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https://up.edu.ph/building-a-soul-for-diwata/	Building a soul for Diwata – University of the Philippines	Building a soul for Diwata Building a soul for Diwata October 30, 2018 \| Written by Andre DP Encarnacion Engr. Ariston Gonzalez of the PHL-Microsat bus development team. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) For much of his stay at Japan’s Tohoku University, there was little Ariston Gonzalez could do to ease the grind of his daily shift. At times the process of satellite-building seemed more hard labor than scholarship. Even for this UP-trained engineer, each repetitive motion hardly seemed to lead to the near-miracle of creating what essentially became a tumbling box in space that could obey commands. Take the case of the humble nut and bolt. Where in previous projects, Gonzalez could twist away to his heart’s content, the life cycle of each of his bolts followed strict protocols. There were quality control protocols, cleaning protocols, and even protocols for proper torqueing. “But here was where I learned that every detail matters,” he says. “Because if one bolt fails, everything could fail.” Indeed, what followed was the opposite of failure. In April 2016 Gonzalez’s little box would rise to fame as Diwata 1, the first ever microsatellite made and designed by Filipinos. Gonzalez, together with three others, was a member of Diwata’s original bus development team. Their crew was tasked not only with building the satellite’s infrastructure, but also providing the sensors that would act as its eyes, the computer that would serve as its brain, and the fans that would serve as its muscles in space. Expertly tying together all these components made it possible for Gonzalez and the PHL-Microsat team to solve important problems. For instance, how would Diwata know where it was? And once they had a lock on its location, how could they control it? After all, even a satellite with a camera needs to point before it can shoot. The secret, he says, lies in “attitude control”, the synergistic use of sensors and systems to orient objects like satellites in 3D. And much like the seafarers of old, Gonzalez claims that Diwata’s journey is one that tackles challenges common to all travelers. “How do we get to our destination and where are we even going?” Sea of stars With his trademark glasses and graphic tee, Gonzalez is fond of his nautical analogies. But instead of a ship on the water, his explanation of attitude control likens Diwata to a vessel in a sea of stars. “Like us, mariners also had tools like telescopes and sextants to chart star relationships. And they had compasses to chart where they were.” There are multiple phases that go into pointing a satellite. And Gonzalez says, like Moana in the movies, that the first involves using sensing equipment to learn its location and position with respect to certain bodies. Diwata 1, and its successor Diwata 2, have a plethora of such sensors. First, lining the bodies of both Diwata 1 and 2 are multiple sun aspect sensors (SAS). Holding up a metal square with a reflective center, Gonzalez notes the two purposes of this device. “First it tells us where we are with respect to the sun.” Working like solar cells, the sensors can indicate which side faces the sun when stuck directly by its light. A glimpse at Diwata-2’s sun aspect sensor. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Second, even in its tumbling state, the sensors can help calculate Diwata’s angle with respect to the sun using light intensity. “When it shines directly on the sensor, that’s typically when it is most intense,” Gonzalez says. As the angle of sunlight moves off-center, typically the intensity decreases, and the onboard computers can calculate a line tracing the satellite’s orientation based on the information. Because it orbits the earth lower than larger global positioning system (GPS) satellites, Diwata 2 will be able to receive GPS data, much like a typical mobile phone, to measure both position and velocity. But even this only serves to complement Diwata’s geomagnetic sensor (GAS). “We know that the Earth has a magnetic field of its own,” explains Gonzalez. And with different areas on the planet having fields of different magnitudes, the PHL-Microsat team can use the sensor to map the coordinates of Diwata with a considerable degree of precision. Diwata’s final two sensors are perhaps its most sensitive. While vessels of old used gyroscopes to measure their orientation, Diwata’s fiberoptic gyroscope (FOG) takes this to another level. Instead of rotating wheels, the FOG features optical fiber coils located on three axes. Light is split and made to travel these coils in opposite directions, with rotation on any of these wheels causing interference that delays one beam relative to the other (called the Sagnac effect). “It is so sensitive to rotations,” Gonzalez says, “that just setting it on the table, it can measure the rotation of the Earth.” Finally, just as the ancients before it, Diwata 2 also uses the stars. Since stars are fairly static landmarks, the microsatellite can utilize its star tracker telescope (STT) to take a snapshot of a region of space. It then compares this snapshot to the 360-degree star gallery included on board Diwata to estimate the satellite’s current attitude and location. So accurate is the STT that Gonzalez says it is virtually the standalone system behind Diwata’s most precise pointing capability (called “fine attitude determination”) that locks onto a given location with an accuracy of up to 0.1 degrees. High-altitude photographs When taking a photo in space, however, knowing one’s location is only half the battle. You need to use all this information to take a position and aim. Once Diwata’s central computer has integrated its sensors’ data, it relies on a pair of clever instruments to move properly. First, to break it from a high-speed tumble, Diwata 2 features three magnetorquers, which are coils with electric current running though them. When turned on, each magnetorquer generates a magnetic field that aligns with the Earth’s own. And, like typical magnets, both fields will lock onto one another—fixing the satellite in a specific orientation. Once locked in, Gonzalez says finer adjustments can be made. For these, they installed four reaction wheels located diagonally across each other. Because angular momentum is conserved, Gonzalez says paired wheels spinning at equal speeds cancel each other’s influence out. But weaken or turn one off and Diwata can pivot in a controlled fashion suitable to take the high-altitude photographs that have made it famous. As the public has witnessed since 2016, the images produced by the nation’s microsatellites are as useful as they are remarkable. With the ability to point directly down (called “nadir pointing mode”), to track a specific landmark as it passes, or to aim at an off-center direction, Diwata can take multispectral images to check for environmental health or detailed photos of important targets. A stitched together panorama of multispectral images of Palawan’s sediment plumes. (Courtesy of PHL-Microsat project) With the technical requirements in place, taking, say, a panoramic image of Palawan becomes simple. “So basically what you do when you make a panorama is shoot photos while on the move,” Gonzalez said. “But since Diwata moves on its orbit, you just have to hold it down and take snapshot after snapshot. After stitching these together, you end up with one big mosaic.” A Diwata’s soul The philosopher Aristotle once described a soul as that which gives a being its primary purpose and contains faculties for it to think, sense and act. In that sense, it might not, therefore, be an exaggeration to say that the sleepless nights Gonzalez and his colleagues spent building and coding were giving Diwata the closest thing it has to a soul. Fortunately, this larger purpose was never lost on Gonzalez and his team, especially during cold winters. “I always say when I give talks to students that even when you are doing technical work, you should always keep the bigger picture of what you are doing in mind. Looking at it in retrospect, this is really testament to our country’s journey—that we can do it!” To perk himself up in the lab, there were times when Gonzalez would put his fingerprints on the tiny sensors he made and imagined them being part of something greater. Today, these same sensors are moving at 7 kilometers per second, ensuring that Diwata 2 can watch over the Philippines tirelessly as it looks forward to a future in space. Ariston Gonzalez (seated, center) with members of the PHL-Microsat team prior to the launch of Diwata-2. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Read more on the launch of Diwata-2 HERE.
https://up.edu.ph/experts-discuss-asia-pacific-geopolitics/	Experts discuss Asia-Pacific geopolitics – University of the Philippines	Experts discuss Asia-Pacific geopolitics Experts discuss Asia-Pacific geopolitics November 27, 2018 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office William T. Tow, PhD, and Brendan K. Taylor, PhD. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Two international relations scholars from the Australian National University (ANU) shared their views on the geopolitical situation in the Asia-Pacific region at the lecture hosted by the Strategic Studies Program (SSP) of the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) and the UP Office of International Linkages (UP OIL) in the Audiovisual Room of the UP Marine Science Institute in UP Diliman, Quezon City on October 23, 2018. Brendan K. Taylor, PhD. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Brendan K. Taylor, PhD, Associate Professor of Strategic Studies at the ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, talked on four flashpoints or geographic areas where violent conflict may erupt and then offered possible scenarios to prevent war. Taylor is a specialist on great power strategic relations in the Asia-Pacific, East Asian flashpoints, and Asian security architecture. His presentation, “Stopping Asia’s ‘Crisis Slide’: An Australian Perspective on Asia’s Flashpoint”, featured analyses contained in his latest book, The Four Flashpoints: How Asia Goes to War (2018). William T. Tow, PhD. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) William T. Tow, PhD, Professor in the International Relations Department at the ANU Coral Bell School of Asia-Pacific Affairs, discussed several developments in the region’s geopolitics in his presentation, “Structural Change and Power Balancing in the Indo-Pacific: An Australian View of the Region’s Alliance Politics”. He has been a visiting research fellow at Stanford University’s Asia-Pacific Research Center, the Yusof Ishak Institute for Southeast Asian Studies, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and the Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Teresa S. Encarnacion Tadem, PhD, Executive Director of the UP CIDS, welcomes the participants of the public lecture. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Taylor outlined several historical and structural causes of conflict, shifts in balance of military power, and methods to prevent a catastrophic clash among key players in the region, among others. He said the flashpoints were: Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea. He also explained that it was important for scholars and world leaders to understand the connections and possible resolutions in order to prevent a “crisis slide” or a series of international problems that could lead to war. Herman Joseph S. Kraft, convenor of the UP CIDS – SSP, delivers the closing remarks. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Tow discussed how scholars of international relations and strategic studies are looking at the rise of China in relation to the perceived erosion of Western power, nations’ alliances and connections with the US, prospects for a post-Cold War bipolar world order, and new opportunities for global connectivity. He warned that corruption, nationalism or populism, and overheated economies complicate miscalculation, making the situation volatile or less predictable. He recommended that connectivity, free trade, and a rules-based order based on sovereignty and respect are vital for nations to avoid blocks or conflicts. He also said the world must not return to the age of great power rivalry. (Fred Dabu, UP MPRO)
https://up.edu.ph/up-krc-and-ateneo-korean-studies-program-hold-public-lecture-on-accounting-for-popular-taste-neoliberalism-in-reality-talent-shows/	UP KRC and Ateneo Korean Studies Program hold public lecture on “Accounting for Popular Taste: Neoliberalism in Reality Talent Shows” – University of the Philippines	UP KRC and Ateneo Korean Studies Program hold public lecture on “Accounting for Popular Taste: Neoliberalism in Reality Talent Shows” UP KRC and Ateneo Korean Studies Program hold public lecture on “Accounting for Popular Taste: Neoliberalism in Reality Talent Shows” April 13, 2021 \| Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office On March 12, 2021, the University of the Philippines (UP) Korea Research Center and the Ateneo Korean Studies Program conducted another public lecture, “Accounting for Popular Taste: Neoliberalism in Reality Talent Shows”. This free lecture discussed the history, nature, and practices of Korean reality talent shows and K-pop idol formation under neoliberalism. Screenshot during the UP KRC’s public lecture, “Accounting for Popular Taste: Neoliberalism in Reality Talent Shows”. Watch the replay on the UP KRC’s Youtube channel. Dr. Roald Maliangkay from the Australian National University was invited to share his expertise on this topic. Fascinated by the mechanics of cultural policy and the convergence of major cultural phenomena, he analyzes cultural industries, performance, and consumption in Korea from the early twentieth century to the present. He is the author of Broken Voices: Postcolonial Entanglements and the Preservation of Korea’s Central Folksong Traditions (University of Hawai`i Press, 2017), and co-editor of K-pop: The International Rise of the Korean Music Industry (Routledge, 2015). Today, many K-pop fans and audiences alike anticipate the formation of their K-pop idols from Korean reality talent shows and survival shows like I Can See Your Voice (Mnet), Superstar K (Mnet), The Voice of Korea (Mnet), Korea’s Got Talent (tvN), Survival Edition K-pop Star (SBS), Top Band (KBS), Singing Batte (KBS), and Star Audition: The Great Birth (MBC). This kind of “business formula” was established as early as the 1930s, and today’s events sometimes reveal precedency of “good looks and showmanship over musical skill.” Dr. Maliangkay highlighted that the term “neoliberalism” has been used not only in economic and social studies, but also in cultural studies and K-pop. He noted that neoliberalism can be identified in the K-pop industry with hypercommodification and hyper-rationalization through the hectic training system, “use of lipsync”, different idol formations, and idol-fan interactions. Participants also asked questions related to recent survival show issues and fandom competitions at the end of the lecture. Re-watch the full lecture via UPKRC official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aFgcNP2QEs. Press release prepared by Diana Kassandra A. Almarez (UP KRC Research Assistant)
https://up.edu.ph/outstanding-public-service-programs-in-2017-recognized/	Outstanding public service programs in 2017 recognized – University of the Philippines	Outstanding public service programs in 2017 recognized Outstanding public service programs in 2017 recognized December 20, 2017 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Eight public service programs of the University won this year’s Gawad Pangulo for Excellence in Public Service. UP President Danilo Concepcion handed out certificates and cash rewards to the winners in a ceremony on December 5, 2017 at the UP Institute of Biology Auditorium. The awardees were: the “Geography Field School” of the UP Diliman Department of Geography; the “Capacity Building Program on Bridging Leadership toward Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Development” of UP Visayas; the “iBuntis (Imaging Buntis) Program — The Use of Handheld Ultrasound Integrated to Smarthone to Avert Maternal Deaths in Two Regions in the Philippines” of the UP Manila College of Medicine; “Evidence-based Planning for Resilient Local Health Systems of the UP Visayas College of Arts and Sciences and the UP Manila College of Public Health and School of Health Sciences in Palo, Leyte; the “Summer Arts Extension Program” of the UP Baguio College of Arts and Communication and Committee on Culture and the Arts; the “Teacher Development Program through eLearning” of the UP Open University Faculty of Information and Communication Studies and Faculty of Education and the UP Los Baños Rural High School; the “Phil-LiDAR 2 Program: National Resource Inventory of the Philippines Using LiDAR and other Remotely-Sensed Data” of: the UP Diliman College of Engineering, Department of Geodetic Engineering, and Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry; the UP Mindanao College of Science and Mathematics; the UP Los Baños Institute of Biological Sciences; and the UP Cebu Department of Biology and Environmental Studies; and, the “Participatory Implementation of a National DOH Program (PhilPEN Strategy) as a Public Service Program” of: the UP Manila Community Health and Development Program, College of Dentistry, College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, College of Public Health, and Department of Family and Community Medicine; and the UP Diliman College of Social Work and Community Development and College of Home Economics. The awardees of the 2nd Gawad Pangulo for Excellence in Public Service with Faculty Regent Patricia Arinto, UP System and Padayon Public Service Office officials, chancellors, and the awards selection committee (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) The UP Padayon Public Service Office under the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs administers the program, which is now on its second year. The award looks at initiatives connected to or are part of the work of UP constituent universities. Concepcion said that compassion, which he envisions as a pillar of UP, should be integral in their study, teaching, and research, resulting in knowledge that is relevant to the nation. He further said in his message that he looks at university public service as “excellent, honorable, true, fair, and humane”. He pointed out that it did not begin with the Charter, as public service had long been symbolized by UP’s iconic Oblation. “Ang Pahinungod at ang Unibersidad ay iisa,” he said. The selection committee was composed of Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Dalisay Jr., Professor Emeritus of Sociology Manuel Flores Bonifacio, Professor of Social Work Jocelyn Caragay, and Professor of History Jaime Veneracion. (Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO)
https://up.edu.ph/with-maya-1-flying-high-dost-up-aim-to-train-more-satellite-builders/	With Maya-1 flying high, DOST, UP aim to train more satellite builders – University of the Philippines	With Maya-1 flying high, DOST, UP aim to train more satellite builders With Maya-1 flying high, DOST, UP aim to train more satellite builders August 14, 2018 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office At slightly over 2 lbs., the Maya-1 cube satellite is even smaller than Diwata-1. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) With the successful deployment of the Maya-1, the first ever U1 cube satellite (CubeSat) built by Filipinos from the International Space Station (ISS) on August 10, 2018, the people behind its success promised that the best was yet to come. Watching from the UP Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute’s (UP EEEI) Reading Room, a contingent of officials from the Philippines and Japan joined members of the PHL-Microsat program to witness the real-time release of Maya-1 from the ISS through the Japanese Experimental module, Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD), through the ‘Kibo’ module. This was the same module used to deploy the first Philippine-built microsatellite, Diwata-1, back in 2016. Video feed from the ISS just a few seconds before the release of Maya-1. (Video by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) The contingent was led by Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato dela Peña and Consul General Atsushi Kuwabara from the Embassy of Japan. They joined UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan, Senior Expert Shigeki Kamigaichi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), EEEI Director John Richard Hizon, as well as members of the Institute and the press. The event was facilitated by Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano, Jr., program leader of the PHL-MicroSat project, Maya-1 was designed and constructed primarily by Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) graduate students, Joven Javier and Adrian Salces, together with their Kyutech advisers under the second iteration of the BIRDS-2 Cube Satellite Project. The BIRDS project is a KyuTech-hosted interdisciplinary effort to assist non-spacefaring countries in building their own miniature satellites. As part of BIRDS-2, Maya-1 was launched together with two other CubeSats: UiTMSAT-1 from Malaysia and the Bhutan-1 from Bhutan. UP EEEI Director Richard Hizon gives a briefing to guests, including UPD Chancellor Michael Tan (leftmost) and UP President Danilo Concepcion (2nd from left), on Maya-1. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Orbiting at an altitude of around 400 kilometers, Maya-1 is expected to pass over the country around three to four times a day and is expected to remain in orbit for a year. Among its missions is the demonstration of the Store and Forward (S&F) System, a remote data collection system where the satellite collects data from remote ground segments (GST) within its footprint, stores it, and forwards it to ground stations, including those from UP Diliman. A replica of the country’s first nanosatellite greeted viewers of the live broadcast. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Among these data will be photographs of crops, river basins, forestlands and settlements, taken using two cameras with different focal lengths. Maya-1 can also be used to send and receive messages and sensor data from far-flung areas without cellular connections. According to Dr. Marciano, the success of Maya-1 will allow both UP and the DOST to take their space science and technology efforts to the next level. He noted that starting January 2019, the EEEI will launch a variation of its Masters in Electrical Engineering program geared towards building our own local CubeSats. Scholarships under this program will include testing these built satellites in Japan, Marciano said. The primary aim, he clarified, was the dissemination of space technology to other Philippine universities. This sentiment was echoed by EEEI Director Hizon, who lauded how Maya-1 helped give Filipinos the muchneeded expertise to further the country’s technological capabilities. Finally, Sec. dela Peña teased the formation of a ‘Philippine Space Agency’, which he claims was one of the top three priorities of the DOST. The Secretary cited how Maya-1 was a pivotal step towards its fulfillment due to the lessons it provided the country’s Space Technology Development Program, not only scientifically, but also in the areas of education and human resource development. Sec. Fortunato dela Pena congratulates the scientists and engineers behind Maya-1. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) When asked about the general importance of these efforts to national development, dela Peña answered directly: “If I have to be frank, we do not want to be left out.” (Andre DP Encarnacion, UP MPRO)
https://up.edu.ph/diwata-2-takes-flight/	Diwata-2 takes flight – University of the Philippines	Diwata-2 takes flight Diwata-2 takes flight October 31, 2018 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office A replica of Diwata-2 overlooks the GT-Toyota Auditorium. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The University of the Philippines PHL-Microsat Team and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) achieved another milestone on October 29, 2018, as Diwata-2, the second microsatellite built and designed by Filipinos was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan via the H-II F40 rocket. In a viewing session at UP Diliman’s GT-Toyota Auditorium, project leaders of the PHL-Microsat joined their counterparts from government, the Japanese Embassy in Manila, the media and the UP community to witness the launch on the big screen. A more technologically advanced sibling of the groundbreaking Diwata-1 microsatellite, Diwata-2 will orbit at a higher altitude (~620km.), and features an increased lifespan and a sun-synchronous orbit that makes repeated environmental monitoring of specific places possible. Like its predecessor, Diwata-2 carries a wide field camera (WFC), middle field camera (MFC), high precision telescope (HPT), and spaceborne multispectral imager (SMI) with liquid crystal tunable filter (LCTF). Unlike its predecessor, it features the deployable solar panels for increased power generation output, an enhanced resolution camera (ERC), and two locally-made experimental modules: an Amateur Radio Unit for disaster and emergency communications and a Satellite Orientation Module for increased pointing accuracy. Diwata-2 was developed, as was Diwata-1, with the mentorship and support of Japan’s Hokkaido University and Tohoku University. It is a pivotal precursor to the next phase of Philippine space technology, called the Sustained Support for Local Space Technology and Applications Mastery, Innovation and Advancement (STAMINA4Space) Program, that aims to build a local industrial base and enhance local space science and engineering expertise towards the establishment of the Philippine Space Agency. (Andre DP Encarnacion, UP MPRO) PHL-Microsat Project 5 head and ASEAN US Science Prize for Women winner Gay Jane Perez. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) High school students from around the country viewed the launch of Diwata-2. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Cristina Guevara. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) VIPs from the DOST, the Office of Senator Bam Aquino, UP and the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines cheer on the launch of Diwata-2. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) PHL-Microsat engineers Kaye Kristine Vergel, Ariston Gonzalez and Delburg Mitchao walk everyone through the launch. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Embassy of Japan Minister and Consul General Atsushi Kuwabara. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) K-12 students during the Q&A. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) UP Diliman Vice Chancellor for Research and Development Fidel Nemenzo. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) PHL-Microsat Project’s Delburg Mitchao, Ariston Gonzalez and Kaye Kristine Vergel. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Check out the story behind Diwata-2 HERE.
https://up.edu.ph/public-forum-on-saudi-arabia-tackles-ofw-issues/	Public forum on Saudi Arabia tackles OFW issues – University of the Philippines	Public forum on Saudi Arabia tackles OFW issues Public forum on Saudi Arabia tackles OFW issues March 6, 2019 \| Written by Andre DP Encarnacion H.E. Ambassador Dr. Abdullah N.A. Al Bussairy (rightmost) leads the Saudi Arabian contingent, also featuring King Abdulaziz Foundation Sec. General Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Semmari (3rd from right). With them are UP Institute for Islamic Studies Dean Macrina Morados (2nd from right) and UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO A broad array of academic, diplomatic, religious and inter-faith organizations sent delegations to attend a Public Forum on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia held in the UP School of Statistics Auditorium, UP Diliman on February 20, 2019. The event was organized jointly by the University of the Philippines through the UP Institute of Islamic Studies (UP IIS), the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the Philippines, and the King Abdulaziz Foundation. The forum, which was personally attended by H.E. Ambassador Dr. Abdullah N.A. Al Bussairy and King Abdulaziz Foundation Acting Secretary General Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Semmari, brought together four speakers to talk about bilateral relations between the two countries and the state of OFWs in Saudi Arabia. The speakers included two faculty members from the prestigious King Saud University in Riyadh, Dr. Abdullah Nasser Alwelaie and Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Tuwiri, who were joined by Ms. Jocelyn Sanchez from the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) and Mr. Raymond Balatbat of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Manila. Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Tuwiri (rightmost) answers a question as Prof. Julkipli Wadi of the UP Institute of Islamic Studies (center) and Mr. Raymond Balatbat look on. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO With almost 25% of the number of expat workers situated in Saudi Arabia, totaling around 1 million persons, the discussions of the speakers generally focused on the issues of that sector. For instance, while the Agreement on Domestic Worker Recruitment signed in 2013 between the two countries is considered a labor milestone, the Agreement only had a span of five years and was terminated in 2017. According to reactor Dr. Abdul Hussein Kashim, this Agreement laid down the expectations of both the Philippines and Saudi Arabia with respect to OFWs, as well as codified the rights and privileges of every Filipino domestic worker in the Kingdom. Its importance, he said, meant that reviving the Agreement this 2019 is a necessity. “Both governments should sincerely work together to protect these people,” Kashim said. Staff members of the UP Institute of Islamic Studies welcome diverse guests to the UP School of Statistics Auditorium. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO The forum was opened by UP ISS Dean Macrina A. Morados. According to Morados, the public lecture is one of the results of Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s state visit in 2017 to the Kingdom that strengthened bilateral relations between both countries. She also thanked the Saudi government, specifically King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for his generosity to the Institute and support of its goals. The King, Morados noted, donated $2 million for the construction of a new IIS building, which will help the Institute to better fulfill its research and teaching mandate in the 21st century. UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia also read a message on behalf of UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, proposing the creation of a Philippine Learning Commons in Saudi Arabia, similar to that established by UP in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 2018. Such a facility would enable OFWs to acquire training through online resources and courses, to be made possible through the UP Open University’s distance learning programs. King Abdulaziz Foundation Acting Secretary General Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Semmari arrives in UP Diliman. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO
https://up.edu.ph/tau-alpha-to-donate-legacy-pathway-from-main-library-to-quezon-hall/	Tau Alpha to donate ‘legacy’ pathway from Main Library to Quezon Hall – University of the Philippines	Tau Alpha to donate ‘legacy’ pathway from Main Library to Quezon Hall Tau Alpha to donate ‘legacy’ pathway from Main Library to Quezon Hall May 17, 2019 \| Written by Andre DP Encarnacion Tau Alpha Legacy Project Committee Chair Antonio Turalba accepts the great responsibility for the construction on behalf of his fraternity. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO Officials from the University of the Philippines (UP) joined their counterparts from the Tau Alpha fraternity on May 3, 2019 at Quezon Hall in UP Diliman to sign a Memorandum of Agreement for the construction of the latter’s legacy project. Estimated at around P80 million, the project will lead to the creation of a pathway connecting Quezon Hall to the Main Library of UP Diliman. Tau Alpha, which was represented at the signing by Legacy Project Committee Chairperson Antonio Turalba and Tau Alpha Foundation President Norberto Mendoza, thanked UP President Danilo L. Concepcion for the opportunity to undertake the prestigious project. “That honor also brings with it tremendous responsibility,” Turalba added in his message, while clarifying that Tau Alpha was ready to undertake that responsibility. President Concepcion was joined in the signing by UP Vice President for Development Elvira A. Zamora as representatives of the University. Also with them at the ceremonies were UP Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell P. Capili and Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs and Director of Office of Alumni Relations, Rica D. Abad. Tau Alpha’s legacy project was created to commemorate the fraternity’s 90th anniversary, which will be in 2021. In addition to the pathway, the project’s budget will cover the cost of one or two bridges (depending on the final design) along Roces Avenue, with tunnels featuring vaulted ceilings. It will also cover the cost of incidental landscaping with provision for benches and artworks across the pathway, as well as the refurbishment of the Lagoon and the possible addition of a holding pond. Construction is expected to finish in 2022. Tau Alpha officials and members pose with UP System officials led by UP President Danilo L. Concepcion. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO Concepcion lauded the agreement as “historic,” noting that partnering with UP alumni has always been productive for the University. He said that it was his dream for UP to have a world class campus, but he always hoped to achieve it without sacrificing the open spaces, trees, and natural beauty. The current project, he clarified, was a major step towards achieving that goal. Concepcion also announced that his administration had several more major projects in the pipeline and asked for the alumni’s continued support in these endeavors.
https://up.edu.ph/up-ateneo-host-shakespeare-traffics-tropics-conference/	UP, Ateneo host “Shakespeare, Traffics, Tropics” conference – University of the Philippines	UP, Ateneo host “Shakespeare, Traffics, Tropics” conference UP, Ateneo host “Shakespeare, Traffics, Tropics” conference May 22, 2018 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Shakespeare, Traffics, Tropics is the 3rd biennial conference of the Asian Shakespeare Association jointly hosted by the University of the Philippines Diliman and the Ateneo de Manila University. It features leading Shakespearean scholars and theatre practitioners from around the globe with a keen interest in Shakespeare as produced in and by Asia and a mini-festival of Shakespearean performances from Japan, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The conference is scheduled on May 28-30, 2018 at the College of Arts and Letters of UP Diliman and the Areté, the new creative hub of the Ateneo de Manila University. The conference will include plenary, panel, and seminar sessions on several aspects of Shakespearean pedagogy, publication, translation, adaptation, and theatrical histories in various Asian locations. Selected papers from the conference will be published as a special issue of Kritika Kultura, a Thomson-Reuters-indexed and Scopus-listed internationally refereed online journal on literary, language and cultural studies published by the Ateneo de Manila University. For more details of the conference, click here.
https://up.edu.ph/up-welcomes-incoming-oblation-scholars/	UP welcomes incoming Oblation scholars – University of the Philippines	UP welcomes incoming Oblation scholars UP welcomes incoming Oblation scholars December 13, 2018 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan talks with a group of Oblation scholars at the beginning of the reception. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) UP welcomed the incoming batch of Oblation scholars with a lunch and the awarding of recognition certificates on December 8, 2018 in the Isabelo delos Reyes Auditorium, Bonifacio Hall, UP Diliman. The Oblation scholarship is awarded to the top 50 freshman qualifiers based on the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) and University Predicted Grades (UPG). To date, 27 of the 2018 top 50 expressed their intention to enroll in UP. The 50 topped the 78,949 UPCAT examinees and 12,920 qualifiers of 2018. According to the UP Office of Admissions, they also belong to the first batch of UP freshman applicants to complete the K-12 Program. Incoming Oblation scholars up for enrolment in UP Manila, with Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Alyssa Peleo-Alampay, UP Manila Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Nymia Pimentel-Simbulan, UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Richard Philip Gonzalo, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Carla Dimalanta, and Admissions Director Aurora Corpuz-Mendoza. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Aside from free tuition, the Oblation scholars are entitled to book and transportation allowances every semester, and to monthly incentive allowances. They enjoy the scholarship throughout the normal length of time required to finish their degree program (but only the first four years for those in the Intarmed Program) as long as they maintain the required 2.0 grade average. Incoming Oblation scholars up for enrolment in UP Diliman, with Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Alyssa Peleo-Alampay, UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan, UP Diliman Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Evangeline Amor, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Carla Dimalanta, Admissions Director Aurora Corpuz-Mendoza, and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Richard Philip Gonzalo. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) According to admissions figures, 70 percent of the top 50 came from public science high schools, 22 percent from private schools, and 8 percent from general public high schools. Fifty-four percent are residents of the National Capital Region; 36 percent, of the rest of Luzon; and 10 percent, of Visayas and Mindanao. The majority or 92 percent were applicants to UP Diliman, and 8 percent, to UP Manila; 60 percent to Science programs, 36 percent to Engineering programs, and 4 percent to Business programs. As Oblation scholars, however, they are entitled to choose a different undergraduate program in the UP System should they finally decide to enroll in UP. Admissions Director Aurora Corpuz-Mendoza presents a profile of the new Oblation scholars. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) The scholars and their family members were welcomed by University officials and representatives of UP constituent universities. Representatives from UP constituent universities present themselves to the Oblation scholars and their families. Standing is UP Los Baños Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Rex Demafelis. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) “The premium factor here is not that we have no tuition. With regard to essential facilities, we’re good [but] what we have to offer you is the diversity,” said UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan. He then spoke of UP’s diverse degree programs, ethnic backgrounds, and multiple intelligences. Tan also spoke of new mental health programs, which would respond to the special needs of those considered to be among the best students in the country. “For the parents, I know you have nagging fears. . . . You have to trust your children to be discerning enough,” he added. Incoming Oblation scholars take souvenir photos of their batch mates. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Alyssa Peleo-Alampay read the message of Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Rose Bautista, which drew a comparison between Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio in terms of promoting both love of country and education. “In UP you become not only an iskolar ng bayan, but more importantly an iskolar para sa bayan,” the message read. “We not only encourage the deepening of a specialization, but also of holistic growth,” Bautista said. “Students appreciate their work as part of a bigger reality,” she added. (Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO) UP College of Music students Marlee Pabico on guitar and Evette Parcon on vocals perform Philippine classical music for Oblation scholars and their families. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO)
https://up.edu.ph/up-abs-cbn-and-others-sign-covenant-for-elections-2019/	UP, ABS-CBN, and others sign covenant for Elections 2019 – University of the Philippines	UP, ABS-CBN, and others sign covenant for Elections 2019 UP, ABS-CBN, and others sign covenant for Elections 2019 January 21, 2019 \| Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc UP Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa signs the covenant initiated by ABS-CBN for its partners in the campaign for peaceful, clean, and orderly elections in 2019. ABS-CBN Senior Vice President for Integrated News and Current Affairs Ma. Regina Reyes awaits the signatories for a photo opportunity while broadcaster Karen Davila calls out the names of the signatories. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP-MPRO UP is among 25 organizations that signed a covenant on January 18, 2019 with ABS-CBN for a campaign to hold peaceful, clean, and orderly national elections on May 13, 2019. Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa, representing the University, signed the covenant together with representatives from the Commission on Elections, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, the Department of Foreign Affairs Overseas Voting Secretariat, other major universities, non-government organizations, professional and business organizations, and media and advocacy groups that have forged a partnership with ABS-CBN for its 2019 national elections coverage. ABS-CBN was represented by Chief Operating Officer Cory Vidanes and Senior Vice President for News and Current Affairs Ma. Regina Reyes. UP Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa (3rd from right) and Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Rica D. Abad (rightmost) meet DZMM Station Manager Marah Faner-Capuyan (leftmost), ABS-CBN Head of Breaking News and Live Events Francis Toral (2nd from left), ABS-CBN Senior Vice President for Integrated News and Current Affairs Ma. Regina Reyes (3rd from left), and ABS-CBN broadcast journalist, Karen Davila (2nd from right), who are all UP alumni, after the ABS-CBN covenant signing for the 2019 elections. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP-MPRO The organizations swore to support programs which safeguard the credibility of the elections, inform citizens on the elections, and help them guard their votes. The text of the covenant and signed logos of covenant partners are flashed onstage. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP-MPRO On December 10, 2018, UP President Danilo Concepcion approved a partnership between ABS-CBN and UP in support of the former’s flagship campaign Bayan Mo, i-Patrol Mo (BMPM), consisting of “in-depth, balanced presentation of news and other issues about the elections, particularly of the candidates and of the electorate”. This would entail participation of UP resource persons in ABS-CBN news program platforms and BMPM-related events; and, provision of UP venues, audience, research materials, and, if available, fact-checking service. In return, the media corporation will acknowledge UP as a partner in its platforms and support UP election-related events and projects. ABS-CBN Senior Vice President for Integrated News and Current Affairs Ma. Regina Reyes welcomes the covenant partners of ABS-CBN for the 2019 national elections. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP-MPRO The signatories of the covenant for peaceful, clean, and orderly elections initiated by ABS-CBN stand on stage after the signing ceremony in ABS-CBN’s ELJ Building. In the middle are ABS-CBN Chief Operating Officer Cory Vidanes, Comelec Commissioner Socorro Inting, and ABS-CBN Senior Vice President for Integrated News and Current Affairs Ma. Regina Reyes. Behind Vidanes and Inting is UP Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP-MPRO The signatories of the covenant for peaceful, clean, and orderly elections initiated by ABS-CBN stand on stage after the signing ceremony in ABS-CBN’s ELJ Building. In the middle are ABS-CBN Chief Operating Officer Cory Vidanes, Comelec Commissioner Socorro Inting, and ABS-CBN Senior Vice President for Integrated News and Current Affairs Ma. Regina Reyes. Behind Vidanes and Inting is UP Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP-MPRO
https://up.edu.ph/islamic-populism-in-indonesia-and-the-middle-east-a-roundtable-discussion-rtd-with-vedi-r-hadiz/	Islamic Populism in Indonesia and the Middle East, a Roundtable Discussion (RTD) with Vedi R. Hadiz – University of the Philippines	Islamic Populism in Indonesia and the Middle East, a Roundtable Discussion (RTD) with Vedi R. Hadiz Islamic Populism in Indonesia and the Middle East, a Roundtable Discussion (RTD) with Vedi R. Hadiz October 13, 2017 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The UP Center for Integrative Studies (UPCIDS) Programs on Alternative Development, and Social and Political Change, together with the UP Department of Political Science will be holding a roundtable discussion on the book “Islamic Populism in Indonesia and the Middle East,” on 21 October 2017, 10:00 a.m. onwards at the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies, Lower Ground Floor, Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman. The discussion is free and open to the public, but seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. About the book and the discussion Vedi R. Hadiz. Islamic Populism in Indonesia and the Middle East. Cambridge University Press. 2017. In a novel approach to the field of Islamic politics, this provocative new study compares the evolution of Islamic populism in Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, to the Middle East. Utilising approaches from historical sociology and political economy, Vedi R. Hadiz argues that competing strands of Islamic politics can be understood as the product of contemporary struggles over power, material resources and the result of conflict across a variety of social and historical contexts. Drawing from detailed case studies across the Middle East and Southeast Asia, the book engages with broader theoretical questions about political change in the context of socio-economic transformations and presents an innovative, comparative framework to shed new light on the diverse trajectories of Islamic politics in the modern world. Charts the evolution of Islamic populism in Indonesia, comparing it to the Middle East Offers a novel framework to understand the diverse trajectories of Islamic politics in the modern world Engages with debates on religion, politics and social change About the speaker Vedi R. Hadiz is Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Melbourne. Previously he was Professor of Asian Societies and Politics at Murdoch University’s Asia Research Centre and Director of its Indonesia Research Programme. An Indonesian national, he was an Australian Research Council Future Fellow in 2010-2014. Professor Hadiz received his PhD at Murdoch University in 1996 where he was Research Fellow until he went to the National University of Singapore in 2000. At NUS, he was an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology until returning to Murdoch in 2010. His research interests revolve around political sociology and political economy issues, especially those related to the contradictions of development in Indonesia and Southeast Asia more broadly, and more recently, in the Middle East. Aside from his latest book Islamic Populism in Indonesia and the Middle East (Cambridge University Press 2017), his other books include Localising Power in Post-Authoritarian Indonesia: A Southeast Asia Perspective (Stanford University Press 2010), Workers and the State in New Order Indonesia (Routledge 1997) and (with Richard Robison) Reorganising Power in Indonesia: The Politics of Oligarchy in an Age of Markets (RoutledgeCurzon 2004,), as well as the co-edited Between Dissent and Power: The Transformation of Islamic Politics in the Middle East and Asia (Palgrave Macmillan 2014) and the edited Empire and Neoliberalism in Asia (Routledge 2004). His articles have appeared in such journals as Development and Change, New Political Economy, Democratization, Journal of Development Studies, Pacific Review, Pacific Affairs, Third World Quarterly, Journal of Contemporary Asia, Critical Asian Studies, Indonesia, Inter-Asia Cultural Studies and Historical Materialism. Professor Hadiz has been a visiting scholar in the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS) in France, the International Institute of Social Studies in the Netherlands, the Centre of Southeast Asian Studies in the University of Kyoto and the Department of Sociology in the University of Indonesia, where he is also an Adjunct Professor. If you are interested in attending the event, sign up here.
https://up.edu.ph/book-launch-and-panel-discussion-ensuring-a-square-meal-women-and-food-security-in-southeast-asia/	Book Launch and Panel Discussion: “Ensuring a Square Meal: Women and Food Security in Southeast Asia” – University of the Philippines	Book Launch and Panel Discussion: “Ensuring a Square Meal: Women and Food Security in Southeast Asia” Book Launch and Panel Discussion: “Ensuring a Square Meal: Women and Food Security in Southeast Asia” October 9, 2018 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The UP CIDS Program on Social and Political Change, together with World Scientific Publishing (Singapore) and the UP Department of Political Science, is co-organizing the launch of and a panel discussion on the book “Ensuring a Square Meal: Women and Food Security in Southeast Asia” on October 19, 2018 (Friday), 2:00 to 4:00 PM, at the UP CIDS Conference Hall. The panel discussants include Dr. Theresa Devasahayam (Singapore University of Social Sciences), editor of the book, and Dr. Jorge Tigno (University of the Philippines Diliman) and Dr. Thelma Paris (University of the Philippines Los Baños), authors of the book’s two chapters. To register, please contact Ms. Jesam Jimenez at pspc.cids@up.edu.ph or (02) 981-8500 locs. 4266 and 4267. The Book Research on women and food security in Southeast Asia has been limited. The collection of chapters in “Ensuring a Square Meal: Women and Food Security in Southeast Asia” is one of the first attempts at providing a lens into the linkages between women and food security at the household, community, national, and transnational levels. More broadly, the chapters examine women’s contribution in households, resource distribution to produce food, and the purchasing power to buy food. In analysing the various facets of food security in relation to gender, the analyses focus on the meanings of ‘private’ and ‘public’, and the extent to which the effects of the two spheres spill over into each other. Given women’s critical role in food production and provision, the book assesses the structural forces enabling women to access productive resources and, in turn, ensure sustainable strategies for food security; as well as it evaluates how governments might address the constraints women face in this vital role. For more information on the book, please visit https://doi.org./10.1142/10761.
https://up.edu.ph/interpreting-pre-election-surveys-a-public-panel-discussion/	Interpreting Pre-Election Surveys: A Public Panel Discussion – University of the Philippines	Interpreting Pre-Election Surveys: A Public Panel Discussion Interpreting Pre-Election Surveys: A Public Panel Discussion March 11, 2019 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Pre-election surveys dominate the news cycle during election season. When they come out, candidates in the lead celebrate their results while a number of those trailing behind question their validity. Some commentators praise surveys as a means for the average citizen to influence policy while others caution that surveys are means to manipulate public opinion. How are pre-election surveys done? What do they tell us? And what should we do with that information? To find answers to this question, the UP Department of Political Science and UP sa Halalan, in partnership with the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies’ Program on Social and Political Change, present “Interpreting Pre-election Surveys,” a public panel discussion with experts from the industry and academe on March 12, 2019 (Tuesday), 1:00-4:00 PM at UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) Conference Hall, Bahay ng Alumni.
https://up.edu.ph/mga-pahayag-at-sabi-sabi-sa-sona-2019-a-up-roundtable-discussion/	Mga Pahayag at Sabi-Sabi sa SONA 2019: A UP Roundtable Discussion – University of the Philippines	Mga Pahayag at Sabi-Sabi sa SONA 2019: A UP Roundtable Discussion Mga Pahayag at Sabi-Sabi sa SONA 2019: A UP Roundtable Discussion July 12, 2019 \| Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (website: https://cids.up.edu.ph/; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upcids/), through the UP CIDS Program on Social and Political Change, and the UP Department of Political Science (website: https://polisci.upd.edu.ph/; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upd.polisci/) invite everyone to Mga Pahayag at Sabi-Sabi sa SONA 2019, a UP roundtable discussion happening on 17 July 2019, 1:00–5:00 PM, at the UP CIDS Conference Hall, Lower Ground Floor, Ang Bahay ng Alumni, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City. This event is organized in partnership with the UP CIDS Program on Alternative Development, Decolonial Studies Program, Program on Data Science for Public Policy, Program on Escaping the Middle-Income Trap: Chains for Change, Islamic Studies Program, Political Economy Program, and Strategic Studies Program. About the Event President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) comes in the wake of the May midterm elections which saw the defeat (or unequivocal rout) of the more liberally- and democratically-minded opposition in both chambers of Congress. In three years, the Duterte administration continues to enjoy high levels of public satisfaction amid its bloody campaign against illegal drugs, the Marawi siege and martial law in Mindanao, and territorial disputes with China, among many others. In this roundtable discussion, we invite the public to join us and a group of academics and experts on political science, Islamic studies, foreign relations, constitutional law, and economics to discuss and review the achievements and challenges that the current administration face as we reach the midpoint of the Duterte presidency. Speakers PANEL ONE Themes in the Presidential Policy Rhetoric Jalton G. Taguibao, Ph.D. Co-convenor, Program on Data Science for Public Policy, UP CIDS Assistant Professor, UP Department of Political Science Labor and Social Justice Initiatives Rogelio Alicor L. Panao, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, UP Department of Political Science Constitutional Change Dante B. Gatmaytan, LLM Project Leader, Decolonial Studies Program, UP CIDS Professor, UP College of Law Foreign Policy/Relations Issues Aileen S.P. Baviera, Ph.D. President & CEO, Asia Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation, Inc. PANEL TWO Local Governance and Decentralization in the SONAs Maria Ela L. Atienza, Ph.D. Co-convenor, Program on Social and Political Change, UP CIDS Chair & Professor, UP Department of Political Science National Defense and Security Herman Joseph S. Kraft Convenor, Strategic Studies Program, UP CIDS Associate Professor, UP Department of Political Science Threats and Challenges on the Duterte Administration in Mindanao and Sulu Archipelago Julkipli M. Wadi Project Leader, Islamic Studies Program, UP CIDS Professor, UP Institute of Islamic Studies Midway Under Duterte Emmanuel S. de Dios, Ph.D. Fellow, Program on Escaping the Middle-Income Trap: Chains for Change, UP CIDS Professor, UP School of Economics Register The roundtable discussion is free and open to the public, but registration is highly encouraged. Please register at pspc.cids@up.edu.ph.
https://up.edu.ph/call-for-proposals-midyear-competitions-and-workshops-for-up-students/	CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Midyear Competitions and Workshops for UP Students – University of the Philippines	CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Midyear Competitions and Workshops for UP Students CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Midyear Competitions and Workshops for UP Students July 19, 2021 \| Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office In the spirit of harnessing the creativity and critical thinking of its students, the University of the Philippines, through the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs, is calling for proposals for competitions and workshops during the Midyear term. Intended for the engagement and participation of students in all the constituent units of the University, the proposals are expected to maximize the use of online performance arts, speech competitions, digital video competitions, online games, online trainings on wellness and mindfulness, as well as interactive games. Submissions must be made by recognized student organizations based on any of the constituent units of the University. Inter-CU collaborations are also encouraged. The project teams in these proposal activities must be UP students. The event must be doable from July to mid-September 2021. The proposals must be submitted to the Ad Hoc Committee on Student Competitions and Workshops. These must be in the form of a PowerPoint presentation which will contain the following: A narrative background explaining the nature of the project and its contribution to the creative and critical thinking of UP students, method of implementation, a project timeline (activity and proposed timeframe), and an evaluation plan Quality and suitability to the topic Audience of the project Explanation of the feasibility of the project within grant timeframe Annotated budget proposal The proposals will be presented and evaluated by the Ad Hoc Committee. Proponents of the chosen proposals will be notified by the Committee. Deadline for submission of proposals is on Monday, July 26, 2021. Please submit your proposals through tinyurl.com/uhwe9r72.
https://up.edu.ph/from-iska-to-beauty-queen/	From iska to beauty queen – University of the Philippines	From iska to beauty queen From iska to beauty queen March 5, 2018 \| Written by J. Mikhail Solitario To say that beauty pageants are big in the Philippines would be an understatement. Year after year, millions are glued to their TV sets watching Filipinas compete on the international arena as beauty queens become heroes who dominate the national conversation. The battle, however, begins at home and two iskolars are among this year’s Binibining Pilipinas 2018 candidates, both of whom are striving to stand alongside powerful, elegant women such as Theresa Licaros, Venus Raj, Shamcey Supsup, Ariella Arida, and Catherine Untalan. Driven by dreams A native of Nasugbu, Batangas, Jerelleen A. Rodriguez, Binibini #25, is a cum laude graduate of BS Business Administration and Accountancy from UP Diliman where she teaches basic and advanced accounting as well as public accounting practice. On the same campus, she is currently taking up law in the UP College of Law. She placed sixth in the accounting board exams and after a brief stint at SGV & Co., she is now also working with small- and medium-sized enterprises to secure funding for their business. Jerelleen Rodriguez graduated BS Business Administration and Accountancy, cum laude. (Photo by Jerelleen Rodriguez) Wynonah Van Joy C. Buot, Binibini #26, hails from Cebu where she graduated from UP with a BA in Mass Communication, cum laude. She worked as an executive assistant to design superstar Kenneth Cobonpue from 2015-2017 after focusing on her modeling career which led to multiple pageant victories, such as Miss UP Cebu in 2012 and Miss Cebu in 2015. She wanted to pursue graduate studies in arts and journalism in New York, but due to constant prodding and encouragement from family and friends, she eventually tried out for Binibining Pilipinas. At 24, Wynonah wants to be able to tell herself that she was able to accomplish something. Her family has been very supportive, particularly her sister who prodded her, and her mom whom she thinks is a “frustrated beauty queen.” Her supporters keep her going every day. “They help you get up in the morning and motivate you to be someone,” she said. Wynonah Buot winning Miss Cebu in 2015 (Photo by Epic Events Photography) Joining Binibining Pilipinas had always been Jerelleen’s dream. When she finished high school, she witnessed how Theresa Licaros won the crown and competed while being a law student. Jerelleen even initially applied for the same undergraduate degree program (Broadcast Communication) that Licaros took. She eventually shifted to Accounting for practical reasons and put academics as top priority until she graduated, aced the board exams, and passed the Law Aptitude Examination. After turning 25 last year, she finally decided that it was time to pursue her dream. However, it is the vision of bringing her family together that truly drives Jerelleen to stay determined to achieve success. She grew up in a family of modest means, and when her father worked overseas to provide for them, she used this as her primary motivation. Advancing advocacy Wynonah firmly believes that advocacy should be something that a candidate carries with her naturally as her passion, and not just something forced on or demanded from a Binibini. Fortunately, as a UP student, being exposed to various discussions on social issues coupled with the expectation from people for iskos and iskas to be socially aware, she realized that she could use her background as a communicator to be involved in the peace process, focusing on terrorism and conflict in the Philippines. She feels that events in conflict areas are not as factually reported in mainstream media as they should be. She adds, “As a communicator, I can help by going to the communities, talking to stakeholders, and being a voice in providing concrete solutions.” Excellence and social responsibility are values Wynonah holds dear, both as a UP graduate and a Binibini contestant. Binibini 26 Wynonah Buot (Photo by Erwin Lim) Women empowerment has always been a key theme in beauty pageants but as a teacher, Jerelleen envisions this to be a centrepiece in education reform and instruction. “We’ve seen women become presidents, Supreme Court justices and judges, and leaders in their respective fields. These women became icons but their awakening came later on and I hope to change that by instilling this idea in little girls early on.” She laments the fact that textbooks in basic education still reinforce gender stereotypes, e.g. how men should be architects and construction workers and women should be teachers and nurses. “We should be taught that we can do anything, regardless of whether we’re men or women. Equality must be taught at an early stage,” she adds. Regardless of the outcome, Jerelleen sees the Binibining Pilipinas experience as a boost to her confidence in gaining a voice in society. As a law student, she seeks to use the platform to make use of her technical knowledge by reaching more people. As a true-blue probinsyana, she was taught by UP what it was like to be a newcomer—she was the only one from her high school who made it to Diliman. She learned how to catch up by exerting twice the effort, which she also finds herself doing in Binibini as a first timer. “Although we are sisters, this [Binibini] is still a competition. We all have to step up but I have to step up more because I’m coming from zero experience. The perseverance and persistence in my days in UP really helped,” Jerelleen recalls. Countering criticism Their advice to those considering a beauty pageant stint? For Jerelleen, it’s simple: just accept yourself, given social media and heightened “bashing.” “Think of the pageant experience as a normal school—you come to class and learn every day, you have tests here and there, and come coronation night, you graduate and become a better person.” Wynonah advises, “She must really know if she wants to be in the pageant or not.” As someone who has had extensive experience in pageants, she believes it is critical that you are “101% sure that you really want this. Ask yourself: is it really ‘do or die’ for you? Have courage, be prepared, and tiwala lang sa sarili. Laban!” Binibini 25 Jerelleen Rodriguez (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) In last year’s Miss Universe question-and-answer portion, one of the questions asked was “What do you think is the most important social movement of our generation and why?” Wynonah thinks that her generation is trying to search for its collective identity. Older generations see millennials as people with short attention spans and fleeting ideas who settle for mediocrity. She posits, “It’s a challenge for us to prove them wrong, that we have dreams and aspirations and that we can reach them. We should stand out and be our own selves. I’m proud to be part of this generation.” On the other hand, Jerelleen believes the campaign “think before you click” is relevant today for the generation living in a time of advanced technological developments where involvement in issues is almost second nature. Because of social media, a larger portion of society is more socially and politically involved. By thinking before they click, comment, or post, people are encouraged to examine all sides before forming an opinion. The Binibining Pilipinas 2018 is set to crown its new queens on its Coronation Night, March 18, 7 pm at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
https://up.edu.ph/the-artist-as-storyteller/	The artist as storyteller – University of the Philippines	The artist as storyteller The artist as storyteller February 6, 2018 \| Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Funny Komiks made Mervin Malonzo realize he could tell stories with drawings. His family had just moved into another rental house and the former occupants had left copies lying around. The future magna cum laude graduate and National Book Award winner was in the third grade then. “I don’t remember a time I wasn’t drawing. And those comics made me decide I wanted to create comics, too.” Slips and bumps It hasn’t been easy. “We weren’t rich. My father repaired watches. My mother was a housewife.” He drew on his old notebooks, and an aunt who was a teacher gave him test papers she had finished checking, the blank sides of which he used. That same aunt, who Mervin had thought was encouraging him, also told him he couldn’t make a living out of his illustrations because he “could only succeed if he was good at it.” Perhaps it was because he was an achiever in school who excelled in math and science that his aunt wanted him to go for a more lucrative career. But even if he was the eldest of five children, his parents never expected him to be the breadwinner. They just told him to “do what made him happy,” so he planned to take up Fine Arts in UP Diliman (UPD) to help him achieve his dream of making comics. Mervin’s workspace sits on one corner of his family’s bedroom. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) But Mervin didn’t make the cut. He fell short of the required UPD grade. He did qualify for his next choice: BS Chemistry at UP Los Baños. There he was, disappointed, but ready to put his dream on hold. He had already found a dorm and was set on enrolling. Until he learned that the talent determination test in the Fine Arts program could still get him in. In 2001, he entered UPD as a Painting major and all throughout, Mervin was a Pitoy Moreno scholar. It wasn’t hard for him to maintain the scholarship grade requirement. The genuine desire to learn that made him excel in his younger years persisted when he entered UP. “I didn’t struggle too much with the studying part of UP life. Finances were harder to deal with.” Love, horror, and making a living He met Princess when she was a freshman at the Asian Institute of Tourism and he was a year from graduating. A friend had given him her number in hopes of setting them up because she was in UP, too; but it was months before he did something about it. It was December 2013 and he had been living in a relative’s house without electricity for roughly a year. He was continuing to develop the story that had been brewing since he was 17—a story inspired by, but not quite similar to, the characters in Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, mixed with Philippine mythology and horror, all of which interested him greatly. Princess and Mervin laugh about how awkward he was early on in their relationship. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “Living alone in a dark house can be scary but I fought that fear through the horror in my story. It was horror I controlled.” But loneliness was another matter, so he reached out to Princess. To his surprise, they were actually classmates in Natural Sciences 2 and were practically neighbors! They only met in person when classes resumed, and as their relationship developed, so did his story. After he graduated in 2005, he took on jobs as an in-house artist and designer for some companies. “I wanted to show people I could earn a living as a Painting graduate.” So despite his dream of creating comics, his story, Tabi Po, had to wait. Breaking free He learned how to use digital art tools for work and it didn’t take long for him to translate traditional painting practices into the new medium. In 2010, he uploaded Tabi Po online, making it freely available for anyone to read. It gained popularity and for a while, Mervin was content with simply sharing his work with the world. An incident at his workplace years later forced him to reassess his career. He was the creative head of new media who was suddenly denied entry because of the leather sandals he usually wore. It then occurred to him that success in that track meant doing things that didn’t fit his personality; so he quit shortly after. The first three issues of Tabi Po. (Photo from Mervin Malonzo’s online store, http://www.mervstore.com) He became a freelance artist who did illustration and web design jobs. He had more time to devote to Tabi Po and the clamor for a print version was increasing. In just a year, Tabi Po Isyu 1 was published and won the 2014 National Book Award for Graphic Literature. He reveals it was one of his proudest moments. “I was recognized not only as an artist but also as an author. I got an award for realizing my dream of telling a story through comics. It was better than all my academic honors combined.” He still feels bad though, that dengue prevented him from going to the awards ceremony. What followed was an offer to turn it into a live action TV series. From the time he won until Tabi Po was aired in 2017, Isyu 2 was printed, Isyu 3 was being completed, he and Princess had gotten married, and baby El was born. He had also decided, at the end of 2016, that he would just focus on comics—as a creator, illustrator, and publisher. With the full support of Princess and together with friends Aliyah Luna and Adam David, Haliya Publishing was born. One of its first releases was Tabi Po Isyu 3. A balancing act As co-founder and co-owner of Haliya, Mervin continues to learn the ropes of publishing, including production, marketing, and sales, among others. Even with added work, he and Princess continue to be hands-on parents to El. He admits with a laugh that the one-year-old is, in fact, “the boss.” When they both need to work, El is looked after by Mervin’s parents and siblings who live with them. Mervin signs a copy of Tabi Po Isyu 3. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The balancing act hasn’t hampered his creativity. He is continuing the Tabi Po series with another story arc. Mervin the artist and storyteller is also no longer content with letting people merely read his stories and enjoy his illustrations. He has created sculptures of his Tabi Po characters. He is animating not just his work but also others published by Haliya. Based on the online reception, people can’t get enough of his creations. “I want more people to appreciate the stories of Filipino writers, through comics or graphic novels, through animation. I want to show everyone that Filipinos can do these things and do these well.”
https://up.edu.ph/from-beauty-queen-to-iska/	From beauty queen to iska – University of the Philippines	From beauty queen to iska From beauty queen to iska February 7, 2018 \| Written by Stephanie Cabigao During the Miss Universe 2017 visit in the country with the past Miss Universe-Philippines title holders (Photo courtesy of Venus Raj) She is just as honest as she was during her final question-and-answer portion at the Miss Universe contest in 2010. But this time, eight years later, she admits that she has a major, major problem when asked why she wanted to take up a master’s degree in Community Development. “I’ll be very honest with you,” says the towering Bicolana beauty Venus Raj. “I had no idea what Community Development was at first. Someone told me to enroll in it as I was interested in going back to my roots and serving the community. Those were the selling points for me,” she continued. The Community Development department panel raised the same questions that she, too, had bombarded herself with. “Why did you come here? Of all the courses, why Community Development, and why study? They were thinking, even myself, that I already had a nice job as a television personality, model, beauty queen, so why still pursue this kind of endeavor?” With these two things in mind—going back to her roots and serving communities—the Bicol University graduate got her chance of a lifetime as the doors of UP opened to her. Medical mission in her hometown, Bato, Camarines Sur in partnership with Freedom Fest, LCC Foundation, and the community’s church (Photo courtesy of Venus Raj) One with the community “I’m telling you, life in UP is way different. Yes, I studied for four years in a university and graduated from my program in Journalism. But when I entered UP, as I said in one of my interviews then, I felt like I was sent to another beauty pageant, go there and compete!” Venus says. She is thankful to all her professors who guided her along the way. “And I think the one thing that also helped me in painstakingly coping and understanding all the jargon was my classmates,” she emphasizes. “I have been inspired by my friends, classmates and professors who are working in the various sectors, especially when they speak about empowerment and organizing communities. Then, I would think about my contribution; how do I really do community organizing?” A relocation site in Bustos, Bulacan opened her eyes to what community organizing really meant. Staying for a month there to fulfill a class requirement, Venus resided along with three other classmates in a vacant housing unit. “During the first week, residents consistently knocked on my door asking for photos with me or an autograph. Of course, from my line of work, it is automatic for me to take selfies with them. But one of the important things I have learned from my professors, when it comes to organizing, is that you should be one of them. You’re an effective organizer when they don’t see you as an outsider. When you’re one with the community, then you’re effective in what you’re doing.” Fieldwork in Bicol (Photo courtesy of Venus Raj) The star mania died down and eventually she took part in the community customs, food sharing and celebrations. “It is nice that they look at me as part of their community, a neighbor and not an outsider who just came to bring in some kind of charity to the community. It is a very fulfilling experience that gave me the realization that you can empower communities by allowing them to let them know that they can thrive on their own.” Fieldwork in Bustos, Bulacan (Photo courtesy of Venus Raj) Venus graduated in 2017, with a thesis that focused on women in disaster stress management. “Basically, the topic was looking at spirituality as a pillar in disaster-resilience, because most of the time, we know that there is physical intervention in disaster stress management. It became an interest because I grew up in Bicol where disasters happen often. So, I integrated community development, spirituality, and DRRM in the context of fisherfolk in my hometown in Lake Bato, Camarines Sur,” she added. Between work and worship Entering politics, representing an NGO, becoming a teacher, mixing community work with show business were just some career paths that most would think for her to take it to the next level. However, serving the community took on more depth and meaning when she became an active member of the Christ Commission Fellowship (CCF) in 2014, while taking her master’s program. She was quick to say with conviction, “What do I do now? Where do I put this education to good use? Is it for the glorification of God’s name? Yes.” Venus Raj with her CCF mentoring group (Photo courtesy of Venus Raj) She explains: “I think the misconception is this, when you have the Lord in your life, your life will be very easy. Your wants will be provided. That’s not true. There will always be trials, there will always be challenges; but the difference is, in those trials, in those challenges, you know that you are not alone, you know that you have someone. You know that you have the Lord to battle with you.” “In CCF, we have a lot of programs, like for example the UPLIFT program, which is a ministry. We send students to school, to college, in partnership with ALS, and create programs as well as livelihood projects for communities. From my experience, it’s really important that your heart is in what you are doing. As long as I am able to put all that I have learned from my community work and journalism courses, in church, even in life, and to reach as many people, I will never get tired of doing community work.” Looking back on her studies, struggling to balance work and worship, everything was a humbling experience, at the same time an empowering one because she realized that work is also a form of worship if done for the Lord, according to Venus. “It kept me grounded. No matter how much I have achieved in life, I know what it is like to have nothing. I have been there.” (Photo courtesy of Venus Raj) If there’s one thing that she thinks will work best for Philippine community development, it’s the bibingka approach. “The community should be allowed to decide on its own, and be consulted, while at the same time, the government takes care of enforcement. At least we have some people like my professors Judy Taguiwalo and Aleli Bawagan who are fighting for marginalized communities. We see them working on a national scale and lobbying for the people.” Venus Raj certainly proves that beyond beauty and brains, what matters in an iska is her heart.
https://up.edu.ph/a-reverie-of-impressions/	A reverie of impressions – University of the Philippines	A reverie of impressions A reverie of impressions April 3, 2018 \| Written by Stephanie Cabigao Installation view of artworks at the Art Basel Hong Kong 2018 (Photo courtesy of Artinformal) A high ceiling and sprawling walls provide the sheer vastness required by blown-up images of mounted paintings, such as those in Zean Cabangis’s body of work. This year’s edition of the world renowned Art Basel in Hong Kong provides the grandest of spaces for about 248 premier galleries from 32 countries and territories. According to a statement of Art Basel Hong Kong, it features “both historical material and cutting-edge works by established and emerging artists”, including Cabangis who is among other selected local artists representing the Philippines. Hong Kong’s Convention and Exhibition Center displays the creativity behind utilizing such space, which is transformed into a captivatingly large tableau where Cabangis’ work becomes a reverie of impressions, of intersecting images, objects and texts. “It is a series of paintings depicting places and landscapes that actually show no actual place or, as I call it, no place,” he explains. A display of artworks by Zean Cabangis and fellow Filipino artists at the Art Basel Hong Kong 2018 (Photo courtesy of Artinformal) Cabangis continues, “About this series, I was trying to show a sense of displacement and uncertainty to one’s feeling of home and sanctuary by putting in multiple layers of familiar images. The title of the works evokes a sense of longingness and of being lost and confused to one’s provenance and direction.” In the great big world of international art, Zean Cabangis is making it big, for the country and for himself. However, he confesses that this is how he felt while doing his work for Art Basel. He draws parallels between his pieces in this latest exhibit and his personal contemplation as an artist—that he is at a crossroads in his art career with regards to technique and concept. “But in the end,” he says, “I wouldn’t know if I don’t do it and find it out myself.” He is known for using acrylic and emulsion transfer as his medium. This is a recurring process that allows him to create multiple photographic images and a sensation of accumulated layers, a style that is Cabangis’s signature, but this time, collage is incorporated to add visual depth, for all Art Basel goers to see. Musings at the Art Basel Hong Kong (Photo courtesy of Artinformal) Art as allusion and allegory Cabangis is as a trained painter whose narrative constitutes a sea of images and objects straight out of film scenes, mainstream media, architecture, nature and mostly from his bike rides. “There’s a lot from which I get the images. I just keep an open mind when I do things, especially the mundane ones, because most of the time that’s when a stream of ideas come in,” he explains. He finds long bike rides a vital routine in processing his work, of remembering and forgetting. The physical as well as mental challenge of biking allows him to meditate and connect with his ideas, concepts and techniques in art. At other times, staying indoors, mostly in his studio, he does experimentation of his work. He candidly says, “Make mistakes and make more mistakes. Eventually, you’ll get there—to the things you exactly wanted to do, and meant to say.” Cabangis at his studio, prepping up for Art Basel (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Cabangis works on keeping memories of things that are somehow lost, but are now found; of things controversial, now hidden; of things once prosperous, now stale, which has always been both a challenge and a struggle. “Creating, itself, is a struggle, and managing my time doing it is a challenge. It is a big responsibility to create pieces and to not just show it, but also to deliver ‘something’ to the public.” Art as life decision, profession “Aside from my father who is also a practicing artist, I made making art as my lifework because I’m too lazy to commute or go out of the house,” he frankly says. “I was able to make it to art school both at the University of Santo Tomas and UP College of Fine Arts. I chose UP because I am really not comfortable commuting. After graduation, I was hired by a company in Makati. I went to work on my first day and that was it!” he adds. The long bus commute and traffic, as well as the work environment did not suit him. At that point after his first day at work, he confesses that he sought advice from one of his professors over a drink. “My professor just asked me one question, what did I major in? And I said, painting. Then I rested my case.” “My professor just asked me one question, what did I major in? And I said, painting. Then I rested my case.” (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Zean Cabangis is a recipient of multiple prizes including Most Outstanding Thesis of 2006 (College of Fine Arts, University of the Philippines); Gawad Chanselor Award for Academic Achievement (Shell Student’s Art Competition, Manila, 2004); Faber Castell Painting Competition (Finalist, 2008); Artist-in-Residence at the Southeast Asia Group Exchange Program, Tenggara, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (2011); Ateneo Art Awards (Shortlisted, 2013-2014 and 2017); and 13 Artists Awards of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (Awardee, 2016). Cabangis was an Isko all the way from UP Integrated School until he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting at the College of Fine Arts, University of the Philippines Diliman in 2007. He is active in both group and solo exhibitions here and abroad. Otherwise, he is somewhere out there biking.
https://up.edu.ph/up-event-stresses-importance-of-intellectual-property-rights/	UP event stresses importance of intellectual property rights – University of the Philippines	UP event stresses importance of intellectual property rights UP event stresses importance of intellectual property rights April 24, 2018 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines joined its partners in celebrating National IP Month at the Ang Bahay ng Alumni. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Last year, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte declared April of every year as National Intellectual Property (IP) Month through Proclamation No. 190. In response, the University of the Philippines recently commemorated National IP Month with a celebration at the Ang Bahay ng Alumni with the theme, Yamang Isip: Itaguyod Tungo sa Kaunlaran. This celebration took place from April 17 to 19, 2018 and drew luminaries from the country’s legal and creative fields who are passionate about the protection and promotion of intellectual property rights. The event opened with a message by UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, who spoke on the importance of IP protection in nurturing Filipino creativity. The celebration was organized by the University in partnership with the Intellectual Property Association of the Philippines (IPAP) and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPhil). It featured performances from the the UP Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino (Kontra-GaPi), the UP Singing Ambassadors and Dr. Ramon Acoymo from the UP College of Music, among others. These were interspersed with lectures on intellectual property in the different creative disciplines by guest facilitators. The booth of Kontra-GaPi was one of several attractions during the celebration. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) IPAP board member and lawyer, Enrique Manuel, opened the event with a message on the overall importance of intellectual property protection. “Intellectual property is a key concern of everyone,” he stated, highlighting the fact that creative, scientific and business professionals could all stand to benefit from fostering intellectual property awareness. “The reality is,” he added, “most IP owners are not aware of their rights and thus miss the opportunities these exclusive and reserve rights can provide.” He concluded by thanking UP and the UP Alumni Association (UPAA) led by its President Ramon Maronilla for their assistance in making the event possible. Dancers from the UP College of Music joined Kontra-GaPi in helping promote the protection of intellectual property rights. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) The importance of UP’s involvement was echoed by IPOPhil Director General Josephine R. Santiago, who, with her team, engaged in a small campaign for IP awareness before the event proper. “With the partners that we have right now like the University,” she said, “we will be able to increase awareness not only of intellectual property, but also be able to promote creativity and innovation for the country. And as we say that, we hope the effect on the economy will soon be felt.” (Andre DP Encarnacion, UP MPRO)
https://up.edu.ph/tales-from-up-diliman-fact-or-fiction/	Tales from UP Diliman: Fact or Fiction? – University of the Philippines	Tales from UP Diliman: Fact or Fiction? Tales from UP Diliman: Fact or Fiction? December 13, 2017 \| Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo We’ve heard these stories before and perhaps even helped spread them—while we hung out on corridors, walked along the network of pathways across UP Diliman (UPD), or ate at the various kiosks and canteens scattered around campus. The UP seal features a parrot. The model for the Oblation is the father of a late action star. The Diliman campus is located above a fault line. The Sunken Garden and the main library are slowly sinking every year. A student will not graduate on time, if at all, if he or she has a picture taken with the Oblation. The creek from Philcoa goes into the campus, passes through the lagoon, is split into two around the area of the Main Library, and goes along the sides of the Sunken Garden. (Source: Prof. Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay) Upperclassmen have passed on these tales to gullible, innocent freshmen. A classmate heard it from another classmate, who then told you, and you told another. You may still be a student or you may have graduated, thinking, wondering, if there is any truth to these urban legends. Parrot on the UP seal This is probably the first myth we hear when we enter UP and it usually provokes the question “Why would a parrot be on the UP seal?” But instead of asking why, perhaps a more important question would be: Is it really a parrot? The winning seal designed by Galo B. Ocampo in 1971 was never approved for use as the official UP seal. (Photo from the UPD Archives) The answer is no. It is, in fact, an eagle. Or to be specific, an American bald eagle. UP prides itself in being the national university, the hotbed of nationalist ideas. So why do we use a symbol of the United States of America on our university seal? The answer is simple: the Americans established UP. Like it or not, it’s a fact. But behind this simplistic explanation is a history of the UP seal—a seal that has been in use since the university’s early years. The seal was approved during the 77th Board of Regents meeting on February 25, 1913. Its dimensions were re-emphasized in the Proposed Code for the University of the Philippines in 1941. On October 15, 2001, UP filed a trademark application for the UP logo with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (then IP Philippines, now IPOPHL). Its use was nearly discontinued when former UP President Salvador P. Lopez issued a memorandum circular on November 13, 1971 opening a competition for the design of a new official seal, with the winner getting a certificate of appreciation. “The present seal dates from 1908 when the University was reorganized as an extension, and the apex, of the American educational system in the Philippines,” Lopez said. When a new seal was designed for the country in 1946, a new seal should have been designed for UP as well, he argued. That it did not happen was an oversight and should be remedied. Lopez said, “The eagle appears to be particularly inappropriate as the dominant element in the seal of a university.” The competition closed on December 10, 1971. The winning design was created by then National Museum Director Galo B. Ocampo, who also belonged to the UP School of Fine Arts Class of 1934. His logo featured an inverted equilateral red triangle in the middle of a green circle. The “revolutionary” triangle with the base on top, Ocampo said, focuses importance on “the masses of our people in the structure of Philippine society.” On each corner of the triangle is a star to represent Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Also inside the triangle is a sun that symbolizes “freedom for the individual, liberty for the nation, and independence for all.” Superimposed on the image of the sun is the Oblation, the “symbol of youth—hope of the Fatherland.” Around the green circle, where these images are emblazoned, the words “University of the Philippines” at the top and “1908” at the bottom are written in black on a background of white. Ocampo’s seal was instead used in the University’s commemoration of the Philippine Centennial in 1998. (Photo by Misael A. Bacani, UP MPRO) So why was this new design not adopted? During the 818th meeting of the Board of Regents on March 23, 1972, its fate was supposed to be decided under the agenda item, “Matters recommended by the president.” The Board action: “Deferment for further study on motion of Regent [Tomas Saguitan] Fonacier duly seconded.” Twenty-six years passed before the University used Ocampo’s logo, but not as the official seal. It was used in the celebration of UP’s 90th anniversary and the Philippine Centennial in 1998. UP commemorated these historic events with the theme, “One Hundred Years of Nationalism and 90 Years of Scholarship and Service to the Nation.” A marker of the Centennial Archival Collection on the third floor of the UPD Main Library actually has Ocampo’s logo, with the white background replaced by gold. FPJ’s father is the Oblation model “Fernando Poe, Sr.” is one of the most common names mentioned when asking about who the Oblation was modeled after. He was a UP student around the time the Oblation was being created by National Artist Guillermo Tolentino, then a professor at the UP School of Fine Arts. No one knows for sure how the rumor started, but speculation about his involvement in the creation of the prominent UP landmark remains to this day. Try a Google search and you will come across some websites and blogs that still state this as truth. Or you can simply ask older alumni. National Artist Guillermo Tolentino (middle) with Prof. Anastacio Caedo (right) and Esteban Caedo (left). Photo is reprinted with permission from Tolentino’s daughter, Dalisay Tolentino Mendez, through her son, Manuel Mendez. It first appeared in Tolentino by Prof. Rodolfo Paras Perez. Well, according to the late UP College of Fine Arts Prof. Rodolfo Paras-Perez in his book Tolentino, the Oblation was modeled after Prof. Anastacio Caedo and Virgilio Raymundo. The former was Tolentino’s student assistant then and the latter, the artist’s brother-in-law. Tolentino combined Caedo’s physique and Raymundo’s proportions, and the monument we call Oble was born. Later on, Caedo himself created the Oblation statues in UP Manila (UPM) and UP Baguio. But that’s not all. His former student, UP Professor Emeritus Grace Javier Alfonso, confirmed that she remembers him telling her to keep in mind that he was the model for the UP Oblation. Alfonso created the Oblation monuments in UP Bonifacio Global City; UP Cebu South Road Properties; UPD Extension Program in Clark, Pampanga; UPM Philippine General Hospital compound; UPM School of Health Sciences (SHS) in Baler, Aurora; UPM SHS in Koronadal, South Cotabato; UPM SHS in Palo, Leyte; and UP Open University Headquarters. She said that when she was first asked to create an Oblation statue, she kept checking and re-checking the facial features of the Oblation during casting. “It really looks like him,” she declared. Diliman disaster: a fault line runs through it This has long been going around. With talks of “The Big One” hitting Metro Manila and the recent earthquakes in the Iran-Iraq border, South Korea, Costa Rica, and New Zealand, this urban legend won’t seem to die. It is that the fault line allegedly cuts into the heart of the UPD campus, across the Academic Oval. This mysterious and fear-inducing fault, believed by many to be the West Marikina Valley Fault, is also said to be the reason the UPD Sunken Garden is, well, sunken. Enter Prof. Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay, a widely-consulted, often-interviewed expert from the UPD National Institute of Geological Sciences. When asked about the so-called fault line, he eagerly showed a presentation to illustrate his answer—that answer being no, there is no fault line beneath the Academic Oval, and therefore, no fault line under the Sunken Garden. While a fault line is not along that location, Lagmay pointed out that there are faults running across the campus. Three of these were mapped in one of his presentation slides. None of them directly hit the Academic Oval. He also clarified that the West Marikina Valley Fault is actually between two and a half to three kilometers away from UPD. But Lagmay offered a possible explanation as to how the myth started. Geology students under Prof. Ernesto P. Sonido’s class were once tasked to survey the campus. One or more of his students, when pondering the Sunken Garden’s shape, came up with the idea that its shape could be explained by a fault line running under it. Why the idea continues to thrive cannot be explained. As to why the Sunken Garden is sunken, Lagmay suspects it is due to the campus waterway system. In another presentation slide, he pointed out that the creek from Philcoa goes into the campus, passes through the lagoon, is split into two around the area of the Main Library, and goes along the sides of the Sunken Garden. His theory is that the creek that used to cut across the Sunken Garden was filled with soil and forced the water to divert from its original flow. Three lineaments indicate possible fault lines in the UPD campus in this presentation slide by Prof. Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay. Of the three, only the one marked “2” is a “ground verified fault,” he said. But further studies need to be conducted to determine if it is active or not. It passes behind Kamia Residence Hall and beneath Narra Residence Hall. Lagmay clarified that the other two are referred to as “lineament features” because ground or field evidence for faulting has not yet been found. (Source: Prof. Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay) The sinking Sunken Garden Another myth intertwined with the fault line story is that the Sunken Garden, along with the UPD Main Library, continues to sink at rates varying from one to ten centimeters every year. How this urban legend started is a mystery. There are no studies to prove that the Sunken Garden and the library are in fact, sinking, relative to the rest of the campus. A more relevant fact, according to Lagmay, is that parts of Metro Manila are sinking. The maximum magnitude of subsidence is 6.1 centimeters per year, he said. Photo with Oblation, no graduation “Never have your picture taken with the Oblation while you are still a student at UP. You will not graduate on time or you will not graduate ever.” An ominous statement declared with such conviction that it echoes inside your head. The only thing missing is the lightning flash followed by a clap of thunder. But there was a flash of light and you blinked. You just had your picture taken with the Oblation. Will you be able to fight the curse? This urban legend is not actually exclusive to Diliman. After all, UP campuses across the country have Oblation monuments. Perhaps the most absurd myth on this list, this remains the most popular and most widely circulated. The origins of this superstition are unknown and why they continue to this day is truly baffling. But blaming that photo with the Oblation is perhaps the weakest excuse for failing to graduate on time, if at all. ——————- This is an updated version of the original article published in the May 2011 issue of the UP Newsletter. Email the author at upforum@up.edu.ph.
https://up.edu.ph/all-is-fair-in-rock-and-roll/	All Is Fair in Rock and Roll – University of the Philippines	All Is Fair in Rock and Roll All Is Fair in Rock and Roll December 13, 2017 \| Written by J. Mikhail Solitario The UP Fair 2017 in UP Diliman (Photo from the UP Diliman University Student Council) These days, a rock concert is considered a luxury a regular Isko would have to save up for. Even late-night gigs in the local music scene charge door fees for two to three musical acts plus a bottle of beer. This is why thousands of music lovers eagerly await the annual UP Fair in Diliman, the February Fair in Los Baños and their relatively younger cousin, the UP Manila (UPM) Fiesta in—you guessed it—Manila. For a small fee or even none, fairgoers are treated to local band performances in the comfort of UP campuses. Opening act The February Fair in UP Los Baños (UPLB) started as a protest fair during the martial law era in the ‘70s, according to the UPLB University Student Council (USC), which is primarily in charge of organizing the event. It was originally held in September as a way of expressing dissent against the declaration of martial law and the worsening state of the country. This week-long celebration was spearheaded by several organizations in UPLB that eventually made their way into the leadership of the Council of Student Leaders, and then, the UPLB USC. Scenes from the UP Manila Fiesta. (Photos from Shoot UP Manila) In Diliman, what started as a simple “perya-like” event, the UP Fair, has evolved into a full-blown celebration of Philippine art, music, and culture—a platform for showcasing UP Diliman’s homegrown talents. Today, it carries with it advocacies as a means of generating awareness of national issues. The UP Diliman USC heads the organizing team of the UP Fair with student organizations serving as night handlers for every UP Fair night. Every year, the UP Fair attracts more than 10,000 people from within and outside the UP community. In Padre Faura, the UP Manila Fiesta was launched by the UP Manila USC in 2014 as an attempt to make a splash on the music scene like the UP Fair and the UPLB Feb Fair. The cultural arm of the UPM USC, Ugnayan ng Nagkakaisang Artista (UNA), partnered with cultural organizations to organize the first UP Manila Fiesta featuring local talents as front acts as well as rising indie bands. With the help of the UP Manila Musicians Organization, the UP Manila Fiesta has reshaped its format and refocused its goals. Currently, members of Salinlahi, an organization of Philippine Arts majors, make up the executive team as well as volunteers of the UP Manila Fiesta. True to its roots The UPLB Feb Fair stayed true to its roots by incorporating relevant issues with pop culture, even after martial law was lifted. Program proposals, sponsorships, and event partnerships are proposed by various organizations, fraternities, sororities, alliances and formations even outside of UPLB to ensure that its audience gets the most out of this unique offering—a concert, a protest, a campout, and a celebration all at the same time (and did I mention it’s free?). To a regular fairgoer, it’s where you can have a date with your significant other, unwind by yourself, have fun with your college barkada, or come back as an alumnus to reminisce your days on campus, while calling for genuine social change. A performer during the UP Fair in Diliman (Photo from the UP Diliman University Student Council) A more intimate version of the UP Fair and UPLB Feb Fair is the weeklong UP Manila Fiesta. The goal is to rekindle the spirit of the Iskolar ng Bayan at the heart of Manila where it all began, as UP Manila is the oldest of UP campuses. The culture of resistance and persistence lives in the performances by cultural and homegrown talents, true to the mandate of dangal at husay na iniaalay sa sambayanan. This year’s UP Manila Fiesta will go back in time to highlight the horrors of the martial-law era and its growing threat during the current administration. With the theme Memory, its attendees are enjoined to oppose the wave of historical revisionism which is setting the stage for human rights violations. Seven student organizations are hosting UP Fair 2018 in February. These include four “veteran” night handlers: UP Junior Marketing Association for Cosmos, UP Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants for Elements, and UP Economics Society with UP Underground Music Society for Roots, who are joined by two newcomers celebrating their golden and silver anniversaries: UP Sigma Kappa Pi Fraternity for Rev, and UP Babaylan for Flames. The UP Advertising Core will once again join it as the UP Fair’s official promotions arm. Scenes from the UP Manila Fiesta (Photos from Shoot UP Manila) Each night handler has formed its advocacy team to ensure that each fair night will have a centerpiece campaign. In recent years, the UP Fair has raised funds for UP athletes and dormers, and this year, the primary beneficiary will be a local civic organization involved in the Marawi City rehabilitation. More than a fun night of musical performances, fairgoers may check out art and campaign installations, interactive game booths and food concessionaires. Platforms for change The UP Manila Fiesta will be UPM’s grandest event this academic year. It will also exhibit the art of graphic designers, dancers, and writers, providing a platform for Manila’s homegrown artists to be seen and heard and, ultimately, use their craft to generate genuine social change. For the UP Fair, there will be no USC-sponsored night to kick off the week because all six slots have been filled by night handlers. As early as the midyear, consultations had been held with previous night handlers and a market analysis done to produce a bigger UP Fair in 2018. All the campaigns are centered on the Marawi conflict in relation to the national context of historical revisionism, fake news, and human rights violations. To the UPD USC, the dynamic art and music productions this February are necessary platforms to spread awareness and encourage action in achieving genuine change. The UPLB Feb Fair with its Southern Tagalog Audience will banner the theme ARANGKADA as a celebration of recent victories in the movement and a protest against all anti-people policies imposed against the Filipinos. Its triumph is also a challenge to the Iskolar ng Bayan to truly serve the people. As in the past, entrance to the Feb Fair is free. It will be held in the UPLB Freedom Grounds. ——————- The author wishes to thank contributors to this article from the respective University Student Councils of each constituent unit: Isabelle Beatriz Ginez and Philippe Jefferson Galban (Diliman), Charmane Jay Maranan and John Joseph Ilagan (Los Baños), and Cid Ryan Manalo and Christiana Catu (Manila). Email the author at upforum@up.edu.ph.
https://up.edu.ph/the-up-forum-roundtable-discussion-celebrating-the-up-spirit/	THE UP FORUM ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: CELEBRATING THE UP SPIRIT – University of the Philippines	THE UP FORUM ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: CELEBRATING THE UP SPIRIT THE UP FORUM ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: CELEBRATING THE UP SPIRIT December 13, 2017 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office What UP traditions, festivals and celebrations do you enjoy/value most and why? Are they unique to UP or to specific campuses of UP? Are there new traditions, festivals, and celebrations in your campus which are now becoming popular among residents in your area? Prof. Eilene Antoinette G. Narvaez Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature College of Arts and Letters UP Diliman As a university that prides itself as a producer of high-caliber and holistic students, the University of the Philippines-Diliman has always believed that learning must not be confined within the four corners of the classroom. In fact, UP Diliman includes an Alternative Classroom Learning Experience (ACLE) in its academic calendar every semester. The ACLE is a one-day event wherein the organizations in UP Diliman come up with classroom-set up lectures of any topic (can be academic or not) which the students will be free to attend. It is one of those events that students look forward to as it serves as a breather for academic works and at the same time, it makes them learn something new—preferably, outside of their respective disciplines. However, for the past three years, another alternative classroom has been set up on campus. This classroom, though, is not the typical type of classroom. It is not located inside a building but on the fields where temporary tents are built. The lecturers are not teachers, but people who belong to the national minorities wherein the topics of the lecture go around their collective experiences. This “classroom” is more formally called Lakbayan, spearheaded by UP Diliman, featuring members of national minorities who march to Manila all the way from their respective provinces to call for their right to ancestral land, for peace, and for self-determination. The main objective of Lakbayan is to listen to and learn about the collective experiences of the national minorities ranging from the systemic oppression that they face up to the militarization in their supposed territories. At the moment, several members of national minorities are still residing on campus because of martial law in Mindanao. Despite being relatively new to UP Diliman as it only started three years ago, the Lakbayan is already becoming a tradition inside the campus. Students and even professors anticipate the Lakbayan because it offers first-hand experience of gaining knowledge that books and documentaries cannot wholly provide. It is a great initiative to hold such event in giving a voice and space to the national minorities because these are what have been taken away from them right in their very own homes. This tradition, therefore, is a huge step towards the mandate of UP Diliman to serve the people.
https://up.edu.ph/the-up-forum-roundtable-discussion-celebrating-the-up-spirit-2/	THE UP FORUM ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: CELEBRATING THE UP SPIRIT – University of the Philippines	THE UP FORUM ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: CELEBRATING THE UP SPIRIT THE UP FORUM ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: CELEBRATING THE UP SPIRIT December 13, 2017 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office What UP traditions, festivals and celebrations do you enjoy/value most and why? Are they unique to UP or to specific campuses of UP? Are there new traditions, festivals, and celebrations in your campus which are now becoming popular among residents in your area? Prof. Antonino Salvador Soria de Veyra, Director Learning Resource Center, UP Mindanao I have always wondered how it was for the first batch of students in UP Mindanao 22 years ago. In their graduation yearbook, Siugda: Pioneering Batch (2000), the editors described the overwhelming task the 86 pioneering undergraduate students took on when they first set foot on the campus: “Left on our own, we knew we would be unique from the rest of the students, even from the UP students of the [other campuses]. There were no existing organizations. No traditional events. No distinct culture. These essential elements of a university were brought into reality by our innocent hands, as it was our task to turn the University’s dream into reality.” As the first cohort of UP Mindanao students, their narrative begins with their awkward experiences during Freshmen Orientation. Their uneasiness soon turned into budding friendships as the students held their first bonfire in those first few weeks. This gathering was the precursor for what was later on called “Torch Night,” an annual event that symbolically marked the passing of the torch from the upperclassmen to the freshmen. Torch Night eventually featured a contest among the students of the different degree programs for the torch with the best design. Friendly competition also highlighted the first Freshmen Night, with some students vying to be crowned Mr. and Ms. Freshmen Night. This event in later years became the Search for the Ultimate Isko/Iska, with students from the various programs fiercely contending for the title. Other university events that continued from that first year to the present include the annual sports festival dubbed “Dula,” and the Christmas celebrations called “Kasadya.” The latter includes the “Parolan,” UP Mindanao’s version of the Lantern Parade, which draws entries from other government and non-government organizations competing for prizes and bragging rights. With these events developing into intense contests, I wonder if these practices of socialization in the university could be conceived in other ways. But then there are the annual concerts put up by the university’s resident companies—the Dance Ensemble and the Koro Kantahanay—as well as yearly events put up by the different course organizations like the senior Creative Writing majors’ culminating performance called “Sinews of Syllables” and the Dugong Anthro’s “Deviance Day” that elicits puzzled looks from the neighboring communities for the bizarrely-dressed student participants. And there is the Alpha Phi Omega-UP Mindanao chapter’s version of the Oblation Run which has gained some mileage from local media’s coverage of the event. So, from the 86 pioneering students in 1996 to the peak in student population at 1,234 in 2015, a distinct UP Mindanao culture has evolved. But over the K-12 transition years, with no incoming freshmen for two straight school years, student leaders have had to redefine the celebration of Freshmen Night and Torch Night with no freshmen around. By the first semester of 2019, with only the sophomores and incoming freshmen around, I wonder what traditional rites of passage will be kept and what new rituals will be devised by the coming batches of UP Mindanao students.
https://up.edu.ph/the-uplb-of-their-younger-days/	The UPLB of Their Younger Days – University of the Philippines	The UPLB of Their Younger Days The UPLB of Their Younger Days December 13, 2017 \| Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc A year after its founding in 1908, the University of the Philippines established its first campus outside Manila. At the foot of Mt. Makiling, on grounds freshly cleared of jungle, and near rice fields fringing Laguna de Bai, five professors and 12 students, led by a Thomasite dean, Edwin Copeland, pioneered an agricultural school. They were joined by their forestry counterparts the following year. Some forty years later, students would still see members of the first batches of students and American professors going back to the campus during Loyalty Day, UPLB’s biggest community event. The students would hold them in high regard, not only for the esteemed academic traditions established on campus, but in recognizing them for planting the seeds of a peculiar way of life for their then-small UP community. Florendo Quebral, who entered UPLB in 1951, was one of those students. He admits to have enjoyed the legacy of rodeos, horse-riding ranchers and grand floats on parade, Halloween, barn dances, and the regular Saturday square and boogie dancing. A couple of years after Quebral arrived in the College, a young Romulo Davide from Cebu would be introduced to this same social scene. All throughout the sixties, Mimi Cortez, a gregarious college freshman, would see not much difference, coming to UP from nearby San Pablo. She would dress up for the same Rodeo events as a cowgirl in a checkered blouse and balloon skirt, riding on a hay-strewn cart pulled by a tractor. There were new parties though, or names for such, as the newly-coined TGIFs at the Senior Social Garden. Also, she would spot new status symbols on campus which included Impalas and Harley Davidsons, lined outside the party venues. Mimi Cortez, escorted by Larry Yapchiongco, is declared Miss September Affair. (Photo courtesy of Prof. Mimosa Cortez-Ocampo) Dr. Mimosa Cortez-Ocampo, UPLB alumni sharing memories Thus, the UPLB social scene, like the rest of UP, continued to bustle with modernity of a distinctly imported variety. But like any foreign influence, modernity in the UPLB community had to contend with the overwhelming presence of the local living, reality, and people. UPLB was a far cry from the America where those traditions originated. And most UPLB students came from diverse Philippine regional backgrounds. For Quebral, Davide, and Cortez, the parties served purposes other and deeper than a relief from boredom or from the rigors of academia. With social events, they had a way of connecting to other and larger circles despite their isolation from family and old ways of life. New circles meant a new independence, social skills, and with it, being part of a distinguishable UPLB way of life. Davide recalls that early in the 1950s, nurses from the Philippine General Hospital and students from the Philippine Women’s University were invited to UPLB’s social balls, and he was excited to test his burgeoning dating instincts on these visitors. In those days, UPLB, particularly the College of Agriculture, had men far outnumbering the women, and competition among the males was fierce. To save for this party dress, Mimi Cortez joined students at the Women’s Dorm cooking their food for a month. (Photo courtesy of Prof. Mimosa Cortez-Ocampo) Mimi Cortez in her terno for a rigodon de honor in 1966, where she got to be partnered with Prof. Cesar Mamaril of the Department of Soils, UP College of Agriculture. (Photos courtesy of Prof. Mimosa Cortez-Ocampo) And so there was a need to prepare and dress up for the parties, and finding creative means to make good impressions on the ones they fancied. Davide uses the term “pasikatan,” which could mean sartorial, terpsichorean, and other arenas of oneupmanship. The rigodon de honor holds a special place in Cortez’s heart because, in that formal dance with professors, she got to meet esteemed professors and be treated by them as a peer. During practice, she was thrilled to have them relate to her on first-name basis. Knowing her teachers up close inspired her to achieve more academically. UPLB old campus While students from same provinces and organizations tended to party together, the administration encouraged campus-wide social gatherings, which, given that the campus was still a two-college affair, were easy to manage. Everybody got to know everybody, and once the ice was broken, ensuing parties with other groups became even more attractive. Cortez said this was a major reason there were no “rumbles” during her college days. The multisectoral party scene thrived this way. Cortez found herself at one time attending three parties in one night. But it was far from the wanton and decadent party scene of the West of the sixties. The women, most of them staying in the Women’s Dorm, had to be chaperoned by the dorm matron, who would hop from one party to another to look after her wards, bringing with her the other young wards. Moreover, social graces were part of the curriculum. In the swirl of party nights at Baker Hall, or in Copeland Heights, or the posh ACCI auditorium, non-academics exuded a special attraction. When the parties stretched well into the night, there were no jeepneys or carretelas to ride back to the dorms. Like barriofolk, the students then traveled in groups across a landscape of rough trails, forest, hills, and fields. The ladies brought a pair of chinelas to save them the agony of making the trek on high heels. And this was why when they were later sent to remote communities for extension work, the students knew how to deal with long walks late at night. Locals from surrounding barrios took the students’ laundry and washed it on the nearby creek using palo-palos. Davide blames the wooden mallets for his missing buttons. He says that dormers also needed mosquito nets to sleep for the whole four years in college. Mt. Makiling as viewed in Los Baños, Laguna There were only a few eateries near “the grove” at the Gate. And student politics during Quebral’s time was big on the alleged poor quality of food being served in the dormitories. Most dormers had to cook their own food, many learning to cook for the first time aided by their more independent mates, with produce bought from the nearest market. Cortez found this a great way to save money for her next extra-curricular activities, which on top of the socials were mostly in campus performing arts. During Quebral’s and Davide’s time, student council elections were associated with food, not just as a subject of protest. For after the announcement of results came the tradition of “the grove march” where the winners treated colleagues to a free lunch. Behind the vibrant College social scene, much was improvised. The spirit of bayanihan was much in demand. Making floats for the Loyalty Day parade entailed working from scratch—sourcing and shaping bamboo for frames before wrapping them up with paper. Campus fairs, such as the September Affair and later February Fairs, popular during Cortez’ time, had no concessionaires for the booths. Students had to produce their own wares to sell or costume themselves crazy for fun booths. Cortez remembers a particularly hilarious day with her group’s “Dungeon of Horror.” Food for grand campus occasions such as Loyalty Day, where national political figures were invited, was cooked by the students of Home Technology, who included Cortez, who would also hope to be among the few selected to serve the meals to the guests. Laguna nature became central in the students’ college lives, not for purposeless walkabouts but as inspiration. Quebral and Cortez, both coming from cities, were drawn to the campus by the environment, thinking it was perfect aid for study and meditation. Later, they would learn that it could also serve affairs of the heart. But while there was a fertility tree, there was also, at the grove, a chismis nook and a chismis tree, serving the purpose of today’s tambayan. UPLB alumni sharing memories: Dr. Florendo Quebral (left) and Dr. Romulo Davide (right) Going upstream in Molawin Creek up to the Flat Rocks and picnicking by the banks where they saw the tall, magnificent trees of Makiling became a traditional outing for students. As a plant pathologist, Quebral was naturally interested in trees, but Cortez of Home Technology, who later went into extension education, community development, and public affairs, turned tree-planting into a hobby. Without a bustling town outside, nights were relatively dark; and moon and star light shone all the more. Students celebrated the sky. Quebral’s group, with maize-studying members bringing corn to eat, climbed Higamut hill where IRRI now stands, sat in a circle on the grass, ate, talked, and sang. Usually in March, when the night sky was clear and the moon was full, students brought guitars, rode a trailer truck, and invited everyone to join them riding around campus singing songs about the moon. Davide compliments Quebral’s singing as member of “The Trailer Song Group.” And Quebral responds by singing: “I see the moon and the moon sees me The moon sees someone I want to see God bless the moon and God bless me God bless that someone I want to see…” Settling into seniority, Quebral, Davide, and Cortez (now Cortez-Ocampo) don’t know which of these traditions survive, aside from Loyalty Day to celebrate the “UPLB spirit,” but they hope their younger counterparts have as much fun in Los Baños as they did in their time. ——————- Email the author at upforum@up.edu.ph.
https://up.edu.ph/theres-more-fun-in-up-mindanao/	There’s More Fun in UP Mindanao – University of the Philippines	There’s More Fun in UP Mindanao There’s More Fun in UP Mindanao December 13, 2017 \| Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Compared to other UP constituent universities, UP Mindanao is relatively young, but the members of the UP Mindanao Community have already created their own traditions and events that blend elements of Mindanaoan culture. Many of the traditional annual events are organized by the UP Mindanao University Student Council (USC) and student organizations, with the support of the Office of Student Affairs. The University Convocation is organized by the administration and held at the Atrium during the first day of class, where the whole UP Mindanao community gathers to welcome freshmen, introduce the members of the administration, heads of colleges, faculty, staff and students. Student council officials are also sworn into office by the Chancellor. Torch Night is usually held some weeks after the formal opening of classes. The upperclassmen, represented by the block leaders of the earlier freshmen batch, pass on a lit torch symbolizing responsibility and privilege as iskolar ng bayan to the current freshmen batch, represented by the freshmen block leaders of each degree program. The freshmen then pledge their oath of loyalty and responsibility to the university and their fellow students. This is accompanied by a competition of group presentations among freshmen. Another yearly event is Freshmen Night, usually held a month after Torch Night, and which includes a dance competition and a pageant to search for the Ultimate UPMin Isko and Iska. The Freshmen Torch Night combines the symbolic passing on of degree presentation torches of Torch Night and the pageantry of Freshmen Night. Dula, which means “play” in Cebuano, is a university-wide sportsfest usually held in the middle of the first semester, after the college-based sportsfests—Dula-dula for the College of Science and Mathematics and School of Management, and the Hampang for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Highlight of the sportsfest is the Cheerdance Competition, which draws attention from the media and from other universities. Photo by Rene Estremera, UP Mindanao Deviance Day, a celebration of UP Mindanao’s diversity of culture and ethnicity, began as a free concert hosted by the BA Social Sciences and BA Anthropology programs. Today, Deviance Day is organized by the Department of Social Sciences, CHSS, and the Dalub-aral na may Ugnayan, Galing at Organisadong Ningas na Ginagabayan ng Antropolohiya (DUGONG-ANTRO). For the entire day, participating students, faculty and staff dress up in “not-so-everyday” attire—some donning costumes representing characters from popular culture, some coming in formal attire or cross-dressing, or for the brave few, barely dressing at all. In the evening, a program featuring talent shows, presentations of best-dressed people during the day, and free concerts featuring bands in UP Mindanao would be held. The highlight of the Christmas season in UP Mindanao is Kasadya, a Cebuano word meaning “joy” or “happiness.” The Kasadya celebration begins in December with the official lighting of the University Christmas Tree, constructed with lanterns from different student organizations. It also features the UPMin lantern parade and Pasiklaban, a skit contest for students and alumni sponsored by the UP Alumni Association-Davao. February is an especially eventful time as UP Mindanao commemorates its foundation as a constituent university. In addition, the CHSS and CSM celebrate their foundation weeks during this month with their own events, such as the Pasundayag, an annual pageant featuring the tribes and costumes of Mindanao indigenous peoples, organized by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Student Council. Photo by Rene Estremera, UP Mindanao Specific degree programs and student orgs also hold their own events, such as the BA Communication Arts program and Communicators’ Guild, and CSM Night organized by the CSM Student Council. The residents of the Elias B. Lopez Hall also celebrate their Dorm Week during February with workshops, talk shows, quiz bees, the Open House, competitions for the cleanest and best-decorated rooms, and the popular Mistress of the Dorm beauty pageant wherein cross-dressing male dormers compete for the title. Tatak UPMin is also another gender-bending beauty pageant featuring cross-dressing male and female students from the different student orgs, as well as a Battle of the Bands. The UPMin alumni also join the festivities with their annual alumni homecoming dubbed Panagtagbo, which means “gathering” in Cebuano, and features dance concerts and musical presentations by Alagad ni Oble, one of the first musical bands established in UP Mindanao. The UPMin alumni also hold “Bayanihan Para Kay Oble,” introduced by the UP Alumni Association Davao (UPAA Davao) as a “beautification” activity for the Oblation Plaza and as a venue for fellowship among the alumni. In terms of arts, music and sports, the UP Mindanao Siki ni Obli student organization has been holding the Oscar Mora Cup, an annual ladies football invitational tournament, for the last 18 years. On the other hand, the UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble, the university’s resident dance company, holds its annual full-length dance-concert on the themes of “Kilos-Pinoy,” “Daloy,” “Galaw-Indak-Sayaw,” while the UP Mindanao Koro Kantahanay, the resident chorale, holds its annual concert “Overture”. Both events used to be held in February, but were moved to other months following the academic calendar shift. “Sinews for Syllables” is an annual performance of literary works by BA English students, where the works are read in excerpt, or performed in conjunction with dance, song, and cinematic art, while “Lit-Orgy” are readings of literary works that originated with BA English students but have moved to venues outside the University. Finally, festivities in UP Mindanao are not held by the UPMin community just for the UPMin community, but for high school students as well. A number of student organizations organize events directed toward high schools as the students’ contribution in promoting UP Mindanao to prospective students: The Inter-High School Statistics Quiz Bowl, organized by the Society of Math Majors, is held once a semester, participated in by students from private and public schools. “Math Mania” inter-high school competition has been undertaken by Society of Math Majors annually for more than ten years. Photo by Rene Estremera, UP Mindanao The Dugo Mo Buhay Ko annual bloodletting is organized by OSA every February in partnership with the Philippine National Red Cross. Donors are students, employees, and nearby constituents of government agencies. Tagbo is a two-day leadership training camp organized annually by the OSA for leaders of student organizations and upholds the principles of “servant-leadership.” This was started about eight years ago with the help of the Ayala Young Leaders Congress. Speak UP is an annual regional speech competition for high schools in the Davao region. It is organized by Communicators Guild organization of BA Communication Arts students, and has branched out from solely oratorical and extemporaneous speaking to include radio script-writing. It has been held for more than ten years in Davao City and for the past five years has expanded its reach region-wide. “Tinukib”, on the other hand, is a design and scale-model workshop for high school students that has been held by the Architecture program and students for many years now. Rockeumentary is an annual “battle of the bands” organized by the Kappa Epsilon student organization, originating ten years ago as a fund-raising event. It has expanded to include literary readings. Photo by Rene Estremera, UP Mindanao Is-Spell-Eng is a spelling contest organized by Omega Alpha student organization, also for high school students. It has been held annually for more than ten years. Tagisan sa Agham Panlipunan is on its second city-wide hosting in 2017. It is organized by Dugong Anthro student organization for high schools in Davao City. It was also named UTUKAY (Patalinuhan). For the past eight years, the USC has also been organizing UP Fiesta, an umbrella event held on the first week of the February anniversary celebration. It includes guided tours throughout the university for invited high school students, talent shows, and a market fair participated by several student organizations which lasts until the following week’s Orgs Fair, which is also another event where student organizations get to promote their activities to other students and organizations. For graduating UPMin students, the Society of Agribusiness Economics holds INDORS (Industry Orientation Seminar) where industry personalities are invited to talk about their business organizations. The Department of Food Science also holds a similar event. Finally, the OSA also holds an annual Career Placement Orientation and Pre-Employment Seminar and Annual Jobs Fair for graduating students. It includes talks by alumni from different professions, sectors, and industries. That’s a lot to do outside the classroom for a CU barely out of its teens by UP standards, but UP Mindanao is making it clear that it doesn’t have to wait at the back of the line to make fun things happen down in Davao. ——————- With inputs from Rene Estremera, UP Mindanao Public Relations Officer. Email the author at upforum@up.edu.ph.
https://up.edu.ph/is-this-man-the-father-of-up/	Is this man the “Father of UP”? – University of the Philippines	Is this man the “Father of UP”? Is this man the “Father of UP”? December 14, 2017 \| Written by Andre DP Encarnacion Most Filipinos can at least acknowledge the influence of UP as a producer of trailblazers. The University’s own institutional history has given us cursory knowledge of the great personages who were some of the “firsts”, “fathers”, or “mothers” of their colleges, areas of study, or other organizations of national importance. For the most part, these trailblazing figures ring a bell. Many graduates, for example, recognize the American pastor Murray Bartlett to be the first President of UP, while his successor Ignacio Villamor was the first Filipino to hold the position. Similarly, Guillermo Tolentino is known as the sculptor of UP’s most iconic symbol, The Oblation (which was not, for the record, modeled on Fernando Poe, Sr.’s physique). These and other figures are recognized for their pivotal role in UP’s history. None of them, however, is considered the “Father of UP.” The fact that the term is so rarely, if ever, used can lead one to the impression that UP is indeed a “parent-less” institution—sprouting like Athena from the nation’s cranium to guide a people beginning to find their legs. Philippine Studies scholar and Pangasinan expert, Dr. Maria Crisanta Nelmida-Flores, however, disagrees. Her studies into the history of the nation and her home province have led her to a figure that she says might be considered worthy of the title. His name is Juan Alvear. Oil portrait found at the Pangasinan Governors Gallery, Capitol Building, Lingayen, Pangasinan. (Photo from Ms. Joy Napolitano, Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, Pangasinan) Who exactly was Juan Alvear? Very few people, even in UP, really know. Flores herself, who happens to be a kababayan of Alvear from Pangasinan, first got wind of his connection with UP when asked in a graduate class by UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan the question: who really was the “Father of UP”? Some of Tan’s clues were that he was a famous espiritista and a former Pangasinan congressman. Bells began ringing in her head, and Flores’s answer not only gained her Tan’s attention, but also sparked a growing interest in a historical figure who seems to defy easy classification. “Based on my research, which was almost a decade ago, he was from San Fabian, Pangasinan,” Flores says of Alvear. “He has a statue there. As what? Well, for one he was a member of the Malolos Congress. He was also the founder of the School of Arts and Trades in Lingayen. There were a lot of schools that were founded by him.” Traces of Juan Alvear as a member of the provincial elite can be found in selected histories of the province. The book Pangasinan, 1901-1986: A Political, Socioeconomic and Cultural History by Rosario M. Cortes, for instance, mentions Alvear’s rise to prominence. Once a Philippine revolutionary, Alvear became a member of the Partido Nacionalista together with the first Filipino governor of Pangasinan, Perfecto Sison, and other provincial elites. Sison had been appointed governor in 1901 in the Dagupan Assembly by William Howard Taft and his peers as part of the Taft Commission’s effort to organize provincial governments under the sovereignty of the United States. Sison, however, was considered too nationalistic by American policymakers, and was defeated in subsequent elections by non-resident members under the Federal Party banner. The latter, Cortes says, was a party organized to advocate the annexation of the Philippines as an official state of the United States and was a dominant entity during the early period of American colonization. The newly-formed Partido Nacional, on the other hand, advocated absolute independence. It was with this party that Juan Alvear, together with all of his fellow candidates from Pangasinan, won a seat as a delegate in the First Philippine Assembly in 1907 as representative of Pangasinan’s third district. As a member of the Lower House, Alvear would make higher education history. “In fact,” Flores says, “many people do not know that Juan Alvear—because the Philippine Assembly was in 1907 and UP came into being in 1908—that he was the first one to propose that there should be a ‘national university.’ And my memory is a bit hazy, but the first (idea) before that was the need for a Philippine General Hospital. So the idea for both a national university and a national hospital came from Juan Alvear.” The result of these proposals would eventually become Act No. 1688, passed in 1907, and Act No. 1870, passed a year after. These acts would respectively appropriate the sum of P780,000 for the construction of the PGH and establish the University of the Philippines—an institution to provide “advanced instruction in literature, philosophy, the sciences and arts, and to give professional and technical training.” The seeds of what we now know as the University of the Philippines System had been planted. After his tenure in the House, Juan Alvear ran for the post of provincial governor and won in 1909. Details of his life after the governorship are sparse, and sources indicate he passed away in 1918. Today, he is remembered (if at all) as a major figure in Philippine Spiritism for having founded the first Spiritist Center in 1901 in San Fabian, and becoming a pivotal player in uniting spiritists nationwide through the Union Espiritista Cristiana de Filipinas, Inc. in 1909. His role as a patriot and an advocate of higher education, however, has been, for the most part, forgotten. “(Chancellor Tan) actually said that he has a bust in UP Manila that is now beside the brooms and mops,” Flores says. Ironically, in spite of his role, Alvear is now a forgotten man. Resources about his life are sparse, and many of Flores’ own resources were lost during the Faculty Center of 2016. As to why his memory has faded so dramatically, she has the following opinion: “I think it’s because we mostly operate on written history, and focus on the institution once it is already existing. Let’s say, UP had already been established, so who was the first head? And so on. But what happened pre-establishment, we haven’t gone much into that.” Only more research might solve this most seminal of UP mysteries. Flores herself said that she once attempted to dig deeper into his life before UP’s Centennial in 2008, but had limited success. “I had mentioned previously in our meetings that maybe it’s time someone looked into Juan Alvear as the Father of UP. I hope we can now.” ——————- Email the author at upforum@up.edu.ph.
https://up.edu.ph/history-sports-and-arts-in-up-visayas/	History, Sports, and Arts in UP Visayas – University of the Philippines	History, Sports, and Arts in UP Visayas History, Sports, and Arts in UP Visayas December 14, 2017 \| Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta During the UP Visayas’ celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the UP Presence in Iloilo held in February 20-24, 2017 (Photo from the UP Visayas Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/U.P.Visayas) For UP Visayas, the celebration of its history is at the core of some of its most revered traditional events. One of these is the week-long celebration of the Anniversary of the UP Presence in Iloilo. On December 18, 1947, responding to the desire of Ilonggos to have a UP education, the municipal board of Iloilo authorized a resolution for the opening of a branch of UP in Iloilo City on the site of what was then the Iloilo City Hall. In July 1947, the UP Iloilo College opened its doors, starting with a Lower Division for 3rd and 4th year high school students and an Upper Division for 1st and 2nd year college students. By 1954, the UP IloIlo College attained full-fledged college status and was renamed the UP College Iloilo, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including a complete high school. This year, 2017, is the 70th Anniversary of the UP Presence in Iloilo, with the celebration held on February 20 at the UP Visayas Iloilo Campus, in front of the main entrance of the historic building that nurtured the fledgling UP Iloilo College and witnessed its growth into the three-campus-strong UP Visayas of today. Also to commemorate the anniversary this year, the UP Alumni Association-Iloilo Chapter, in cooperation with the UP Silak and Silab alumni, held the biggest “Run UP” ever in August 2017—a “UP 2 UP” Marathon that ran from UP Visayas in Miagao, Iloilo, to UP Visayas’ Iloilo City campus. The TUKLAD trail run organized by Pretty Farm Boys in partnership with the Miagao LGU, the UPAA-lloilo Chapter, and the UPV held on April 30, 2017 inside UPV’s scenic Miagao campus. A scene from the Pasundayag 2017 held on February 24, 2017 in UPV Miagao The flagship campus of UP Visayas, a 1.294-hectare slice of verdant paradise with a spectacular view of the sea on one side and a majestic line of mountains on the other, is located in the 278-year-old municipality of Miagao, Iloilo. To celebrate the partnership and spirit of cooperation between UP and the local government of Miagao, the UPV and Miagao Friendship Day has been held at the end of May since 2011—May because the UP Board of Regents (BOR) during its 114th meeting approved the establishment of an autonomous UP in the Visayas on May 31, 1979. The development of the UPV Miagao campus was made possible through the Sixth Educational Loan of the Philippine Government approved by the World Bank in January 1980, and on February 29 of that same year, the groundbreaking of the UPV Miagao campus was held. Executive Order No. 628 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos on October 30, 1980 operationalized UP Visayas, with its main campus in Miagao, and with the College of Fisheries as its flagship college. The UPV and Miagao Friendship Day has become an annual event during which the creativity and team-building of both institutions—UP Visayas and the Miagao local government—are showcased through ballgames, parlor games, dance performances, and so on. A scene from the first day of the UPVTC Sportsfest 2014 Rocking the night away during the UPVTC Org Fair 2014 Other traditional UP Visayas events center around sports, such as the Annual Pahampang or Sporstfest, which includes the popular and most anticipated Cheering Competition. The Cheering Competition shows off the diversity of UPV students’ lives, interests, and creativity as they make their own songs and yells as well as conceptualize their presentation and design their own costumes. Culture and the arts are also celebrated through various literary-musical contests and talent shows. And of course, beauty, good humor, and good sportsmanship are also highlighted through another much-anticipated event, HASA, an annual beauty pageant hosted and sponsored by the Validus Amicitia Brotherhood, and usually held before the Pahampang. The beauty pageant features straight men wearing gowns and skimpy bikinis in a comical fashion. For the UP Visayas Tacloban College, the UPVTC Student Council and other student organizations hold an annual Organizations’ Fair at the UP Tacloban Arts and Sciences (AS) Grounds. The Organizations’ Fair serves as an avenue for the different student organizations, fraternities, and sororities in the UPV Tacloban College to showcase their traditions, activities, accomplishments, and fields of interest, among others. The fair aims to foster unity among the various organizations, fraternities, sororities, and institutions, to reach out to the general public to work together towards progressive societal change, and to embody the UPV Tacloban community’s vision to work as a strong united body in shaping the community and nation’s future. To ensure the holistic development of the UPVTC’s students beyond the classroom and academia, the UPVTC Student Council also holds an annual sportsfest, and has also recently pioneered the UPVTC-wide Lantern Parade around downtown Tacloban, complete with a competition for Best Hand-held Lanterns, Best Float, and Liveliest Group Award, and Christmas party featuring different local bands, a choral competition, and fireworks display. ——————- With inputs from Lyncen M. Fernandez, UP Visayas Information and Publications Office. Email the author at upforum@up.edu.ph.
https://up.edu.ph/office-of-admissions-calls-on-public-to-patiently-wait-for-upca-results/	Office of Admissions calls on public to patiently wait for UPCA results – University of the Philippines	Office of Admissions calls on public to patiently wait for UPCA results Office of Admissions calls on public to patiently wait for UPCA results March 9, 2022 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The Office of Admissions of the University of the Philippines calls upon the public to wait patiently for updates on the results of applications for admissions for Academic Year 2022-2023. The Office is currently processing the documentary requirements of over 100,000 applicants for admission to the University. The Office will issue an update on the applications as soon as possible. Thank you very much.
https://up.edu.ph/office-of-admissions-to-release-upca-2022-results-on-may-31/	Office of Admissions to release UPCA 2022 results on May 31 – University of the Philippines	Office of Admissions to release UPCA 2022 results on May 31 Office of Admissions to release UPCA 2022 results on May 31 May 26, 2022 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office For questions and clarifications, please contact the Office of Admissions by sending them an email message via this address: upcollegeapplications.oadms@up.edu.ph. Messages can also be sent to their Office via their official Facebook page. This announcement was originally posted on the Office of Admissions Facebook page.
https://up.edu.ph/up-mindanao-alumni-bands-to-hold-free-reunion-concert/	UP Mindanao alumni bands to hold free reunion concert – University of the Philippines	UP Mindanao alumni bands to hold free reunion concert UP Mindanao alumni bands to hold free reunion concert January 28, 2020 \| Written by Rene Estremera Two alumni bands of the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao, Alagad in Oble and Early Morning, will hold a back-to-back reunion concert entitled “25 Songs for 25 Years” on 30 January 2020, 5PM, at the Atrium of the UP Mindanao Administration Building in Mintal, Davao City as an initial offering to usher in the 25th founding anniversary of the university in February. The concert is free and open to the public. Alagad ni Oble was formed in 1998 and is considered to be the pioneering rock band in UP Mindanao. The band is composed of UP Mindanao alumni Roosevelt Itom (BS Biology 2002), Ian Cayunda (BS Biology 2002), Arthur Gonzales (BA Economics 2002), Milos Dagohoy (BS Food Technology 2003), and Wardy Puyod (BA Social Science 2000). According to rhythm guitarist Puyod, “Our long lasting bond as music aficionados keeps the band together. This time, we want to play to a new crowd who also appreciate music from the 90s.” The band members are now professionals in business, banking, and agriculture. The band has been performing every year in the campus and has popularized a rock version of the university’s anthem “UP Naming Mahal.” Early Morning is also a UP Mindanao alumni band fronted by Jet Israel (BA Communication Arts 2016) and Paulo Rizal (BA Communication Arts 2016), Aaron Jude Manalang (BS Architecture 2019), Ryan Laguna (BS Computer Science 2018), and Christian June Villadolid. “The name Early Morning comes from the idea of ‘capturing uncertainty,’ a metaphor for beginnings and endings, for storytelling that is hopeful yet haunting” says the band’s bio-note. The bands will play cover versions of contemporary Filipino pop-rock songs and original compositions. “We connected the bands to the university to come up with this concert as an opening salvo to the anniversary events,” said UP Mindanao Alumni Association president Krishna Balaga (BS Computer Science 2006). This musical offering is a pre-anniversary activity before UP Mindanao officially kicks off its yearlong celebration with the theme “25 Years in Mindanao, for Mindanao and Beyond” on 20 February 2020. ### Contact: Mr. Rene Estremera Public Relations Officer UP Mindanao Tel. 293-0310 Email: pro.upmindanao@up.edu.ph
https://up.edu.ph/de-vera-now-ched-chair/	De Vera now CHED chair – University of the Philippines	De Vera now CHED chair De Vera now CHED chair October 22, 2018 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Dr. J. Prospero de Vera III has been appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) until 21 July 2022, the agency announced on October 15. Prior to this, De Vera had been designated by the president as CHED officer-in charge beginning 24 January 2018. Accordingly, he assumed chairmanship of the governing boards of all state universities and colleges, including UP. De Vera is a professor at the UP Diliman National College of Public Administration and Governance, where he has been teaching since 1992. He was vice president for public affairs of the UP System from 2011 until he was appointed CHED commissioner and adviser to the government negotiating panel with the National Democratic Front/Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army in 2016. He is an alumnus of the University, having earned his Bachelor of Arts, major in History with a minor in Political Science, and his Doctor of Public Administration degrees from UP Diliman. He has a Master of Arts degree, major in Social Sciences with a minor in Political Science, from De La Salle University. De Vera took Special Studies in Government and Politics at the California Studies Center, California State University-Sacramento and was a Fulbright-Hays visiting scholar at the Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California (USC). At the USC, he specialized in higher education administration as well as higher education policy and organization. He later went to Johns Hopkins University as a senior Fulbright visiting professor at the Center for Communication Programs. His curriculum vitae as of September 2016 can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8U4LJEpWMfxUngtTUhiOXJyWTg/view.
https://up.edu.ph/osfa-memorandum-no-rag-2020-44-extension-of-period-of-application-for-student-financial-and-learning-assistance/	OSFA Memorandum No. RAG 2020-44: Extension of Period of Application for Student Financial and Learning Assistance – University of the Philippines	OSFA Memorandum No. RAG 2020-44: Extension of Period of Application for Student Financial and Learning Assistance OSFA Memorandum No. RAG 2020-44: Extension of Period of Application for Student Financial and Learning Assistance November 16, 2020 \| Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office To accommodate students who could not submit SLAS Online applications due to Typhoon Ulysses, the 4th round of application will be extended to 17 November 2020. The new application period is as follows: Learning Assistance Application Until 17 November 2020 Release of Results 18 November 2020 Submission of Appeals 18-22 November 2020 Undergraduate students, including Juris Doctor and Doctor of Medicine students, may file applications during this period. Students applying for assistance through the SLAS Online must use their respective UP Email (@up.edu.ph email). For your guidance.
https://up.edu.ph/osfa-memorandum-no-rag-2020-49-5th-round-of-student-learning-assistance-system-applications/	OSFA Memorandum No. RAG 2020-49: 5th Round of Student Learning Assistance System Applications – University of the Philippines	OSFA Memorandum No. RAG 2020-49: 5th Round of Student Learning Assistance System Applications OSFA Memorandum No. RAG 2020-49: 5th Round of Student Learning Assistance System Applications December 1, 2020 \| Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The UP Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) received reports that some UP students were not able to submit SLAS application requirements due to the intermittent power supply and Internet in their area. Given this, SLAS Online will accept applications beginning 28 November 2020 to accommodate eligible students who need financial assistance in AY 2020-2021. Details of the 5th round of applications for financial and learning assistance is as follows: Learning Assistance Application: 28 November 2020 – 3 December 2020 Release of Results: 4 December 2020 Submission of Appeals: 4 – 9 December 2020 Undergraduate students, including Juris Doctor and Doctor of Medicine students, may file applications during this period. Applicants who wish to appeal or have not completed their application may do so on the schedule provided. Students applying for assistance through the SLAS Online must use their respective UP Email (@up.edu.ph email). CU Heads of Student Affairs Units are requested to disseminate the information to eligible students to allow the timely processing of financial and learning assistance. For your guidance. To apply online and for more information, visit slasonline.up.edu.ph. Read the memo here: UPOSFA_OM_2020-49_26Nov2020
https://up.edu.ph/student-learning-assistance-online-applications-for-continuing-students/	Student Learning Assistance Online Applications for Continuing Students – University of the Philippines	Student Learning Assistance Online Applications for Continuing Students Student Learning Assistance Online Applications for Continuing Students September 6, 2022 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The Office of Student Development Services will open the Student Learning Assistance Online (SLAS Online) to accommodate UP students who require learning assistance in AY 2022-2023. The SLAS Online is a web-based program that serves as a portal for applicants who wish to apply to student financial assistance programs of the University. Undergraduate students, including Juris Doctor and Doctor of Medicine students, may file applications for the UP Grants-In-Aid Program (GIAP) and Remote Learning Assistance through the SLAS Online. Beneficiaries of Free Higher Education (RA 10931) may also apply for remote learning assistance. The SLAS Online will accept applications from continuing students (2nd year and up) beginning 5 September 2022. Applicants must log in using their respective UP Email (@up.edu.ph). Details of the 1st round of applications for student learning assistance are as follows: Learning Assistance Application Period 5-10 September 2022 Release of Results 11 September 2022 Submission of Appeals 11-15 September 2022 The Office will open the 2nd round of SLAS Online applications in mid-September for freshies and continuing students who could not apply in the 1st round. Heads of CU Student Affairs Units are requested to disseminate the information to eligible students. Students may contact the SFA Helpdesk of their campus should they encounter issues when filing applications to the SLAS Online. For your guidance.
https://up.edu.ph/a-conversation-with-mr-c-national-artist/	A Conversation with Mr. C, National Artist – University of the Philippines	A Conversation with Mr. C, National Artist A Conversation with Mr. C, National Artist January 14, 2019 \| Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Ryan Cayabyab sits for a spell with the UP Forum. (Photo by Celeste Castilio, UP MPRO) His music is ubiquitous. From pop hits that serve as the theme songs of many a love story to the soundtracks of commercial and indie films; from massive works of musical theatre, neo-opera, and sacred music to commercial jingles and opening themes to TV specials—there isn’t a Filipino alive who hasn’t heard, thrilled to, or jammed along with his music. He has helped shape the Philippine music industry today, crossing the line between “serious” and pop music with ease, and mentoring some of the country’s most gifted musicians. He is known as The Maestro, or simply as Mr. C. This October, UP College of Music alumnus and former professor Raymundo Cipriano “Ryan” Pujante Cayabyab received another title, that of National Artist. One morning before his newest award of recognition, Mr. C sat down for an interview with UP Forum, during which he shared some of his memories of UP; his views on UP’s impact on Philippine music; and a bit of inspiration for anyone seeking their path in life. What was your childhood in UP like? When my mother was teaching [at the UP College of Music], we lived inside UP. I grew up inside the UP Campus, in Area 1, went to UP Elementary School and UP High School, graduating in 1970. My first course was Business Administration, then I went to the UP College of Music, and I graduated around 10 years after I got into the UP College of Music. Noong bata kami, lumalabas kami ng bahay sa December or January, at kapag nagsasalita kami, may usok yung bibig namin. Ganon kaginaw. Nagtatawanan na kami. “Oy, para tayong nagsi-sigarilyo.” Iba naman yung usok na nalalanghap namin kapag may umiikot na DDT truck. Siguro every week or every two weeks, umiikot ang DDT truck na bumubuga ng DDT. Lahat ng bata sa campus, nandoon, lalabas na, hahabulin yung truck. Sobrang kapal ng smoke na binubuga, para kaming nasa alapaap. Ang feeling namin, kaya kami lahat may topak dahil doon, eh. [laughs] What do you think makes you unique among the musicians in the country? Lagi kong sinasabi, maraming mas magaling sa aking gumawa ng kanta sa Philippine music industry. Ang dami diyang mas magaling gumawa ng hit songs. The only reason napapahiwalay ako sa kanila is, ako lang ang merong diploma. Ako lang ang merong degree na binigay ng isang unibersidad. That’s it. Pero for me, it’s a big deal. Not because of the degree, but because of what I learned in the College of Music through the years. What has been the impact of your UP education on you? How has UP contributed to Philippine music as a whole? My first teacher was Eliseo Pajaro, in Composition. My second teacher was Lucio San Pedro, National Artist. My third teacher was Ramon Santos, National Artist. My fourth teacher was Francisco Feliciano, National Artist. I’ve been influenced by all of them. Not that I have discarded their ideas; their ideas remain. I picked up a lot of things from my teachers, but do I sound like any of them? Not really. I sound like me. But that’s also exactly what they taught us. UP’s contribution is huge. The UP College of Music is known for compositional theory and research. Composition also means the training of new music composers. Ang dami nila; even in the choral world, the names that come out are from UP. So sa larangan ng music composition, malaki ang contribution ng UP. And then research. Wow, ang research ng UPCM, beginning with the huge work of Dr. Jose Maceda, National Artist. In terms of performance, we have the best choirs. The Philippine Madrigal Singers, they’re basically UP-trained, and UP si [Madz founder] Prof. Andrea Veneracion, National Artist. And we have the UP Singing Ambassadors, the UP Concert Chorus—sterling ang choral tradition na galing sa UP. That’s why maraming UP composers ang nagsusulat ng choral music, because magagaling yung choirs. How can UP help in promoting greater appreciation of OPMs among our audiences? It is our responsibility to win them over. I believe in time, makikita nila…that there are other ways to express authentic feelings, which is why the indie movement is alive, even in music. Nagbago na ang business platform [due to technology]. Technology has created an open field. Anyone who has a smartphone can record, can shoot, put it on YouTube for everybody to see. Maganda kasi open, democratic, kaya pagalingan. Uso na rin ang informal education, pero iba pa rin yung may institutional blessing. May stamp, and hindi sa biased ako, pero ang UP talaga ang most coveted stamp. So how can that stamp help us? Actually, yung people yan. Yung UP alumni ang nagpapalaganap. Kasi alam mo kung sino ang nagpo-promote ng music? Mga UP alumni. Marami kasi end up as heads of institutions na nagpo-promote ng music. They understand; malawak ang kanilang pananaw. Naintindihan nila ang value ng music. The reason you first took Business Administration was to be true to your mother’s deathbed wish for none of her children to have a career in music. This changed when then Senator Salvador Laurel noticed your talent when you were playing piano for his son, Cocoy Laurel, and gave you a scholarship to the College of Music. Is there an alternate universe in which you became Mr. Ryan Cayabyab, Accountant, instead? A friend told me, kahit naman daw hindi nangyari yung nangyari sa akin—for example, hindi ko na-meet sina Senator Laurel—eventually I would find my way into it, because naniniwala ako na yun ang destined place ko. [laughs] A while back I was saying, kahit ano ang mga balakid yung humarap sa iyo papunta dun sa gusto mo, eventually dun ka rin pupunta kasi that is your destined path. Naniniwala ako don. I really think sinundan ko lang yung nararamdaman ko na kailangan kong sundan. Napunta ako sa music kasi yun ang ikinasasaya ng kaluluwa ko, yung every time na ganon ang ginagawa ko, hanggang ngayon, masaya ako. Somebody else also told me: Napili na ng Diyos ang landas mo. Pakinggan mo lang. (Photo from Ryan Cayabyab)
https://up.edu.ph/musics-non-music-man/	Music’s “Non-Music” Man – University of the Philippines	Music’s “Non-Music” Man Music’s “Non-Music” Man January 14, 2019 \| Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo I call it ‘non-music’ because it doesn’t fit the idea of what music is,” says National Artist for Music, composer, ethnomusicologist, and UP Professor Emeritus Ramon Pagayon Santos. “It” is his area of research: non-Western indigenous expressive traditions that are part of the genre called “ethnic music.” Because “music,” he explains, is a Western concept defined by elements such as structure, counterpoint, harmony, texture, and form, among others, “it is not really music—not in the strictest sense.” National Artist for Music Ramon Pagayon Santos at the UP Center for Ethnomusicology (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) It was an incident at a Philippine music festival he organized as dean of the College of Music that prompted him to question why those ethnic forms of expression were considered music. “I had invited three guitarists and a dancer from Batangas to participate. Imagine my surprise when two jeepney loads of people arrived!” During the performance, the others acted as bystanders who would react loudly and throw money at the performers. “That type of ‘music’ wasn’t meant for just listening because it wouldn’t have the intended effect. It needed the participation of the community. There was an experiential condition.” There’s also the playing of the kwintangankayu of the Yakan, the bayok of the Maranao, and the badiw of the Ibaloi which are similarly experiential and dependent on the occasions during which they are played. Cultural expressions such as these “don’t follow what conventionally defines music.” Knowing the rules and breaking them As an ethnomusicologist, Santos has been challenging the use of the term “music” to describe these forms of expression since the 1980s. But as a composer, Santos has been pushing against tradition for far longer—as early as his undergraduate days in the early 1960s. He grew up with classical music around him. His mother and grandmother were pianists, so he learned solfège and how to play the piano. High school for Santos was in a seminary, where he “fell in love with schola cantorum.” He wrote poetry and literature inspired his passion for music, even prompting him to create music for Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poems. Like his brother, Santos also painted. His parents even thought he would study painting in college, but he didn’t. He earned a degree in Composition and Conducting from UP instead. He formed the Immaculate Conception Choir in Pasig before he even graduated, writing choir music and a whole Mass, and leading the choir in presenting operettas. He also joined the symphonic ode category of the Bonifacio Centennial National Composition Contest, where he was the only declared winner at second place. No first or third. “The first honorable mention was my teacher,” he recounts with a sheepish smile. In UP, Santos discovered Edgard Varèse, a French composer recognized for using sound outside the confines of musical tradition. He was amazed by Jose Maceda, a visionary composer and member of the UP faculty who pioneered avant-garde music in the country and was later named National Artist for Music. Santos credits Maceda, his “greatest idol in composition,” for inspiring him because his ideas were deeply rooted in Philippine culture and how “we feel and experience music.” Dissonances then became part of Santos’ work. “I think my teacher thought it wouldn’t get me anywhere.” But his leanings toward unconventional compositions mixed with his interest in non-Western cultural expressions allowed him to forge a path in contemporary Philippine music. His groundbreaking body of work—both in composition and in ethnomusicology—earned him the rank of National Artist in 2016. Santos is quite happy that the number of composer-ethnomusicologists is increasing, although he admits that genuine Philippine music still has a long way to go. “We always need to be conscious of the fact that we are not Westerners, that we should not merely follow Western trends. Our experiences are different. Our sentiments are different. Our culture is different. I hope that we can eventually have a name for what I call ‘non-music.’”
https://up.edu.ph/up-writers-night-2019/	UP Writers Night 2019 – University of the Philippines	UP Writers Night 2019 UP Writers Night 2019 November 19, 2019 \| Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office As part of its 41st anniversary, the LIKHAAN: UP Institute of Creative Writing (ICW) will be holding the UP Writers Night celebration, a yearly gathering that pays homage to both the country’s established and up-and-coming writers. The grand homecoming will feature three major events, all taking place on November 22, 2019 at the new UP College of Fine Arts Building, University of Philippines Diliman. The celebration will begin with the awarding ceremony for the 19th Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award (MGBFBA), to be held from 2:30-4:00 PM at the Plenary Hall. The finalists for this year are: Francis Paolo Quina for Field of Play and Other Fictions; Marichelle Roque-Lutz for Keeping It Together; Christine Lao for Musical Chairs; Manuel Lahoz for Of Tyrants and Martyrs; Jude Ortega for Seeker of Spirits; Sarah Lumba for The Shoemaker’s Daughter; Glenn Diaz for The Quiet Ones; and Johanna Marie Lim for What Distance Tells Us. The judges are Charlson Ong, Marne Kilates, and Rica Bolipata-Santos. Registration is at 4:30 p.m.. This will be followed by the launch of Likhaan Journal 13, the annual journal of contemporary Philippine literature published by the UP ICW. This year’s issue editor is Vladimeir Gonzales. The Writers Night Homecoming program will feature recollections by former ICW directors and workshop alumni, as well as special performances by Baihana, Bayang Barrios, and Plagpul. Books and zines from different publishers and individuals will also be sold at the event. Admission is free and everyone is invited, with special limited edition items to be given away to our guests. Friends from media are invited and encouraged to participate, and provide coverage, if possible. For more information about the event, please e-mail, uplikhaan@gmail.com or check the Facebook event page.
https://up.edu.ph/upd-hosts-lecture-on-rules-based-order/	UPD hosts lecture on “rules-based order” – University of the Philippines	UPD hosts lecture on “rules-based order” UPD hosts lecture on “rules-based order” December 7, 2017 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office “Will Australia defend the rules-based order?” At a public lecture held at Palma Hall of the University of the Philippines Diliman on October 20, 2017, Professor Benjamin Schreer addressed this question as he discussed the “rules-based order” in the Asia-Pacific in relation to the rise of China as a global power. Schreer, the head of the Security and Strategic Studies department of Macquarie University in Australia, presented several scenarios and challenges in preserving the “rules-based order”, which he said is a key policy objective of the Australian government. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO Schreer is an expert on Asia-Pacific strategic trends and Australian defense policy. He is also a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London and a member of the editorial board of the Journal for Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism (JPICT) and of the Australian Journal of International Affairs. The lecture was sponsored by the Department of Political Science, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, UP Diliman, and the Program for Strategic Studies of the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS). (Fred Dabu, UP MPRO) Click here for more photos of the event.