A LETTER FROM W. SyCip
a forwarded email...
i received an email from my ChE instructor Ninette Ramirez and i was shocked by the message. I ought to make a reply and end up making an essay which i will be shortly posting after this post. So here it is.
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 BAÑOS 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 BAÑOS. 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 BAÑOS. 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?
CIAO!! God Bless!
