a repost from a VERY interesting email...
UPian ka?.. read this...
QUESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF U.P.
September 3, 2008
By W. SyCip
PRESIDENT EMERLINDA ROMAN, MEMBERS OF THE
FACULTY AND FRIENDS OF U.P.
NOT BEING A GRADUATE OF THE LEADING EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION OF THE COUNTRY, I AM DEEPLY HONORED
THAT YOU HAVE INVITED ME TO BE ONE OF THE
SPEAKERS IN YOUR CELEBRATION OF A HUNDRED YEARS
OF SERVICE TO THE NATION.
IN TODAY'S TALK I INTEND TO RAISE A NUMBER OF
VERY FRANK QUESTIONS. SINCE YOU RECEIVE MORE
GOVERNMENT FUNDS THAN ANY OTHER EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION IN THE COUNTRY, I, AS A TAXPAYER,
MAY CLAIM THE RIGHT TO DO SO.
I HOPE YOU WILL NOT CONSIDER THIS AS AN ABUSE
OF THE GRACIOUS INVITATION EXTENDED ME BY
PRESIDENT ROMAN.
1. GOING OVER THE BOOK *THE UNIVERSITY OF THE
PHILPPINES - A UNIVERSITY FOR FILIPINOS* WHICH
WAS PUBLISHED AS U.P. CELEBRATED ITS DIAMOND
JUBILEE TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO, ONE CANNOT MISS
THE INTRODUCTION THAT SAYS "...A U.P. DEGREE
HOLDER IS GENERALLY BELIEVED TO BE MORE CAPABLE
THAN MOST COLLEGE GRADUATES, AS WELL AS IMBUED
WITH A SENSE OF PURPOSE...WITH MINDS CAPABLE OF
NEW IDEAS AND PERCEPTIONS AND PASSIONATE
COMMITMENT TO THE SOCIAL GOOD".
IF U.P. HAS ACCURATELY CLAIMED THAT DURING THE
PAST 62 YEARS, AFTER WE LEFT THE U.S. UMBRELLA,
U.P. GRADUATES HAVE OCCUPIED THE PRESIDENTIAL
CHAIR FOR 46 YEARS, THEN I MAY ASK YOU "WHY ARE
WE IN SUCH A MESS?"
OVER FIFTY YEARS AGO, WE WERE TOLD THAT WITH
OUR ADVANTAGES OF BEING A CHRISTIAN NATION AND
A DEMOCRACY, WE WILL BE, NEXT TO JAPAN, THE
LEADING NATION IN EAST ASIA. TODAY WE FIND
OURSELVES IN A STEADILY DECLINING POSITION
REGARDLESS OF WHAT MEASURE WE GO BY: POVERTY
INDEX, PER CAPITA SPENDING ON EDUCATION, CRIME
RATE, CORRUPTION RANKING, PEACE AND ORDER,
RURAL HEALTH, THE LIST GOES ON.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE EVEN FOUND OURSELVES,
INSPITE OF OUR LARGE POPULATION, WITH THE
LAMENTABLE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE ONLY MAJOR
SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATION THAT DID NOT WIN ANY
MEDAL AT THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED OLYMPIC GAMES.
CAN WE BLAME THE RELIGION SPAIN BROUGHT TO OUR
SHORES FIVE CENTURIES AGO FOR OUR LIMITATIONS
OR THE U.S. FOR THE FAILURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY?
SHOULDN'T OUR DECADES OF FREEDOM BE LONG ENOUGH
FOR US TO CORRECT ANY INHERITED
DISADVANTAGES?
WITH ALL THE TALENTED PEOPLE WE HAVE, WHY HAVE
WE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE A LEE KWAN YEW, WHO
IN ONE GENERATION BROUGHT HIS PEOPLE IN SINGAPORE
TO INCOME LEVELS OF THE U.S. OR GERMANY?
OR A K. T. LI OF TAIWAN, A PHYSICS GRADUATE OF
CAMBRIDGE, WHO INTRODUCED THE COMPUTER TO EVERY
AGE GROUP IN TAIWAN SO THAT THIS SMALL COUNTRY
HAS BECOME THE LARGEST EXPORTER OF COMPUTERS AND
COMPONENTS?
OR A MAHATHIR OF MALAYSIA WHO GREATLY IMPROVED
INFRASTRUCTURE AND INCREASED INCOME LEVELS OF
ALL CITIZENS IN A MIXED SOCIETY OF MALAYS,
CHINESE AND INDIANS?
OR A GENERAL PARK OF SOUTH KOREA WHOSE TOUGH
AND DISCIPLINED ADMINISTRATION INDUSTRIALIZED A
COUNTRY WHERE THE LARGE FIRMS SUCCESSFULLY
COMPETED WITH THE COMPANIES OF ITS FORMER
COLONIAL MASTER?
OR A DENG HSIAO PING WHO RELEASED THE ENERGY OF
HIS PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE IN 25 YEARS THE GREATEST
REDUCTION OF POVERTY IN WORLD HISTORY?
WE DID HAVE THE PROMISE OF A RAMON MAGSAYSAY WHO
AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE GREATLY IMPROVED PEACE
AND ORDER BUT WHOSE UNFORTUNATE EARLY DEATH 50
YEARS AGO PREVENTED HIM FROM CARRYING OUT A
PROGRAM TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE
BOTTOM GROUP OF OUR PEOPLE.
THEN WE HAD RAFAEL SALAS, A BRILLIANT GRADUATE
OF U.P. IN 1969, FRESH FROM MANAGING THE
TRANSFORMATION OF CHRONIC SHORTAGE INTO AN
ASTOUNDING PHILIPPINE RICE SUFFICIENCY
BREAKTHROUGH, SALAS ACCEPTED A UNITED
NATIONS OFFER TO HEAD A FLEDGLING FUND. HE
BELIEVED AT THE U.N. THERE WOULD BE A POSSIBLITY
OF MAKING A CONTRIBUTION TO SOLVING WHAT HE
THOUGHT WAS BECOMING ONE OF THE WORLD'S MAJOR
PROBLEMS - POPULATION. HE THOUGHT THAT
THE SAME STRATEGIES EMPLOYED IN THE RICE
SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM, WOULD WORK IN
A SOPHISTICATED INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
AS THEY DID IN TRADITION BOUND PHILIPPINE RURAL
COMMUNITIES. IN FACT HE WAS PROVEN RIGHT.
ALEX MARSHALL OF THE UNITED NATIONS POPULATION
FUND WRITES:
"THE CONSENSUS WHICH SALAS BUILT IS MORE THAN
AN ACT OF DIPLOMACY. IT IS THE SOLID EVIDENCE OF
THE RECOGNITION WORLDWIDE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF
POPULATION IN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES. IT HAS
HELPED TO CHANGE THE POLICIES OF GOVERNMENTS; IT
HAS HELPED TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE. IT HAS SET MEN AND WOMEN FREE TO MAKE
CHOICES FOR THEMSELVES, AND HELPED SECURE
THE FUTURE OF CHILDREN YET UNBORN. THEY AND ALL
OF US STAND IN HIS DEBT."
BUT FILIPINOS HAVE SURMISED THAT RAFAEL LEFT THE
PHILIPPINES BECAUSE HIS INTEGRITY AND COMPETENCE
COULD NOT SURVIVE IN A CLIMATE OF GOVERNMENT
CORRUPTION.
WILL U.P. BE ABLE TO PRODUCE OTHER LEADERS LIKE
SALAS AND CAN THEY SUCCEED IN THE PHILIPPINE
POLITICAL SOIL?
IN 1983, THIRTY YEARS AFTER HE HAD GRADUATED FROM
THIS UNIVERSITY, AND AT THAT TIME AN UNDER SECRETARY
GENERAL AT THE UNITED NATIONS, HE RETURNED HERE
TO RECEIVE AN HONORARY DOCTOR OF LAWS DEGREE FROM
HIS ALMA MATER. AS SALAS THANKED THE UNIVERSITY
FOR THE HONOR CONFERRED ON HIM, HE ALSO TOOK
LEAVE BY ASKING THE QUESTION:
"WHAT CAN THE SCHOLARS OF THIS UNIVERSITY DO TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF THE PHILIPPINES WHEN IT
WILL BE A COUNTRY OF 70 MILLION PEOPLE"?
HIS WIDOW, CARMELITA R. SALAS, THE HIGHLY RESPECTED
PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC,
SPEAKING AT THE WORLD POPULATION DAY FORUM IN MANILA
THIS LAST JULY, POINTED TO THIS VERY SAME CONCERN.
TODAY, SHE SAID, THE PHILIPPINES IS A COUNTRY OF
89 MILLION, AND IN 2030 WILL BE CLOSE TO 140 MILLION.
AGAIN, RAFAEL WOULD HAVE ASKED THE SCHOLARS OF THIS
UNIVERSITY THE SAME QUESTION TODAY.
I ASK: WHAT WOULD BE THEIR ANSWER?
POST EDSA I, IN FEBRUARY OF 1987, WHEN FREEDOM IN THE
PHILIPPINES HAD BEEN WON WITH WHAT THE WORLD WOULD
KNOW AS "PEOPLE POWER", SALAS WAS KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT
THE DISTRICT MEETING OF ROTARY CLUBS IN MANILA. IN
A SPEECH THAT ONE ROTARIAN REFERRED TO AS THE BEST
SONA HE HAD EVER HEARD, RAFAEL SPOKE ON "MANAGING THE
AFTERMATH". LET ME READ TO YOU PART OF WHAT HE SAID:
"BUT THIS FREEDOM CANNOT BE FULLY EXERCISED UNLESS
THERE IS ORDER. GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTED TO INSURE
PEACE, STABILITY AND CONTINUITY; TO ENABLE THE
CITIZENS TO PLAN THEIR FUTURE AND INSURE THE SURVIVAL
AND GROWTH OF THEIR CHILDREN. THE RESUMPTION OF
HOSTILITIES WITH THE NPA AND THE CONSTANT THREAT OF
REBELLION IN MINDANAO AND A VERY HIGH INCIDENCE OF
CRIME ARE POINTERS OF THE LACK OF ORDER I SPEAK OF.
INSECURITY STIFLES PRODUCTIVITY. NO LONG-TERM
INVESTMENT AND HIGH PRODUCTIVITY CAN BE ENCOURAGED
WHEN BUSINESSMEN FEEL UNCERTAIN AND INSECURE. THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS EXERTED A SINCERE EFFORT TO
RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. BUT TIME PRESSES. ORDER MUST
PREVAIL. A FREE SOCIETY CANNOT BE MOBILIZED FOR
DEVELOPMENT UNLESS THERE IS A FEELING OF SAFETY
AND CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE."
THE SAME SPEECH WOULD HAVE BEEN RELEVANT POST EDSA II.
HOW PROPHETIC AND UNFORTUNATE THAT THINGS HAVE NOT
CHANGED THE PAST 20 YEARS!
BUT "WHY" WE MUST ASK OURSELVES.
LET US BEGIN BY FOCUSING ON EDUCATION.
WE TEND TO UNFAIRLY BLAME EVERY CURRENT ADMINISTRATION
FOR OUR PROBLEMS. BUT CAN'T WE SEE THAT THE STEADY
DECLINE OF EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS IS THE CUMULATIVE
EFFECT OF THE NEGLECT OF MANY ADMINISTRATIONS AND THE
UNWILLINGNESS TO ADOPT LONG TERM SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS
THAT CANNOT BE SOLVED BY A RIBBON CUTTING EVENT!
THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF ANY ORGANIZATION DEPENDS
UPON ITS POLICIES AND EFFORTS ON DEVELOPING ITS
HUMAN RESOURCES. FOR A NATION TO ADOPT SHORT TERM
POLICIES ON EDUCATION IS NATIONAL SUICIDE! DOESN'T THE
SOLUTION OF PEACE AND ORDER PROBLEMS DEPEND UPON
RELATIVELY EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR
THE RICH AND POOR, FOR THE CHRISTIANS AND MOSLEMS?
2. WE AS A NATION ARE PROUD TO HAVE A UNIVERSITY OLDER
THAN HARVARD. PROUD THAT U.P. CELEBRATES THE SUCCESS
OF A HUNDRED YEARS. WE ARE PROUD OF ATENEO, LA SALLE
AND MANY OTHER CATHOLIC UNIVERSITIES WHERE MEN AND
WOMEN OF UPPER INCOME GROUPS ARE EDUCATED.
WE PRAISE THESE INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING BUT AS A
NATION WE SEEM TO ACCEPT THE SCANDALOUSLY HIGH
NATIONAL DROPOUT RATES OF STUDENTS IN BASIC
EDUCATION. THE FIGURES ARE WORSE IN MOSLEM AREAS AND
IN POOR COMMUNITIES.
IN MANY TOWNS AND VILLAGES, SYNERGEIA, LED BY NENE
GUEVARA, AND WORKING WITH MAYORS AND COMMUNITY
LEADERS WHO WANT CHANGE, HAS IMPROVED LITERACY RATES.
BUT MUCH, MUCH GREATER NATIONAL EFFORTS ARE NEEDED.
AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE LARGEST OF GOVERNMENT EDUCATION
FUNDS, SHOULDN'T U.P. ENDEAVOR TO ENLIST ITS MANY
SUCCESSFUL AND WEALTHY ALUMNI IN A CAMPAIGN TO RETURN
TO THEIR ALMA MATER THE BENEFITS THEY HAVE RECEIVED
FROM THE SCHOOL AND THUS ENABLE MORE FUNDS TO BE
DIVERTED FROM U.P. AND ALLOCATED TO BASIC EDUCATION?
SHOULD THE STUDENTS FROM UPPER INCOME GROUPS NOT BE
ASKED TO PAY FOR THE FULL COST OF EDUCATION? WHEN
UPPER INCOME FAMILIES SEND THEIR CHILDREN ABROAD,
THEY DO PAY "FULL TUITION". SHOULD THEY NOT BE ASKED
TO DO THE SAME IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY?
HAS U.P. STUDIED HOW NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES HAVE
DROPPED POVERTY LEVELS?
THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK JUST RELEASED A REPORT
POINTING OUT THAT THE PHILIPPINES AND INDIA, WHO
CLAIM TO BE DEMOCRACIES, LAG BEHIND EAST ASIAN
COUNTRIES IN REDUCING POVERTY. CHINA AND VIETNAM,
BOTH AUTHORITARIAN STATES, ARE THE TWO COUNTRIES
THAT HAVE RAPIDLY REDUCED POVERTY. ARE THERE
LESSONS TO BE LEARNED HERE?
WHY HAVE SINGAPORE AND THAILAND DEVELOPED HOSPITALS
FOR "MEDICAL TOURISM" WHILE WE SEND OUR EXCELLENT
DOCTORS AND NURSES TO DEVELOPED COUNTRIES? SHOULD
WE NOT ADVOCATE SOME SYSTEM WHERE DESTINATION
COUNTRIES COMPENSATE US FOR TRAINING THESE
PROFESSIONALS?
ARE INWARD REMITTANCES OF POOR OVERSEAS WORKERS
WITH DIVIDED FAMILIES OFFSETTING OUTWARD REMITTANCES
OF UPPER INCOME FILIPINOS, EDUCATED IN SUBSIDIZED
SCHOOLS LIKE U.P., AND SETTING UP HOUSEHOLDS ABROAD?
YOU CAN, OF COURSE, TELL ME THAT THE WORLD IS FLAT
AND YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE FREE TO MOVE ANYWHERE. YES
- OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD GO ABROAD - IT WIDENS
THEIR HORIZON AND GIVES THEM THE SKILLS TO BETTER
SERVE THEIR COUNTRY. BUT WE SHOULD STRIVE TO KEEP
THEIR HEARTS FILIPINO AND WITH A RESOLVE THAT THEY
WILL RETURN TO SERVE IN THEIR COUNTRY'S DEVELOPMENT.
AND GOVERNMENT POLICY SHOULD WORK WITH THEM TO USE
ITS LIMITED RESOURCES TO REDUCE POVERTY AND IMPROVE
THE LIVES OF ALL CITIZENS.
IS U.P. DOING ITS PART TO HELP GOVERNMENT ADOPT LONG
TERM EDUCATIONAL MEASURES TO ENSURE THIS?
3. WE ALL AGREE ON THE NEED OF NATIONAL UNITY. CAN
WE POINT TO THE POLITICS OF FRATERNITIES AS THE ROOT
OF THE EXCESSIVE TIME SPENT ON NATIONAL POLITICS? OR
IS THE LACK OF UNITY A BASIC DISADVANTAGE OF AN
ISLAND NATION?
IS THE SLUGGISH PACE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE
RESULT OF BLIND ACCEPTANCE OF WESTERN THINKING THAT
POLITICAL FREEDOM OR DEMOCRACY COMES AHEAD OF
ECONOMIC FREEDOM? DOESN'T DEMOCRACY ASSUME THAT
THERE MUST BE THE "RULE OF LAW" WHICH IMPLIES AN
INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY WITH WELL TRAINED AND
WELL PAID HONEST LAWYERS? WHERE JUDGES MAY BE
POORLY PAID AND SUBJECT TO POLITICAL PRESSURES IS
IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY LET
ALONE A WORKING DEMOCRACY?
U.P. HAS PRODUCED EXCELLENT LAWYERS AND MANY OF
THE BAR TOPNOTCHERS THAT ARE MANAGING THE LARGE
LAW FIRMS - BUT ARE THEY LEADERS IN REFORMING
THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM?
4. U.P. AND ASIA
HOW CLOSE IS U.P. TO RECOGNIZING THAT THE
PHILIPPINES IS PART OF ASIA AND THAT CHINA, INDIA
AND JAPAN WILL BE EXERTING MORE INFLUENCE ON OUR
FUTURE THAN THE U.S. AND EUROPE?
IS THE FACULTY OF U.P.'S SCHOOL OF ASIAN STUDIES
DEEPLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE CULTURE AND THE
POLITICAL THINKING OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND ARE THEY
PROFICIENT IN OTHER ASIAN LANGUAGES?
EVEN JAPAN, VERY CLOSELY ALLIED TO THE U.S., DOES
NOT HAVE THE GOVERNMENT OR ECONOMIC STRUCTURE OF
THE WESTERN WORLD. THE PARTY IN POWER HAS NOT
CHANGED FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND ITS CORPORATE
STRUCTURE AND BEHAVIOR ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM
WESTERN FIRMS.
WITH THE TOYOTA DONATION, YOU WILL AT LEAST HAVE
THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE FOR THE SCHOOL OF ASIAN
STUDIES. BUT THE FACULTY IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT
THAN THE BUILDING.
DOES OUR BEING THE ONLY CATHOLIC COUNTRY IN ASIA,
WITH AN EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE CHURCH LEADERSHIP,
SEEN ONLY IN POLAND AND MALTA, HAMPER OUR CAPACITY
TO UNDERSTAND OUR ASIAN NEIGHBORS? WHAT IS THE ROLE
OF U.P. AS THE ONLY WELL KNOWN PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY
THAT IS NOT CATHOLIC?
WITH A 6% MOSLEM MINORITY AND OUR DEPENDENCE ON
IMPORTED ENERGY, DOES U.P. HAVE A FACULTY THAT IS
KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE
MIDDLE EAST AND FLUENT IN ARABIC LANGUAGES?
TO FOLLOW U.S. POLICY, WHICH WILL HAVE TO FAVOR
ISRAEL, CAN ONLY SPELL DISASTER FOR THE PHILIPPINES.
HAS U.P. STUDIED WHAT MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN
TO NARROW THE EDUCATION GAP BETWEEN CHRISTIANS
AND MOSLEMS?
5. U.P. CAMPUS
ABOUT 10 DAYS AGO I WAS PRESENT AT THE CEREMONIES
WHEN TOYOTA, RESPONDING TO THE EFFORTS OF GEORGE TY,
AGREED TO DONATE THE VERY ATTRACTIVE P100 MILLION
BUILDING TO U.P. ITS ARCHITECT, JOSE DANILO SILVESTRE,
DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE, ASSURED ME THAT
HE AND OTHER ALUMNI LIKE MR. PALAFOX, NOTED URBAN
DESIGNER, WOULD BE WILLING TO DONATE THEIR TIME AND
EXPERTISE TO LANDSCAPE THE PRESENT CAMPUS.
MAINTENANCE OF A "NEW" CAMPUS CAN BE ASSIGNED TO
BUILDING OCCUPANTS OR FRATERNITIES, OR STUDENT
ORGANIZATIONS. MAYBE YOU CAN COLLECT PARKING FEES
FROM CARS PARKED IN THE CAMPUS. TALENTED FILIPINO
ARTISTS AND SCULPTORS CAN THEN BE ENCOURAGED TO
DISPLAY THEIR WORK IN THE CAMPUS!
DOES U.P. HAVE A DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR ITS LARGE
CAMPUS?
6. U.P. AND TOURISM
OUR 3,000,000 ARRIVALS A YEAR ARE WAY BEHIND
OUR NEIGHBORS' 10 TO 12 MILLION VISITORS. TOURISM
BENEFITS ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE. OUR
PEOPLE ARE KNOWN TO BE THE MOST HOSPITABLE AND
FRIENDLY. WE ARE AHEAD OF OUR NEIGHBORS IN ENGLISH,
THE FIRST LANGUAGE OF TOURISM.
WHEN I VISITED BOHOL LAST YEAR I WAS TOLD THE
INFLUX OF GERMAN TOURISTS TO THE ATTRACTIVE ISLAND
IS DUE TO THE 200 GERMANS WHO HAVE HAPPILY
SETTLED THERE WITH THEIR FILIPINA WIVES.
THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY WILL BE THE GROWTH AREA
OF THE COUNTRY. WILL YOUR DIFFERENT SCHOOLS PLAY
A MAJOR ROLE IN ASSISTING SECRETARY DURANO
ACHIEVE HIS TARGETS?
7. U.P. AND AGRICULTURE
I HAVE MET MANY THAIS WHO ARE GRADUATES OF THE
PRESTIGIOUS LOS BAムOS AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL. BUT I
WONDER WHY THE THAIS, WHO USUALLY BRING BACK A
FILIPINA WIFE, HAVE MADE THAI AGRICULTURE MUCH
MORE PRODUCTIVE AND EFFICIENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO DO HERE.
LET US TAKE NOTICE OF THE DOLE SUCCESS STORY. AS
DEAN OF THE BUSINESS SCHOOL, CESAR VIRATA HAD
STRONGLY ADVOCATED COOPERATION WITH LOS BAムOS.
THROUGH HIS EFFORTS, DOLE ESTABLISHED THEIR VERY
SUCCESSFUL AND PRODUCTIVE AGRI-BUSINESS OPERATIONS
IN MINDANAO.
WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST A
SOUND GOVERNMENT POPULATION POLICY, WHICH IN
TURN HAMPERS THE COUNTRY'S CAPACITY FOR ADDRESSING
ITS POPULATION GROWTH RATE, PERHAPS U.P.'S
CONTRIBUTION TO INCREASING RICE PRODUCTION, CAN
PREVENT A RECURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAD
THIS YEAR!
I WAS ON THE BOARD OF A MALAYSIAN PALM OIL COMPANY
THAT WAS DIVERSIFYING INTO BAMBOO, THEY TOLD ME
THE BAMBOO EXPERTS WERE IN LOS BAムOS. YET WE
IMPORT BAMBOO SHOOTS FROM CHINA!
SINCE AGRICULTURE IS STILL THE MOST IMPORTANT
PART OF OUR ECONOMY, SHOULDN'T U.P. THEN, IN
COOPERATION WITH SUCCESSFUL FARMERS, PUT
PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE STUDY AND IMPLEMENTATION
OF EFFICIENT FOOD PRODUCTION TO BRING FOOD
COSTS DOWN?
8. ALUMNI RELATIONS
A NEW UNIVERSITY HAS THE DISADVANTAGE OF NOT
HAVING A SUCCESSFUL ALUMNI GROUP THAT YOU CAN
TAP FOR FUNDS.
U.P. HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF CELEBRATING A
CENTENNIAL WITH VERY DISTINGUISHED AND WEALTHY
GRADUATES IN PRACTICALLY EVERY FIELD OF ACTIVITY.
BUT HAS YOUR DEPENDENCE ON GOVERNMENT FUNDS
RESULTED IN A NEGLECT OF YOUR ALUMNI? HOW MANY
BUILDINGS, LABORATORIES, AUDITORIUMS,
PROFESSORIAL CHAIRS HAVE BEEN DONATED BY YOUR
MANY PROSPEROUS ALUMNI?
MANY OF THE FACILITIES AT THE PHILIPPINE
GENERAL HOSPITAL NEEDS IMPROVEMENT. YET THIS
WAS THE TRAINING GROUND OF MANY DOCTORS FROM
U.P. ONE VERY SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE U.P. MEDICAL
SCHOOL GRADUATE IN THE U.S., WHO IS PLANNING
TO RETIRE HERE, TOLD ME HE WAS SHOCKED WHEN
SOME OF HIS CLASSMATES HERE WERE BRAGGING ABOUT
HOW LITTLE TAXES THEY WERE PAYING INSPITE OF
THEIR LUXURIOUS HOUSES, CARS AND TRIPS ABROAD!
ARE YOUR ALUMNI AWARE THAT THEY CAN LEGALLY
REDUCE TAXES BY DONATING TO U.P.? MAYBE
YEARLY SEMINARS TO UPDATE YOUR GRADUATES
ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THEIR PROFESSION
CAN ENCOURAGE THEM TO GIVE AN ANNUAL
AMOUNT TO U.P.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT A WELL ORGANIZED AND
AGGRESSIVE ALUMNI RELATIONS OFFICE WILL YIELD
LARGE DIVIDENDS FOR U.P. AND THE NATION.
9. FACULTY
THE GREATNESS OF A UNIVERSITY IS ALWAYS MEASURED
BY ITS FACULTY. FACULTY THAT WILL INSPIRE NOT
MERELY INSTRUCT. MENTORS THAT WILL ENCOURAGE
LEARNING AND THE USE OF THIS KNOWLEDGE TOWARDS
NATION BUILDING.
A NATION'S PROGRESS IS ALSO DETERMINED BY WHAT
IT DOES TO DEVELOP ITS HUMAN RESOURCES.
I READ THE REPORT OF YOUR NATIONAL COLLEGE OF
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNANCE AND WAS
VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE
FACULTY AND LECTURERS. ASIDE FROM SEMINARS,
PUBLICATIONS AND WORKSHOPS, WON'T IT BE WONDERFUL
IF THEY CAN IMPLEMENT THE MANY CHANGES THEY ARE
ADVOCATING, IN BASIC EDUCATION, IN THE CIVIL
SERVICE, IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND IN THE FIGHT
AGAINST CORRUPTION?
MY CONTACTS WITH YOUR FACULTY ARE MAINLY FROM
YOUR EXCELLENT SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND THE
BUSINESS SCHOOL AND, OF COURSE, WITH CYNTHIA
BAUTISTA WHO HAS GIVEN INVALUABLE HELP TO THE
MAGSAYSAY FOUNDATION IN FOCUSING ON ITS
PLANS FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.
IS THIS STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE I SEE ALSO FOUND
IN THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS?
CAN U.P. ENCOURAGE ITS BRIGHT FACULTY TO PUBLISH
OBJECTIVE POSITION PAPERS ON NATIONAL ISSUES
THAT WILL STOP THE ENDLESS AND CONFUSING DEBATES
THAT ARE IN FULL PAGE ADS IN THE DAILY NEWSPAPERS?
CONSIDERING THE CONTRIBUTION U.P. CAN MAKE IN
OUR NATION'S FUTURE, SHOULD THIS UNIVERSITY
NOT HAVE A "THINK TANK" WITH EXPERTS FROM ITS
DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, POSSIBLY ALSO WORKING WITH
NON U.P. GRADUATES, TO STUDY WHERE THE NATION
IS TODAY, ITS NEGATIVES AND POSITIVES, AND
HOW IT COULD MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEXT 25 AND
50 YEARS?
HOPEFULLY, OUR MANY BRIGHT PEOPLE WILL UNITE
BEHIND THIS PROGRAM TO REDUCE POVERTY AND PUT
THE PHILIPPINES AGAIN IN A RESPECTABLE
POSITION IN ASIA.
MAYBE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE RAISED
MAY BE EXPECTING TOO MUCH FROM AN EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION, WITH LIMITED FUNDS, TO SOLVE
ALL OF OUR NATIONAL PROBLEMS.
BUT IT IS THE PRICE OF LEADERSHIP. THE
BRIGHTEST YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN COME TO YOUR
CAMPUS AND FOR THESE YOUNG MINDS, YOU MUST
ENDEAVOR TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE BEST
FACULTY IN EVERY SCHOOL.
IT IS MY PROFOUND HOPE THAT AGAINST ALL
CHALLENGES, THIS GREAT UNIVERSITY, WITH AN
INSPIRED ADMINISTRATION, A STRONG FACULTY
AND AN ALUMNI CONSCIOUS OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY
TO THE NATION, CAN, TOGETHER WITH THE SECRETARY
OF EDUCATION, TAKE THE LEAD IN THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF MAJOR REFORMS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WITHOUT
WHICH POVERTY REDUCTION WILL BE DIFFICULT. AND
WITHOUT WHICH, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL ITS
CITIZENS TO BENEFIT FROM ECONOMIC GROWTH WILL NOT
BE ATTAINABLE.
WITH THE PRESENT FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES FACING
THE DEVELOPED WORLD, OPTIMISTS ARE IN SHORT
SUPPLY. BUT CAN WE HOPE THAT WE COULD FOLLOW THE
PATH OF IRELAND, ALSO A VERY STRONG CATHOLIC
COUNTRY, THAT WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE THE POLITICAL
PARTIES TO ADOPT A COMMON ECONOMIC PROGRAM WHICH
RESULTED IN THE RETURN OF THE YOUNG TALENTED
PEOPLE THAT HAD MIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES
AND UNITED KINGDOM? CAN THE VERY COMPETENT AND
DISCIPLINED ECONOMISTS OF U.P. LEAD IN SUCH
AN EFFORT?
ONLY THEN CAN A UNITED, PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS
NATION BECOME A REALITY!
U.P. ALUMNI CLOSELY IDENTIFY THE OBLATION WITH
THEIR ALMA MATER. BUT HOW MANY OF THEM REALLY
KNOW THAT WHEN THE SCULPTOR TOLENTINO CREATED THIS
FIGURE OF A YOUNG MAN WHOSE ARMS ARE OUTSTRETCHED
IN A GESTURE OF SACRIFICE TO HIS COUNTRY AND
HUMANITY, THE ARTIST ALSO PLACED AT ITS FEET
A CLUSTER OF *KATAKALANTA *LEAVES, A PLANT THAT
RAPIDLY MULTIPLIES TO SYMBOLIZE, AS TOLENTINO
TELLS US THE "UNDYING STREAM OF HEROISM IN
THE FILIPINO RACE."
* *
AS THIS UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES ITS HUNDREDTH
ANNIVERSARY I ASK A FINAL QUESTION: CAN WE
EXPECT FROM U.P.'S LEADERSHIP THIS HEROISM
THE COUNTRY BEGS FOR?
