up newsletter may 2011

U n i v e r s i t y o f t h e P h i l i p p i n e s C o m m u n i t y N e w s p a p e r

VOLUME XXXII NUMBER 5 DILIMAN, QUEZON CITY MAY 2011

Wired UP

I N S I D E

5 62 4UPD students join eco-marathon

in MalaysiaPascual vows assistance

to HS valedictorian

UP graduated a total of 6,689 this year,of which there were 23 summa cum laude,244 magna cum laude and 1,033 cum laudegraduates.

UP Diliman had the most number ofsumma cum laude graduates for 2010-2011,with 21. John Gabriel P. Pelias set a newrecord with a general weighted average

CELESTE ANN CASTILLO LLANETA

UP Class of 2011 is over 6,500-strong

Sagana sa papuri sa UP, pagbanggit samga ginagawa ng kanyang administrasyon,pasaring sa mga tinuturing niyang mga latakng lumang sistema, at paghamon sa mganagsisipagtapos ang talumpati niPangulong Benigno S. Aquino III sa ika-100 pagtatapos ng UP noong Abril 17 saAmpiteatro ng UP Diliman, kung saanginawad sa kanya ng pamantasan angtitulong Doktorado ng Batas Honoris Causa.

May ilang insidente ng mga kilos-protesta mula sa mga magsisipagtapos atsa mga organisasyon ng mga estudyante’tguro. Pero napigilan ang mga ito ng UPDiliman Police at Presidential SecurityGroup (PSG) na nagkalat sa Quezon Hallat mga kalapit na lugar.

The National College of Public Administration andGovernance actively figure in the news as seen throughits refurbished, flashier website at www.up-ncpag.org.Large pictures of events in and out of the college flashon the front page. Links to its Facebook and Twitteraccounts, forms, and insightful essays of distinguishedfaculty members are also provided.

NCPAG in the news

BULLETIN

(Continued on page 12)

Paggawad ng titulo kay PNoy tampoksa pangkalahatang pagtatapos

(GWA) of 1.016, which beat the 1948 re-cord of UP Professor Emeritus Emeren-ciana Yuvienco Arcellana.

Pelias’ GWA is the second highest inUP history. According to the records ofthe Office of the University Registrar(OUR), 1927 BS Commerce graduateExequiel Sevilla’s 1.0 GWA is the highest

in UP history.The other summa cum laude graduates

of UP Diliman for 2010-2011 are: Kate-rina Raisa R. Timonera, BA EuropeanLanguages, GWA of 1.192; Carla NicoleS. Sia, BS Business Administration, GWAof 1.060; Michelle Grace T. Acoba, BSMolecular Biology & Biotechnology,

GWA of 1.188; Dennis Ivan W. Diaz, BSApplied Physics, GWA of 1.189; CorrinaP. Azarcon, BS Chemistry, GWA of 1.115;Joanne Jane C. Tan, BS Math, GWA of1.053; Herdeline Ann M. Ardona, BSChemistry, GWA of 1.195; LuckyMerriam T. Villegas, BS Chemistry, GWA

JO. FLORENDO B. LONTOC


Nauna sa seremonya ng pagtatapos angseremonya ng paggawad ng doktoradokung saan binasa ni Alfredo Pascual,pangulo ng UP, ang pagkilala habangibinigay kay Aquino ang diploma ni PatriciaLicuanan, tagapangulo ng Lupon ng mgaRehente ng UP. Ginayakan si Aquino ngmga kasuotang pagkilala katulong angKalihim ng Unibersidad na si Lilian de lasLlagas at ang kapatid ni Aquino na si PinkyAquino-Abellada.

Pinagtibay ng mga Rehente ang tituloalinsunod sa rekomendasyon ng pangulong unibersidad at ng Komite ng TitulongPandangal. Iginawad ang titulo bilangpagkilala “sa pagpukaw [ni Aquino] saimahinasyon at paniniwala ng mga Filipino

na nagnanais ng pagbabago sa pama-magitan ng kaniyang napakalakingtagumpay sa eleksyon” at “pagdudulot ngpag-asa sa kinabukasan na ipinakikita samataas niyang marka sa halos lahat ng sar-bey hinggil sa pagtitiwala ng mamamayanat sa kaniyang pagganap bilang Pangulo.”Kinilala din si Aquino para sa pamumu-nong “naghikayat sa mamamayan upanglabanan ang korupsyon,” at “paghirang samga pinunong may integridad at katapatanna maglingkod.” (Ang buong teksto ngpagkilala ay naka-upload sa seksyongSpecial Features ng www.up.edu.ph.)

Talumpati ni Aquino

Kinilala ni Aquino ang UP bilang


Read UP Newsletter online at http://www.up.edu.ph/upnewsletter.php

UP President Alfredo Pascualannounced in an April 12memorandum that the UP System willobserve a four-day workweek fromApril 25 to May 27. He also urged theconstituent universities (CUs) to“synchronize days off on Mondays toensure unhampered communicationswithin the UP System.”

The units had the option to choosebetween two adjusted work schedules:7:00 am to 6:00 pm or 7:30 am to 6:30pm. Offices involved in vital publicservices—health, security, PABX, thoseinvolved in the advanced registration forfreshmen, etc.—are not included in the

Four-day summerworkweek

UP Diliman’s summa cum laude graduates (right photo) sing UP Naming Mahal with the traditional raisedfist at the closing of the UPD general commencement exercises. Meanwhile, some activists (above photo)continue the tradition of lightning rallies during the exercises despite the tight watch of PresidentialSecurity Group operatives and are able to unfurl a red banner at the tiers in full view of the President ofthe Philippines, while sympathizers among the graduates on the UPD Ampitheater ground repeat theirchants.

Posthumous NAST-Hugh GreenwoodAward given to slain UP scientist

Left photo: Sarah R

aymundo; R

ight photo: Bong A

rboleda

Tales from UP Diliman: fact or fiction?

2 U.P. Newslet ter MAY 2011

Posthumous NAST-HughGreenwood Award givento slain UP scientistARLYN VCD PALISOC ROMUALDO

US$1,000 from Dr. Hugh Greenwood.The winner is also “required to give a 30-minute presentation on a paper in the areaof environmental protection and con-servation.”

His wife Glenda, daughter LinnaeiMarie and other members of his familywill receive the honor on his behalf onMay 2 at the Hyatt Hotel. Ong, on theother hand, will deliver the presentationon Co’s work.

Co was a leading botanist, planttaxonomist and ethnobiologist. His life’swork was focused on the medicinal usesof plants in the Philippines which enabledhim to publish the book Common MedicinalPlants in the Cordillera Region: A Trainor’sManual for Community-Based Health Programs.In 2008, a species of Rafflesia which Codiscovered was named after him. Rafflesialeonardi is the eighth species found in thePhilippines and the fourth in Luzon.Mycaranthes leonardoi, a rare species oforchid, was named after him in 2009.

The annual NAST-Hugh GreenwoodEnvironmental Science Award recognizesoutstanding scientific and technologicalresearch works that contribute to envi-ronmental protection and conservation.

Leonardo L. Co, the UP botanist slainin Kananga, Leyte on November 15, 2010,is the 2011 recipient of the NationalAcademy of Science and Technology(NAST)-Hugh Greenwood Environ-mental Science Award.

This was announced by UP DilimanInstitute of Biology Director Perry Ong

UP and the University of Santo To-mas (UST) reaffirmed their partnershipduring a testimonial for UP PresidentAlfredo Pascual, who is an alumnus ofthe UST High School.

Pascual and UST Rector Fr. Rolandodela Rosa said that they look forwardto a stronger partnership between thetwo universities during the testimonialfor Pascual last March 30 at the USTQuadricentennial Square in Manila.

The testimonial was organized for Pas-cual, a 1965 UST High School alumnusand class valedictorian, on the occasion ofhis assumption to the UP presidency. Hestarted his six-year term last February 10.

Dela Rosa said that to symbolize thiscovenant to “deepen relations between UPand UST,” particularly in terms of qualityeducation, UST made a giant marker forUP at the square. This marker has beentaken to the UP Diliman campus and iscurrently located at the Sunken Garden.

For his part, Pascual said that a firmpartnership between UP and UST willresult in a more informed and ethical youthsector as both institutions work to helpproduce “a more prosperous and moralPhilippines.”

UP Vice-President for Public AffairsProspero De Vera, who delivered atestimonial for Pascual, said that UP looksforward to many years of engagement andcollaboration with UST. He assured USTthat the current UP leadership shares UST’sgoals of truth, honor, and excellence. “Wewill uphold the very same conviction youtaught [Pascual] when he was growing up.”

Pascual was accompanied by the UP

Executive Staff. UST representatives wereled by Dela Rosa, as well as Eden Tolentinoand Fr. Dexter Austria, principal and regentof the UST High School, respectively.Among Pascual’s batchmates whoattended the testimonial were LeebaiEsquivas-Gamboa, president of the USTHigh School Alumni Association. Also inattendance was Chilean AmbassadorRoberto Mayorga. The Embassy of Chileis celebrating the country’s bicentennial andhas projects with UP and UST.

Dela Rosa said that UST is proud tohave an alumnus as UP president, whom

he described as youthful and as vibrant asthe 400-year old institution. EmmanuelCuasay, a batchmate and the founder ofCapitol Industries, expressed admirationof Pascual’s well-rounded educationalbackground consisting of attendance inCatholic and public schools.

In his response, Pascual noted how theUST campus has progressed in 45 years.He said that commitment to truth was avalue he learned in UST and this hasinfluenced his vision for UP where he seeksto uphold transparency and accountabilityin governance.

UST fetes Pascual, strengthens ties with UPJO. FLORENDO B. LONTOC

UP holdsmemorialfor JapanvictimsKIM QUILINGUING

At exactly 1:46 in the afternoon ofApril 11, officials of UP and the JapaneseEmbassy observed a minute of silence forall the victims of the magnitude 9.0earthquake and tsunami which struckJapan’s Tohoku region last March 11.

UP President Alfredo Pascual saidthat “the university joins the rest of theworld in mourning the tragic loss oflives.” He said that the government ofJapan and its people have long sincebeen partners of UP in variousendeavors in the arts, engineering andsciences.

At present, UP has 68 active memo-randa with the Japanese governmentand its educational institutions. Pascualsaid that many university officials,faculty, researchers and students havebenefitted from the long relationshipUP has with Japanese academic institu-tions.

Dir. Kiyoshi Takeuchi of the JapaneseEmbassy’s Information and CulturalCenter expressed his appreciation for theassistance extended by the Philippine gov-ernment to the victims of the disaster andthe expression of sympathy by the UPcommunity.

UP Linguistics student Maria LorenaGarcia and Japanese exchange studentAyaka Arai, as well as UP Center forInternational Studies Director CynthiaNeri-Zayas and Prof. Sylvano Dong-eMahiwo expressed their sorrow overthe loss of lives and property in theearthquake and tsunami. They allexpressed faith in the capability of theJapanese people to overcome.

After the messages, flowers andpaper cranes were offered by thosepresent. A sympathy book was also givento the representatives of the JapaneseEmbassy.

last April 15 during the send-off for thecontingent that will scatter Co’s ashes inthe forests of Palanan, Isabela.

A March 28 letter containing this newswas sent to Ong by NAST President andformer UP President Emil Javier. In theletter, Javier said that the winner will receivea plaque of recognition from NAST and

Linnaei Marie Co, daughter of Leonard Co, dedicates asong to her father during the send-off for the group thatwill fulfill one of the slain botanist’s wishes—that part ofhis ashes be scattered in the forests of Palanan, Isabela.Held at the UP Diliman Institute of Biology on April 15,the program included the writing of messages to Co onpaper cut in the shape of leaves and posted on a cutoutof a tree. One of the last messages posted was hisdaughter’s (inset).

Fulfillment of a wish

Misa

el B

aca

ni

Misael B

acani

Jon

ath

an

Ma

drid

(Top photo)UP Center for International Studies Director Cynthia Neri-Zayas, Dir. Kiyoshi Takeuchi of theJapanese Embassy’s Information and Cultural Center and UP President Alfredo Pascual lead the university inremembering the victims. (Right photo) A participant of the memorial pays his respect to the victims.

MAY 2011 U.P. Newslet ter 3

na pamumuhay—makapag-ambag sagastusin sa bahay, mapag-aral ang mgakapatid, matulungan ang pamilya; kapaymay sumobra—makapagsarili, mabili angmga hindi nabibili noon, ipod, laptop, kotsekung kakayanin. Susi dito ang UP diploma.

Pero sa maagang yugto, naabot ninaJaq, Karen, She at Ericson ang kamulatanna ang magandang kinabukasan ay hindilang, at hindi dapat umikot, sa mga bagayna materyal. At susi dito ang hindipagkakaroon ng UP diploma.

Fulltime. Ito ang pang-uring ikinabitkina Jaqueline Gonzales, Karen Empeo,Sherlyn Cadapan at Ericson Acosta, mgaIskolar sa maikling panahon, ngunit sapangmatagalan ay naging anak ng bayan.

Tinuldukan ni Jaq ang pag-aaral nanglisanin ang unibersidad habang nakabinbinang kanyang thesis sa MassComm paramaging isang community health workersa Rizal bago madakip ng militar,masampahan ng mga gawa-gawang kaso,at sa kahuli-hulihan ay maabsuweltokasama ang iba pa niyang kasamahan namas kilala bilang Morong 43.

Sina Karen at She ay mga aktibista sa

loob ng unibersidad. Si Karen ay pinandayng kanyang kasigasigan sa League ofFilipino Students (LFS), isang pang-masang organisasyon na tutol sapambubusabos ng Imperyalismong U.S.sa mamamayan ng daigdig habang si SheSa ganitong diwa, hindi romantiko ngunitmasalimuot ang landas ng pagtalima saesensya ng pagiging isang Iskolar ng Bayan.Sa pinakabuod, nangangahulugan ito nghindi lamang pagtalikod sa mga inaasahanmula sa atin bilang anak, kapatid, kaklase,estudyante—kundi sa pinakaesensya higitanang lahat ng ito. Ang pagpapasyangmaglingkod sa bayan bago sa sarili ay tunayna paglilingkod sa pamilya at maging sakapwa Iskolar. Ngayon higit kailanman,kailangan natin ng mga full-time. Hindi saOrtigas, Mandaluyong, Makati o kung saanmang lupalop ng mga gusalingnagpapayabangan sa tikas at tindig; kundisa mga nayon, probinsiya, pilapil man opaggawaan. Hindi para doon magingempleyado, ngunit upang basagin angkaisipang empleyado. Hindi parapropagandahan ng ideolohiya ng merkadoat kapitalista kundi para magpropaganda

hinggil sa panlipunang hustisya atpanlipunang pagbabago; hindi paraorganisahin kundi maging susingorganisador ng puwersa ng pagbabago;hindi upang pakilusin, kundi magpakiloshindi lamang ang sarili kundi kakapit-bisigang malawak na hanay ng mamamayan.

Ngayon ang panahon ng makabulu-hang pakikialam. Pinapanday ng bawatobhetibong kalagayan ang dunong ngbawat Iskolar ng Bayan at ang karununganay nagmumula sa hindi nasasapatan napagsasapraktika ng mga kaalaman mulasa silid-aralan hanggang sa lansangan at ibapang larangan. Papalaot tayo ngayon,matapos ang apat, lima, anim at kahit siyamna taon sa loob ng unibersidad, pero higitkailanman, ngayon natin pasan ang bigatng hamon ng pagiging Iskolar ng Bayan.Para sa mga magsisipagtapos sa taong ito,isang mapagpalayang pagsisimula, saannga pala kayo magfufull-time?

The fast-paced growth of the field ofbiotechnology has intensified the demandfor more support in the field of researchand development (R & D). Unfortunately,as a developing country the Philippinescannot fully sustain R & D demands interms of financial support and scientificresources.

Factors like high research costs, insuf-ficiently skilled personnel and sometimespoor intellectual property measuresdiscourage the involvement of scientistsin biotechnology R & D. Moreover, thecontinuously declining budget allocationfrom the national government anddwindling international and private sectordonations further make it difficult forresearch institutions in our country toengaged in the expensive development ofbiotechnology products and crops.

Insufficient funds also generate anumber of problems for research institu-tions, such as knowledge and understand-ing of intellectual property rights; poorpromotion and information disseminationof new technologies; and inadequate regu-latory competence for biosafety, amongothers. In this context, partnership bet-ween the public and private sectorsbecome important.

How does this public-private partner-ship (PPP) in biotechnology benefit eachother? The public sector can offer theprivate sector its infrastructure and appliedskills in technology know-how. Further-more, this partnership greatly improves therepresentation of the private companyespecially if a research project receives a lotof criticisms and questions from themeticulous individuals, just like when Bt cornwas first introduced to the general public.

For its part, the public sector can alsoprovide the means for the private sectorto use our local genetic resources for a

PPP and modernbiotechnologyKAREN G. ROSAL

MAKIALAM BY JAQUELINE JOY J. EROLES

Si Jaqueline Joy J. Eroles ay ang student

regent at kabilang sa mga nagsipagtapos

noong Abril 17 sa UP Diliman.

Gusto mong makialam? Ipadala ang iyong

sanaysay sa wikang Filipino (500-700 salita)

sa UP System Information office (upsio@

up.edu.ph).

BuhaBuhaBuhaBuhaBuhay UPy UPy UPy UPy UP


Isang natatanging tanawin sa UP Diliman tuwing tag-init ang pagsaboy sa hanginng mga malabulak na buto ng kapok. Pinupulot ng aleng ito ang mga nahulog nabunga na ginagamit sa paggawa ng unan.

Sa mga huling hakbang natin palabasng pamantasan, kusang dadalaw ang mgaalaala ng pagsisikap nating makapasok saUP—nang kung anong kaba ang nanaigsa antas pa lang ng pamimili ng kurso(quota ba o non-quota course, arts andhumanities ba o sciences?), nang kunganong dasal ang inusal natin sa araw ngUPCAT hanggang sa araw na lumabasang mga resulta online.

Sa iilang mapalad sa atin na nakapasasa premyadong pamantasan ng bayan,sinuong natin ang enrolment na parangisang pakikipagsapalaran, isang AmazingRace, mula sa paghahanap ng tamang mgagusali, ng tamang ruta para sa mgahinahanap nating building, hanggang samga tamang tao at tamang pamamaraanng pangungutang o paghahagilap ng perasa ating bente mil o higit pang tuition. Atsiyempre, ang premyo? Tumataginting nadiploma sa pangalan ng Unibersidad ngPilipinas at titulo bilang Iskolar ng Bayan.

Ganito mismo ang inaasam ng mgaIskolar ng Bayan na nauna sa atin, sina Jaq,Karen, She at Ericson. Katulad natin, ina-sam din nila ang diploma ng unibersidadbilang susi sa mas magandang kinabukasan.Ang magandang kinabukasan para samarami sa atin ay kinakakitaan ng dekalidad

Full-timeFull-timeFull-timeFull-timeFull-time

Bong A

rboleda

In the wake of environmental degra-dation and other related problems, twoinstitutions from the Philippines and theUnited States embarked on a 44-dayexpedition as they explore selected moun-tains and lakes in the Philippines.

The University of the Philippines (UP)and the California Academy of Sciencesorganized the historic 2011 PhilippineBiodiversity Expedition from April 26 toJune 8, 2011. The expedition is said to be“the first to make a comprehensive surveyof both terrestrial and marine diversity”in the Philippines. The expedition willconduct studies in Mt. Banahaw, Mt. Pulag,Mt. Makiling, the Taal Lake, Batangas City,and Anilao, Batangas.

The country is considered by scientistsworldwide to have “a composite of seve-ral terrestrial centers of species diversity,each supporting unique assemblage ofplants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birdsand mammals, much of which remainsundocumented.”

At least thirty American scientists, studentsand educators and experts from the UPDiliman and UP Los Baños will participate inthe expedition.

Among the participants are the Califor-nia Academy of Sciences’ Dean of Scienceand Research Collections, Dr. Terry Gos-liner and Director of Teacher and YouthEducation, Dr. Meg Burke. Gosliner hasworked with researchers, educators, andcommunity leaders in the Philippines, wherehe has also been active in conservationefforts for the country’s marine biodiversity.Burke on the other hand has been veryactive in sharing knowledge on Philippinebiodiversity with the Filipino-Americancommunity in San Francisco, USA but alsowith some counterparts in the Philippines.

Leading the team from the Universityof Philippines will be the Director of theInstitute of Biology, Dr. Perry Ong and

UP, California Academy of Sciences holdhistoric biodiversity expedition

Dr. Edwino Fernando of the UP LosBaños College of Forestry and NaturalResources. Dr. Ong has been considered asone of the country’s leading advocates forbiodiversity conservation while Dr. Fer-nando is considered as one of the country’sauthorities on tropical rainforest biodiversity.

The expedition is composed ofterrestrial and marine teams. The terrestrialteam will study “flowering plants, mosses,spiders, insects, amphibians, reptiles,mammals and freshwater fishes.” The ma-rine team, on the other hand, will “docu-ment the diversity of sea slugs, other mol-lusks, corals, barnacles, starfish, seahorses,eels and other fish.”

Aside from studying and documenting

the country’s biodiversity, the expedition willalso “assess the current and projected impactsof global climate change and humanactivities, and propose mitigation” measures.

The team’s assessment and recom-mendations will be essential for policy-makers, government agencies and edu-cational institutions in understanding thecountry’s state of biodiversity and theimpact of climate change and humandevelopment on the environment.

At the end of the expedition, the teamswill hold a symposium and present theirfindings on the state of Philippine biodiversityon June 8 at the National Institute ofGeological Sciences Auditorium in UPDiliman, Quezon City.

U.P. Newslet ter MAY 20114

“pugad at kanlungan ng mga malayangisip.” Pinuri niya ang UP dahil sa pag-ungkat nito sa anomalya ng NorthrailProject at paglantad sa isyu ng plagiarism.Binanggit din niya ang pamamayagpagng mga dalubhasa nito sa napakaraminglarangan, tulad ni Justice Meilou Sereno,tagapangulo ng Commission on Auditna si Grace Tan, at si Heidi Mendoza.Nabanggit niya rin ang kalihim ngDPWH na si Babes Singson at ngDSWD na si Dinky Soliman.

Ibinando ni Aquino ang aniya’ymabuting balita tungkol sa kanyangadministrasyon: ang pagpapasara ng mgatiwaling emission testing center, ang mulingpagsubasta ng mga maanomalyangkontrata sa Department of Public Worksand Highways, ang dagdag-badyet parasa batayang edukasyon, at pagbuhos ngpondo sa isang malinis na programa ng“conditional cash transfer.” Ipinagmalakirin ni Aquino ang pagsuporta niya sapanukalang batas para sa ResponsibleParenthood.

Mayroon ding hindi-hayagang pagtu-ligsa sa mga tinuringan niyang “latak nglumang sistema.” Aniya, hindi dapat isipinng mga ito na sila ay pinagkakaisahan atang kaisipang ito ay “kapraningan” lamang.“Walang kampo-kampo, walang parti-partido sa harap ng nakapiring ng hustisya,”ani Aquino.

Sinabi niyang hindi naman ang sariliang iniintindi sa landas na tinatahak ngkaniyang administrasyon. “Ginagawanamin ito nang hindi nagnanakaw,” sabiniya. Sa puntong ito ay hinikayat niya anglahat na maging parte ng solusyon sa mgasuliranin ng bansa.

Hamon sa Isko at Iska

“Hiling ko lang po sa inyong mgaIsko at Iska: Habang umaaksyon kamiat humahakbang sa pagkukumpuni sapamahalaan, maisabuhay din sana ninyoang inyong mga obligasyon bilang mgaIskolar ng Bayan. Malaki po ang inaasa-han mula sa inyo. Masuklian po sananang husto ang ipinuhunan sa inyo ngtaumbayan,” sabi ni Aquino.

Hinamon niya ang mga magsisipag-tapos na panindigan ang kanilangideyalismo sa mga darating na panahonna sasabak sila sa mundo ng korupsyon.“Kung puwede mong ilusot sa kalabosoang brod, sis, o ka-org mong nagkasalanaman talaga, ilulusot mo kaya? Kungkumikita ka na ng limpak-limpak na salapisa ibang bansa, maisip mo pa kayangumuwi? Manatili kayang bulwagan ngdangal ang inyong mga puso, lalo na kungmay mga uma-under the table na sa inyo,at kung hinahabol na ninyo ang quota ngpinagtatrabahuhan ninyong mgakumpanya?”

Ang sabi ng Isko

Waring tugon naman sa mga hamonni Aquino, nagtalumpati ang valedictorianng mga magsisipagtapos na si John GabrielPelias, summa cum laude, BS Mathematics,na nagtamo ng cumulative weightedaverage grade na 1.016, ang ikalawangpinakamataas na naitala simula nangmakakuha ng panay na uno si ExequielSevilla, BS Commerce, noong 1927.

Ayon kay Pelias, madaling guminhawasa buhay gamit ang diploma mula sa UP.Ang mas malaking hamon aniya ay angpag-aambag sa lipunan na maaringmakaantala sa mga adhikain tungo sapansariling kariwasaan. “Ngayong magta-tapos ako bilang summa cum laude, maramiakong maaaring puntahang kumpanyakung saan madali lamang ang yumaman.Ngunit sa kabila ng hirap na dulot marahilng aking estadong pinansyal,… itutuloy kopa rin ang aking balak na magturo saaming surian.”

Ayon pa rin kay Pelias, maipag-mamalaki ng isang nagtapos sa UP angkasa-nayang tumugon sa mga krisis atpagsu-bok.

Mga pagtutol

Hindi napigilan ang ilang nagsisipag-tapos at ang ilan pang militante sa hanayng mga nanonood sa ampiteatro na

Paggawad ng titulo kay PNoy tampoksa pangkalahatang pagtatapos (Continued from page 1)

‘Nais ko ang isang ugnayang bukassa katotohanan’ – Pascual

“Sa aking tingin ay magandangpalatandaan na maaga pa sa aking terminoay magkaharap na tayo at magkakilala.”

Ito ang mensaheng ipinaabot niPangulong Alfredo Pascual sa mga kawani,guro at REPS na dumalo sa pagbubukasng pambansang asembleya ng All-UPWorkers Alliance na ginanap sa BulwagangIsabelo de los Reyes, SOLAIR, UPDiliman noong Abril 7 at 8.

Sa kanyang mensahe, binanggit niPascual ang kahalagahan ng bukas naugnayan sa pagitan ng administrasyon ngunibersidad at ng mga kawani sa pamama-

FRANCIS PAOLO M. QUINA

UP President Alfredo Pascual metlast April 6 with Nikki Estrada, a highschool valedictorian from Pangasinanwho passed the UP College AdmissionTest (UPCAT), upon learning from anarticle in the Philippine Daily Inquirer thatshe could not afford a UP education.

Pascual said he will extend all possibleassistance to Nikki. His immediate actionis consistent with his vision that a qualifiedstudent will not be denied admission toUP due to financial constraints.

Nikki asked Pascual to consider hereligibility to be classified under bracket E2of the Socialized Tuition and FinancialAssistance Program (STFAP). Studentsunder bracket E2 are entitled to a standardstipend currently pegged at P12,000 asidefrom free tuition, miscellaneous andlaboratory fees.

Nikki, accompanied by her motherGregoria, her high school teacher JanetAlbaño, journalist Yolanda Sotelo andsupporter Thelma Zarate, explained herfamily’s financial problems to Pascual.

As reported by the PDI, Gregoria issuffering from diabetic complications thatled to kidney failure. Her condition hasdrained the family’s meager resources. “Iknow I can die anytime,” she said. Nikki’sSTFAP application will be reviewed inlight of her mother’s medical condition.

Nikki graduated valedictorian fromthe Calasiao Comprehensive NationalHigh School in Pangasinan. A local uni-versity has accepted her and offered hera full scholarship.

But her dream is to enroll in UP Dili-man, where she was admitted into the BSMath program after taking the UPCAT.“I promise to serve the country after mystudies,” she said.

UP Vice-President for Public AffairsProspero De Vera said that Nikki is qua-lified and gifted. “Her application will betreated with all due consideration,” he said,adding that Nikki’s plans to be a mathe-matician and a teacher are a plus. De Verasaid that UP is counting on mathematiciansand scientists to serve the nation.

CAMILLE DELA ROSA

Pascual vowsassistanceto high schoolvaledictorian

gitan ng All-UP Workers Union, pati naang mga guro at REPS sa pamamagitanng All-UP Academic Employees Union.“Nais ko ang isang ugnayang bukas sakatotohanan o realidad, nakakaunawa samga kakulangan at limitasyon, maykonsiderasyon sa bawat panig, tapat, athandang magsakripisyo para sa ikabubuting nakararami.”

Pinuro niya ang naging papel ng mgaunyon sa unibersidad. “[N]aniniwala akongmalaki na ang nagawa ng All-UP WorkersUnion para sa mga taga-UP, hindi lamangsa mga usaping may kinalaman sa magan-

dang pasahod at benepisyo para sa mgaempleyado, kundi sa higit na aktibongpartisipayon ng mga kawani sa pamama-lakad ng unibersidad.”

Kasabay nito ay binanggit ni Pascualang patuloy niyang pagsuporta sa mgakawani ng unibersidad. Sinabi niyangpatuloy na sisiyasatin ng administrasyonkung paaano maibibigay ng UP ang mgabenepisyong may kinalaman sa pabahayat kalusugan na nararapat para sa lahatng mga kawani nito.

Matapos ang pambungad na prog-rama ay nagkaroon ng mga pag-aaral sa

ilang mga piling paksa. Ang kalagayan ngedukasyon sa bansa ay tinalakay ni Rep.Antonio Tinio ng ACT Teachers Patylist.Ang kalagayang pangkalusugan naman aysinuri ni Jossel Ebesate ng All-UP WorkersUnion. Ang kalagayan ng mga sektor saUnibersidad ng Pilipinas ay tinalakaynaman ni Dr. Judy Taguiwalo, nationalconvenor ng UP Kilos Na.

Sinundan ito ng magkahiwalay napag-uulat sa mga kasapi ng All-UPWorkers Union at All-UP AcademicEmployees Union mula sa iba’t ibangkampus at yunit.

(Continued on page 5) (Continued on page 5)

Inihahandog ng tagapangulo ng Lupon ng mga Rehente, Patricia Licuanan, ang diploma ng doktorado kay Pangulong Aquino.

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UP Class of2011 is over6,500-strong(Continued from page 1)A team of students from the Mecha-

nical Engineering Department and thePower Electronics Laboratory (PEL) ofthe Electrical and Electronics EngineeringInstitute (EEEI) will compete in the ShellEco-Marathon Asia 2011 to be held atSepang International Circuit, Malaysia fromJuly 6 to 9.

Called Team Kidlat, this is the first timethat a team from UP will participate in theevent which is now in its second year inAsia. The Shell Eco-Marathon challengeshigh school and college student teamsfrom around the world to design, buildand test energy-efficient vehicles.

The team will compete under theUrban Concept category. Its entry dubbed“Kidlat” is a car designed specifically toallow the engine to operate at its mostefficient state at all times. This is achievedthrough a diesel-electric hybrid systemdesigned by students with the help of theiradvisers and an efficient and lightweightassembly. As much as 95% of the vehicle’schassis is made from lightweight alumi-num and the body made entirely of carbonfiber materials which have a very highstrength-to-weight ratio.

According to the team, this system isnot only unique but versatile, and the designmay also provide a starting point for afuture electric-vehicle industry founded onefficiency, ease of production and concernfor the environment.

A ceremonial unveiling and trial run ofKidlat was held last March 25 at theNational Science Complex in Diliman.

UPD students join eco-marathon in Malaysia

Officials from the UP, Shell and Meralcowhich sponsored the project witnessed thetrial run.

Meralco President and CEO ManuelV. Pangilinan promised to help developa facility for everyday mass transporta-tion.

The team is composed of StanleyJordan Siahetiong, Ervian Lao, JaninaVictoria Pascual, Joselito Yam Alcaraz,Rachell Ann Austero, Jonry Marquez,Samiel Louie Arrojado, Mervin Ignacio,Sulamita Flores, Francis Antonio, CornelioCaracas, all of them students from the UPMechanical Engineering Department.They are joined by EEEI-PEL studentsGaudan Albert Castillo, Roberto Emma-nuel Carlos, Aynaranda Salazar, RolfEmmanuel Ocampo, Adrian Jay Virata,

Rovinna Janel Cruzate, Hazel Ellaga,Francis Gabriel Roque, Cyrus DicksonCruz and Charisse Anne de Leon. Theteam manager is Tito Eusebio Jr., whilethe advisers are Profs. Gerald Jo Denogaand Carl Michael Odulio.

The Shell Eco-Marathon began in 1939as a friendly wager between scientists at aShell research laboratory in the US to seewho could get the most miles per gallonfrom their vehicles. The European versionof the competition began in 1985 inFrance, and the Asian version, where TeamKidlat will be competing, was started in2010.

To know more about the team, pleasevisit http://teamup-sem.com. Team Kidlatalso has a Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/teamupkidlat).

of 1.183; Paula Veronica S.J. Reyes, BSPsychology, GWA of 1.171; Jose PaoloO. Mirasol IV, BA Philosophy, GWAof 1.147; Jayson C. Aguilar, BA PoliticalScience, GWA of 1.121; LaurenceAnthony L. Go, BS BusinessEconomics, GWA of 1.033; JhudMikhail O. Aberilla, BS ChemicalEngineering, GWA of 1.198; JohnAndreu V. Hernandez, BS ComputerScience, GWA of 1.182; Nicole AndreaS.A. Yazon, BS Chemical Engineering,GWA of 1.124; Marlon Jesspher B. DeVera, BS Chemical Engineering, GWAof 1.155; Justin L. Sy, BS MaterialsEngineering, GWA of 1.171; StanleyJordan G. Siahetiong, BS MechanicalEngineering, GWA of 1.139; RalphChristian C. Mancenido, BA PublicAdministration, GWA of 1.120; andNino Joseph I. Paz, BS Statistics, GWAof 1.134.

UP Diliman also produced 215magna cum laude graduates and 746 cumlaude graduates this year.

Bachelor of Arts in the SocialSciences graduate, magna cum laude, RainierRic B. De la Cruz (GWA of 1.4411) ledthe year’s 348 graduates of UP Baguio.Twenty-eight UP Baguio studentsgraduated cum laude.

UP Cebu produced 201 graduatesthis year, with 26 cum laude graduates, onemagna cum laude graduate—Michelle T.Gudito, BS Computer Science (GWAof 1.448)—and one summa cum laudegraduate—Michelangelo S. Joaquin, BSMath (GWA of 1.2166).

One thousand seven hundred andthirteen graduated from UP Los Bañosthis year, led by 132 cum laude graduates,18 magna cum laude graduates and twosumma cum laude graduates: Paul John B.Bautista, BS Agribusiness Management(GWA of 1.12); and Jomuel A.Velandrez, BS Chemical Engineering(GWA of 1.19845).

UP Manila had a total of 976graduates, with 136 graduating cum laude,22 magna cum laude, and one summa cumlaude graduate , Kevin Elissandro C.Gumabon, BS Bio-Chemistry ( with aGWA of 1.196).

UP Mindanao produced 197 gra-duates this year, with 12 cum laudegraduates and two magna cum laudegraduates: Marie Analiz April A.Limpoco, BSAM (GWA of 1.3125) andExegesis Jedidiah N. Ebarle, BSABE(GWA of 1.4178).

The UP Open University had a totalof 214 graduates for this year, althoughas of press time the names of thegraduates who made it to the Deans’List and Chancellor’s List were not yetavailable.

Finally, UP Visayas, including UPTacloban, produced 711 graduates thisyear. Thirty-seven of these are cum laudegraduates and three magna cum laudegraduates: Hany Mae R. Villanueva, BSAccounting (GWA of 1.443); PhyllaLynne June G. Magallanes, BS AppliedMath (GWA of 1.320); and Arnold C.Gaje, BS Chemistry (GWA of 1.415).

Paggawad ng titulo kay PNoytampok sa pangkalahatangpagtatapos (Continued from page 4)

tumayo, sumigaw, at magladlad ng mgabanner na tumutuligsa sa administrasyongAquino. Ayon sa isang malaking banner,wala din naman daw pagbabagongnakikita sa rehimen ni Aquino.

Bukod pa rito ang lantarang pagtuligsang Rehente ng mga Mag-aaral na siJacquelyn Eroles nang bigyan siya ngpagkakataong magsalita at mag-abot ngliham ng mga mag-aaral kay PangulongAquino. Pagkatapos himukin ang mgamagsisipagtapos na magsilbi sa bayan,ginawang ehemplo ni Eroles si Aquino ngmamamayang walang pakiramdam parasa mga mahihirap. Patunay dito ang pagbiliniya ng mamahaling sasakyan habangnamumuno sa bansang hikahos.

Ang titulo

Karaniwan nang ginagawaran ngtitulong doktorado honoris causa ngpamantasan ang isang pangulo. Ika-13 siAquino sa mga punongbayan na ginawaranng UP kasunod nina Manuel L. Quezon,Sergio Osmeña, Manuel Roxas, ElpidioQuirino, Emilio Aguinaldo, RamonMagsaysay, Carlos Garcia, DiosdadoMacapagal, Ferdinand Marcos, Jose LaurelSr., Corazon Aquino, at Fidel Ramos.Tinanggihan ni Joseph Estrada ang alokng paggawad ng UP. Nadesisyunan naman

ng Lupon ng mga Rehente ang paggawadkay Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo perowalang aktwal na conferment na nangyari.

Sa kanyang talumpati sa pangkala-hatang pagtatapos sa UP Diliman noong1999, sinabi ni Estrada na maaari niyangtanggapin ang titulo marahil sa hulingbahagi pa ng kaniyang administrasyonkung kailan may maipakikita na siyangkabanggit-banggit na tagumpay sa pag-aangat sa bansa at sa buhay ng mga tao.Ayon kay Estrada, hindi pa sapat ang siyamna buwan niya noong panunungkulan,subalit itinuturing niyang isang malakinghamon ang alok ng UP upang magpun-yagi.

Sa mga impormal na talakayan,marami ang nagpahayag ng pagtutol nagawaran ng pagkilalang doktorado siAquino. “Since when did UP’s standardssink so low?” ang komento ni MaiteQuesada sa Facebook page ng UP. “Doeshe deserve it?” ang tanong naman ni JekriPreclaro Orlina. “Yun ba [ang] kapalit ngbudget cut ng UP?” komento naman niPaul Nikko Degollado.

Sabi naman ni Shai Camacho: “Whyis UP giving him such honor? He hasn’tdone anything concrete up to now forhim to be given such honor...Parangnagiging showbiz.”

Joy Aberin from the Office of Scho-larship and Student Services (OSSS) saidthat her office will release STFAP brack-eting results within the first week of May.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV offeredNikki a scholarship.

Nikki has three older siblings who alsorelied on scholarships to be able to studyat universities. Jennifer graduated with aBS Accountancy degree from the Univer-sity of Luzon. Dessa is an incoming juniorat UP Baguio where she is studyinglanguage and literature. Karen is taking upaccounting at the University of Pangasinan.

Dessa has been on the STFAP bracketD since she was a freshman and is entitledto a 70% discount of the base tuition peg-ged at P200 per unit. Following protocol,her sister Nikki should be on the samebracket.

Students whose families earn an annualincome of PhP135,001 to PhP250,000 areclassified under STFAP bracket D.

Gregoria has declared her GrossTaxable Compensation Income to beP187,046. However, this amount doesnot cover her medication bills. Herdialysis alone costs P10,000 every week.

(Continued from page 4)

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We have heard these stories before, and perhapseven helped spread them.

The UP seal has a parrot. The model for theOblation is the father of the late action star. TheDiliman campus is located on a fault line. The SunkenGarden and the main library are slowly sinking everyyear. A student will not graduate if he or she has apicture taken with the Oblation.

Upperclassmen have passed on these tales to gullible,innocent freshmen. A classmate heard it from anotherclassmate, who then told you, and perhaps you toldanother. But is there any truth to these stories?

Parrot on the UP seal?

This is probably the first myth we hear when weenter UP and it usually begs the question, “Why woulda parrot be on the UP seal?” But instead of askingwhy, perhaps a more important question should beasked: Is it really a parrot?

The answer is no. It is, in fact, an eagle. Or to bespecific, an American bald eagle. We pride ourselvesin being the national university, the hotbed of nationalistideas. So why do we use a symbol of the UnitedStates of America on our university seal? The answeris simple: The Americans established UP. It is a factthat cannot be ignored. But behind this simplisticexplanation is a history of the UP seal—a seal that has

TALES FROM UP DILIMAARLYN VCD PALISOC ROMUALDO

Museum Director Galo B. Ocampo, who alsobelonged to the UP School of Fine Arts Class of 1934.His logo featured an inverted equilateral red triangle inthe middle of a green circle. The “revolutionary” trianglewith the base on top, Ocampo said, focuses importanceon “the masses of our people in the structure ofPhilippine society.”

On each corner of the triangle is a star to representLuzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Also inside the triangleis a sun that symbolizes “freedom for the individual,liberty for the nation, and independence for all.”Superimposed on the image of the sun is the Oblation,the “symbol of youth—hope of the Fatherland.”Around the green circle, where these images areemblazoned, the words “University of the Philippines”at the top and “1908” at the bottom are written inblack on a background of white.

So why was this new design not adopted? Duringthe 818th meeting of the Board of Regents on March23, 1972, its fate was supposed to be decided underthe agenda item, “Matters recommended by thepresident.” The Board action: “Deferment for furtherstudy on motion of Regent [Tomas Saguitan] Fonacierduly seconded.”

Twenty-six years passed before UP used Ocampo’slogo, but not as the official seal. It was used in thecelebration of UP’s 90th anniversary and the Philippine

The history of the university sealPROF. ARMANDO B. BURGOS, UP DILIMAN COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS

Philippines approved by the Philippine Commissionin 1905. It showed an eagle with outstretched wingson the crest of a shield that symbolized the city ofManila and the 13 colonies of America which foughtfor independence against Great Britain. Like the eaglein the coat-of-arms of the Philippines, the eagle in theUniversity Seal was the American bald or white-headed

The Seal that is in current use in the Universitywas approved by the Board of Regents at its 77thmeeting on February 25, 1913. It shows an eagle withits wings spread and perched on a shield that carriesthree icons representing the fields of specialization inthe University, namely, agriculture, engineering, andmedicine. Inscribed on the circular band thatsurrounds it are the w o r d s“University ofthe Philippines”on top and“1908” at thebottom.

An earlierseal, however,was utilized bythe Universitybefore 1913. Itwas adapted fromthe coat-of-arms of the

type. This was the same eagle which appeared on theSeal that was approved in 1913.

The eagle is among the most predominant animalsused in heraldry, the art of devising or adorning insigniasor coat-of-arms. It was used in the national emblemsof ancient Rome, France, and the United States.Recognized as the king of birds, it has become a favorite

in heraldry as a particular symbol for courageand power. The most common attitude

by which the eagle is depicted inheraldry is with its wings spread outand pointing upwards. The head isusually turned to the right, that is, tothe observer’s left. The Great Sealof the United States features the eaglein this position, from which the sealsof the Philippines and the University

were based.Several variations of the eagle can

be gleaned, however, from the different(Continued on page 8)

been in use since the university’s early years.The seal currently used was approved during the

77th Board of Regents meeting on February 25, 1913.Its dimensions were re-emphasized in the Proposed Codefor the University of the Philippines in 1941. On October15, 2001, UP filed a trademark application for the UPlogo with the Intellectual Property Office of thePhilippines (then IP Philippines, now IPOPHL). Itsdate of registration is June 8, 2006 and is effective for10 years.

The use of the current seal was nearly discontinuedwhen former UP President Salvador P. Lopez issueda memorandum circular on November 13, 1971opening a competition for the design of a new officialseal, with the winner getting a certificate of appreciation.

“The present seal dates from 1908 when theUniversity was reorganized as an extension, and theapex, of the American educational system in thePhilippines,” Lopez said. When a new seal was designedfor the country in 1946, a new seal should have beendesigned for UP as well, he argued. That it did nothappen was an oversight and should be remedied.Lopez said, “The eagle appears to be particularlyinappropriate as the dominant element in the seal of auniversity.” The competition closed on December 10,1971.

The winning design was created by then National

A photo of the Sunken Garden in the 1950s. On the right side of the photo is the College of Education. On the left side is the College of Law driveway. (Source: UPD Office of the Campus Architect) Three lineamentsfault,” he said. Ior field evidence

L-R: The official UP seal, the UP seal before 1913, and the obverse side of the Great Seal of USA


AN: FACT OR FICTION?Centennial in 1998. UP commemorated these historicevents with the theme, “One Hundred Years ofNationalism and 90 Years of Scholarship and Serviceto the Nation.” A marker of the Centennial ArchivalCollection on the third floor of the UPD Main Libraryactually has Ocampo’s logo, with the color whitereplaced by gold.

The Oblation model could be FPJ’s father

No, we are not talking about how UP’s mostfamous symbol came alive and procreated. Rather, weare referring to the most common name a person hearswhen he or she asks who modeled for the Oblation—Fernando Poe Sr. People faced with this question, replyin varying tones, ranging from the certain, “Yung tatayni Fernando Poe Jr.” (the father of Fernando Poe Jr.)to the unsure, “Sabi si Fernando Poe Sr. daw” (peoplesay it was allegedly Fernando Poe Sr.).

Poe Sr. was a UP student around the time theOblation was being created by National ArtistGuillermo Tolentino who was then a professor at theUP School of Fine Arts. No one knows for sure how

the rumor started, but speculation about hisinvolvement in the creation of the prominent UPlandmark remains to this day.

His name may be the most popular answer butother names come up, too. Online queries for“model+UP Oblation” actually yield three othercandidates. One is June Villanueva. Another is FerdinandGlenn Gagarin. And finally, UP Fine Arts Prof.Anastacio Caedo. So who really modeled for Tolentinowhen he was creating the Oblation?

And the winner is—drum roll, please—candidatenumber three, Prof. Anastacio Caedo, who wasTolentino’s student assistant at the time. He has to sharethe credit, however, with Virgilio Raymundo, brotherof Paz Raymundo Tolentino, the creator’s wife.Tolentino combined Caedo’s physique withRaymundo’s proportion and – voila! – The Oblationwas born. This is according to the book written anddesigned by the late UP Diliman College of Fine Arts(UPD CFA) Prof. Rodolfo Paras-Perez titled Tolentino.

But that is not all. UP Open University (UPOU)Chancellor Grace Javier Alfonso confirmed in a

message to the UP Newsletter that she recalled Caedo,who was her teacher, telling her to keep in mind thathe was the model for the UP Oblation. Alfonso is aUPD CFA graduate who created the Oblation statueslocated at the UPOU Headquarters in Los Baños,Laguna; the UP Manila (UPM)-Philippine GeneralHospital compound; the UPM School of HealthSciences in Palo, Leyte; and the UPM School of HealthSciences in Koronadal, South Cotabato. Alfonso saidthat when she was asked to create the other Oblationmonuments, she kept checking and re-checking thefacial features of the Oblation and told us that “it reallylooks like him.”

Diliman disaster: a fault line runs through it

It has long been talked about. And with the recentspate of earthquakes in New Zealand, Japan andMyanmar, it is rearing its ugly head again. It is the faultline smack at the center of the UPD campus, cuttingacross the length of the Academic Oval. Thismysterious and fear-inducing fault, believed by manyto be the West Marikina Valley Fault, is also said to bethe reason the UPD Sunken Garden is, well, sunken.

Enter Prof. Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay,a widely-consulted, often-interviewed expert from the

In the course of our research for the article “UP urbanlegends: fact or fiction?” we came across discrepancies onthe date of the inauguration or unveiling of the UP Oblation.

Former UP President Rafael Palma commissionedthen UP School of Fine Arts Prof. Guillermo Tolentinoto translate the second stanza of Jose Rizal’s “Mi UltimoAdios” into a UP monument. Palma named it theOblation. It was also known as “Paghahandog” in Filipinoand “Oblacion” in Spanish. There is no official documentthat indicates when it was actually commissioned. All thatis known is that Palma’s term as UP President was from1923 to 1933.

The Oblation first approved by Palma was asculpture of a completely nude young man with armsoutstretched and gazing upward. The fig leaf was lateradded at the suggestion of Palma’s successor to theUP presidency, Jorge C. Bocobo. He was at the helmof UP from 1933 to 1939.

Discrepancies in dates: theunveiling of the UP OblationARLYN VCD PALISOC ROMUALDO

The cornerstone of the Oblation monument was laidon November 30, 1931 by Aurora A. Quezon, the wifeof then Senate President and future Philippine PresidentManuel L. Quezon. November 30 was celebrated asNational Heroes Day then.

Between December 1948 and January 1949, UP wascompleting its transfer to the new campus in Diliman. OnFebruary 11, 1949, the Oblation was also transferred,accompanied by a motorcade of students, faculty and alumni.

On November 29, 1958, the new Oblationmonument cast in pure bronze was unveiled. Prof.Guillermo Tolentino supervised its casting in Italy. Theoriginal Oblation in concrete, painted to look like bronze,is now on the third floor of the UPD Main Library.

Finally, with regard to the unveiling of the originalOblation monument, the dates vary. Documents at theUPD Main Library Archives state both November30, 1935 and November 30, 1939 as the day the

Oblation was inaugurated.Sites and Symbols: UP Diliman Landmarks, published

by the UPD Office of the Chancellor in 2000, has thefollowing entry: “Dedicated to the country’s heroes, theOblation was unveiled in 1939 at Padre Faura byGregoria de Jesus de Nakpil, widow of AndresBonifacio.”

The University of the Philippines: A University for Filipinos,meanwhile, says, “The Oblation was first erected on theold Padre Faura campus at dedication ceremonies heldon National Heroes’ Day in 1935.” The book waspublished in 1984 by the UP Communication Researchand Development Foundation, Inc., based in the Instituteof Mass Communication (now College of MassCommunication) and Edwina Koch Arroyo Design forthe UP Diamond Jubilee Presidential Commission.

The marker of the Oblation, however, begs to differ.It states that the Oblation was inaugurated in March, 1936.


nts indicate fault lines in the UPD campus in this presentation slide by Prof. Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay. Of the three, only the one marked “2” is a “ground verified. It passes behind Kamia Residence Hall and beneath Narra Residence Hall. Lagmay clarified that the other two are referred to as “lineament features” because groundnce for faulting has not yet been found.

National Artist Guillermo Tolentino (center) with Esteban Caedo (left) and Prof.Anastacio Caedo (right). Photo is reprinted with permission from Tolentino's daughter,Dalisay Tolentino Mendez, through her son Manuel Mendez. It first appeared in thebook “Tolentino” by Prof. Rodolfo Paras Perez.


(Continued from page 7)TALES FROM UP DILIMAN: FACT OR FICTION?

UPD National Institute of GeologicalScien-ces. When asked about the so-called fault line, he eagerly showed theUP Newsletter a presentation that willillustrate his answer. That answer beingno, there is no fault line beneath the lengthof the Academic Oval, therefore, nofault line under the Sunken Garden.

While a fault line is not along thatlocation, Lagmay pointed out that thereare faults running across the campus.Three of these were mapped in one ofhis presentation slides. None of themdirectly hit the Academic Oval. He also

clarified that the West Marikina ValleyFault is actually between two and a halfto three kilometers away from UPD.

Lagmay offered an explanation asto how the fault line myth started.Geology students under Prof. ErnestoP. Sonido’s class were tasked to surveythe Diliman campus. One or more ofhis students, when pondering upon theSunken Garden’s shape, came up withthe idea that its shape could be explainedby a fault line running under it. Why theidea continues to thrive cannot beexplained.

The history of the university sealinstances in which the university hasappeared from the 1910s to the pre-sent. These mutations include thepositioning of the wings, the directionwhere the head turns, and the iconsthat represent the fields of specializa-tion in the University.

The establishment of UP in 1908was considered the early 1900s as thebest the American educational systemhad to offer. The University was alsoseen as the foundation upon whichFilipino nationalism would take root.

Conscious of its role in nationaldevelopment, the University initiated amove to redesign its coat-of-arms whichwas seen as a remnant of colonialism.President Salvador P. Lopez opened acompetition through MemorandumCircular dated November 13, 1971. Hestated, “Just as a new seal was designedfor the Philippines when it becameindependent in 1946, so a new seal forthe University should have been designedand adopted at that time…. The eagle

appears to be particularly inappropriateas the dominant element in the seal of theuniversity.”

The winning design was made byGalo B. Ocampo, then director of theNational Museum. The move to adaptit as the new university seal was deferredby the Board of Regents for further study.

Up to the present, different versionsof the university seal as in existence. Theseare being used by the different units andoffices of the University in their publica-tions and communications. Novelty items,carrying the different versions of the sealare being sold by commercial establish-ments doing business inside the campus.

There is a need to standardize the sealof the University, in the light of the cur-rent proliferation. Article XV Section 83of the Code of the University of thePhilippines describes its design, its dia-meter, and the inscriptions “University ofthe Philippines” and “1908.” This is theonly instance where the genus of the sealis specified (as approved in the 77th Board

As to why the Sunken Garden issunken, Lagmay suspects it is due to thecampus waterway system. In anotherpresentation slide, he pointed out that thecreek from Philcoa goes into the campus,passes through the lagoon, is split into twoaround the area of the Main Library, andgoes along the sides of the Sunken Garden.His theory is that the creek that used to cutacross the Sunken Garden was filled withsoil and forced the water to divert fromits original flow.

The sinking Sunken Garden


of Regents meeting held in 1913). Butthe position of the bird, details of theicons and colors were not indicated. Norecords have yet been uncovered toprovide for the appropriation of theuniversity colors of forest green andmaroon in the university seal.

Since the seal of an institution is notonly a mark for its legal and public docu-ments, communications, and publications,but more importantly, a symbol of theinstitution, then clarity in its elements mustbe imposed. A seal does not only featurea distinctive object that would makeidentification clear and easy.

More than that, it signifies the senti-ments and aspirations that guide theinstitution and its constituents.

The current directive by the HeraldryDivision of the National Historical Insti-tute regarding the design of seals discoura-ges the use of foreign heraldic objectsand this criteria has a bearing on theuniversity seal.

Though a change in the elements of

the seal may be considered, the studyof the conception, clarification of itselements, and its standardization are ofutmost need to avert the indiscriminateproliferation of the university seal.

The university seal, with the eagle asthe dominant object including the iconsof the fields of specialization, faithfullysymbolize what the University aspiresfor—the highest in the field of knowledgeas well as a commitment to the nation. Itis only proper that the symbol of the StateUniversity be given the necessary seriousattentions it deserves.

(This article is reprinted with permission fromthe author and publisher. It first appeared in theAugust-September 1998 issue of the DilimanUPDate.)

Another myth intertwined with thefault line story is that the Sunken Garden,along with the UPD Main Library,continues to sink at rates varying fromone to ten centimeters every year.

How this story started is a mystery.There are no studies to conclude that theSunken Garden and the library are sinking,relative to the rest of the campus. But,according to Lagmay, parts of MetroManila are sinking—which is a morerelevant fact. The maximum magnitudeof subsidence is 6.1 centimeters per year,he said.

Say cheese with the Oblation, saygoodbye to graduation

“Never have your picture taken withthe Oblation while you are still a studentat UP. You will not graduate.”

An ominous statement declared withsuch conviction that it echoes inside yourhead. The only thing missing is thelightning flash followed by a clap ofthunder. But there was a flash of lightand you blinked. You just had yourpicture taken with the Oblation. Will yoube able to fight the curse and graduate?

This story is not exclusive to Diliman.After all, UP campuses across thecountry have Oblation monuments.This tale has no scientific basis.

We do not know when this absurdstory started circulating or why itcontinues to this day. But blaming aphoto for failing to graduate is probablyone of the lamest excuses ever invented.

The creek from Philcoa goes into the campus, passes through the lagoon, is split into two around the area of the Main Library, and goes along the sides of the Sunken Garden.(Source: Prof. Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay)

This was the winning seal designed by Galo B. Ocampoin 1971. It was never approved for use as the official UPseal. (Source: UPD Main Library Archives)

Examples of unofficial versions of the UP seal


The UP Diliman College of Artsand Letters (CAL) Dean has ruledthat a faculty member of the Dep-artment of European Languagescannot be compelled to address astudent as a female. Dean FloraElena Mirano decision was in replyto the gender discrimination com-plaint of a European Languages(EL) student and declared trans-sexual.

Hender Gercio was furnished acopy of the reply last March 25, ormore than two weeks after elevatingthe complaint to the dean’s office lastMarch 8.

Mirano addressed her letter toUPD Chancellor Caesar Saloma. Sherecalled that Gercio wrote to appealthe decision of Department ofEuropean Language (DEL) ChairWystan de la Peña.

According to Mirano’s letter,Gercio had previously requested dela Peña, to, “exercise...(his).. profes-sional authority over (Dominique) DelCorro, and require her to treat andaddress me as female in class (throughthe use of female pronouns, feminineforms of address, feminine adjectives,etc.)” Del Corro is Gercio’s professorwho is being accused of genderdiscrimination.

After consulting with the DilimanLegal Office (DLO) and DilimanGender Office (DGO), de la Peñainformed Gercio that Del Corro,“could not be compelled to do what(is being demanded).”

In a related development,Mirano also received a statementsigned by 24 members of the DELfaculty upholding de la Peña’sdecision.

Mirano said that she recognizesthe student’s demand and how ittouches on serious matters such asacademic freedom and genderrights. She added that matters likethis must be decided at a higher level.She said that by elevating this to theChancellor, the situation could leadto developing a policy to help guidethe UP community in this “gray areaof our experience.”

Aside from de la Peña, Gercio andDel Corro, Vice-Chancellor forStudent Affairs Elizabeth Enriquezand Vice-Chancellor for AcademicAffairs Lorna Paredes were givencopies of Mirano’s letter to Saloma.As of this writing, the latter has notyet replied.

BERNICE P. VARONA

CAL deanresponds togenderdiscriminationcomplaint

The UP Information TechnologyTraining Center (ITTC) has formalizedits partnership with Lorma Colleges toreach out to IT students and practitionersfrom northern Philippines, as well asprovide IT education that is industry-responsive and at par with internationalstandards.

The UP System Information Techno-logy Foundation (which is attached toITTC) and the La Union-based LormaColleges, a center of development in ITeducation, signed a contract for academicpartnership and mentoring signed lastMarch 31 at UP Diliman’s Vidal Tan Hall.

ITTC Director Jaime DL Caro andLorma Colleges President Rufino

ITTC ties up with Lorma CollegesJO. FLORENDO B. LONTOC

A team from the UP Debate Society(UPDS) won the Philippine Inter-collegiate Debating Championship 2011(PIDC 2011) held from April 6 to 11 inUP Diliman, Quezon City. This years’sPIDC was hosted by UPDS.

The winning team, UPD A, is com-posed of Alistair Jan Zosa, Angelique PearlSimbulan and Carlo Raphael Borromeo.

UPDS had four other teams in thetournament. Members of semi-finalistUPD B are Candice Kimberley Chung,John Lenard Robles and Valeri FiliaD’Marie Inting. Quarter-finalist UPD Dhas Juan Miguel Sevilla, Miguel Sevilla andNorman Cualteros. On the other hand,octo-finalist UPD E has John Cedrick deLeon , Rafael Luna III and Weston Lee.

Members of the UPD contingent alsogot individual awards. Simbulan wasnamed Grand Finals Best Speaker. Intingwas the 2nd Best Speaker while Zosa andChung were tied as 4th Best Speakers.Borromeo and Lee were tied as 9th BestSpeakers.

UPDS also contributed to the qualityof adjudication in PIDC 2011 withRaymund Victor Vitorio as 2nd BestAdjudicator and Anna Carmela Que as6th Best Adjudicator. Both adjudicatedup to the quarter-finals with Irish JoyDeocampo. John Glenn Agbayani Jr.and alumnus Jeross Aguilar both adjudi-cated in the octo-finals rounds. (AnnaCarmela S. Que)

UP DebateSociety topsannualdebating tilt

Macagba Jr., signed the contract. Presentas witnesses were ITTC’s Marketing andBusiness Development team leader CarolLopez and Macagba’s wife Victoria.

Under the contract, UP will providetraining services to Lorma. In the past,Lorma sent its students to the ITTC’sY4IT (Philippine Youth Congress inInformation Technology) seminars inManila. Lorma faculty members havealso enrolled in ITTC courses.

Caro recognized Lorma’s leadershipin open-source software development.Consequently, ITTC hopes to forge amulti-party partnership with the localgovernments of La Union to sustain theIT initiatives of Lorma Colleges and ITTC.

ITTC Director Jaime Caro shakes hands with Lorma Colleges President Rufino Macagba Jr. after the signing of theMOA.

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UP President Pascual (left, standing) addresses the morning session of the peace conference, as Bishop Elmer Bolocon, Dr. Dante Simbulan, IIS Dean Julkipli Wadi andNational Artist Bienvenido Lumbera listen.

UP President Alfredo Pascual add-ressed the Peace Conference on the Bang-samoro Question last March 23 at theUniversity Hotel, UP Diliman, QuezonCity.

During the morning session of thepeace conference titled “Bridging unitybetween the government and the MILF,”Pascual said that UP, as the country’s

Pascual addresses peace conference

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national university, will engage actively indevelopment and public policy issues likethe ongoing peace process between thegovernment and various rebel groups.

The one-day peace conference wasorganized by the Center for People Em-powerment in Governance (CenPEG) inpartnership with the UP Institute of IslamicStudies (IIS), Pilgrims for Peace, InPeace

Mindanao and the National Council ofChurches in the Philippines. It wassupported by the National Commissionfor Culture and the Arts (NCCA) andOffice of the UP President.

More than 150 people attended theone-day conference. Ambassadors andpolitical ministers of different embassieswere also present. (CenPEG News)


A study by scientists from the UPMarine Science Institute (UP MSI) com-missioned by the Philippine Chamber ofCommerce and Industry (PCCI)-Boracayon the effects of the P1-billion reclamationproject in mainland Aklan’s jump-offpoint to Boracay Island has found that theproject could destroy the coral reefs inthe area.

The project could also cause changesin water current patterns, especially in thenorthern areas of the jetty port in BarangayCaticlan in Malay town where the seachannel toward Boracay is at its narrowest.The altered water pattern could increasethe volume of sediments swept towardthe island, eventually smothering and killingthe coral reefs.

The UP MSI team is composed ofCesar Villanoy, Fernando Siringan, OliviaCabrera and Riovie Ramos of UP MSI’sMarine Environmental Resources Foundation.

The team conducted field studies andtests from November 23 to 25, 2010 inCaticlan and Boracay. Computer-gene-rated simulation models were then usedto check the effects of the reclamation.

The local government began develop-

UP scientists raise alarm overAklan reclamation projectBERNICE P. VARONA

Is the Philippines next after Japan?Even if. Like Japan, the Philippines is

located in the Pacific Ring of Fire,Catherine Abon of the UP NationalInstitute of Geological Sciences said thatthe Philippines’ own unique stress systemdoes not necessarily mean that it is “next.”

Speaking at a forum last March 23 atBalay Kalinaw in UP Diliman, Abon saidthat among the short-term predictionmethods for earthquakes are quakerecurrence, noting strange animal behavior,studying increases in seismic behavior, andtaking note of known earthquake patterns.

The Advocates of Science and Techno-logy for the People (AGHAM) organizedthe forum on”Earthquake, Tsunami andNuclear Accidents: Confronting theChallenges of these Natural Calamities.”

Abon said that overall damage due toan earthquake is measured by wave ampli-tude, duration of vibration, the nature ofthe material upon which structures rest and

After Japan, PHL not necessarily ‘next’ANDRE ENCARNACION

Cooperation among environmen-talists, artists and academicians has ledto the installation of a three-dimen-sional tree made of recycled materialsoverlooking a street mural as EarthDay 2011 was celebrated at the Insti-tute of Biology, UP Diliman last April16.

The tree symbolizes collective andcreative action for environmental pro-tection. Initially a leafless trunk, parti-cipants glued paper leaves to it withwritten pledges for the environmentas a symbol of rebirth.

The Earth Day Art Attack with thetheme “Protect Our Forests: Stop Mi-ning Plunder! Stop Commercial Log-ging!” served not only as a celebrationbut also as a reminder of importantenvironmental issues like the rapiddestruction of Philippine forests.

Members of Kalikasan People’sNetwork for the Environment (Kali-kasan-PNE), UP Artists CircleSorority and Agham worked withrepresentatives of UP Explore,Geology Majors Society, Junior Philip-pine Geographical Society, AghamYouth UP Diliman and other groups.

Precious Jewel Gamboa of theArtists Circle Sorority described natureas a vital inspiration to artists and saidthat the installation symbolized that“each of us can be the difference” inresponsibly taking action for theenvironment.

Leon Dulce of UP Explore saidthat the widespread destruction of theenvironment by aggressive mining andcommercial logging is already a nation-wide phenomenon rarely covered bythe media.

In a press release, Kalikasan PNEstressed that the destruction of forestsis a major cause of several landslidesand flashfloods that ravaged the Bicolregion, several places in the Visayas,CARAGA, and Southern Mindanao.These left 75 dead and 22 missing, aswell as displaced almost two millionfamilies and destroyed P2 billionworth of property.

Despite the issuance of ExecutiveOrder No. 23 by President BenignoAquino III implementing a nationallog ban, the group was not optimisticthat it will solve the deforestationproblem in the country.

According to Clemente BautistaJr., national coordinator of KalikasanPNE, the root problem is commercialmining, something that he says the logban does not address. There are otherlaws, according to him, that arecontrary to the log ban, such as theMining Act of 1995, which givesforeign large-scale mining companiestimber rights over the areas coveredby their permits.

The group called on environmentalactivists and the youth to fightcommercial logging and to demand thescrapping of the Mining Act of 1995.

ANDRE ENCARNACION

Environmentalistscampaign vsdeforestationthrough artment work in Caticlan in December 2010.

The project covers 2.64 hectares. Thememorandum of agreement with thePhilippine Reclamation Authority (PRA)signed on May 17, 2010 involves 40hectares, of which 36.82 hectares are inCaticlan and 3.18 hectares are in Boracay.

The reclamation project includesexpanding port facilities, recoveringcoastline areas and putting up commercialbuildings for offices, as well as a healthand wellness center. The project cost isP260 million in its initial phase and P785million in the succeeding phases.

Results of the study

The team warned that the project couldhave an adverse effect on the immediateenvironment. “”The supply of white sandwill be impaired or even stopped if thecoral reefs suffocate and die,” Villanoy said.

Villanoy, the head of the study team,stressed that more intensive studies areneeded to determine the comprehensiveimpact of the reclamation. But he never-theless recommended the implementationof measures to ensure a steady and con-tinuous supply of sand to the Boracay

coast. These include regulating fishingactivities; rehabilitation and protection ofcoral reefs; and awareness campaigns onconservation methods for both the com-munity and tourists.

Opposition to the project

Business and tourism leaders in Boracayare opposed to the reclamation due to itspossible effects on the world-renownedtourist destination. This is also the reasonPCCI commissioned the UP team toconduct the study.

Gov. Carlito Marquez said that theproject was issued an environmentalcompliance certificate (ECC) on April 27,2010 by Oscar Cabanayan, regional direc-tor of the Department of Environmentand Natural Resources’ EnvironmentalManagement -Bureau (DENR-EMB). Healso said in a news report that even withthe UP team’s findings, there is no need tostop the reclamation.

The local government said it willconsider the results and the recommenda-tions of Villanoy et al. but it will commis-sion its own study as part of the DENRand PRA requirements.

structural design. She also discussed theearthquake generators found in the Philip-pines, which include two subductingoceanic plates and active faults. She recalledhow notable earthquakes over the pastdecades have been produced by theiractivity.

In the same forum, Kristine Marie Roma-llosa of the Philippine Nuclear ResearchInstitute discussed the harmful effects ofradiation exposure, the doses of which aregenerally measured in sieverts (Sv). She saidthat when the body is exposed to abnormallyhigh levels of radiation it can cause cell death,DNA mutation and cancer. One can beexposed to radiation acutely or chronically.And while a typical person is only exposedto one millisievert (mSv) per annum, radiationexposure at high acute levels of above severalthousand mSv is very dangerous.

In order to control radiation exposurein the event of an accident, Romallosaadvised the attendees that the best course

of action was to “minimize time, maxi-mize distance and maximize shielding.” Shesaid that the best radiation control measuresare evacuation of the population, shelteringbehind sturdy structures, restrictions in foodand water intake in affected areas, medicalintervention and constant radiationmonitoring.

She stressed that these measures areunnecessary in the Philippines at themoment. The nuclear crisis in Japan is stilllocalized, she said, so there is no reasonfor people to believe in rumors of localradiation contamination. She added thatradiation monitoring is ongoing in thecountry and that foreign goods areroutinely screened for the public’s safety.

During the open forum, Engr. CharlesRamota of AGHAM answered questionsregarding nuclear safety while Chris Santos,a student at Sophia University, whowitnessed the destruction gave a firsthandaccount of what happened in Japan.

Catherine Abon of the UP National Institute of Geological Sciences

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Brioneshonoredfor gov’tserviceCAMILLE DELA ROSA

“There is life for women in govern-ment service. It is a life of commitment,service, and above all, honor and integ-rity.”

Prof. Leonor Briones stressed thispoint last March 31 at Club Filipino, SanJuan City as she received The BayiCitation for Government Service con-ferred biennially by the Institute of Poli-tics and Governance (IPG) and theBarangay Bayan Governance Consor-tium.

The citation is given to womenleaders who consistently and selflesslywork to empower women and toinspire more of them to take leadershiproles.

In her acceptance speech, Brionessaid, “I have not been content withdoing research, teaching and applyingmy professional skills in government.Public finance is not exclusive topolicymakers, academics and politicians.It is a subject that is closest to the heartand stomach of every Filipino. Everysingle centavo spent by the government– whether for health, education, porkbarrel, insertion, conversion, pasalubongand pabaon come from each and everyFilipino…. My battle cry has always been,‘Pera ng bayan, para sa taong bayan!’”

Briones served as secretary to theCommission on Audit, national treasu-rer, presidential adviser for social deve-lopment and UP’s vice-president forfinance.

She currently teaches at the NationalCollege of Public Administration andGovernance (NCPAG). She is lead con-venor of Social Watch Philippines, anorganization concerned with advocacy,awareness-building, monitoring, organi-zational development and networking.

Gambare, Japan! (loose translation:Don’t give up the fight, Japan!)

Faculty members, staff and studentsof the UPD Center for InternationalStudies (CIS) expressed their sympathy forJapan, using the above call as the themeof their various initiatives to show theirsupport.

Last March 11, a powerful earthquakeand tsunami hit Japan, triggering a nuclearcrisis in the succeeding days.

Their activities during the fourth weekof March included joining a multi-sectoralrally at the Japanese Embassy along RoxasBoulevard. CIS also raised funds for thevictims of the earthquake, tsunami andnuclear accident by selling beverages.

Led by CIS Director Cynthia NeriZayas, a group of UP faculty, staff andstudents went to the Japanese Embassylast March 24 and joined cause-orientedgroups in expressing solidarity with Japan.

Carrying banners, flowers and candles,they delivered messages of support andoffered a written statement of sympathy.This was personally received by Min.Shinsuke Shimizu, the embassy’s head of

CIS says ‘Gambare, Japan!’JO. FLORENDO B. LONTOC

chancery, who expressed gratitude in behalfof the embassy.

Zayas said UP is grateful to Japanfor its generosity in sponsoring researchstudies, among other projects. UP alsohas partnerships with selected Japaneseuniversities with which it has student andfaculty exchange programs.

For several days, CIS students sold cof-

fee, tea, and other beverages to raise funds.And in the evening of March 25, cocktailswere organized at the CIS. Guests includedUPD Vice-Chancellor for Student AffairsElizabeth Enriquez and UPD College ofMass Communication Dean RolandTolentino. Filipino and Japanese studentsprepared musical numbers, readstatements and showed slide presentations.

PPP and modern biotechnologywider research scope. It also plays a criticalrole in addressing issues on policies andguidelines that protect the interest of theprivate sector without sacrificing thebenefits of technological innovations.

On the other hand, the private sectorpossesses large R & D resources that en-able it to finance long-term research pro-jects. Equally important is the private sec-tor’s familiarity with and expertise inmarketing strategies and distributionschemes. It can also provide access for thepublic sector to penetrate the global market.

Considering that research undertakingsin biotechnology require large capital, long-term investment is necessary. The privatesector, as the largest investor in a varietyof research projects and owner of a bigchunk of intellectual property rights, shouldbe further pushed and encouraged tostrengthen linkages with the public sector.The public sector should, however, assurethe return of investments of private com-

panies in order to maintain a sustainableand comparative advantage for both parties.

Multinational companies like Novartis,Roche, Syngenta and Monsanto are notnew in this tie-up with national researchinstitutes. In fact, the annual InternationalBiotechnology Leadership Camp spon-sored by Novartis strongly encouragesscientists to come up with novel and inno-vative ideas in health care that the companycan finance. On the other hand, Monsantoand Syngenta share their collection of ricegenome sequence with the InternationalRice Research Institute (IRRI).

It must be stressed that PPP is not justlimited to multinational companies. Localcompanies equally important because theyalso have access to the local market andcan provide distribution plans in a moredirect way.

It is very important for a developingcountry to have a mutually beneficial andinnovative PPP. Both sectors should be


able to attain their collective objectives tofurther widen their research scope andbuild a stronger partnership.

The government should take note thatprivate institutions are not used to the slowbureaucracy in our country and culturaldifferences may pose some difficulties. Ifthe government is indeed serious inreinforcing PPP, then these issues must beproperly addressed. After all, PresidentNoynoy Aquino, in his inaugural speech,promised to reduce the number of daysand document requirements for govern-ment processing.

We should not look at PPP as theultimate solution to the growing needs ofbiotechnology R & D. Let us not rely oncharity but rather focus on building strong-er and better national and internationalpolicies that will serve as the core of PPP.In this way, the Philippines can move onestep further in using the benefits ofmodern biotechnology through PPP.

UP DECL holds free national confabon literature on May 27

To end its yearlong centennial celeb-ration, the UP Department of English andComparative Literature (DECL) willconduct a National Conference onLiterature and Society on the centenary ofits University Professor and former UPPresident Salvador P. Lopez.

The national roundtable conference onliterary interrelations will be held on May27, 2011, the 100th birth anniversary ofLopez, at the Claro M. Recto Hall of theFaculty Center, UP Diliman, Quezon City.

According to conference convenorand department chair Adelaida Lucero, theconference simultaneously celebrates theUP DECL socio-political commitmentand commemorates Lopez’s setting an

engagé direction for writing and literaryappreciation in the country. Through theconference, Lucero said that DECL willshare the expertise of its scholars, facultyand alumni for free to participating facultyand scholars of other colleges anduniversities in the country.

The one-day conference will start at8:30 a.m. with a musical tribute to Lopez,a keynote speech by UP President AlfredoPascual and the book launching of themulti-lingual translation of Lopez’s seminalessay “Literature and Society.”

Speakers for the one-day conferenceinclude Dean Elena Mirano (Literature andMusic); Dr. Elmer Ordonez (Literature andPolitics); Dr. Vivencio Jose (Literature and

Culture Studies), Dr. Helen Lopez(Literature and History); Dr. GeorginaEncanto, Dr. Emil Flores (Literature andPopular Culture); Dr. Albina Fernandez, Dr.Jose Neil Garcia (Literature and Gender);Dr. Jonathan Malicsi (Language andLiterature); Prof. Emeritus Steve Villaluz(Literature and Dance); Dr. Milagros Laurel(Literature and Film) ; and Prof. PaoloManalo (Literature and e-Technology).

Those intetested may reserve seats forthe event either by calling Annie at 926-3496;or by emailing Joscar Malacaman [email protected] or Dr. Luceroat [email protected]. Delegates whoregister from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m willreceive certificates of participation.

Members of several sectoral and cause-oriented groups stage a sympathy rally in front of the Japanese Embassyalong Roxas Boulevard.

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U.P. NEWSLETTERPROF. DANILO ARAÑA ARAO Editor-in-Chief FRANCIS PAOLO QUINA Managing Editor PROF. LUIS TEODORO Editorial Consultant CAMILLE DELA ROSA, ANDRE ENCARNACION,CELESTE ANNE CASTILLO LLANETA, JO. FLORENDO B. LONTOC, KIM QUILINGUING, ARLYN VCD P. ROMUALDO, BERNICE P. VARONA Writers BONG ARBOLEDA, MISAEL BACANI, JONATHANMADRID Photographers ROD P. FAJARDO III Layout OBET EUGENIO Editorial Assistant TOM MAGLAYA Circulation

The U.P. NEWSLETTER is a monthly publication of the UP System Information Office, Office of the Vice-President for Public Affairs. We welcome contributions from the faculty, non-academic staff, REPSand students. Please send your contributions to: THE EDITOR U.P. Newsletter Mezzanine Floor, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City 926-1572, 436-7537 e-mail: [email protected] [email protected]


UPIS Track and Field Team wins UAAP championshipThe UPIS Track and Field Team won

the over-all championship in the 73rdUAAP Season held from January 26 to31 at the ULTRA Track and Field stadiumin Pasig.

So overwhelming was the onslaughtof the Dashing Junior Maroons thatvictory was assured as early as the thirdday of competitions. Ateneo de ManilaUniversity was a far second while Uni-versity of Santo Tomas (UST) placedthird.

This is the second straight year thatthe UPIS Tracksters have brought homethe championship trophy.

Jao Nasis was declared most valuableplayer (MVP) of the competitions,winning 4 gold and 3 silver medals. Othermedalists are Dan Pahit with 2 gold, 2 silverand 1 bronze medals; Gab Soriano with2 silver and 2 bronze medals; AlvinAndresio with 1 silver and 3 bronze medals;Jethro Esposo, Jaime Mejia and RenzoDomingo with 1 silver and 1 bronzemedals each; Kevin Rodgers with 1 silvermedal; Geoff Rodriguez with 3 bronzemedals; and Bien Morales and Jojo Cellonawith 1 bronze medal each.

Other members of the team, though

RENE MATIAS

Three graduating students of the UPHigh School in Iloilo (UPHSI) were citedin The Outstanding Student Leadersawards in Iloilo City (TOSLIC, alsoknown as “Ang Batang Lider”) for SchoolYear 2010-2011. Ralph Anthony Gonzales,Raoul Danniel A. Manuel , and FydahMarie Sabando received the awards atRobinson’s Place, Iloilo City last March 21.

The three were commended for theirproactive student leadership. They are alsosaid to have “a deep sense of socialresponsibility and exemplary leadership bytheir involvement in various school andcommunity activities.” They all got medals,plaques of recognition, cash prizes and giftitems from the sponsors of TOSLIC.

Sabando is president of the Junior

3 UPHSI students named`Ang Batang Lider’ANNA RAZEL L. RAMIREZ

Two UP Visayas (UPV) studentswere recently named among theoutstanding students of Iloilo.

Ariston J. Miñez III, a 5th yearAccountancy student at the UPV Collegeof Management, and Raoul Danniel A.Manuel, a senior of the UP High Schoolin Iloilo, were included in TheOutstanding Students of Iloilo Awards(TOSIA).

They received the award during aceremony last March 20 at the Cinema6, SM City in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.UPV Chancellor Minda Formacion andCollege of Management Dean JoyLizada attended the ceremony.

Miñez, an active leader and honorstudent, is involved in environmentalcauses. He was recently Bayer YoungEnvironmental Envoy and was a delegateto the Ayala Young Leaders Congress.

Manuel, on the other hand, also hasa good academic background and isactive in civic and community serviceactivities. He is the current president ofthe UPHSI Student Council.

TOSIA is a flagship project of theJunior Chamber International Philippines(JCI RGATTA) and ABS-CBN Iloilo.The awards are given to the youth toencourage their involvement incommunity affairs and to promoteresponsibility and excellence amongthem.

Two UPVstudents namedIloilo outstandingstudentsANNA RAZEL L. RAMIREZ The UP Visayas College of Manage-

ment (UPV-CM) hosted a forum on goodgovernance at the UPV Iloilo City campuslast April 4.

The forum focused on the establish-ment of a working alliance of local gov-ernment units (LGUs) in the CotabatoProvince and good governance in private-ly-owned companies and corporations.

Speaking for the Pigcawayan, Pikit, Ala-mada, Libungan, Midsayap and Aleosan(PPALMA) Alliance, a group of six conti-guous municipalities in the first congres-sional district of Cotabato, PPALMAproject manager Orly Marasigan saidthat the alliance was organized to estab-lish a strong foundation for cooperationand unity and to propel sustainablecountryside development in the coveredareas.

Marasigan said that the alliance has beensuccessful in implementing programs forLGUs including the Libungan AlamadaWatershed Conservation Managementand Development Project and theKabalikat PPALMA Infrastructure Projectwhich helps member-LGUs in the deliveryof infrastructure services through equitablesharing of their resources.

Joseph Ladrido, director and chiefoperating officer (COO) of Pacific OneAviation Services, Inc. and consultant ofPLDT, shared his experience in corporategovernance which, according to him, is“more than lip service.”

UPV Forumfocuses on goodgovernanceANNA RAZEL L. RAMIREZ

failing to win medals, contributed valuablepoints to the team’s total leading to UPIS’dominance in the over-all championship

race. These are Christian Ferrer, MackyCamagay, Armond Macariola, KevinDomingo, Earl Mandapat, Jasper

Bongalonta, Joseph Bautista, Justin Dungo,Bryan Morales and Ryan Bugarin.

Jun Potenciano is the team’s head coach.

Peer Counselor Club of the UPHSI andhas Ms. Juvy Janeo as adviser.

Gonzales, on the other hand, ispresident of the Home Economics andPractical Arts (HEPA) Club who has Dr.Evelyn Ortigas and Prof. Frysian Causingas advisers.

Manuel is president of the UPHSI Stu-dent Council whose advisers are Profs.Dominique Maquiran and Dolores Jardeleza.

This is the 9th year of the Search forBatang Lider which is sponsored by theOffice of the City Mayor of Iloilo City.The winners are selected from graduatinghigh school presidents, chairpersons andheads of school organizations, studentcouncils and governing bodies from highschools within the City of Iloilo.

Four-day summer workweekfour-day workweek scheme. The memo also clarified that should a holiday fall onweekday during this period, the University will observe the regular Monday to Friday,8:00 am to 5:00 pm work schedule.

Pascual said that the summer work schedule will allow personnel “to enjoy athree-day weekend.” The administration will closely monitor the savings in utilities aswell.

New PGC executive director

Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla is the new executive director of the Philippine GenomeCenter (PGC). Her appointment was approved during the 1268th meeting of theUP Board of Regents. She will serve from March 1, 2011 to February 28, 2014.

Padilla is a professor and the chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the UPPhilippine General Hospital. She serves as the director of the Newborn ScreeningReference Center at the UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH).


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