PERR
keeps in touch with constituents
UPMin
firms up Mindanao front
BoardWork:
New officials appointed
UPD
biotech major wins top prize at 2006 BPI-DOST Science Awards
PROFILE:
Michinosuke Amano blazes trail in anesthesiology
In
High Gear
Dr.
Dolores F. Hernandez imparts last lesson at 81
Kagoshima
University, UPV ink agreements
Laguna
execs unite behind conservation of Mt. Makiling
Cayetano
chosen outstanding varsity alumna, pledges P500,000 for varsity endowment
fund
Archi
gets a complex
UP
holds 16th Int’l Women’s Film Fest
PGH
Enercon program gets 3-star rating
‘Martyrs
of Freedom’: 100 years after: Peace pilgrimage honors victims
of Bud Dahu Massacre
UKM
sociologist urges democratic renovation of Islamic civilization
Dream
Drain: UP experts identify challenges and opportunities for new graduates
Where
they belong: Iskolar ng Bayan find niche in UP bureaucracy
Shopping
for careers at job fairs
Pinoy
animators go global
More
plans revealed for RP’s eLib
Gearing
up for strategic banana breeding
PP
1017: What animal is it?
On
Proclamation 1017
UPV
experts help out in Semirara oil crisis
ArtWork
(CONCLUSION): Balancing act: Chancellors as artists
All-Visayas
Visayan Creative Writing Workshop slated
KUHANG
MARINO: Images of Filipino Seamen
UPAA
Iloilo to hold forum on good governance
PERR
keeps in touch with constituents
The
campuses, extensions, and alumni of the University are scattered all
over the country, making tough demands on its chief administrator. From
February 15 to March 7, UP President Emerlinda R. Roman flew to five
different provinces to attend various activities of UP constituents
and alumni, consistent with her pro-people kind of administration.
The
President, together with UP Manila (UPM) Chancellor Ramon A. Arcadio,
worked with around 70 deans, directors, and unit heads of UPM during
strategic planning workshops in Subic on February 15 and 16. In the
opening ceremonies, the President raised three points for the administrators
of the cam-pus to consider during their planning. First, UP as an institution
of higher learning cannot deviate from the ideal of academic excellence.
Second, the caretakers of the University bear the responsibility of
enhancing its academic reputation. Third, UP must also be conscious
of its cost performance in the light of budget constraints.
On
February 21, President Roman joined the 11th anniversary celebrations
of UP Mindanao, where she participated in the inauguration of the new
two-storey College of Humanities and Social Sciences building, tree-planting,
a walk-through of the facilities, and recognition of outstanding students.
In the after-noon, she attended a seminar on interdisciplinary work
and collaborative learning with officials from other Mindanao universities
and government agencies. She also took time to confer with some 25 students
from the UPMin student councils. They asked her mainly about the UP
budget and the STFAP. In the evening, she had dinner with members of
the UP Alumni Association (UPAA) in Davao, who in turn pledged P200,000
for scholarships for UPMin students. The visit gave the President an
opportunity to see for herself how dynamic campus life in UPMin has
become. (See related article, UPMin firms up.)
A
week after, the President took time from her busy schedule to take a
one-day trip to Baguio and attend a public forum on the search for the
new UPB chancellor. (The President had also attended public forums in
connection with the recent search for chancellors of UPM and UP in the
Visayas.) The two nominees—incumbent Chancellor Priscilla S. Macansantos
and Dr. Ronaldo A. Paraan—answered questions from UPB stakeholders.
The President said she was impressed by the level and quality of the
questions, discussion, and the nominees’ responses. President
Roman noted how UPB bustled with several student forums enlivening the
atmosphere on campus and how students were very active during the public
forum.
On
March 4, just three days later, the President landed in General Santos
City and was whisked off to a hotel by a motorcade. Invited by the UPAA
in Socsargen (South Cotabato, Saranggani, General Santos) for its induction
of officers and fellowship night, President Roman squeezed into her
schedule a visit to Dole Philippines, where managers were enrolled for
a certificate program in management under UPMin’s School of Management.
In the afternoon, she attended the program’s graduation ceremonies.
The
fellowship night crowd went from the expected 100 to over 200, composed
mostly of graduates of UP Los Baños (UPLB). The President was
told that it was the first time an incumbent UP President had visited
General Santos City. In her speech, President Roman updated the alumni
of the developments in UP, particularly the Charter and the Centennial
celebration, to which the alumni pledged their support.
Two
days after, President Roman graced UPLB’s 97th Foundation Day
convocation. She recounted to the audience, which included UPLB Chancellor
Luis Rey I. Velasco and UP Regent Romulo G. Davide, her early days in
Los Baños. Roman was born in the town and educated in UPLB. Because
the foundation day was also an occasion honoring outstanding faculty,
REPS, and staff, President Roman said the awardees are proof that Tatak
UP is alive and well. “May you serve as living examples of excellence,
performance, hard work, integrity, and passion for UP,” she told
the awardees.
According
to President Roman, these trips of hers are one way of making sure that
she knows first-hand what is going on in the large institution which
will be under her stewardship for the next five years. (Jo.
Florendo B. Lontoc)
UPMin
firms up Mindanao front
Being a young and small constituent university has not stopped
UP Mindanao (UPMin) from making UP’s presence felt on the island
of Mindanao. As one of the institutions taking part in several institutional
linkages, UPMin is taking an active role in the development of the southern
island.
During the 11th anniversary of the campus
last February 21, UPMin Chancellor Ricardo de Ungria reported UPMin’s
involvement in four regional associations: the Mindanao Science and
Technology Park Consortium (MSTPC), Davao Colleges and Universities
Network (DACUN), the Mindanao Studies Consortium Foundation, Inc. (MSCFI),
and the Southern Mindanao Agriculture and Resources and Research and
Development Consortium (SMARRDEC).
MSTPC is a link-up of 11 institutions
headed by UPMin and formed in 2003 to facilitate the transformation
of UPMin’s Bago Oshiro campus into a science and technology park
focusing on food and agri-based industries, planting materials, and
information and knowledge management. Already, the member institutions
have laboratory facilities that can be used for the S&T Park. These
facilities are for plant disease diagnostics, pesticide analysis, cell
and molecular biology, microbiology, general biology, ecology and wildlife,
food science research, food technology, soils and physiology, seed quality
control, and tissue culture. Other facilities include those for plant
propagation, mass and volumetric calibration, screen house and cages
for experimental plants, seed storage, sprinkler irrigation, stripping
shed for abaca, storage for agricultural and laboratory chemicals and
copra, and a motor pool.
Emphasizing that UP had been set up
not to compete with, but to complement the programs of the academic
institutions in the region, UPMin spearheaded the formation of DACUN
in 2001. Intended to take the lead role in addressing issues of higher
education in Davao, the network now has 11 member universities and colleges,
with UPMin Chancellor Ricardo de Ungria as network president. Since
its creation, the consortium has been a venue for collaborative activities,
such as teacher training, research capability-building and dissemination
of research results, lecture series, library networking, community outreach
programs, exhibits, student activities, cultural and artistic activities,
and the like.
The MSCFI began with UPMin’s own
Mindanao Studies Center, which was established in 1999, linking up with
other educational and research institutions in Mindanao. Starting operations
in 2001, MSCFI is now composed of 10 member institutions headed by the
Mindanao Economic and Development Council. It also includes the Southern
Philippines Development Authority. Chancellor de Ungria is its current
vice-chair. It envisions itself as a community of institutions that
will coordinate, facilitate, and disseminate research, and help bridge
the gap between theory and practice in the pursuit of peace and development
in Mindanao. Its main accomplishment is the publication of The Annotated
Bibliography of Mindanao Studies and Directory of Resource Centers and
Researchers in Mindanao.
UPMin
is now also a member of SMARRDEC, a consortium composed of 20 government
agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology, the Department
of Agriculture, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
and the National Economic and Development Authority; and educational
institutions in the region, with the University of Southeastern Philippines
as the base agency. Starting in 1987, its programs include technology
promotion and transfer, technical assistance to the people, and human
resource development. UPMin also participates in the SMARRDEC on three
levels–policy, technical work, and applied communication. (Jo.
Florendo B. Lontoc)
BoardWork
New officials appointed
The Board
of Regents, at its 1206th meeting on February 23, 2006 and 1205th meeting
on January 26, 2006, announced the appointment of the following University
officials:
Board
of Regents
HON. NELIA T. GONZALEZ
Acting Member
HON. ABRAHAM
F. SARMIENTO
Acting Member
HON. EDMUNDO
M. VARONA
Acting Member
HON. ROLAND
G. SIMBULAN
Faculty Regent
UP System
DR. CELIA T. ADRIANO
Asst. Vice President for
Academic Affairs
Effective March 1, 2006
To serve at the pleasure of the
Vice President for Academic Affairs
DR. AMEURFINA
D. SANTOS
Director
Office of Admissions
Effective March 1, 2006
Until February 28, 2009
PROF. MA.
ODINE M. DE GUZMAN
Deputy Director for Research and Publication
Center for Women’s Studies
Effective January 1, 2006
Until May 31, 2006
PROF. MA.
THERESA U. BATANGAN
Deputy Director for Training and Outreach
Center for Women’s Studies
Effective January 1, 2006
Until May 31, 2006
UP Los Baños
PROF. SEVERINO E. CUEVAS
Director
Office of Student Affairs
Effective February 1, 2006
To serve at the pleasure
of the Chancellor
UPD biotech major wins
top prize at 2006 BPI-DOST Science Awards
Christian
Danve M. Castroverde, a graduating Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
major from UP Diliman (UPD), bested 28 other students to win Best Project
of the Year at this year’s Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)-Department
of Science and Technology (DOST) Science Awards. From 29, 12 semifinalists
were chosen, and then six moved on to the finals.
His
research, entitled “Simultaneous Detection of Vibrio harveyi,
Vibrio campbellii, and Philippine Vibrio isolates by Multiplex Polymerase
Chain Reaction,” focuses on the detection of harmful bacteria—specifically,
Vibrio cambellii and Vibrio harveryi—in shrimps. According to
Castroverde, these bacteria cause the infection and subsequent death
of shrimps, which, in turn, results in a decrease in production. An
example he gave was the sudden drop in Philippine shrimp production
between 1996 and 1997, when the country lost US$150 million in the aquaculture
sector.
The
importance of his study, he said, is that “the early detection
of these harmful bacteria will result in the prevention of raising unhealthy
shrimps in Vibrio-infected areas” and therefore, will greatly
help the aquaculture industry.
Maydeline
P. Que, a graduating BS Electronics and Communications Engineering student
from UPD, was first runner-up. She designed and developed a device called
the Portable Logging Apnea Monitor. Apnea is a condition where a person
stops breathing while he is asleep. This condition can lead to cardio-respiratory
diseases as well as cause accidents because of insufficient sleep.
Currently,
there is only one institution in Metro Manila that has an apnea diagnostic
center because apnea monitors are very expensive. Que’s goal is
to provide a cheaper alternative to the apnea monitors already available
in the market. The second runner-up was from Ateneo de Manila University.
The
BPI-DOST Science Awards annually recognizes the research efforts of
three students from ten universities nationwide. These students then
compete for Best Project of the Year. Apart from Castroverde and Que,
another awardee from UPD is Geo-mar C. Lubaton, a BS Computer Science
major. He developed iSay, an online student essay evaluator.
UP
Los Baños (UPLB) also has three awardees and one of them made
it to the finals—BS Chemical Engineering student, Cherrys O. Abrigo,
whose project, “Evaluation of Oxidant Formation and Ammonia Destruction
in Alkalinity-Supplemented Seawater in a Batch Electrolytic Reactor,”
will complete the series of researches “determining the effects
of major components of seawater in the formation of oxidants and destruction
of ammonia.” Other awardees from UPLB are Jeffrey C. Bunquin and
Joan O. Narciso, both BS Chemistry majors. Bunquin won for “Isolation,
Purification, and Quantification of Major 4.4-Des-methylsterols from
Rice Bran (Oryza sativa, L.) Oil and Evaluation of their Anti-Cancer
and Hypocholesterolemic Activities.” Narciso was chosen for “Indole
Glucosinolates in Locally Grown Vegetables and their Degradation Products
Survey, Quantitation and Evaluation of their Angiogenic and Anticarcinogenic
Properties.”
All
students chosen for the BPI-DOST Science Awards were given trophies
and P25,000 each by BPI. Castroverde received an additional P50,000
from the DOST for winning the top prize.
Aside
from UPD and UPLB, three students each from Ateneo de Davao University,
Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Saint Louis University,
Siliman University, University of San Carlos, and University of Santo
Tomas were also recognized, while Xavier University had two awardees.
(Arlyn Romualdo)
PROFILE:
Michinosuke Amano blazes trail in anesthesiology
The
College of Medicine of the University of the Philippines can easily
lay claim to many contributions to the practice of medicine and health
care in the country, through the generations of doctors and medical
personnel it has produced since its founding in 1906. However,
it is a little-known fact that the individual who established anesthesiology
studies and specialization in Japan had come from the College of Medicine’s
hallowed halls, and was part of its most accomplished and historic class—the
Medicine Class of 1943.
Out
of this brilliant group of 80 students—who manned the severely
understaffed Philippine General Hospital during the war’s most
trying years, up to the chaotic period of the Liberation of Manila—rose
war heroes; internationally-recognized medical discoverers and pioneers;
hospital founders; heads of various local and international medical
associations and pharmaceutical companies; governors, mayors, and members
of Congress; national, scientific, and civic leaders; and Dr. Michinosuke
Amano, who introduced Anesthesiology to his home country at a time when
the specialty was almost non-existent in crippled, post-war Japan.
Dr.
Amano, born to immigrant Japanese parents in 1916, acquired most of
his education in the Philippines, graduating with a degree in Medicine
from the UP in 1943 and passing the national board soon after. His practice
as a physician was briefly put off upon his being drafted into the Japanese
Imperial Army in 1944, and being assigned to duty in Northern Luzon.
After the war, he returned to Japan and became a junior surgeon with
the Department of Surgery at the prestigious Keio University.
A
US government program, the Government Account for Relief in Occupied
Areas (GARIOA), awarded Dr. Amano a one-year scholarship to the University
of Chicago, which eventually was stretched to two years. The competition
was fierce: he was one of only 7 physicians selected from 6,000 applicants,
but this triumph was to have a profound impact on the future of Japanese
medical practice.
He
chose anesthesiology as his specialty and became the first Japanese
physician to do so. At that time, there was not a single doctor in Japan
trained in the field, therefore no one was equipped to handle and teach
the practice. Not a single department in hospitals across the country
was dedicated to Anesthesiology. Only the University of Tokyo hospital
possessed an anesthesia machine, which was barely used and relegated
to a corner. An article by Dr. Shigemasa Ikeda in the November 2005
issue of the journal Anesthesiology reports that “General anesthesia
was used in less than 10% of cases,” the other 90% making do with
local anesthesia, whenever possible.
Returning
two years later from his studies in America as Japan’s first formally-trained
anesthesiologist, Dr. Amano immediately piloted a series of seminars
on the field through the Keio Medical Society. The seminars, conducted
every 2-3 months, attracted hundreds of doctors from all over Japan,
and resulted in the dissemination of interest in anesthesiology through
individual physicians who later chose to pursue the specialty in their
respective bases. In 1952, the first course on anesthesiology was opened
to Dr. Amano’s second-year medical classes in Keio. The following
year saw the publication of his anesthesiology textbook. Two years later,
he established and headed the Department of Anesthesiology and co-founded
the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists (JSA) with another American-trained
Japanese anesthesiologist, Dr. Hideo Yamamura. From less than 200 cases
of anesthetic procedures in 1952, the number shot up to over 1,000 in
1956. In 1960, anesthesiology was officially recognized as an independent
medical practice in the country. Dr. Amano would become the first President
of the Asian-Pacific Society of Anesthesiology in the years to follow.
Though
he was a citizen of another, albeit enemy, country, he would be fondly
remembered as “Michi” by his classmates, who survived many
a hairy encounter with Japanese soldiers during the war by uttering
a phrase which he had taught them, “Watashiwa isha desu, (I am
a doctor).” They had the chance to touch base with him again during
visits to Japan, and more recently, when he flew back on the occasion
of their Golden Jubilee Homecoming. For Dr. Amano’s success, and
the numerous and important achievements of its members, the Class of
’43 received the Most Distinguished Class Award from the UPMAS
in 2002. The class also celebrated its Diamond Anniversary in 2003.
(Francezca C. Kwe)
In High Gear
Hernandez
appointed to UN Board
Dr.
Carolina G. Hernandez, faculty member of the UP Department
of Political Science, was appointed member of the United Nations Advisory
Board on Disarmament Matters for the next two years beginning January
2006. She is the first Filipino to assume the position.
The Advisory Board provides policy advice on arms limitation and disarmament
matters to the UN Secretary General (UNSG), conducts studies and research
under the auspices of the UN, and serves as the Board of Trustees of
the UN Institute for Disarmament Research and advises the UNSG on the
implementation of the UN Disarmament Information Program.
Hernandez, founding president of the Philippine-based Institute for
Strategic and Development Studies, was chosen for her knowledge and
experience in the field of international security, including disarmament.
She is also one of the two Southeast Asian members of the Governing
Council of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.
A prolific writer and analyst, she has written various articles dealing
with foreign and security policy, regional cooperation, governance issues,
development, and the military in politics, as well as domestic political
development in Southeast Asia, especially in the Philippines.
She also served the Philippine government as commissioner in the Fact-Finding
Commission to investigate the failed coup of December 1989 under President
Corazon C. Aquino, the National Peace Forum to conduct local peace talks
with communist insurgent groups under President Joseph E. Estrada, and
the Feliciano Fact-Finding Commission to investigate the Oakwood Mutiny
under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In November 2003, President
Arroyo appointed her Presidential Adviser with Cabinet rank to oversee
the implementation of the Feliciano Commission recommendations.
UP dancers win Delhi tilt
UP College of Music faculty Angela Lawenko and alumna Bea Puno, both
scholars of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, won the top prize
in the Jaya TV Thaka Dhimi Tha competition in Bharatanatyam dance. They
won over teams from Chennai and Bangalore.
In three rounds, Lawenko and Puno went through Trikala Jati dance, an
Alhinaya (dramatic dialogue) encounter between Shiva and Ravanna in
Mt. Kailash, and a Pangalay Philippine dance.
In April, they will perform for Delhi Kannadiga at Karanataka Bhavan.
They will also perform for Nrityam Dance and Cultural Circle, where
they will dance the Kamba Ramayanan poem of India President APJ Abdul
Kalam and a fusion of Bharatanatyam and Filipino dances.
UPV students qualify for Nat’l
Agora Youth Awards
Ysabella Cainglet and Michelle Grijaldo, both 4th year BSBA Marketing
students of University of the Philippines in the Visayas, were named
regional winners in the 2006 Agora Youth Awards, an award given by the
Philippine Marketing Association to recognize the best Filipino Marketing
students.
Cainglet and Grijaldo qualified because of their academic achievements,
involvement in various organizations, extra-curricular activities, and
case analysis of a UNIVET dog food. The two are the only qualifiers
from the Visayas. The national seminar and competition was held from
February 21 to 28.
Starting in 1991, and initially called TOMAS TOSMA or the Ten Outstanding
Marketing Students and Three Outstanding Students Marketing Association,
the Agora Youth Awards has already recognized excellence in more than
100 recipients.
UPLB tops 7th National Forestry
Olympics
For the seventh time, the UP Los Baños College of Forestry and
Natural Resources won the top prize in the National Forestry Olympiad
(NFO) held on February 7 to 10, 2006. The NFO is a biennial competition
in forestry subjects, such as measurement, surveying, leaf and wood
identification, and various issues concerning the environment and natural
resources.
The year’s NFO, a project of UPLB-based student organizations
UP Zeta Rho Honor Fraternity and UP Mussaenda Honor Sorority, was participated
in by 12 universities and colleges. The theme was “Enhancing Skills
and Knowledge Towards the Upliftment of Philippine Forestry Education.”
New SEARCA prof chairs named
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research
in Agriculture (SEARCA) named four faculty members of UPLB as its new
professorial chair holders: Dr. Arnold Elepano, Dr. Ernesto del Rosario,
Dr. Jose Yorobe Jr., and Dr. Cleofe Torres.
As SEARCA professorial chair holders, the faculty members are each expected
to deliver a public lecture during their term. Elepano will speak on
“Development of Small-Scale Processing System for the Production
of Semi-refined Carrageenan” and del Rosario on “Recovery
of Growth Hormones in Coconut Water Using Micellar-Enhanced Ultrafiltration.”
Yorobe, meanwhile, will give a lecture on “The Cost of Bio-safety
Regulation for Rice in the Philippines” and Torres on “Enhancing
Compliance with Environmental Quality Standards in the Laguna de Bay
Region Through Public Disclosure.”
Malayang assumes Silliman presidency
Dr. Ben Malayang III, who earned a BA Philosophy from UP, was appointed
the 12th president of the Silliman University.
Malayang, a well-respected authority in environmental management and
international development, is a member of the International Science
Planning Committee of the International Human Dimensions Program on
Global Environmental Change, the National Committee on Biosafety of
the Philippines, and the Executive Committee of the UNDP Portfolio Programs.
He also served as undersecretary of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources from 1993 to 1995.
Medical Board Exam 2006
Kenneth R. Dulnuan of UP Manila (UPM) placed seventh in the 2006 Physician
Licensure Examination. UPM posted an overall passing rate of 86% while
the UP School of Health and Sciences-Leyte scored 25%.
Dr. Dolores F. Hernandez
imparts last lesson at 81
Dr.
Dolores F. Hernandez, founder of the UP National Institute of Science
and Mathematics Education (NISMED), passed away on March 15, 2006.
She was 81 years old.
Dr. Hernandez established NISMED in
1964 through a proposal to the Ford Foundation. As its director for
21 years until her retirement in 1985, she steered NISMED in its pioneering
efforts in curriculum development, research, and teacher-training in
the field of science and mathematics education.
After her retirement from the University,
she remained an adviser/consultant of NISMED but, at the same time,
assumed the directorship of the Regional Center for Education Innovation
and Technology. She was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the
Pundasyon sa Pagpapaunlad ng Kaalaman sa Pagtuturo ng Agham, Ink.
In 1985, Dr. Hernandez received the
first Jean Jacques Rousseau World Award for Education in Oslo, Sweden.
In 2004, she was named the Most Outstanding Alumna by the UP Alumni
Association.
Kagoshima University,
UPV ink agreements
Last
February 20, the University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV)
and the Kagoshima University Faculty of Fisheries (KUFF) signed two
agreements to continue the cooperation between them. The first
is the Memorandum of Agreement between KUFF and UPV for the Establishment
of Liaison Offices in the two institutions to promote further cooperation.
The second is an Agreement of Understanding on Academic Exchange Programme
for Students between KUFF and UPV. It is hoped that the accords will
strengthen UPV’s postgraduate programs especially at the College
of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, and will enable KUFF to conduct international
programs at UPV.
The Japanese, on the other hand, expect
to establish a regional center in UPV that will include tackling of
researches in the Southeast Asian Region. In his message, Dr. Matsuoka
mentioned that research endeavors will not only be in Fisheries but
will also incorporate components of Agriculture and Medical Science
with the primary aim of poverty alleviation in this part of Asia. At
the same time, he revealed that the project enjoys strong support from
the administration of the Kagoshima University, particularly its president.
The activities to be undertaken under this cooperation will receive
major funding from the Japanese Government, he said.
The new agreements are in anticipation
of the termination of the Core University Program of the KUFF, UPV,
the Department of Science and Technology, and the Japan Society for
the Promotion of Science. The program began in 1996 and ends in 2007.
UPV Chancellor Glenn D. Aguilar and
KUFF Dean Tatsuro Matsuoka signed the agreements in a ceremony witnessed
by UPV Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Diana S. Aure, KUFF Associate
Dean Jiro Koyama, two other Japanese delegates, and some UPV officials
and faculty members.
Afterwards,
the group proceeded to the CFOS Administration Building for a ribbon-cutting
ceremony to formally open the doors of the KUFF Liaison Office at the
UPV Miagao campus. (Anna Razel L. Ramirez)
Laguna execs unite behind
conservation of Mt. Makiling
Local
government executives (LGEs), water district managers from towns/cities
on the fringes of Mt. Makiling, and UP Los Baños (UPLB) officials
agreed to join forces behind the continued conservation and preservation
of the Makiling Forest Reserve (MFR) during the Meeting on University-Community
Partnerships Regarding the MFR at UPLB’s AG Samonte Hall Operations
Room on Jan. 16.
The Laguna executives signed a manifesto
expressing the belief that the MFR as an important biodiversity area
and a vital watershed will continue to be maintained and enhanced under
the management of UPLB. The manifesto also expressed the belief that
partnerships among the agencies and constituents around Mt. Makiling
will enable UPLB to maintain and further enhance the economic, ecological,
scientific, educational, cultural, and social value of Mt. Makiling.
In his message to the meeting participants,
UPLB Chancellor Luis Rey I. Velasco emphasized the need to unite behind
the continuation of conservation activities in the MFR, this time with
the active involvement of the LGUs and other stakeholders as the MFR
is a watershed that supplies the water needs of a greater part of Laguna
and Batangas provinces.
Chancellor
Velasco expressed concern about the possibility that these areas might
experience a water crisis in the future—like what Cavite, Manila,
and the Laguna towns adjacent to Manila are experiencing now—if
stakeholders will not unite behind the MFR conservation. He also said
that the MFR and the Laguna Lake are intertwined resources which need
to ensure the preservation of the mountain. Otherwise, they risk hastening
the lake’s demise. (Josephine M. Bo)
Cayetano chosen outstanding
varsity alumna, pledges P500,000 for varsity endowment fund
Senator
Pia Cayetano was given the outstanding varsity alumna award at the annual
Varsity Commencement and Recognition Rites held last March 16.
“I cannot overemphasize the depth and wealth of experience I had
as a member of the varsity,” she said. Cayetano was a member of
the UP women’s volleyball team for four years and the national
women’s volleyball team for six.
Cayetano, who was part of the team that
last won the championship for UP in the University Athletics Association
of the Philippines (UAAP) tournament, promised to help UP athletes by
pledging P500,000 for the varsity endowment fund. It is her way, she
said, of showing gratitude to the institution that continues to inspire
her long after she has left it.
Spearheaded by the College of Human
Kinetics, the event honored graduating athletes as well as those who
have been playing for the varsity team for four to five years. Outstanding
athletes were also recognized in different categories, as follows: the
Maroon Letter is an individual citation for athletes with exemplary
performance in the UAAP and other leagues; the Green Letter is given
to champion teams in the UAAP and other leagues; the White Star is given
to athletes who have become part of the national team; the Green Star
is awarded to athletes who have established UAAP records; the Gold Star
recognizes athletes who have participated in international competitions;
and the Hall of Fame Award is given to athletes who have received the
Maroon Letter for three consecutive years.
Special awards were also given to coaches
and athletes of non-UAAP events. Nathan Ben Dominguez and Kelvin Celis
were lauded for winning gold medals in arnis during the 23rd Southeast
Asian (SEA) Games. Maria Amaya Amparo Paz was also recognized for her
achievements in archery. She received four gold medals in the 2005 Asian
Archery Grand Prix; established two Philippine records during the 43rd
World Outdoor Target Archery Championship; and placed first in the qualification
rounds, won two gold medals, and established four Philippine records
in the 23rd SEA Games.
Other
special citations are the Best Coach and Best Athlete awards. This year,
Baseball Coach Emerson Barandoc, was honored for leading the team to
four UAAP championships. Woodpusher Catherine Pereña, meanwhile,
was recognized for her numerous accomplishments in chess, not only in
the UAAP tournament but also in national and international events. (Arlyn
Romualdo)
Archi gets a complex
After
50 years of existence, the College of Architecture finally finds its
own home in a two-building complex along De los Santos Street in the
UP Diliman (UPD) campus.
The
first of the two buildings to be completed is the former Campus Maintenance
Office building. No longer the abandoned shell it was, it now has colorful
fins on its windows, colorful tiles in its restrooms, and a tower-like
entrance leading to a raised multi-purpose atrium. The building, designed
by Campus Architect Nicolo del Castillo, houses the administration,
library, and lecture rooms. The other building, designed by Prof. Daniplo
Silvestre, has yet to be turned over by the contractor. It houses the
studio laboratory and research facilities and makes use of glass as
a main feature, with a concrete undulating ramp that goes straight to
the second floor.
The
project was begun during the second half of the 1990s through Congressional
funding and UP System and UPD savings under the administrations of Francisco
Nemenzo and Emerlinda Roman. Chairs, tables, fans, screens, tiles, and
multimedia equipment have been acquired through the help of the alumni.
A bridge has yet to be built connecting the two buildings. The college
started to move in the summer of 2005, giving back much-needed space
in Melchor Hall to the College of Engineering.
President
Roman said the administration had always regarded the College as among
“the reliable colleges” and had prioritized the completion
of the Archi home. In turn, she urged the College of Architecture to
help the other UP units in space auditing. She also declared that UPD
now has enough classrooms. “Classes under trees are a thing of
the past,” she said. (Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc with
reports from Bernice P. Varona)
UP holds 16th Int’l
Women’s Film Fest
For
the last 15 years, the International Women’s Film Festival has
annually promoted women’s issues as expressed in the medium of
film. The festival is held in celebration of National Women’s
Month in March as well as in commemoration of International Women’s
Day, which is March 8.
The only festival of its kind in the
country, it is organized by the UP Film Institute, under the leadership
of Prof. Ann Marie De Guzman. The 16th International Women’s Film
Festival ran from March 1-8 at Cine Adarna (formerly UP Film Center).
This year’s theme, “Kamalayang
Kababaihan” or “Consciousness of Women,” focused on
films made from a feminist perspective. According to the organizers,
headed by festival director, Dr. Grace Javier Alfonso, the films shown
were chosen based on “non-stereotypical images and roles, gender
sensitivity, and empowerment.” These films were also chosen because
they have a “liberating effect on the human spirit.”
In the opening ceremonies held on March
1, guest of honor, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte said that the
medium of film transcends boundaries and that this “social artistry”
fills everyone with passion and allows them to dream of possibilities.
Aside from film screenings, the festival
also featured exhibits and dialogues with women artists in film, literature,
dance, and music. This year also marks the festival’s first short
film competition.
Thus, the festival honored four women
who have made great contributions to film—writer Lualhati Bautista;
actress Vilma Santos; film producer Lily Monteverde; and actress turned
network executive Charo Santos-Concio.
Since
the festival started in 1990, it has celebrated the triumph of the human
spirit and innovative perspectives in cinematic technique. In addition,
“it consistently underscores the importance of unrelenting consciousness-raising.”
This annual celebration is a venue for women to express themselves and
uplift and advance women’s rights by “presenting alternative
visions for both men and women” through film. Through the years,
the festival has proven that women have not stopped campaigning for
their rights, and continue to fight for empowerment. (Arlyn
Romualdo)
PGH Enercon program gets
3-star rating
Senior
Deputy Executive Secretary and Philippine Energy Auditor Waldo Flores
and his team of energy “patrolmen” gave the UP Philippine
General Hospital (PGH) a three-star rating (84% efficiency grade) in
recognition of PGH’s earnest campaign for efficient use of electricity.
This is in line with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Administrative
Order No. 126 calling for national energy efficiency and conservation
in government buildings.
The PGH is the first mixed-use (patient
care, training area, administrative offices) public health institution
in the country to get a three-star rating after only one visit from
the energy audit team.
‘Martyrs
of Freedom’
100 years after: Peace pilgrimage honors victims of Bud Dahu Massacre
Like
a school of fish in a glass bowl, some 1,000 Moro men, women, and children
found themselves swimming in their own blood inside the fifty-foot crater
of Bud Dahu—a dormant volcanic mountain six kilometers off Jolo,
the capital town and show window of Sulu Province in Mindanao.
They were caught unprepared when, from
the edges atop the crater, a troop of 800 American soldiers fired down
into the bowl. They fought desperately but their kris (a wavy-edge sword),
hunting spears, and rifles were simply no match against the Americans’
high-caliber artillery. Some of them, including women and children,
were mowed down by as many as fifty bullets while others were impaled
upon bayonets. Only six survived the four-day assault.
The encounter took place a hundred years
ago—March 5-8, 1906. The American government preferred to call
it a battle—bloody and violent, yes, but a legitimate armed confrontation
between the military forces and a group of lawless fanatics. US President
Theodore Roosevelt even commended the American Army for “a most
gallant and soldierly feat” in the fight at Mt. Dahu.
Pundits, however, were quick to point
out the contrary. American literary luminary and social critic Mark
Twain called the encounter a massacre, the US troops uniformed assassins,
and the Moros “helpless and weapon-less savages in a hole like
rats in a trap.” American historian Vic Hurley noted that, “by
no stretch of the imagination could Bud Dahu be termed a ‘battle.’
The Americans troops stormed a high mountain peak crowned by fortifications
to kill 1,000 Moros with a loss to themselves of twenty-one killed and
seventy-three wounded! The casualty reflects the unequal nature of the
battle.”
History tells us now that the victims
were a community of Tausugs who fled to Bud Dahu in defiance of the
American rule and occupation of Mindanao. Spain ruled the country for
333 years but the Moros never recognized its authority. The Moros isolated
themselves in the southern islands of Mindanao. And when the Americans
took over, they were no readier to obey the new colonizers than they
were the Spaniards.
Today, the Bud Dahu bloodbath continues
to inspire the Bangsamoro people in their struggle for self-determination.
They invoke the same spirit in resisting the presence of American forces
who are presently conducting military exercises in Mindanao through
the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippine and US governments.
They are still trying to make sense of the peace agreement signed by
the national government and the Moro National Liberation Front exactly
ten years ago this March.
Indeed, one hundred years after the
Bud Dahu massacre, Filipino Muslims, as Moros are called nowadays, are
faced with virtually the same issues: resistance to American imperialism,
the quest for peace, and the desire for self-determination.
That is why the Mindanao PeaceWeavers,
a network of peace advocates, has organized the Bud Dahu Centennial
Council (BDCC). Fatmawatti Salappudin, lead convenor of Mindanao PeaceWeavers,
said the Council will spearhead yearlong activities to commemorate the
Bud Dahu encounter.
A peace pilgrimage, which seeks to honor
the Bud Dahu martyrs in the hope of finding closure to that painful
chapter of Mindanao’s history, kicked off the celebration. On
March 4-9, 2006, peace pilgrims trekked to Bud Dahu where they witnessed
a symbolic ritual of paying tribute to the massacre victims. A peace
covenant at the crater of the mountain concluded the tribute. “We
installed a marker on the crater with the message that truth and justice
shall always prevail,” said Salappudin.
BDCC chair Prof. Samsula Adju said there
will be forums in Manila and key cities in Mindanao “to inform
and educate the Filipinos on the Bud Dahu massacre.” Meanwhile,
lobby groups from all over the world will demand an apology from the
US government to the descendants of the massacre victims. Such a gesture,
said Adju, will help heal the wounds of the past.
He said they will also lobby for the
declaration of March 8 as an official holiday in the Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao.
Recently, the Senate declared the victims
of Bud Dahu massacre “martyrs of freedom” and March 6 of
every year Bud Dahu Day.
In
the University of the Philippines, the Institute of Islamic Studies
(IIS) spearheaded one whole day of activities on March 3 to commemorate
the Bud Dahu encounter. The IIS, in partnership with the College of
Arts and Letters, Asian Center, Center for Integrative and Development
Studies, and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, held a forum,
photo exhibit, mini-lectures, and cultural presentations. (Rod
P. Fajardo III)
UKM sociologist urges
democratic renovation of Islamic civilization
The
University of the Philippines was privileged to have listened to a feminist
intellectual from the Muslim world in March as part of the Violet Wurfel
Lecture Series. Norani Othman, executive director of the Institute
of Malaysian and International Studies, National University of Malaysia
(UKM), gave a lecture on the challenges and prospects of “Islam,
Islamization, and Democratization” with Malaysia as case study.
Practically challenging the male-dominated
and authoritarian trends in political Islam, Othman said these “do
not inspire any great confidence in the inclination or sensitivity of
most mainstream Muslims and the dominant institutions of contemporary
Islamic states and societies toward these prerequisites and processes
of democratization.” On a bright note, she cited some examples
from the experience of Malaysia which show that there are prospects
in Islamic states for democratization and even women’s rights
and equality.
What are these religious and institutional
prerequisites for “rethinking and democratic renovation of Islamic
civilization”? Othman cited and explained “internal Muslim
renewal,” educational reform, and a basic shift in the Muslim
view of the world.
Describing the prevailing interpretation
of shariah by Islamic movements since the second half of the 20th century
as “faulty,” and one which does not speak for the entire
Muslim world, she said that those proposing change in the interpretation
must be careful to work from within Islam, and not just utilize frameworks
available from the West. Othman is convinced that democracy is inherent
in the Koranic text or the foundational text of Islam.
The
lecture was the second in the series, which focuses on regional issues
such as peace, social justice, agrarian reform, environmental protection,
human rights, and democratic reform. “Islam, Islamization, and
Democratization: Challenges and Prospects” was organized by the
Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Third World Studies
Center, and the Department of Political Science. (Jo. Florendo
B. Lontoc)
Dream
Drain
UP experts identify challenges and opportunities for new graduates
There’s
still some charm left in the UP Diploma, but it’s no longer a
foolproof guarantee of a dream job.
UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations
(SOLAIR) Dean Jorge V. Sibal says that employers still prefer graduates
of the University over other jobseekers but the severity of unemployment
in the country could limit their career options. He points out that
since the unemployment rate has been on a steady rise these past years,
even college graduates are finding it difficult to get a job.
In “Public Forum-Dialogue on the
Exodus of Mission-Critical Personnel and Professionals,” which
was held last March 4 at the UP SOLAIR Auditorium, it was revealed that
from 1980 to 2003, the country’s economy managed to create 14.7
million new jobs but, within the same period, 17.7 million newcomers
also entered the labor force. In other words, the additional 0.6% jobs
that were created were not enough to absorb the 1.4% increase in the
labor force. As a result, unemployment among the schooled segment of
the labor force increased as well—29% among high school graduates
and 17% among college graduates and undergraduates.
Dr. Virgel C. Binghay, coordinator of
UP SOLAIR’s Graduate Studies Program, traces the country’s
unemployment woes to the decision of many companies to relocate their
manufacturing plants to other countries. Multinational companies, he
says, now seem to prefer China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia
because these countries offer cheaper labor and bigger market for their
products.
Bright
spots
In spite of the overall slump in the economy, Dr. Binghay says there
are still employment opportunities for new graduates. Among the local
industries, the bright spots are found in business process outsourcing,
which includes the call centers and medical transcription services;
advertising, which is especially in need of graphic animators; information
technology; tourism; fastfood, since the likes of Jollibee, McDonald’s,
and Chowking continue to open new outlets and, therefore, are perpetually
in need of store managers, staff, and service crew; retail, thanks to
the proliferation of malls; and human resource management, particularly
organizational development.
Dr. Binghay observes that these opportunities
all fall under the service sector. This is not good because there should
be a balance among the service, agricultural, and manufacturing sectors.
“Especially in our case,” he points out, “since most
of our workers belong to the agriculture sector. While we welcome the
developments in the service industry, we must be wary of the slump in
agriculture and manufacturing because it means disenfranchisement of
the workers in these sectors.”
Indeed, in 2004, the service sector
ate up the biggest chunk of the employment pie with 48% while agriculture
came in second with 36%. Manufacturing, meanwhile, posted the lowest
share with 9.7%. Dean Sibal, however, points out that “most of
the jobs created in agriculture and service sectors were low-quality
jobs.”
Opportunities
overseas
Looking for jobs abroad is another option for new graduates. Interestingly
enough, opportunities for Filipino workers in the international market
are now a good mix of blue- and white-collar jobs. Dr. Binghay says
Filipino workers are still in demand as domestic helpers, construction
workers, entertainers, and seafarers, but they are now also getting
offers from the health care, aviation, mining, teaching, and information
technology industries.
Demands in the aviation industry are
particularly surprising, says Dr. Binghay: “We’re losing
a lot of our pilots, aircraft engineers and technicians, and traffic
controllers to other countries, especially India and the Middle East.”
Even the linemen of the Manila Electric Co., he adds, have also been
getting job offers from Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, and Papua New
Guinea, among many others.
UP graduates, notes Dean Sibal, will
most likely find themselves in the small but highly-paid group of knowledge
workers who are mostly based in the US and Europe. “Although small
in numbers, Filipino knowledge workers turn over more than one half
of the entire remittances since many of them are highly paid professionals
and technical workers,” he explains. Next to India, the Philippines
supplies the most number of knowledge workers to the rest of the world.
“Lately, however, some local industries
have felt the crippling effects of the loss of mission-critical professionals
and technicians,” Dean Sibal explains. These critical sectors
include aviation, shipping, information technology, steel, petrochemical,
telecommunications, health care, and education. “We need to temper
sending our mission-critical personnel and professionals abroad,”
he says. “We must bear in mind what management guru Peter Drucker
said: Knowledge workers are the key to competitiveness of enterprises
and national economies. This is the reason developed countries deliberately
pirate the knowledge workers of developing countries. They need to be
ahead in competing with the rest of the world at the expense of developing
countries.”
Regulating the exodus of workers, according
to Dr. Binghay, is actually done in some countries. “Yes, I recognize
that part of globalization is the free movement of people,” he
says. “But can you imagine our hospitals without competent doctors
and nurses or our airports without traffic controllers? Our country
will be paralyzed. We must also protect our country.”
Other
options
Dean Sibal says that those who cannot afford to leave the country can
look into informal and semi-formal entrepreneurial opportunities. “We
have heard of fresh UP graduates who have successfully operated new
franchises in malls,” he notes. “Some of them are now expanding
their businesses all over the country, even Asia.”
Yet another alternative for new graduates
is to go back to school to pursue a master’s degree. Aside from
acquiring more knowledge, competencies, and skills, some students turn
to graduate schools in the hopes of landing a job through their classmates,
most of whom are already working.
Both Dean Sibal and Dr. Binghay, however,
do not approve of this strategy. “Except in pure sciences, I would
not advise new college graduates to pursue graduate studies right away.
Studying and applying what you learned in school in your place of work
or practice of profession is the best combination for a successful graduate
student,” says Dean Sibal. “So go get a job first, even
if you start at the bottom of the organization ladder.”
Inexperienced
students in graduate schools also are a problem for professors, points
out Binghay. “That is especially true for us in SOLAIR where we
teach about the world of work,” he explains. “A student
who does not have any work experience will not be able to relate to
our discussions. When we talk about Collective Bargaining Agreement
(CBA), for example, what does that student know about CBA other than
what he or she has read in the book? There are a lot of things about
the work place that are not in the books, so our discussions are enriched
by the individual or collective experiences of both the professors and
students.” (Rod P. Fajardo III)
SIDEBARS
Solving the mismatch mystery
As though unemployment were not bad
enough, the labor sector is also beset with yet another problem: underemployment.
Since most graduates are hard put to get a job, some of them settle
for whatever comes along—never mind if the offer requires very
little and sometimes none of their capabilities.
Employers implement stopgap measures
to “fine tune” the knowledge and skills of their new hirees.
“They put up a ‘corporate university’,” says
UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations (SOLAIR)-Graduate Studies
Program Coordinator Dr. Virgel C. Binghay, “where they train and
re-educate the new graduates according to what they need.” Training,
however, entails costs. But companies have no choice but to bear the
cost lest they lag behind their competitors.
But some companies, according to Dr.
Binghay, choose to relocate to other countries where the work force
does not need any more training. They look for countries where new graduates
can readily perform the jobs assigned them. This means opportunity loss
for graduates here.
Clearly, in the Philippines, there is
a mismatch between what the industry requires and what the schools actually
produce. Dr. Binghay, who is a member of the Personnel Management Association
of the Philippines, says mismatch comes in two forms.
The first is quantitative mismatch.
“On the one hand, we produce so many graduates in courses that
have very little relevance to what our society needs,” he explains.
“On the other hand, we produce a very small number, sometimes
none at all, of graduates in courses that we actually need. For example,
we have so many lawyers but very few scientists.”
Qualitative mismatch, the second form
of the problem, refers to the competencies of the graduates in relation
to industry standards. “Employers look for workers who are skilled
and have leadership qualities,” he says. “The fact that
new graduates still need to be sent to corporate universities means
that our school system is not responsive to the requirements of the
industry.”
Dr. Binghay suggests that the industry
and academe work closely together to assess the situation and come up
with an action plan. The industry, he says, should be able to forecast
the kind of skills that they will require in five to ten years so that
the academe can work out a program or programs addressing such needs.
On
the part of UP, SOLAIR Dean Jorge V. Sibal says there are several ways
the University can become responsive not only to the needs of the industry
but also to those of the nation. One of these is the continuous assessment
and updating of its curricula.
“The faculty should engage in continuous research, scientific
experiments, practice of profession, and consultancy or extension services
for the industry or appropriate institutions,” he continues. “UP
should also benchmark against world academic institutions in terms of
the development of theories, knowledge, practices, and technologies.
We should study the adaptation of these developments in the Philippine
context.”
As
for the needs of the nation, he cites SOLAIR as an example. “To
make our school relevant to the needs of the nation and the poor working
class, we recently introduced two new institutional programs that cater
exclusively to the workers and leaders of labor organizations and enterprises,”
he says. “These are the training program on management for cooperatives,
NGOs, and trade unions and the online program on ‘Certificate
in Labor Studies’ for high school graduates employed in labor
organizations and enterprises.” (Rod P. Fajardo III)
The
Seven Habits of a Successful Jobhunter
With millions of jobseekers out there,
you need to be a real standout to make the cut. And when you finally
land a job, you are forced to face an even more important challenge:
shape up or ship out. Dr. Virgel C. Binghay, faculty member of the UP
School of Labor and Industrial Relations and a world-renowned expert
on human relations management, tells us how to get into, and then survive,
the world of work.
1.
Set realistic goals. Since it is just your first job, settle for an
entry-level position. The pay and tasks may not be too attractive but
it is your first step to your way to the top.
2. Equip yourself with additional knowledge and skills. Competence is
always a plus in one’s employability. Read, browse the Internet,
join organizations, be involved in community activities—employers
prefer well-rounded individuals.
3. Prepare for the screening process. Arrive on time for your appointments.
Do a background check on the company. Study for the written tests. Dress
appropriately for the interview. Listen carefully to the questions.
Talk sense.
4. Perform. You are answerable not only to yourself but to your employer
and clients as well. Just because your coworkers are idle doesn’t
give you an excuse to be idle as well.
5. Have passion for excellence. Always give 101% to every assignment
you are given. The you-are-giving-me-minimum-wage-I-will-give-you-minimum-output
will lead you no-where but the streets, jobless.
6. Be sensitive to the culture of the organization. Learn the dynamics
of the company and act accordingly without losing your own identity.
Respect authority.
7. Love your job. And it will love you back. (Rod P. Fajardo
III)
Where they belong:
Iskolar ng Bayan find niche in UP bureaucracy
There
are graduates of the University of the Philippines (UP) who think it
an excellent idea to pay their debt of gratitude for the premiere education
they received through the Filipino taxpayers’ money by working
within the UP system itself.
With
the advantage of continuing to nourish the life of the mind and their
academic passions, fresh graduates who opt to work for the University
bring in new blood to the institution and contribute youthful zest to
the advancement of their field. The bigger advantage, they say, is that
working in UP makes it possible to pass on this expertise and passion
while serving a greater number of people. This makes them love UP even
more.
“I’m
very thankful to the University for giving me the opportunity to give
back to the iskolar ng bayan all of, and more, than what I received
during my undergraduate years,” says Michael Charleston Chua,
22, who was a university scholar. He got accepted as lecturer at the
UP Diliman Department of History only last year, a day before he graduated
with a bachelor’s degree from the same department.
Frederick
Delfin, 32, a graduate of UP Baguio, serves the country even as he works
as University Research Associate in UP Diliman. As part of the DNA Analysis
Laboratory of the Natural Sciences Research Institute, his work has
helped pioneer forensic genetics and paternity testing in the Philippines.
He admits, “I would have acted on a more personal purpose and
done research in another field, but I saw the opportunities in this
field of spreading expertise to the stakeholders—from the scientific
community to the general public which includes the criminal justice
system, legal professions, even law enforcement.”
Niño
Alejandro Manalo, 24, an assistant professor at UP Los Baños’
College of Economics and Management, was a university scholar and graduate
of the same campus. “I have always wanted to give something back
to UP in exchange for the education it has given me. What better way
to do this than to provide the same and maybe higher quality of education
to future UP graduates?” he says.
What
all three talk about is a sense of fulfillment in working for the University
despite the opportunity costs. They could have easily landed higher-paying
jobs in the country or abroad. However, they love what they do, and
this helps them hang on despite the low pay, difficulty of getting tenure,
and administrative bureaucracy. In fact, these problems keep them in
touch with the reality of the times and the general situation of the
Filipino people.
The
personal sacrifices are painful. For Delfin, going to UP means having
to forgo biomedical research in an advanced laboratory of a private
hospital. He would have wanted to be directly involved in research that
would help him find out more about a genetic condition personally afflicting
him. For Chua, there are always other options like getting higher-paying
jobs in private universities and call centers, and acquiring a law degree.
Manalo sacrifices putting up his own business or joining the corporate
world, or, like all faculty members, teaching in higher-paying institutions.
But
the three knew what they were getting into and did not wholly cast practicality
aside in choosing to stick it out with UP. Those inclined toward intellectual
work would naturally go for the academe, preferably the best and with
the most freedom. “I really wanted to teach. It has been my dream
since I read Ambeth Ocampo’s Rizal Without the Overcoat in Grade
5, to be a historian, if not teacher of history,” Chua narrates.
In addition, “the opportunities to pursue your graduate studies,
to be a specialist in the field, and even study abroad are more possible
in the University [than elsewhere],” according to Delfin. For
Chua and Garcia, it is important to be in the front line of research
in the field. And unlike in private programs where the company dictates
research direction, the University allows its people to determine or
at least propose their own research thrusts.
Chua
adds bright students, a conducive environment for learning, and “prestige”
associated with working for UP as plus factors. Manalo cites the familiar
environment and culture which make it easier for him to deal with the
people around him.
Aside
from this, UP does offer perks to compensate for some of what the University
lacks. The privilege to study at reduced fees is a big deal for many
UP employees, just as tenure is when it is finally obtained. Children
of UP employees also enjoy study benefits in the laboratory schools
and tuition privileges once they pass the UPCAT. There are also awards
for excellence in all areas of University activity.
Chua,
Delfin, and Manalo are also well aware that gaining work experience
in an institution known for its standards of excellence and service
opens doors to other jobs, if indeed, one decides to finally leave the
confines of the academe. The University, in more ways than one, is an
excellent stepping stone to the rest of the world.
Shopping for careers
at job fairs
Graduation
is the threshold of a new phase in a student’s life—employment.
With over 3,000 UP graduates searching for work each year,
one activity that can help jumpstart their careers is the job fair.
Job fairs are a mainstay in the University as an effort to support the
students and graduates in finding work opportunities. Since 1990, the
Office of Counseling and Guidance (OCG) has been conducting the University
Job Fair at the end of January. The most recent job fair was held on
January 23 to 27, 2006 at the Bahay ng Alumni with the UP Alumni Association
(UPAA) and the UP Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (UP JPIA).
Dr. Rosalinda de Mesa, Director of the OCG said, “The University
Job Fair first started as a pre-employment seminar for graduating students
in 1983 with only 52 participants.” Since then the OCG has developed
the concept of the pre-employment seminar, a University-wide event intended
to become one possible entry point into the job market.
The 17th University Job Fair, entitled “UPGRADE 2006,” had
a total of 2,021 attendees comprised of graduates, undergraduates, alumni,
and even non-UP people. The number of participating companies increased
from last year’s 91 to 126 with more representatives from the
educational and call center sectors. Other activities included in this
year’s program were seminars on the basics of job hunting and
industry orientation.
The Popular Choice
Job fairs have become the popular choice for finding opportunities and
for learning new job hunting strategies. Aside from the wide array of
companies that instantly provide participants with a variety of options,
job fairs also offer information about these companies and the skills
and requirements needed to help jobhunters make informed decisions.
Usually included in the program are seminars and workshops that give
up-to-date techniques and tips on the basics such as passing interviews
and recruitment tests. Other topics include how to determine career
goals and how to assess the participants’ personal skills and
capabilities. Also, job fairs assist the students in finding companies
that offer internship programs, and part-time positions are made available
to those looking for employment while studying.
Corporations likewise benefit from these events because they get to
present their products and services, which in turn gives them exposure
and publicity. They are also able to gather data on the participants’
interests for product and company research. And applicants can be screened
and tested during the event, which makes the process of selection more
efficient.
Most students now realize the potential of the job fair as an employment
strategy. In fact, student organizations, under the guidance of OCG
and the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), have started hosting job fairs
for their respective colleges. Ana Carmela Gatpandan, Vice President
of the Career Assistance Program for Engineering Students (CAPES), said,
“Job fairs save time especially if you are applying to a lot of
companies. They also provide the students an idea on what career path
to follow.” Other constituent universities also offer this event
annually for their students, such as UP Los Baños and UP Manila,
although on a smaller scale.
Aside from job fairs, the UP Office of Alumni Relations (OAR) has created
the website, www.jobs.up.edu.ph, as another way to help students to
find jobs. The OCG is also currently developing its placement and follow-up
program to further strengthen relationships with corporations, and to
keep track of UP graduates who have found employment. Securing partnerships
and building networks with these interested companies are also being
considered as other strategies for the career assistance program.
Improving Chances
Despite the seeming success of the job fairs, students still have to
find ways to improve their chances of landing jobs. “You have
to know what you really want first. Then act towards that goal. Also,
it pays to balance your academics with extra-curricular activities.
Your academics provide you with a strong foundation in your field, but
your extra-curricular activities train you in communication skills,
leadership skills, how you deal with people,” asserted Crystle
Tan, Vice President for Education and Research of UP JPIA and Executive
Officer in charge of “UPGRADE 2006.” “Students should
start early and not wait for graduation as the hiring period of companies
is usually January to March, and they [the students] should not be choosy
and apply to as many [companies] as possible,” said Gatpandan.
Dr. de Mesa of OCG is confident that the graduates of the University
will have thriving careers. The UP student is “well-rounded, flexible,
creative and resourceful,” and has “an edge over others
because of the training and education that he or she gets from the University,”
she stated.
For more information on career services, interested parties may visit
the Office of Counseling and Guidance located at Vinzons Hall, Diliman,
Q.C. or contact them at telephone numbers 9295835 and 9264162. (Bernice
P. Varona)
Pinoy animators go global
Perhaps,
it is ironic that true-blooded Filipinos are behind some of the most
recognizable Western pop images, but this doesn’t dim the fact
that Pinoy artists, animators, and comic book artists are, time and
again, proving that they can hold their own against foreign artists.
Actually, Pinoys rank among the best in the world.
Among them is UP product Leinil Francis
Yu, who has risen to the top of the comics world for his rendition of
the universe’s most famous superhero in DC Comic’s wildly
popular “Superman: Birthright.” Published in 2003, the twelve-issue
series, aside from giving rise to Yu’s star, put the spotlight
yet again on sterling Filipino talent.
Yu took up Visual Communications at
the University of the Philippines Diliman, and has an impressive portfolio
of work, having illustrated more than twenty books for Marvel Comics
before his transition to DC for “Birthright.” Among the
titles he drew for were “Wolverine” and “X-Men”.
Like many of his Pinoy contemporaries, Yu was inspired to work for the
American comic giants by legendary Fil-Am artist Whilce Portacio. Visits
to the Philippines to conduct workshops in drawing and animation brought
Yu’s talents—along with those of now big-name artist Gerry
Alanguilan (“Wolverine”, “Stone”, “X-Force”)—to
Portacio’s attention. At present, Yu is now working on other DC
titles, as well as his own series, “High Roads,” also by
DC.
His success is an encouragement to young
artists, who look up to him as a model. “He’s been able
to make his art work for him, in that it’s his primary income
generator,” says UP student and comic book artist and writer Andrew
Drilon. “It’s something to look up to because living comfortably
out of doing art in the Philippines is a very rare thing,” he
adds.
According to Drilon, already an award-winning
artist who has been published in landmark collections like Siglo:Freedom,
Project:Hero and Siglo: Passion—the first full-color graphic novel
in the country—a UP training has an added advantage for budding
artists. “If you’re comparing a UP Fine Arts Graduate to
non-college graduates, obviously the UP graduate has an advantage. The
exposure to the entire history of art, the deadline, and constant work,
all eventually prepare artists who wish to go into advertising, comics,
and other pop-art professions. Also, the constant training helps you
develop a style, a unique voice in your work that can only really come
to light after enough practice and hard work,” he says. “Plus,
UP is one of the most creatively-inspiring environments, and the UP
diploma is probably the biggest advantage, out in the real world. It’s
something, especially if times get tough, that you can fall back on.”
Other successful Pinoys continue to
get premium jobs in both the comics and animation industry—recent
animated films in the last several years, like “Finding Nemo,”
“The Road to El Dorado,” and “The Prince of Egypt”
as well as a slew of other classics such as “Scooby Doo,”
“Tom & Jerry,” “The Addams Family,” “The
Flintstones Christmas Carol,” “The Jetsons,” “Buzz
Lightyear,” “Tarzan the Series,” prominently harnessed
Filipino artistic talent.
The demand for Filipino talent surged
in the last decade, especially in the years when other countries like
India, Singapore, and China had not yet penetrated the art outsourcing
market in Asia, and big, American-based entertainment providers like
Walt Disney Co., Warner Brothers, Marvel Comics, Dreamworks, Inc., and
Hanna-Barbera were culling animation products solely from the Philippines.
The benefits from this exchange prompted these companies to set up base
in the Philippines, spurring the animation industry in the country forward,
and giving birth to subsidiaries like Fil-Cartoons and Philippine animation
houses.
The preference for Asian subcontractors
is mainly due to lesser labor costs. According to a CNN report, a 30-minute
cartoon costs $130,000 to produce in the Philippines, compared to $500,000
in the United States. The work is so lucrative that the Philippine animation
industry makes up a hearty $50 million of a global industry pegged at
$50 billion, according to a study by Beanstalk Media.
The comic book arena continues to be
attractive to the country’s animators, especially Fine Arts graduates.
Media reports estimate that 150-200 digital animators leave the country
yearly, eyeing better income abroad. The demand for Filipino artists,
in particular, continues to increase because of their world-class skills
and other advantages: English proficiency and understanding of other
audiences, particularly the Western audience.
Because
of this edge, industry experts predict that the worth of Pinoy artists
will continue to rise in the coming years, even with competition from
others from the Asia-Pacific region. Such a trend can only result, as
Yu has proven, in indelible and original Filipino marks on the majority
of animation produced in the world. (Francezca C. Kwe)
More plans revealed for
RP’s eLib
During
the Gabriel A. Bernardo Memorial Lecture, Department of Science and
Technology Secretary, and 27th GAB lecturer Dr. Fortunato dela Peña
relayed the recent developments and attractions of the Philippine eLib,
the country’s largest database.
According to him, steps are underway
for more intensive build-up of contents, which will add significantly
to the over 800,000 bibliographic records and 8,000 full-text articles
currently available online. A series of orientation workshops for users
and the general public has been scheduled in the coming months, he added.
Dela Peña also conveyed the news of the eLib’s project’s
triumph during the Asia Pacific Economic Conference in Taipei in August
2005, where it was awarded the “Best e-Practices Award.”
Dela Peña’s lecture, titled
“Philippine eLib, a Promising Tool in Knowledge Management,”
centered on the eLib’s features, as well as the painstaking process
of bringing the project to fruition. In 2003, dela Peña conceptualized
the Philippine eLib project, which would later bind five government
agencies—The University of the Philippines (UP), the National
Library (NL), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Science
and Technology (DOST), and the Department of Agriculture (DA)—as
partners to the unprecedented undertaking.
At present, the eLib can be accessed
by the faculty, students, and staff of the five member institutions.
Students of select and strategic universities, schools, and public libraries
nationwide may also access the eLib through hundreds of computer access
points. One of the project’s immediate plans is to make the database
available to a wider population, including local and foreign researchers,
other educational and government institutions, and the general public.
The user, logging on to www.elib.gov.ph, can access voluminous materials
as well as avail of eleven foreign research databases covering almost
every educational and professional discipline. For the use of such a
vast store of knowledge, users are charged a very minimal download fee.
Other pertinent plans include the installation
of additional IT equipment in project partner sites, public libraries,
and CHED zonal research centers, development of the eLib features and
the electronic payment system, renewal of subscription to foreign databases,
and the launching of the mirror site at the UP library to run parallel
to the main data center at the National Library.
Sponsored
by the Institute of Library and Information Science, the lecture series
is named after the late Dr. Gabriel A. Bernardo, former University Librarian
and eminent bibliographer and scholar of Philippine folklore. (Francezca
C. Kwe)
Gearing up for strategic
banana breeding
Over
the years, the application of principles in genetics in the field of
agriculture has vastly improved the production of good quality crops.
In strategic agricultural practices, emphasis is placed on genetic diversity
as a key factor for the improvement of crop quality because it is a
good source of valuable genes for plant breeders. Thus, an
assessment on the diversity in a particular crop is significant for
its improvement.
In a study conducted by students from the University of the Philippines
Mindanao (UPM) evaluating genetic diversity of randomly selected banana
accessions in the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Davao gene bank, an
overall stratagem in banana breeding proved to be able to enhance its
taste quality for local consumption as well as the crop’s resistance
to diseases and pests in cultivars, or the genus that is to be bred.
Banana as staple fare
According to the International Network for the Improvement of Banana
and Plantain (INIBAP), the banana is among the four most important crops
in the developing world in terms of gross value of production. Primarily
eaten as a dessert, it has become a substitute to common staples, like
rice and corn, and is vital to millions of farmers as a critical source
of income, particularly in an agricultural country like the Philippines.
But even with such knowledge, little attention has been given to the
crop, and this was only remedied after the spread of a devastating fungal
disease in the 1980s known as black Sigatoka. Currently, the bulk of
the studies regarding the banana is aimed at finding valuable sources
of new genes that are useful in the production of new varieties that
are disease resistant.
The verdict
Through an analysis technique called Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA
(RAPD)—what Newbury and Ford-Lloyd deems as a quicker and simpler
way of acquiring genetic data compared to other study techniques—the
25 accessions of banana that were taken from the BPI Davao gene bank
have been categorized into two distinct divisions as having either A
or B genomes. Good taste quality is inherent in the A genome while resistance
to diseases and pests proved to be the distinct feature in the B group.
The overall results concurred with previous morphological studies conducted
for the 25 accessions of bananas. It is therefore recommended that further
investigation be done to corroborate the results.
Applying the theory
The classification of potential resistance and good traits in the cultivars
investigated may be extremely functional in the production of high quality
bananas, and with the inherent characteristics distinct from each genomic
group made apparent in the study, breeders have been given the option
to manipulate the crop to produce high quality hybrids. And should farmers
take to applying this theory, it is inevitable that a superior class
of bananas will eventually be found in the most common markets of the
Philippines. (Des DC Parawan)
PP 1017: What animal
is it?
Last
February 24, the country witnessed a cacophony of heated arguments over
Presidential Proclamation (PP) 1017, which President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo issued, declaring the nation under a state of emergency.
When the President lifted the proclamation on March 3, more questions
were raised.
To
help clear the air, the UP Third World Studies Center organized a forum
on March 16. Titled “1017: Ano Pa’ng Hinihintay Mo?”
the forum featured two UP professors with opposing views on the proclamation—Political
Science Professor Alex Magno and Vice President for Legal Affairs and
Law Professor Marvic Leonen.
Prof.
Magno lauded PP 1017, saying it saved the country from the economic
slowdown that would have resulted from the failed coup. He said the
Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army and Rebolusyonaryong
Alyansang Makabansa/Young Officers’ Union carefully planned the
coup with the aim of killing the President and, ultimately, decapitating
the government.
PP
1017, he said, was simply a preemptive move to quell rebellion and not
to arrogate additional powers to the President. “The principal
intention [of PP 1017] was to prevent the exploitation of innocent citizens
by a disgruntled faction of the military,” he said. “Protest
leaders were held but not arrested. The Daily Tribune did not miss a
single issue and came out as acid and angry as before. Military personnel
were posted outside the TV stations and other media offices because
these are usually the first targets during rebellion.”
Prof.
Leonen, however, pointed out that the issuance of PP 1017 was a calculated
move on the part of President Arroyo to ensure her staying power. He
said that by noon of February 24, the military component of the supposed
rebellion had been neutralized but “how do you handle the people
questioning the legitimacy, not probably of the structure of the government
but of one person who happens to be the incumbent president herself?”
One way is by silencing the protesters. And PP 1017, said Prof. Leonen,
was just what the President needed to do so.
PP
1017, which he noted was an exact copy of PP 1081 used by former President
Ferdinand Marcos to declare Martial Law in 1972, gave President Arroyo
absolute power “to suppress all forms of lawless violence, as
well as any act of insurrection or rebellion.” Thus the warrantless
arrest of Prof. Randy David, the Batasan 6, journalists, and some others—all
notable personalities critical of President Arroyo’s legitimacy.
(Rod P. Fajardo III)
On Proclamation 1017
Dear
colleagues in the faculty, students, and employees in the University:
I
join the entire UP Community—its faculty members, students and
administrative employees in expressing our vigorous and active opposition
to Proclamation No. 1017 “declaring a state of national emergency.”
Without doubt, for those of us who survived Martial Law, the wording
of this proclamation resurrects and brings back the memory many of the
Marcos dictatorship’s edicts starting with Proclamation 1081.
PNP Director General Arturo Lomibao now invokes a Martial Law edict
General Order No. 5, as an implementing order to Proclamation 1017.
Ironically, as if trying to repeat Marcosian
history, President Gloria Arroyo’s Proclamation 1017 suffocates
democracy to ostensibly defend democracy against the alleged “Leftist”
and “Rightist” threat. Peaceful assemblies, rallies and
freedom of expression are being muted; newspapers are being threatened
with closure should they cover the activities and views of the opposition.
This great university of the Filipino
people has survived Martial Law and many challenges and threats to its
academic freedom of expression and freedom of assembly—the very
foundation of its relentless search for truth and new knowledge.
In
the Spirit of the February 1971 Diliman Commune, let the UP Community
once again unite as one for the revocation of Proclamation 1017, which
is anathema to the existence of a free University.
Truly yours,
ROLAND G. SIMBULAN
Professor and Faculty Regent
UP System
UPV experts help out
in Semirara oil crisis
In
Semirara, Antique, the magnitude of the NAPOCOR oil spill—some
220,000 liters—has created serious problems for the coastal resources
of the island. These problems require the expertise of specialists,
including those from the academe.
The solution simply entails cleaning
up the spillage, and assessing the impact on the biophysical condition
of the various waters affected by the spill, and the health and socio-economic
impacts on the people who derive their sources of income from the contaminated
areas. Such studies will identify the effects of the spillage, determine
the extent of contamination, and monitor recovery so that a more realistic
contingency plan can be drawn up for the future.
In response to this call to address
a major environmental concern, UP Visayas (UPV) Chancellor Glenn D.
Aguilar formed the UPV Task Force on the Semirara Oil Spill, chaired
by Dr. Rex Sadaba, with Dr. Wilfredo Campos, Dr. Joy Lizada, Dr. Rodelio
Subade, Prof. Gay Defiesta, Prof. Mary Ann Naragdao, Mr. Harold Monteclaro,
and Mr. Alan Dino Moscoso as members. The committee is assigned to propose
and develop UPV’s response to the incident; submit proposals for
funding by UPV and external agencies; and implement projects for the
assessment of damage to habitats, socio-economic impacts, and other
important concerns. The committee was also tasked to prepare and present
results of the assessment and findings to the external public as well
as interface and coordinate with other agencies.
A public hearing of the Senate Committee
on Environment and Natural Resources and the Oversight Committee on
Clean Water was held on February 18, 2006 at Casa Pilar, Boracay Island,
Aklan. Sen. Pia Cayetano, chairperson of both senate committees, presided
over the discussion. Chancellor Aguilar led the UPV delegation to the
meeting.
Dr. Sadaba, an expert scientist on
mangroves, presented his initial findings, which stressed that the affected
mangrove area totaled some 113 hectares (and not 236 as previously reported).
He also highlighted the fact that the mangrove species therein were
highly diverse.
Dr. Subade, for his part, emphasized
that for natural and environmental resources like mangroves, coral reefs,
sea grasses, and others, the economic values to be taken into account
should include both the use and non-use values of these resources. Thus,
compensation and damage payment by the liable party should be imposed
because it is very important that directly affected people are properly
compensated for lost income and livelihood. Such, according to Dr. Subade,
would usually amount to a big sum of money.
UPV
values relevance in its endeavors, thus it has taken on this responsibility
to serve the community. (Anna Razel L. Ramirez)
ArtWork (CONCLUSION)
Balancing act: Chancellors as artists
ArtWork
concludes with UP Mindanao Chancellor Ricardo de Ungria and UP Baguio
Chancellor Priscilla Supnet Macansantos talking about the joys and challenges
that come with chancellery. They also ponder the confluence
of their administrative tasks and their poetry.
UP
Newsletter (UPN): What has, so far, been your biggest challenge
as chancellor?
Chancellor Ricardo de Ungria (CRD): Firming up the
organizational setup. Convincing myself and my fellow workers to keep
the faith with the bureaucracy because, one, it works, and two, there
are still people in it who are enlightened enough to see things our
way and generous enough to approve our requests for funding this and
that project. It’s a mantra of a kind. And I work on it every
day. In fact, this was the challenge I posed to myself even when I first
came here in 1999 as dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
I imagine that this onus is probably peculiar to this campus because
UPMin is relatively new—the blocks of bureaucracy are fresh and
still being laid down—and it is the least endowed in terms of
number of faculty and administrative items, infrastructure, facilities,
faculty administrators, and opportunities for academic advancement.
Here in the frontiers of Oshiro, it is very easy to feel isolated, cut-off
from everything, deprived, and forsaken—and conversely, easygoing
and slack. Apathy and despair are cheap to come by here.
Chancellor Priscilla Macansantos (CPM): It is difficult
to identify a single biggest challenge or situation. I have had innumerable
difficult situations I have had to deal with–personnel issues:
promotion, non-renewal; interpersonal conflicts involving students,
faculty members, other personnel; facilities that do not work, equipment
that are destroyed or are stolen; curricular revision and reform, administrative
restructuring. Last year there was the meningococcemia scare in Baguio
that brought panic to some of our faculty members, who felt university
administration was not doing enough to deal with the threatening outbreak.
Perhaps most disturbing was the period when someone kept sending threatening
text messages because of a decision on personnel movement.
UPN:
How do you deal with challenges?
CRD: Through assiduous work. I continue to strive to
strengthen the organizational set-up and define the lines of communication,
even as I try to get the right people to do the job and to do it well.
We’re still absorbing all the rules and regulations that operate
in the government and in the UP system and training people to implement
these effectively. I’d like to think that we’re learning
fast from all our trials and errors. As for the “cheerleader”
part, I have to admit it didn’t come easy to me. I was a natural
pessimist and maverick, autistic to a fault. I was a rocker in my youth—and
I still am. Rose-colored glasses were alien to me. But I have been sea-changed,
so to speak. I came back from my Fulbright stint in America a different
man, so I’d like to think. Quite late in life, I became aware
of the world around me. I became a more “responsible” individual
and faculty member—shamelessly and guiltlessly so. It was unbelievable
and amazing! I yielded to the imposition of my colleagues and accepted
the chairmanship of my department at the CAS in UP Manila. I found I
enjoyed it, and stayed for a second term. That’s how I cut my
bureaucratic teeth. I discovered things can be made to work—with
imagination, faith, and hope on my and my colleagues’ part, and
charity (and sometimes reason) on the part of the dean and the chancellor.
The higher you go up the echelons of the bureaucracy, the more hopeful
you become—that whatever you envisioned for your territory should
come true, that you should not fail the hopes pinned on you by your
constituents, that the higher authorities should eventually see things
your way. It goes without saying that such hope becomes stronger—or
should become stronger—as it presses against the sheer counterforce
that futility and despair exert upon it. Taking on higher positions
is a chastening, purifying, and humbling experience. And it’s
a stressful and thankless job. There must be something karmic to it.
So these days I always try to put on a cheerful (and no longer an antic)
disposition. Part of the job, I think. In search of bigger things, one
looks for support from the simple things in life—the singing of
birds and the silence after, the warmth of the sun on the flowers and
the trees after a spell of cloudiness, the inexplicable smiles of babies
after an eternity of crying and tears, the whiff of untainted coolness
in the animal-furred wind, an uncluttered office desk. This is what
I always try to remind the staff of, especially during flag ceremonies—the
exquisite dynamism and mutability of nature, and its intimate connection
with our working habits and our own personal lives. Things are getting
better—without our knowing it.
CPM: [On the threatening text messages:] I was intimidated
but took a few precautions and generally ignored the messages–what
else could one do. Nothing came out of it. As to the others, one just
has to go at these problems doggedly and patiently, and the more substantial
changes somehow materialize. For a few other things, they have a way
of resolving themselves. But among the sadder frustrations of any leader
is the unwillingness of some teams to work together, because of a deep
factionalism in the office or unit. This problem is not widespread in
UP Baguio, but there are pockets of factionalism, and we have tried
dialogue and some team-building to address the situation.
UPN:
What are the joys of being a chancellor?
CRD: For me, definitely not the moments of groping
one’s way along the corridors of power. But simpler ones. Like
getting a project funded by the System or the congressman. Receiving
items from the Department of Budget and Management. Having members of
the faculty get recognitions and awards. Getting things done according
to the way they were planned. The rare gratitude of a staff or a faculty
for the permanent item given them. The sight of the staff happy at work.
CPM: I think I am very fortunate to have been appointed
Dean, later Chancellor of UP Baguio at this time in its history. At
no other time has so much changed for us, in terms of programs and administrative
structure, and at no time has it been possible to change the face of
the campus so rapidly. It has been a source of joy and pride to be at
the helm when all this change and growth has come about, and I believe
UP Baguio as a community takes collective pride in this achievement.
As for smaller things that bring one joy, oftentimes, it is being able
to complete a job–a report to the UP system, a working paper,
a proposal–on time. Sometimes, when days are particularly hectic,
a good joke sent via text message, or a few minutes for a cup of coffee
is enough.
UPN:
How do your creative inclinations influence, if at all, your policies
and decisions? Or vice-versa—how do your administrative responsibilities
influence your art?
CRD: They are always mixed up in a state of sweet and
productive chaos. Let me put it this way. Art and administration are
processes—tools employing certain means to achieve certain ends.
They differ in the degree of realities and unrealities they deal with.
The satisfaction of getting what one wants, in both cases, are to me
the same. The pleasure in getting a project approved or a building erected
is the same as getting a poem done and over with. The amount of work
and attention one renders to both, i.e., building or poem, are probably
the same—as are the force and pressure of unrealities that bear
on one as one works to get both building or poem done. In this sense,
every administrator is an artist—choosing with care and instinct
the best among many different options to get the maximum result with
the least expenditure—and every artist an administrator—controlling
and managing with care and instinct the landscape of meanings evoked
by language, or musical notes, or colors, whatever the case may be,
with the least expense of energy. Now, I’m someone who likes the
edge, or being close to the edge, more than being a center or at the
center. I love to look at things with a sense of adventure. I search
for uncanny camera angles, so to speak, or unexpected chord progressions
or combinations of colors and planes. Whatever boldness and sense of
economy I have in writing poems translate themselves, I think, into
a boldness to try new and different and economical ways of doing things
administratively. Whatever strategic skills I have learned in administration
translate themselves into improving human relations for me, which situation
as an artist I am not normally or particularly adept at nor keen to
maintain. This is of course a simplification. But I am trying to answer
correctly your question. As for the results, well, there is always something
new to learn and devise: I can always edit or revise a poem, and I do
not repeat strategies that do not work—or even those that do.
It’s always fun to try out new things. It must be the incurable
romantic in me. Whatever the case, I remain a cool cat in any square
room.
CPM: I think, for whatever they are worth, my creative
inclinations bring me some amount of flexibility in policy-formulation
and decision-making, when this is called for. There are problem-solving
occasions when I explore more alternatives and imagine all sorts of
scenarios, and this kind of exploration sometimes leads to “creative”
solutions. Sometimes the solutions that come up are surprising, even
to myself. Being an administrator can be a distressingly boring job
at times, and some private sense of mischief that I attribute to the
artist in me, allows me to find some humor in problems, situations or
persons. Mischief aside, I think the artist-administrator is less likely
to take him/herself too seriously, is able to put things in perspective,
is often able to see the bigger picture, and is able to lighten up when
things get too heavy.
UPN:
President Roman envisions UP as a national university in the “highly
complex, technologically advanced, and globally competitive world”
of the 21st century. In your constituent university, how do you make
the arts relevant to the President’s vision?
CRD: You may have failed to notice, like most everybody,
that even with the least attention and support given to them, our artists—writers,
musicians, dancers, and theater people alike—have managed to become
the best in their fields not only within the university but in the whole
country itself. Truly, art thrives under the most trying and difficult
of situations, and our artists in the university have survived despite
the [Salary Standardization Law], neglect and indifference, and intrigues
and betrayals among themselves. They are at home in complex universes,
and they are more often than not technically brilliant and advanced
in their craft. They are also the most incorrigibly competitive of creatures
on and off campuses within this planet. They have proven through the
years that they will always make the arts relevant to our lives as academicians
and as citizens. And I think this continuing interest in the arts is
proof that we are doing good in our General Education programs. But
the point I’d like to make goes beyond providing the constituent
universities with more equipment or toys in their respective arts laboratories
or workshops. I think the university would do well if it evolves an
arts program or plan that equalizes the opportunities among arts groups
in all the campuses to be trained and eventually excel in particular
areas of art they are good at, and that provides maximum exposure to
these arts ensembles from other campuses by having them tour the CU
circuit once a year. Diliman artists, who are no doubt in the lead as
regards expertise and exposure, must be encouraged to train arts groups
in the other campuses once or twice a year, and arts groups from all
the campuses must be given the chance to show their wares in the other
campuses at least once a year—the money for such activities to
come from an Arts Fund of a kind. We have many artistic talents in our
regional units, and they must be helped and provided for. The System
should endeavor to supplement the meager funds for culture and the arts
in the various campuses, especially those with still low student population.
The arts community of the university must extend beyond Diliman to embrace
those in the regions whose achievements in their own localities are
no mean feats and are themselves a continuing, albeit unheralded, sources
of pride for the university as a whole.
CPM: UP Baguio is really a haven for the arts, given
its location and milieu. UP Baguio has expressed for sometime now a
keen interest in the area of culture and cultural studies, and the arts
certainly occupy a key place in culture. We intend to develop our programs
in arts and culture, through various initiatives, including research.
Recently, the Bachelor of Fine Arts program was approved, partly in
recognition of the achievements and potential of the Fine Arts faculty
and students. With the university’s strategic location in Northern
Luzon and the Cordilleras, there remains a rich potential for research
and other programs in culture and the arts in the region. The Cordillera
Studies Center and the College of Arts and Communication will spearhead
projects in this direction. Culture and the arts will always be relevant
because without an understanding and appreciation of these, technological
advances will not necessarily be useful or meaningful to people’s
lives. The President’s vision, I believe, includes developing
universities in the regions as centers of culture and arts, in recognition
of the value of arts and culture.
All-Visayas Visayan Creative
Writing Workshop slated
Coinciding
with the 6th VisWrite Workshop of UP Tacloban College, an All-Visayan
Creative Writing Workshop will be held on April 15 to 20, 2006 at the
UP Tacloban College, in Tacloban City. The workshop aims to
establish a creative writing workshop for UP Visayas campuses, provide
training for Visayan literary artists writing in any language of their
choice, encourage literary writing in the Visayan languages, and create
a venue for discussing literature in the South. This includes the Bicol
areas, Palawan, and Mindanao, with specific emphasis on southern languages
and southern literary traditions.
The Workshop intends to encourage literary
artists, literary critics, and students of literature in the southern
region to write and publish their work and to serve the pedagogical
needs of the better teachers of Visayan Literature in the Visayas. These
last two are vital components of literary development.
The Workshop has two components: a writers
program and a teachers component. Acceptance into the Writers Program
is by competition. Applicants must be creative writers from the Visayas
or must have Visayan affiliations. They may submit work written in any
of the major Visayan languages or Filipino or English, provided their
entries are translated into either English or Filipino.
Twenty fellowships will be awarded.
This included a modest travel grant, plus board and lodging. The Workshop
coincided with the 6th VisWrite Workshop of UP Tacloban College.
As for the Teachers Component, six schools
will be nominated to participate. The schools will in turn nominate
participants from their literature classes. UP will shoulder board and
lodging. Teachers who wish to attend on their own will be required to
pay a modest fee to cover their board and the workshop handouts. No
more than 15 teacher-participants will be admitted.
The activity hopes to renew interest
in creative writing among Visayan Language users and teachers; create
a literary community in the Visayas; improve teaching skills among Literature
teachers.
The Workshop is spearheaded by Prof.
Merlie M. Alunan of the Humanities Division of UPV Tacloban.
KUHANG MARINO
Images of Filipino Seamen
February 23-April 9, 2006
The Third Floor Foyer
UP Vargas Museum
In
celebration of the National Arts Month and the UP Diliman Month, the
UP Jorge B. Vargas Museum features Kuhang Marino: Images of Filipino
Seamen, a two-part exhibit on Filipino sea-farers, one of the many contemporary
heroes of our day. The first part presents a photo documentary
by Johannes Ode, a professional Dutch photographer commissioned by the
Philippine Seafarers Assistance Programme to capture the living and
working conditions of Filipino seamen in the world’s ships. The
second part shows the seamen’s poetry, which they had written
while at sea.
The exhibition presents a rare opportunity
to glimpse the lives of Filipino seamen while they sail the world’s
seas. Photos taken onboard are rare since, generally, ship managers
do not allow it. Seafarers are also difficult to capture given their
busy shipboard schedules. The poems were voluntarily sent for publication
to PAROLA, the newsletter of the Philippine Seafarers Assistance Program.
Kuhang Marino is a first-of-its-kind collection of visual and literary
documentation.
Kuhang Marino’s exhibition catalogue
entitled “Tulang Marino” will be launched. The catalogue
will consist of selected photos and poems from the exhibit. The collection
is intended to be a legacy for future generations.
Aside from serving as an advocacy, this
project pays tribute to the Filipino seafarers as heroes of our day.
Kuhang
Marino is sponsored by Fuji FilmsYKL Color Laboratories.
UPAA Iloilo to hold forum
on good governance
The
University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) Diliman and
the UPAA Iloilo, in cooperation with UP MBA Society and UPV Office of
Alumni Affairs, will hold their 29th UPAA Regional Alumni Institute
on April 7, 2006, at Iloilo Grand Hotel.
The
Institute will feature issues and concerns on good governance in a lecture
forum. The speakers are Iloilo Rep. Arthur Defensor, Sorsogon Rep. Francis
Escudero, Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, and ABS-CBN Vice President for
News and Public Affairs Luchi Cruz-Valdes.
For
inquiries, call Miss Julie Develles at (033) 3368837.
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