Alumni News
44th Regional Alumni Institute report
Philippine senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Davao City congressman Isidro Ungab, and Department of Science and Technology secretary Fortunato de la Peña, representing President Rodrigo Duterte, led the legislative and executive branches of government in pledging their support to the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao’s expansion plan encapsulated in eight resolutions presented at the 44th UP Regional Alumni Institute (RAI) held on 22-23 November 2019 at the Grand Regal Hotel, Davao City.
The theme of the two-day event was “Attaining inclusive and sustainable development in Mindanao through investment in UP Mindanao’s programs.” Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio sent her warm welcome to the delegates through her representative Davao City planning officer Ivan Cortez. In his message, UP Alumni Association president and alumni regent Reynaldo Laserna recalled the alumni’s efforts towards the establishment of UP Mindanao. In turn, UP president Danilo Concepcion offered his vision for UP Mindanao: “Ano po ba ang balak natin sa Mindanao? Nahulí man ang Mindanao sa pagkakalikha nito―pang anim ata siya na campus na ating naitatag outside Diliman―ay sisiguruhin natin na ang UP Mindanao ay hahabol sa development at baka nga malampasan pa ng UP Mindanao ang ilang pang mga CU [constituent universities] na naunang itinatag sa kanya.” (What do we want for Mindanao? While UP Mindanao might have been created later―the sixth campus established outside Diliman―we will ensure that UP Mindanao will keep abreast with developments and perhaps exceed the other CUs that have been created earlier.)
UP Mindanao chancellor Larry Digal then presented the UP Mindanao’s strategic plan, which focuses on three strategic themes: Molding Learners into Leaders, Transforming Insights into Impacts, and Building a Campus into a Community. These themes are translated into big-ticket projects by the university in response to the needs of Mindanao such as expanded academic offerings and the creation of the College of Human Kinetics, the College of Medicine, and the College of Engineering; strengthening R&D in the two streams of Mindanao arts and cultures and sustainable agri- and biosystems and the application of knowledge generated to public service and intellectual property utilization; and physical expansion of UP Mindanao’s campus into a “green university town” through the completion of the Davao City-UP Sports Complex and the establishment of a botanical garden, museums, and a science and technology park, just to name a few.
Digal said that the establishment of UP Mindanao twenty-four years ago has given the University of the Philippines “the first-mover advantage.” He added, “Today, various universities from the National Capital Region and Luzon are opening campuses here in Mindanao, perhaps lured by the promise of vast opportunities. Hence, UP has been afforded a twenty-five-year head start to establish itself in Mindanao, and we need to take advantage of this opportunity.” However, he notes that the university will be highly dependent on government to spur the university’s expansion to address Mindanao’s diverse needs.
Senator Zubiri stated, “I support your resolutions for a science and technology park, your botanical garden, the college of medicine, and your sustainable agri-biosystems research and development. I will provide additional funding from the Senate and let’s make our dreams happen.”
Congressman Ungab, in turn, said, “I can already foresee that you will achieve your goal with the combined support of able delegates from the legislature, the local and the national executive departments up to the chief executive. It may not be easy to implement your strategic plan for it takes measures of patience, tolerance, and understanding as you go along the five-year plan but it is timely, considering that the budget call for fiscal year 2021 is near approaching. Be in time for the budget call so that you can include in your budget proposals the implementation of programs and projects.”
“Let us compete!” said Secretary de la Peña in his response after receiving the resolutions on behalf of President Duterte from Mr. Sebastian Angliongto, chairman of the UP Mindanao Foundation Inc. (UPMFI). “UP Mindanao should aim to be a comprehensive university. A comprehensive university is highly justified because UP Mindanao has only one campus. The new programs will determine what will be necessary to build and the research to undertake,” he said.
Other invited speakers to the RAI included UPAA director Robert Aranton who talked about the role of the alumni network in the expansion plan, Department of Agriculture undersecretary Rodolfo Vicerra on the initiatives under Secretary William Dar, former presidential adviser on the peace process Atty. Jesus Dureza who shared his insights from that assignment, Department of Tourism undersecretary Arturo Boncato who spoke on tourism and its potential for growth in Mindanao, and National Economic Development Authority assistant secretary Merceditas Sombilla who proposed UP Mindanao’s strengthened participation in the Regional Development Councils.
The speakers were joined by panelists Mindanao Development Authority director Reyzaldy Tan who represented their chairperson Emmanuel Piñol, Davao City planning officer Ivan Cortez who represented Mayor Duterte-Carpio, former UP Los Baños chancellor Dr. Luis Rey Velasco, and UPMFI vice chairperson John Gaisano.
In his closing remarks, UP Regent Angelo Jimenez highlighted the strategic advantages presented by Mindanao’s location and suggested that UP Mindanao direct some attention to the many island nations in Oceania. "If you look at the larger picture, we achieve a strategic view and see that Mindanao is in the heart of Southeast Asia and Oceania with its diplomatic and commercial advantages, which why we need to have a strong presence in education," he said.
Joining the 230 alumni and UP and UPAA officials who attended the RAI were distinguished guests such as Deputy Consul-General Duokun Tang of the People’s Republic of China consulate, DA undersecretary Evelyn Laviña, and Board of Investments governor Napoleon Concepcion.
The Regional Alumni Institute was organized by the UP Mindanao Foundation Inc. (UPMFI) and UP Mindanao in cooperation with the UP Alumni Association (UPAA) national and Davao City chapter.
Speech of Chancellor Larry N. Digal at the 44th RAI
Stone by Stone
PROF. LARRY N. DIGAL, PHD
Chancellor
University of the Philippines Mindanao
Maayong hapon sa atong tanan!
• Second, provide a special scholarship program and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving Muslims and other members of cultural communities to qualify for admission to the University”; and
Guided by these four principles, we came up with three strategic themes in the next five years.
We will also engage our partners for change such as the alumni, government, industry, communities, and other stakeholders to achieve greater impact.
• Second is the establishment of a Knowledge, Innovation, Science and Technology Park, which will be undertaken by the university with the support of key government agencies such as Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Trade and Industry and aims to strengthen the relationship among academe, government, and industry in bringing to market knowledge products from research;
• And third is a world-class Botanical Garden and various cultural gardens, which will be undertaken by the university with the support of the Department of Tourism and the National Commission for Culture and Arts and other agencies and aims to showcase Mindanao’s bio- and cultural diversity.
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Speech of UP President Atty. Danilo L. Concepcion at the 44th RAI
Speech of UP President Atty. Danilo L. Concepcion at the 44th Regional Alumni Institute
Senator Zubiri, the representative of Mayor Sara, Vice-Consul of the Peoples Republic of China, Regent Laserna, who is also the incumbent president of the UP Alumni Association, Regent Angelo Jimenez, who was also my former student, former chancellor Rey Velasco of UPLB who is also here, former chancellor Sylvia Concepcion, BOI governor Napoleon Concepcion, who is also an alumnus, Chancellor Larry Digal and officials of UP Mindanao, officials of the UP Alumni Association and UP Alumni Association in Mindanao, UP Mindanao Foundation president and Regional Alumni Institute chair Atty. Marie Dinah Tolentino-Fuentes, UP Mindanao vice-chair Mr. John Gaisano Jr, UP Mindanao Foundation chairman of the board Mr. Sebastian Angliongto, higit sa lahat ang aking, pong, butihing kabiyak Atty. Gaby Concepcion, nag-absent, po, siya sa Unang Hirit just to be with us, sa ating mga kasama sa university, mga alumni, mga kaibigan, magandang hapon, po, sa inyong lahat.
Ako ay lubusang nagagalak na tayo ay nagtitipon-tipon. Tayong lahat ay nagmamahal at nagmamalasakit sa UP, nagmamahal and nagmamalasakit sa Mindanao. Kung ang UP ay para sa bayan, bakit wala ang UP dito sa Mindanao kung saan may matinding kahirapan? Ito ang tanong ng ating mga alumni sa Mindanao noong dekada nobenta. Ito rin ang simula ng kanilang pagpagpapamalas ng pagmamahal at pag mamalasakit sa Mindanao. Mahalaga para sa kanila ang kahalagahan ng isang UP campus dito para maibsan kung hindi man tunay na mabawi ang kahirapan sa rehiyon. Tulung-tulong na nagkampanya ang ating mga alumni at mga mambabatas noon para isulong ang pagtatatag ng UP campus sa Mindanao. Bukod dito, nangalap din sila ng pondo para maitayo ang UP Mindanao Foundation na unang naglalayon na hikayatin ang UP faculty mula sa iba’t-ibang mga kampus na magturo dito sa UP Mindanao; nagbibigay na rin ng tulong pinansiyal sa ating mga mahihirap nga magaaral. Para sa lahat na bumubuo ng UP Mindanao Foundation kasama ang UP Alumni Association Davao Chapter na nag organisa ng ating pagpupulong o pagtitipon ngayon, tanggapin, po, ninyo ang aking taos-pusong pasasalamat.
Tunay na malayo na ang narating ng UP Mindanao. Itong nakaraang buwan lamang ay pinasinayaan natin ang Philippine Genome Center Mindanao Satellite Facility. Sa tulong ng DOST at Monde Nissin may bagong equipment ang UP Mindanao Fermentation and Purification Laboratory na nagkakahalaga ng 12 milyong piso. Umani ng mga parangal ang mga propesor at magaaral ng UP Mindanao sa ika-siyam na health research and development expo.
Nagtamo ng 100% passing ang ating BS Food Technology nang pumasa lahat ng ating mga graduates na kumuha ng chemical technician licensure exam.
Marami pa, po, ang nasa aking listahan ng mga nagawa at naabot ng UP Mindanao; mula sa mga international conference at seminar, workshops ng mga departamento, mga libro at paglalathala ng ating mga faculty, mga infrastructure projects gaya ng Davao City-UP Sports Complex, hanggang sa mga pampublikong serbisyo ng ating mga magaaral, faculty, at mga kawani.
Sa katunayan, kabilang ang UP Mindanao sa Mindanao Earthquake Response Team na kasalukuyan ay nasa Makilala, North Cotabato, at nagbibigay ng serbisyong medical at psychological sa mga biktima ng nagdaang lindol. Katatapos lang din ang mga ginawang geological at structural assessments ng ating mga expert sa mga gusali sa Makilala, sa Cotabato.
Tunay na malayo na ang narating ng UP Mindanao. Ngunit malayo pa ang ating tatahakin. Kasunod, po, ay ibabahagi ni Chancellor Larry ang kanyang mga adhikain para sa UP Mindanao at ang mahalaga nitong papel sa kaunlaran ng rehiyon at maging sa buong bansa na rin. Sapagkat may obligasyon ang UP na paglingkuran ang buong sambayanan. Walang saysay ang husay at dangal kung hindi ito i-aalay sa sambayanan, lalo na sa ating mga hikahos na kababayan. Ang mandatong ito ang nagbibigay inspirasyon sa mga taga-UP na patuloy pang magpa-dalubhasa hindi para sa salapi at sa tagumpay bagkus para sa paglilingkod sa iba. Ako, po, ay lubusang nagagalak na makalipas ang mahigit na dalawang dekada, buhay na buhay pa rin sa UP ang pagmamahal natin sa ating pamantasan at ang ating pagmamalasakit sa Mindanao. Nawa’y panatiliin, po, nating nag-aalab ang pagmamahal nating ito sapagkat ang UP ay Universidad ng Pilipinas para sa Pilipinas.
Kaya lang, natalo, po, tayo sa nakaraang basketbol game. Alam ninyo, pag lumalaban tayo sa basketbol, sa championship, lahat, po, ng state universities and colleges sa Pilipinas ay kakampi natin. At lahat ng unibersidad sa Maynila, maliban doon sa ating kalaban, ay kakampi din natin. Pero dahil hindi tayo ang lumaban doon sa championship, hindi na, po, naging exciting ang championship. Exciting lang ang championship pag tayo ang lumalaban. Kaya lang, dahil matatalino ang mga estudyante natin, exempted lagi tayo sa finals.
Hindi man tayo number one sa basketbol, number one naman tayo sa ranking. Tayo nga lamang ang unibersidad sa Pililpinas na pumasok sa ranking. Bago ako pumasok ng panungkulan bilang pangulo ng ating unibersidad tayo ay nasa top 1,000. A year after, tayo’y nasa top 800. A year after, tayo ay nasa top 600. At ngayon tayo ay nasa top 500 na sa buong mundo. Hindi kasama roon ang iba pang mga eskwelahan. Sabi nga nila, manalo o matalo, UP pa rin tayo. Sila, others lang. Sa southeast Asia, dati tayo ay kulelat din. Dati rati siguro ang ranking nating diyan kung hindi pang labing dalawa ay pang sampu. Pero ngayong sa buong southeast Asia tayo ay number four na. Number one ang National University of Singapore. Parang UP-Ateneo yan, lampaso tayo niyan. Number two ang Namyang University sa Singapore, at number three ang Universiti of Malaya. Natanggal natin sa pwesto ang Chulalongkorn University, ang Baylor sa Indonesia, at marami pang unibersidad sa Singapore at Thailand.
Sa susunod na taon ay susuportahan natin na ang lahat ng ating reporma matutupad upang umunlad ang ating unibersidad sa ating pag-asa, tataas pa tayo ng mataas pa sa ranking natin sa buong mundo.
Mindanao. Ano, po, ba ang balak natin sa Mindanao? Nahuli man ang Mindanao sa pagkakalikha nito -parang pang-apat ata siya o pang anim ata siya na campus na ating naitatag outside Diliman-ay sisiguruhin natin na ang UP Mindanao ay hahabol sa development at baka nga malampasan pa ng UP Mindanao ang ilang pang mga CU na naunang itinatag sa kanya. Dito sa Mindanao ay itatayo natin ang College of Human Kinetics. Ang UP Mindanao ay pinaki-usapan ko na. Una kong pinaki-usapan nito si Chancellor Beng pero dahil natapos na yung term ni Chancellor Beng e di nalipat na yung aking paki-usap. Sabi ko lang paki-usap pero actually utos iyon. Utos kay Chancellor Digal na buo-in na yung curriculum para sa Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics sa Mindanao at ilista na ang lahat ng pangangailangan upang ito ay atin nang maumpisahan.
Sa aking palagay kayang-kaya natin itong ipatupad next year. Next year dapat simulan na natin ito. Bakit kaya natin ito simulan next year? Kasi, po, ang president ng Pilipinas ay taga-Mindanao, ang chairman ng committee on appropriations sa House of Representatives ay taga-Mindanao, ang budget secretary ay hindi lang taga Mindanao, taga Davao pa. At ang ating magiting na senador sa congreso ay taga Mindanao. Si Senator Migz Zubiri ang akin, pong, number one na supporter sa Senado habang ang pinag-uusapan ay Mindanao, kasi parang siya lang ang UP graduate na taga-Mindanao. Si Koko nga pala who was also my student, kaklase ni misis.
At may balak din tayo, may plano tayo na makipag-tulungan sa Philippine Olympic Committee na pinamumunuan ng isang taga Mindanao, si secretary Butch Ramirez, na gawing national training center ng ating mga national athletes ang UP Mindanao sapagkat nandito na ang makabago at maganda na sports facilities. At nangako naman si representative Sid Ungab, who’s an alumnus of UPLB, na sinabi niya pagsisikapan namin sa three-year term namin ay makumpleto lahat ng pasilidad sa sports sa UP Mindanao. Sa susunod na mga araw, pupunta din dito ang mga manlalaro natin mula sa UP Diliman. Sila ay magte-train dito sa Mindanao siguro mga isa o dalawang buwan. Sapagka’t gagawin, po, natin itong National Sports Training Center.
Para ito ay matupad, kailangan natin ng additional facilities at unang una dito ay additional classrooms. Pangalawa, kailangan din natin ng dormitory facilities para sa ating mga atleta at ating magaaral. Nakita ko lang, po, ang suporta ng mga senador dahil humingi tayo ng pondo para magpagawa tayo ng Balay Atleta sa Diliman. Hindi, po, tayo nag dalawang salita. Binigay nila agad pero kailangan nating makita ito sa bi-cameral. Senator Migz, bantayan natin na hindi matanggal doon sa dagdag sa insertion yung 300 million para sa Balay Atleta. Hihingi din, po, tayo ng ganong halaga para sa Balay Atleta sa UP Mindanao.
Iyon, pong, iba pa nating mga balak, hahayaan ko nang si Chancellor Larry Digal ang mag-bulgar sa inyo. Marami pa, po, tayong balak sa Mindanao. At ako ay labis na nagagalak sapagkat ang mga dumalo pala sa tipon ngayong araw ay nagmula pa sa malalayong panig ng Mindanao. Ngayon ay bumabalik sa akin yung ating awit, “malayong lupain, amin mang marating, di rin magbabago ang damdamin.”
Magandang hapon, po, sa inyong lahat.
Earthquake response, 2019
The University of the Philippines (UP) combined its expertise in earth and health sciences and quick public service with a unified response within a week after the Mindanao earthquakes of October 2019. Three strong earthquakes occurred on 16, 29, and 31 October with magnitudes of 6.3, 6.6 and 6.5, respectively. The province of North Cotabato was hardest hit with 21,110 houses destroyed, 15 roads and bridges damaged, and several other infrastructures similarly affected. The social welfare department website reported 24,000 displaced persons were in evacuation centers with another 7,465 outside evacuation centers, with a total of 188,533 affected persons.
In the aftermath of the earthquakes, UP executive vice president Teodoro Herbosa announced that UP Foundation, Inc. will receive donations from members of the UP community who expressed their willingness to help. Local donors can pay to Union Bank of the Philippines-Commonwealth branch, savings account no. 102270018964, and donors from abroad may pay to Philippine National Bank-UP Campus branch, savings account no. 108660029835, with PNB Swift Code: PNBmPHmm.
The UP Mindanao Pahinungod also announced its donation drive for relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction. Donations will be accepted through the UP Strategic Research and Management Foundation with address at School of Management Building, UP Mindanao, Mintal, Davao City, with tel. no. (+63 82)295-2188. Donations may be deposited to Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC)-CM Recto, Davao City Branch, Account No. 1522601256 with Swift code RBCPHMM. Further inquiries may be directed to UP Mindanao Pahinungod through 09196398805 (Smart), 09451076756 or 09674194345 (Globe/TM), or by private message to https://www.facebook.com/upmindanao.pahinungod.
“Four barangays in Makilala suffered 100% damage,” said Dr. Cuaresma. “Resettlement is the only prospect for those families whose homesites are now uninhabitable,” he said.
Meanwhile, local musicians, including some alumni, composed and recorded a motivational song and initiated a donation drive that culminated in a charity concert “Usá ka bundákan para sa mga naíg-an,” (“A simultaneous drop/hit for the hard-hit”) on 16 November 2019 in Davao City.