used to be before he transferred to the mezzanine room. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. At the Molave Residence Hall today, VP Acosta reminisced about what college life was for him and fellow dormers as he took the UP Forum staff on a nostalgic tour of the dormitory. The 1990s was an era that did not have the e-mails, cellular phones and social media that we have today. Long-distance communications were limited to telegrams, telephones and snail mail; and students lined up at the public payphones in the dorm lobby and paid in one peso coins to be able to speak with their relatives and friends. Students used to rally against tuition and other fees related to education, inadequate dorm facilities, food services, and administration policies. The entry of private concessionaires and corporations, University budget cuts, and the commercialization of UP’s idle assets (vacant areas of land, among others) were among the biggest issues faced by University constituents. “Dito ako namulat to a lot of things,” says VP Acosta about his stay in Molave. He recalled times when peers would be in the dorm lobby even at midnight, and pointed to the old spots where they would usually hang around to talk about campus life or simply do ordinary things. He showed the now renovated areas where the dorm’s dining hall was before; the area beside the windows where they watched their favorite television programs such as “The X-Files” and “Friends”; the second floor where they set up the betamax to view rented movies; the steel stairway that was previously made of thin wood; and, the mezzanine room where he stayed as a senior dormer until his graduation from the UP College of Engineering. “A lot of things were cooked up on these tables [pointing to where wooden tables were back then]… This was my room before. Ang daming mga student leaders who had their rooms here in the mezzanine. And in the mornings, we could see everybody taking their breakfast,” VP Acosta reminisces. “Tingnan natin kung nasaan talaga yung strength ng University. Our strength lies in our purpose. We are an academic institution geared towards helping to uplift the Filipino people.” – Acosta VP Acosta obtained his degree in BS Electronics and Communications Engineering in 1999. Some years later, he graduated from the UP College of Law in 2006 and was admitted to the Bar in 2007. This year, Atty. Acosta was called to serve the University once again. “When UP calls, you either run away and hide, or just answer the call. I felt that it’s time na rin for me to give back to UP what it had provided me during my student days. How can you say no to UP who nurtured you through your youth?” VP Acosta anticipates a more publicly engaged UP under the Jimenez leadership. “Tingnan natin kung nasaan talaga yung strength ng University. Our strength lies in our purpose. We are an academic institution geared towards helping to uplift the Filipino people.” “We have a lot of world-class research and talents here. Why don’t we show the world the face of UP? We engage the community with what we are doing. If you show them what UP is all about, if you show them that UP truly cares for the community, yung mga natulungan, sila na mismo ang magdedepensa, na ‘taga-UP yan, May malasakit yan. Tumutulong yan,’” Acosta explained. The OVPLA faces numerous legal issues and concerns, especially on making UP campuses safer and more conducive and enabling to its constituents. There is, on one hand, various groups committing acts of red-tagging and disinformation against UP; and, on the other hand, the recent unilateral abrogation of the UP-DND (Department of National Defense) Accord of 1989, and prospects for updating the 1992 agreement between UP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). “What the Accord is saying, if certain incidents, or if a crime is happening inside the University, may protocols tayo… for good order and safety. Hindi pwede yung bigla na lang papasok dito [referring to those entering or conducting police or military operations inside UP]…. Ang sinasabi lang naman, just inform us na may ise-serve kayo na warrant…. I hope [the agreement] would be respected by other parties, kasi ang daming pwedeng mangyari kung wala yang Accord na yan. When the Accord is in place, and there is order in serving legal processes,” he explained. “Basic lang yan, eh. Respeto. UP is a microcosm of society, ang daming ideologies, competing ideas, marketplace of ideas nga ito eh…. We should all be respectful of each other…. If we respect each other, then I think UP will be a safe environment for everyone,” he added. In the meantime, VP Acosta aims to address UP’s land cases, grants and donations, and procurement system for what the University could use for academic and research purposes. “We are also trying to speed up our procurement process, particularly for the big-ticket items, so that UP’s researchers will get the machinery, the equipment, or even the buildings that we need,” he concluded. Read more stories from the UP Forum Read the latest News from UP Read UP’s Announcements |
https://up.edu.ph/the-many-facets-of-vp-wendell-capili/ | The Many Facets of VP Wendell Capili – University of the Philippines | The Many Facets of VP Wendell Capili The Many Facets of VP Wendell Capili June 6, 2023 | Written by Franco Gargantiel II Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell P. Capili in his interview with the UP Forum. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. If you happen to visit Art Circle Café in the UP Diliman campus, odds are you might see a bespectacled man enjoying a cup coffee and a meal. Don’t be surprised if this person turns out to be Professor Wendell Capili as that café happens to be his favorite spot in the campus. Yet at first glance, people would never assume that this distinguished looking professor-type enjoys romantic comedy movies, runs as a hobby, and loves eating sapin-sapin, his favorite Filipino snack. Dr. Jose Wendell P. Capili is currently the UP Vice President for Public Affairs (VPPA). A Professor 12 at the Department of English and Comparative Literature in UP Diliman, his favorite subject to teach is Filipino literature in English. He also cannot live without his mobile phone. He says that when he wakes up in the morning, the first thing he does is to check his phone for messages. Making good on a promise Capili has had a very long and personal history with the University of the Philippines. His earliest memory of UP was during a trip with his father when he was seven years old. “We were driving to a relative’s house in Tandang Sora, and we briefly stopped the car.” His father pointed out the UP campus to the boy, and told him that this would be the place where he would soon learn, and be educated. Capili made good on that promise, teaching in UP as a professor for 35 years. He also spent 25 of those years serving as a University administrator: as a program development associate to UP Diliman Chancellor Claro T. Laguno and Chancellor Emerlinda R. Roman from 1997 to 2001, and as Associate Dean of the UP College of Arts and Letters for nine years. He then became Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Public Affairs for fourteen years, serving under six UP VPs for Public Affairs and three UP Presidents. “We have to ensure that more Filipinos feel that UP is there for them. That UP is not just for the Iskolar ng Bayan; UP is for the Filipino people.” – Capili Capili explaining his thoughts on UP’s role in nation-building. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. From the ground up When asked about his initial reaction to being appointed as the Vice President for Media Public Affairs, Capili said he was very surprised. Up until that point, he was already considering going back to his home department and taking on a full-time teaching load. “I thought that it was already the end of my career as an administrator and that I should spend more time as a University professor.” Although he had conditioned himself mentally to teach full time, he nevertheless accepted the new position that was given to him. Of course, appointing someone with an academic and administrative career as long and impressive as his as the next UP VP for Public Affairs was a logical move on the part of the new administration. According to Capili, his experience of serving under six different VPs and three different UP Presidents will enable him not just to understand how the Office of the Vice President of Public Affairs is run, but also to see himself as an instrument between different sectors of the University. “I really started from the bottom. I came from the gutter. Getting into the University, I snuck my way in,” he said of his beginnings in UP he as a temporary instructor with a yearly contract for several years before gaining tenure. The importance of kindness in UP Capili knows all about the struggles many UP staff and community members face. He knows what it’s like to be hungry, to have his salaries delayed and his overload pay withheld for years, to not even have the luxury of having his own office. He is well aware of the fact that there are problems that need to be resolved within the University, and if someone like him, with the highest rank of a Professor 12, feels the bitterness of these struggles, then how much worse is it for administrative staff, instructors and part-time UP contractual workers? “I hope I can be an instrument to getting things done. Not necessarily solving these issues right away, but be the instrument, pointing out which office should attend to their needs.” He went on to say: “As Vice President, I would be able to amplify these issues a little more, because I know things on the ground. I’m not sitting inside an air-conditioned office; I know what’s really going on down there.” His vision aligns with new UP President Jimenez’s thrust to promote kindness and not just compassion within UP. “In the University, we keep on talking about honor and excellence. But what’s the point of having honor and excellence if you are not kind to the people around you?” Capili asked. Aside from vulnerable UP administrative staff and contractual workers, especially those who are single parents, Capili also takes to heart the struggles his students face, many of whom come to his class without having eaten anything. “The fact that the President has emphasized in his speech that we have to have honor and excellence—that is something that we have been doing. But it has to resonate in spaces outside our classrooms, outside our offices. We have to connect to the larger community.” “I’d rather that people do not just strive for excellence. They have to be kind, and they have to be driven to encourage and inspire as many people as they can, within the place of work or home or community.” – Capili UP for the Filipino people Capili believes that each employee should feel that change is happening, and that it shouldn’t be merely confined to motherhood statements. “You are not a UP official because you have to attend all these glorious events,” he said. “You are an official because you have to be an instrument. You have to attend to all these different matters that concern the lives of these people. And not just the lives of one or two people that you know. There are so many people that you still have to get to know. They all have backstories, and they needed to be attended to.” His biggest goal is to make sure that the University does its best to make supportive processes more seamless, and that UP’s presence is felt not just by its constituents but by every Filipino. “It is important that the operations of the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs should resonate not just within our publics, but with the larger external public. We have to ensure that more Filipinos feel that UP is there for them. That UP is not just for the Iskolar ng Bayan; UP is for the Filipino people.” The best piece of advice Capili has been given is to be very diligent and to be determined to succeed, but more importantly, to inspire others. Many of his childhood teachers who didn’t necessarily have high positions or ranks were the ones who inspired him to choose the path that he has taken for himself, and for that he is very grateful to them. “I’d rather that people do not just strive for excellence,” he shared. “They have to be kind, and they have to be driven to encourage and inspire as many people as they can, within the place of work or home or community.” A behind the scenes photo of Capili during the formal portrait session for UP officials. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. Read more stories from the UP Forum Read the latest News from UP Read UP’s Announcements |
https://up.edu.ph/coming-home-giving-back/ | Coming Home, Giving Back – University of the Philippines | Coming Home, Giving Back Coming Home, Giving Back June 6, 2023 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo University of the Philippines Vice President for Development Ferdinand Jesus “Boyet” Aquino Pecson during his interview with the UP Forum. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. He looked around the College of Engineering Faculty Lounge, trying to recall what the room had been before. And while he could not immediately remember, Ferdinand Jesus “Boyet” Aquino Pecson knew he was home. The new UP Vice President for Development earned his BS Mechanical Engineering and PhD in Energy Engineering degrees from UP Diliman, where he taught for 11 years. The Faculty Lounge was at that time the Department of Metallurgical and Mining Engineering, informally called “Met and Mining”. His eyes lit up in instant recognition when he was told that. Three decades is a long time to be away, and now that he is back in the University, Pecson has imposed upon himself the duty to contribute to the growth of UP. “I owe a lot of where I am today to UP.” How his UP journey began “At 16, you had no idea. Engineering was popular,” he said on picking a college program while still a senior at San Beda College High School. A close friend encouraged him to take Mechanical Engineering. Pecson chose UP. First girlfriend, first failed exam, first honorific achievement. These were some of the more memorable experiences he had at UP. Back then, he didn’t really think about balancing school and social life. He had a girlfriend, his barkada, Beta Epsilon Fraternity, and he finished within the required five years. After graduating in 1981, he joined the faculty. “In the beginning, I made a lot of mistakes,” Pecson admitted. “We had no formal training on how to teach, so all we had were experiences from our former professors.” He picked what were worth emulating and avoided what he didn’t want his students to go through. He wanted to ensure that his students’ stay in UP would be worthwhile. “My teaching philosophy was ‘adapt to the needs of students.’” Pecson said that learning about his former students’ achievements made him “proud to have somehow been part of their growth.” He worked on his PhD while teaching and got a USAID grant to do his dissertation at the University of Wisconsin. This would be his first chance to travel abroad. He was expected to present his research output at an international conference and did so at the Argonne National Laboratory at the 1988 symposium of The Combustion Institute. He then got his PhD from UP and taught until 1992. “I owe a lot of where I am today to UP. This time, I can contribute to my alma mater.” – Pecson A career outside Pecson expanded his horizons and built a solid professional career in the private sector for the next 24 years. He worked at Philippine Investment Management Consultants, Inc. and Solid Cement Corporation before going to the US to take Northwestern University’s MMM Program. It was a two-year dual-degree offering that allowed him to earn a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management and a Master of Engineering Management from the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science in 2000. He stayed in the US for two more years. Then he was with Holcim Philippines for almost seven years as VP (Alternative Fuels and Raw Materials) and later as VP for Operations. After that, he joined FLSmidth & Co. A/S., first, as operations and maintenance (O&M) consultant, where he worked in various countries, then as Egypt country manager, and finally, as performance director at its headquarters in Denmark In 2016, he went back to government service. Pecson was appointed Undersecretary and Executive Director of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center. He believed his O&M experience fit the life cycle approach of PPP. He also credited his social network—people who knew him would vouch for and recommend him—for getting the job. After six years, his term ended. For someone who led an active lifestyle (he was a finisher at the 2019 Ironman 70.3 competition in Subic Bay) and who married the equally active Marietta who ran marathons, Pecson didn’t want to look at retirement, especially when he and his wife have been empty-nesters for years. He became a PPP consultant, created a PPP blog, and traveled to Bhutan. Behind Pecson is the ongoing construction of the Faculty Commons in UP Diliman. Formerly the Faculty Center, the building was razed by an early morning fire that reached Task Force Alpha (level higher than fifth alarm) on April 1, 2016. The structure s well on its way to completely rise from the ashes with renewed purpose and vigor. As the new VP for Development, Pecson is intent on ensuring that UP infrastructure projects are completed “with good quality, on time, and on budget.” Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. Back in UP as VP “Again, it was my social network,” he revealed, recalling how he was considered for the position. When he was approached, he first asked what the job entailed because he would only accept it if he had the skills to deliver. “I needed to be able to give my 100%.” His management style is collegial and open. He listens before giving his views. Heavy on root cause analysis, Pecson is bound to probe and ask many questions. He said he is fortunate to have “a very committed and strongly motivated” team at the Office of the VPD (OVPD). His office is in charge of infrastructure development, both physical and technological. The first is guided by the land use plans of the constituent universities (CUs) and includes UP campuses that are yet to rise. The second will be enhanced by UP President Angelo Jimenez’s digital transformation initiative, and Pecson said, “We should expect changes.” A few months in, Pecson noticed that UP needed to be more efficient. “We need to complete projects with good quality, on time, and on budget.” He also said that OVPD should establish stronger relations within the System and outside. “We have to be good at reaching out to our partners and getting things done with them.” “We need to complete projects with good quality, on time, and on budget.” – Pecson Looking forward Pecson happily reported on some major projects that had been in the pipeline. The Cancer Care Center in UP Manila was already in the procurement stage. PGH Diliman has been given conditional approval; and the Investment Coordination Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority asked UP to restructure the project from 700 beds to 400 beds and include everything affected by the change. “Just like everyone else, I’m very excited to see this project come to fruition.” As for other projects, he said, “We are collating all the priority projects [of the CUs] to determine where OVPD can assist.” It is easy to see Pecson’s enthusiasm for his new role as VPD. Perhaps because he was indeed home. Surely because he now had six years’ worth of opportunities to give back to the University that helped make him the person he is today. Pecson meets with his team at the Office of the Vice President for Development. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. Read more stories from the UP Forum Read the latest News from UP Read UP’s Announcements |
https://up.edu.ph/simply-nes/ | Simply Nes – University of the Philippines | Simply Nes Simply Nes June 6, 2023 | Written by Fred Dabu Vice President Nestor Yunque during his interview with the UP Forum. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. “I’m Nestor Yunque, the present Vice President for Administration. I started as VP for Administration way back in 2017. And now, under the new UP President, I’m continuing to help stabilize everything.” As a professor who taught zoology, marine biology, and environmental science courses at the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) College of Arts and Sciences-Division of Biological Sciences before taking on higher administrative positions, Vice President for Administration Nestor G. Yunque said he made learning interesting for his students by organizing class field trips. “That makes life exciting. Ayokong ma-confine sa four corners ng classroom ang pag-aaral… It is also a form of service to the students,” said VP Nes, adding: “Nag-uumapaw yung estudyante kasi alam nilang magfi-field trip…. From Iloilo, we pass by Antique, then Aklan, overnight sa Boracay, pag-uwi, dadaan sa Roxas. It’s a tour of Panay, and they spend so much less than if they’re going to do that on their own.” In his lectures, he would emphasize that UP students should care. “Whatever your course is—business management or biology, or chemistry or math—always bear in mind na yung pag-aaral mo, eventually, should help people. Bigyan mo ng halaga ang mga mahihirap,” he would tell them. VP Nes, who grew up during the First Quarter Storm era, recalls his student days at the Philippine Science High School in Quezon City and in the UP Visayas. “Gusto mo yung gobyerno, yung serbisyo, para sa tao, hindi sa kapitalista o sa kagrupo nila,” he said. He and his peers belong to the generation that organized massive rallies and campaigned for the reestablishment of the student councils. “At that time [Martial Law], lahat ng student councils ng UP units ay tinanggal. Later on, may clamor na ibalik ang student council sa bawat CU. Sa UP Visayas, we did that. Lahat ng organizations nagtipon.” As chairperson of the aggrupation, he led the students in bringing back the student council in UPV. After college, he served as a research assistant for work on agar production and commercially important seaweeds for two years, before becoming a faculty member of the UPV. Eventually, he was assigned as the station head of the UP Visayas Marine Biological Station in Taklong Island in Guimaras. When he was the Vice Chancellor for Administration of UPV in Iloilo, from 2011 to 2016, he cherished establishing rapport with administrative personnel and the moments he got to know about their problems and how the administration would be able to address them. “During that time, it was for two terms, we were able to initiate changes in how the administration is being run,” he said. “Hopefully, magtulungan talaga ang lahat ng sectors para gumanda ang takbo, ang performance ng Unibersidad. Then, we could expect more.” – Yunque VP Nes has been in charge of UP’s human resources, compensation and benefits, union and management relations, procurement and related administrative matters since 2017. In UP Diliman, VP Nes feels at home at the tambayan in front of the All UP Workers Union office. Referring to the Union, he said: “I feel na nagtulungan kami. Kasi hindi ko naman pwedeng gawin yung trabaho na magiging effective ako without the cooperation ng ating mga admin personnel.” VP Nes, whose favorite snack consists simply of Skyflakes crackers and a cup of coffee, is particularly jovial in the company of UP employees and faculty, enjoying casual conversations when outside of his office in Quezon Hall. He explained that he prefers to spend his downtime in campus in the company of UP’s administrative personnel, carpenters, plumbers, drivers. “Talagang dito ako tumatambay eh. Kasi once in a while, pupunta ang mga admin personnel, nae-encourage sila na magsabi ng mga problema nila.” He makes it a point to get them to feel at ease with one another “so they can be more open and you will know the real problem.” “Kung sa opisina pupunta, ‘yun na yung grabe na ang problema,” he pointed out. Vice President Yunque explaining his thoughts on human resources, compensation and benefits, and union and management relations. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. VP Nes said his appointment to his current position under the leadership of UP President Jimenez gives him the opportunity to continue to be of help to the University, since he was already serving as Vice President for Administration since 2017 under then UP President Danilo Concepcion. “Gamay ko kung anong mga nangyayari. Nakita ni President Jimenez na, in the meantime, pwede akong tumulong para ma-stabilize naman yung relasyon ng ating mga admin personnel with the administration,” he said. If he weren’t VP for Administration at the moment, what would he be doing instead? “I would really like to do integrated farming, aquaculture, para na rin I could share the technology with the local people,” he revealed. “Maraming nagawa si President Concepcion para sa ating admin personnel, pero baka mas madadagdagan pa ni President Jimenez, lalo na’t ang kanyang pinaka-motto is ‘serve the people,’” he said about the new administration’s focus on efforts to provide services to the community. For VP Nes, it’s about “making UP relevant to our communities, hindi yung puro tayo academics.” “Hinahanapan natin ng paraan na ma-improve ang mga benefits na makukuha ng ating administrative personnel. Dahil it’s one way of making all sectors of the University work together para mas mapaganda ang takbo ng UP. Hindi pwedeng may naiiwan eh,” VP Nes explained. “Hopefully, President Jimenez will be successful in getting more items for our personnel. Yun (lack of plantilla items) ang pinakamalaking problema ng admin personnel,” he added. Best advice he has ever received? “If you have problems, face them squarely. Do not feel frustrated if you don’t get the solution or the right answer to your problem. And always smile. Kasi less stressful yan. Kapag less stressful, mukhang magtatagal ka sa mundong ito.” As a closing message, VP Nes in turn gave this piece of wisdom: “Ang advice ko is for all the sectors to work together. Hindi pwedeng mag-rely lang tayo sa administration. The different sectors should strive na makatulong sila for UP to achieve something… [for the administrative personnel, REPS, and faculty] to keep on working with the people, for UP to keep on being relevant to society.” “Dapat magtulungan ang lahat ng sectors. Nobody should consider their role as less than the others. Hopefully, magtulungan talaga ang lahat ng sectors para gumanda ang takbo, ang performance ng Unibersidad. Then, we could expect more,” he concluded. Read more stories from the UP Forum Read the latest News from UP Read UP’s Announcements |
https://up.edu.ph/vp-iryns-perfect-timing/ | VP Iryn’s Perfect Timing – University of the Philippines | VP Iryn’s Perfect Timing VP Iryn’s Perfect Timing June 6, 2023 | Written by Deina Blancaflor Vice President for Planning and Finance Iryn Y. Balmores in her interview with the UP Forum. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. So what made you come back to UP? “I’ve been asking myself that question for the past month,” lightly answered Ms. Iryn Y. Balmores, the newly appointed UP Vice President for Planning and Finance (VPPF). First, what actually happened: With his official takeover of the UP Presidency in February 2023, Atty. Angelo Jimenez tapped seasoned members of past UP administrations and alumni leaders from private sectors alike to become members of his executive team. This included Ms. Iryn Y. Balmores, Chief Finance Officer (CFO) at BasicLogistics Corporation/A 1Move Logistics, Inc., and former Head of Finance for a medium-scale trading and distribution company (2016-2021) and Senior Tax Director at Sycip Gorres Velayo and Co. from 2008-2015. A proud UP alumna and certified public accountant (CPA), Balmores hopes to use her decades of experience in audit, finance and taxation, including strategic finance, reporting, general accounting and compliance, and mergers and acquisitions by giving back to the University. Balmores shares the fact that having celebrated a milestone birthday last February, her appointment as UP VP for Planning and Finance came at the perfect time. “When this possibility of working for the UP System, working for the new administration with UP President Jimenez [came], I thought it was a good time to give back,” she added. She had a very short stint with government work and accounting back in the early 2000’s. “That was a long time ago and I was very young then,” she recalled. So now, this new role with the University, while outside of her comfort zone, is a welcome challenge. Coming into the office, she hints at issues that are yet to be resolved but that don’t dim her excitement for the job at hand. “It wouldn’t be any fun otherwise—ang boring kung walang ganoon,” she said. Being thrust into a new environment, together with new people and new working cultures, makes this job even more thrilling for her. And acknowledging that her responsibilities as University Vice President is of public interest makes it even more worthwhile. Fresh pair of eyes Balmores describes herself as an outsider coming into the position, a balikbayan returning home to her roots. It’s been years since she graduated from UP, but coupled with her extensive years in private practice, medium-scale trading, and in professional services firms, she hopes these will prove useful in making sure that all the projects and plans for the University will come into fruition. “My wish here is to be a partner for each and all the other departments [of the] UP community as a whole. ‘How can I make your life simpler? How can I make your life better? What do you need from us, so that all these things that you need from a financial service point of view will be completed at the most efficient and most effective way?’” she explains. More than that, she is also the only female in President Jimenez’s executive team. “I would like to believe that I am here not because I am a woman, but just like my colleagues in the ExeComm, it is because of our respective competence and experience on the job and ultimately what we can contribute to the University. However, having said that, I fully support empowering more women to become leaders and increased women representation in the C-Suite because diverse talents and perspectives encourage creativity and make an organization better,” she added. Balmores busy at work in her office. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. Putting a premium on the cycle of mentorship Apart from the usual tasks as Vice President for Planning and Finance, Balmores also aims to instill a cycle of mentorship within her team. “I want also to focus on training and development for our own people in finance, in budget, and accounting because sometimes, baka hindi natutuunan ng pansin; so at the same time, I also told my units to start training and looking out for the next in line kasi nga being stewards, sandali lang eh. After a few years, wala na naman; so we really need to make sure that the institutional knowledge, the skills are there, tuloy-tuloy,” she explained. With this practice, she hopes to leave the office, the constituents, and the University, in capable hands even after her term. Same but different UP and its people have changed throughout the years. There have been a lot of renovations since VP Iryn’s time, but the overall sense of pride, enthusiasm, and excellence remains the same. Expect her term, along with the executive team’s vision of pushing the University to be more globally oriented, to be innovative but prudent, efficient, and transparent. “To my team and to the UP community and to my colleagues also in the administration, I’m happy to be here and I am looking forward to working hard with all of you so we can accomplish, achieve our vision for the University so that we support the mission of the University, as far as teaching and learning and research, is concerned,” she concluded. You may reach VP Iryn via email, text or call, or find her along the Academic Oval enjoying a stick of fish balls or two. Read more stories from the UP Forum Read the latest News from UP Read UP’s Announcements |
https://up.edu.ph/heeding-the-higher-call/ | Heeding the Higher Call – University of the Philippines | Heeding the Higher Call Heeding the Higher Call June 6, 2023 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Vice President for Academic Affairs Leo De Paz Cubillan during this interview with the UP Forum. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. “I was already set on early retirement. I took a week to decide.” Dr. Leo De Paz Cubillan narrated how he became UP’s new Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). That week was one of contemplation for the ophthalmologist who wanted to see things more clearly. After studying how he could contribute to UP, he drew up plans and presented them to then-incoming UP President Angelo Jimenez. Cubillan has been VPAA since April, but he was previously the President’s adviser for academic and research development during the Office of the VPAA’s (OVPAA) transition. “The decision was difficult, but there was a higher calling.” He and his wife, Dr. Eileen Liesl Abesamis Cubillan, have been empty nesters for more than five years. He wanted more time with his children abroad, but the pull of service proved stronger, something he had felt since wanting to become a doctor and being in UP. Student, doctor, teacher Growing up in Surigao, Cubillan’s dream of becoming of a doctor started when he played the role of one in an elementary school play. Initially, he wasn’t even going to UP. Because the release of UP College Admission Test results came much later than those of other schools, he was already enrolled in another school. It was his parents’ friends who persuaded them that UP was the place for him. So, armed with a National Science and Technology Authority scholarship, he moved to UP Diliman (UPD) in 1982 under the AB Humanities pre-med program. He was 16 and homesick, going to Cubao just to call home. But he also kept his focus, shifting to BS Biology as it was a better pre-med program. “When there were dorm activities, I would go somewhere else to study,” he remembered. Graduating magna cum laude, Cubillan was named “Most Outstanding Graduate” in the first batch from the newly elevated Institute of Biology, and gained admission to the College of Medicine (CM) in UP Manila (UPM). It was another adjustment; from the sprawling UPD campus, he now found himself in cramped UPM. He was swamped with daily lectures from 7AM to 7PM and weekly exams. But it was in the flurry of med school that he met his future wife, two years his junior. Cubillan did his fellowship at the UP Philippine General Hospital (PGH) while waiting for her to finish the Dermatology program. In 1998, the couple then went on fellowships to the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Cubillan was already a university researcher at the UPM National Institutes of Health (NIH) Philippine Eye Research Institute (PERI) and a CM clinical associate professor. In his second year at UCSF, he took the Master of Public Health at UC Berkeley. He believed it would help him “contribute to the improvement of health care in our country” because of the issues in health care access he saw during his UP-PGH clinical training. “The decision was difficult, but there was a higher calling.” – Cubillan From research to policy to practice He was seeing patients, teaching, and doing research after his UC studies. Among others, Cubillan was involved in the regular PERI survey of blindness that helped formulate the Department of Health policies on the prevention and reduction of blindness in the country. Another research outcome he was proud of was the signing in 2019 of Republic Act No. 11358 or the National Vision Screening Act for the mandatory vision screening of kindergarten pupils, which was to be implemented by the Department of Education. Teachers were trained to test the vision of students aged below seven years, using the PERI-developed kit. Cubillan said that vision screening revealed that many children were distracted in class simply because they couldn’t see the blackboard too well. There was one who even emerged as the top student in class after being moved to the front and finally seeing the blackboard clearly. Screening at this stage in children’s development also allowed for the detection and correction of a lazy eye. While implementation of the law was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has since resumed. “We’re able to prevent further visual impairment. One student, one class at a time,” he said. Cubillan at one of the hallways of the UP PGH Polyclinic in New Clark City, Tarlac. The facility, which will eventually be a 200-bed hospital, is one of the development projects he has been handling for UP Manila. Photo by MIsael Bacani, UP MPRO. The administrator As if the hats Cubillan wore weren’t enough, he has also been appointed to various administrative posts since 2005 at PERI, NIH, UP PGH, and UPM. Additionally, he has been handling development projects, such as the NIH building and the UPM units in New Clark City, including the 200-bed UP PGH whose initial structure was the polyclinic opened in time for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and the S&T park for health sciences. “I experienced firsthand the challenges of running a government academic institution and hospital,” he recalled. Certainly taxing, but all were done in the spirit of service and the desire to help UP further contribute to national development. “Because of my experience, I have learned to think out of the box in looking at programs and projects, and learning how to do them well and making them effective despite bureaucratic challenges.” He added that President Jimenez’s vision for UP encouraged him more and inspired him to work as VPAA. “I experienced firsthand the challenges of running a government academic institution and hospital.” – Cubillan The next six years The OVPAA is anchored on the three pillars of UP education: instruction, research, and public service. Under Cubillan’s leadership, it will continue to support the fulfillment of UP’s mandates. It will move to increase democratic access to UP education by expanding scholarships that cover cost of living expenses. He expressed interest in looking into possible first generation college students, the first in their families to get a college education, and to provide them with opportunities to study in UP. Cubillan’s office will work to improve student and faculty experience by creating more spaces for social interaction among students, and academic collaboration among faculty. He intends to push for the creation of programs and avenues for public service, taking the cue from President Jimenez who envisions “a UP that is not just about honor and excellence but also kindness.” To make more responsive curricular programs, the OVPAA will pursue the integration of digital technologies to improve teaching, learning, and research “in the face of a rapidly changing digital landscape.” It will work towards improving cross enrollment across the UP System, aligning with President Jimenez’s aim of allowing UP students smooth and seamless access, physical or digital, to course offerings in other campuses. More initiatives are forthcoming under Cubillan’s direction. It is certainly expected of someone who has been with UP for 40 years. That he chose to continue serving over his personal aspirations speaks volumes about the man with a clear vision at the helm of the OVPAA. Read more stories from the UP Forum Read the latest News from UP Read UP’s Announcements |
https://up.edu.ph/masikot-man-ang-daan-pauwi/ | MASIKOT MAN ANG DAAN PAUWI – University of the Philippines | MASIKOT MAN ANG DAAN PAUWI MASIKOT MAN ANG DAAN PAUWI November 23, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office FREE SCREENING One of the largest in the world, the Filipino Diaspora is a complex phenomenon of a people spread-out in the world seeking opportunities and opening new ways of seeing both the outside world and the land they came from. Don’t miss the chance to watch Kung Saan Man Tayo (2021) and Naglalakbay (2022) at the UPFI Film Center on November 29, 2023 and explore the struggles, hardships, and resiliency of Filipinos abroad. Admission is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. ~~~~~ MASIKOT MAN ANG DAAN PAUWI programmed by Patrick F. Campos November 29, 2023 UPFI Film Center – Videotheque 4:00 PM Kung Saan Man Tayo 5:30 PM Naglalakbay 6:30 PM Q&A with filmmakers ~~~~~ KUNG SAAN MAN TAYO ((Wherever We May Be) Directed by Adrian Ellis Alarilla, Jed Yabut, Joseph Unsay, Kenneth Cardenas, Pat R., Pauline M., and Zoé Ciela Guenne Who is the Filipino émigré? Are we the hero of the new age? The breadwinner-martyr? The opportunist, the fortune-seeker? The Filipino émigré’s identity is a dynamic one, constantly changing and adapting to one’s adopted community, while at the same time attempting to compromise with one’s responsibilities with their family and with their Filipino culture. This documentary explores the stories of some of these 21st century Filipino émigré who used to be state scholars but have since followed other opportunities abroad. As these friends send a video camera to each other by courier and share their stories, they open up about adulthood and moving away, and teasing out larger themes such as the Philippine’s labor export economy, nationalism, and internationalism. NAGLALAKBAY (Travelers) Written and directed by Dennis Empalmado The diaspora of Filipinos around the globe is driven mainly by the economics of supply and demand. The yearning for something better, stability, and self-validation leads a handful of sojourners from the provinces of the Philippines into the arms of one of its former colonial masters — the USA. But what happens when they finally get what they want? And how? Filmmaker Dennis Empalmado explores the musings of Filipino expatriates and hopeful immigrants in “Naglalakbay” (Travelers). |
https://up.edu.ph/dark-memories-a-public-lecture-by-rick-rocamora-on-his-book/ | Dark Memories: A Public Lecture by Rick Rocamora on his book – University of the Philippines | Dark Memories: A Public Lecture by Rick Rocamora on his book Dark Memories: A Public Lecture by Rick Rocamora on his book November 23, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office UPDATE: Due to the continuation of the transport strike and the subsequent announcement of the Office of the Chancellor on the shift to online classes and WFH arrangement in the university, the public lecture by Rick Rocamora will be rescheduled. The lecture will be conducted a week later, 30 November 2023, Thursday, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m., Palma Hall 207. Rick Rocamora is an award-winning documentary photographer whose work focuses on issues about the contribution of immigrants in the US, human rights, civil liberties, and social and economic inequalities in the US and the Philippines. This public forum is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to register through tinyurl.com/rrocamoraupd. Rocamora is the author of six photo books, namely Filipino WWII Soldiers: America’s Second Class Veterans; Blood, Sweat, Hope, and Quiapo: Rodallie S. Mosende Story; Human Wrongs, Alagang Angara, Long Road to Dignity, and most recently, photobook about Muslim-Americans published by the Tokyo University for Foreign Studies Press. His work is part of the permanent collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Arts, U.S. State Department Art in Embassies Program, and private and institutional collectors. His work is widely exhibited in national and international museums and galleries, published in print and online, and aired in various broadcast news outlets. His work has been exhibited in the US at the Smithsonian Institution, Center for Photographic Arts, Jewish Museum, Gordon Museum, Oakland Museum, San Francisco State University, UC Berkeley, and Boston College. In the Philippines at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Ben Cab Museum, Vargas Museum, and Ateneo Art Gallery. His exhibition, Bursting at the Seams: Inside Philippine Detention Centers, won national and international awards for the Filipinas Heritage Gallery of the Ayala Museum. Before pursuing a career in documentary photography, he worked in sales, marketing, and management positions for the US pharmaceutical industry for 18 years. Original post here: https://t.ly/LJHkD |
https://up.edu.ph/lockdown-diaries-covid-19/ | Lockdown Diaries: COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | Lockdown Diaries: COVID-19 Lockdown Diaries: COVID-19 November 24, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Thirteen theater artists took the challenge to record their daily lives by making video diaries and conversations during the pandemic lockdown. Despite how bleak the pandemic was, it brought them to listen to their bodies, minds and hearts. Avic Ilagan’s documentary Lockdown Diaries: COVID-19 will screen for free at the UPFI Film Center on 1 December Friday 5 PM. There will be a Q & A with the filmmaker and the featured artists after the screening. ~~~~~ UPFI Film Center December 2023 Lockdown Diaries: COVID-19 Dec 1 Fri 5 p.m. ~~~~~ The screening is open to the public for free on a first-come, first-served basis. Register at the cinema entrance. Eating and drinking are not allowed. |
https://up.edu.ph/korean-cinema-art-and-industry/ | Korean Cinema: Art and Industry – University of the Philippines | Korean Cinema: Art and Industry Korean Cinema: Art and Industry November 24, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office [Public Lecture] Korean Cinema: Art and Industry Date: 4 December 2023 MONDAY Time: 9am – 12pm (GMT+8) Venue: Zoom & YouTube Live Streaming Registration Link: https://bit.ly/KorCinema UPKRC together with UP Center for International Studies is organizing a public lecture to learn about and discuss Korean cinema! Don’t miss a chance to meet our speaker Dr. Shin Dong Kim from Hallym University (한림대학교) virtually! Speaker: Shin Dong Kim is a Professor of the Media School and Director of the Institute for Convergence Culture at Hallym University, South Korea. For decades, Professor Kim has been working on the areas of media industries and culture, cultural policies, film and society. Recently he’s been teaching how contemporary Korean films are reconstructing the colonial memories. Outside of campus, Dr. Kim serves as the Director of the Knowledge Coop for Good Governance, an independent think tank based in Seoul, and Vice President for Korean Association for Public Diplomacy. Dr. Kim has been actively teaching globally at many universities around the world including UP CMC as a visiting professor. Moderator: Jericho Pascual (UP Film Institute) This event is supported by the Korea Foundation-한국국제교류재단 (Ref. 2221100-1463). |
https://up.edu.ph/the-saga-of-philippine-cinema/ | The Saga of Philippine Cinema – University of the Philippines | The Saga of Philippine Cinema The Saga of Philippine Cinema November 30, 2023 | Written by UPFI Film Center With support from The UNESCO Memory of the World (PH), a new movement to recognize cinema as the world’s documentary heritage needing protection and preservation is launched with the nationwide advocacy to use cinema for education. The Pedagogical Cinema kicks off with a launching program featuring Nick Deocampo’s “The Saga of Philippine Cinema.” Believing that education starts with a knowledge of history, the program combines a study of Philippine history with the understanding of a medium that has popular appeal to students and the public. In glorious 3D animation, Philippine history is recreated, giving cinema the enviable task of giving life to the social forces which defined Filipino identity and the cinema that helped shape it. A program tailored for students and teachers it begins its nationwide journey at the UPFI Film Center in UP Diliman on December 4 Monday at 5 p.m.. Tickets for only P100. Due to limited seating, viewers need to pre-register to reserve seats: https://tinyurl.com/SagaofPHCinemaUPFI Those who will make reservations need to be present at the venue fifteen minutes before the event, otherwise walk-in viewers will be admitted. Classes and organizations are welcome to attend. Sixteen universities, NGOs, and local government cultural and heritage committees have booked for 2024. Nationwide bookings can be made by sending a letter of intent to sponsor to: nadeocampo@yahoo.com.ph The program consists of film screenings and lectures. Synopses of featured films: CINE TALA (THE MOVIE CHRONICLES) OPENING FILM Dec 4 Mon 5 p.m. A film historian (played by National Artist for Theater Tony Mabesa) recalls the history of Philippine cinema from its colonial beginnings to its national maturity. Featured are movie stars of bygone eras like Rosa del Rosario and Rogelio de la Rosa in enduring film classics like Maalaala Mo Kaya? CINE>SINE: SPANISH BEGINNINGS OF PHILIPPINE CINEMA Dec 5 Tue 5 p.m. The documentary recalls the Spanish past of Philippine cinema through language, material culture, aesthetics, and ideology. Featured are phenomenal stars like Nora Aunor and Christopher de Leon in unforgettable classics like Himala and Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon? FILM: AMERICAN BEGINNINGS OF PHILIPPINE CINEMA Dec 6 Wed 5 p.m. The American past of Philippine cinema has contributed technology, capital, aesthetics, and consumerist ideology to make movies a popular culture. Iconic stars like Fernando Poe, Sr. appears in Zamboanga and Anita Linda and Hilda Koronel star in Lino Brocka’s masterpiece, Hellow, Soldier! to provide an affirmation as well as a counter-reading of Hollywood’s excessive dominance. EIGA: CINEMA DURING WORLD WAR II Dec 7 Thurs 5 p.m. The destruction brought about by the Japanese occupation has wrought havoc to cinema’s growth and made propaganda its cinematic contribution. Movie idols are featured in war-themed films like Leopoldo Salcedo in the propaganda movie, Dawn of Freedom, and the explosive combination of Nora Aunor, Christopher de Leon and Bembol Rocco in Tatlong Taong Walang Dios PELIKULA: THE BIRTH OF PHILIPPINE CINEMA Dec 8 Fri 5 p.m. Since motion pictures came into the hands of photographer Jose Nepomuceno, cinema flourished as a homegrown cultural expression that made the once-colonial movies into a popular national experience. Excerpts from pioneering films like Giliw Ko and interviews of film historians like the American scholar Dr. Charles Musser and Swedish Nepomuceno scholar Nadi Tofighian make this an important film document to watch. MARTIAL LAW FILMS Dec 9 Sat 2 p.m. Films produced during the period of martial law and its aftermath are studied for their social and semiotic significance, revealing hidden subversions contained within the cinematic texts. Lino Brocka’s films are decoded for their use of film language and visual semiotics in movies like Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim starring Gina Alajar and Philip Salvador and Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang with Lolita Rodriguez, Mario O’Hara and Christopher de Leon. PHILIPPINE ALTERNATIVE CINEMA Dec 9 Sat 5 p.m. Outside the mainstream cinema is the alternative world of short films, documentaries, experimental films, and all things that are cinematically oppositional. A wide array of shorts is featured from the mythopoeic films of Raymond Red, to controversial documentaries like Oliver, wild animations like Roxlee’s Tronong Puti, and nihilist films like Regiben Romana’s Pilipinas. See you at the screenings! |
https://up.edu.ph/bogus-vote-tallies-and-candidate-disqualifications-top-election-day-disinformation/ | Bogus vote tallies and candidate disqualifications top election-day disinformation – University of the Philippines | Bogus vote tallies and candidate disqualifications top election-day disinformation Bogus vote tallies and candidate disqualifications top election-day disinformation May 13, 2022 | Written by Maria Diosa Labiste and Yvonne T. Chua Spurious last-ditch reports of candidates being disqualified and a buildup of fabricated vote tallies of presidential contenders took hold of social media as voters trooped to precincts last Monday. This was observed by Tsek.ph, based on the consortium’s live fact-checking efforts on Election Day. The misleading and deceptive narratives on election day largely targeted now presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his rival, Vice President Leni Robredo; their running mates, Sara Duterte and Francis Pangilinan; progressive party-list groups and the Commission of Elections. These wefts in a pattern of disinformation not only sought to influence voters’ choices but also convey an impression that winners had already been picked even before polling closed. These in turn could undermine confidence in the credibility of this year’s elections as an exercise in democracy. Led by the UPCMC Journalism Department, a one-day newsroom was organized for Tsek.ph partners to come together for live and continuous fact-checking on election day. Tsek.ph is a collaborative fact-checking initiative of 34 partners from academe, media and civil society. It is supported by the University of the Philippines, Google News Initiative, Rakuten Viber, Meta, Meedan and the Embassy of Canada. Fake vote tallies Polling precincts were hours away from closing and votes had yet to be counted, but social media were swamped with manufactured tallies of election results showing either Marcos or Robredo leading the race. Comelec Resolution 10695 stipulates that counting and consolidation of votes, including those from overseas absentee voting, shall be held on May 9 after the casting of votes and closing of polls at 7 p.m. Both Marcos and Robredo had their fair share of fake tallies that day. Tsek.ph partners published 10 fact checks on various claims declaring Marcos leading in partial counts, two in which he and Duterte were winning, and another two with Duterte dominating the count. Five fact checks were about Robredo taking the lead and one declaring that both she and Pangilinan had won overseas absentee votes by a landslide. Interestingly, one claim showed Robredo and Duterte the winners. The false narratives were overwhelmingly pushed on Facebook, and occasionally on Twitter and YouTube, mostly by Marcos supporters, including Showbiz Fanaticz channel whose election-related claims have been previously fact-checked. Nearly all the posts utilized eye-catching graphics. Some tried to mimic the interface of mainstream media such as Rappler’s live election results and TV5’s infographic on the media reach and engagement of candidates. Both were passed off as real poll results. One netizen ran a graphic culled from Robredo’s Facebook post in 2016 that showed her ahead of Marcos in the vice presidential contest at the time. Marcos bitterly contested the results, alleging electoral irregularities. The Supreme Court dismissed his petition last year. The fake election results came out as early as 8:27 a.m. or about two-and-a-hours after the polls opened. They showed Marcos supposedly leading over Robredo and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso. A bogus vice presidential vote count showing Duterte far ahead in the election was posted 11:55 a.m. Some posts gained traction in just a few hours. A tally falsely claiming Duterte was in the lead chalked up 2,898 interactions. A post announcing the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem’s landslide victory abroad, also rated false, picked up 3,514 interactions. The bogus counts were accompanied by allegations that election results had been preprogrammed. One such post collected 145,000 shares. The torrent of fake vote tallies on election day sets this year’s elections apart from the dominant election-day narratives in the 2019 midterm polls. Back then, senatorial, local and party-list candidates were staggering from an onslaught of red-tagging came voting day. Local candidates and progressive groups were also the targets of disqualification lies. The sham poll results online in this year’s elections demonstrate the country’s evolving disinformation playbook on social media that was first thrust into global consciousness following the 2016 presidential election. Ahead of the 2016 polls, legions of netizens in the country and overseas had been organized into a network to systematically propagate positive messages about then candidate Rodrigo Duterte and negative ones against his opponents. The camp of Marcos, then a vice presidential bet, also successfully deployed this strategy, refurbishing his family’s image and later continually attacking Robredo when he lost the race. This May 9, 2022 elections, the fabricated vote tallies rightly fall within the firehose of disinformation strategy Tsek.ph detected and described in its May 8 analysis. This strategy is characterized by an outpouring of rapid, repetitive, and indiscriminate topics coming from a volume of sources and targeting multiple online platforms. For months the Marcos-Duterte tandem had enjoyed nonstop positive messaging while the Robredo-Pangilinan duo were bombarded with negative, even malicious messaging. The Makabayan bloc, meanwhile, was subject of a spurious disqualification document purportedly from the Comelec two days ahead of this year’s elections. Its partylists such as Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Kabataan, ACT Teachers and Gabriela were allegedly disqualified. A Facebook page, “Lamrag Sinirangan,” claimed that the partylists, along with its senatorial bet Neri Colmenares, had been disqualified by Comelec because of their links with the Communist Party of the Philippines. The false claim was debunked by Comelec, but the falsehood persisted throughout the voting hours. In 2019, the same ploy was used against the Makabayan bloc by Facebook pages identified with police offices and military reservists. The false information was posted in the wee hours of election day. A related disinformation strategy is red-tagging members of the Makabayan bloc or establishing their connection with the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army even without basis. However, on election day, all senatorial bets of Robredo-Pangilinan tandem were also in the red-tagged list, allegedly for being supported by the communists. The list came from an eponymous Facebook page, DSWD 4ps Updates, which has the logo of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, also known as 4Ps, of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Other false claims circulating on election day include poll cheating such as vote buying and the fate of reelectionist senator Leila de Lima. A handful of fact checks were on vote counting machines (VCM) that broke down, reportedly 1,800 in all, thus delaying the voting or turning voters away. Maharlika, a pro-Marcos influencer, insinuated in a video on Facebook and YouTube that the Catholic clergy had a hand in delaying the replacement of a malfunctioning VCM at a precinct in Quezon City where her family had voted. She also took a dig at Catholic priests who had endorsed Robredo’s candidacy. Her allegation had no basis at all. The Omnibus Election Code only allows inspectors, watchers, Comelec representatives and voters inside and around the polling place. When a VCM or its secure digital card malfunctions, Comelec’s contingency plan requires inspectors to report this to supervisors of the Department of Education assigned to the classroom. After Comelec officials are notified, city officers will keep the broken VCM as the supervisors replace the machine. Nowhere does the Catholic church figure into the picture. This feature article is from Tsek.ph. Text by Maria Diosa Labiste and Yvonne T. Chua; infographics by Felipe Jose Gonzales |
https://up.edu.ph/grands-ideas/ | Grand’s Ideas – University of the Philippines | Grand’s Ideas Grand’s Ideas June 8, 2022 | Written by Fred Dabu The University of the Philippines (UP) takes pride in its students, passionately generating and sharing their ideas to address real-world problems and encouraging fellow scholars to thrive. A UP Visayas 4th year student, Grand C. Gascon, was recognized as the only Chemical Engineering undergraduate and Filipino who became a finalist of Bayer’s International Youth Agriculture Summit. In an online interview this summer via Zoom, Grand shared his experiences and some lessons learned from the event. This image of Gascon as Bayer Youth Agricultural Summit 2021 Delegate is taken from the news article of his achievement posted on the UP Visayas website. Bayer’s biennial summit, held online from 2021 to March 2022, was sponsored by the Crop Science division of Bayer in partnership with the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and Babele. Resource speakers included UN FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and more than 20 experts worldwide. Its 100 youth delegates, aged 18-25, were selected from more than 2,000 applicants who submitted ideas for improving food security and sustainability in their communities. The students attended online training and business modeling classes during the past six months. Then they pitched their ideas, primarily scientific innovations, and social projects, until the top 10 and 2 wildcard finalists emerged, from which a panel of experts selected the three grand winners. Grand (lower, extreme left) is pictured alongside his fellow finalists in the video highlights of the finalists’ project pitches at Bayer’s International Youth Agriculture Summit. “More Light, More Yield” (Light Manipulation to Improve Plant Growth) Gascon’s pitch was on controlling the amount of light that reaches plants to improve their growth. His experience using Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras (DSLRs) and filters for photography served as the basis for this pitch. He thought that if camera filters could reduce the amount of sunlight that could reach the camera’s sensors, there are also ways to improve exposure to sunlight and apply these ideas to enhance plant growth and, ultimately, food production. Gascon added different lenses and filters with a hydroponic setup for plants, with the right amount of water and nutrients can also be controlled. Grand explains the technological principle behind his pitch during a zoom interview with MPRO. Grand mentioned some insights on the process of the selection of finalists. He said their peers nominated them until the finalists were narrowed down to ten, plus the two wildcards. Then they had three minutes each to pitch their original ideas to the jury. The panel also asked them questions that they had to address. He said he already had a lot of practice since he had been joining many student activities focused on creating and sharing ideas. Among these were: in student summits in UP and events sponsored by the US Mission to ASEAN in 2021; as founder and team administrator of the first-ever UP Visayas Shell Eco-marathon team in 2021; as 1st place winner in the Idea Generation at the Chemical Engineering Students Summit Philippines 2021 in UP Diliman; and, as 1st place winner in the Waste and Pollution: Challenging, Addressing, and Creative Solutions in the Asia Pacific, sponsored by the Asia Pacific Climate Project with The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at the University of Montana in Oct. 2021, among others. Message to fellow students Grand encouraged fellow students to look for the many events, training, and national and international opportunities offered by the University. “Always take the opportunity that you have now, even if it’s outside of your field of study, or even if it’s outside your comfort zone. You never know what experience you can get and who you will meet from that opportunity,” he said. Gascon’s words of wisdom likewise apply to life outside the University. “Learn to improve yourself every single day. Correct your past mistakes and work hard, never to do them again. Forgive yourself for those mistakes and continuously struggle to begin again. Believe in yourself and believe in your capabilities.” “Strive to let others know who you truly are. You don’t have to be the best. You must be unique,” concluded Gascon. |
https://up.edu.ph/i-am-a-filipino/ | I am a Filipino – University of the Philippines | I am a Filipino I am a Filipino August 24, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office I am a Filipino–inheritor of a glorious past, hostage to the uncertain future. As such I must prove equal to a two-fold task–the task of meeting my responsibility to the past, and the task of performing my obligation to the future. I sprung from a hardy race, child many generations removed of ancient Malayan pioneers. Across the centuries the memory comes rushing back to me: of brown-skinned men putting out to sea in ships that were as frail as their hearts were stout. Over the sea I see them come, borne upon the billowing wave and the whistling wind, carried upon the mighty swell of hope–hope in the free abundance of new land that was to be their home and their children’s forever. This is the land they sought and found. Every inch of shore that their eyes first set upon, every hill and mountain that beckoned to them with a green-and-purple invitation, every mile of rolling plain that their view encompassed, every river and lake that promised a plentiful living and the fruitfulness of commerce, is a hallowed spot to me. By the strength of their hearts and hands, by every right of law, human and divine, this land and all the appurtenances thereof–the black and fertile soil, the seas and lakes and rivers teeming with fish, the forests with their inexhaustible wealth in wild life and timber, the mountains with their bowels swollen with minerals–the whole of this rich and happy land has been, for centuries without number, the land of my fathers. This land I received in trust from them and in trust will pass it to my children, and so on until the world is no more. I am a Filipino. In my blood runs the immortal seed of heroes–seed that flowered down the centuries in deeds of courage and defiance. In my veins yet pulses the same hot blood that sent Lapulapu to battle against the first invader of this land, that nerved Lakandula in the combat against the alien foe, that drove Diego Silang and Dagohoy into rebellion against the foreign oppressor. That seed is immortal. It is the self-same seed that flowered in the heart of Jose Rizal that morning in Bagumbayan when a volley of shots put an end to all that was mortal of him and made his spirit deathless forever, the same that flowered in the hearts of Bonifacio in Balintawak, of Gergorio del Pilar at Tirad Pass, of Antonio Luna at Calumpit; that bloomed in flowers of frustration in the sad heart of Emilio Aguinaldo at Palanan, and yet burst forth royally again in the proud heart of Manuel L. Quezon when he stood at last on the threshold of ancient Malacañan Palace, in the symbolic act of possession and racial vindication. The seed I bear within me is an immortal seed. It is the mark of my manhood, the symbol of dignity as a human being. Like the seeds that were once buried in the tomb of Tutankhamen many thousand years ago, it shall grow and flower and bear fruit again. It is the insignia of my race, and my generation is but a stage in the unending search of my people for freedom and happiness. I am a Filipino, child of the marriage of the East and the West. The East, with its languor and mysticism, its passivity and endurance, was my mother, and my sire was the West that came thundering across the seas with the Cross and Sword and the Machine. I am of the East, an eager participant in its spirit, and in its struggles for liberation from the imperialist yoke. But I also know that the East must awake from its centuried sleep, shake off the lethargy that has bound his limbs, and start moving where destiny awaits. For I, too, am of the West, and the vigorous peoples of the West have destroyed forever the peace and quiet that once were ours. I can no longer live, a being apart from those whose world now trembles to the roar of bomb and cannon-shot. I cannot say of a matter of universal life-and-death, of freedom and slavery for all mankind, that it concerns me not. For no man and no nation is an island, but a part of the main, there is no longer any East and West–only individuals and nations making those momentous choices which are the hinges upon which history resolves. At the vanguard of progress in this part of the world I stand–a forlorn figure in the eyes of some, but not one defeated and lost. For, through the thick, interlacing branches of habit and custom above me, I have seen the light of the sun, and I know that it is good. I have seen the light of justice and equality and freedom, my heart has been lifted by the vision of democracy, and I shall not rest until my land and my people shall have been blessed by these, beyond the power of any man or nation to subvert or destroy. I am a Filipino, and this is my inheritance. What pledge shall I give that I may prove worthy of my inheritance? I shall give the pledge that has come ringing down the corridors of the centuries, and it shall be compounded of the joyous cries of my Malayan forebears when first they saw the contours of this land loom before their eyes, of the battle cries that have resounded in every field of combat from Mactan to Tirad Pass, of the voices of my people when they sing: Land of the morning, Child of the sun returning– Ne’er shall invaders Trample thy sacred shore. Out of the lush green of these seven thousand isles, out of the heartstrings of sixteen million people all vibrating to one song, I shall weave the mighty fabric of my pledge. Out of the songs of the farmers at sunrise when they go to labor in the fields, out of the sweat of the hard-bitten pioneers in Mal-lig and Koronadal, out of the silent endurance of stevedores at the piers and the ominous grumbling of peasants in Pampanga, out of the first cries of babies newly born and the lullabies that mothers sing, out of the crashing of gears and the whine of turbines in the factories, out of the crunch of plough-shares upturning the earth, out of the limitless patience of teachers in the classrooms and doctors in the clinics, out of the tramp of soldiers marching, I shall make the pattern of my pledge: “I am a Filipino born to freedom, and I shall not rest until freedom shall have been added unto my inheritance—for myself and my children and my children’s children—forever.” I am a Filipino is an essay written by Carlos Peña Romulo, Sr. which was printed in The Philippines Herald on August 16, 1941. A Pulitzer Prize winner, passionate educator, intrepid journalist and effective diplomat, Romulo graduated from the University of the Philippines in 1918 with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree. He earned his Master of Arts degree in Philosophy from Columbia University in 1921. He would join the ranks of the UP faculty in 1923 as an Associate Professor in what was then the English Department. He would be later be appointed to the Board of Regents in 1931. Almost three decades later, he would once again be reunited with the University, serving as its 11th President in 1962. |
https://up.edu.ph/padayon/ | Padayon – University of the Philippines | Padayon Padayon September 7, 2023 | Written by Nixie E. Serna Photo courtesy of Nixie E. Serna. Nixie E. Serna Magna cum laude BA in English (Creative Writing) College of Humanities and Social Sciences University of the Philippines Mindanao I am Nixie E. Serna, 23 years old, from Surigao City. I studied BA in English (Creative Writing) at the University of the Philippines Mindanao and graduated Magna cum laude. As a creative writer, it is given that you have to be interested in reading and, of course, writing. At a young age, I had always been drawn to books. I usually spent my free time browsing in the library from the time I was in grade school. I would also spend the little money I saved from my ten-peso allowance to buy those booklets sold by visitors in school back then. Eventually, reading compelled me to write because I also wanted to create my own stories. My undergraduate thesis was an essay collection titled, Seismic, for which I received the Thesis with Distinction award. The essay collection was on disasters, particularly the 2017 earthquake in Surigao, the 2019 earthquake swarm in Davao, super typhoon Odette in 2021, the effects of the pandemic, and other personal disasters I have experienced. Some of my works have also been published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer Youngblood column, Life UPdates of Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing, Dagmay.online, and Mindanews. Sinews of Syllables. Photo courtesy of Nixie E. Serna. Aside from reading and writing, I also draw in both traditional and digital media. I run an art account on social media; and you can find me on Instagram and Twitter by the username @nikushiisan. Most of my drawings are fanarts of media I like such as anime, K-pop, movies, or TV shows. I rarely upload drawings nowadays because of my busy schedule, but I try my best to draw every now and then to keep my skills sharp. One of my goals is to one day improve my art so that I can also illustrate my own stories and characters or produce illustrations for Filipino writers. In addition to reading, writing, and drawing, one of the hobbies that take my mind off the stress of academics and other matters is listening to K-pop songs, particularly the group EXO. I am an EXO stan or an EXO-L which is the official name of their fandom. I follow this K-pop group because of their diverse and great discography, artistry, and dedication to their fans. I also always keep in mind this quote by Kai, one of the members of EXO, about studying to motivate myself, “If you’re not good at studying, don’t even think about liking me. . . . Focus more on your studies than us and meet us again proudly in the future.” I do hope I can meet them at their concert in the future. Overcoming financial constraints My parents primarily supported me in my studies. However, there are four of us siblings in the family and their minimum wage is not enough to send us to school. As the eldest child, I had to find ways to fund my education. The Free Tertiary Education Law greatly helped me in achieving a higher education. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for me to enroll in college, especially in UP, considering that UP Mindanao is very far away from my hometown. Since my first year, I applied to the Student Learning Assistance System of UP so that I could receive a stipend to help me with my studies. Through the stipend I saved, I was able to buy a laptop and pay for the internet bill, both of which were necessary not only during face-to-face classes but especially during online classes due to the pandemic. During my second year, I applied for a scholarship sponsored by the UP Mindanao Foundation Inc. They were meticulous in accepting their scholars by checking their academic standing and economic background, but thankfully, I was accepted. Every semester, I would renew my scholarship by submitting my grades. Even during that time when we were devastated by super typhoon Odette in 2021, I persevered in completing my requirements so that I could renew my scholarship. I am immensely grateful to UPMFI and the taxpayers who helped me finish my education. I would surely use what I have learned in the University by giving back to the people. Dealing with disasters Aside from financial constraints, my college life was nothing short of disasters. Like my fellow batchmates, I had to endure the challenges brought by the pandemic in 2020, including the shift to online classes which took a toll on our mental health because of isolation. My parents were laid off from work and we had to rely on the cash assistance and ayuda from the government to sustain us. Around the height of the pandemic on September 2020, our house was also demolished since the lot it was standing on was sold to a new owner. We are temporarily living right now in a house that was intended for the stay-in employee of my mother’s employers. To sum up, we currently have no fixed abode because we do not have our own house. In October 2021, my father suffered a mild stroke and had to stop working to recover. We were able to get by and buy his maintenance medicine through the support of our relatives and family friends. As if we were not struggling enough, my hometown was leveled by super typhoon Odette in December 2021. Our roof was blown away and everything under it got soaked. For more than a month, we had no electricity, mobile signal, and we only had an intermittent water supply. I was in my third year at that time and it was around finals when the super typhoon struck. To comply with my remaining requirements, I went to charging stations to charge our flashlights and devices while I read my readings. At night by candlelight, I would write my papers by hand and then type them on my phone when I was able to charge the battery. I also contacted my professors once the mobile signal returned and relayed to them my situation. Despite the setbacks, I was able to submit my requirements on time. One of my professors told me that it was miraculous how I surpassed those challenges. Looking back, I sometimes cannot believe how I survived all of that. I was driven by my desire to win against my situation and I succeeded with the help of the people around me. The aftermath of super typhoon Odette. Photo courtesy of Nixie E. Serna. Although my family was not financially stable, I was not pressured and dictated upon to become anything they wanted me to be, which probably helped me to do well in my studies. There are expectations of me as the eldest daughter, but they never pressured me, which I greatly appreciate. My parents let me choose what path to take and only reminded me to focus and study hard so that I could achieve my dreams. Study habits and survival tips for students Regarding my studies, I always make sure that I have enough rest before I do my work. I listen to my body; if I am already sleepy then I take a break before proceeding again. A 30-minute to an hour nap will work wonders. I found myself more productive if I had enough sleep than when I did without it. Another thing that helped me with my studies was figuring out the type of environment that I thrived in. I am an introvert and I work best when I am alone and in a quiet area. I cannot do that with the crowded area we have in our house during the daytime so I work at night when everybody else is asleep because I easily get distracted by noise. Even when I was living in a boarding house with my classmates for my final semester, I tried looking for a spot where I could work peacefully or I asked them to keep it down when I was working. Knowing what environment works best for you can change the game in your studies. If I feel down in the dumps or when I am at an impasse, I always think of the quote by John Green in his book Turtles All the Way Down, “Your now is not your forever.” Whatever bad situation I am in, it will come to pass. The disasters I have experienced are a testament to that; those disasters were not forever. The same also goes for happy moments; so it is important to cherish them. Life is too fleeting to keep overthinking. The change you are looking for will find you if you carry on. Padayon. Speaking at the Recognition Program of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Photo courtesy of Nixie E. Serna. Plans after graduation Now that I have graduated, my priority is to be employed so that I can help my family, particularly my siblings who are still in school. I would like to work in the government or to teach because I would like to give back to the people. I would also like to pursue graduate studies so that I can further my education and be updated with the trends in my field. I know I have already mentioned this but I would like to say padayon to my fellow UP graduates and alumni as a closing note. I really like this binisaya word because it encapsulates the feeling of hope and the motivation to carry on in a single word. Wherever you are and wherever you will be, I hope you continue to padayon and never forget to serve the people. The people are counting on you. ——— Written by Nixie E. Serna for the UP Pagtatapos 2023 microsite. https://up.edu.ph/pagtatapos-2023/ |
https://up.edu.ph/finding-your-own-groove/ | Finding your own groove – University of the Philippines | Finding your own groove Finding your own groove September 8, 2023 | Written by Virgilio Roi C. Adaptar Photo courtesy of Virgilio Roi C. Adaptar. Virgilio Roi C. Adaptar Cum laude BS Food Technology College of Science and Mathematics, University of the Philippines Mindanao My name is Virgilio Roi C. Adaptar, 24 years old, born and raised in Davao City, and people call me VR. I am a graduate of the BS Food Technology program at the College of Science and Mathematics, University of the Philippines Mindanao. My research interests include probiotics, valorization of local produces and agricultural by-products, and nutrition, all anchored on the principles of inclusivity and sustainability. I used to compete as an Adjudicator in the UP Mindanao Debate Society, and was able to represent the University in various debating competitions and tournaments around the country. Also, together with my fellow DOST Scholars, I am one of the founding members of the UP Mindanao League of DOST Scholars, the first and the official association of DOST Scholars in the University. I eventually served as the Founding President of the organization, and held various leadership positions throughout my residency. I am also an active member of the U.S. Government Alumni Association -Davao, the regional chapter of international exchange alumni of U.S. Government-funded exchange and internationalization programs. I attended McNeese State University during the Fall 2021 semester under the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGrad) through the U.S. Department of State, World Learning, and Fulbright Philippines. Upon coming home, I then became an active member of the Global UGrad Scholars of the Philippines Alumni Association. Overcoming financial difficulties Growing up, I was well aware of my family’s financial struggles. Scholarships, subsidies, side hustles — these sustained my financial needs throughout my studies. I started taking commissions and part-time jobs way back in high school, because even though I had a scholarship, it did not fully cover all fees and I had to find ways and means for my daily allowance and other expenses. I also saw how difficult it was for my mother to make a living and did not want to keep asking from her anymore. In college, I was awarded an undergraduate scholarship from the Science Education Institute of DOST, which really helped ease the financial burden. Despite the generous amount I received every semester from DOST, I still opted to do side hustles as the stipend I received was still not enough for me as a self-supporting student in this economic climate. I used to do events hosting, ghostwriting for blogs and other online platforms, arts and crafts commissions, tutorials for elementary and high school students, and eventually I became a call center agent, and later on transitioned into being a freelance virtual assistant. I should say, being a working student was difficult and would not want to romanticize it. If I only had the option and the privilege to be a full-time student, I would not want to work while studying just to make ends meet. I am not that typical “straight uno” student who would often be celebrated for academic prowess. I would rather refer to myself as a student who had the capacity to endure. This led me to being selected as one of the four Filipino students, and the only Mindanaoan, for the prestigious Global Undergraduate Exchange Program for the Fall 2021 batch. Furthermore, grit enabled me to pursue my undergraduate thesis on non-dairy probiotics which also utilized local agricultural by-products. My study won 1st Place in the Oral Research Presentation (Undergraduate Category) of the Philippine Society for Microbiology Mindanao 27th Annual Convention and Scientific Meeting and was nominated as finalist for Best Thesis (Basic and Applied Research Category) in the Department of Food Science and Chemistry of our Ccollege. Currently, I am working towards getting it published in a scientific journal. Finally, I was able to shift my Sablay from right to left when I graduated cum laude last July. Hardships before becoming an Iskolar ng Bayan When I was 12, someone power-tripped me and said “You do not deserve to be an honor student,” and slammed their fists on the table. Some people even expected the 12-year -old me to just easily move on from that experience, and that I was just overreacting. Of course, not everyone believes in mental health and trauma. And yes, being an honor student in elementary is not really that big of a deal for a lot of people, but the young and naïve 12-year -old me felt invalidated. When I was 14, my family faced a huge financial problem and finishing high school was almost taken away from me. I remember seeing my mom, swallowing her pride to ask for help from others whenever I needed something for school, yet she would often be rejected or humiliated. I could even remember some relatives asking me to just drop out of school since class grades “cannot be eaten” and that I should just start working instead to be more useful to the family. At present, my anxiety is still triggered by all those words said. I still get nightmares once in a while and I still wonder about what goes on in the minds of those people, if they think about what they’ve done, what stories they’ve told their friends, family, and other people. I haven’t exactly figured out how to let the trauma and anxiety go away. Most of the time, I just distract myself. College seemed to be a great opportunity to pursue more things “to distract myself” and grow up from what happened in the past. And in a place like UP where freedom is highly valued, I felt more free to blaze my own trail and make the most out of my time as an eager young adult. Org life in UP With the freedom that we all enjoy in UP, organizations served as a meaningful avenue to grow and develop beyond classrooms and laboratories. Through the UP Mindanao Debate Society, I was able to enjoy the art of discourse, meet new people in tournaments, and find a safe space among my co-residents. Debating taught me innovative thinking and problem-solving., Aand much more than these, it made me realize the importance of being aware of the issues that we face in society, and that talking about these issues sheds light on the real problems and lived experiences of the various sectors of society, and that the more we talk about these, the more attention we can bring to them to help shake up the status quo. Moreover, I never initially envisioned that I’ll be a part of a bunch of people behind establishing a new organization. We were freshies back then and we often asked the same question again and again if UP Mindanao already has its own organization for DOST Scholars. Until we ourselves answered our own question. We then established the UP Mindanao League of DOST Scholars (UPMin LeaDS). Not long after, I found myself taking the lead as its founding president. From dancing “batis” during our first Patriot Scholars Formation Program, being duly recognized as a student organization on campus, launching our first project and initiative, and organizing the first Congress we attended as an org; to taking new leadership roles in the organization (as if I was playing “Trip to Jerusalem” and being surprised as to where I would end up next), being a rallying point for academic and moral support for our fellow scholars and aspiring ones, helping revive and mobilize the regional organization of DOST Scholars in Davao, struggling through the chaotic times during the pandemic (and getting a lot of anxious, worried, and confused messages from fellow scholars, all uncertain of what might happen next), and everything in between, I was grateful for the opportunity to initiate and lead. I know that the org is still far from being what it is envisioned to be and that I did have my lapses and shortcomings and a lot of unfinished business and what ifs as a leader, but I am grateful for the trust and confidence shown by the people around me and I am excited to see what’s next for UPMin LeaDS. Being a working student My org life in UP sounded fun and stress-free, right? Here’s what was happening beyond the org meetings, projects, and events. I was not born with a silver spoon, and of course, society is unfair to those who are not that privileged. At some point, I felt that I was easily exploited by others who saw my background as an opportunity to manipulate and make it work to their advantage, but I did not have much time to think about it back then. I was too preoccupied with the need to put in extra work, to make the most out of meager resources, to always be on the lookout for the next available “raket”, to think of ways on how I could make it from one paycheck to another, from one month’s stipend to the next, to juggle one job and another, switching lanyards or IDs from one shift at work to try to make it on time to the next class in school. I had to look for ways to augment my income while trying to meet deadlines and studying for exams because no one else would. Hard work is often set as the ultimate factor behind success and our society loves seeing or hearing “rags-to-riches” stories to the point where poverty is romanticized and accepted as a norm. In an ideal world, hard work may be the sole and primary factor for success but we are far from being in that ideal world. As a Ffood Ttechnology major, I struggled to go through a typical day in college. It was even more magnified when I was already doing my thesis with very minimal funding. I hope that someday, access and support for quality scientific education will be available for all those who aspire to be researchers, engineers, doctors, educators, scientists, and mathematicians;, and that we may move past being a society that oppresses, deprives, and excludes. If hard work or “sipag” was the only factor to achieve success, other working students like me should have already been assured of a more comfortable life straight out of college, right? Farmers and laborers would probably be as glorified and celebrated as CEOs and world leaders. However, we are definitely not in an ideal world where hard work is the sole factor behind success. Plot twist No, this is not going to be a college love story. Instead, we go back to one random morning during my sophomore year. It was around 8 AM and I just got out of my graveyard shift at work. My first class for the day, organic chemistry, was at 8:30 and with the one- to two-hour commute from the office to the campus, it would always be impossible for me to make it in time for class. Towards the middle of the semester, I realized that by being a student by day and working the night shift as a call center agent, I would most likely fail in the class. I thought to myself that if I eventually get a 5.0 in my transcript, I should have some redeeming factor to make up for the anticipated failing grade. The universe was telling me to let go of my graveyard shift job and just be a full-time student, which was not really sitting well with me given my situation. I was ready to get my first 5.0 in UP and started to look for options on what I could do to compensate for that in my transcript. Attend workshops? More debating? Start doing internships (and a lot of them)? Join fellowships? Join another org? Go on an exchange program? Coincidentally, another professor of mine invited us to an exchange programs roadshow hosted by Fulbright Philippines and I learned about the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGrad). The Global UGrad program is a semester-long exchange program in the United States participated in by over 60 countries that “brings future leaders to the United States to experience U.S. higher education, gain critical professional skills, and explore new cultures and values”. Asst. Prof. Kriza Faye Calumba, who later on became my thesis adviser, was very instrumental in this endeavor as she encouraged me to apply and even agreed to write a recommendation letter supporting my application. The things that happened next went in my favor: I got a 4.0 instead of a 5.0 and passed my removal examinations for organic chemistry, I let go of my night shift job and found another job with more flexible working hours, and I got into Global UGrad. However, the pandemic happened and things went to a pause for a while. I was supposed to leave for the U.S. by August 2020 but the situation was still far from being under control. My program was eventually postponed to Fall 2021. I will never forget August 12, 2021, –the day I traveled to the United States. Growing up in a family where studying in college seems like a shot to the moon, studying abroad was just as far-fetched. McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana became my home for the rest of the semester. I was able to explore concepts in nutrition and food production from an international perspective and also studied microbiology from a clinical perspective and learned about American History with the theme “What is the role of the United States — around the world and at home?” Homecoming Week at McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana. Photo courtesy of VR C. Adaptar. Throughout my stay in the United States, I was also able to watch my first football game in Lousiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, enjoy the art scene and authentic Texas brisket and barbecue in Austin, Texas, explore some caverns in San Antonio, Texas, visit the historic French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana, and celebrate Thanksgiving in Jacksonville, Florida. I also fulfilled a childhood dream of stepping foot inside a space center when I visited the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Visiting the NASA Kennedy Space Center during my Global UGrad Exchange Program. Photo courtesy of VR C. Adaptar. Furthermore, the community engagement component of Global UGrad also allowed me to connect with the community in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and get to know the locals, many of whom were still recovering from two devastating hurricanes that struck the area at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Being an exchange student means that you are also serving as a cultural ambassador of your country, and it was truly an honor to raise the flag of the Philippines. From introducing adobo to my American roommates, showing them the way we cook rice with the trusted finger method for measuring the right amount of water, sharing some OPM songs, teaching some Tagalog and Bisaya words to my American classmates, to assisting a research student in her study on plant-based yogurt, sharing a bit of our shared history between the Philippines and the U.S. in class, and connecting with Filipino-Americans in the area, I believe that I was able to make the most out of my stay in the United States. Upon coming back home, I continued working on my undergraduate thesis, got involved again with more projects through my organizations, and actively helped in promoting exchange and internationalization opportunities for other Filipino students to help them widen their perspectives and further capacitate them in their chosen fields, and in return, apply what they learned in their respective communities. Yes, I flew out during the Delta surge and went back home to the Philippines in the middle of the Omicron surge. Study habits I can’t say that I really have good study habits. I adjust depending on my mood and physical well-being (e.g., I postpone studying or doing academic work if I feel sick). I don’t force myself to study or do academic work if I still don’t feel like it because I will end up with half-baked or mediocre outputs. One thing that I think worked for me though, is reading or writing at night. I think the peaceful atmosphere between 10 in the evening until around dawn helped me focus, especially during the lockdowns during the pandemic where everyone was at home and awake during the day. Nevertheless, I think it’s a matter of “finding your own groove” and seeing what truly works for you when it comes to studying or doing academic work and requirements, because what worked for me might not be that effective for you. If all else fails, get some sleep. I should also emphasize that the guidance and mentorship I received from my professors in UP Mindanao, especially the Department of Food Science and Chemistry, made this academic journey seem like I was standing on the shoulders of giants. The pandemic made the semesters too uncertain yet my professors remained nurturing and understanding, especially my adviser, Asst. Prof. Calumba, who truly lived up to her role as an adviser holistically and continued to believe in me at a time when self-doubt almost consumed me. More tips for students Lessons I picked up while performing my experiments for my thesis: I encountered different strains of lactic acid bacteria: some are fast-growers, some grow at just the right amount of time, while others take a bit longer. Like these different bacterial strains, we all have our own different pace in life. I did a lot of trial and error for my experiments. I made some mistakes. I made some adjustments. It’s okay to make mistakes in college. We are human, after all. It’s okay to try again. Did it take you a 2nd, 3rd, or nth try before succeeding? Again, it’s okay and you did great! I don’t think there’s such a thing as “lesser success” just because it took you longer. Sometimes, I had to stay until 10, 11, or midnight in the lab while waiting for tests to finish and during the wait times in between, I would read or watch videos or do some side tasks (that may or may not have been directly related to my thesis). Yes, college will be exhausting but academics is not the end of it all. Find an alternative outlet or channel which you could also invest your time and energy in. I always went back to the objectives of my study throughout my thesis-related works when I felt confused. Always go back to your WHYs, your purpose. This may not exactly be motivating but it can help you recalibrate, redirect, and realign your path in pursuit of your goals. Thesis days at the College of Science and Mathematics. Photo courtesy of VR C. Adaptar. Plans after graduation I intend to pursue a research and development track and work in the food industry for the next couple of years after graduation. Meanwhile, I also plan to volunteer or contribute to non-profit and civic orgs on the side because I enjoy doing those things as well. Furthermore, I also want to pursue postgraduate studies in food science and technology abroad in the near future. The true meaning of the sablay May we be disturbed by the stereotypical status of UP students, graduates, and alumni as “the cream of the crop”, the “upper echelon”, the “best of the best”. This privilege exists because there are others in the margins who are oppressed, deprived, and excluded. May we be reminded that for every single sablay being shifted to the left, countless others still suffer and struggle with the very systems that they trusted yet failed them. May we also be reminded that for every single sablay being shifted to the left, there remains a lot of space that must be taken up to eliminate social injustice systematically. UP, para kanino nga ba tayo? After successfully defending my undergraduate thesis, with my adviser, Asst. Prof. Kriza Faye Calumba, at the College of Science and Mathematics. Photo courtesy of VR C. Adaptar. ———- Written by Virgilio Roi C. Adaptar for the UP Pagtatapos 2023 microsite: https://up.edu.ph/pagtatapos-2023/ |
https://up.edu.ph/love-life-and-dont-give-up/ | Love life and don’t give up – University of the Philippines | Love life and don’t give up Love life and don’t give up September 11, 2023 | Written by Dr. Hannah Patricia E. Bringas Photo collage courtesy of Hannah Patricia Bringas. Hannah Patricia E. Bringas Doctor of Dental Medicine UP College of Dentistry I am Hannah Patricia E. Bringas, a graduate of Doctor of Dental Medicine of the UP College of Dentistry. I was supposed to graduate from the course back in 2017 but several interventions contributed to my delay. During the preparations for the Lantern Parade 2013, my dominant (right) hand was injured by a cutter blade in a freak accident. I was immediately rushed by my seniors and my friends to the PGH Emergency Department as I was already losing a lot of blood. The hospital staff performed several tests to check if there were any internal damages, especially on the nerves, and fortunately, it all seemed okay at the time. We all thought that it was just a simple skin laceration that needed to be sutured and closed shut. I was dismissed and I returned to my classes with a bandage on my hand the next day. The unfortunate accident happened in the second semester of my first year in Dentistry Proper, while I was enrolled in the Dentistry 131.1 (Operative Dentistry I) laboratory course. This course is only offered once a year and it is a prerequisite to several of the courses in the succeeding pre-clinical years. Even now, I could recall some laboratory sessions when I struggled to finish an exercise as my bandage kept falling off or my wound suddenly bled out of nowhere, but I continued to participate in classes and even attended the Lantern Parade itself. During the Christmas break, I started to notice some difficulty in moving my right hand, but I thought that it was just part of the healing process, and it would return to normal after a few days or weeks. However, one day, after our anatomy class, I consulted with my professor, an orthopedic surgeon, regarding my struggle in lifting my right ring and little fingers on their own and in using my hand to grip objects. I told him about my accident and asked for any input. That was when he informed me that my injury might have resulted in the transection of a few of the tendons in my right hand. He referred me to one of his colleagues for further assessment. My surgeon knew that I was taking up Dentistry and he warned me that if I did not immediately undergo surgery to restore function and to prevent atrophy of my arm muscles, I might have to say goodbye to my dream of becoming a dentist. So, I went through the operation. I had to wear a cast for 6 weeks while the semester was still ongoing, and I was required to attend physical therapy sessions for several months after the cast was removed. As a result, I was unable to perform our laboratory exercises in Dent 131.1. I was advised by the then College Secretary, who was also the faculty coordinator of the said course, to file for dropping to avoid getting a failing grade. I was given the chance to still attend the lectures, while struggling to write with my left hand or using my tablet just to take down notes. I was even offered an oral examination because I was struggling to write legibly. I already knew by then that I would not be able to graduate on time, that I would be delayed, that I could not join my friends and batchmates. It was painful, both physically and emotionally. My parents even asked me if I wanted to leave Dentistry when they saw and felt how defeated I was, and thought of how my injury would definitely affect my future. It had gotten to the point that I would take my injury as a test to see if I really did belong in Dentistry. However, I never thought of quitting. I saw this hurdle as an opportunity to strive harder. I was even able to perform well academically the next semester, and finished with a GWA of a “College Scholar”. I re-enrolled in the same laboratory course the following academic year but had to endure pain and discomfort on my right hand while still undergoing physical therapy. Unfortunately, I was not able to complete the requirements in the course on time, as the laboratory procedures then required double or even triple my previous efforts, given my injury. I received a failing mark on the laboratory course and had to wait another year to re-enroll again. I was already delayed for two years in the pre-clinical courses, but I made sure to never receive a failing grade on any theoretical subject. I practiced performing my laboratory requirements a lot, so as not to fail ever again. I also worked as a student assistant for a year during my pre-clinical years. As a clinician, one cause of my delay in completing the requirements was due to repeated cases because of patients’ non-compliance even with the treatments already nearing completion. I, however, attended to all my patients, other clinical requirements, research, and community service in the best way I could, despite constant suffering through pain and discomfort in my right hand. During the semesters within the pandemic, I lived alone near the College to attend to all the remaining requirements that I could accomplish via remote laboratory sessions, online case discussions, and limited face-to-face simulation exercises. However, a few of those remaining requirements still needed to be accomplished on live patients, so I still waited for the re-opening of the clinics last September. Once the clinics re-opened, despite a few problems encountered, I did not stop until I was able to complete my requirements and finally graduate. While attending to my classes and requirements, I was a shift head for several semesters, and later on, became the head and the student council representative of the resident clinicians. I served a few years in the Dentistry Student Council, joined and performed with the members of GrooveDex, was one of the founding members of the UPCD Occlusal Harmonies, and participated in several dental missions and served the community through the Dental Health Brigade. Even now as I practice for the board exam, my hand still hurts every now and then. The large scar is still there and reminds me every day of what I have lost, and of what I have also gained through all I have experienced. They taught me not to give up. They taught me to appreciate every second. They taught me to love life, and that there is always light at the end of a very dark tunnel. These lessons are what I will carry with me as I face the next chapter of my life. ———- Written by Dr. Hannah Patricia E. Bringas for the UP Pagtatapos 2023 microsite. https://up.edu.ph/pagtatapos-2023/ |
https://up.edu.ph/doktor-para-sa-bayan-kasama-ng-bayan/ | Doktor Para sa Bayan, Kasama ng Bayan – University of the Philippines | Doktor Para sa Bayan, Kasama ng Bayan Doktor Para sa Bayan, Kasama ng Bayan September 12, 2023 | Written by Dr. Jessica Franco Perez Photo courtesy of Jessica Perez. Jessica Franco Perez Magna cum laude Doctor of Medicine UP College of Medicine I am Jessica Franco Perez, 32 years old, from San Mateo, Rizal. I studied BS Nutrition in UP Los Baños and graduated magna cum laude in 2011. I passed the Nutritionist-Dietitian Licensure Examination and became a Registered Nutritionist-Dietitian that same year. I worked at the Dietary Department of the UP-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) as a clinical dietitian. I was assigned at the Nutrition Clinic of the Department of Out-Patient Services where I provided nutrition assessment, individualized diet plans, and educational lectures to patients, doctors, and paramedical professionals. While working at PGH, I was also given opportunities to participate in different researches. I am a co-investigator in a research project of Dr. A.G. Limpoco of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, titled “Development and Evaluation of Rapid Eating Assessment for Patients (REAP) Tool”. I also became part of several patient support groups, such as the Hansen’s Club, Lipat Kalinga, and Psoriasis Club. After six years of working at PGH, I then applied to and got accepted in the University of the Philippines College of Medicine at the age of 28. I became a member of the UP Pangkalusugang Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral (UP PAGSAMA) where I served under the SocCon Force, a committee that focuses on social engagements and community organizing activities. In the recently conducted 114th Commencement Exercise of the UP College of Medicine, I finally got my Doctor of Medicine degree, graduating magna cum laude and being one of the Top 5 Most Outstanding Graduates in Academics of our batch. I was also given recognition as one of the Top 3 Most Outstanding Interns of AY 2022-2023, being an outstanding intern in Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Surgery. Pursuing the dream Photo courtesy of Jessica Perez. I have always dreamt of becoming a doctor since I was a child. However, being born in a middle-class family, this dream seemed impossible. Being the second child in a brood of four, I also wanted to help my parents financially, especially in sending my younger sisters to college. I initially gave up on my dream of becoming a doctor and focused on a career still close to medicine. I was happy serving as a clinical dietitian. It was an equally fulfilling profession, having the opportunity to help other people through proper diet and a healthy lifestyle. However, I knew that some part of me was wishing and hoping I could still be a doctor someday. Every morning after I conducted lectures in the OPD waiting areas, seeing the long queue of people patiently waiting to be seen by a doctor, I had always felt the desire to serve more, both as a dietitian AND as a doctor. When my youngest sibling was already in her last year in college, I asked myself, “Posible pa bang maging doctor ako? Ipu-pursue ko pa rin ba ang pagme-Med kahit na matanda na ako?” These doubts had been running through my mind for quite a while. I also did not want to be a burden to my family, especially to my mother, given the additional years of studying instead of earning money. Thankfully, my family and friends were very supportive and encouraged me to still try. As the famous line goes, “It is better to try and fail than to never know and wonder what could have been if I tried.” And so, I juggled work, the National Medical Admission Test review, and preparations for applications to medical schools. With a limited amount of savings and overwhelming uncertainty, I found the courage to resign from the job I had treasured for six years to start this new journey. I was very blessed to be accepted in the UP College of Medicine, where I could have a subsidized, high quality medical education. Without the subsidized tuition fees, the scholarship grants from the College, the Pe Gan Heng Foundation, and the UP Medical Alumni Society of America (UPMASA), as well as the unending support of my family and friends, I may not have been able to reach this point. Student life and survival tips The University of the Philippines has been my home since I was in college. I have always believed in its ideals and advocacies. With this, I am truly grateful to be admitted to the UP College of Medicine that lives up to its vision-mission of cultivating highly competent scholars whose lives are directed to learning and service to the underserved. Our medical curriculum is guided by the principles of a community- oriented education, research, and service. These ideals and principles guided me through all these years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the College greatly helped the students as they were able to quickly adapt to the challenges and difficulties brought by the pandemic restrictions. They made sure that we were learning, while giving us ample consideration and understanding of the fact that we were also taking care of our family and doing chores at home, on top of our obligations as medical students. Admittedly, I struggled with my studies, especially during my first year in medical school. With a gap of six years from the last time I had reviewed for an exam, I needed to relearn and adjust my study habits to fit the highly demanding medical education. I would sleep first after a long day of lectures and then wake up early in the morning to study. We all have different learning styles and thus, it is important to identify the study routine that works best for you. What worked for me may not work for other students. But if I were to share one study habit that greatly helped me survive medical school, it is the habit of planning and making a schedule. Planning ahead and identifying my target accomplishments for the day or the week made me more efficient and focused on my activities. Photo courtesy of Jessica Perez. Another survival tip is to allow yourself to rest, as well as to allot quality time with family and friends, and on your hobbies. These will help you keep your sanity and will give you a boost to face yet another week of unending lectures, duties, and exams. My advice to make this possible would be to: 1) actively listen during lectures; 2) limit your time for browsing your social media accounts; and 3) prioritize sleep (you absorb and understand better what you are reading with a clear mind). I also maximized my study hours during weekdays (or on allotted study days) so that I could go home to Rizal and spend time with my family in the other days. All these helped me maintain balance between studies and life outside medical school. Last but definitely one most important advice that I want to share is to have a deeper reason for what you do. Why are you studying medicine? Whenever I felt exhausted having to study for an exam even after a tiring hospital duty, I always went back to why I was here. I always reminded myself not to study just to pass the exams, but to study so that you will be a competent and excellent doctor for your future patients; study so that you can be part of a better healthcare system that you have always wanted. When we have a purpose that goes beyond us, things will still be difficult, but you will have the courage to overcome whatever obstacle you will face. Plans after graduation After graduating and passing the Physician Licensure Examination this October 2023, I plan to apply to the Internal Medicine residency program at the UP Philippine General Hospital. In the future, I also want to enter the academe as a professor and to participate in activities, programs, and advocacies directed to the service of marginalized communities and to the betterment of our healthcare system. Photo collage courtesy of Jessica Perez. Looking back on my journey Work hard, be patient, and do not give up on your dreams, even if it would take time realizing them. There will be detours and things will not always be in your favor. But be steadfast and trust that God’s plan is the best plan. Looking back on my journey, I now realize why God had to delay my admission to medical school. It was at the right time for me, when there was a CGMS (Cash Grant to Medical Students Enrolled in State Universities and Colleges) to largely subsidize our tuition fee knowing that I might not be able to finish my medical education due to financial constraints. I was taught by the most excellent professors who nurtured and inspired us to do our best as future physicians. I met my friends who have supported me and believed in me even in times when I myself doubted my own capabilities. They made my stay in UPCM worthwhile and much more bearable. Trust that the failures, rejections, frustrations, and “unanswered” prayers we encounter are part of the process to prepare us for the best things in life. May we always uphold honor, integrity, and excellence whatever path we choose. May we all live a life of purpose, a life directed to the service of others. Kudos at Padayon, mga Doktor Para sa Bayan, Kasama ng Bayan! ———- Written by Dr. Jessica Franco Perez for the UP Pagtatapos 2023 microsite: https://up.edu.ph/pagtatapos-2023/ |
https://up.edu.ph/teaching-literature-the-gemino-h-abad-seminar-workshop-2023/ | Teaching Literature: The Gemino H. Abad Seminar-Workshop 2023 – University of the Philippines | Teaching Literature: The Gemino H. Abad Seminar-Workshop 2023 Teaching Literature: The Gemino H. Abad Seminar-Workshop 2023 November 10, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Teaching literature is impossible; that is why it is difficult. –Northrop Frye “Do you want to enhance your skills in reading and teaching literature? Do you want to learn how to uncover the hidden meanings and messages of literary texts?” So reads the invitation to the Gemino H. Abad Seminar-Workshop (GASW) for Teaching Literature 2023, which was held from September 20 to 22 at the NISMED Auditorium in UP Diliman. The GASW is a project of the Likhaan UP Institute of Creative Writing, and aims to inspire and empower educators with the ultimate goal of fostering a love for literature among Filipino students. The 48 participants were junior and senior high school teachers of literature and creative writing in English from public and private schools nationwide, and the lecturers are some of the country’s most distinguished literary scholars and writers. As a tribute to the joys and challenges of education, especially for teachers of literature and the humanities, we are sharing an article written by Dr. Vim Nadera, award-winning poet, fictionist, playwright, and essayist, at the conclusion of this year’s GASW. The article was originally published by the Pilipino Mirror. Reading Literature: Text and Context Ni Dr. Vim Nadera Dr. Vim Nadera delivering his message at the workshop. Photo from Likhaan: University of the Philippines Institute of Creative Writing Facebook page. Isa lamang proyekto iyon, kung tutuusin, ng Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing. Pero binigyan ito ng bagong dimensiyon nang mag-post sa Facebook ang DLSU SHS Arts and Design Track Department ng pagbati: “We would like to extend congratulations to Ms. Blulean Albao, our Creative Writing teacher, for taking part in the Gemino Abad Seminar-Workshop for Teachers, which was conducted on October 4-6, 2023, at the NISMED Auditorium, University of the Philippines, Diliman.” Tinapik kaming lahat ng ganitong balita sa balikat. Kahit paano’y nabunutan ng tinik sa pagtanggap sa hamong maging Workshop Director. At, napausal din kami ng dasal sa pagpili sa butihing guro ng De La Salle Integrated School SHS Manila sa Biñan, Laguna na marunong tumanaw ng utang na loob: “This is testimony of how a Lasallian educator can showcase capabilities and empower co-educators to nurture and mold student in the future.” Kasama ni Bb. Albao sa loob ng tatlong araw sina Anglika Fe Amado, Alyzza Chelsea Avestruz, Michael Beraña, Jerald Belmas, Charine Bolalin, Michelle Collado, at Consuelo Celine Fuentes, Kristian Ross Pimentel, John Carlo Pineda, Ferdinand Marc Sandoval, Charma Rose Tadeja. Dahil nasa Creative Non-fiction siya, sumailalim siya sa kalinga ni Prof. Larissa Mae Suarez na sanaysayista’t kuwentista. Para sa Fiction ang mga dumalo sina Alvin Aborde, Lou Stephie Cambe, Maria Christina Corpuz, Jericho de Leon, Reniel Justine Gandecila, Karen Laking, Jayson Paderon, Brandon Parrenas, Nicka Marcel Reyes, Rhoda Salen, Vincent Eduard Sta.Clara, at Christian Lloyd Valenzuela sa giya ni Siege Malvar na nobelista’t makata. Para sa Drama, ang mga lumahok ay sina Ma. Jessi Carilla, Armin Concepcion, Rafaelle Jasmin Ibañez, Clarice Yvette Laroza, Lourrie Mey Libo-on, Aubrey Dorothy Macas, Roselle Grace Mendoza, Justine Montilla, Ernesto Pang Jr., Maria Fe Ricamonte, Melissa Sarmiento, at Frank Tamayo sa gabay ni Dr. Joachim Emilio Antonio na mandudula, kuwentista’t kuwentistang pambata. At para sa Poetry, ang mga sumali ay sina Rogelio Alegrid Jr., April Arevalo, Ronald Cabingon, Melchor Cayabyab, Darlyn Lojero, Ymanuel Manaog, William James Obrero, Angelica Padilla, Manuel Radislao, Nenita Ramiro-Rondera, Rosseth Salvan, at Charles Dominic Sanchez sa patnubay ni Ramil Digal Gulle na makata’t mamamahayag. Mas prestihiyoso ang palihang ito dahil sa panayam ng batikan sa kani-kanilang larang: Professor Emeritus Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo (Creative Non-fiction), Prof. Charlson Ong (Fiction), Prof. Luna Sicat Cleto (Drama), at Pambansang Alagad ng Sining na Dr. Gemino Abad (Poetry). Binayayaan din kami ng pagdating sa una’t huling araw ni Lord Jim na paulit-ulit sa pagsasabing: “This is so well-organized!” Kaya, kahit nakauwi na si Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan, amin pa ring pinasalamatan hindi lamang sina Dr. Romulo Baquiran at Prof. Vladimeir Gonzales kundi sina Howi Bakunawa at Toni Panagu at ang kanilang mga anghel na sina Arlene Andresio, Ronnie Amuyot, Denise Cayetano, Karlo Erfe, Manolet Ferrer, Kenneth Guda, Philip Jamilla, Phoebe Lina, Danielle Madrid, P.B. Maraña, Dominick Molina, Cyril Noroña, Karen Pablo, at Jasper Villasis. At, siyempre, ang nakaisip ng paksa na si Dr. Jose Dalisay. Subalit, ibang-iba talaga ang kahingian sa panitikang Filipino. Kaya sana magkaroon ng Virgilio Almario Seminar-Workshop for Teachers. For photos of the 2023 Gemino Abad Seminar Workshop for Teachers, please browse through the post below from the Likhaan: University of the Philippines Institute of Creative Writing Facebook page. |
https://up.edu.ph/locating-barangay-elections-in-the-filipinos-list-of-priorities/ | Locating barangay elections in the Filipinos’ list of priorities – University of the Philippines | Locating barangay elections in the Filipinos’ list of priorities Locating barangay elections in the Filipinos’ list of priorities November 14, 2023 | Written by Alicor Panao On October 30, 2023, the Philippines held what is arguably the most impactful elections in the country: the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). The 2023 elections decided the leaders and council members for the smallest unit of government and the primary implementer of government policies at the grassroots level: the barangay. After the COVID-19 pandemic led to postponement after postponement of the BSKE, the first village-based and youth council elections were finally held after five years. Two days later, all ballots from 42,001 barangays in the Philippines came in; and the newly elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials begin their terms at noon on November 30, 2023. Pundits have since noted that the conduct and aftermath of this year’s election, which was marked by a lack of overtime pay for teachers who served extra hours on barangay election day, teachers backing out of poll duties for fear of security threats, and stories of violence and fatal shootings, will influence the midterm elections in 2025. But the impact of barangay elections goes much further than future polls. This article by Dr. Alicor Panao of the UP Diliman Department of Political Science explains the reason. Aspiring candidates from Quezon City file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City on Aug. 28, 2023. Photo by Joseph O. Razon, Philippine News Agency (PNA). People, the cliché goes, are most curious about the things that matter. Studies on issue salience, for instance, suggest that people are more likely to seek information on political matters when they are relevant, affect their well-being or align with their predispositions or values. In political science, information seeking is regarded as a cornerstone of civic engagement. After all, information is crucial to making informed decisions, not only on health, finance, or education, but also on politics. On October 30, Filipinos voted for the leaders of the nation’s basic unit of governance. Barangay elections are vital for ensuring effective local governance, community development, and civic participation in the Philippines. Section 384 of the Local Government Code states: “As the basic political unit, the Barangay serves as the primary planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects, and activities in the community, and as a forum wherein the collective views of the people may be expressed, crystallized and considered, and where disputes may be amicably settled.” Barangays, in other words, are foundational in the country’s democratic system, as they allow citizens to have a direct say in the leadership and decision-making processes of their local communities. Considering their significance in our political life as a nation, to what extent did Filipinos seek information on the upcoming barangay elections? A quick way to grasp Filipinos’ informational interest on the barangay elections is to examine online search trends, such as those made through Google. Using Google Trends, a free online tool, we can examine, for instance, how frequently certain search queries, such as the phrase, “barangay elections”, are entered into Google’s search engine over a specified period and in specific regions or geographic locations. Figure 1 below gives the daily series of the search phrase, “barangay elections”, and its related term, “comelec”, from June 01, 2022 to October 30, 2023. Both terms correspond to the barangay elections and are most likely the most common terms keyed in when people query for information from the search engine. Interestingly, informational interest in the barangay elections appears to be minimal and started to peak only sometime in late August and in late October. The first uptick likely corresponds to the period of the filing of candidacy for the barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections, which COMELEC set between Aug. 28 and Sep. 2. The second uptick, on the other hand, is probably due to interest generated by the campaign period (Oct. 19 to 28). When campaign posters started littering the streets, people probably began to be curious about the candidates. Figure 1: Election related search trends To ascertain to what extent the barangay elections is salient, however, we need to compare it with other queries made on other issues Filipinos find relevant. Figure 2 replicates the trend lines, but this time includes series corresponding to issues that may also be of relevance to Filipinos. For simplicity, we only included two issues. We included the search trend for the term, “job hiring”, since the clamor for better wages is perennially an urgent concern among Filipinos, based on surveys. We also included the trend for the search term, “kdrama”, since Korean dramas now consist a substantial component of contemporary Filipino entertainment. Figure 2 shows interest on employment somewhat consistent all throughout. Employment search is expected to be a more constant concern than interest in elections, considering that jobs are a fundamental economic necessity for most Filipinos and their families. Employment provides a means to earn a living, support basic needs, and achieve financial stability. Interestingly, neither elections nor employment creates the amount of informational curiosity that Korean dramas do. While it is well known that search trends reveal information-seeking behavior related to seasonal interests or activities, elections do not seem to create the same level of excitement as, perhaps, the latest episodes of one’s favorite K-Dramas. Figure 2: The salience of election related queries In fine, barangay elections do not create the same degree of informational concern as, say, employment prospects or television entertainment. This is not to say, though, that Filipinos have their priorities in the wrong places. Quite understandably, in a country where there is a wide gap in the quality of life, people are always on the lookout for better paying jobs to improve their financial stability and standard of living. On the other hand, watching TV dramas can offer a sense of catharsis, allowing citizens an outlet to release pent up emotions and frustrations related to government dissatisfaction. For all we know, K-Dramas might be the only thing that keeps citizens from rioting and the state from collapsing. Nevertheless, these trends do remind us of the need for election management bodies (e.g. COMELEC) to strengthen voter education and broaden civic education. For voter education to be impactful, initiatives should commence well in advance and persist throughout the electoral cycle. At the outset of this cycle, the electorate should receive information regarding voter registration procedures, not only to allow them sufficient time to complete the registration process, but also to help them understand the gravity of the deliberative exercise to our life as a nation. By educating citizens on the democratic process and their role in it, voter education ensures that elections are fair, transparent, and reflective of the will of the people, thereby strengthening the democratic foundations of a society. Dr. Alicor Panao is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science, UP Diliman. He is also a member of the Philippine Bar. (Photo courtesy of the UP Diliman Department of Political Science) |
https://up.edu.ph/statement-of-support-for-the-42nd-kasama-sa-up-national-congress-and-55th-general-assembly-of-student-councils/ | Statement of Support for the 42nd KASAMA SA UP National Congress and 55th General Assembly of Student Councils – University of the Philippines | Statement of Support for the 42nd KASAMA SA UP National Congress and 55th General Assembly of Student Councils Statement of Support for the 42nd KASAMA SA UP National Congress and 55th General Assembly of Student Councils August 24, 2023 | Written by the Office of the President The University of the Philippines System expresses its support for the student leaders who participated in this year’s KASAMA sa UP National Congress and General Assembly of Student Councils held in the UP Mindanao campus last 14 to 19 August. The University Administration deeply appreciates the efforts of our student councils in freely and peacefully advocating for the rights and welfare of their sector, and engaging in various legitimate issues and concerns that affect UP and the entire nation. UP is committed to ensuring the free exercise of constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms by members of its academic community, including the right to peaceably assemble. The same commitment is expected from other duty bearers, who are mandated to respect, fulfill, uphold, and protect those time-honored liberties within and beyond our campus gates. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-history-in-the-making-this-september/ | UP History in the Making this September – University of the Philippines | UP History in the Making this September UP History in the Making this September September 8, 2023 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta This September, UP historical events will take place. From September 13 to 15, the University of the Philippines will hold three milestone events in Davao City, Davao del Sur, Mindanao, with all events marking firsts in the history of not just UP but the region as well. These include: a pioneering summit that puts the development of the Bangsamoro front and center in the national University’s strategic initiatives; the investiture ceremony for the first Mindanawan UP President, to be held for the first time on the UP Mindanao campus; and finally, the first UP-initiated summit gathering leaders of state universities and colleges from across the country with the aim of boosting engagement and partnerships in the Philippine higher education sector. With these series of high profile events, the University sets itself squarely upon the path to become the national university it is meant to be, a public service university “doing what we can for others” as “Iskolar Para sa Bayan”, as UP President Angelo A. Jimenez said in his address to the UP Diliman Class of 2023. A national university serving the Filipino people, focusing specially on the country’s most underrepresented and marginalized communities. The UP-Bangsamoro Development Program Summit Consultation Date: September 13 Time: 1:00-5:00 PM Venue: Dusit Thani Residences Davao Mindanao has been envisioned as the country’s agri-industrial center, given its rich natural, economic and human development resources, its potentials, and its people’s aspirations. However, growth and development in Mindanao has remained uneven, hampered by such issues as poverty, social conflicts, criminality and social unrest. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), in particular, has seen a significant drop, among families, in poverty incidence, from 52.6% in 2018 to 29.95 in 2021; but it still ranks among the lowest in the Human Development Index list of Philippine regions and provinces. In keeping with its mandate under Republic Act No. 9500 to take the lead in higher education and public service and to relate its activities to the needs and aspirations of all Filipinos, the University of the Philippines will host the UP-Bangsamoro Development Program Summit Consultation to discuss opportunities for collaboration aiming to improve the socio-economic conditions of the Bangsamoro and Mindanao. This will be held on Sept. 13, 2023, 1:00 PM at the Dusit Thani Residence Davao. These include the creation of a UP-Bangsamoro Development Program, which would be the first of its kind between the University, the BARMM government and local government units, and development NGOs and SUCs in the region. The program is envisioned to serve as an avenue of convergence between UP and the Bangsamoro for co-creating opportunities and collaborative action to strengthen human capital and improve socio-economic conditions of the Bangsamoro. Slated to attend the summit are: BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, Al Haj; officials and representatives of various ministries and committees of the Bangsamoro Parliament; and LGUs, NGOs, and state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the region. A memorandum of understanding between the University and the BTA will also be presented by the UP to its partners in the transition authority. Panaad at Kabilin: Pagtatalaga kay Kgg. Angelo A. Jimenez bilang ika-22 Pangulo ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas [Investiture of Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez as 22nd President of the University of the Philippines] Date: September 14, 2023 Time: 9:00 AM Venue: UP Mindanao Atrium, Tugbok, Davao City, Davao del Sur “The hallmark of UP in the next six years will be service to the nation. Service to the nation is constitutive of who we are and what we do. Together, we will work towards a UP that is more engaged with the nation,” Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez said in his speech on Feb. 10, when he accepted the position and authority of leading the University as its 22nd President. Born and raised in the City of Butuan, Agusan del Norte, Jimenez is the first Mindanawan and the first Manobo, honored and named as “Datu Mankalagan” or “Great Spirit” in 2007, to become UP President. To mark the symbolic significance of his rise to become the head of UP as the national university, his formal investiture as the 22nd UP President will be held at the Atrium of UP Mindanao, in Tugbok, Davao City, on Sept. 14 at 9:00 AM. Jimenez is a labor lawyer and a respected authority on global worker migration. His work has contributed to the establishment of the country’s new Department of Migrant Workers, as well as to the labor migration regulatory framework in countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. A former Deputy Administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, he served as Labor Attache in Japan, Kuwait, and Iraq, and was awarded Presidential citations for his work in ensuring the safety of Filipino workers during the Israel-Lebanon conflict, including the rescue of a Filipino hostage held in Iraq. With his extensive background in labor migration, Jimenez has been tapped as an expert lecturer by the UP Centre International de Formation des Autorités et Leaders or International Training Center for Authorities and Leaders Philippines. He has also written papers for organizations such as the International Organization for Migration Philippines and the Blas Ople Policy Center He is a regular lecturer on Philippine overseas labor laws at the UP Law Center’s Mandatory Continuing Legal Education program. Jimenez served on the UP Board of Regents twice, first as a Student Regent in 1992, when he was also elected Chair of the University Student Council of UP Diliman; and again when he was appointed Regent by former President Rodrigo R. Duterte in 2016, during which Jimenez also served concurrently as Trustee of the UP Foundation, Inc. He obtained both his Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) degrees from UP Diliman. As a law student at UP Diliman, he was Associate Editor of the Philippine Collegian and President of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines. He went on to earn his Master in Public Management degree from the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. He was also a Lee Kuan Yew Fellow at the Harvard School of Government. Read more about his profile here. Taking inspiration from and being guided by his Mindanawan and indigenous roots, Jimenez aims to highlight the view from the margins and bring a unique perspective on how UP can further contribute to national development. Championing kindness in the University, and setting public service as a pillar of his vision and strategic initiatives for UP, his administration plans to widen access to UP and UP-quality education through various courses, modes, and platforms, as well as to strengthen partnerships with Philippine SUCs. These partnerships are intended to advance higher education in the country through shared knowledge and expertise. UP Mindanao, which is hosting an investiture ceremony for the UP President for the first time, is the sixth constituent university under the UP System, and the only UP constituent university in Mindanao with the primary mandate to provide equitable access to quality UP education to Mindanawans. It is headed by Chancellor Lyre Anni E. Murao. (For more news on UP Mindanao, visit their Facebook page.) Pagtutulay, Pagtutuloy: 1st UP-SUC Summit Strengthening Partnerships in Philippine Public Higher Education Date: September 15, 2023 Time: 8:00 AM Venue: Dusit Thani Grand Ballroom Davao Stronger together. This belief in stronger partnerships within the Philippine higher education sector is what drives “Pagtutulay, Pagtutuloy: The 1st UP-SUC Summit on Excellence and Equity in Public Higher Education”, which will be held on September 15 at Dusit Thani Grand Ballroom, Davao City, a day after UP President Jimenez’ investiture in UP Mindanao. This UP-SUC Summit will convene leaders of Philippine SUCs, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) officials, and interested stakeholders from Congress and private higher education institutions. It was Jimenez’s cognizance of inter-SUC engagement and partnerships as imperatives for knowledge co-creation, innovation, research, and public service towards national development that gave rise to the conduct of the summit. This comes with the realization that when the common and unique strengths of SUCs are put together in the spirit of cooperation, they can make higher education an even more formidable force in building the Filipino nation. The summit is envisioned to inspire engagement in transdisciplinary academic, research, and public service programs through co-designed projects. It is an opportunity for SUCs to link up and be active co-producers in knowledge-building that will ultimately translate into the service of communities and the country. “Pagtutulay, Pagtutuloy” is a platform for this network of SUCs to: (1) discuss strategies for overcoming challenges in establishing and maintaining linkages between universities; (2) share best practices and innovative approaches in academic, research, and public service collaboration; (3) identify opportunities for graduate education, student and faculty exchange, joint research, and sharing of educational resources and other academic and research activities; and (4) establish a framework for sustainable and effective collaboration between UP, CHED, and other SUCs by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that outlines the key points of agreement among the participants. The summit includes the launch of four UP programs relevant to inter-SUC engagement: the UP Data Commons; Philippines Massive Open Online Courses (PHMOOCs); TVUP programs; and the UP Archipelagic and Ocean Virtual University (UPAOVU). It is expected to close with the signing of the Mindanao Declaration on Excellence and Equity in Public Higher Education. Service as the Hallmark of UP With these three landmark events, the UP System under President Jimenez officially launches its strategic platform for the next six years. This strategic plan follows three themes: “Public Service for the Common Good”; “Teaching, Research, and Innovation for Future-ready Citizens”; and “University Governance and Infrastructure with Transparency and Accountability”. Overarching all of these is the vision of UP as: “A national university dedicated to the formation of good citizens and leaders, engaged in knowledge co-creation towards a just, equitable, and progressive society,” guided by the principle of “Honor and Excellence in the Service of the Nation”. For this week in September, and for the next six years and beyond, service to the nation will truly be the hallmark of UP. For more updates on these events, visit the dedicated website page for these events here. |
https://up.edu.ph/development-of-the-bangsamoro-at-the-core-of-pioneering-up-bta-consultation-meeting-on-sept-13/ | Development of the Bangsamoro at the core of pioneering UP-BTA consultation meeting on Sept 13 – University of the Philippines | Development of the Bangsamoro at the core of pioneering UP-BTA consultation meeting on Sept 13 Development of the Bangsamoro at the core of pioneering UP-BTA consultation meeting on Sept 13 September 12, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines (UP) will be hosting an important consultation meeting with Bangsamoro Transition Authority officials and stakeholders, including: the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government, Local Government Units (LGUs), development NGOs, and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in BARMM, at the Dusit Thani Residences Davao on September 13, Wednesday. Participants will discuss opportunities for collaboration aiming to improve the socio-economic conditions of the Bangsamoro and Mindanao. Issues and challenges on education, health, agriculture and fisheries, labor and employment, science and technology, human settlements and development, indigenous peoples’ affairs, trade and tourism, and the environment, among others, shall also be tackled. The event comes the day before the solemn investiture of 22nd UP President Atty. Angelo “Jijil” A. Jimenez, who hails from Butuan, to be held at the UP Mindanao Atrium on Sept. 14. It will also precede the much awaited 1st UP-SUC Summit on Sept. 15. According to the UP President, “Mindanao has always been considered key to the nation’s progress, being the second-largest island next to Luzon and having been endowed with a wealth of human and natural resources. However, over the past several decades, we have witnessed its development severely stifled due to deeply-rooted problems that cause poverty, underdevelopment, social conflicts, criminality and war.” Four out of the top five poorest regions, and eight out of the ten poorest provinces in the Philippines, are in Mindanao, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 2015 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES). The same report cited poverty incidence at above 39% in Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), Region X (Northern Mindanao), Region XII (Soccsksargen), Region XIII (Caraga), and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Jimenez is calling on all stakeholders to “seize the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to partner now with the University and allow UP to help them sustain Mindanao’s overall progress,” in accordance with the University’s mandate under Republic Act 9500, which is to lead in the nation’s higher education and public service spheres. “Today, the interventions and reforms initiated by previous national government administrations are paving the way for the much aspired peace and development in these regions,” Jimenez said. “But we could certainly do more, and in order for these noble initiatives to have more impact on our people,” he added. “The peace process that has led to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (Republic Act 11054) and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority in 2019, and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, the country’s medium-term development blueprint, offer a grand opportunity for stakeholders and the national government, to sustain Mindanao’s recovery and economic growth, with UP serving as a catalyst and enabler for social transformation,” Jimenez added. The PSA recently reported that Mindanao’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) has improved to 7.2 percent in 2022, with the BARMM having a 6.6 percent growth on its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). These are positive indicators resulting from the reforms already being done. Jimenez revealed that expert resource persons from both the academe and the government will lead discussions focusing on the UP-Bangsamoro Development Program and the Bangsamoro during this consultation meeting. “With the UP-Bangsamoro Development Program, avenues for collaboration for attaining the common sustainable goals of UP and the BARMM in promoting access to quality education, improving health outcomes, strengthening the capabilities of SUCs and LGUs, reinforcing partnerships in BARMM, and rehabilitating conflict-affected communities shall be highlighted,” Jimenez said. To achieve the abovementioned goals, UP is offering its existing expertise, facilities, and programs in its various constituent universities. Among its academic and research institutions to be involved in the program are: UP Resilience Institute; UP National Center for Transportation Studies; UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies; UP National College of Public Administration and Governance; UP Manila National Institutes of Health; UP Cebu Center for Environmental Informatics; UP Mindanao Center for Advancement of Research in Mindanao; UP Los Baños National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology; Philippine Genome Center; UP Institute of Islamic Studies; UP Baguio Cordillera Studies Center; UP Mindanao Studies Center; and UP Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts. The program will have an Advisory Board with members from both UP and BARMM. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-to-make-history-with-first-presidential-investiture-rites-in-mindanao/ | UP to make history with first presidential investiture rites in Mindanao – University of the Philippines | UP to make history with first presidential investiture rites in Mindanao UP to make history with first presidential investiture rites in Mindanao September 13, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines on Thursday will hold the investiture of its president in Mindanao for the first time in its 115-year history, a watershed moment that will be marked by two UP-led initiatives that reaffirm the commitment of the country’s premier state university to serve the people. The investiture on Thursday of the first UP president from Mindanao, Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez, will be held in UP Mindanao—the sixth constituent university under the UP System and the only UP constituent university in Mindanao. The investiture rites are set to coincide with the UP-Bangsamoro Development Program Summit and the 1st UP-SUC Summit on Excellence and Equity in Public Higher Education—groundbreaking events that will address two pressing national issues: the development of the Bangsamoro and the future of public tertiary education in the country. According to UP Vice President for Public Affairs Rolando B. Tolentino, “President Jimenez has stressed from his first day in office that the hallmark of UP in the next six years will be service to the nation, and this is reflected in the activities that will be held prior to and following the University president’s investiture rites.” The UP-Bangsamoro Development Program Summit will be held on September 13 at the Dusit Thani Residence Davao. At the top of the agenda is the establishment of the UP-Bangsamoro Development Program, the first program of its kind in the country. It will involve UP, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao government and local government units, as well as non-government organizations and state universities and colleges in the region. Among those attending the summit are BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, Al Haj; officials and representatives of various ministries and committees of the Bangsamoro Parliament; and representatives of LGUs, NGOs, and SUCs in the region. A memorandum of understanding between UP and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority will be signed at the end of the summit. The program is intended to serve as an avenue of convergence between UP and the Bangsamoro for organizing opportunities and collaborative action to strengthen human capital and improve socio-economic conditions of the Bangsamoro. On September 15, the day after the investiture of Jimenez, the 1st UP-SUC Summit on Excellence and Equity in Public Higher Education will be held at the Dusit Thani Grand Ballroom. The summit will bring together leaders of Philippine SUCs, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) officials, and stakeholders from Congress and private higher education institutions. The summit is envisioned to promote engagement in transdisciplinary academic, research, and public service programs via co-designed projects. The historic summit is a platform for SUCs to: (1) discuss strategies for overcoming challenges in establishing and maintaining linkages between universities; (2) share best practices and innovative approaches in academic, research, and public service collaboration; (3) identify opportunities for graduate education, student and faculty exchange, joint research, and sharing of educational resources and other academic and research activities; and (4) establish a framework for sustainable and effective collaboration between UP, CHED, and other SUCs by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that outlines the key points of agreement among the participants. The summit includes the launch of four UP programs relevant to inter-SUC engagement: the UP Data Commons, Philippines Massive Open Online Courses (PHMOOCs), TVUP programs, and the UP Archipelagic and Ocean Virtual University (UPAOVU). The summit is expected to close with the signing of the Mindanao Declaration on Excellence and Equity in Public Higher Education. |
https://up.edu.ph/1st-up-suc-summit-to-launch-four-programs-for-suc-engagement/ | 1st UP-SUC Summit to launch four programs for SUC engagement – University of the Philippines | 1st UP-SUC Summit to launch four programs for SUC engagement 1st UP-SUC Summit to launch four programs for SUC engagement September 14, 2023 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo On September 15, four University programs aimed at promoting engagement between UP and other Philippine state universities and colleges (SUCs) will be launched during Pagtutulay, Pagtutuloy: Strengthening Partnerships in Philippine Public Higher Education to be held in the Grand Ballroom of Dusit Thani, Davao City. The summit is a gathering of leaders of Philippine state universities and colleges (SUCs), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) officials, and interested stakeholders from Congress and private higher education institutions, and dovetails the September 14 investiture ceremony of 22nd UP President Angelo A. Jimenez. It was his cognizance of UP’s public service mandate as indicated in RA 9500 or the UP Charter that led to this exploration of and strengthening of inter-SUC engagement and partnerships. For Jimenez, engagement and partnerships are imperatives for knowledge co-creation, innovation, research, and public service towards national development. The four programs are: the UP Data Commons; Philippines Massive Open Online Courses (PHMOOCs); TVUP programs; and the UP Archipelagic and Ocean Virtual University (UPAOVU). The UP Data Commons, inaugurated in 2021, is a world class high performance computing and storage facility that includes the necessary hardware and software resources, located at the UP Diliman College of Science. Its launch during the summit opens this UP resource to SUC partnerships in pursuit of innovative research, such as those on artificial intelligence and big data. Participants to the Summit will be treated to a demonstration of the various ways SUCs can use this resource for their constituents. It has three petabytes of storage, with plans to increase it to seven, and connectivity speeds that allow data transfer in milliseconds. PHMOOCs is a new platform designed to foster universal access to quality education, promote lifeline learning, and enhance collaboration among higher education institutions in the country. It promotes knowledge sharing, collaborative course development and implementation, research partnerships, and teaching methods and technology use innovations. It is envisioned to widen education opportunities by leveraging technology to provide accessible, inclusive, and high-quality courses, and to address the diverse needs of learners, wherever they may be. The UP Open University, which began offering MOOCS in 2013, leads this initiative that also aims to link up with MOOCs platforms in other countries. TVUP, the UP-owned and operated internet television network, was launched in 2016 and expanded its reach through Cignal TV Channel 101 in 2022. Its debut in Pagtutulay, Pagtutuloy intensifies its commitment to the production of open educational resources in the Philippines by inviting collaborations in knowledge production through the creation of inter-university programs. TVUP will eventually evolve to become a training facility for performance and production. The UPAOVU represents the country’s aspiration of becoming an economically prosperous and environmentally sustainable archipelagic nation. Spurred by the development of the blue economy that ties with archipelagic and ocean studies work done by UP faculty and researchers over many decades, the UPAOVU will become the hub of research and teaching that brings together the strengths of various SUCs in marine biology, oceanography, fisheries, and other allied disciplines. The end goal is to become invaluable resources, partners, and enablers of the blue economy; leading in the formulation of policies and programs that are coherent, inclusive, and sustainable. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-to-hold-noise-barrage-on-day-of-remembrance/ | UP to hold noise barrage on Day of Remembrance – University of the Philippines | UP to hold noise barrage on Day of Remembrance UP to hold noise barrage on Day of Remembrance September 18, 2023 | Written by the President's Commission for Culture and the Arts Raise your voice, break the silence! 📢 Join us in commemorating the Day of Remembrance, as we use symbolic forms of dissent to ensure history is never forgotten. In 2018, September 21 was declared as the UP Day of Remembrance. This year, join us for “Noises and Voices of Memory and Dissent”, a noise-making event, as we remember and reflect on our history. You can participate by making noise (honking horns or by using any sound-making materials, etc.) on September 21 at 12:00nn-1:00pm, wherever you are. Let’s make some noise together! 🗣️ #WeRemember #UPDayOfRemembrance #NeverAgain #KalinangangUP #KalinangangBayan #WeRememberML51 |
https://up.edu.ph/up-invites-the-public-to-join-day-of-remembrance-commemoration/ | UP invites the public to join Day of Remembrance commemoration – University of the Philippines | UP invites the public to join Day of Remembrance commemoration UP invites the public to join Day of Remembrance commemoration September 20, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines (UP) invites the public to join this year’s Day of Remembrance commemoration on September 21, 2023, Thursday, 12: 00 pm to 1:00 pm. Everyone is encouraged to stream the special video hosted here. For instructions on how to stream the video on Facebook live, please click here. This video is part of ‘Noises and Voices of Memory and Dissent’, commemorating the Philippine experience of Martial Law together through art. The Day of Remembrance was established in 2018 to commemorate members of the UP community who stood at the forefront of the resistance to Martial Law during the administration of President Ferdinand E. Marcos. The entire country was placed under martial rule by President Marcos on September 21, 1972. The commemoration also serves to highlight the University’s role as a champion of academic freedom and as a beacon for hope and an advocate of human rights during the darkest days of democracy in the country. The Day is intended to remember the sacrifices and legacy of UP heroes, the living and the fallen, and to impart their stories to younger generations of Iskolar ng Bayan and other patriotic Filipinos. Read more here: Days of Remembrance |
https://up.edu.ph/up-fetes-mr-shooli-with-gawad-plaridel/ | UP fetes “Mr. Shooli” with Gawad Plaridel – University of the Philippines | UP fetes “Mr. Shooli” with Gawad Plaridel UP fetes “Mr. Shooli” with Gawad Plaridel October 2, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines Diliman College of Mass Communication will be awarding actor, satirist, and advertising creative Manuel Urbano Jr., popularly known on television, film and the internet as “Mr. Shooli”, this year’s Gawad Plaridel on October 11, 2023, at 2 pm, at the UP Film Institute Film Center’s Cine Adarna. Urbano Jr. will be feted for both his unforgettable social commentary in numerous performances across time and media as a peculiar Mongolian figure pondering on Philippine realities, as well as his remarkable contributions to multimedia commercial advertising which are distinguished for their humane values and Pinoy humor. At 84, he continues his work via social media and even participates in anti-disinformation campaigns through his own YouTube channel. The Gawad Plaridel is the university’s highest award for outstanding practitioners known for their integrity and excellence in the different fields of media (print media, radio, television, cinema, and new media). Named after the great propagandist Marcelo H. del Pilar, whose nom de plume is “Plaridel,” the recognition comes with a trophy sculpture depicting the editor of La Solidaridad by National Artist Napoleon V. Abueva. Since the establishment of the award in 2004, the Gawad Plaridel laureate has customarily delivered a lecture on important issues pertaining to his/her/their field or craft. Past recipients include Eugenia Apostol (2004), Vilma Santos-Recto (2005), Fidela Magpayo (2006), Cheche Lazaro (2007), Pacheco Seares (2008), Kidlat Tahimik (2009), Eloisa Cruz Canlas (2011), Rosa Rosal (2012), Jose Lacaba (2013), Nora Aunor (2014), Ricky Lee (2015), Francisca Custodio (2016), Tina Monzon-Palma (2017), Jessica Soho (2018), and Bonifacio Ilagan (2019). For information, contact the Gawad Plaridel Secretariat at gawadplaridel@up.edu.ph. —– Press release from the Gawad Plaridel Facebook page. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-para-sa-up-the-up-system-kicks-off-mental-health-awareness-month-with-launching-of-the-up-sanctuary/ | UP Para Sa UP: The UP System kicks off Mental Health Awareness Month with launching of the UP Sanctuary – University of the Philippines | UP Para Sa UP: The UP System kicks off Mental Health Awareness Month with launching of the UP Sanctuary UP Para Sa UP: The UP System kicks off Mental Health Awareness Month with launching of the UP Sanctuary October 4, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office University of the Philippines (UP) President Angelo Jimenez, together with the UP Office of the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs – Office Student Development Services (OSDS) and the UP Portia Sorority, are set to launch the UP Sanctuary in the UP Diliman campus on October 6, 2023, at 4:00 in the afternoon. This inspiring initiative coincides with the celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month this October, underscoring the commitment of the University to the holistic wellbeing of its community. Located in front of the Faculty Center, the UP Sanctuary will offer students and faculty members a convenient retreat to rejuvenate their minds amidst the hustle and bustle of academic life. An artist rendition of the proposed green space. Graphic provided by UP Portia Sorority. It has been meticulously designed as a dedicated space where one can find solace and tranquility during periods of heightened psychological stress, providing a safe refuge for all members of the UP community, especially the students, faculty, and staff. Under the visionary leadership of President Jimenez and the University’s strengthened focus on public service, this project will serve as a tangible testament to UP’s dedication to advancing mental health awareness and support on campus. The concept of the UP Sanctuary originally emerged from the creative minds of the members of the UP Portia Sorority, a UP College of Law-based sorority that counts among its illustrious members former Supreme Court Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, former Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio Morales and former Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. The Sorority has a strong focus on law and a deep commitment to serve not just the UP community but the public as well. Leading the planning and execution of this project, the UP Portia Sorority and its partners will engage the entire UP community in its development journey. Notably, Architect Micaela Benedicto, an alumna of the UP College of Architecture, contributed her expertise by crafting the initial architectural designs. Another view of the artist’s rendition of the proposed sanctuary. Photo from UP Portia Sorority. The launching of the UP Sanctuary marks the commencement of a month-long series of activities and initiatives aimed at enhancing the welfare of the UP community, with the entire month of October dedicated to fostering a culture of well-being within the UP community. The inaugural UP System Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference, a multi-sectoral event led by the OSDS, will take place at UP Los Baños on October 11th and 12th, 2023. A webinar on Emotional and Mental Resilience will also be held via Zoom on October 18, while the OSDS will also launch its Alumni Mentoring Program in partnership with the UP Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAA SF) on October 26. In addition to these flagship initiatives, various UP constituent universities (CUs) have organized a diverse range of events throughout the month, all aimed at promoting the collective well-being of the University community. The UP Sanctuary stands as a symbol of UP’s commitment to the mental health and overall wellness of its community members. As UP opens its arms to this innovative project, it paves the way for a brighter, more resilient, and healthier future for everyone inside the campus. |
https://up.edu.ph/upd-and-uplb-are-top-and-2nd-top-performing-schools-in-the-november-2023-civil-engineers-licensure-exam/ | UPD and UPLB are top and 2nd top performing schools in the November 2023 Civil Engineers Licensure Exam – University of the Philippines | UPD and UPLB are top and 2nd top performing schools in the November 2023 Civil Engineers Licensure Exam UPD and UPLB are top and 2nd top performing schools in the November 2023 Civil Engineers Licensure Exam December 1, 2023 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) and UP Los Baños (UPLB) are the top and second top performing schools, respectively, in the November 2023 Civil Engineers Licensure Exam (CELE). UP Diliman registered a 98.55% passing rate, with 68 of its 69 examinees passing the exam, while UPLB garnered a 96.55% passing rate, with 56 out of its 58 examinees passing. UP Diliman graduates also made it to the top ten highest placers in the CELE. They are: Jonas Rhein Pruelo Esguerra – rank 3 with a 91.90% rating; Maria Erica Pacatang Gomez – rank 5 with a 91.50% rating; Ayrton Dave Sarmiento Bautista – rank 6 with a 91.20% rating; and, Reiner Vince Mallari Chavez – rank 8, with a 90.85% rating. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced on November 25 that 6,180 out of 18,582 passed the Civil Engineers Licensure Examination given by the Board of Civil Engineering this November 2023. |
https://up.edu.ph/upfight-fighting-maroons-to-battle-dlsu-one-last-time-in-championship-clinching-game/ | #UPFight: Fighting Maroons to battle DLSU one last time in championship-clinching game – University of the Philippines | #UPFight: Fighting Maroons to battle DLSU one last time in championship-clinching game #UPFight: Fighting Maroons to battle DLSU one last time in championship-clinching game December 5, 2023 | Written by Franco Gargantiel II Even with a flu, Rookie of the Year Francis Lopez defies the odds, weaving his magic on the court as he fearlessly drives to score. Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO. Despite the valiant fight the Fighting Maroons put up in the starting quarter of Game 2 on December 3, the University of the Philippines (UP) is heading into Game 3 against De La Salle University (DLSU) for the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball championship. UP started out strong in the first quarter, coming out on top at 27 against La Salle’s 24. However, La Salle started to pick up momentum by the middle quarters, gaining a strong lead. The Fighting Maroons put up a brave assault against the Green Archers, with graduating players CJ Cansino and Malick Diouf scoring 11 points each. Harold Alarcon also took charge and scored a total of ten points for UP. Harold Alarcon emerges as the anchor, keeping the team afloat with his unwavering efficiency in scoring. Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO. As the final quarter heats up, so does the intense rivalry between Torres and Nelle, sparking a fierce beef on the court. Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO. When it came down to the final quarter, the Fighting Maroons tried to maintain their fight and energy to prove how hungry they were for the ultimate title. Unfortunately, they remain hungry and ready to fight another day as the final score showed 82-60, with De La Salle University coming out victorious. UP President Angelo Jimenez, who attended the critical match, offered encouraging words to the hardworking UP players.“Congratulations, guys! That was a very good fight!” he said. “We know we can’t always be in tip-top condition and the games will not always favor us. But champions are champions. We learn our lessons, adjust, and fight back stronger. And I still believe in you. I will always believe in you and the entire UP community will always back you up. We produce more presidents than UAAP championships. You know what to do next time. Go for it, lads! Go for the gold!” Torculas keeping it fancy on the court with a mesmerizing reverse layup. Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO. Even with the one loss in Game 2, the Fighting Maroons are looking to aim high and bring home the UAAP Season 86 championship. The fated final battle between UP and DLSU will take place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, December 6, 2023, 4:00 PM. One final push for the UP Fighting Maroons. Iskolar ng Bayan, ngayon ay lumalaban! ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Prior to the game, UP Fighting Maroon Francis Lopez was chosen and recognized as this season’s Rookie of the Year. With him to receive the trophy is Office for Athletics and Sports Development (OASD) Director and former UP Fighting Maroon Head Coach Bo Perasol. Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO. UP Fighting Maroon Malick Diouf was chosen as one of this season’s mythical five. With him in receiving his trophy is UAAP Executive Director Rebo Saguisag (in grey blazer). Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO. Watch President Angelo Jimenez’s message to the UP Fighting Maroons and the highlights of Game 2 in this season’s finals. Video by Al Nikko Nagutom, UP MPRO. |
https://up.edu.ph/above-the-fold-a-glimpse-into-the-turbulence-of-martial-law-through-the-lens-of-the-collegian/ | Above the Fold: A glimpse into the turbulence of Martial Law through the lens of the Collegian – University of the Philippines | Above the Fold: A glimpse into the turbulence of Martial Law through the lens of the Collegian Above the Fold: A glimpse into the turbulence of Martial Law through the lens of the Collegian December 7, 2023 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Photos from the Diliman Commune, taken by Nori Palarca, highlighted in the exhibit. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UPMPRO. It was an eye-opening walk-through of one of the most turbulent periods in the history of of the Philippines, the university, and the country’s mass media, as seen through the words and the lenses of the Philippine Collegian. And through a roundtable discussion, three alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP) and former editors of the Collegian added their voices and personal stories to complement the exhibit. December 6 saw the formal opening of the physical iteration of the virtual exhibit titled “Above the Fold: Pages of the Philippine Collegian Under Marcos Regime,” which was launched by the Philippine Collegian in partnership with the UP Diliman Bulwagan ng Dangal University Heritage Museum. The exhibit features selected materials published by the Collegian from the years 1973 to 1986, showing the news and feature articles on both University and national issues written by the Collegian staff during that period, the photos taken of UP Diliman during the First Quarter Storm and during the grip of martial law, and even the pages and portions of the publication left blank due to censorship. The exhibit also stands as a visual and printed testament to UP student activism then and now, and includes a tribute to three Collegian editors-in-chief who were arrested, jailed, and eventually killed by state forces: Enrique Voltaire Garcia II, who was editor-in-chief in 1965; Antonio Tagamolila, 1971; and Abraham Sarmiento Jr., 1975. To commemorate the formal launch of the physical exhibit, a roundtable discussion was held featuring three UP alumni—all activists and former editors of the Collegian—who shared their experiences in the publication during Martial Law: Ms. Fides Lim, writer, editor, former political prisoner, founding member of the human rights alliance Karapatan and the progressive political party Bayan Muna together, and spokesperson of Kapatid, a martial law support organization, a group formed by the families and friends of political prisoners; Ms. Elizabeth “Bibeth” Orteza, film and TV actor, theater performer, writer for top-rated TV programs and award-winning films, former UP Regent and presently working with TVUP; and Prof. Judy Taguiwalo, Prof. Judy Taguiwalo, a former UP Faculty Regent, former Director of the UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, founding president of All UP Academic Employees Union, and former Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. With Prof. Danilo Arao of the Department of Journalism, UP College of Mass Communication—and himself a former Collegian editor—moderating, the three Collegian alumni engaged in a candid and freewheeling sharing of their experiences about their days at the Collegian. Three Philippine Collegian former editors–(left to right) Ms. Fides Lim, Ms. Bibeth Orteza, and Prof. Judy Taguiwalo–share their experiences, with UP Journalism professor Danilo Arao (extreme right) moderating. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UPMPRO. UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Vistan gives his welcome remarks at the roundtable discussion launching the “Above the Fold: Pages of the Philippine Collegian Under Marcos Regime” exhibit. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UPMPRO.’ They discussed working during the time before computers and digital printing; the threats they faced daily in the form of military arrests, suppression, and censorship; the experiences their own families faced; and how they stood strong in their belief in academic freedom, in a free and fearless press, and in the need to fight for human rights. In his welcome speech, UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Vistan II thanked the Philippine Collegian and the UP Bulwagan ng Dangal Heritage Museum for organizing the exhibit and the roundtable discussion “to bring our community back to those turbulent times of the martial law regime through the lens of the Philippine Collegian in particular. And that lens was a very crucial one: reading about the things written about that period—about Diliman Commune, about what happened here on campus, and how the UP administration handled the situation and protected the students against the government. And that is really I think something very distinctive of UP.” “Still the institution [the Collegian] lives on, and that’s something we should be thankful for and proud of,” Vistan continued. “I think the current crop of Collegian editors and staff of the present and the past few years have maintained the journalistic tradition of the Collegian in their own way, as appropriate for the current situation.” The “Above the Fold: Pages of the Philippine Collegian Under Marcos Regime” exhibition will run from December 6 to 19, 2023, at the Vinzons Hall Lobby. At the singing of the “UP Naming Mahal”, Ms. Bibeth Orteza raises her fist alongside the rest of the audience. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UPMPRO. One of the old issues of The Philippine Collegian on display at the exhibit. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UP MPRO. Alumni of The Philippine Collegian view the exhibits on display. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UP MPRO. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-cebu-graduate-tops-licensure-exam-for-secondary-level-teachers/ | UP Cebu graduate tops licensure exam for secondary-level teachers – University of the Philippines | UP Cebu graduate tops licensure exam for secondary-level teachers UP Cebu graduate tops licensure exam for secondary-level teachers December 13, 2023 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The Oblation in UP Cebu. UP MPRO file photo. A BS Mathematics graduate of the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu College of Science, Trilbe Lizann Espina Vasquez, ranked first in the September 2023 Licensure Exam for Professional Teachers (LEPT), secondary level. In addition, three graduates from UP Diliman and one from UP Los Baños made it to the list of top ten examinees in the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET). This was announced by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board of Professional Teachers on December 7. The LET Secondary Level top examinees from UP are: Trilbe Lizanne Espina Vasquez, UP Cebu – ranked 1st with a 94.80% rating; Matthew Kyle Yee Oronce, UP Diliman – ranked 3rd with a 94.20% rating; Fritzie Anne Cebrian Bueno, UP Diliman – ranked 4th with a 94.00% rating; Maro Rapog Peña, UP Diliman – ranked 8th with a 93.20% rating; and, Rachel Anne Garcia Concepcion, UP Los Baños – ranked 10th with a 92.80% rating. Meanwhile, UP Diliman is the second top performing school in the LET Secondary Level, with 67 out of 69 or 97.10% of its examinees passing the exam. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-on-partnerships-to-achieve-the-goals/ | UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals – University of the Philippines | UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Promoting Partnerships under UPLB’s AGORA for Sustainability as a Way of Life A delegation from the UP Los Baños, headed by UP President Danilo L. Concepcion and UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr., participated in the Sustainable Foods London Conference held on March 30-31, 2022 at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. The high-level conference featured leading speakers from across the foods industry, as well as an exhibition showcasing the next generation of sustainable F&D brands, products and services. At the conference, Chancellor Camacho promoted UPLB’s research and extension agenda called “AGORA” or Accelerating Growth through One Research and Extension in Action in a presentation titled “Sustaining food innovations under a strong university research and extension agenda”. This marked the first time the Chancellor brought UPLB’s AGORA before an international audience. His presentation gave a snapshot of a few of UPLB technologies and knowledge products for “a resilient, food-secure, and future-proof nation and to promote sustainability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN”. He mentioned seven SDGs that UPLB has aligned itself with through AGORA: SDG 2 or Zero Hunger; SDG 4 or Quality Education; SDG 7 or Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 11 or Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG 12 or Responsible Consumption and Production; SDG 13 or Climate Action; and SDG 15 or Life on Land. “We must take advantage of technologies that facilitate the paradigm shift toward sustainable living. Ideally, this change must occur at all levels of society—from the private individual to the governments, big businesses, and international bodies,” Camacho said. UPLB was the lone university that participated in the conference and exhibit that brought together over 400 senior food and beverage executives across the UK and the world. The UPLB exhibit also showcased UPLB technologies and knowledge products and activities, such as: the PCR-based DNA detection kits; rapid test kits for pesticide residue; biofertilizers, seeds and planting materials; postharvest technologies; quick tests for soybean meal and rice bran product quality; plant genetic resources; IPB Quality Protein Maize Variety 6; and Sinta papaya. Also featured were: simple nutrient addition program or SNAP Hydroponics; the UPLB Bee Program; UPLB’s own brand of dressed chicken called “manok galâ”; processed meat and dairy products; fruit wines; calamansi fruit juice; and, purple yam or ‘ubi’ powder. The National Plant Genetic Resources Laboratory, where UPLB develops new and improved crop varieties, was featured as well. The 2021 ProSPER.Net Webinar on Sustainability in Higher Education The COVID-19 pandemic was identified by the UNDP to be the “defining global health crisis of our time and the greatest challenge we have faced since World War II”, a health crisis that triggered an equally dire global socioeconomic crisis. The pandemic’s impact on the environment has been varied, however. On one hand, medical and hazardous wastes increased, and plastic and packaging wastes imposed a burden on the environment; on the other hand, research has shown that GHG and other air pollutant emissions have decreased, and the reduced anthropogenic activity has allowed ecosystems to recover. All of these emphasize the connections between COVID-19, climate change, and the environment, which was the focus of the ProSPER.Net Webinar on Sustainability in Higher Education 2021 held on October 22, 2022. This was organized jointly by the University of the Philippines Diliman and the Ateneo de Manila University, in collaboration with the UN University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability. With the theme “Planetary Health Perspectives: Lessons from COVID-19 towards Climate Action”, the webinar shared insights on our experiences of the pandemic, and reflected on what these meant for higher education institutions seeking to lead social and environmental transformations towards a more resilience society and a healthier planet. UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo delivering this remarks online during the webinar. “We need to think about transformations that will benefit not just our own campuses, but the rest of our communities and the entire planet,” UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo said in his closing message. “Our universities need to do research to advance our understanding of environmental issues and inform public policy, and introduce the values of sustainability in our curricula to promote awareness of our world and the consequences of our decisions and ways of doing.” Emphasizing the importance of the academic community in creating new mindsets, new ways of looking, and new ways of living, Nemenzo added: “We need to train a new generation of graduates who understand the connections between economics and ecology, social science and environment, urban development and planetary health—the kind of people who know that the comforts of living should not be at the expense of our planet.” UPD and WHO Philippines on Vaccination Inequities The University of the Philippines Diliman’s COVID-19 Task Force, which deploys volunteers from the UP Diliman community, collaborated with WHO Philippines and other organizations in a consortium to vaccinate more than 650 individuals from the National Capital Region’s at-risk populations. The beneficiaries were vaccinated at the UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics gymnasium on September 24 and 25 and October 22 and 23, 2021. Individuals of at-risk populations include the homeless, the survivors of gender-based violence, the severely marginalized constituents such as those belonging to the informal sectors, and people at risk of sexual exploitation and abuse. Volunteers verify information with senior citizens wanting to avail of vaccines at the UP Diliman Vaccination Hub. UP MPRO file photo. The activity hit SDG targets, particularly those under 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages), 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls), 10 (Reduce inequality within and among countries), and 11 (Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable). The organizers primarily wanted to address vaccine inequity among the NCR’s poor and vulnerable communities and “gender inequities in vaccine rollout.” According to Prof. Maria Dulce Natividad of the UPD COVID-19 Task Force: “UPD COVID-19 Task Force was also part of the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) initiative on vaccines and gender equity. A roundtable (discussion) was organized in April 2021, ‘What’s Gender Got to Do with Vaccines?’ We were a co-organizer then and this led to our partnership with the consortium on the project to vaccinate the homeless/street dwellers and survivors of gender-based violence from Manila and Quezon City.” The vaccination sessions in UPD were implemented by relaxing documentation requirements and allowing advocacy groups to register them. The other organizers of the vaccination activity were the Philippine Commission on Human Rights, the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific (CATW-AP), the Kalinga Foundation, the Kariton Coalition, and the Australian Aid. UPOU in Global Campaign for SDG 4 The UP Open University (UPOU) joined a global campaign that could significantly contribute in policy and practice to SDG 4, which involves ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. UPOU Chancellor Melinda dP. Bandalaria co-launched the Asia leg of the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) Global Advocacy Campaign (GAC) on July 29, 2022 in Penang, Malaysia. The launching of ICDE GAC Asia was one of the highlights of the High-Level Roundtable Discussion for Vice Chancellors and Senior Officials of ODL Institutions organized by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and Asia eUniversity. ICDE GAC Asia is composed of five working groups, namely: Policy, Capacity Building, Sharing Best Practices and Resources, Development of Digital Platform, and Future Collaboration. Among the other member institutions of the ICDE GAC Asia are: University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU SPACE), Bangladesh Open University, Southeast Asian Ministries of Education Organization Secretariat, Virtual University of Pakistan, Asia eUniversity Malaysia, Anadolu University, Open University of Sri Lanka, Open University of China, Open University of Japan, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Universitas Terbuka, Mehr Alborz Institute of Higher Education, and HELP University Malaysia. Launching the ICDE GAC Asia together with Chancellor Bandalaria were Professor Dato Dr. Ahmed Ansary, co-chair of the ICDE GAC Asia and founding president of Asia eUniversity, and ICDE Secretary General Torunn Gjelsvik. Bandalaria presented the campaign website which will be the digital hub for the activities to be implemented in Asian countries covered by the campaign. The Global Advocacy Campaign aims to enable ICDE members to develop deeper understanding of regional challenges and construct key OFDL (Online, Flexible, Distance Learning) messaging within organized working groups around the world. UPLB, NEDA and the Philippines’ SDG Aspirations The University of the Philippines Los Baños included in a webinar series the topic, Philippine Macroeconomy and its Sustainable Development Goals Aspirations, offering an opportunity for dialogue between the top Philippine economic planners, environmental scientists and managers, and the public on a number of SDGs. The webinar, held on February 8, 2022 at the UP Los Baños School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM), featured National Economic Development Authority Undersecretary for National Development Policy and Planning Dr. Rosemarie Edillon. Aside from upholding the importance of stakeholders’ assignment and commitment, financing and implementation plans, and data monitoring for attaining SDGs, Dr. Edillon updated concerned SESAM scientists and managers on the SDGs. She said that under Outcome 1 or the economic, social and environmental impacts of production and consumption processes valued, NEDA had conducted an urban carrying-capacity assessment of the cities of Tagaytay and Baguio. She also shared the progress of the Philippine Nationally Determined Contributions (PH-NDC) in implementing SDG 13, particularly on climate change. “Our country committed to avoid 75 percent of future greenhouse gas emissions between 2020 to 2030,” Edillon reported. The Undersecretary enumerated achievements made in protecting the marine environment, such as implementing policies under Fisheries Administrative Order 263 Series of 2019 for establishing Fisheries Management Areas (FMAS) that conserve Philippine waters. She also mentioned the release of a Department of Agriculture-Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Department of Interior and Local Government Joint Memorandum Circular, containing the guidelines on establishing and managing Marine Protected Area Networks. Ninety-four participants joined the Zoom webinar, while the Facebook live broadcast garnered more than 300 views from all over the globe. “Our aim here is to have an active platform for more profound discussions on environmental problems, as well as the solutions,” SESAM Dean Rico Ancog said. More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President About UP UP at a Glance UP’s Quality Policy Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Quality Education UP on Gender Equality UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Climate Action |
https://up.edu.ph/up-on-climate-action/ | UP on Climate Action – University of the Philippines | UP on Climate Action Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts UPV Forum on Disaster Resiliency The College of Management of the University of the Philippines Visayas organized an event titled “Global Forum on Iloilo Disaster Resiliency: The Role of Diaspora in Building Back Safer Communities” on February 4, 2022, via Zoom. The College hosted the forum in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, USA, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Golden Gate University. The forum provided insights on disaster resiliency drawn from empirical data and shared experiences. The topics covered all the major phases of emergency management, from disaster preparedness and response to post-disaster assessment and recovery. The event officially opened with welcome messages from UPV Chancellor Clement C. Camposano, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, and Chelsea Cooper, Project Assistant at IOM Washington. Consul General Neil Ferrer of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco delivered his keynote lecture, “The Role of US Diaspora in the Prevention and Preparation for Climate Change Disasters”. The discussion on disaster management and related issues featured three panelists who gave short presentations: “Update on Super Typhoon Odette, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Assessment–Iloilo City and Guimaras” by Ms. Donna Magno, Chief of the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction Office and Teresita Galleto-Siason, Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer at Guimaras PDRRMO; “IOM Philippines: Build Back Safer (BBS)” by Mr. Conrad Natividad Jr. and Mr. Red Atenor of IOM Philippines; and, “LifeBank Iloilo: BBS Financing” by Mr. Alner Camocon, Division Manager at LifeBank Microfinance Foundation Inc. The presentations centered on innovative approaches to disaster preparedness, post-disaster recovery, and building community resilience. The presenters also highlighted the importance of ‘shared responsibilities’ between governments, private institutions, and local communities in addressing the gaps in disaster management. They focused on how a holistic, multi-sectoral, and multidisciplinary approach is vital for implementing emerging long-term strategies. UP Partnerships with Local Governments for DRRM and Environmental Governance In light of the urgent and persistent threat brought by climate change and its effects, the University of the Philippines is fully committed to supporting and advocating for the ongoing efforts, both national and international, in addressing this issue. UP actively engages in research, education, extension activities, and other initiatives aimed at taking practical and innovative measures to effectively tackle the problem of climate change and mitigate its consequences. By leveraging its academic expertise with real-world applications, UP contributes to the fight against the challenges and threats posed by climate change. To fulfill its public service mandate, UP provides technical assistance and expertise to local governments, communities, and other stakeholders in the co-creation and development of climate-resilient plans and strategies, particularly on flood management and prevention, disaster risk reduction, environmental governance, and climate change adaptation. Through its active involvement in climate action, UP and its constituent universities play a pivotal role in advancing the collective effort towards enhancing the resilience of vulnerable populations to the impacts of climate change, and building an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Employees of the City of Mandaue in Cebu, undergo a training by experts from UP Cebu. Contributed photo. From August 3 to 5, 2022, the UP Cebu Center for Environmental Informatics (CENVI) City-Wide Urban Flood Hazard Modeling (CUrb Flood) Project took part in the Mandaue City Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Planning Workshop from 2023 to 2027. The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office organized the workshop to update the local DRRM plan of Mandaue City and ensure the safety and protection of local communities, businesses, and critical infrastructure from extreme weather events and potential climate-related risks and hazards, such as severe flooding. During the workshop, CENVI’s CUrb Flood Project representatives shared their expertise and provided technical advice on flood hazards and spatial data requirements. The UP Cebu CENVI, established in 2018 as a regional research and development center for Central Visayas, focuses on pressing environmental issues through computing techniques. Meanwhile, the City-wide Urban Flood Modeling (CUrb Flood) Project is one of the components of the CENVI-led Smart City Solutions to Urban Flooding (Smart TUrF) program, funded by the Department of Science and Technology. Like UP Cebu, the UP Los Baños School of Environmental Science and Management (UPLB-SESAM) offers technical assistance to provincial and local government units in formulating their respective environmental codes and plans. As part of its public service efforts, UPLB-SESAM signed a Letter of Commitment (LOC) with the Municipal Government of Los Baños (MGLB) for the implementation of the “Environmental Governance in the Municipality of Los Baños” during the Earth Day celebration on April 22, 2022. A screenshot of the home page of the UPLB SESAM showing some of its recent projects. This academe-government partnership signifies the commitment of UPLB-SESAM to provide technical assistance and expert advice to the MGLB in formulating environmental plans required by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The project also aims to enhance the capacity of MGLB officers and staff and equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge in environmental governance. These activities align with the advocacy of UPLB-SESAM in fostering sustainable practices and taking positive action toward environmental protection and climate change resilience through education, upskilling, and knowledge sharing. UPLB-SESAM’s dean Dr. Rico C. Ancog and SESAM Research Division head Dr. Patricia Ann J. Sanchez represented UPLB-SESAM, while Municipal Mayor Antonio L. Kalaw and MENRO Focal Person Lizette D. Cardenas represented the MGLB during the signing ceremony. UPLB-SESAM university researchers For. Sofia A. Alaira, Dr. Yusuf A. Sucol, and MGLB Environmental Consultant (former SESAM faculty member) Dr. Antonio J. Alcantara also participated in the signing ceremony. Launch of the UP Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health Center The University of the Philippines Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (UPM DRRM-H) Center was officially launched on June 8, 2022 to conduct state-of-the-art disaster simulation trainings and evidence-based research. “The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Through the Center, we seek to conduct training and seminars that will prepare our responders, even ordinary employees, in disaster preparedness through our state-of-the-art facilities. We can finally hold disaster preparedness training virtually, and mistakes could be prevented in actual situations,” said Dr. Carlos Primero Gundran, lead investigator and UPM DRRM-H Center Head. The Center envisions itself to be “the center for excellence of the academe” when it comes to disaster risk reduction and management in health. It also embodies three primary objectives, specifically in its training: to develop necessary skills such as command and control, collaboration, and coordination; to identify those who need psychosocial interventions in evacuation camps; and, to efficiently allocate available resources immediately in disaster-stricken areas. Little over a month later, from July 27 to 28, the UP Manila DRRM-H Center conducted a two-day Disaster Simulation Training for a diverse group of emergency responders from different fields and sectors. The training consisted of lectures centered around Command, Communication, and Collaboration during emergencies, followed by immersive disaster simulation activities in which participants were challenged to respond to simulated emergency scenarios. The UPM DRRM-H was first envisioned by the Health Emergencies and Disasters (HEAD) study group of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) back in 2016. Its creation was inspired by Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, an emergency medicine expert, and Dr. Anna Tuazon and Dr. Hilton Lam, both part of the UP Manila and UP Diliman team who trained in Sweden in 2018 on the Emergo Train System. Its partner organizations include the DOST, Department of Health, and the UP System. The UP Manila DRRM-H Center also offers state-of-the-art Capacity Building Trainings, as well as evidence-based research and consultancy services. For inquiries, email upm-drrmh-list@up.edu.ph or ping the UPM DRRM-H Center on Messenger. More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President About UP UP at a Glance UP’s Quality Policy Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Quality Education UP on Gender Equality UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/up-on-sustainable-cities-and-communities/ | UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities – University of the Philippines | UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable UP Diliman Community vs Disruptively Bright Streetlights The University of the Philippines Diliman campus is widely known for its lush vegetation that offers a breath of fresh air for people who are coming from the bustling cities. The UP Wild, an online community dedicated to appreciating the flora and fauna in UP Diliman and to raising awareness on the importance of maintaining and preserving the campus’s urban green spaces, deemed the University’s newly installed outdoor lights used around its Academic Oval to be a little too bright. This can potentially harm both humans and animals within the campus. “The lamps around the Academic Oval have way too many bulbs, and their design scatters light to all directions,” the group said in a Facebook post on October 27, 2021. The resulting light pollution creates a negative impact on the campus’s fauna, which includes owls, fireflies, frogs, and other animals. “The lights can confuse them and alter their natural behavior,” the post went on to state. Other members of the community expressed their concerns by pointing out how excessive night light can disrupt the plants’ photosynthetic activity. According to the International Dark-Sky Association, an organization combating light pollution worldwide, artificial light can disrupt wildlife ecosystems in a variety of ways. Small insects can be drawn to the intense light, making them more visible for predators and thus drastically affecting the balance of the food chain. Stark lighting can also disturb birds’ migration patterns, which can be detrimental for UP Diliman, known to serve as a home for various avian species. Brights lights shine along the Academic Oval in UP Diliman in this contributed photo by Jediael Neri. The UP Wild came up with ideas to combat the high-intensity lighting by fitting the streetlamps with downward shades to diffuse light. “If their design allows, maybe the number of bulbs per post can be reduced or selectively turned on,” the group added. The UP community showed just how dedicated they are to preserving the environment by pointing out several issues, from as simple an issue as streetlights being too bright. The UP Wild even went the extra mile by showing various research towards this problem and thought of a possible solution to fix it out of respect for the environment and non-human residents of the campus. UP CFA’s Art Rehab and Conservation The famous artworks, “Captivity” and “Contemplation”, were moved to the College of Fine Arts in the University of the Philippines Diliman from their original spot on the corner of University Avenue and E. Jacinto St. Both sculptures, a part of the art conservation project by the Project Management Office under the UP Office of the Vice President for Planning and Development, were created by a CFA alumnus, Idelfonso Cruz Marcelo, back in the 1960s. The conservation project was headed by June Mercy P. Dalisay, who said the reason priority was given to these sculptures was their aesthetic and symbolic value. As time went on, it became more apparent that both “Captivity” and “Contemplation” were vulnerable to natural elements and that deterioration was bound to happen if nothing were to be done about this. The Captivity statue being moved with a forklift from its location for the restoration work. UP MPRO file photo. In 2020, tests were conducted during the rainy season to observe the effects of constant exposure to both light and very strong rains. “It was observed that the stone had been so weakened that its grains would crumble and fall off the surface with a slight touch,” Dalisay said. “The pressure generated by very strong downpour over the years eroded the surface and has abraded the skin of the two sculptures.” The arts conservation project commenced on Aug 31, 2020. Under Dalisay’s supervision, the two sculptures were covered in bubble wrap to prevent further exposure to the harmful elements and possible damage. To prepare the hauling, the sides or the perimeter area of the sculptures were also excavated involving jackhammers. The smaller sculpture, “Captivity”, was arranged to be hauled on September 1, while the bigger artwork, “Contemplation”, was to be hauled the following day. This was pushed to later dates as the heavy rains got in the way. Finally, on September 13, “Captivity” was lifted using a forklift truck. It was then transferred from its original location on the left side of University Avenue and carefully hauled and transported to the CFA. The same procedure was observed during the hauling and transfer of “Contemplation” on September 15. Presently, both significant artworks remain in UPD’s CFA. They continue to be preserved and handled carefully so that it continues to stay strong and proud for many Filipinos and art enjoyers to marvel and to be inspired. UPV Lecture-Workshops in History Writing and Cultural Heritage Tourism in Western Visayas Acknowledging the importance of local histories and cultural heritage to national development and social cohesion, the “Tourism Studies on Island-Based Opportunities for Growth in Western Visayas” (TSIBOG) program, funded by the University of the Philippines Visayas and the Commission on Higher Education, collaborated with the Municipal Government of Ibajay, Aklan, and the Department of Education Division of Aklan in launching the project “Bridging the Past, Sailing Toward the Future: History to the (and by the People)” on November 3, 2021. The project trained elementary and secondary school teachers, tourism and planning officers, and cultural workers in conducting historical research and promoting cultural heritage tourism in the Municipality of Ibajay. During the first three days of the six-day event, several experts in history, cultural heritage, education, and environmental management shared their knowledge and insights through a series of lectures. The speakers included Dr. Michael Pante from the Ateneo de Manila University, UP Visayas Chancellor Clement Camposano, National Museum of the Philippines Deputy Director-General Ana Maria Theresa Labrador, and Dr. Jurgenne Primavera, National Scientist. Participants of UPV’s TSIBOG workshop pose with theri certificates after completing the short course. Contributed photo. The last leg of the event focused on providing training workshops about cultural heritage documentation, writing learning modules, and creating promotional materials for education and sustainable tourism. Prof. Marie Joy Sumagaysay of the UP Visayas Division of Humanities guided the participants during the food-mapping activities and cultural heritage exhibit. Meanwhile, Joar Concha of Assumption San Lorenzo Makati and Yan Esquivel of the UP Visayas Teaching and Learning Resource Center assisted the participants in preparing their final outputs. The participants are expected to utilize their outputs to educate people about local history in schools and universities, promote local knowledge, sustainable tourism, and environmental protection, conserve tangible and intangible heritage assets, and respond to the developmental needs of their communities. Roll-Out of Modern Electric Jeepneys in UPLB The Academic Oval at the core of the UP Diliman campus finally reopened in November 2021 with the easing of pandemic restrictions. This 2.2 kilometer-long loop, lined with a canopy of acacia trees, has always been a haven for the UP community and the wider public. Whether taking a relaxing stroll, brisk walking for light exercise, or jogging to really get heart rates up, people of all ages were welcomed back, regardless of their vaccination status. Masks were still required and unidirectional movement around the Oval was advised. Groups of ten people or less were also allowed to use various open spaces within the Academic Oval and in areas around the Philippine Association of University Women (PAUW). They could now have picnics in the Lagoon, Amphitheater, or PAUW; play games and leisure sports in the Sunken Garden; or simply lounge around on benches along the Oval or in the Promenade. Bird watchers and nature enthusiasts could go back to exploring the campus center’s green spaces following years of absent physical human activity. While biking at the Academic Oval was still prohibited at the time, campus biking routes were provided to regulars and first-time visitors so they might still enjoy what UP Diliman had to offer. As pandemic protocols and restrictions were further loosened in 2022, members of the UP community, students, faculty, staff, and residents, and people outside of UP Diliman have come back to recover what they had to give up during the lockdowns: the opportunity to be outdoors in one of the remaining patches of greenery in the concrete jungle that is Metro Manila. A space that is free and open to all. Reopening of the Academic Oval The Academic Oval at the core of the UP Diliman campus finally reopened in November 2021 with the easing of pandemic restrictions. This 2.2 kilometer-long loop, lined with a canopy of acacia trees, has always been a haven for the UP community and the wider public. Whether taking a relaxing stroll, brisk walking for light exercise, or jogging to really get heart rates up, people of all ages were welcomed back, regardless of their vaccination status. Masks were still required and unidirectional movement around the Oval was advised. Groups of ten people or less were also allowed to use various open spaces within the Academic Oval and in areas around the Philippine Association of University Women (PAUW). They could now have picnics in the Lagoon, Amphitheater, or PAUW; play games and leisure sports in the Sunken Garden; or simply lounge around on benches along the Oval or in the Promenade. Bird watchers and nature enthusiasts could go back to exploring the campus center’s green spaces following years of absent physical human activity. While biking at the Academic Oval was still prohibited at the time, campus biking routes were provided to regulars and first-time visitors so they might still enjoy what UP Diliman had to offer. As pandemic protocols and restrictions were further loosened in 2022, members of the UP community, students, faculty, staff, and residents, and people outside of UP Diliman have come back to recover what they had to give up during the lockdowns: the opportunity to be outdoors in one of the remaining patches of greenery in the concrete jungle that is Metro Manila. A space that is free and open to all. UP Baguio’s Indigenous Cultures Program and MOA with NCIP on IPRA and Intangible Cultural Heritage The recognition, study, preservation and promotion of indigenous culture and indigenous studies are an integral part of UP Baguio’s identity at both the academic and the community level. UP Baguio’s Program for Indigenous Cultures (PIC) is a significant avenue for research and activities that promote indigenous cultural vibrance and awareness. The PIC’s main objectives are: to take the lead in the discussion and promotion of issues and concerns of the Philippines’ indigenous people (IP) within UP Baguio and the larger community; to coordinate projects and activities on IPs in relation to instruction, student-led research, and extension; and, to enhance the institutional capacity of UP Baguio to sustain its initiatives on IP concerns. The PIC is made up of several important components: the Indigenous Peoples’ Studies, such as integration in the curriculum, student-led research, and extension; the Learning and Resource Center that provides educational space for all, community life for IP students, space for interaction for IP and non-IP in the University; and, Capacity and Awareness Building and Living Traditions that count as a cultural component. Lastly, the Tanggyuob, the PIC’s monthly newsletter that is named after a local Filipino instrument made from carabao horns, provides multidisciplinary information on IPs, as well as a venue for interested faculty, students, and university employees to submit their articles, essays, and studies that cover indigenous knowledge systems and practices. In related news, in late July 2022, UP Baguio entered into a partnership with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Cordillera Region (NCIP-CAR) through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by UP Baguio Chancellor Corazon L. Abansi and NCIP-CAR Regional Director Atanacio Addog. The MOA facilitates the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process and research collaboration with the DOST’s National Research Council of the Philippines-funded research on “IPRA and Intangible Cultural Heritage”, a research project led by Dr. Analyn Salvador-Amores of the UP Baguio College of Social Sciences. UP Baguio remains committed to the preservation of indigenous culture and, through its programs and initiatives, encourages more Filipinos to learn and appreciate the beauty that comes from lesser known local traditions. More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President About UP UP at a Glance UP’s Quality Policy Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Quality Education UP on Gender Equality UP on Climate Action UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/up-on-gender-equality/ | UP on Gender Equality – University of the Philippines | UP on Gender Equality Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Kababaihan, Tungo sa Kaunlaran: Filipino Women Overseas Workers in France The University of the Philippines regularly engages in affirmative action to encourage wider participation and equitable representation of women within and outside the University. It takes pride in being a strong advocate for giving equal opportunities and treatment to all, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. In line with the 2022 National Women’s Month banner theme, “We Make Change Work for Women,” UP created a platform where women across the world can share their experiences living and working abroad as well as their initiatives in creating a supportive environment. A webinar titled “Agenda ng Kababaihan, Tungo sa Kaunlaran: Filipino Women Overseas Workers in France Women’s Forum,” was held on April 07, 2022. It was organized by the University of the Philippines Open University Office of Gender Concerns (OGC) in coordination with the Social Work and Women Development academic programs of the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies. The webinar’s resource speaker was Therese Mae C. Aviles-Debayle, a registered social worker, and a student of Master in Social Work in UPOU. She shared information about and challenges of Filipino women overseas workers in France, where she is currently based. Among the challenges she mentioned are adjusting to a different culture, language, food, beliefs, norms, and physically adapting to the seasons and way of life. Ms. Therese May C. Aviles-Debayle sharing her experiences at the webinar. Contributed photo. Aviles-Debayle added that, while women receive family support and maternity benefits that regular employees are entitled to receive from the French government, it is still important to hear the side of women working abroad. Despite the entitlements that they are receiving, Filipino women working and living abroad need further assistance, particularly, maternity benefits, family support, and reliable system and policies from the government. Dr. Finaflor F. Taylan, Director of the UPOU Office of Gender Concerns facilitating discussions during the webinar. Contributed photo. The forum gave the participants a picture about the lives, experiences, and journeys of women in their communities. Dr. Finaflor Taylan, UP Open University OGC director, was inspired to create social protection structures and programs for OFWs. She emphasized the need for a support and advocacy group for Filipino women working and living in other countries and encouraged the participants to be part of it or to start creating one. Recognition of the “Lived Identities” of UP’s Graduating Students The University of the Philippines takes pride in being a safe space for everyone from all walks of life, regardless of age, social or economic status, and gender orientation. No matter how big or small an event is, in UP one can freely express themselves in their most authentic way without judgment. And that includes one of the biggest milestones of every Iskolar ng Bayan: their graduation. On July 10, 2022, the UP Cebu and UP Cebu University Student Council (UPC USC) officially announced and posted that they were “allowing ALL graduates who will march on the 83rd Commencement Exercises to wear their preferred attire in accordance to their lived identities in terms of sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. All graduates will not be obliged to conform to heteronormative standards and there is also no need to ask permission from the administration or prepare a letter when doing so.” A graduating student flashes a rainbow-themed fan while waiting for the start of the graduation ceremonies in UP Cebu. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. “As long as the graduation guidelines for academic costumes, such as color schemes and lengths, are still observed, graduating students may dress themselves how they see fit.” Similarly, the UP Manila Student Council (UPM USC) lobbied to do the same. After dialogues with the student body and administration, UP Manila followed suit with other constituent universities in recognizing the importance of letting their graduates express themselves through gender-affirming attire during their commencement exercises. The UP Manila memo specifically states: “Students will now be allowed to express themselves through clothing as reflected by their gender identity and expression; and use their lived names and preferred pronouns in the university graduation slide deck and procession as long as parental consent is documented.” This is a huge win for transgender, gender non-conforming, and all other gender identities. Graduating students from the UP College of Law flash their pride fans upon being called up during the UP Diliman graduation ceremony. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. True to its mantra of “honor and excellence”, the University extends its support to programs that see and hear the LGBTIA+ community and opens its doors to dialogues to further end discrimination, ostracism, harassment, and violence. Various activities throughout the year are spearheaded by student councils, organizations, and UP offices, such as pride marches, gender sensitivity trainings, and other initiatives that highlight the University’s diversity and freedom of expression. Educational Campaign on the Expanded Maternity Leave Benefits of UP Employees In the Philippines, the month of March is widely recognized as Women’s Month. The occasion serves as a venue to highlight women’s significant contributions to the society as well as to discuss gender equality challenges and commitments. The University of the Philippines has implemented various programs and activities across its constituent units to commemorate Women’s Month. From gender-related discussions to street fairs, UP actively promotes gender equality to ensure that the rights and privileges of women are observed not just during the month of celebration but throughout the year. One of UP’s significant activities held on March 18, 2022 via Zoom was the discussion on the Amendment to Omnibus Rules on Leave (CSC MC No. 31 series of 1998) and its alignment with Republic Act No. 11210, popularly known as the 105-day Expanded Maternity Leave Law. Under RA 11210, women are entitled to 105 days of maternity leave with full pay and an option to extend for 30 days without pay, regardless of whether she gave birth via cesarean section or natural delivery. On top of the 105 days, solo parents are entitled to 15 more days of maternity leave. Meanwhile, women who suffered miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy, or who delivered stillbirth, can avail of 60 days maternity leave with full pay. The UP Manila Human Resource Development Office conducted a one-day virtual training with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Director of UP Field Office Hans Alcantara as the resource speaker, aimed at empowering participants by enhancing their comprehension of the law, promoting employee welfare, celebrating women’s achievements, and recognizing their invaluable contributions. The webinar was attended by 85 participants. Director Alcantara provided the employees with a deep understanding of the legal foundations of expanded maternity leave benefits. The session covered essential topics such as the updated definitions under Rule I, which clarified the improved coverage and benefits available to expectant employees. Also, Rule XVI highlighted the differences between old and new regulations, addressing the revised frequency of maternity leave and ensuring the protection of employees’ rights, even after termination. The webinar also focused on fair allocation of maternity leave credits and mechanisms to resolve disputes, facilitating a seamless process for employees. UP is committed to ensuring that their pregnant employees are fully equipped with the necessary knowledge about their benefits and entitlements. The webinar played a pivotal role in fostering a more inclusive and supportive work environment. UP employees and expectant mothers should be provided with support, protection, and benefits during their maternity leave to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy and a smooth transition when they return to work. More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President About UP UP at a Glance UP’s Quality Policy Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Quality Education UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Climate Action UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/up-on-quality-education/ | UP on Quality Education – University of the Philippines | UP on Quality Education Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all UPOU’s Free and Accessible Online Educational Resources The University of the Philippines has been providing free access to its online open educational resources (OERs) via the UP Open University (UPOU) Networks website since 2010. Literature such as books, journals, and monographs; podcasts; and videos covering a wide range of subject areas are available to all learners and educators who are looking for additional teaching materials. UPOU Networks also has resource-based course packages available for download. For calendar year 2022, almost a hundred videos of livestream events, webinars, lectures, and public fora were uploaded to the online repository. Apart from UPOU Networks, the University also has the UPOU Massive Open Distance eLearning (MODeL). In operation since 2013, it is UPOU’s official platform for the delivery of massive open online courses (MOOCs). In 2022, MODeL offered 25 MOOCs that were free and open to the public. Among those were courses on ODeL, technology for teaching and learning, scriptwriting, understanding children better, child rights protection and promotion, social entrepreneurship, blended teaching and learning using OERs, basic animation, business analytics, and the development and production of interactive educational video materials. A screenshot of the UPOU Networks website showing some of the materials and features available for the public. Click through to visit their website. Changes to the higher education landscape brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic remain significant driving forces in the University’s reimagination and recalibration of its approaches to the delivery of education—not only to its students in the Philippines and abroad, but also to the wider population who aim to be lifelong learners. A deeper focus on learner-centered education allows UP to adapt to the technology-driven world and the shifts it creates in learning demands. In times when retooling and upskilling of the current and future workforce is greatly needed, UP responds with the best of its resources. At the heart of its operations is the commitment to perform public service by offering free quality learning resources to all who wish to avail. Capacity-Building in Fisheries and Aquaculture The University of the Philippines Visayas College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS) and its institutes had been actively conducting training and other capacity-building programs for fisherfolk, people’s organizations, local governments, and educators before the pandemic. While face-to-face activities and engagements may have slowed down during the COVID-19 lockdowns, 2022 saw these activities coming back in full force. The CFOS Public Service Program led the “Fisheries Training Needs Assessment in the Municipality of Leganes, Iloilo and Its Environs” for the members of the mayor’s office, municipal council, and captains of the coastal barangays of the municipality. The Institute of Fisheries Policy and Development Studies gave lectures on fishery resources, laws and ordinances, climate change issues, effects of microplastics, and resource conservation and protection to the fisherfolk of the Municipality of Miagao, Iloilo. Recognizing education’s role in promoting aquaculture sustainability to enhance the country’s food security, the Brackishwater Aquaculture Center’s (BAC) annual Aquaculture Summer Institute conducted online lectures for senior high school teachers in the Science, Technology and Engineering strand of the Leganes National High School. The BAC is the Institute of Aquaculture’s (CFOS-IA) research facility located in the municipality. The topics included basic principles of aquaculture, aquaculture systems, and basic fish diseases detection. On a much larger scale, CFOS-IA mounted its three-week public service program for university and college teachers, Training of Educators in Aquatic Mainstream Science (TEAMS), with participants from Ilocos Norte, Zambales, Capiz, Zamboanga, and Maguindanao. TEAMS is intended to further strengthen research and instruction capabilities of higher education institutions offering fisheries and allied programs. Hands-on training sessions were conducted in partnership with the UPV National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and the UPV Museum of Natural Sciences. A group photo of some of the participants in one of the trainings conducted by the UP Visayas College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (UPV CFOS). Contributed photo. Apart from the training programs for educators, CFOS-IA also had the “Training Course on Catfish Breeding, Nursery, and Management” for Miagao fisherfolk, who had some knowledge about catfish farming but were alarmed by the low survival rate of fingerlings. The course encouraged local fishing communities to maximize their resources. After their hands-on training, the catfish larvae produced during the activity were distributed to the participants to stock and culture. Team Scallops from the Institute of Fish Processing Technology (CFOS-IFPT) went to Islas de Gigantes, a group of islands off the northernmost part of Carles, Iloilo, to provide training on value addition and good manufacturing practices for scallops, which is abundant in the area. Islas de Gigantes is considered one of the most productive fishing grounds in the Philippines and known for bivalve fishery. It was participated in by members of the Gigantes Federation of Fisherfolks Sector (GIFFS) Fishermen Cooperative. CFOS-IFPT went back months later to conduct “Training on Entrepreneurship: Sustainable Management of a Community-Based Enterprise for Seafood Products” to a much larger audience composed of those already engaged in the processing of value-added scallop products. CFOS-IFPT then proceeded to Tibiao, Antique to conduct lectures and hands-on training on fish processing technologies to agrarian reform beneficiaries in the municipality. The participants were taught how to make the most use of their catch during peak season, a considerable volume of which was wasted—simply thrown back to the sea or buried—because of the lack of know-how in fish processing techniques. The back-to-back “Training-workshop on Packaging and Labeling of Priority Products and Introduction to Basic Entrepreneurship” and “Training-Workshop on GMP/SSOP for Small-Scale Production of Fishery Products and Introduction to Cooperative Development and Management” were given to fisherfolk from Ajuy and Concepcion, Iloilo who process sardines, squid, and blue swimming crab wastes, among others. The first was conducted in collaboration with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region VI and with assistance from the Department of Science and Technology Region VI and the UPV College of Management. It was intended to equip the participants with the basic concepts of packaging and labeling requirements of Philippine regulatory agencies, the hows of choosing appropriate packaging materials and labels, and ways to develop marketing plans for their products. The second was still in partnership with BFAR Region VI and with added partners, Provincial Fisheries Office-Iloilo, and the local governments of Ajuy and Concepcion. It was on good manufacturing practices/ sanitation standard operating procedures for small-scale production of fishery products, and cooperative development and management. With the ease of travel having almost gone back to the pre-pandemic normal, CFOS is expected to continue to provide its training programs within Western Visayas and across the country beyond 2022. Pahinungod’s Educational Enhancement Programs The Ugnayan ng Pahinungód/Oblation Corps of the University of the Philippines Los Baños has continuously provided for 27 years various volunteer service opportunities for over 5,000 UP students, staff and alumni, while assisting more than 20,000 individuals in remote areas and from marginalized sectors. Pahinungod is an integral public service arm of UP Los Baños; and it maintains various programs in: educational enhancement; environmental management; technical assistance; disaster resiliency; and, sectoral development. Pahinungod’s educational enhancement programs are functional literacy interventions that aim to supplement formal school instruction through participatory seminars, workshops and tutorials for underserved elementary and high school students. Public school teachers in rural areas also benefit from Pahinungod’s PAGTUTURO initiative. The Gurong Pahinungod Program (GPP) primarily caters to fresh graduates and alumni who are deployed for as long as a year as full-time volunteer faculty members of underserved elementary schools. The GPP is implemented in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), in recognition of the shared aspiration among public schools and state universities and colleges of making basic education work for Filipinos. Volunteers of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod in UP Los Baños pose for a photo in the campus. Contributed photo. Pahinungód’s Affirmative Action Project (AAP) helps students of public schools in rural and disadvantaged areas to become more confident to take entrance exams, pursue college education, take courses needed in their communities, and assume leadership roles in their hometowns. Pahinungód hopes to provide underserved students with better chances to access quality tertiary education, and to improve their skills as future community leaders through the AAP’s 1-2 week leadership training and college preparatory review program for incoming grade 12 students. The program is also consistent with UP’s aim to democratize access to quality education services. Another initiative is the PAGTUTURO (Pagpapatalas ng Talino at Talento ng mga Guro). Teachers need constant updating of competence in education technology and policy. Since teachers and many faculty members of remote public schools often have limited means to access professional growth opportunities, Pahinungod provides two to three days of interactive retooling workshops on creative teaching strategies, content updates and other enrichment activities to improve their teaching capacities. Pahinungód also has a special program that provides a review once a week on selected difficult subject areas in the basic education curricula. The LINGAP ARAL Special Tutorials program aims to help boost the indigent students’ school performance and improve their accomplishments in national scholastic aptitude tests. Sponsor LGUs or support organizations identify these students; and they also provide resources, such as scholarships and stipends, to give the scholars sustained education support. More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President About UP UP at a Glance UP’s Quality Policy Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Gender Equality UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Climate Action UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/announcements/ | ANNOUNCEMENTS – University of the Philippines | Announcements Statement of President Angelo Jimenez on the Bombing of Mindanao State University – Marawi The University of the Philippines stands in solidarity with Mindanao State University (MSU), after an explosion at the... Read More UP Para Sa UP: The UP System kicks off Mental Health Awareness Month with launching of the UP Sanctuary University of the Philippines (UP) President Angelo Jimenez, together with the UP Office of the Assistant Vice President for Student... Read More UP fetes “Mr. Shooli” with Gawad Plaridel The University of the Philippines Diliman College of Mass Communication will be awarding actor, satirist, and advertising creative Manuel Urbano... Read More UP invites the public to join Day of Remembrance commemoration The University of the Philippines (UP) invites the public to join this year’s Day of Remembrance commemoration on September... Read More UP to hold noise barrage on Day of Remembrance Raise your voice, break the silence! 📢 Join us in commemorating the Day of Remembrance, as we use symbolic... Read More 1st UP-SUC Summit to launch four programs for SUC engagement On September 15, four University programs aimed at promoting engagement between UP and other Philippine state universities and colleges (SUCs)... Read More Load More |
https://up.edu.ph/up-on-good-health-and-well-being/ | UP on Good Health and Well-Being – University of the Philippines | UP on Good Health and Well-Being Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Six-Day DOST-NEWTON AGHAM Researchers Link Workshop in One Health Omics The University of the Philippines Mindanao collaborated with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), UK, in conducting a week-long free online bioinformatics workshop, otherwise known as the One Health Omics Project, from October 11 to 16, 2021. The One Health Omics workshop capacitated Filipino researchers in Mindanao on omics technology, tools and techniques in the surveillance, management, and control of infections in a One Health setting. This was attended by 40 selected faculty members, clinicians, and researchers from different regions in Mindanao. The project can help them in their research work in the region. Due to restrictions during the COVID-19 surge, the workshop was done via Zoom. The One Health Omics Project was funded by the DOST-Newton Agham Researcher Links Workshop grant from the British Council in partnership with LSHTM and supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)–Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD). The workshop is also co-sponsored by the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Mindanao. Workshop facilitators included bioinformatics experts from LSHTM: Dr. Taane Clark, Professor of Genomics and Global Health; Dr. Jody Phelan; Julian Libiseller-Egger; Daniel Ward; Anton Spadar; and, Paula Josefina Gómez González. Workshop participants included: researchers from the PGC Mindanao; faculty of San Pedro College Davao; doctors from the Department of Health (DOH) XI; and, researchers from UP Mindanao. Bioinformatics is a new field in health research. With the use of computers, it allows researchers to further examine and understand the characteristics of an organism or a microbe through its genome, such as a virus like the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for the COVID-19 disease. For instance, bioinformatics allowed scientists to quickly develop diagnostic test kits and vaccines for COVID-19 “Bioinformatics and genomics techniques, as well as conducting related molecular investigations, are important skills for the participants to become genomics and genomic epidemiological experts and will contribute to improving the health of the Philippines population,” Prof. Taane said. Facilitators from UP Manila conduct a workshop under the Social Innovation for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights project. Contributed photo. Social Innovation for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights The University of the Philippines Manila, as Philippine hub of the Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI), conducted its Social Innovation for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights project from 2020 to 2022. The Social Innovation for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) project, jointly conducted by the UP Manila School of Health Sciences and Maastricht University School of Health Professions Education (SHE), strengthened the capacity of UP Manila as Social Innovation in Health Initiative Philippine Hub and representatives of partner institutions. The project helped them to be trainers to frontline health professionals and facilitated their design of innovative, multi-stakeholder-driven, community-based interventions in response to SRHR problems. Dr. Meredith Del Pilar-Labarda of the Department of Medicine at the UP Manila School of Health Sciences served as the leader for the Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI) Philippine Hub, together with Jana Mier-Alpano and Abigail Mier. According to Dr. Del Pilar-Labarda, this particular project trained the trainers for faculty, medical students, health officers of local government units, and leaders of communities such as the Sangguniang Kabataan. They can help co-create a comprehensive sexual education and gender issues program that would help adolescents in their communities. Another output would be the publication of a manual for trainers. This was the first face-to-face workshop since 2020 when the first series of trainings were done online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants availed of: an introduction to gender and sex; a workshop on intervention mapping; a short workshop on social media; and, a workshop on gender issues and comprehensive sexuality education. In the context of the “new normal”, the participants from different communities and sectors shared many of their challenges and innovations, including lessons from SRHR programs done in other countries. Among the goals of the project were: to reduce the high rates of teenage pregnancy and the spread of HIV; to prevent gender-based violence; and, to help the young generation to become happy and healthy adults. The final training, which aimed to integrate all knowledge and skills from previous workshops, was scheduled for Oct. 10-14, 2022. Launched in 2014, SIHI is a global network of individuals, organizations and institutions advocating social innovation in health and advancing research in social innovation. UP GOE Medical Mission 2022 in Brgy. Tagumpay, Bay, Laguna The University of the Philippines’ Grand Order of the Eagles (UPGOE) Fraternity, a duly recognized socio-civic organization in UP Los Banos, held a medical mission in Barangay Tagumpay, Bay, Laguna on June 26, 2022. The health outreach mission was done in cooperation with a medical team from the Southern Asia-Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and was supported by UPGOE alumni and partner organizations. Medical services for a total of 644 patients included: 167 general check-ups; 158 ophthalmologic services; 150 dental services; 117 blood chemistry tests; 47 circumcisions (tuli); and, five minor surgeries. Patients-beneficiaries in the community also received a total of Php40,000 worth of medicines. Co-sponsors of the health outreach included: Gardenia Philippines, a food company that provided Gardenia products to all volunteers and patients; the Bay local government and Art Relief Mobile Kitchen that provided the lunch of volunteer medical workers; Ms. Mayette Estacion who provided shirts to volunteers; and, the family of UPGOE member, Brod Marvin Raymundo. UP students huddle to talk about the challenges they face in the university. UP MPRO File photo. UP’s Financial Aid for Students’ Mental Health Expense The University of the Philippine Los Baños, as with the other UP constituent universities, champions mental well-being by providing Php7,500 cash aid per semester to eligible UP students to support their mental health-related expenses. This is made possible through the UP Student Wellness Subsidy Program (UP SWSP) contained in Memorandum RAG 2022-13 issued by the Office of Student Development Services (UP OSDS) on June 7, 2022. The grant aims not only to reduce the cost of prescribed medication and other mental health services but also to encourage students to seek professional help. Apart from the lack of student spaces for conducive learning environments, inadequate manpower to address mental health issues, and financial challenges of students, there is still stigma in seeking professional help. The UP SWSP strives to address that. The wellness subsidy program is implemented by the UPLB Office of Counseling and Guidance (OCG) and the Office of Scholarships and Grants (OSG). Currently enrolled and financially challenged UPLB students with mental health concerns are eligible for the grant. The University has been strengthening its mental health programs, especially since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students may check out the various initiatives of the OCG, from support training programs to emotional pet support to art-based and other intervention therapies. Faculty and students are also encouraged to refer or reach out to the OCG through their landline at (049) 536-7255, via email at ocg.uplb@up.edu.ph, or through their Facebook page, “UPLB Office of Counseling and Guidance.” More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President About UP UP at a Glance UP’s Quality Policy Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP on Quality Education UP on Gender Equality UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Climate Action UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/green-up-a-up-system-action-plan-for-environmental-sustainability/ | Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability – University of the Philippines | Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability A lotus flower blooms in the lagoon in UP Diliman. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UP MPRO. The University of the Philippines’ eight (8) constituent universities (CU) span 17 geographically disparate and ecologically unique campuses. These campuses are socio-ecological systems in which education, research, and service are enabled by the environments in which human activities take place. These campuses are also situated within the broader socio-ecological system battered today by climate change, environmental pollution, and the vast environmental impacts. As the premiere national university, the University must lead in building, nurturing, and embodying sustainability practices that enhance and revitalize the environment, reduce environmental impact, and promote eco-education and sustainable development. It must gear efforts toward developing sustainable habits for optimized environmental utilization in its students, faculty, staff, and community. The University wholly commits to environmental sustainability as a guide to human rights principles, democratic participation, non-discrimination, gender equity, social justice, and ecological balance. These shall be upheld in the following areas for/of action. Green Spaces and Biodiversity. The University shall protect and promote green spaces and campus biodiversity. It shall adopt low-impact development and management plans to improve or incur no net biodiversity loss. This involves developing an environmental management protocol that monitors the health of the campus environment, promotes green spaces and biodiversity, documents and studies campus flora and fauna, and exercises proper campus animal management. Built Environment. Sustainable design should be incorporated into the University’s built environments to reduce its carbon footprint. Green technologies must be used whenever possible, and eco-friendly materials and methods must be integrated with construction and development plans. Utilities Management. The University shall regularly monitor the environmental impact of its energy usage and set reasonable targets to reduce energy and water consumption. In utility management, it shall promote energy and water conservation, periodically monitor consumption, and shift to sustainable technologies and materials in utilities upgrading or augmentation. Transportation and Mobility. The University shall ensure the availability of a reliable network of transportation and road infrastructure whose construction and maintenance are integrated with natural ecosystems. To maintain good air quality and well-protected ecosystems, UP promotes non-motorized transport and enhances pedestrian movement, ensuring compliance of public-use vehicles to emission standards; and adopting environment-friendly vehicles. Waste Management. The University’s waste management program shall adopt the UN Environmental Programme’s waste management hierarchy: prevention, reduction, recycling, recovery, and disposal, in decreasing order of importance. It shall enable individuals to embrace and realistically adopt a low- to zero-waste lifestyle by providing scientific information and support services for correct waste disposal practices. Contingent to this, the University shall proactively reduce plastic use and develop policy guidelines to transition into plastic-free campuses feasibly and equitably. The transition must be guided by a democratic and participatory process that addresses the economic and socio-cultural dimensions of rampant plastics use. Research. The University shall proactively encourage and support research and development relating to environmental sustainability and its multiple facets, whether ecological, social, cultural, behavioral, economic, moral, or political. It shall enable cross- and interdisciplinary approaches to address environmental concerns on the campus and the nation. It shall strengthen support, financial or otherwise, for sustainability research, programs, projects, and initiatives. Education. The University shall integrate principles of environmental sustainability in teaching and learning through its General Education program and different academic curricula. Such would facilitate cultural and behavioral changes toward sustainable living in students and faculty. Extension Services. The University shall encourage extension services and programs that promote and mainstream environmental sustainability principles to stakeholders and communities outside the University. Personnel Management. The University shall establish and activate appropriate offices or standing committees toward concrete, strategic sustainability goals. Some of its initiatives include building the capacity of staff and personnel through relevant training and certificate programs. Mainstreaming. The University shall adopt the month of April as UP’s Environmental Sustainability Month and facilitate inter-CU and inter-university collaborations toward the goals articulated in this Manifesto. This month shall turn the community’s attention to environmental sustainability projects and campaigns and engage students, faculty, and staff in environmental sustainability initiatives. “Green UP” is articulated here as both imperative and vision. Through the unified efforts of all constituent units, UP shall become a model of human rights-based, participatory, and inclusive environmental sustainability. The sunflowers bloom in the University Avenue in UP Diliman, Quezon City, in time for the graduation season. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UP MPRO. More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President About UP UP at a Glance UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Quality Education UP on Gender Equality UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Climate Action UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/up-and-the-sdgs-about-up/ | About the University of the Philippines – University of the Philippines | About the University of the Philippines The Oblation, signifying the University’s commitment to serve the nation, dominates the plaza fronting Quezon Hall, UP Diliman. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. The University of the Philippines is the country’s national university, as mandated by Republic Act 9500 or the UP Charter of 2008. Established on June 18, 1908, in the heart of Manila, UP was meant to provide studies in medicine, law, engineering, and arts to every qualified student regardless of “age, sex, nationality, religious belief, and political affiliation.” As its first president Murray Simon Bartlett envisioned it, a “University for Filipinos.” Over its 115-year history, UP has grown into a system of eight constituent universities and 17 campuses throughout the Philippines. It offers 586 undergraduate and graduate programs, of which 248 are in the sciences and engineering, 31 in agriculture and fisheries, and 100 in the social sciences. It also offers 93 programs in the arts and letters, 83 programs in management, and 29 programs in education. As of December 31, 2022, the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has declared 41 academic units of the University as Centers of Excellence (COE), while five units were declared as Centers for Development (COD). With around 1,747 International Publication Awards and a lot more locally, UP continues to achieve groundbreaking research in medicine, engineering, agriculture, fisheries, and disaster risk reduction and management. It also inspires its artists to pursue works that elevate human consciousness and move societies. UP continues to play a vital role in shaping the nation’s consciousness and identity, always anchored in honor and excellence. UP Diliman UP Diliman in Quezon City hosts most of the programs of the University. Its sprawling campus, which features a lagoon and an open field, has fueled the creativity of faculty and students in its various programs. Its National Science Complex hosts several units and institutes that have produced unique and innovative research and studies that contribute to the advancement of several scientific and technological fields. Among these is the UP Philippine Genome Center (UP PGC). Instrumental in detecting COVID-19 in the Philippines, the UP PGC was also involved in developing a local COVID-19 testing kit. UP Diliman also houses the Resilience Institute (UPRI) and its disaster risk reduction and management program, UP NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards). Partnering with communities, UPRI has conducted training programs that prepare these areas for possible disasters. Beyond the sciences and the arts, UP Diliman is also home to the UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UP CWGS), a pioneering research and advocacy institution in the country to advance women’s and LGBTIA+ rights and empowerment. UP Los Baños Farther south in the province of Laguna is UP Los Baños (UPLB). At the foot of Mt. Makiling, UPLB is a recognized leader in agriculture, forestry, environmental management, and veterinary medicine. It hosts the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UPLB BIOTECH), which has continuously pursued agricultural, environmental, and health biotechnology research, resulting in alternative technologies and products that are proven useful to farmers. UPLB is a founding member of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), aimed at fostering collaborative efforts with partner institutions to enhance graduate education in agriculture, environment, and natural resources in the region. UP Manila In the country’s capital is the nation’s leader in health sciences studies, UP Manila. Home to the National Institutes of Health, (UP NIH), its experts conduct research that has resulted in innovations in public health, emergency response, and medicine. Hosting the UP Philippine General Hospital (UP PGH), the Philippines’ largest tertiary government hospital, the campus provides medical care to Filipinos from all walks of life. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, UP PGH served as a COVID-19 referral center, exerting its utmost to save lives. Consequently, its groundbreaking Stop COVID Deaths webinar series, the country’s first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series, was honored by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) with the 2022 Gold Quill Award of Merit. UP Manila is also home to the College of Nursing, the World Health Organization’s Regional Collaborating Center in Nursing Development. At the same time, its College of Public Health hosts TROPMED Philippines, which is the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization’s (SEAMEO) Regional Centre for Public Health, Hospital and Environmental and Occupational Health. UP Visayas Spread across three campuses in islands across central Philippines is UP Visayas. An acknowledged authority in fisheries, aquaculture, and marine science education and research, it is home to several units that conduct studies in support of the archipelagic nature of the Philippines. These are the Brackishwater Aquaculture Center, Freshwater Aquaculture Station, Batan Mariculture Station, and Marine Biological Station. Aside from marine research, UP Visayas is also active in efforts to preserve and enrich the Visayan cultural heritage. Recently, UP Visayas inaugurated the UP Philippine Genome Center-Visayas, allowing for the training of locals in the collection of specimens necessary for COVID-19 detection, as well as the conduct of testing in the region. UP Open University Situated near UPLB is the UP Open University (UPOU), the country’s pioneering virtual university. The UPOU provides quality distance education to students both in the Philippines and abroad who cannot attend the conventional in-person classroom setting due to personal or professional reasons. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UP Open University shared much of its experience in conducting virtual classes with other UP units and educational institutions. The UP Open University has ten learning centers nationwide, as well as a virtual learning center, with over 31 academic programs for both graduate and undergraduate studies. UP Mindanao Affirming the University’s presence in the country’s second-largest island, UP Mindanao was established by law to provide equitable access to quality education. The campus offers various programs in the humanities and the sciences, as well as in architecture, the food sciences, the humanities, and social, natural, and computing sciences. With the addition of sports science, medicine, and engineering to its program offerings, UP Mindanao is envisioned to produce graduates who will become leaders in the region UP Mindanao is also the home of the UP Philippine Genome Center-Mindanao, contributing to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Southern Philippines. UP Baguio Nestled in the Cordillera Region, north of Manila, atop a pine-clad hill in the heart of a mountain city, is a leading institution in science, mathematics, social sciences, and humanities—UP Baguio. Through its Cordillera Studies Center (CSC), UP Baguio is steadfast in pursuing research in governance and development, local literature, biodiversity conservation, and ethnicity. These studies, hosted in the campus’s Museo Kordilyera, contribute to the preservation and appreciation of the cultural traditions and heritage of the indigenous communities of Northern Philippines. UP Cebu UP Cebu is the UP System’s flagship university in Central Visayas. It was established ten years after the founding of UP in 1908. In 2010, the Board of Regents elevated its status to an autonomous unit, and in 2016, to a constituent university, making it the eighth unit of the University. Located in a region that is aggressively asserting itself as an area for direct and foreign investments, UP Cebu has focused on strengthening its business and information technology programs. In 2007, the Commission on Higher Education recognized UP Cebu as a National Center of Excellence in Information Technology. More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP at a Glance UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Quality Education UP on Gender Equality UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Climate Action UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/message-of-the-president/ | Message of the President – University of the Philippines | Message of the President President Angelo A. Jimenez. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. On September 14, 2023, I was granted the singular honor of being invested as President of the University of the Philippines. At a meeting with our vice presidents, chancellors, executive directors, and strategic advisers—as we began charting the course of our administration for the next six years—we made the significant decision to add one word to UP’s long-standing motto of “Honor and Excellence.” That word was “Service.” It is a simple yet deeply meaningful reminder of UP’s true calling and guiding principle: service to our people and to humanity as a whole. Service is a sacred vow, one made by each member of the UP community the moment we step into the University’s hallowed halls. We each learn to fulfill our responsibility as Iskolar ng Bayan with faithfulness, courage, and compassion. In the 21st century, in a world that is becoming increasingly turbulent and difficult to navigate, the call for UP to serve has expanded well beyond the nation’s geopolitical borders. UP is called on to be a regional and global player. To paraphrase Konstantin Stanislavski, we cannot be small actors attempting to play small roles anymore. And I am proud to see that, as evidenced by the case studies presented in this UP Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Report for 2021-2022, UP is doing precisely that. Our academic units, our research institutions, our students, alumni and community organizations continue to develop, implement, maintain and strengthen research programs and initiatives targeted at solving the most pressing challenges of our time. Our lofty aims include: climate change adaptation and disaster resilience; hunger alleviation and poverty reduction; expanding access to quality education and healthcare; building sustainable cities and communities; conserving biodiversity and the environment; and creating a society anchored on peace, security, justice, equality, and the protection of human rights for all. These goals cannot be accomplished without facilitating partnerships with other higher education institutions, local governments, and civil society, and require a holistic, grassroots approach to ensure genuine inclusiveness and community- and country-level ownership of all implemented projects and achieved outcomes. I commend every one of the units and individuals mentioned in this report for the innovation and dedication necessary to achieve this breadth of vision. Your efforts affect lives for the better, and ensure that UP and the Philippines are a positive force for change in the world. I would also like to thank the UP System Committee on University Rankings, the administrators and advisers and research and creative staff who made this UP SDG Report for 2021-2022 possible. Thank you for continuing to build upon UP’s database of SDG-related programs and projects, thus enabling us to monitor, understand, and improve the University’s contributions to our country’s success in meeting our targets under the UN SDGs. My administration is committed to supporting and magnifying these efforts. I affirm the UP System’s strong commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which serve as a global blueprint for addressing the most pressing challenges of our time. Our administration’s commitment to achieving the SDGs, however, goes beyond mere words; it is a firm pledge to take meaningful action. In this period of global crisis, we recognize the historical urgency of the SDGs, and thus are working to integrate them into the very fabric of our University. The core of our commitment lies in the field of education. Access to quality education is a cornerstone of sustainable development and a prerequisite for achieving all other SDGs. In UP, we firmly believe that our academic programs should reflect this commitment. It is not just about including SDGs in specific courses; it is about making the values and knowledge latent in the accomplishment of these goals an integral part of our curriculum. In every course offered by the university, we will ensure that the principles of sustainability are embedded deeply within our educational framework. But education is only our starting point. Research and development are also vital aspects of the SDGs, and universities like UP play a central role in advancing these goals. UP’s researchers are at the forefront of addressing the complex challenges posed by the SDGs, and our administration pledges to enable them to continue conducting action-oriented research that not only helps us better understand the costs and implications of implementing the SDGs at the local and national level, but also provides innovative solutions to real-world problems at the regional and global levels. Furthermore, universities serve as repositories of knowledge, fulcrums of cooperation, and drivers of innovation within their countries, regions, and in the global community. Recognizing the necessity of acting collectively with other stakeholders, UP is vigorously engaging with other state universities, governments, the private sector, and civil society to promote and implement the SDGs. By working together, we will provide a supportive environment and create a broad network of resources that will enable our students, researchers, and academics to actively participate in projects that contribute to building the knowledge and tools needed to achieve the SDGs. The tenets of sustainable development align with our mandate as the national university. We have a long and distinguished history of producing leaders, innovators, and changemakers in various fields. We have always recognized our duty to serve the people and contribute to progress and development in our country. Now, we are extending that same sense of service and commitment to the global community. Mabuhay tayong lahat! More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals About UP Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP at a Glance UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Quality Education UP on Gender Equality UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Climate Action UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/up-and-the-sdgs-up-at-a-glance/ | UP at a Glance – University of the Philippines | UP at a Glance Early morning joggers take a break while on the Academic Oval in UP Diliman, Quezon City. UP MPRO file photo. UP Campuses 8 Constituent Universities 17 Campuses 5 Future Campuses UP College Admissions (UPCA) 2023 111,128 Total applicants 74,280 (66.8%) Female 36,848 (33.2%) Male 17,527 Total qualifiers 11,330 (64.6%) Female qualifiers 6,197 (35.4%) Male qualifiers Students 64,144 Total Students 38,172 (59.5%) Female Students 25,972 (40.5%) Male Students Faculty 7,105 Total Faculty 4,172 (58.7%) Full-time or Regular Faculty 2,972 (40.5%) Part-time or Non-Regular Faculty UP Philippine General Hospital Service Recipients 473,385 Total patients served 43,433 (9.2%) In-patient patients 386,204 (81.6%) Out-patient patients 43,748 (9.2%) Emergency cases patients UP Landholdings 26,304.5416 hectares – Total Land Holdings 2,618.9986 hectares – Campus Sites 4,980.39 hectares – Research Areas 2,705.78 hectares – Mangrove Areas 9,093.44 hectares – Land Grants 6,900.00 hectares – Under UP Stewardship 5.933 hectares – Other Properties More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President About UP Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Quality Education UP on Gender Equality UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Climate Action UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/up-visual-identity-guidebook-2017-now-available-online/ | UP Visual Identity Guidebook 2017 now available online – University of the Philippines | UP Visual Identity Guidebook 2017 now available online UP Visual Identity Guidebook 2017 now available online March 14, 2017 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office UP Visual Identity Guide 2017 This is a digital copy of the University of the Philippines Visual Identity Guidebook 2017. This guide serves to define the elements found in official trademarks of the university, such as the seal, university colors, logo type and The Oblation. The VIG also prescribes how these symbols should be used in official communications, websites, social media accounts and other materials of the university’s units, offices, organizations, faculty, students and staff. The adoption of the UP VIG was approved by the Board of Regents on its 1324th Meeting held last 26 January 2017, at the Board Room, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. |
https://up.edu.ph/the-roots-of-angelo-a-jimenez/ | The Roots of Angelo A. Jimenez – University of the Philippines | The Roots of Angelo A. Jimenez The Roots of Angelo A. Jimenez June 6, 2023 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Jimenez symbolically takes his oath as UP President in the mountains of a conflict-ridden place called Mahayahay in Butuan. “I was always there as a little boy. I took my oath before the children of the Lumad. I wanted to, in my own little way, remind UP where its ultimate loyalty belongs,” he says. Photo courtesy of Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) Strategic Communications Office. Angelo Azura Jimenez has the distinction of being the first UP Student Regent to be elected UP President and the first Mindanaoan to hold the position. He brings to the table a lived understanding of sectoral representation and the hope and the pride of the people of Mindanao. Having worked in government, he has also developed expertise in the protection and development of migrant workers. Family, community, and identity “Growing up in Butuan, you are close to family, close to church, and close to your friends on a day-to-day basis. We grew up in a very supporting, nurturing environment where there is much trust and very little distrust or suspicion of each other’s motives,” Jimenez described his life in his hometown. His Mindanao life embodied a unity of cultures, that supported trust in the other. “My family has been there for over a hundred years, and I am a native of the city itself. I am a Manobo and a Christian lowlander at the same time,” Jimenez said. “We grew up trusting each other. “We grew up playing with our neighbors. We grew up with close-knit communities and families together,” he remembered. “My mother was a high school principal and my grandmother was an elementary school principal. My mother was also a church leader,” Jimenez, who was an altar boy himself, speaks about the many other families connected to their own families through such involvements. The Catholic school boy, several years later, would also be named a tribal datu by the city elders, who conferred on him the name, Datu Mankalagan or “Great Spirit”. He recalls that ceremony fondly. “It’ll be a great source of strength and inspiration as I face this awesome, awesome job of becoming the twenty-second president of the University of the Philippines,” Jimenez said. He realizes that his Mindanao line is integral to his UP presidency. “It was when I got elected that people reminded me that I’m the first UP president who came from Mindanao, and I was amazed, actually surprised, maybe a little bit shocked,” he said. “It’s something significant to our people. I never realized that my election would resonate in Mindanao. “Finally, one of their own has become a UP president,” it has dawned upon him. “I wanted to, in my own little way, remind UP where its ultimate loyalty belongs; and, I couldn’t imagine a more marginalized community than our IPs in the mountains where there has been an ongoing conflict and there still is right now.” “I was roundly criticized then. I had to just grit my teeth and decide in favor of the students so that they could graduate.” – Jimenez The rise of the student leader Having lived in a harmonious but diverse Mindanao community, Jimenez did not dream of being involved in campus politics when he passed the UPCAT and moved to the Big City. “I just loved to write, actually. So when I was in my sophomore year, I joined the Philippine Collegian where I was a feature writer, and probably the longest serving features editor in the Collegian.” Aside from features, he wrote poetry, and many of his poems were published in the Collegian and the Collegian Folio Magazine. He would become the paper’s associate editor in 1987-1988. Inevitably, he became active in the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), of which the Collegian was a founding member and which had turned militant during the First Quarter Storm. “One time I attended a session among campus writers in Metro Manila, and they decided they wanted me to run as CEGP national president. That was in 1987, and since it’s an organization of writers, I agreed. I won rather overwhelmingly,” Jimenez said about how he started on the path of national youth leadership. As a national leader, he got very involved with the youth and students outside UP. By then he was a freshman in Law school. “I was always traveling. And I almost neglected my law school [studies]. It was a very challenging time. But after that, now I was in the radar of student politics, particularly student electoral politics,” Jimenez recalled. After his term as CEGP national president, he was asked to run for councilor in the UP Diliman student council. “I started to speak in the streets, in public fora, and it went naturally from there.” As chair of the traditionally militant University Student Council in 1991-1992, he remembers facing the burning issue of the renewal of US military bases in the country. “We were against it, and I would lead rallies. [UP] would be the largest contingent. It went as far as 5,000 students in UP from all political spectrum and diversity. We were very united then.” Jimenez, in one of first ceremonies of this presidency, leads the conferment of a Doctor of Law, honoris causa, on Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar bin Ibrahim, whom he cited for, among others, the advocacy of the concept of an Asian Renaissance and a devoted study of the life, works, and teachings of Dr. Jose Rizal. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque, UP MPRO. The Regent and the dilemma of representation Having been elected Student Regent in 1992, he had to deal with the more complicated issue of sectoral representation. “You have a sector that does not speak in just one voice. And then when you come to the meeting of the Board, you have to come to terms as well with what you call your personal agency, your own structure of beliefs, your ethical and moral structure that you have deep inside you as well,” Jimenez said. He remembers going against a popular opinion concerning medical students who were refused graduation by the college on the basis of moral fitness. The students and the University Council of UP Manila agreed with the position of the College, Jimenez recalls. He agonized over his vote. “Upon graduation, they imposed moral fitness and I was a little worried because, number one, it was not in the rules. Number two, I was worried about standards. Who sets moral standards? How do we comply with a particular standard? And what are fair standards that are acceptable to all. And we are a secular university… Whom do we allow to make judgment of our moral fitness to be in the profession?” Jimenez recalled his thoughts back then. “I was roundly criticized then. I had to just grit my teeth and decide in favor of the students so that they could graduate.” Jimenez would go back to the Board of Regents as a Malacañang appointee, representing the Republic of the Philippines in the University, from 2016 to 2021. “And to strengthen the institution, I feel that we have to build trust — trust in institutions and trust in each other.” – Jimenez President Angelo A. Jimenez. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. Lessons for UP from his experience From 1993 to 2007, Jimenez was in government in mostly labor-related posts. He held positions in Malacañang, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. From 1999 to 2003, he was the labor attaché, first to Japan, then to Kuwait, and then to Iraq, too. “I am a practitioner of international labor markets and the area of expertise I have developed over the last decades is the protection of migrant labor, especially overseas Filipino workers. I was on the opposite end of the educational system because I was receiving finished products,” he said, talking about OFWs as end products of the educational system. “And I have familiarity with the needs of international industries. I saw where the Filipinos are strong, based on our educational system, and where they’re weak.” “I realize certain things: Some of our professionals are not recognized abroad, or not recognized as we do recognize them. For example, I’ve seen architects who are hired as mere draftsmen, or dentists who are hired only as dental hygienists. We lack certain units or academic units. In the Middle East, for example, many of them observe British standards.” “At that time we didn’t have K-12. And that was one of the major weaknesses in terms of international recruitment and especially when it came to benefits pay rate, and opportunities, not just from job entry, but also job promotion,” he said. Jimenez talks about acquiring lessons from a global experience of crisis management. “When Saddam fell, I was sent as well to Iraq. I spent two years there protecting Filipinos in a war zone. There was civil war there, and it gave me a lot of insights. First, on how important it is to strengthen institutions because I’ve seen the country where there was no government, there were no laws.” “I saw the country implode before my eyes,” Jimenez went on. “I realized that when institutions fall, nations fall or social systems fall. And so perhaps, the greatest insight I have is the importance of strengthening our institutions, not just in the country, but more specifically today in the University as well.” “And to strengthen the institution, I feel that we have to build trust—trust in institutions and trust in each other. Because I’ve seen how the lack of trust in many places in the world kills societies, how societies degenerate into civil war, fratricidal war, because there was no trust in the community,” the UP President from Mindanao spoke. Read more stories from the UP Forum Read the latest News from UP Read UP’s Announcements |
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https://up.edu.ph/a-datu-in-diliman/ | A Datu in Diliman – University of the Philippines | A Datu in Diliman A Datu in Diliman August 1, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Commencement Address of President Angelo Jimenez 30 July 2023 UP Diliman University of the Philippines President Angelo A. Jimenez delivering his Commencement Address to the graduating class of UP Diliman on July 30, at the Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. Madiyaw nga hinaat kaniyo nga tanan! Honorable Members of our Board of Regents, UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan, the Chancellors of our other Constituent Universities, our University officials, faculty members, staff members, workers, students, distinguished guests, and above all our graduating students today and their proud parents: A very pleasant albeit rainy morning to all of you, and thank you all for coming today despite the weather. I am sure that we will not allow a steel gray sky and a rush of rain to dampen our spirits, like the sunflowers along University Avenue that remain radiant as ever. I did not know until recently, when I was approached by Chancellor Vistan, that I was to be your commencement speaker. It is uncommon—if not unprecedented—for the UP President to fill that role, which we usually reserve for an academic, cultural, or political luminary, none of which I consider myself to be. But having been your President for less than half a year, I thought that this would be a good opportunity to introduce myself to our community, that you might know me and my ideas beyond my standard CV. This morning, I want to tell you a story. I am being introduced to you by my formal Christian name. Ako nga po si Angelo Azura Jimenez, abogado at ikadalawampu’t dalawang Pangulo ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas. Subalit may isa pa po akong pangalan na nais kong gamitin ngayong araw, bilang pagpapakilala sa inyo ng aking pinagmulan, at ng aking kabuuan. Ako po si Datu Mankalagan. Isa akong Manobo mula sa Agusan Valley. Isinilang ako at lumaki sa isang sinauna at makasaysayang lunsod sa wawa ng Ilog Agusan, sa Mindanaw. Ito ang lunsod ng Butuan, na bantog sa Silangang Asya bilang isang mayamang kaharian bago pa man dumating ang mga Kastila. In my city, we say: “Before there was the Philippines, there was Butuan.” And what a great pre-Hispanic city it was, home to skillful artisans of gold and builders of mighty, ocean-going boats called balangays. Many elements that now form part of the cultural tapestry of our island entered through the Agusan River’s estuary. Its sheer length, one of the longest in the country, ensured that cultural and social exchanges with a larger world penetrated deeply into the heart of Mindanaw centuries before our nation was born. I love my city. It is my legs, my arms, my mind, my heart. It is the cradle of my deepest affections. It is who I am, today and forever. The title of “datu” was conferred on me by my people in a solemn ceremony in 2007. A ritual dagger was plunged deep into the heart of a live boar. I heard its vertiginous squeal of pain as it spurted blood and began to die. A priestess scooped the blood that gushed straight from the heart of the boar before it fell to the ground, and proceeded to paint it on the palm of my hands and soles of my feet, to the drone of her own incantations. I thought I was going to faint and I never fully realized it then but now I think I know why—life was being ritually offered to give birth to a new one, a new identity. It was an overpowering sensation. On that same occasion, our elders gave me the name “Mankalagan.” In our local language, it means “great spirit.” I do not know if I deserve the name, and my title as a Manobo datu may be honorific, but the tremendous pride I draw from it gives me the courage I need to speak before you today. It was not always so. I grew up taking it for granted. I never took the time to officially register as one, nor find the need for it. All I knew growing up was that I had Manobo blood. That was enough. Or so I thought, until something I never dreamed of happened to me—I became UP President, which reminded me of the duality of my character, and why it is important to accept and embrace. Alam ko pong hindi lamang ito aking istorya, kundi istorya rin ng marami sa inyong kaharap ko ngayon. Malalayo ang inyong pinanggalingan, mga munting pook na minsa’y atin nang nakakalimutan. Naging bagong tahanan na natin ang kalunsuran, ang Diliman. Like Butuan, I love UP Diliman. It is not always easy to love you, Diliman, but I do. Because like Butuan, I was raised here, too. Like Butuan, UP Diliman is my arms, my legs, my mind, my heart—the cradle of my deepest affections. Like Butuan, UP Diliman is who I am, today and forever. When I attained the presidency of this national university, I knew I had to reconcile these two halves of me. They were not in conflict with each other, but were rather the two legs on which I would find my way forward. Early this year, I woke up one morning and had an epiphany. I would reclaim my Manobo identity, and view the world from its perspective, to seek both courage and clarity of vision. And it came. My region, CARAGA, is the poorest in our country, next only to our neighbor, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM. So, on February first, ten days before I took office, I went up the mountain to a place called Sitio Mahayahay. In the early morning, in Mahayahay, I took my oath of office as the 22nd UP President before the children of the Lumad. It was a symbolic act. But it was important to me. Oddly enough, in Bisaya, Mahayahay means comfortable, but life there is tough. It is a poverty-stricken, conflict-ridden hamlet located north of Butuan City. I was told, in fact, that a few days before I came, a firefight occurred in that area between government and communist forces. There could be worse places in the country, but I personally know of no place that symbolizes marginalization from the life of the nation—politically, economically and socially—more than the life of the Lumads in Mahayahay. Jimenez symbolically takes his oath as UP President in the mountains of a conflict-ridden place called Mahayahay in Butuan. “I was always there as a little boy. I took my oath before the children of the Lumad. I wanted to, in my own little way, remind UP where its ultimate loyalty belongs,” he says. Photo courtesy of Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) Strategic Communications Office. I wanted to remind UP, by taking my oath there, where its loyalty should ultimately lie. I needed to take that powerful lesson to heart. Despite the early morning chill, I had never felt so warm. I was, after all, among my people. Despite the fog that covered the hills, I had never felt such clarity. There, high up in those lovely hills, among the poorest of our people, from the outside looking in, I grasped what I had long suspected about our beloved university. And it came in the form of three great moral paradoxes. The first paradox is that the University of the Philippines was founded to provide leaders for the nation. And indeed we have, among the 300,000 alumni who preceded you today. We have produced the most Presidents, the most number of Chief Justices of the Supreme Court, Senate Presidents and Speakers of the House. Throughout the government bureaucracy, you will find our graduates in responsible positions. In the private sector, you will find captains of industry among our alumni. In fact, among the richest Filipinos, you will find UP graduates. No other University in the country comes close to our dominant position in national life. And yet, after over a hundred years since our founding as the national university, and still today the only national university in the broadest sense, we find ourselves in one of the most inequitable societies in the world. We would be blind not to see that poverty, poor health, homelessness and hunger still stalk most of our people. This is an outrage and a ringing accusation against our own self-conceit as the best and the brightest, Iskolar ng Bayan, and University of the People. This is an existential threat to Filipino nationhood. No nation can long endure under the extreme inequalities we are witnessing today. The second moral paradox is that access to our university, which we love to call the University of the People, is very difficult for the people. Dedicated in our mind to the highest ideal of equality, are we, in fact, reinforcing and institutionalizing inequality? I estimate that about 60 percent of our students today come from private schools, as I did. And we all know that while our public secondary schools have produced some of our best students and alumni, there is a yawning gap today between the quality of public and private basic education, in favor of the latter. Our UPCAT is designed to select only the best, the elite among our high schools. What are the chances of the children of the lumad in Mahayahay of entering UP? Or of the children of Aetas and other lumads? Of the teeming masses of the poor huddled in cramped, under-invested public schools in the country today? There’s more. There are around 114 state colleges and universities today and one of them gets 20 percent of the national budget for higher education. You guessed it! That’s our UP. I have long stopped bragging that we are the nation’s top university. With that share of the budget, we might as well close down if we were not Number One. One might argue—and some have—that there is no moral justification for just one school, UP, to have such an inordinate share of the budget. Some even say it is because we are simply powerful. But there is actually one. As the national university, we are mandated under Republic Act 9500, the law revising the UP Charter, to lead in higher education. Have we? We all know that there is a huge gap overall between the quality of UP education and the rest of the SUCs. In fact, no other public tertiary educational institution in the Philippines has ever landed among the top 1000 in in global rankings. Have we simply run away with the biggest share of the national budget for higher education without doing what we could for others? I believe in democratic access to UP education. And I believe that it is best done by helping improve the quality of education in other SUCs. Would this not be more equitable? Would this not be more democratic access? Does one have to be in UP to have access to a UP-level education? At the same time, we can review UPCAT and our equity-excellence formulas to give our disadvantaged a better fighting chance. Finally, the third paradox is that the free education you enjoyed in UP today was not actually free. It was paid for by other people who might have needed it more. Every peso that was spent on your education was one peso less for another Filipino who might have been sick and could not afford to buy medicines. It was one peso less for housing for another Filipino who could not afford decent shelter. It was one peso less for a hungry Filipino who could not afford to buy food. It was one peso less for the education of another student your age who may have had to drop out of school entirely for lack of money. The free education you got from UP came from many people who needed it just as much if not more, and paid for it by enduring a lower quality of life. Dear graduates, throughout your UP years, the words “Honor” and “Excellence” have been drummed into your heads. For over a hundred years, we have pledged fealty to these two very personal ideals. But I ask you now—are these enough? All of us in UP bear a heavy moral burden to serve the Filipino people. Unless we do, honor and excellence are only for self-aggrandizement, and will mean little to our suffering compatriots. The sunflowers bloom in anticipation of the graduation season in UP Diliman, Quezon City. The planting and blossoming of the flowers have become part of the traditions of the University. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UP MPRO. When I look out my office in Quezon Hall at our green campus—and looking at you today—my heart swells with pride at what we have achieved. But when my thoughts go back to being that lumad on the mountain, gazing past the horizon to far Manila, I recall, with great trepidation, the great challenges and responsibilities that lie ahead of us. I did not mean to cast a pall on your graduation day but to reflect on what it means to be UP. I actually wanted to speak of hope. And a hopeful story is unfolding right this very instant. As you all know, last Tuesday, the Philippines National Women’s Football Team, better known as the Filipinas, beat host-country New Zealand 1-0 in the first round of this year’s FIFA World Cup. The whole world is talking about it now. The New Zealand Team, nicknamed the Ferns, ranked 26th in FIFA world standings, was way above our current rank of 46. In the game, they dominated with 70 percent ball possession. They were touted to win, we were not. In fact, as World Cup debutante, we were not expected to win at all. It took the Ferns 6 World Cup appearances to win their first match ever against former World Champions Norway last week. How did our team do it? There are three important lessons for all of us. First, by making the most of their chances. The Ferns dominated the game with 70 percent ball possession against our 30. They had 16 shots at goal, with 4 on target. We had 4, with only one, only one, on target. But that one hit the back of the net, to give us our first ever goal, our first ever win, and in our first ever appearance on the world’s biggest stage, the World Cup. I’ve watched that magical clip of Sarina Bolden’s four-against-one winning header. The exhilaration I felt could only be matched by the one I felt two decades ago when, as a hostage negotiator in Iraq, I finally, physically grabbed Filipino hostage Robert Tarongoy into freedom and safety right in the middle of the bloody streets of war-torn Baghdad. It was my own little, personal World-Cup-like moment. But the true prize for me was not a cheering crowd. It was way more precious. Mission accomplished for our nation, I could go back home to the loving arms of my wife and kids, alive. In Wellington a few days ago, the Filipinas tried to create many chances but, in the end, they managed to produce only one real chance. And that one chance was all they needed. In life, there will be precious few great chances. Maybe only one. Maybe none at all, if you will simply wait for it. We should strive for own World Cup moment. When it comes, grab it by the scruff of the neck. Second, by making themselves invincible. The Ferns never scored against us. So, another way of looking at 70 percent possession by the other side is that our defense was under pressure 70 percent of the time, and withstood the withering fire. I have no doubt that your UP education has made you strong, resourceful, and resolute. Yours is a generation that survived the ravages of the first ever truly global pandemic in human history. For over two years, you were all isolated from each other. That was not easy. Humans are essentially social beings, and their social nature has been key to the survival of the species throughout history. Isolation is the enemy. We have never survived serious challenges alone. Your generation has broken the isolation brought about by the pandemic by your mastery of technology that enabled us to keep our connection with each other. Social media and information technology may have redefined social interaction, but you have made it achieve its social purpose. It has also enabled all of you not only to graduate but prepare for life in the digital age. Against the challenges of the COVID pandemic, your defense held, like the Filipinas on world’s greatest sporting stage. Third, the Filipinas wanted to win more. Against a stronger side, this is absolutely required. The Filipinas had the proper motivation. One of the most competitive elements of an athlete is mental toughness. The most amazing part of the Filipinas victory is that they just came in from a 2-0 loss in their first game against a strong Swiss team. They quickly put that behind them, adjusted, and came out more determined in the next game. And won. This is perhaps the most important lesson we can learn from the Filipinas. We will always have our losses in life. But we take our defeats, learn our lessons, and move on to the next challenge trying to do better. These are not new insights. In fact, this is ancient wisdom. Be strong, take risks, be motivated. Most of all, succeed not just for yourself, but for the many others whose lives and spirits will be uplifted by the good you do. Di lang tayo dapat Iskolar ng Bayan kundi Iskolar Para sa Bayan. Serve the people. Wala nang mas tatayog pa sa adhikaing ito para sa ating lahat: paglingkuran ang sambayanan! Mabuhay kayo, mabuhay ang UP, at mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Ato ini, kadiyawon ta! |
https://up.edu.ph/welcome-and-introduction-by-president-jimenez-of-malaysian-prime-minister-anwar-ibrahim/ | Welcome and Introduction by President Jimenez of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim – University of the Philippines | Welcome and Introduction by President Jimenez of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim Welcome and Introduction by President Jimenez of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim March 2, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Welcome and Introduction by UP President Angelo A. Jimenez for the Honorary Degree Conferment Ceremony of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim 2 March 2023, UP Theater, UP Diliman University of the Philippines President Angelo A. Jimenez delivering his welcome address and introduction of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UPMPRO). Your Excellency Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Charge d’Affaires Mr. Mohammad Fareed Zakaria, Esteemed Members of the Board of Regents, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo and Chancellors of our Constituent Universities, To the Presidents of the State Universities and Colleges, Members of the Faculty, Administration, Students, Ladies and Gentlemen: I feel deeply honored to welcome you to the University of the Philippines—our country’s first and only national university to be so designated. That is because UP, as we call ourselves, represents the noblest of our people’s aspirations. It is home to the minds that shape our nation, and today those minds open themselves to yours—as we open our hearts as well to your party, who have so graciously chosen to visit us. Of course we are pleasantly aware that for Your Excellency, this is a kind of homecoming, having come to visit UP as a young student leader to seek the counsel of the late and beloved University Professor Emeritus Cesar Adib Majul, our foremost expert in Islamic studies. This campus would have been quite different then—a bit less crowded perhaps, given the many new buildings and facilities we have since erected. But what has not changed is the strong and unquenchable spirit of liberal and nationalist education that you would have found in UP then. That spirit has survived many challenges throughout the decades, as you yourself, Excellency, have survived and prevailed over the many vicissitudes of your political life. And thus we feel bound in spirit to your own youthful idealism, your courage, and your lifelong quest for freedom, justice, and prosperity—not just for Malaysia but for a renewed, aware, and vibrant Asia. The Philippines and Malaysia share a long and special kinship—one of blood and culture—beyond the politics and economics of the present. Our countries both emerged from colonial rule determined to claim our rightful place in the community of modern and progressive nations. We each have met with our own successes and our own setbacks. And while we cannot easily prescribe one’s solution for the other, given the differences in our societies and historical experience, it is clear that we are beset by many of the same problems—corruption in government, selective justice, socioeconomic inequality, food security, and environmental destruction, among others. There is much room and reason for our political, business, and academic leaders to engage in fruitful dialogue, and I hope that your visit today will result in new modes of cooperation between our countries and our universities. And now it is my great privilege to introduce our guest of honor to the UP community. Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim is the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia—a position for which his prior exposure to a broad range of government positions and responsibilities has prepared him well. Previously, he served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1993 to 1998 and Minister of Finance from 1991 to 1998, before which he served as Minister of Education in 1986, Minister of Agriculture in 1984, and Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports in 1983. Respected for his unyielding stance against corruption and his management of the Malaysian economy during the turbulent financial crisis of 1997, Anwar has been internationally recognized for his bold and dynamic leadership. Euromoney named him one of the world’s top four finance ministers in 1993, and in 1996 Asiamoney named him Finance Minister of the Year. In 1998, Newsweek voted him Asian of the Year. The awards reflect the effectiveness and impact of Anwar’s financial stewardship. During his tenure as Finance Minister, Malaysia enjoyed unprecedented prosperity and economic growth despite the instability rocking the regional economy. He backed free market principles and highlighted the issue of the proximity of business and politics in Malaysia. He advocated greater accountability, declined to offer government bailouts, and instituted widespread spending cuts. Anwar was Chairman of the Development Committee of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in 1998. During his tenure, he strongly endorsed debt cancellation initiatives and reprieves for emerging countries, particularly Africa. Sadly, he has been made to pay a steep personal price for his unflinching principles. His calls for further reform in 1998 led to his dismissal from government. Subsequently he was tried and imprisoned on charges that were eventually overturned by the Malaysian Supreme Court, and he was finally released from solitary confinement in 2004. Imprisoned once more in 2015 on what were widely deplored to be political grounds, Anwar was pardoned by King Sultan Muhammad V in 2018. Anwar Ibrahim stood and won as a Pakatan Harapan coalition candidate in the general election of 2022, and was sworn in as Prime Minister by King Al-Sultan Abdullah on November 23, 2022. He has lectured at many of the world’s leading universities, and is an internationally renowned expert on Jose Rizal and on economics, democracy, freedom, governance, Islam and democracy, and the need for accountability in government. He was appointed Honorary President of the London-based group AccountAbility and Chairman of the Beirut-based Foundation for the Future. Anwar is also an advisor to the People’s Justice Party (Keadilan) in Malaysia. May I add, however, that this brief political biography hardly does justice to the intellectual and visionary within the politician. For beneath Anwar Ibrahim’s sharp sense of financial management lies a deep well of moral rectitude, a belief in right and wrong that seems to have deserted many of today’s political pragmatists. Much of that derives from his strong religious faith—which, unlike the West, he does not see as being incompatible with the needs and priorities of modern society. To him, this is a native strength that can be harnessed toward an Asian Renaissance. Like Jose Rizal, who self-identified as “Malayo-Tagalog” and who was a keen student of the cultural and linguistic connections between Malays and his own countrymen, Anwar appreciates the West as a source of knowledge but cautions against neglecting or yielding our cultural specificity. At the same time, he has championed a more inclusive and pluralistic Malaysia, arguing—and here I quote from his book on The Asian Renaissance—“not for mere tolerance, but rather for the active nurturing of alternative views. This would necessarily include lending a receptive ear to the voices of the politically oppressed, the socially marginalized, and the economically disadvantaged. Ultimately, the legitimacy of a leadership rests as much on moral uprightness as it does on popular support.” When I accepted the presidency of this great university not one month ago, I said that in addition to our most cherished ideals of Honor and Excellence, I wanted to add “kindness,” at least under my administration, as a measure and manifestation of our shared humanity. I am encouraged to find in his book that Prime Minister Anwar also seeks to foster “Justice, Virtue, and Compassion.” This is the humanist at the core of the man speaking—the young activist and sometime student of literature who never forgot that at the heart of all our efforts toward development lies the most human yearnings for freedom, happiness, and dignity. Ladies and gentleman, I give you His Excellency, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) and UP President Angelo Jimenez (center) share the stage alongside the members of the UP Board of Regents during the conferment ceremony. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UPMPRO). For more photos of the Conferment of the Honorary Degree on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, please click here. |
https://up.edu.ph/honor-and-excellence-in-a-digital-national-university/ | Honor and Excellence in a Digital National University – University of the Philippines | Honor and Excellence in a Digital National University Honor and Excellence in a Digital National University February 23, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Angelo A. Jimenez 22nd President University of the Philippines 10 February 2023 UP President Angelo A. Jimenez delivering his speech at the Turnover Ceremony for the Presidency of the University of the Philippines on February 10, 2023, at the Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. President Danilo Concepcion, members of the Board of Regents; and the officials of our University; the faculty, staff, and alumni present; the students of our eight constituent universities; distinguished guests; magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. Please allow me to begin by extending my gratitude to President Danny and the officials of the University who have graciously assisted myself and my team for the past few weeks as we have prepared for this day. Our goal is to hit the ground running from Day One, and I believe we are in a position to do that because of your help. To all of you, daghang salamat, and thank you for your service to the University. I am especially grateful to President Danny — or Danny the Builder as I like to call him — for all the work you have done in your six-year tenure as UP President. All of us are challenged to leave this world a little better than we found it; when President Concepcion assumed office six years ago, he took this to heart — and he will leave the University much, much better than when he found it. Walk around this campus and that is self- evident. Thank you very much, Mr. President; and thank you, Gabby, for sharing him with us these past six years. Our country has just weathered a global pandemic that has triggered massive disruptions in business, technology, labor, and education. These have upended conventional thinking and compelled humankind to hurriedly adapt to and accept new realities. In this day and age, higher education institutions (HEIs) cannot be parochial and self-absorbed. HEIs need to acquire a global consciousness in carrying their mandates. We need to look at the developments of the immediate past and prepare ourselves for a future in which the pace of innovation is — as AI is teaching us — faster than the speed of thought. With this as background, the University of the Philippines is envisioned in the next six years to be at the forefront of transformative scientific, cultural, and artistic pedagogy, research, and public service in local and global communities. Our mission is to foster efficacy, effectivity, and efficiency through transdisciplinary engagements in teaching, research, and public service. Ang UP ay mananatiling bulwagan ng dangal at ipagpapatuloy natin ang simulain nito tungo sa husay at dangal. But honor and excellence are not enough. Aanhin ang husay at dangal kung walang malasakit at kung walang pakikipag-kapwa tao? A transformative UP means no individual or small group effort would probe enough to offer a sound alternative to the complexities we are facing. Though coming from various backgrounds and enjoying disparate privileges, UP has provided and will always provide its constituencies with a common ground to overcome our differences. A passion for knowledge production brought us together and has given us a sense of belonging, which is a strong ground to negotiate between the legacy we share and the future we envision, to better serve our academic community and the world we live in. This is the cornerstone of our first line of action: pumailanlang, pumalaot. Pumailanlang, Pumalaot is pakikipag-ugnayan, which entails a call for communion. It is a commitment to recognize and respect each other’s worth. And in this sense, we will champion the following: First, engagement in Transdisciplinary Research, which is also an attempt to end the silo mentality. We must conduct more collaborative research and creative projects among disciplines and among constituent universities, with an agenda of creating translational research that will benefit the country and our people. At the end of the day, the general public should and will always be the target audience of our research. It is our obligation to convert scientific, social scientific, and artistic research into practical programs that will uplift the lives of the Filipino people. We have to build strong bridges within and between CUs. In our current reality, no single discipline nor single campus is able to provide holistic and comprehensive solutions to the problems confronted by an ever- changing world. We have to promote and encourage greater interaction and dialogue among UP constituents, such as institutionalization of research programs or curation of creative projects that engage the sciences and the arts in solving social concerns and critically interrogating social issues. Second, let us also build a stronger pakikipag-ugnayan with our alumni because they are an integral part of the UP community. Their role in providing resources to UP is invaluable. However, they are more than a source of much-needed funds; they are role models for our students. They may also serve as mentors to our students or they can be co-facilitators in extension programs and public services. Our alumni are also our international ambassadors — showing the world what “Honor” and ‘Excellence” with compassion means. Third, UP must also move forward towards the direction of the 21st century education by building and crossing bridges towards digital technology. UP needs to digitally transform learning in order to be responsive to the period of rapid change in an increasingly globalized environment. In this regard, UP in the next six years will critically participate in the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and we will journey towards the transformation of a learner-centered digital University. To make this a bit more concrete, digital transformation in the UP context means: Differentiated and personalized learning: the tailoring of learning content, processes and activities to match each learners ability level. Digital learning resources: the creation of digital resources that engage students in learning activities and support students’ learning goal. Global and remote learning: learning from anywhere and at any time. Administrative efficiencies: the greater use of data science in decision making. I imagine our CUs and campuses enjoying high-speed networks and the enhanced digital competence of our faculty and staff. One of the goals of digital transformation is to create compelling digital content in education that include current, relevant, and accurate information that are aligned to the highest quality standards. These user- friendly digital content will be made available to all UP students, regardless of what CU they are enrolled in. As part of our extension service, we will happily share the digital course content that we will develop with other SUCs. Our digital transformation initiative will also expand and make it easier for our students to cross-enroll in other CUs. Fourth, as a national university, we must also help the nation by reaching out to the state universities and colleges in the regions. With its resources, UP is better armed as a teaching, research, and public service university as compared to its fellow SUCs. As such, we must extend “honor and excellence” to the SUCs by ways of consortium or by assisting in capacity buildings or by sending our experts to aid them in academic program development. Fifth, reaching out to our administrative staff members is also a very important aspect of this agenda of pakikipag-ugnayan. We will review the benefits our staff members receive. We will also sit down with the Department of Budget and Management and the Civil Service Commission to address personnel and regularization issues on an institutional level. The second major plan of action is a take on pride of place. We have to envision a UP where spaces are safe, nurturing, shared, connected, and sustainable. This is an opportunity to think of UP as a means to transform spaces into places with meaning and memories. Emplacement is historically and culturally wired; our existence is embodied in space and time. A place has history. It also articulates cultural memory, and in the case of UP, it is an extension of a long history of intellectual, scientific, and artistic traditions. Pride of place plays an important role in identifying and supporting place- based policy, which includes environmental governance mechanisms. Pride of place entails community spirit, confidence in an area, and standing up for the community in the face of adversity. The ultimate goal is to involve everyone in the disposition of, “I care, and I want to improve this place.” We have to maintain UP as an ideal space of learning. Our digital national university will not only be an ideal place to learn, it will also be an ideal place to live and play. Our campuses will be green oases — the lungs of the communities that host them. We will set targets towards carbon neutrality, and in developing our campuses we will abide by the International Good Practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure. Our campuses will also serve as refuge for weary souls that will be rejuvenated though art and culture. UP campuses will be arts hubs. We have to maximize the use of spaces. Our campuses are good venues of found-space performances, site-specific exhibitions, community gatherings and socializations. With our sense of paglulugar, pagpopook, we are able to craft a system- wide arts and culture policy that will cement UPs place as the leader in arts education, culture promotion, and cultural centers in communities that hosts our campuses. Consequently, paglulugar, pagpopook will also develop a work environment that lead to fulfilling professional lives and improved well- being. It is also about the provision of resources that the faculty and staff members need to deliver excellent results. Hence, we will continue to invest in our human resources — our most important asset. Immediately, we will create a more transparent and accountable selection process for incentives and rewards; work to increase faculty and staff non-wage benefits; and develop a program to help our retirees transition to the new lives. In the end, paglulugar, pagpopook is also pride in people and pride in their contribution no matter how big or small. Finally, UP has molded and shaped its students. Its faculty and researchers have innovated and constructed new knowledge. At the same time, UP continuously gives back to the communities. We will continue to perform its unique and distinctive leadership in higher education and national development. The hallmark of UP in the next six years will be service to the nation. I sincerely believe that service to the nation is not simply on top of what we do, nor is it something that we should do on a voluntary basis. Service to the nation is constitutive of who we are and what we do. Together, we will work towards a UP that is more engaged with the nation. As a national university our responsibility is to meet the needs of society in order to help create sustainable and inclusive human development. We will continue to be focused on the development of an enlightened and engaged citizenry and a more specialized, practical education for development. We cannot be satisfied with knowledge for knowledge’s sake. Our role does not end in producing graduates with 21st century skills. We need to go beyond undertaking research and policy advice on improving national governance, making the economy stronger, or creating a sustainable ecosystem. In this sense, we will work to intensify: Knowledge co-creation or the joint production of innovation with the private sector, civil society organizations, and communities themselves; and Service learning: “An educational approach that combines learning objectives with community service in order to provide a pragmatic, progressive learning experience while meeting societal needs.” We will embrace our national identity but aspire to be a global university that asks the consequential questions of our time and, acting locally, strives to address the serious issues confronting the country and the world. UP will remain a bastion of academic freedom for the simple reason that we cannot achieve excellence without it. And part of it is a commitment to continue honing and supporting all forms of knowledge productions: scientific, social-scientific, creative or artistic, professional, and local or indigenous knowledge. The usual knowledge produced by the sciences and the humanities in the formal “Western” education paradigm must not be conceived as the pinnacle of learning. Engagement with indigenous knowledge or what we call the kaalamang bayan is an opportunity to understand that the world is more complicated than how these traditional classroom subjects provide. We are global yet we are very rooted to our indigenous worldviews. We are shaped by the challenges and crises that confront us. Our recent crises have tested our pedagogical modalities, our creative practices, our research projects, and even our physical and mental health. Nonetheless, these have also forced open windows of opportunities for our faculty and students to survive, to strive, and to thrive. And UP will continue to be an enabler so that they continue to do just that. In the end, UP will continue to be strong, courageous, critical, and nurturing because we are guided by our vision, our mission, and our values. Our UP Nating Mahal will continue to ensure diversity, inclusivity, and respect as driving forces towards honor, excellence, kindness, and compassion. The Filipino people deserve no less. Maraming salamat po. Mabuhay ang UP; mabuhay ang pag-asa ng bayan! Watch some the highlights of President Angelo A. Jimenez’s speech via the video above. Video shot and edited by Al Nikko M. Nagutom, UP MPRO. |
https://up.edu.ph/tv70-up-looks-back-on-70-years-of-philippine-television/ | TV@70: UP looks back on 70 years of Philippine television – University of the Philippines | TV@70: UP looks back on 70 years of Philippine television TV@70: UP looks back on 70 years of Philippine television December 13, 2023 | Written by Louie Jon A. Sánchez The University of the Philippines Department of Broadcast Communication (UP DBC) closed its year-long celebration of 70 years of Philippine television this November with several activities. The department spearheaded a lecture on long-form narratives in the age of algorithm and Tik-tok; launched an exhibit of short documentaries on local TV experiences; and conducted a roundtable discussion on radical television “in the time of crisis.” UP DBC Lecturer Dorian Merina delivered a talk titled “Countering the Algorithm: Is There Space for Long-Form Media in a Tik-Tok World?” on November 13, 2023. He emphasized the importance of cultivating long-form media amidst the proliferation of short-form content and platforms, both of which also tend to be influenced by algorithms. The Columbia University-educated lecturer asserted that there is currently an increasing demand for longform content, such as full-length articles and multimedia reportage. Apparently, consumers are also looking for depth, contrary to the popular belief that media culture nowadays is constricted by the public’s short attention span. “Shorter and faster trends in broadcast media promise to amplify new voices and reach audiences. . . it is not only possible, but critical, to produce and engage with long-form media to better serve our communities,” the Batanes-based Filipino-American lecturer underlined in his abstract. Meanwhile, UP DBC launched “TV sa Tabi-tabi: Maiiksing Dokumentaryo ng Danas TV ng mga Pilipino” on November 17, 2023. The exhibit mounted at the UP College of Mass Communication lobby featured videos produced by undergraduate students of the UP DBC’s Broadcast Media and Arts Studies program. The videos offered first-person accounts of TV viewing habits, recollections, and reflections. “In addition, this exhibit examines television as object, text and practice, urging us to ruminate on the technological, political-economic, sociocultural, and ontological realities that define and are defined by televisual engagement,” stated the Department in the exhibit’s brief. The exhibit, which ran until December 1, 2023, consisted of an iconic couch where visitors sat to watch; a TV monitor from which the documentaries were viewed; and some panels offering discourses on television, such as a poem by Joi Barrios, and popular culture as power articulations by the late National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera. Lastly, the roundtable discussion, “Radical Television in the Time of Crisis”, on November 17, 2023, surveyed the ever-changing terrain of broadcast media and explored current trends and perspectives in emergent televisualities. The panelists included: Benson Logronio, writer of GMA Network’s hit TV series Maria Clara at Ibarra; Jervis Manahan, ABS-CBN News reporter and teacher; Nick Santiago, Arcade Film Factory founder, partner, and commercial director; Eji Santos, IUGO Mobile Entertainment software developer and game designer; and Joelle Yuvienco, voice artist, host, and creator of the “Papaano Kung” Podcast. UP DBC’s year-long celebration, titled “Panonood at Pagtatanod: Paggunita sa ika-70 taon ng Telebisyon sa Pilipinas”, marked the sterling seven decades of Philippine Television, which began in 1953 with the first television broadcast of Alto Broadcasting System (later to become ABS-CBN). It was one of the few commemorations undertaken in Philippine academia. The celebrations kicked off in March 2023 with a colloquium on children’s television in the Philippines. It was followed by a conversation on “streaming unsettling televisuality”. The activities were supported by the UP Diliman Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (OICA), and streamed at the department-managed DZUP 1602 khz. In 2022, UP DBC also marked the centenary of Philippine broadcasting, capping it with a virtual national conference. It also hosted several colloquial and roundtable discussions, as well as aired select broadcast productions marking the event. Louie Jon A. Sánchez is an Associate Professor of Broadcast Communication at the College of Mass Communication, University of the Philippines Diliman, where he teaches critical theory, broadcast history, media research, and gender and sexuality in media. |
https://up.edu.ph/aupaeu-end-terror-tagging-of-unionists-and-activists-resume-peace-talks/ | AUPAEU: End Terror-tagging of Unionists and Activists! Resume Peace Talks! – University of the Philippines | AUPAEU: End Terror-tagging of Unionists and Activists! Resume Peace Talks! AUPAEU: End Terror-tagging of Unionists and Activists! Resume Peace Talks! December 5, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Statement of All UP Academic Employees Union on the Red-Tagging Spree of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa December 2, 2023 The All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) condemns the recent terror-tagging of its members in a senate hearing held last November 29, 2023. The said hearing purportedly investigates the alleged recruitment of student activists in universities to take up arms and join the communist insurgency. This kind of theatrics, played, on the one hand, by characters whose names are tainted with their record of human rights abuses and, on the other, by dubious rebel surrenderees, has been staged since the regime of Rodrigo Duterte and has been constantly replayed up to the regime of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. What occasions like this have so far done is to vilify and terror-tag activists and unionists, rather than address the socio-economic and political factors that fuel the raging fire of communist insurgency in the country. The senate hearing last Wednesday only replays the intent to vilify and terror-tag, evidenced by the mention of the names of two academics who also happen to be members of the AUPAEU. The AUPAEU condemns the act of terror-tagging in the strongest possible terms. The hearing last Wednesday was not the first incident where academics from the University of the Philippines are terror-tagged. There have been several instances in the past where union members and academics were terror-tagged, merely because of their commitment to a pro-people and emancipatory scholarship. Not only does terror-tagging dangerously put the lives of activists, unionists, and even academics at risk, but also blur the root-causes of societal problems by identifying convenient scapegoats. The union is deeply alarmed as terror-tagging has often been a prelude to more and intense forms of harassment, including the filing of trumped-up charges, arrests, abductions, and even killings. The AUPAEU reiterates its call to the University of the Philippines to urgently act on the demands of various sectors of the University to create a system-wide Committee for the Protection of Academic Freedom and Human Rights. As the political situation in the country has continued to worsen, a committee such as this could effectively mobilize the needed institutional support to protect its various stakeholders from harassments and attacks and at the same time take proactive measures to ensure the safety of its researchers, academics, and students whose commitment to an emancipatory and pro-people scholarship has been terror-tagged by the state. An enduring peace is built on social justice. Terror-tagging should not have a place under a principled process of negotiations pursuing a just and enduring peace. The academic union challenges the Marcos Jr. regime to act in good faith in its intent to talk peace with the communists. Just days before the senate hearing, the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines have agreed to resume their peace negotiations. The Marcos Jr. regime cannot pretend to talk peace while continuing the campaign of suppression of supposed state enemies. The AUPAEU strongly supports the opportunity in resuming the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). |
https://up.edu.ph/up-offices/ | UP Offices – University of the Philippines | UP Offices UP announces December benefits for employees For the last month of the year, faculty and staff of the University of the Philippines (UP) will receive... Read More UP statement on the procurement of network infrastructures The UP System administration clarifies that the procurement of network infrastructures at the level of both the System and constituent... Read More Call for Papers: 5th Biennial International Conference of the Consortium for Southeast Asian Studies in Asia The Asian Center of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman is calling for paper submissions to the 5th Biennial... Read More PCCA Lantern-making Contest 2023 Calling all UP Creatives! As we approach the Christmas 2023 Season, let’s celebrate and showcase cultural diversity through lanterns! With... Read More BOR approves appointment of five new UP System officials During the 1384th meeting of the University of the Philippines (UP) Board of Regents (BOR) held at Quezon... Read More UP increases economic benefits for regular employees Starting January 2024, regular employees of the University of the Philippines (UP) will get an additional P1,500 to the... Read More Load More |
https://up.edu.ph/pamamahayag-bilang-pagmamalasakit-ilang-tala-hinggil-sa-some-people-need-killing/ | Pamamahayag bilang pagmamalasakit: Ilang tala hinggil sa ‘Some People Need Killing’ – University of the Philippines | Pamamahayag bilang pagmamalasakit: Ilang tala hinggil sa ‘Some People Need Killing’ Pamamahayag bilang pagmamalasakit: Ilang tala hinggil sa ‘Some People Need Killing’ December 7, 2023 | Written by Kenneth Roland A. Guda Estudyante pa lang si Patricia Evangelista ng Speech Communication sa College of Arts and Letters sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman nang tumampok ang pangalan niya sa pandaigdigang entablado. Sa edad na 18, noong 2004, sumali si Patricia at nagwagi sa International Public Speaking Championship sa London, United Kingdom. Sa kanyang talumpati, pinamagatang “Blonde and Blue Eyes”, pinagdiwang niya ang mga Pilipinong nasa labas ng bansa, nakakalat sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng “mundong walang hangganan” (“borderless world”). Sa kanyang librong Some People Need Killing: A Memoir of Murder in My Country (2023, Random House), binalikan ni Evangelista ang talumpating ito. Sa paghirang niya sa mga Pilipinong nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa, aniya, hindi niya nabanggit—o hindi niya alam—na nangingibang bansa ang mga Pilipino dahil sa kawalan ng oportunidad sa sariling bansa. “That many of those laborers had been forced into contracts abroad for the sake of starving families at home was a fact that I glossed over,” aniya. Gayunman, naging hudyat ang katanyagang ito ng isang karera sa midya. Noong 2006, bilang kolumnista para sa Philippine Daily Inquirer, isa si Evangelista sa pinakamasugid na sumubaybay sa kaso ng pagdukot ng militar sa dalawa niyang kaeskuwela sa UP: ang mga aktibistang sina Karen Empeño at Sherlyn Cadapan. Sinubaybayan din niya ang iba pang kaso ng mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao sa ilalim ng administrasyong Arroyo—sinundan, halimbawa, ang mga nanay na naghahanap ng kanilang nawawalang mga mahal-sa-buhay, kumakatok sa tarangkahan ng iba’t ibang kampo at opisina ng militar at gobyerno, para lang pagbagsakan ng mga pinto. Malayo ito sa “borderless world” na inakala noon ni Evangelista. Taong 2016, investigative reporter na siya para sa Rappler. Hasa na siya sa isang dekadang pagsubaybay sa mga isyung pangkarapatang pantao nang masabak sa pagkober sa madugong giyera kontra droga ng administrasyong Duterte. Ang karanasan ni Evangelista sa pagsubaybay sa giyerang ito ang naging bulto ng nilalaman ng Some People Need Killing. Mula sa paghirang ng New York Times at New Yorker sa kanyang libro bilang isa sa pinakamahusay ng taong 2023, muling nasabak sa pandaigdigang pagkilala si Evangelista. Sa pagkakataong ito, inabot niya ang pambihirang antas ng pagkilala. Pero, mas mahalaga, lalong naipapalaganap ang mga kuwento ng lagim ng giyera kontra droga ng administrasyong Duterte. Mas mahalaga, lalong naipapalaganap ang kawalan ng hustisya sa mga biktima. Nagsisimula ang libro sa pagpapaliwanag ng awtor sa personal niyang kasaysayan at perspektiba, at iniugnay ito sa kasaysayan ng bansa. Mabagal ang pag-usad ng bahaging ito, pero esensiyal na bahagi ng pag-unawa sa sumunod na mga desisyon ni Evangelista kaugnay ng pagsubaybay sa mga kuwento ng mga biktima ng (at kalahok sa) giyera kontra droga. Sa paglalahad ng mga kuwento pinakamakapangyarihan ang libro. Bagama’t minantine niya ang distansiya ng mamamahayag sa kanyang sabdyek, malinaw ang pagmamalasakit ni Evangelista sa mga biktima at kaanak. Malay ang awtor na nakatuntong ang giyera sa pagbubura ng pagkatao ng mga binabansagang “adik” at “tulak,” sa dehumanization at brutalidad ng mga institusyon ng estado sa mga maralitang itinuturing ng estado na latak ng lipunan. Kung kaya, pansin sa kanyang naratibo ang sadyang pagbawi ng pagkatao nila—sa pamamagitan ng paglalarawan sa kanila bilang mga magulang, anak o asawa, mga mamamayang di kaiba sa mambabasa. Sa pagitan ng mga naratibong ito, may pagpapasilip si Evangelista sa mga posibilidad ng paglaban—ang aktuwal na paglaban sa brutalidad, hindi ang pekeng “nanlaban” —ng mga mamamayang tulad ni Normy Lopez at iba pang pamilyang tumindig, nagsalita, nagreklamo at ipinaglaban ang dignidad ng kanilang mga anak, kapatid, asawa, marami pa na nilapastangan ng giyera ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Sa kabila nito, ipinakita rin niya na bulnerable ang mga maralita sa pandarahas, panunuyo, panunuhol o pagkapagod—na siyang natural na bahagi ng mga paglaban. Sana lang, may naipakita pa ang libro na iba pang mukha ng mga biktimang tumitindig, dahil tiyak nating marami sila. May bahagi sa libro hinggil sa mga dating tagasuporta ni Duterte at ng kanyang madudugong kampanya. Ipinakita ang sarili nilang paglaban bilang akto ng pagsusumamo sa kanilang mga “kasalanan” bilang dating tagasuporta ng dating pangulo. Konsistent ito sa Katolikong tradisyon ng paghingi ng patawad. Sa bahaging ito, sinasabi sa atin ng awtor na umaasa siyang mababatid din ng karamihan ang katotohanan sa likod ng pekeng naratibo ng dating pangulo. Mahalaga ito, dahil sa panahong nagpapatuloy pa rin ang pandarahas at pagsisinungaling, madaling malulong sa kawalan-ng-pag-asa. Mainam na pasalamatan natin si Evangelista na tila hindi pa siya nawawalan ng pag-asa sa ating bayan. Mahalaga rin ang ilang bahagi ng libro na mistulang leksiyon sa semantikong paglalaro ng rehimen para linlangin ang mga mamamayan. Sa pagitan ng mga kuwento, panaka-nakang itinuturo ng manunulat kung papaanong binangkarote ni Duterte (at Marcos) ang wika para itago ang totoo: hindi pagsalba ang “salvage”, hindi paglaban ang “nanlaban”, at iba pa. Sa mga mambabasang artikulado at aral sa kapangyarihan ng wika, madaling masapol ang puntong ito ni Evangelista. Bahagi ng paglaban para sa katotohanan at kabutihan ang pagbawi sa ating wika bilang artikulasyon ng ating tunay na kalagayan, katangian at pangarap. Pero abstrakto ito sa marami. Mas malinaw at kongkreto ang paglaban kung malinaw sa ating isipan ang katangian ng kalaban. Higit kay Duterte (o kahit kay Marcos Jr. at Sr.), matagal nang nakalatag ang sistema ng brutalidad sa mga maralita. May direktang linya, halimbawa, na nag-uugnay sa giyera kontra droga at giyera kontra insurhensiya. Matagal nang nakatanim sa isipan ng mga nasa kapangyarihan at armadong puwersa ng estado ang ideolohiya ng dehumanization, adik man siya, tulak, rebelde o komunista. Mainam sanang maipakita o mabanggit ang ugnayang ito. Mayroon naman sa libro, pero hindi malinaw at kulang. Mainam din kung maipapakita ang batayan sa tunggalian ng mga uri ng brutalidad ng rehimen. “Are you going to shoot fellow Filipinos?” tanong ng mga mamamayang nag-alsa sa EDSA noong 1986 sa mga sundalo ni Marcos Sr. Ayon kay Evangelista, “oo” ang sagot dito ng mga Pilipino tatlong dekada matapos ang EDSA. “Kami ang mga Duterte,” sagot ng 16 milyong Pilipino. Pero hindi lang si Duterte ang naging tagapamandila ng brutalidad, at hindi lang ang kanyang giyera ang naging giyera sa mga maralita. Ang kaibahan ng EDSA at Tokhang: marami sa mga nasa kalsada noong 1986 ay mula sa panggitnang uri. Silang may kumpiyansa at artikulado, nakapag-aral at angat ang kabuhayan, mahirap baliwalain at tanggalan ng pagkatao. Sa kabilang banda, hindi mahirap ituring na mababa sa antas-tao ang mga maralita, adik, tulak, rebelde. Mainam sanang maiugat ang brutalidad ng giyera kontra droga sa historikal na panghahamak sa mga mamamayang nasa laylayan—sa pamamagitan man iyan ng mga polisiya sa ekonomiya o direktang paggamit ng dahas ng estado. Pero umaasa akong aabot din si Evangelista. Nasa tamang landas siya: ito ang landas ng pakikipagkapwa at pagmamalasakit sa mga maralitang sabdyek ng mga ulat niya. Malayo na ang inabot niya mula sa pagiging batang nangarap magkaroon ng blonde na buhok at asul na mata. Ipinakita niya sa librong Some People Need Killing ang sensitibidad ng isang mamamahayag na may pakialam sa kanyang mga kababayan, at may poot sa mga marahas at mapagsamantala. Anu’t anuman, mahalagang babasahin ang librong ito bilang dokumento ng barbarismo ng nakaraang administrasyon. Mahalaga ito dahil nagpapatuloy at umiigting ang brutalidad sa ating panahon. Malaking bahagi ng pag-unawa natin sa panahong ito ang ginawa ni Evangelista na pakikisimpatya sa mga biktima, paglulugar ng ating sarili sa kanilang kalagayan, at pagsilip sa mga posibilidad ng ating paglaban. Si Kenneth Roland Guda, 45, ang may akda ng “Peryodismo Sa Bingit: Mga Naratibong Ulat Sa Panahon Ng Digmaan At Krisis,” na nanalo sa Journalism category ng National Book Awards. Naging editor si Guda ng alternatibong newsmagazine na Pinoy Weekly, at naging senior reporter para sa Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Kasalukuyang bahagi si Guda ng UP Institute of Creative Writing. |
https://up.edu.ph/call-for-papers-5th-biennial-international-conference-of-the-consortium-for-southeast-asian-studies-in-asia/ | Call for Papers: 5th Biennial International Conference of the Consortium for Southeast Asian Studies in Asia – University of the Philippines | Call for Papers: 5th Biennial International Conference of the Consortium for Southeast Asian Studies in Asia Call for Papers: 5th Biennial International Conference of the Consortium for Southeast Asian Studies in Asia November 23, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The Asian Center of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman is calling for paper submissions to the 5th Biennial International Conference of the Consortium for Southeast Asian Studies in Asia (SEASIA), which will be held in UP Diliman on July 18 – 20, 2024. With the theme De/Centering Southeast Asia, the conference hopes to advance Southeast Asian scholarship by highlighting the diverse histories, cultures and societies in the region in papers and presentations. The event will also provide a venue for the discussions on possible new topics and efforts in studies on the region. For more information on the conference, you may view the Concept Note here. For details on the submissions, please check out the poster below. For questions or clarifications, you may contact the UP Conference Committee Secretariat via this email address: seasia2024.upd@up.edu.ph of this mobile number: 63-9623771709 (available for Viber, Whatsapp, Line and KakaoTalk) For updates on the conference, visit their website: seasia2024.upd.edu.ph, or follow their official Facebook page: facebook.com/SEASIA2024 |
https://up.edu.ph/presidents-corner/ | President’s Corner – University of the Philippines | President's Corner Statement of President Angelo Jimenez on the Bombing of Mindanao State University – Marawi The University of the Philippines stands in solidarity with Mindanao State University (MSU), after an explosion at the... Read More UP-UMA agree on increasing collaboration activities The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Universidad de Málaga (UMA) of Spain have agreed to strengthen linkages... Read More Readiness, operational research, and climate justice: UP President Jimenez’s key points in climate change discussions UP President Angelo A. Jimenez delivered the concluding remarks during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) University Leaders’ Forum held in... Read More UP President Jimenez’s October sojourn to the US “Far tho’ we wander o’er island yonder, Loyal thy sons we’ll ever be” So go the lines from the UP... Read More UP and PNOC sign MOU The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) have formalized their cooperation. PNOC counts on... Read More Possible UP-uOttawa collab areas discussed Biosurveillance, cybersecurity, and resilience. These were the possible areas of collaboration mentioned by UP President Angelo Jimenez (PAJ) to University... Read More Load More |
https://up.edu.ph/up-statement-on-the-procurement-of-network-infrastructures/ | UP statement on the procurement of network infrastructures – University of the Philippines | UP statement on the procurement of network infrastructures UP statement on the procurement of network infrastructures November 24, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The UP System administration clarifies that the procurement of network infrastructures at the level of both the System and constituent universities is ongoing. UP is still welcoming proposals from stakeholders and suppliers. All processes are being done in strict compliance with Republic Act No. 9184 and other procurement laws. The University remains committed to upholding all relevant regulations and to maintaining transparency and accountability in all procedures. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-announces-december-benefits-for-employees/ | UP announces December benefits for employees – University of the Philippines | UP announces December benefits for employees UP announces December benefits for employees December 20, 2023 | Written by Franco Gargantiel II For the last month of the year, faculty and staff of the University of the Philippines (UP) will receive the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) Incentive for Fiscal Year of 2023, a grant of up to Php30,000. According to Memorandum No. ACR 23-73 issued by UP Vice President for Administration Augustus Resurreccion on December 7, the CNA Incentive is sourced from the savings generated from the joint efforts of the University and the two unions, the All UP Workers Union (AUPWU) and the All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU), with the help of all UP faculty, REPS (research, extension, and professional staff) and administrative staff in accordance with DBM Budget Circular No. 23-1 dated November 10, 2023. The CNA Incentive will be given to all regular full-time and part-time UP faculty, REPS and administrative staff who: have rendered at least a total or an aggregate of four months of service as of December 2023; are members of the AUPWU and AUPAEU; are non-members of the AUPWU and AUPAEU but want to enjoy or accept benefits under the CAN and who perform managerial functions (i.e., University officials). Those who were separated from the University within the year and had rendered at least four months of service within the year shall be entitled to the full amount of the CNA Incentive. However, those who were separated from the University within the year and had rendered less than four months of service shall be entitled only to a pro-rated 2023 CNA Incentive as follows: Length of Service Percentage of the 2023 CNA Incentive Amount 3 months but less than 4 months 75% Php22,500 2 months but less than 4 months 50% Php15,000 1 month but less than 4 months 25% Php7,500 Less than 1 month 10% Php3,000 As for those have rendered less than four months of service as of December 15, 2023, they too shall be entitled to a pro-rated 2023 CNA Incentive as follows: Length of Service Percentage of the 2023 CNA Incentive Amount 3 months but less than 4 months 75% Php22,500 2 months but less than 4 months 50% Php 15,000 1 month but less than 4 months 25% Php 7,500 Less than 1 month 10% Php 3,000 Part-time employees with employer-employee relations will also receive an amount in proportion to their workload, and months of service (e.g., part-time employees with four months and above shall receive Php15,000). SRI Incentive In addition to the CNA Incentive, UP faculty and staff will also receive the one-time Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) grant of Php20,000, to be given to government employees in the executive branch. This was authorized by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., accordance with Administrative Order (AO) No. 12 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin on December 7. Qualified for the PhP20,000 SRI are civilian personnel in national government agencies including those in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs), occupying regular, contractual or casual positions. On the other hand, President Marcos approved under Administrative Order No. 13 the grant of a one-time gratuity pay of not more than Php5,000 each for contract of service (COS) and job order (JO) (government employees who have rendered at least four months of actual satisfactory performance of service, as stipulated in their respective contracts as of December 15, and whose contracts are still effective as of the same date. Rice Subsidy 4th Tranche Finally, UP faculty, REPS, and administrative staff will receive the fourth tranche of the 2023 rice subsidy in accordance with a memorandum from the UP VP for Administration dated October 24, 2023, in the amount of P2,350 each. Due to failed bidding, the fourth tranche of the rice subsidy will be converted to cash. |
https://up.edu.ph/readiness-operational-research-and-climate-justice-up-president-jimenezs-key-points-in-climate-change-discussions/ | Readiness, operational research, and climate justice: UP President Jimenez’s key points in climate change discussions – University of the Philippines | Readiness, operational research, and climate justice: UP President Jimenez’s key points in climate change discussions Readiness, operational research, and climate justice: UP President Jimenez’s key points in climate change discussions November 14, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office UP President Angelo A. Jimenez delivered the concluding remarks during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) University Leaders’ Forum held in San Francisco, California, on November 13, 2023. With the theme “Investing in Tomorrow’s Biodiversity”, the forum was dedicated to sustainability and climate resilience, including sessions on sustaining the evolving biodiversity landscape, strengthening the resilience of coastal communities, rethinking food systems, and protecting water for the survival of humanity. The APEC University Leaders’ Forum, organized by the University of California-Davis, the University of California-Santa Cruz, and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), brought together presidents of the major Asia-Pacific research universities and leaders from major global corporations and governments to share insights and discuss critical global and regional issues. The forum served as an official collaborative event with the APEC CEO Summit and provided a unique platform to address key challenges and foster collaboration. Read UP President Jimenez’s speech below. Our troubles are mounting but peace be on all of us. As-salamu alaykum. A pleasant afternoon. I extend my heartfelt appreciation and congratulations to each one of you as we conclude this APEC University Leaders’ Forum on “Investing in Tomorrow’s Biodiversity.” It has been an honor to share this platform with esteemed leaders, scholars, and visionaries committed to addressing the critical issues of today. As substantive as our discussions on biodiversity have been, we cannot escape the fact that we are meeting in one of the most difficult and challenging periods for humanity since the end of the last World War. Many parts of our globe are shaking and coming apart under tragic conflict. Poverty and hunger continue to haunt billions of people. And on the immediate horizon, artificial intelligence is posing more serious questions than answers for human civilization. Against this backdrop, we are all threatened by climate change—not only we humans, but all life as we know it on this planet. And like the most devastating of wars, this change is, as we all know, man-made. We have waged war, as it were, on ourselves, on Nature, and on the future. The question now is whether we can find the wisdom, the will, and the means to make peace with the Earth and ensure our own survival. We have spoken all day about the severe threats faced by global biodiversity, coastal communities, and the world’s food production systems. We all know the urgent need for sustainable development, and for concrete measures to ensure climate adaptation, environmental resilience, water resource management, and food security, among others. As we fly home to deal with our specific situations, I suggest we ponder three key questions. First: Are existing international and national governing institutions adequately prepared to handle the global threats we face today? We raise this question because we are alarmed by the failure of the annual Conference of Parties or COP to agree on deadlines on the phasing out of coal and fossil fuel and on climate finance to help developing economies like ours manage the difficult climate adjustment and transition programs. At the national level, many countries remain unable to deliver on their mitigation commitments under the Paris Agreement of 2015. Rhetoric is cheap, but the costs of climate change to our economies and societies are real. It is Code Red for the Philippines and other countries in Asia. Alternating floods and droughts have been growing in intensity each year, severely damaging our economy and eroding our food security. Incidentally, the Philippines, which has contributed less than one percent to global GHG emissions, is among the top five countries considered most vulnerable to climate risks. About 60 percent of our people live in coastal towns and villages, for whom a sea rise of one to two meters will be calamitous. This is why we listened attentively to the discussions in this forum on how to mitigate climate impacts on coastal communities. Second key question: What can our universities do to fight or mitigate climate change? We hold the keys to enormous troves of knowledge, and produce new knowledge through research all the time. How much of that knowledge translates to practical solutions to real-world problems? Beyond amassing citations and achieving high global rankings, what do our universities strive for in our societies? President Jimenez delivering his message at the Closing Ceremony of the APEC University Leaders’ Forum. Sceengrab from the UP Resilience Institute live stream video. In our University, for example, one of our answers to this question has been the operational research undertaken by faculty members and researchers through our Resilience Institute, which has helped local communities build disaster resilience through trans-disciplinary actions, such as multisectoral and anticipatory development planning. These communities are involved from the very start of research, so they have a real stake in its outcome. We have also adopted an open-data policy, to share what we have learned with others. In other words, we need to get our feet wet and our hands dirty before our libraries and laboratories are flooded. Third key question: Can there be a greater moral imperative of our time than climate justice? Aside from measures to save and repair the planet, climate justice involves social justice, in that it must empower the most vulnerable victims of climate change to articulate their concerns, demand accountability, and seek proper redress for their grievances. At the same time, green transition must be just and transformative. Within our industries, for example, we must ensure that workers and communities reliant even on fossil-dependent industries and sectors, especially in developing countries, are not unduly displaced. A just transition to green industries must mean a transition to a better life, to more jobs, and to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. Also, it must protect and improve life for all elements of our ecosystems, because the impacts of climate change extend far beyond human affairs. Climate justice encompasses the intricate web of biodiversity that includes plants, animals, organisms—the very fabric of our planet. The forces threatening us are global in nature, underscoring the urgency of our collective responsibility. In our pursuit of progress, let us always remember that our common survival is at stake, and our actions today will reverberate through generations to come. As we conclude this forum, let us remind ourselves that our role as educators extends beyond the confines of academia to our streets, our homes, our rivers, and the very grass beneath our feet. As we share this world, so we share in its well-being. And by contributing to the well-being of humanity and the planet, we contribute as well to the peace and prosperity our peoples everywhere so ardently desire. In the spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility, allow me to call upon each university leader present here today to join hands in creating a sustainable and resilient future for all. Indeed, we must create a network among ourselves to provide training and education on climate change and sustainable practices, so we can share vital knowledge with those who suffer at the short end of climate justice. Where governments fail or fall short, universities can and must act. Let us work together to amplify our impact, inspire change, promote transformative education, and usher in an era where investing in tomorrow’s biodiversity is not just a choice but an inescapable responsibility for all. Thank you very much. Watch UP President Jimenez’s speech with this video recorded and shared by the UP Resilience Institute. |
https://up.edu.ph/statement-of-president-angelo-jimenez-on-the-bombing-of-mindanao-state-university-marawi/ | Statement of President Angelo Jimenez on the Bombing of Mindanao State University – Marawi – University of the Philippines | Statement of President Angelo Jimenez on the Bombing of Mindanao State University – Marawi Statement of President Angelo Jimenez on the Bombing of Mindanao State University – Marawi December 3, 2023 | Written by the Office of the President The University of the Philippines stands in solidarity with Mindanao State University (MSU), after an explosion at the Marawi main campus that left four dead and dozens injured. This was an act of violence not only against the innocent victims and their families, but against the principles of peace, understanding, and unity that should be inviolable in academic institutions. We commend the swift response of MSU and its commitment to protecting the safety of all its constituents in this difficult time, and offer our support and resources in navigating the aftermath of this painful incident. State universities should serve as safe spaces for all its constituents, and as academic bastions where conflicts are discussed, debated, and resolved rather than exacerbated. It is imperative for all of us to be united in our mandate to cultivate an atmosphere where diversity and dialogue thrive. As a Mindanaoan Christian and Manobo lumad, I share in the grief and outrage of the community over this senseless tragedy. Despite the long history of strife in our region, many of us have always believed in justice and equality among the Bangsamoro peoples, actively working to ensure the recognition and protection of all cultures and religions. Let us all rally against violence and extremism, and join in the continuing effort to build a just and inclusive society in our homeland. |
https://up.edu.ph/events/ | Events – University of the Philippines | Events Tayo na Giliw: Konsyertong Pamasko ng UP Symphony Orchestra November 30, 2023 Join the University of the Philippines Symphony Orchestra (UPSO) for their annual Christmas community concert on Tuesday, December 19,... Read More Extending the Horizons of Human Rights: Philippines and the UDHR November 30, 2023 The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of... Read More Pangarap Amerikano: Farmer-Migrants Behind the Camera November 30, 2023 “Pangarap Amerikano: Farmer-Migrants Behind the Camera” features home movies shot by a farmer-migrant Nicholas Viernes, the unofficial documentarian of... Read More Tech Tales Youth November 30, 2023 Watch the premiere of the #TechTalesYouth: Films about Digital Rights in the Asia-Pacific on December 7 (Thursday) from 2pm-5pm... Read More Leading Safe Spaces: The Role of Good Governance in Ending Violence Against Women November 30, 2023 As part of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), the University of the Philippines-Centre International de... Read More The Saga of Philippine Cinema November 30, 2023 With support from The UNESCO Memory of the World (PH), a new movement to recognize cinema as the world’s... Read More Load More |
https://up.edu.ph/leading-safe-spaces-the-role-of-good-governance-in-ending-violence-against-women/ | Leading Safe Spaces: The Role of Good Governance in Ending Violence Against Women – University of the Philippines | Leading Safe Spaces: The Role of Good Governance in Ending Violence Against Women Leading Safe Spaces: The Role of Good Governance in Ending Violence Against Women November 30, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office As part of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), the University of the Philippines-Centre International de Formation des Autorites et Leaders Philippines (UP-CIFAL Philippines) will hold “Leading Safe Spaces: The Role of Good Governance in Ending Violence Against Women” on December 6, Wednesday, 1:00 pm, at the GT Toyota Asian Center Auditorium, UP Diliman, Quezon City. The forum will discuss the vital role of leaders and authorities in crafting and implementing inclusive policies addressing gender-based violence. It will also tackle the current situation of gender-based violence in the country and examine the effectiveness of policies and programs in response to VAW. The event is free and open to the public. Interested parties however, are encouraged to register via this link: https://bit.ly/LeadingSafeSpacesForum of by scanning the QR code below. For questions and clarifications, you may send a message to UP-CIFAL Philippines via cifalphilippines@up.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/tech-tales-youth/ | Tech Tales Youth – University of the Philippines | Tech Tales Youth Tech Tales Youth November 30, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Watch the premiere of the #TechTalesYouth: Films about Digital Rights in the Asia-Pacific on December 7 (Thursday) from 2pm-5pm at the UPFI Film Center. Produced by EngageMedia, seven short films created by young and talented filmmakers from Thailand and the Philippines feature stories on digital labour, new money and platform accountability, access to the internet and digital technologies, disinformation and historical revisionism, doxxing, data privacy and accountability of the state and private companies. Aside from the screenings, there will also be talk back sessions with the filmmakers and invited guests. See you there! —- In partnership with UP Film Institute, DAKILA, Active Vista, Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA), Cinemata.org, Computer Professionals’ Union (CPU), DZUP 1602 and Altermidya. |
https://up.edu.ph/pangarap-amerikano-farmer-migrants-behind-the-camera/ | Pangarap Amerikano: Farmer-Migrants Behind the Camera – University of the Philippines | Pangarap Amerikano: Farmer-Migrants Behind the Camera Pangarap Amerikano: Farmer-Migrants Behind the Camera November 30, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office “Pangarap Amerikano: Farmer-Migrants Behind the Camera” features home movies shot by a farmer-migrant Nicholas Viernes, the unofficial documentarian of the Filipino immigrant community in Chicago. Since his arrival in the US in 1926, Viernes filmed events, gatherings, travels, and various slices of life. The films curated for this program were all from the 1930’s and are part of a larger collection of 240 analog films of the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago (FAHSC), established in 1986. Please join this presentation by FAHSC archivist Ashley Dequilla this December 11 Monday 5 p.m. at UPFI Film Center. ~~~ UPFI Film Center December 2023 Pangarap Amerikano: Farmer-Migrants Behind the Camera Dec 11 Mon 5 p.m. ~~~ The screening is open to the public for free on a first-come, first-served basis. Register at the cinema entrance 1 hour before screen time. Eating and drinking are not allowed. |
https://up.edu.ph/extending-the-horizons-of-human-rights-philippines-and-the-udhr/ | Extending the Horizons of Human Rights: Philippines and the UDHR – University of the Philippines | Extending the Horizons of Human Rights: Philippines and the UDHR Extending the Horizons of Human Rights: Philippines and the UDHR November 30, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on December 12, 2023, Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. at the University Theater, UP Diliman, Quezon City. The symposium, organized by both institutions, will discuss the role of the Philippines in the sharing of the international human rights framework, with a focus on UP alumnus and former United Nations General Assembly President Carlos P. Romulo’s contributions in the preparation of the UDHR. The event will also showcase the contributions of other Filipinos in international human rights treaties and mechanisms, particularly those in the United Nations. Interested parties may register for the event via this link: https://bit.ly/UPCelebrates75UDHR The event will streamed live via TVUP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TVUP.ph and TVUP on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TVUPph #StandUp4HumanRights #UDHR75 #UPCelebratesUDHR75 |
https://up.edu.ph/tayo-na-giliw-konsyertong-pamasko-ng-up-symphony-orchestra/ | Tayo na Giliw: Konsyertong Pamasko ng UP Symphony Orchestra – University of the Philippines | Tayo na Giliw: Konsyertong Pamasko ng UP Symphony Orchestra Tayo na Giliw: Konsyertong Pamasko ng UP Symphony Orchestra November 30, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Join the University of the Philippines Symphony Orchestra (UPSO) for their annual Christmas community concert on Tuesday, December 19, 6:30pm at the UP Theater, UP Diliman, Quezon City. The Orkestra ng Bayan will be presenting works from Saint-Saens’ Danse Bacchanale, Khachaturian’s Sabre Dance, Copeland’s Hoe Down and many more. Capping the night will be a rendition of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with soprano Stefanie Quintin, mezzo-soprano Aya Tantiongco, tenor Malvin Beethoven Macasaet, baritone Lawrence Ayuro Jatayna, and the UPSO Chorus. The Concert is FREE with pre-registration at http://bit.ly/upsopasko2023reg. For more information, send a message to the UP Symphony Orchestra via their official Facebook page. See you there! |
https://up.edu.ph/news/ | NEWS – University of the Philippines | News UP makes a big leap in rankings for tackling environmental, social, and governance challenges The University of the Philippines (UP) made a great leap in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) sustainability rankings, which measures universities... Read More The holidays arrive with “Pag-iilaw” rites across UP campuses You know it’s the holiday season once again when the campuses of the University of the Philippines (UP) come alive... Read More UP faculty and alumni, UP Press, win 41st National Book Awards Faculty and alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP), as well as the UP Press, won big when... Read More UP Cebu graduate tops licensure exam for secondary-level teachers A BS Mathematics graduate of the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu College of Science, Trilbe Lizann Espina Vasquez, ranked... Read More Above the Fold: A glimpse into the turbulence of Martial Law through the lens of the Collegian It was an eye-opening walk-through of one of the most turbulent periods in the history of of the... Read More UP launches online courses on resilience Starting on January 15, 2024, professionals engaged in climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) work can... Read More Load More |
https://up.edu.ph/up-faculty-and-alumni-up-press-win-41st-national-book-awards/ | UP faculty and alumni, UP Press, win 41st National Book Awards – University of the Philippines | UP faculty and alumni, UP Press, win 41st National Book Awards UP faculty and alumni, UP Press, win 41st National Book Awards December 13, 2023 | Written by Franco Gargantiel II Faculty and alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP), as well as the UP Press, won big when the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Manila Critics Circle (MCC) recently announced the winners of the 41st National Book Awards. Among the list of winners are books written by UP faculty members or graduates of the University, and/or published by the UP Press, the official publishing house for all constituent units of the UP System and the first university press in the country. The winners are: BEST NOVEL IN ENGLISH – “Yñiga: A Novel” – Glenn Diaz (Ateneo de Manila University Press) GERARDO P. CABOCHAN PRIZE FOR BEST BOOK OF SHORT FICTION IN FILIPINO – “Ang Buang ng Bayan: Mga Maikling Kuwento” – Rowena P. Festin (University of the Philippines Press) PABLO TAN PRIZE FOR BEST BOOK OF NONFICTION PROSE IN ENGLISH – “Even Ducks Get Liver Cancer and Other Medical Misadventures” -Wilfredo Liangco (Milflores Publishing) BEST ANTHOLOGY IN ENGLISH – “Kalandrakas Part 1, 1890-1945: Stories and Storytellers of /on Regions in Mindanao, 1890-1990” and “Kalandrakas Part 2, 1946-1990: Stories and Storytellers of/on Regions in Mindanao 1890-1990” – Ricardo M. De Ungria (Ed.) (Ateneo de Manila University Press) BEST ANTHOLOGY IN FIILIPINO – “Plus/+ at Iba Plus, Maramihan; New Philippine Nonfiction on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identities” – Roland B. Tolentino and Chuckberry J. Pasucal (Eds.) (Atendeo de Manila University Press) BEST BOOK ON MEDIA STUDIES – “Alternative Cinema: The Unchronicled History of Alternative Cinema in the Philippines” – Nick Deomampo (University of the Philippines Press) PHILIPPINE LITERARY ARTS COUNCIL PRIZE FOR BEST BOOK OF POETRY IN ENGLISH – “Coming Home to the Island: Poems” – Arlene J. Yandug (Xavier University Press) BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL AND COMICS IN FILIPINO – “Josefina” – Ace C. Enriquez, Illustrator (Adarna House) BEST TRANSLATED BOOK IN FILIPINO – “Illustrado” – Chuckberry J. Pascual, Translator (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House) BEST BOOK ON DRAMA AND FILM – “Huni at Pakpak: Mga Dula, Mga Sanaysay’ – Luna Sicat Cleto (University of the Philippines Press) BEST NOVEL IN BINISAYA – “Arkipelago: Novela” – Januar Yap (Advaux Publishing) BEST BOOK OF POETRY IN BINISAYA – “Ang Nakayatak kay Nayatakan (Who Steps Upon Is Stepped Upon)’ – Adonis Durado (University of the Philippines Press) ALFONSO T. ONGPIN PRIZE FOR BEST BOOK ON ART – “Julio Nakpil (1867-1950) Collected Works Volume 1: Piano, Vocal, and Chamber Music – Maria Alexandria Iñigo Chua (Ed.) (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House) The National Book Awards, an annual prize that honors the most outstanding book titles written, designed, and published in the Philippines, aims to celebrate the enterprising creative labor involved in book publishing. According to the NDBD’s website, for this cycle of the National Book Awards, a total of 235 titles were submitted across 34 categories consisting of seven languages: Filipino, English, Bikol, Binisaya, Hiligaynon, Tausug, and Waray. The 41st iteration of the awards is slated to take place in February 2024. The 41st National Book Awards coincides with the two-year preparation of the Philippines as it makes history as the second Southeast Asian country to be chosen as Guest of Honour in 2025 at the world’s biggest book fair, the Frankfurter Buchmesse. |
https://up.edu.ph/making-a-difference/ | Making A Difference – University of the Philippines | Making A Difference Eleventh year of ArtGifts returns with “Sari-saring Likhang Sining” Giving transcends the mere exchange of objects. It is an act that imparts something beyond the physicality of the... Read More UP Features: Andre Arboleda UP Features, the official video publication of the University of the Philippines, is a platform that showcases narratives of exceptional... Read More Datu Waway Saway’s Artistic Mission as UPD’s First Culture Bearer-in-Residence I would like to help our original culture to re-emerge, help people to understand who they are and what they... Read More Teaching Literature: The Gemino H. Abad Seminar-Workshop 2023 Teaching literature is impossible; that is why it is difficult. –Northrop Frye “Do you want to enhance your skills in... Read More Doktor Para sa Bayan, Kasama ng Bayan Jessica Franco Perez Magna cum laude Doctor of Medicine UP College of Medicine I am Jessica Franco Perez, 32... Read More Love life and don’t give up Hannah Patricia E. Bringas Doctor of Dental Medicine UP College of Dentistry I am Hannah Patricia E. Bringas, a... Read More Load More |
https://up.edu.ph/up-makes-a-big-leap-in-rankings-for-tackling-environmental-social-and-governance-challenges/ | UP makes a big leap in rankings for tackling environmental, social, and governance challenges – University of the Philippines | UP makes a big leap in rankings for tackling environmental, social, and governance challenges UP makes a big leap in rankings for tackling environmental, social, and governance challenges December 15, 2023 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc The University of the Philippines (UP) made a great leap in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) sustainability rankings, which measures universities in terms of their ability to tackle environmental, social, and now, governance challenges. It climbed from the 401-450 bracket of 700 universities to 231st among 1,400 universities. In terms of environmental impact, it now ranks 180th; in social impact, 355th; and in governance, 330th. The previous year’s rankings measured only environmental impact and social impact, under which categories UP ranked 365th and 405th, respectively. Governance was measured in terms of university governance and the university’s human and research resources for sustainable development and policy-making. Environmental impact, which contributed the biggest to UP’s climb in the rankings, was measured in terms of environmental sustainability of the campuses, environmental education, and environmental research. Environmental research, in turn, was measured largely in terms of research impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for sustainable research. Social impact was measured in terms of equality, knowledge exchange, impact of education, employability and opportunities, and health and well-being. Equality, impact of education, health and well-being, and environmental research were measured largely in terms of research impact on the SDGs for each. Screencapture of the rankings on the QS website. Details of the methodology for the sustainability rankings are available here. In the previous year’s sustainability rankings, which was the first, only UP and De La Salle University (DLSU) made it, with the latter earning a spot in the 601+ bracket. In this year’s ranking, “QS World Sustainability Rankings: Sustainability 2024”, released on December 5, 2023, three other Philippine universities figured: Ateneo de Manila University, 593rd; University of Santo Tomas, 1,001-1,050; and Mapua University, 1,201+. DLSU made it to the 981-1,000 bracket. UP as the national university ranked number one in the Philippines in all subcategories. A screenshot from the QS website of UP’s ranking in terms of Environmental Impact. A screenshot from the QS website of UP’s ranking in terms of Social Impact. A screenshot from the QS website of UP’s impact on Governance. UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Leo Cubillan, for his part, said that UP’s rise in the QS sustainability rankings “reflects UP’s continuous efforts in sustainability and its roles as a leader in higher education, committed to making a positive impact to society and the environment.” UP’s sustainability ranking by QS is higher than its global universities ranking by the same ranking firm, the latter placing more significance on the global reputation and orientation of research universities. UP is currently 404th among 1,500 global universities, as ranked by QS. |
https://up.edu.ph/datu-waway-saways-artistic-mission-as-upds-first-culture-bearer-in-residence/ | Datu Waway Saway’s Artistic Mission as UPD’s First Culture Bearer-in-Residence – University of the Philippines | Datu Waway Saway’s Artistic Mission as UPD’s First Culture Bearer-in-Residence Datu Waway Saway’s Artistic Mission as UPD’s First Culture Bearer-in-Residence November 24, 2023 | Written by Ma. Patricia Brillantes Silvestre I would like to help our original culture to re-emerge, help people to understand who they are and what they were. – Datu Waway Saway Datu Waway on his katyapi, a Philippine two-stringed, fretted boat-lute. (Photo from the UP Diliman Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts) Rodelio “Waway” Saway, Talaandig datu, brilliant master artist, musician, educator and current Municipal Councilor of Songco, Lantapan in Bukidnon, arrived November 6 at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Music to fulfill a three-week sojourn till November 24 under the new UP Diliman (UPD) Culture Bearers-in-Residence Program. Approved by the UPD Office of the Chancellor on February 7, 2023, and envisioned to shine the spotlight on the promotion and protection of the nation’s indigenous knowledges or katutubong kaalaman and kaalamang bayan, this new program aligns with Republic Act 9500, which seals UP’s mandate, as the country’s national university, to spearhead exemplary academic standards and innovative practices. Not new to this, the College of Music since the 1960s has had a string of culture bearers as teachers of Asian music in the Musicology curricula, a significant move initiated by ethnomusicologist-composer and National Artist for Music, Dr. Jose Maceda. Ben Pangosban and Benicio Sokkong taught Kalinga music; Ligaya Amilbangsa taught Sulu pangalay dance; Joey Ayala taught instrumental music of the Davao lumad; Abraham Sakili taught Tausug gabbang and songs; and today, Aga Mayo Butocan and Kanapia Kalanduyan currently teach Magindanaon kulintangan. However, Waway’s intensive stay-in engagement brought knowledge-learning to a closer degree of apprenticeship: freer, more flexible time for lots of informal kwentuhan, juxtaposed with jamming outside of the formal class setting and curriculum. The son of Datu Kinulintang, descendant of revered chieftain-peacemakers of Mindanao, Waway is one of 18 siblings, counting tribal leaders, Datu Makapukaw and anthropologist Datu Migketay or Vic (who lobbied for the signing of the Indigenous People’s Rights Act in 1997), and sociologist-soil-painter Salima among them. His family was instrumental in establishing the Talaandig School for Living Traditions in 1995, which endeavored to keep alive the artistic traditions and cultural values of the community. This became a model system adopted by other indigenous groups, which today has branched out to 14 other barangays by means of a moving school-on-wheels. Transfixed by the dynamism of the tribal elders in preserving their traditions through teaching, a bunch of multidisciplinal researchers, mostly from UP, worked to bring the Talaandig educational exemplar in 1998 to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, as part of the grand Pahiyas Folklife Festival in celebration of the centennial of the Philippine Revolution. There, the Talaandig tent constantly reverberated with excitement, as Waway beat on the massive log drums, or taught the audience how to move to the shimmering bell tones and rhythmic foot stamping of the elegant ceremonial dance Dugso, enveloping those who watched in a hushed, mesmerizingly reverent state. This was Waway’s very first foray outside of his barangay, along with two brothers and an aunt. Little did he know that he was destined for global recognition, as he would soon travel the world to share his music at festivals in Europe, Asia and the United States, and perform with noted artists in venues such as the Quai Branly Museum in Paris, and the Lincoln Center in New York. An innovator, he bridged Asia and the West through his bowed katyapi, a two-stringed lute traditionally played by plucking. He developed an adventurous, contemporary sound that keenly projected his ethnicity as it embraced globality, fusing elements of rock and reggae with indigenous melodies and timbres. Samples of Datu Waway’s soil-paintings. (Photo from the UP Diliman Office for Initaitives in Culture and the Arts) Not only in music did Waway make his mark. He pioneered the art of soil painting in the community, a modern form of artistic expression that sourced organic materials from the environment and colored soil (23 myriad hues) from hills and riverbanks. Through the medium of soil, Waway created a visual avenue for expressing Talaandig oral history and daily life: a woman playing the polycordal zither; female dugso dancers; a family on a moonlit walk; a mother with child at her bosom; a storyteller; flowers and butterflies. Young Talaandig soil painters have won the prestigious Philippine Arts Awards and Metrobank Award. Datu Waway demonstrates his kubing skills. (Photo from the UP Diliman Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts.) Amiable, unassuming, soft-spoken and radiating with quiet wisdom and positivity, Waway is a revitalizing presence on campus. Billeted at the Balay Kalinaw, he followed an itinerary of multi-disciplinary activities to foster a collaborative spirit. At the College of Music—Sayaw, Hukagtes, Salay (Dance, Flute, Beads)—a dance and chant workshop (that had our dancers gamely working their vocal cords); bamboo flute-making (which resourcefully used PVC pipes instead of bamboo due to a logistics glitch, but which surprisingly emitted nice, airy tones); and beadwork for crafts (that fired the students’ imaginations). And at the College of Fine Arts—Bugta: Embracing Talaandig Ancestral Soil—an exhibit on Talaandig culture and Waway as Artist, preceded by an Artist’s Talk, was launched on Nov. 16 at the PAROLA Gallery, co-curated by a team from both colleges, and graced by Chancellor Vistan. Seventeen of Waway’s own soil paintings are currently on exhibit till November 24, along with his musical instruments, katyapi, pulala (bamboo flute), and kubing (jaw harp made from bamboo), while videos of Waway in musical action unfold on a screen, and a pair of headphones strung on the panel enfolds the listener in the Talaandig soundscape. Invited as a guest in our classes, and holding lively exchanges with students and faculty, and spirited jam sessions with our groups TUGMA (Tugtugang Musika Asyatika) and Padayon Rondalla, which saw an organic immersion in music juxtaposed with precious kwentuhan, good-natured banter and insights—all these became vital components of his stay. With just three more days left of his UP visit, two final events remain on the calendar: the soil-painting workshop on November 23, and a culminating concert on November 24, both at the College of Fine Arts. Dubbed “Munahu. Datu Waway Saway, the Lightkeeper of Talaandig Culture in a Special Thanksgiving Concert”, this event brings together :prominent ethnic-pop music artists Joey Ayala and Bayang Barrios; Asian Music major and former Up Dharma Down lead singer Armi Millare; our very own Asian Music teachers, Dr. Hiroko Nagai, Tusa Montes and Malou Matute; saxophone artist Mike Guevarra, percussionist Jose Dufourt; our students and performing groups ,TUGMA and Padayon Rondalla, all in one big momentous concert that will be hard to replicate. Three weeks of unforgettable learnings rooted in indigenous wisdom, art and life while engaging the contemporary zeitgeist. Waway’s visit was like soft rain on parched earth. He infused a new, vibrant energy into the academic community through his spontaneous sprinkles of aphorism and gentle counsel dispensed between verses of a song, or while carving out a flute or sharing a meal. He made the ordinary extraordinary: “Tingnan mo ang buwan. . . laging sinasabi na maliwanag ang buwan. . . pagmasdan na di lang maliwanag kundi maganda rin ang buwan.” He showed how effortless it was to be one with nature and the environment: “Nature was my recording studio. . . the birds, insects, rustling leaves were my back-up musicians.” He explained how organic practices, resilience, resourcefulness and creative sharing should be developed as natural attributes. His songs, Bulalakaw, Sinla Sinla, Gabi sa Unay-House of Gongs Mix, and Riverclouds, are fervent testaments to a snug union of traditional and modern-day aesthetics as they embody the Talaandig imagination, spirituality, and cosmology, as well as daily reality and struggle. Datu Waway shares his traditions, culture and musical and artistic gifts with UP arts and music scholars. (Photo from the UP Diliman Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts) The soil-painting workshop on November 23 returns human respect to this most fundamental material on which rests the Earth’s systems, through use of soil as art medium. The Talaandig’s deep love for the earth is passed on to us, through their paintings which bear the community’s “geographic and geologic imprint”, as Dean San Valentin remarked at the exhibit opening. Through each graceful turn of the hand on the kubing, each delicate brushstroke of soil paint, each sincere intonation of chant phrase, Waway demonstrated how we can all be better humans for others through art and music. Waway’s artistic journey led to his mission of “helping” his “original culture” to re-emerge. His brief but eye- and ear-opening stay as UPD’s first Culture Bearer-in-Residence has led us onto a path of re-emergence as well. You may view Datu Waway’s latest works and activities via his Facebook page Article written by Dr. Ma. Patricia Brillantes Silvestre, Associate Professor of Historical Musicology, and Chair of the Department of Musicology, UP College of Music. Prof. Patricia has written on various topics, in which she combines her fluency in the Spanish language, acquired after obtaining a Diploma Básico de Español como Lengua Extranjera from the Universidad de Salamanca and an MA in Spanish from UP, with her interest in Fil-Hispanic culture. She earned her PhD in Philippine Studies from UP Diliman’s TriCollege Program in 2021. Her research focus is social history of 19th to early 20th Century Manila, thru ideas of being and becoming (in Musicology and Cultural Studies) in the journalism on music in the colonial press. |
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