“Fantastic!” was UP President Emerlinda R. Román’s response to the donations and pledges made by alumni and friends of UP at the recently concluded Donors’ Night at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel on May 8.
The event held in honor of the Centennial donors was well attended by the veritable who’s who in business, politics, academia and media.
UP alumni in Congress who were in attendance that night were Senate President Manuel B. Villar Jr., and senators Edgardo J. Angara (who is also the UP Centennial Commission chair), Juan Ponce Enrile and Loren B. Legarda, and congressmen Mar-len Abigail S. Binay (2nd District Makati), Anna York P. Bondoc (4th District Pampanga), Edgardo M. Chatto (1st District Bohol), Salvador H. Escudero III (1st District Sorsogon), Dulce Ann K. Hofer (2nd District Davao City), Adam Relson L. Jala (3rd District Bohol), Edcel C. Lagman (1st District Albay), Jesus Crispin C. Remulla (3rd District Cavite), Isidro T. Ungab (1st District Parañaque), Luis R. Villafuerte (2nd District Camarines Sur) and Eduardo C. Zialcita (1st District Parañaque).
The Donors’ Night is the University’s annual dinner for individuals and organizations whose contributions allow UP maintain academic excellence and pursue advanced studies in various fields. Dr. David M. Consunji, chair of both the Semirara Mining Corporation and the DMCI Holdings Inc. and an alumnus of the UP Diliman College of Engineering (UPDCoE), hosted this year’s dinner. Victoria Bello-Jardiolin, founder and chair of “Natasha” and UP Diliman College of Business Administration (UPDCBA) alumna, and an anonymous UPDCoE alumnus co-sponsored the evening’s cocktails.
Welcoming the donors, Román announced the signing of the new UP Charter into law on April 29, making UP the country’s National University.
“The new Charter provides UP with the flexibility to meet the challenges of the 21st century to develop our assets to offer our faculty a more competitive compensation package.... The new Charter grants institutional and fiscal autonomy as well as grants it (UP) tax exemptions on the importation of equipment, supplies and books,” Román said.
In spite of the new UP Charter, and as the University moves into its second century, the University President said fund-raising will remain UP’s continuing agenda.
“[I]f we are to live up to our role as the premier educational institution in the country, if we are to fulfill our mission as the National University, we need to always be at the cutting edge of things. Our university is only as good as its faculty and the faculty is only as good as the scholarship it generates and inspires… our priority must continue to be research and development…Thus, fund-raising will be a continuing agenda,” she said.
Román said the campaign for the UP Centennial Fund is nearing its goal. She thanked Congress for releasing to UP more than its regular budget. The raised funds are earmarked for faculty development, student scholarships, modernization of campus programs and facilities and additional benefits for the athletes and the artists.
Giving the donors credit for their generous support, the University President said, “None of these would have been possible without your gracious generosity,” and that the evening’s affair is UP’s modest way of saying “thank you to all of you.”
The more than 150 guests who attended the affair donated funds for professorial chairs, scholarships, equipment and renovations and constructions of facilities. There were also donors to the Centennial Fund, that is designed to augment UP’s income.
Meanwhile, Angara who chairs the Centennial Commission expressed his delight in the donors’ support for UP’s science and technology programs while opining that UP must reposition itself as foremost in higher education with the current fast-paced changes around the world.
“The world has already drastically changed direction. Curriculum has changed. Educational methodology has changed, and even the direction of knowledge is changing. That is why I am happy that you (donors) are going to concentrate and increase our investment in science and technology (S&T) because I believe (that) in the next decade or so, science and technology will be the drivers of growth and the creators of wealth in the world,” Angara said
Angara who was UP president from 1981 to 1987 added UP must be able to use the generated funds in programs that will have great impact.
“This injection of fresh funds for faculty development, physical plants, modernization of the curriculum, it is up to the Board of Regents and the University President how to use it with great impact. Money will be useful but if scattered all over the place, I do not think it will make an impact at all. (So,) it is in the prioritization: the sense of anticipation—what would be the future of the University (and) in what area should we concentrate,” he said.
He also said the university must veer itself from the perception of being an “elitist institution” but instead work at being an “elite institution” representative of the country’s various geographical areas and sectors of the society.
In appreciation of their support, the University presented each donor with a painting of the UP Carillon, a landmark in the University and the first carillon in the country. The paintings of the Carillon are works of 11 chosen artists from the faculty, students and alumni of the UP Diliman College of Fine Arts.
On hand to present the gifts to the donors were Román, Angara, UP Diliman chancellor Sergio S. Cao, UP Manila chancellor Ramón L. Arcadio, UP Los Baños chancellor Luis Rey I. Velasco, UP Visayas chancellor Glenn D. Aguilar and UP Open University chancellor Grace J. Alfonso.
After the presentation of gifts, UP received more pledges for professorial chairs, scholarships and the Centennial Fund, to cite a few.
Pledges for centennial professorial chairs were from French Baker founder and CEO Johnlu Koa and Security Bank through representative Melissa Aquino for UPDCBA; the PHINMA Foundation in honor of Roger Murga for UPDCoE; Union Bank through its president and COO Victor B. Valdepeñas and former Energy Secretary Vicente S. Perez Jr. for the UP Diliman School of Economics (UPDSE); and lawyer Susan Mendoza representing the family of former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza for the College of Law (UPCL) in honor of the former solicitor general. Orlando Vea, chief wireless adviser of PLDT-Smart Foundation pledged on a personal basis for two professorial chairs, one each for UPDSE and UPDCoE.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) through UPCL alumnus Ronnie Reyes representing PCSO chair Sergio O. Valencia, pledged P3 million for the Iskolar ng Bayan Centennial Scholarship Fund. Philex Mining Corporation chair Walter Brown pledged to donate for a scholarship fund in honor of his wife UPDCBA alumna Anabel Brown. Meanwhile, Metrobank Foundation expressed to continue its scholarship funds to the various UP units. Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto B. Sobrepeña was on hand to receive UP’s gift that night.
Vea in behalf of PLDT-Smart Foundation pledged P25 million to the Centennial Fund. Meanwhile, Valdepeñas pledged in behalf of Union Bank P10 million for UPDSE.
Quezon City mayor Feliciano “SB” Belmonte Jr., represented by his son Kevin, expressed his support for UP with the Betty Go-Belmonte Centennial Fund, as Makati mayor Jejomar Binay through his daughter Makati (2nd District) representative Mar-len Abigail, expressed support via the Centennial professorial chair for the UP Diliman College of Arts and Letters (UPDCAL) and scholarships for UPCL.
Two Media organizations, the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) and The Philippine Star (PStar) pledged donations to the UP Diliman College of Mass Communication (UPDCMC). PDI, through publisher Isagani Yambot representing PDI president Sandy Prieto-Romualdez, pledged P2 million (and will be raised to P8 million), while PStar through Kevin Belmonte, representing PStar CEO Miguel Belmonte, pledged P1 million.
At the same time, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) expressed its additional support to UP through its executive director, veteran journalist and UPDCMC alumna Malou Mangahas.
Members of the Centennial Commission also gave pledges that night.
Centennial Commission members who pledged for professorial chairs were vice chair Magdaleno B. Albarracin Jr., for a professorial chair of P1.5 million at the UPDCAL in honor of his mentor Dr. Concepción Dadufalza, Dr. Gregorio T. Alvior for UP Visayas, lawyer Eduardo F. Hernandez, lawyer Gizela M. Gonzalez-Montinola for UPCL in honor of her father Gonzalo and Dr. Angelita T. Reyes for the UP Manila College of Medicine.
Commission member Robina Gokongwei-Pe pledged for a classroom at the UPDSE. Asia’s Fashion Czar and Commission member José “Pitoy” Moreno, a previous benefactor of scholarships, delighted those present when he quipped “I don’t know yet how much I will pledge.”
Commission member Diosdado P. Banatao, pledged US$500,000 to the Friends of UP Foundations of America (FUPFA) for UPDCoE. Banatao is managing partner of Tallwood Venture Capital and executive chairman of the board and interim CEO for SiRF Technology Holdings Inc.
Other Commission members present that night were Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas deputy governor Nestor A. Espenilla, UP Regent Nelia T. Gonzalez and Commission on Higher Education chair Romulo Neri. Centennial Commission executive director Benjamin C. Sandoval and Centennial Commission spokesperson Dr. Elena E. Pernia were also present.
Responding in behalf of the donors were PHINMA President and CE O and EMAR Corporation President Ramón R. del Rosario Jr. and Senate President Villar.
Del Rosario said while the new UP Charter has numerous desirable provisions, the focus of UP’s role as the National University is particularly exciting and timely.
“My hope is that the concept of strengthening UP as the country’s National University, that as this becomes more concrete, it will become evident that the State’s stated objective of promoting, fostering, nurturing and protecting the right of all citizens to accessible quality education is best achieved not through a proliferation of state and local colleges and universities, but through a strengthened, reinvigorated University of the Philippines that can build on its 100-year history of excellence and perhaps establish a campus in every one of our country’s regions,” Del Rosario said.
He opined using the country’s available resources to build a world class national university offering accessible and high quality education is a far better move than putting up dozens of mediocre state colleges and universities.
Del Rosario added that nothing would please UP supporters more than to see the University fulfill its mandate of developing into a strong world class national university, “that helps Filipinos from all walks of life achieve their dream of a good education leading to a better quality of life.”
For his part, Senate President Villar said it is because of his UP education that he was able to understand and express his love of country.
“Sa Pamantasan ng Pilipinas ko nakita ang pagmamahal sa bayan…Doon ko nakita ang kahalagahan ng pagmamahal sa bayan…pagmamahal sa kapwa. (It is in the University of the Philippines where I discovered love of country. It is where I learned love for my fellowmen).
The senator said it is difficult to think what he would be now had he not had a UP education. Challenging those present, he said the easiest way to help the underprivileged, particularly the youth, have a decent life is to help UP.
“Kung balang araw sila ay makapag aral sa Pamantasan ng Pilipinas anong pagbabago ang mangyayari sa kanilang buhay. Kahit papaano, napakaraming bata ang mababago natin ang kaisipan, mababago natin ang buhay. [Ang] mga batang ito na kung hindi makararating sa Pamantasan ng Pilipinas [ay] hindi na nila mararamdaman ang kaunlaran, ang pagtaas ng antas ng kanilang kabuhayan… Tuwing may makikita tayo na mahihirap na bata… kung wala tayong maisip na paraan kung paano sila matutulungan, simplehan na lang natin, tulungan na lang natin ang Pamantasan ng Pilipinas. At sapat na iyon para makatulong tayo na makapagpabago ng buhay ng higit na nakararami sa ating mga kababayan. (If they are someday given the chance to study in UP, their lives would change. In a way, we will be an influence to the youth and give them a chance to have better lives. These youths may never reach their full potential if not given the chance of a UP education…[I]f we cannot think of ways to help them, the easiest way to reach them is to help UP. And that is how we may help our countrymen to have better lives),” Villar said.
Meanwhile, Fernando Zobel de Ayala and Ma. Victoria E. Añonuevo, president and SVP of Ayala Land Inc., respectively, presented UP with the check in the amount of P100 million as advance lease payment of the UP North Property Holdings Inc. for the UP Science and Technology Park. Román, Cao, representing retired Justice Abraham F. Sarmiento, Angara and former UP president Francisco Nemenzo received the check for UP.
The Donors’ Night was capped with the singing of “UP Naming Mahal” led by UP Diliman Chancellor Cao and accompanied on piano by UPDCoE dean Rowena C.L. Guevara.
This year’s Donors’ Night was organized by the committee headed by UPDCBA dean Erlinda S. Echanis and Sandoval (co-chairs), with UP Diliman vice chancellor for student affairs Elizabeth L. Enriquez, UP Diliman College of Fine Arts dean Florentina P. Colayco, Dr. Rosario Torres-Yu and Prof. Ludendorffo T. Decenteceo as members. (Mariamme D. Jadloc, UPD Information Office)