UP Newsletter June 2012

U.P. Newsletter 1

Wired UP Back & better The websites of the UP System and UP Los Baños are now more visual and more interactive.

UP Visayas’ also displays a slideshow, while UP Manila’s offers health advisories and a link to its new Twitter account.

New appointments

V O L U M E X X XIII

NUMBER 6

JUNE 2 0 12

DILIMAN, QUEZON CITY

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

UP conducts first oceanographic survey of Benham Rise Photo by Dr. Gil Jacinto

The crew of RV Roger Revelle lowers a research device into the sea off Luzon’s eastern coast.

Photo by Bong Arboleda

A new member of the UP Board of Regents and a returning one took their oaths before Commission on Higher Education and UP Board of Regents Chair Patricia Licuanan last June 4 at Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City.

Former Regent Magdaleno Albarracin Jr. returns to the board, taking over the vacancy left by Regent Bibeth Orteza Siguion-Reyna. UP Manila Bachelor of Arts in Political Science student Cleve Kevin Robert Arguelles was sworn in as student regent after Student Regent Krissy Conti ended her term.

The same day, the BOR, during its 1,280th meeting, also approved the appointments of deans and directors in UP Diliman (UPD), UP Manila (UPM), UP Los Baños (UPLB), UP Visayas (UPV) and UP Baguio (UPB).

In UPD, Dr. Flora Elena Mirano was appointed dean of the College of Arts and Letters; Dr. Roland Tolentino, dean of the College of Mass Communication; Prof.

Ronualdo Dizer, dean of the College of Human Kinetics; Dr. Mario delos Reyes, dean of the School of Urban and Regional Planning; and Dr. Cynthia Palmes-Saloma, director of the UPD National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. The appointments are effective June 1, 2012 to May 31, 2015.

Earlier, UPD Chancellor Caesar Saloma swore into office Dr. Carolyn Sobritchea as the dean of the Asian Center with a term that began on April 1 and will end on May 31, 2013, and Dr. Soledad Ulep as director of the National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development.

In UP Manila, Dr. Agnes Mejia was appointed dean of the College of Medicine effective June 24, 2012 up to June 23, 2015; in UPLB, Dr. Ma. Theresa Velasco, dean of the College of Development Communication, effective June 16, 2012 up to June 15, 2015; and in UPV, Prof.

Mary Ann Gumban, dean of the College of Management, effective June 1, 2012 up to May 31, 2015.

University of the Philippines Community Newspaper

Regent Licuanan shakes the hand of Regent Albarracin after Regent Arguelles, who is looking on.

In UP Baguio, Dr. Wilfredo Alangui was appointed vice-chancellor for academic affairs and Dr. Jessica Cariño as vicechancellor for administration, effective April 14, 2012 at the pleasure of the chancellor.

Dr. Anne Christie Villarba-Torres was appointed dean of the College of Arts and

Communication; Dr. Lorelei CrisologoMendoza, dean of the College of Social Sciences; Dr. Rosemary Gutierrez, dean of the College of Science; and Dr. Corazon Abansi, director of the Office of Student Affairs. Their term begins on June 1, 2012 and ends on May 31, 2015, except Abansi, whose term ends on October 31, 2012.

UP System REPS gather to resolve issues Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc

Representatives of the research, extension and professional staff (REPS) from UP autonomous units, except UP Los Baños, converged in UP Diliman (UPD) last May 31 and June 1 to share developments in their units, brainstorm on expanding their career paths and finalize a REPS manual.

Organized by the All-UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU), the REPS conference, held at the National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (Nismed) Conference Hall I, was the first system-wide summit of REPS since 1999.

At the end of the conference, the

participants relayed their main issues of concern in an open forum with VicePresident for Academic Affairs Gisela Concepcion and Vice-President for Administration Maragtas Amante. It was agreed that a small core group of REPS representatives will be formed to pursue discussions on these issues with the UP System administration. One of the most important issues is that of enabling career growth for the REPS in the university.

The group also reviewed a draft manual they will finalize in August.

The conference began with President Alfredo Pascual reiterating the indispensable role of REPS in fulfilling the mandates

I

N

S

of a national university and of “one UP.” Staff Regent Jossel Ebesate suggested that national issues be discussed for their repercussions on UP. UPD Vice-Chancellor for Community Affairs Melania Abad-Flores, who represented UPD Chancellor Caesar Saloma, emphasized the need for REPS representation in the Board of Regents and to address contractualization. She suggested looking into REPS rights that are violated, not implemented, or not maximized.

AUPAEU Secretary-General Perlita Raña gave a presentation on the REPS situation, mentioning that REPS in UP do a lot more outside their official job

I

D

The UP Marine Science Institute (MSI) surveyed Benham Rise on the east of Luzon just days after the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) declared this 13-million hectare submarine plateau as Official Philippine Territory.

MSI, along with collaborators from the University of Hawaii, the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, and the Tokyo Institute of Technology, were on their three-week research cruise (April 24 – May 12, 2012) aboard the Scripps Institution of Oceanography-operated research vessel R/V Roger Revelle when they got word of the UN Declaration.

The US Office of Naval Researchfunded research called Shelf Pacific Interaction in Luzon (SPIL) is being undertaken to investigate the effects of the incoming currents from the Pacific Ocean on the productivity of the seas in the eastern Luzon Area.

“Eastern Luzon is the least studied of our waters,” says lead investigator Dr. Cesar Villanoy, “and yet dynamically important to the north Pacific circulation.” This is a follow-up study to the Department of Science and Technology-funded Pacific Seaboard research program.

The Philippine contingent is composed of six faculty members and 12 researchers from MSI and a representative of the Ocean and Littoral Affairs Group of the Philippine Navy. (UP-MSI)

Manual for screening newborn for hearing loss drafted Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc

The Philippine National Ear Institute (PNEI) of UP Manila’s (UPM) National Institutes of Health (NIH), in cooperation with the Department of Health (DOH), has drafted and developed the Manual of Operations (MOP) implementing a comprehensive program to screen the newborn for hearing loss.

This was announced by PNEI Deputy Director Charlotte Chiong, MD in a letter to President Alfredo Pascual last month, in preparation for the publication of the MOP. The publication of the MOP is in line with Republic Act 9709, an “Act Establishing a Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program (UNHSP) for the Prevention, Early Diagnosis and Intervention of Hearing Loss” promulgated in August 2009. UP, through UPM-NIH, provided the research evidence base for the law.

Continued on page 4

Continued on page 7

E

Photo courtesy of UPMin-OC

4

Students fabricate tools for Philippine schools

8

Colleagues fete UP’s foremost fish taxonomist

9

Philippine veggie markets book off the press

11

Researchers take on multidisciplinary approach in writing

2 U.P. Newsletter

june 2012

KOMENTARYO UP Kilos Na ‘Lugawan’ for jailed artist and Pasasalamat at Pagpupugay kay Bibeth Orteza, Rehente ng Bayan UP alumnus held Itinalaga si Elizabeth Rose C. Orteza Siguion-Reyna (UP Institute of Creative Writing, 1975) at karaniwang kilala na Bibeth Orteza bilang Rehente ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas ni Pangulong Ninoy Aquino noong Nobyembre 17, 2010.

Kasabay ni Bibeth sina dating Chief Justice Reynato Puno at dating Dean ng College of Business Administration at ika- 35 pinakamayaman sa Pilipinas (batay sa 2007 Forbes Top 40) Magdaleno Albarracin Jr. (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?art icleid=631166) na itinalaga ng Malacañang batay sa probisyon ng 2008 UP Charter kaugnay ng komposisyon ng Lupon ng mga Rehente na: (i) Three other Regents who have distinguished themselves in their professions or fields of specialization, to be appointed by the President of the Philippines, considering the recommendation of the Board. At least two (2) of these Regents should be alumni. All these Regents shall each serve for a

Fred Dabu

term of two (2) years.

Nagdala ng sariwang hangin si Bibeth sa mga pulong ng BOR sa kanyang pagsuot ng maong at di-pares na kulay ng sapatos. Pero higit pa riyan ang kanyang naging ambag sa BOR sa pagkakaroon niya ng tindig na makaestudyante, makakawani, makaREPs at makaguro sa mga talakayan sa BOR. Ngayong Mayo 2012 hindi na ini-renew ang appointment ni Bibeth bilang Rehente.

Sa halip, muling itinalaga si Rehente Albarracin pagkatapos siyang pinalitan noong Pebrero ni Evelina BuencaminoEscudero. Kung gayon si Bibeth lamang ang di muling itinalaga ng Malacañang mula sa tatlong orihinal na appointees noong Nobyembre 2011.

Nalulungkot ang UP Kilos Na at ang iba’t ibang samahan ng mga estudyante, guro, kawani at REPs ng UP sa pagkawala sa BOR ni Bibeth Orteza. Bagama’t maituturing siyang “political appointee” ng Malacañang, Photo by Jun Madrid Photo by Jun Madrid

The Free Ericson Acosta Campaign (FEAC), together with the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) and the All-UP Academic Employees Union, held a fund-raising dinner for detained artist and UP alumnus Ericson Acosta at the Balay Kalinaw in UP Diliman last May 27.

“Serve the People: Lugawan para sa Kalayaan” highlighted the plight of political prisoners during the Aquino administration.

Acosta’s family and friends served lugaw or congee, a Filipino mealtime favorite.

Supporters also sold or auctioned artwork, books, and other products to help sustain Acosta’s legal defense funds. Guests listened to messages of solidarity and cultural performances.

Among the well-known personalities who supported the event were Chikoy Pura of The Jerks, Cabring Cabrera of Datu’s Tribe, poet-musician Jess Santiago, National Artist for Literature Bien Lumbera, scriptwriter Ricky Lee, and former UP Regents Bibeth Orteza and Judy Taguiwalo.

The event also marked Acosta’s 40th birthday and his 15th month in jail. According to the FEAC petition, government soldiers accused Acosta of being a member of the New People’s Army. They said the soldiers illegally arrested, detained and interrogated him for three days. Acosta, charged with illegal possession of explosives, remains imprisoned at the sub-provincial Jail in Calbayog City, Samar.

In a statement, the FEAC said more than 350 political prisoners remain behind bars, “most of them victims of arbitrary arrests, torture and trumped-up criminal charges.”

At least 90 of them, including Acosta, were arrested after Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III took his oath as president. The group is Ipinaaabot ng UP Kilos Na ang pasasalamat at pagpupugay kay Bibeth Orteza. Kuha mula appealing to the Aquino administration to sa kaniyang partisipasyon sa isang pangangalap-pondo ng Free Ericson Acosta Campaign.

(Tingnan ang katabing artikulo.) drop the charges against them.

Acosta served as an editor of the Philippine Collegian in the 1990s. He is also former chair of the student cultural group Alay Sining, and of the campus alliance STAND-UP.

COMMENTARY Continued from page 10

historically, the larger share of inventions have been developed without the benefit of patent protection. Studies show that most firms rely largely on alternative ways of appropriating returns from their product development activities, such as company secrecy, lead time, product complementation, and company-specific knowledge (Sampat, http://www.cspo.org/ products/rocky/Rock-Vol1-2.PDF).

Conclusion The university should re-examine its position on this matter. Rather than attempting to benefit financially from the strict enforcement of patent laws through the operation of the TTBDO, perhaps the university should instead serve as a facilitator and pursue a strategy of finding mechanisms by which today’s fast-evolving world of knowledge can be harnessed to best serve society and mankind. This can be done by giving the “inventor” more leeway, if not complete freedom, in deciding what to do with her work. For example, the university may adopt an open source policy and make all university-generated inventions part of the public domain, or it may require its inventors to license their work on a nonexclusive basis. In this way, the university can play a lead role in advocating for the free flow of knowledge and information which

Artists and human rights defenders serve lugaw to supporters of the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign during the fund-raising event.

has become the hallmark of the emerging era of open innovation and open science.

REFERENCES Farmer, Jim, “Should Universities Patent Their Research? Universities Say Yes. But should they?” http://mfeldstein.com/shoulduniversities-patent-their-research-universitiessay-yes-but-should-they/ Gibb, Allan and Paul Hannon, “Towards the Entrepreneurial University?” https:// webspace.uthttp://www.sciencemag.org/ content/279/5356/1460.ful lexas.edu/ content/279/5356/1460.full l exas.edu/ cherwitz/www/articles/gibb_hannon.pdf Mansfield, Edwin, “Patents and Innovation: An Empirical Study”, Management Science, Vol. 32, No. 2. (Feb., 1986), pp. 173-181. http:// www.lu.se/upload/CIRCLE/INN005/ Mansfield_Patents_and_Innovation.pd eld_Patents_and_Innovation.pdf

Mowery, David C., ““The entrepreneurial university in the ‘pro-patent era’: Lessons from the US experience” http://www.nus.edu.sg/nec/ TripleHelix6/TH-presentation/DavidMow ery%20Keynote%201.pd ery%20Keynote%201.pdf Nelsen, Lita, “The Rise of Intellectual Property Protection in The American University,” Science March 1998 Sampat, Bhaven N., “Recent Changes in Patent Policy and the ‘Privatization’ of Knowledge: Causes, Consequences,, and Implications for Developing Countries” http://www.cspo.org/ products/rocky/Rock-Vol1-2.PDF “Patent Trolls: How Bad Is the Problem?” Popular Mechanics, Oct. 25, 2011 http://www. popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/ news/patent-trolls-how-bad-is-the-problem

nakiisa si Bibeth sa mahahalagang usapin sa unibersidad kaugnay ng pagsusulong ng kagalingan ng mga estudyante, kawani, guro at REPS, pagtataguyod sa demokratikong pamamahala sa loob ng unibersidad, paggigiit sa pampublikong katangian ng UP at sa pasuporta sa mga usapin ng karapatang pantao sa bayan.

Kabalikat si Bibeth ng Student Regent at Staff Regent sa pagtitiyak na maipatupad ang desisyon ng BOR noong May 27, 2010 na gawaran ng tenure si Prop. Sarah Raymundo.

Noong Mayo 1, 2011 na lamang ipinatupad ang naturang desisyon. Ipinaabot niya rin ang suporta sa hakbang ni Chancellor Saloma na maimanteni ang University Food Service ng UP Diliman na planong sarhan ng nakaraang administrasyon ng UP Diliman para magbigay puwang sa lubusang pribatisasyon ng serbisyong ito sa Diliman.

Ipinakita rin ni Bibeth ang suporta sa mga pagkilos noong Setyembre 2011 para madagdagan ang budget ng UP. At hindi makakalimutan ng mga kawani at REPs ng UP ang pagsuporta ni Bibeth sa pagpasa ng 10-days Service Recognition Pay (SRP) noong Enero 26, 2012 pagkatapos nang mahigit ring dalawang taong ipinaglaban ng All-UP Workers Union at All-UP Academic Employees Union.

Lalong napamahal si Bibeth sa mga kawani, REPs at karaniwang guro ng UP nang ipost niya ang sumusunod kaugnay ng pagpapasalamat sa kanya ng mga unyonista sa pagsuporta sa 10-days SRP: “Pagkatapos ng meeting, pagbaba ko, may lumapit, at ang sabi, ‘Salamat, Regent.’

Nahiya akong sumagot nang ‘Walang anuman,’ o ‘You’re welcome,’ dahil sa totoo lang, ano ba naman ang naiambag ko rito kundi boto? Ano na iyon sa hirap, pawis at dugo na ibinigay ng mga kasapi ng unyon?

Ang kapal ko naman, kung eepal ako ng kredito.”

Lubos din ang suporta ni Bibeth sa pangangalap ng pondo para kay Lordei Hina, ang estudyanteng matagal na naospital pagkatapos na ninakawan at sinaksak sa loob ng Vinzons Hall noong Pebrero 3, 2012. Kasama rin si Bibeth sa mga artista, manunulat, mga guro na sumusuporta sa panawagang palayain si Ericson Acosta.

Nitong Abril 22, 2012, sa graduation ng UP Diliman, isa si Bibeth sa apat na rehenteng di nag-alangang tumindig para sumabay sa tradisyunal na kilos protesta ng mga estudyante sa pagtatapos ng graduation.

Hindi umabot ng dalawang taon ang panunungkulan ni Bibeth Orteza bilang bahagi ng Board of Regents ng UP. May mga nagsasabing hindi nagustuhan ng Malacañang ang kanyang independent na tayo bilang Rehente. May nagsasabing si CHED Chair Licuanan mismo ang nagpaabot ng rekomendasyon sa Malacañang na hindi na i-renew ang kanyang appointment.

Anu’t anupaman, malinaw na ipinakita ni dating Rehente Elizabeth Rose C. Orteza Siguion-Reyna ang kanyang paninindigan para sa Unibersidad, sa komunidad ng mga estudyante, kawani, REPs, at guro ng UP at para sa bayan.

Ipinaabot ng UP Kilos Na ang maalab na pasasalamat at pagpupugay kay Bibeth Orteza. Lubos kaming nananalig na kahit hindi ka na bahagi ng BOR patuloy ka na kaisa namin sa ating komun na adhikain na ang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas ay tunay na maglilingkod sa sambayanan.

Mabuhay ka Bibeth Orteza, Rehente ng Bayan sa BOR (Nobyembre 2010-Mayo 2012)!

Mabuhay ka, Bibeth Orteza, iskolar ng bayan!

june 2012

U.P. Newsletter 3

AUPWA at iba pang BALITANG UNYON taga-UP, nakiisa sa Mga Ulat sa Nakaraang Buwan ng AUPWU Mangyan Day Humigit-kumulang 40 miyembro ng All-UP Workers Alliance (AUPWA) ang tumungo sa Mindoro upang muling makiisa sa pagdiriwang ng Mangyan Day noong Abril 14 at 15 sa Bongabong, Sitio Sigaw, Mindoro Oriental. Ang tema sa taong ito ay “Mangyan, Pahigpitin ang Pagkakaisa at Suporta! Ipaglaban ang lupang ninuno at sariling pagpapasya!”

Ayon sa Pandayan, pahayagan ng AUPWA, “bahagi ng programang pangedukasyon na may layuning matuto sa ibang mga batayang sektor ng lipunan” ang pakikiisa ng All-UP Workers Union (AUPWU) at All-UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) sa aktibidad, kung saan ikalawang ulit na ng kanilang paglahok.

“Ang una ay noong Abril 2011 sa Abra de Ilog, Mindoro Oriental, kung saan nakaranas sila ng panghaharas mula sa military,” dagdag pa ng Pandayan. Ayon kay Clodualdo “Buboy” Cabrera ng AUPWU, makakaasa ang mga Mangyan na kahit hindi araw-araw naroroon sa Mindoro ang unyon, makakaasa ang mga katutubo na mabibitbit sa Maynila ang mga kampanya para sa lupang ninuno at kontra sa pagmimina.

Nagpasalamat si Cabrera sa Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP) at HAGIBBAT-Mangyan Mindoro para sa pagbubukas ng pagkakataon upang makadalo ang unyon sa aktibidad. Ayon naman kay Prop. Ramon Guillermo, pambansang pangulo ng AUPAEU, hindi inosente ang UP sa usapin ng pagmimina, dahil nagagamit bilang kasangkapan ng mga kumpanya sa pagmimina ang ilang nasa pamantasan, sa pamamagitan ng mga scholarship at pondo para sa pananaliksik.

Dagdag pa ni Guillermo, dadalhin ng mga guro ang natutunan sa mga katutubong Mangyan upang makipagtalakayan at makipagdebate sa mga nagsusulong ng large-scale mining at iba pang proyektong makakasira sa kalikasan.

Kinahapunan ng Abril 13 dumating ang AUPWA. Kinaumagahan, nasaksihan nila at ng iba pang mga dumalo ang pasinayang ritwal na naglayong magpalayas ng mga masasamang espiritu. Sa ritwal na ito, nagalay ng puting manok at nagdasal si Marcelo Carculan, tagapangulo ng HAGIBBATMangyan, ang alyansa ng mga Mangyan sa buong Mindoro na kinabibilangan ng mga Hanunuo, Alangan, Gubatnon, Iraya, Buhid, Bangon at Tadyawan—na nabuo noong 2008.

Nagkaroon ng talakayang bayan kung saan binahagi ng iba’t ibang tribo ang mga kinakaharap nilang mga suliranin. Ayon kay Carculan, nakakatuwang kasama sa pagkakataong itong kasama na ang tribong Gubatnon at makikitang patuloy na tumitindi ang pagkakaisa ng pitong tribo. “Nakita ko yung pag-unlad ng pagbibigkis ng mga iba’t ibang tribo, sa tulong ng HAGIBBAT,” ani Guillermo. “Kung maipagpapatuloy ang pagmumulat sa mamamayan, tiyak na sa lakas ng mga Mangyan at lahat ng mga sektor, magtatagumpay tayo upang mapangalangaan ang kultura, kasaysayan, kapakanan ng buong isla ng Mindoro,” dagdag pa niya.

Ilan pa sa naging bahagi ng programa ang palarong pambata, solidarity night, tiangge ng mga yaring-kamay ng mga katutubo at ang medical at dental mission, kung saan tumulong ang AUPWA at ang mga volunteer mula sa UP Philippine General Hospital at UP Manila Pahinungod. Ayon kay Kathy June Fiel ng UPLB Zoomout Multimedia Collective, nagkaroon din ng donation drive ang mga organisasyon ng mga estudyante ng UPLB para sa aktibidad

Civil Service Review Class Natapos na!

Natapos na ang Civil Service Review Class na inilunsad ng All UP Workers Alliance (AUPWU). Matagumpay na nairaos ang proyektong ito na sinimulan nitong nakaraang Marso 24 ng taong kasalukuyan at nilahukan ng 41 kawani ng pamantasan na ang karamihan ay mga nonUP contractual mula sa iba’t ibang opisina.

Nagtapos ito sa isang “mock exam” na ginanap sa UPIS nitong nakaraang Mayo 19. May layunin itong arukin ang kalakasan at kahinaan ng bawat kasapi bago pa man ang takdang araw ng aktwal na pagsusulit na naganap sa ika-27 ng Mayo.

Matatandaan na sa ibang mga pag-aaral at forum na inulunsad ng unyon ay ilang beses at pagkakataon nang lumutang ang usapin ng pagiging kontraktwal ng mga empleyado sa loob ng mahabang panahon.

Labis na nabahala at naantig ang unyon sa ganitong kalagayan at ang nasabing proyekto ang unang naging tugon nito.

Bago pa ang takdang petsa ng nasabing class review ay humiling ang unyon sa administrasyon ng opisyal na oras para sa mga kawaning dadalo at ayuda para sa pinansyal na pangangailangan. Bagamat pinasasalamatan ng unyon ang pagbibigay ng ayuda na halagang P9,000, ang nasabing halaga ay hindi naging sapat sa kabuuan ng proyekto na tumagal nang pitong Sabado at dalawang araw na week day. Nais na rin namin samantalahin ang pagkakataon para pasalamatan ang mga guro ng bayan

na taos-pusong naghandog ng panahon at husay na nagsiganap bilang mga instuktor sa kanilang mga kanyang disiplina. Ito ay sina Grace Concepcion ng English Dept., Det Neri ng DFPP, at JR Bautista ng NISMED. (Ulat ni Ric Felonia) First rice subsidy distribution natapos na Matagumpay na naipamahagi ang nasabing rice subsidy nitong nakaraang unang linggo ng buwan ng Mayo. Batay sa ulat ng iba pang malalaking CUs ay wala naman naging mabigat na balakid sa isanagawang pamamahagi maliban sa kampus ng Diliman na nagkaroon ng ilang araw na pagkabalam dahil sa maling interpretasyon ng ilang opisyal hinggil sa panahon ng takdang bisa ng Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA). Kagyat namang nagpulong ang Diliman Council sa mga opisyales ng administrasyon upang malinawan ito. Habang nagaganap ang diyalogo sa pagitan ng dalawang panig ay nagsagawa naman ng programa sa labas sa pangunguna ni G. Noli Anoos, Bos Romero, at Felix Pariñas. Binatikos ng tatlo ang mistulang pagpapahirap ng ilang opisyales sa kawani pagdating sa benepisyo.

Ayon sa kanila, “Imbes na hanapan ng paraan kung papaano makaluluwag na mapadali at makinabang na ang lahat kawani ay siya namang kabaligtaran ang isinasagawa nito.”

Matapos ang pangyayari ay inumpisahan ang pamamahagi sa sumunod na araw na masiglang pinangunahan ng Diliman

na ito. Naging bahagi rin ng okasyon at dokumentasyon nito ang Southern Tagalog Exposure (STEX), na binubuo ng mga alumni ng UPLB. “Umasa po kayo na ipapalabas din namin ang mga ito (video footage) sa inyo, upang masuri at mapuna kung lapat (sa kalagayan ng mga katutubo) ang ginawa namin (na dokumentaryo),” pangako ni Edge Genciagan ng STEX sa mga Mangyan.

Ang pangunahing tinalakay ng mga katutubo at mga nakikiisa sa kanilang adbokasiya ay ang isyu ng pagmimina at pagtatayo ng mga dam. Ayon sa isang katutubong lider ng mga Gubatnon, patuloy pa ring nagmimina ng gas ang ilang korporasyon kahit tag-init. “Tagtuyot at nagniningas kaya hindi namin maaring payagan. Sa Sta. Cruz, Sablayan, ilang katutubong Alangan ang nirerekrut para magbantay sa pagmimina ng nikel,” dagdag pa nito. Isang katutubong lider ng mga Iraya naman ang nagsabing pati ang kapatagan ay maaapektuhan ng pagtatayo ng mga dam.

“Kahit may maibibigay na trabaho, sabihin nating sampung taon, kontrata lang iyon; hindi pang-habang-buhay,” sabi nito.

Binigyang-linaw ni Amit Gabriel, Secretary-General ng HAGIBBAT, ang

Council sa pamumuno ni Noel Marquina, pangulo ng Diliman Chapter ng unyon.

Maaga pa alamang y pumila na ang mga kawani kaya para mas maisaayos at sistematiko, gumawa ng number cards si Rolando Golondrina na ibinigay sa mga dumarating. Bakas sa kanilang mga ngiti at kilos ang kagalakan habang ikinakarga ang sako ng bigas sa kanilang mga sasakyan, ang iba ay sa kariton, bisiklita at motorsiklo.

Habang papalayo sila na may ngiti ay halos iisa ang kanilang tanong, “Sir kailan ulit ang susunod?”

Sa pangkalahatan ay nasiyahan ang halos lahat ng kawani sa kalidad ng nasabing rice subsidy at habang isinusulat ang ulat na ito ay mahusay ng inihahanda ang liham para sa pangalawang rice subsidy na sa kasalukuyan ay relatibong mas mababa pa rin dahil sa katatapos na anihan.

Pagunita sa tunay na diwa ng Bayanihan isinabuhay ng Unyon!

Kamakailan ay sinimulan ang pagrenovate ng opisina ng unyon at ito ay naisagawa sa tulong ng Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Teachers Party List. Nagkaloob ang nasabing Party list ng halagang P1.8 milyon para sa nasabing renovation sa ilalim ng superbisyon ng DPWH. Subalit hindi naging sapat ang naturang halaga para sa ganap na pagsasaayos, tulad ng paglalagay ng tiles sa opisina, training room at CR. Dahil dito ay minabuti ng unyon na balikatin na lamang ang halaga na gugulin para sa pagbili ng

Continued on page 7 Mga kontraktwal sa UPD pinulong Isang kontraktwal ng UP Diliman (UPD) ang nagtatanong sa bukas na talakayang bahagi ng pagpupulong na inorganisa ng All-UP Workers Union ng UPD noong Abril 26 sa Kolehiyo ng Komunikasyong Pangmadla. Tampok ang mga impormasyong nasyonal at lokal mula sa mga lider-manggagawa at eksperto ng UP, ang pagpupulong ay isang gawaing pagmumulat sa isang lumalaking sektor sa UP. Pinayuhan silang magkaisa at sama-samang ipaalam ang mga hinaing bagama’t sila’y nahahati at nagkukumpetisyon pa sa pagiging UP contractual, non-UP contractual, agency-hired, regular reliever at standby reliever. Ayon kay Bise-Tsanselor Melania Flores, maaring gamitin ng mga ito ang kanilang karanasan sa trabaho bilang pampalit sa hinihinging edukasyon at pagsasanay para ma-regular.

Bukas aniya ang UP na talakayin ang mga paraan upang gawing mas makatao ang pagtrato sa sektor.

Photo by Bong Arboleda

Arbeen Acuña

sinasabing pangunahing dahilan daw ng climate change ang pagkakaingin.

“Bakit nga ba nagkakaingin? Tinaboy tayo sa kabundukan kaya ito na ang ating kinamulatan. Kung nasa patag tayo, mayroon tayong tubigan. Ang nagtulak ng pagkakaingin ay ang pangangamkam (ng lupa).” Binahagi rin ni Gabriel ang isang pananaliksik ng isang Hapon na nagpapakitang “maganda sa kalikasan” ang pagkakaingin dahil “bago pa bumalik (ang mga katutubo) sa pinagdausan ng kaingin, malalaki na ulit ang mga puno.” Dagdag pa ni Gabriel, “Kaya kumikitid ang mga lugar na maaring magkaingin, ay dahil sa mga pastulan at kogonan.”

“Wala pa ang gobyerno, atin na ang lupang ninuno,” sabi ni Joan Jaime, pambansang tagapagsalita ng KAMP. Ayon kay Jaime, magkaiba ang pagtingin ng gobyerno at ng mga katutubo sa lupa.

“Produkto itong kailangang ibenta para sa kanila, buhay ito para sa atin.” Binahagi rin ni Jaime kung paano tinitignan ang katutubo bilang walang kakayanang pamunuan ang sarili at kung paano binebenta ang kanilang mga lupa sa pamamagitan ng Mining Act of 1995. Ayon pa sa kanya, sa Benguet, pinatag kahit ang mga libingan ng mga ninuno ng

mga katutubo para sa pagmimina. Dagdag pa niya, maging ang pagtatayo ng dam sa Mindoro, bilang kuhanan ng dagdag na kuryente, ay hindi para sa mga Mangyan kundi para sa pagpapatakbo ng mga makinang pangmina.

“Natutuwa kami sa pagkakaisa ninyong mga Mangyan,” ani Fermin Queron, katutubong lider ng tribong Palaw’an.

Nagbahagi ng kalagayan ng tribo nila at ng dalawa pang tribo sa Palawan—ang mga Tagbanua at mga Batak. “Sa Española dati, nakakapangisda pa kami at mayroon (nang makakain). Pero ngayon, pahirapan lalo at hindi naman namin kayang bumili ng isda.” Dagdag pa ni Queron, “Hindi po tayo maka-trabaho. Hindi rin naman tayo maalam sa equipment. Ang lupang agrikultural ay hindi dapat minahin.”

Bukod sa mga isyung pangkabuhayan, tinalakay ng mga lider-katutubo ang usapin ng climate change, edukasyon at karapatang pantao. Matapos ang masinsinang mga talakayan tungkol sa mga kakaharapin ng mga katutubo, muling pinagtibay ng mga tribo ang Mangyan Declaration, kung saan muli nilang ipinahayag ang kanilang pagkakaisa sa pagtindig para sa kanilang lupang ninuno.

4 U.P. Newsletter

Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta

Students fabricate tools for Philippine schools

Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Photo by Jonathan Madrid

UP “summa” graduates urged to make themselves heard

june 2012

“You must come back. Remember that you are mga iskolar ng Pilipinas, and we need you here,” Vice-President for Academic Affairs Gisela Concepcion told UP summa cum laude graduates this year.

“When you have fulfilled your personal goals, your community goals and academic goals, you have to move beyond them. You are among the best and the brightest in our country, and you have a responsibility [to serve]. If you go abroad, that is fine. You are encouraged to study abroad so as to avoid in-breeding. Then our government and UP should find a way to attract you back home.”

During a gathering of summa cum Students seriously take on the task of putting together scientific experiment tools to surpass the ones they handled during high school. laude graduates dubbed “Summa Summit” With the help of mentors in a workshop, and laboratory experimental modules. last April 26 at the Board of Regents Room UP students experimented with and At the end of the two-week workshop, at Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Concepcion urged the graduates to come together, to fabricated several instruments for use in the teams were able to come up with connect with one another through social scientific and technological instruction experiments on electromagnetic induction, networking technology, and to form an in Philippine schools last summer at the phase change in water, humidity and organization or club that would speak National Institute of Physics laboratories, temperature sensing, plotting equipotential lines and electric field lines, behavior of up about issues in the country and in the UP Diliman.

The Versatile Instrument System for simple harmonic motion in pendulum and university and reach out to both the country Science Education and Research (VISSER) spring mass system, light intensities for and the university.

Nine summa cum laude graduates Summer Workshop was held from May 14 varying distances from light source, motion attended this year’s “Summa Summit”, to 28. It was organized by the Office of of free-falling objects for the concept namely: from UP Diliman - Brian Huang, the Vice-President for Academic Affairs of uniformly accelerated linear motion, BSBAA; Trishia Julienne Simeon, BSBAA; with the College of Engineering and the and thermal conductivity of materials.

Joanne Sheana Baltazar, BA Philosophy; College of Science of UP Diliman and All used apparatuses enabled by Arduino Karl Ezra Pilario, BS Chemical Engineering; the University of Maryland through Prof. microcontroller system and measuring John Eddie Ayson, BS Electronics and Romel Gomez. Gomez is an alumnus of devices, which they hand-crafted and which connect directly to the computer.

Communications Engineering; Marie the College of Science.

Eight teams, each composed of a Wide-scale data acquisition and live Anjeliesse Rodriguez, BS Psychology; Kevin Charles Atienza, BS Computer newly-admitted freshman, an upper- sensor monitoring via internet/GSM Science; Charlton Sean II Gaerlan, BS class science or engineering student, a through an Arduino-based distributed Business Administration and Accountancy; high-school teacher of the incoming sensor network was also demonstrated by and from UP Manila - Tyrone Reden Sy, BA freshman, and a faculty mentor, came up a graduate student from the University of Behavioral Sciences. The “Summa Summit” with scientific experiment modules with Maryland. apparatuses for high school using the President Alfredo Pascual and Vicewas the second of its kind to be held.

Arduino microcontroller platform, sensors, President for Academic Affairs Gisela The role of the gifted Dr. Leticia Peñano-Ho, former Dean and basic circuits. Using open-source Concepcion congratulated the participants of the UP Diliman College of Education software and hardware, they came up with and handed them their certificates. They and clinical and guidance counselor set-ups more affordable and more accurate stressed the importance of improving working with the gifted population, also than the analog and branded counterparts secondary education to uplift the state of higher education, particularly in the science participated in the gathering. According to currently used in schools.

The workshop was led by Prof. and engineering fields.

Ho, as recipients of the highest academic According to Prof. Altoveros, they award given by the premier university in Gomez; UP Diliman professors Giovanni the country, the UP summa cum laude Tapang, Mong Magpantay, and Romarie plan to hold more VISSER workshops graduates can be considered “gifted,” Lorenzo; and UP Los Baños professor nationwide and establish collaboration with belonging to the five percent or “high Nelio Altoveros. During the workshop, education and scientific agencies such as participants discussed the current needs Department of Science and Technology achievers” of society.

That being said, being gifted and iskolar of science teaching in the classroom and the Department of Education to ng bayan at the same time entails certain which can be answered by more advanced, promote the program and utilize its responsibilities. Following the paradigm economical, and replicable instrumentation output. of giftedness of the Philippine Center for Gifted Education, Inc., natural intelligence and creativity should combine with passion science and engineering graduates. “Being lack of teaching skills among certain to produce excellence, but only if values a summa cum laude graduate means you faculty members; and the lack of journal are at its core. UP has not only served to have a responsibility to be a leader, and to subscriptions and outdated books in the nurture the innate talents of the graduates, be vocal about it,” she said to the graduates. libraries. The graduates also cited the it has also instilled the values of excellence, “You have to communicate with the other role of UP to change the attitudes of the honor and service to others, to country and fields, work with other disciplines in order students toward government employment and the need to inspire students to go into to humanity among its iskolars ng bayan. to solve complex problems.”

Each summa cum laude graduate public service—that UP’s job is to create Ho stressed the passion for scholarship also shared his and her personal visions, awareness that young, smart people can and and learning, for truth and for doing what’s right, as essential. “You need to prove this missions and plans for the future. A lively must serve the country.

Concepcion commended the graduates long after you graduate from UP. Can we discussion resulted.

Concepcion also talked about UP’s for their insights, and urged them to band look to you for more? The only way you can change our country is for you to become need for qualitative and structured business together, and write about or air their views the excellent, passionate summa cum laudes development plans that would support the through social network technology. “You university’s technological innovations and now have tools to be heard and wider that you are.”

Concepcion noted the changing technology transfer programs—an area audience, and we are looking for materials concept of leadership in the global scene. where BSBAA graduates can help contribute we can share with high school students, corporations, government, alumni and Traditional political leaders with traditional to and support UP’s development.

The graduates brought up some issues our internal publics,” she said. “You views of power are giving way to leaders from objective, systematic, evidence-based and problems UP students face, including have the right to be heard. You have the and organized fields such as engineering, the need for a database of research responsibility to be heard. You are the science, medicine, etc. This opens up a papers by UP students accessible to all summa cum laude graduates of UP. Make new horizon for the summa cum laude UP students throughout the system; the yourselves heard.”

WINFISH draws up ways to promote magna carta of women in fisheries Anna Razel L. Ramirez

The National Network on Women in the Fisheries in the Philippines, Inc. (WINFISH) and the UP Visayas Gender and Development Program Office (UPVGDP), in cooperation with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences-Region VI (BFAR-VI), conducted a “Voices of Women Fisherfolk and the Magna Carta” conference-workshop at the Iloilo Grand Hotel, Iloilo City last April 12 and 13.

The salient features of the “Magna Carta of Women” were presented by Dr. Rosario Asong, women’s rights advocate and former director of UPV-GDP. The implications of such a magna carta on the fisheries sector was expounded on by Remia Aparri of BFAR-VI. A workshop to draft an action plan implementing the magna carta and to improve the condition of fisherfolk was conducted among women fisherfolk.

Spearheading the conference was Dr. Diana Aure, current president of WINFISH, and former UPV chancellor Dr. Ida Siason, WINFISH founding president.

Those who shared experiences during the conference were Imelda Ganancial, a seaweed grower from Panobolon, Guimaras; Omega Tarde from the capture fisheries group of Concepcion, Iloilo; Elena Tubongbanua, a fish vendor form Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo; and Emelinda Abian, a fishing community leader from Concepcion, Iloilo.

In his message, UPV Chancellor Rommel Espinosa underscored the influence of women in different fields. “We should heed the call that women should be given more leadership responsibilities and sustained involvement in tourism, politics and in legal defense of marine and coastal resources. By putting more women leaders and with their innate capacity to organize, more concrete programs can be attained at the community and national levels,” he said.

Manual for screening newborn for hearing loss drafted Continued from page 1

The law provides for the establishment of the Newborn Hearing Screening Center (NHSC), a central facility of the NIH “tasked to define testing and follow-up protocols, maintain proficiency in the implementation of the UNHSP, as well as overseeing databases and assist in training activities on a national scope.” The MOP will serve as the guide in ensuring that these undertakings are adeptly accomplished, Chiong said.

The MOP further stipulates the roles of each service provider to make certain that screening methods are precisely carried out.

UP was central to the implementation of the newborn screening policy of government.

NIH also supervises the Newborn Screening Reference Center (NSRC), created under RA 9288. NSRC provides technical assistance to the DOH-NIH network in reaching the ultimate goal of screening Filipino newborns for common life-threatening heritable disorders. NSRC provides information and resources in the area of newborn screening to benefit health professionals, the public health community, consumers and government officials.

U.P. Newsletter 5

june 2012

UP Diliman (UPD) and the University of Queensland (UQ) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) this year to develop, enhance and maintain “high caliber academic programs in mining engineering, metallurgical engineering, geology and other mining-related fields (including relevant environmental and social sciences) to service the needs of the mining industry in the Philippines, and more specifically in Mindanao, through cooperation in teaching, research and service to the community.”

UPD was represented by Chancellor Caesar Saloma while UQ was represented by its vice-chancellor and president, Prof.

Deborah Terry.

The MOU aims to support the capacitybuilding initiatives of three universities in Mindanao, namely, the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP), Mindanao State University-General Santos City (MSUGSC) and the Mindanao State UniversityIligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT).

The collaboration among the five universities was formalized with the signing of the Certificate of Partnership (CoP) on May 11 at the Executive House. The event was attended by Bill Tweddell, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, and John Loader, Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) Human Resource manager.

Representing the academic institutions were Saloma for UPD, Dr. Anna Ciccarelli, deputy vice-chancellor and vice-president (International), for UQ, Dr. Perfecto Alibin, president, for USEP, Atty. Abdurrahman Canacan, chancellor, for MSU-GSC, and Dr. Sukarno Tanggol, chancellor, for MSUIIT. The chief executive officers of UPD and UQ will each appoint one person to act as the joint manager who “may appoint administrative officers or working parties to manage the details of particular activities or programs specified in the MOU.” Both institutions may undertake several activities such as “visits between universities by academic staff (faculty) and technical and administrative staff; sharing of academic materials; collaborative research and publication; joint organisation of conferences, seminars or academic meetings, special technical or administrative programs; joint production and delivery of courses and programs, and grant applications; and develop scholarship opportunities through government agencies and companies.”

The CoP signing was attended by more than 30 guests. Among the witnesses were UPD officials Dean Aura Matias of the College of Engineering (CoE), Dr. Leslie Joy Diaz of the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (DMMME) and Dr. Herman Mendoza of DMMME. Other guests were Catherine Rees, First Secretary (Econ) of the Australian Embassy to the Philippines; Prof. David Mulligan, UQ Center for Mined Land Rehabilitation director, SMI; Dr. Marcelo Angelia, USEP vice-president for academic affairs; Dr. Domingo M. Non, MSUGSC Graduate Schools dean; Dr. Edgar W. Ignacio, MSU-IIT vice chancellor for academic affairs; Engr. Rodolfo Velasco, Mining, Environment and Safety Division, Mines and Geosciences Bureau chief; and Artemio F. Disini, Chamber of Mines of the Philippines chairman. (Haidee C.Pineda, UPDate Online)

UPM, UH launch joint programs UP Manila (UPM) Chancellor Manuel Agulto signed a memorandum of Understanding with the University of Houston (UH), represented by Senior VicePresident for Academic Affairs John Antel, last May 3 for joint academic and research programs.

The signing was witnessed by UH Assistant Vice-President for International Studies and Programs Jerald Strickland and UPM Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Marie Josephine De Luna.

The agreement followed a series of discussions on possible areas and opportunities for academic cooperation.

The UH delegation that visited UPM last February held exploratory meetings with top UPM officials. The recent visit of the UPM team to UH that also included ViceChancellor for Research Vicente Belizario Jr. and UPM College of Medicine Postgraduate Institute of Medicine Director Paulo Pagkatipunan firmed up the commitment of both institutions to the program.

UH expressed interest in a joint MDPhD program during the meeting. UPM has had an MD-PhD program for three years.

UPM hopes that once operational, the joint program will contribute to the university’s character as a graduate and research university by increasing the number of its PhDs and bolstering faculty exchange and research partnerships. The program will provide opportunities to enhance the international experience of its faculty and students through faculty exchanges, visiting professorships, and international student exchanges.

The UPM team also toured UH’s Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling (CNRCS) Laboratory located in the new Science and Engineering Research Center

building on UH’s main campus and the impressive facilities of the College of Optometry.

UH is a Carnegie-designated Tier One research university and has been named

by Princeton Review as one of the best colleges in the US. Another university that expressed openness to a partnership with UPM was the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). At UTMB, the UPM delegation was met by Dr. Cary Cooper, Interim Executive Vice-President and Provost, Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and had a tour

of the Galveston National Laboratory, a Biosafety Level 4 laboratory.

The visit was marked by networking and discussions with members of the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE) on prospective partnerships. PAASE is a non-profit organization of scientists and engineers of Philippine descent who have distinguished themselves in scholarly and research activities that promote and encourage collaborative work in science and engineering. (Prepared by Cynthia Villamor based on a report by Vice-Chancellor Marie Josephine De Luna)

Four CFOS graduate students off to Japan Ma. Carolina Torrecampo

Four MS students of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS) at UP Visayas are attending a training course at the Kagoshima University Faculty of Fisheries (KUFF) in Japan for 40 days ending this month. The training course is under the KUFF-UPV Student Exchange Program to Foster International Experts on Fisheries of Japan and Philippines.

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) scholars, Angelo Macario (MSF Fish Biology), Mary Anne Mandario (MSF Fish Biology), Pedrita Caballero (MSF Aquaculture), and Nicole Nina Galaez (MSF Aquaculture) were selected among applicants from CFOS. They were chosen based on the availability and acceptance of their shortterm research plan and their academic standing. Dr. Erlinda Lacierda and Dr. Munechika Izhisaki, coordinator for UPV and KUFF respectively, arranged the

papers of the invited students.

The KUFF will shoulder the students’ plane fare, accommodation and all other related training expenses for the duration of their stay in Japan. Pre-travel expenses will be charged to the Graduate Tuition Fee Increment of CFOS, UP Visayas. The students’ training activities will consist of lectures, hands-on laboratory experiments, and exposure to the various research facilities of Kagoshima University.

This exchange program between Japan and Philippines will enable the student participants to understand the fisheries industry of both countries; to further study the resource management technology, to learn some basic skills in crisis management in fisheries industry, and to enhance their research capabilities.

At the helm of the program are CFOS Dean Carlos Baylon and KUFF Dean Tatsuro Matsuoka.

UPV inks MOU with DSWD UP Visayas, represented by its chancellor, Dr. Rommel Espinosa, entered into a memorandum of understanding for institutional cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development–Region VI, represented by its regional director, Dr. Minda Brigolo, last April 24, 2012 in ceremonies at the UPV Iloilo City campus.

The MOU stipulates that both parties will agree to collaborate in programs, projects, and other related activities whenever and wherever opportunities present themselves, including short-term training of qualified personnel from DSWD Region VI. They will exchange materials, publications, information and methodology in consonance with the Intellectual Property Rights Law and

Photo courtesy of UPMin-OC

UP Diliman to collaborate with Queensland University

Technology Transfer Act; and execute separate agreements for any particular undertaking jointly implemented.

In his message, Espinosa said that this initial partnership will enhance training and research by both institutions. “It is an organic match given UPV’s thrust on public service and DSWD’s efforts at bringing academic expertise in the way it conducts its key business.”

DSWD data and guaranteed access to remote communities in the region and UPV’s expertise from its faculty researchers with advanced degrees and years of practice in community immersion and theoretical grounding are complementary and beneficial in serving as front liners in the country’s community development efforts.

“With solid theory, rich data and dedicated commitment to scientific research, DSWD with UPV’s help can be instrumental in the formulation and implementation of sound public policies that matter to the community,” Espinosa added.

Brigolo revealed that DSWD is going through reforms in their delivery of service and looks forward to this collaboration.

Also present during the MOU signing were DSWD–VI Technical Assistance Division Chief Delia Bagolcol and staff; and UPV Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Emilia Yap, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Ma. Luisa Mabunay, Division of Social Sciences Chairperson Rosalie Hall, UPV faculty and staff. (Anna Razel L. Ramirez)

UPMin student named international exchange student. UP Mindanao (UPMin) BS Food Technology student Kriza Faye Calumba, seen in this file photo with UPMin Chancellor Gilda Rivero, has been named an international exchange student to the National University of Singapore (NUS) under the TF-LEaRN Program (Temasek Foundation Leadership Enrichment and Regional Networking Program). The subjects Calumba will enroll in will be credited to her degree in UPMin. Two other UPMin students, Nicole Kathryn Go and Gian Paulo Paglinawan (both taking BA Communication Arts), have also been recommended by the UP System as international exchange students to Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, under the AUN-ACTS Student Exchange Program (ASEAN Universities Network-ASEAN Credit Transfer System). The student exchanges are in line with the UP System’s drive towards increased internationalization.

6 U.P. Newsletter

june 2012

UPD cultural hub announced at NIP honors Theatrum launch Fred Dabu benefactors

Photo by Fred Dabu

UPD Chancellor Caesar Saloma announced his administration’s plan to put up an Arts Hub through the Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (OICA) during the soft launch of the Beta Epsilon (BE) Theatrum in the UP Diliman (UPD) Lagoon area last May 20. He described the revitalization of the UP Lagoon and BE Theatrum as “a key element in our program for the arts and humanities.”

Saloma said the cultural hub, with the UP Lagoon at the center, will include the UP Theater, Carillon, Vargas Museum, Bulwagan ng Dangal and Quezon Hall Amphitheater.

UPD OICA Director Ruben Defeo said the office is “developing this quadrant into an active convergence space for year-round cultural activities.” He said the renovated

Quimbos donate prof chair

Theatrum could serve as a venue for a “Concert at the Lagoon” to be held every Sunday. “We will light this up, where much of the cultural activities of the campus will be hosted,” he added.

Hydrologist and BE alumnus Prof.

Leonardo Liongson, the project’s master plan designer, said they hope to complete the Theatrum project’s first phase within the year.

Liongson said that all the “water-related” sciences or branches of engineering will be able to use the lagoon area as a laboratory.

He said this area will be suitable for field work courses and scientific studies.

Members of the UPD community, together with family and friends, gathered for a picnic while listening to the Camerata Jazz Ensemble’s on-stage repertoire during the launch.

The National Institute of Physics (NIP) at UP Diliman (UPD), in a simple ceremony at the NIP Lecture Pavillion Lobby on May 25, expressed its gratitude to individuals, government institutions and companies who have contributed to the development of physics in the university.

The donors’ support came in the form of equipment donations, research and scholarship grants, and monetary assistance for the completion of the NIP complex.

NIP Director Arnel Salvador said the donors enabled the institute to have infrastructure conducive to learning and research, and in providing the highest level of education and training to NIP students.

In attendance during the event were representatives from Sun Power Corporation, Hitachi GST Philippines - A Western Digital Company, and the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering.

After the ceremony, the guests were ushered to the NIP Research Wing for the inauguration of the Hitachi Metrology Laborator y. The laborator y houses several equipment vital to the research works at NIP such as the thin film growth and device fabrication. It will also serve as a teaching laboratory for NIP graduate students.

Present on both occasions were UP President Alfredo Pascual, Vice-President for Academic Affairs Gisela Concepcion, College of Science Dean Jose Maria The area surrounding the UP Diliman Lagoon forms part of what is envisioned as a cultural hub, Balmaceda, Dr. Salvador, and former shown in photo being used as practice grounds for these arnis enthusiasts.

UPD Chancellor Roger Posadas. (ACG, UPDate Online)

Tagpo sa Entabladong Cory at Gloria: Rebyu ng Continued from page 9 “Telon: Mga Dula” Makikita rin ang ganitong indibidwalista at lumpen na mga gawi sa Gamugamo sa Kanto ng East Avenue, kung saan nakapaloob sa isang samahan ang mga batang lansangan—may mga gustong tumakas dahil nahihirapan kahit pa / lalo na kapag pumalag, may mga gustong manatili dahil nakikinabang at umaasang aangat ang posisyon.

Sa murang edad ng mga batang lansangan, alam na nila ang mga laro ng mga nakapangyayari at ng mga niyayari—at may nais silang gawin dito. Hindi katulad ni Sabel—isang maybahay na nagtatangkang maging matapat sa kanyang asawa, kahit pa ginugulpi siya nito, na nakikipagdayalogo kay Esme—isang babaeng nagtatangkang magsarili subalit hindi makawala sa alaala ni Charo, anak na kanyang ipinalaglag.

Maaring kalabisan itong sabihin, pero maaring tratuhin ang dayalogong ito bilang monologo ng kahit sinong babaeng (o may piniling kasariang) nagnanais na maging

tunay na malaya. Sa kasamaang palad, sa patriyarkal na lipunang may uri, malabo itong mangyari.

Sabi ni Simone De Beauvoir, kinakatawan ng pakikibaka sa pagpapalaya ng kasarian ang pakikibaka sa pagpapalaya ng uri pero hindi kinakatawan ng huli ang una. Subalit mas hinog ang kondisyon sa pagpapalaya ng kasarian sa lipunang walang uri. Sa Koloring Koloraw naman, tinampok ang pagkakaibigan nina Primo, Momoy at Ronnie, at kung paano ito sinubok ng panahon, simula nung estudyante pa sila sa UP. Pamilya rin at pagkakaroon nito ang naging pangunahing problema sa naratibo.

Kung kahit papaano’y napagbubuhol ang mga dulang itinanghal ng Telon sa panahon ni Cory, tila mahirap iugnay sa isa’t isa ang mga dula sa panahon ni Gloria, bagaman madali maiuugnay sa mga pangyayari sa nagwakas na rehimen. Ang sistema ng pulitika, halimbawa, ay naipakita

Photo by Bong Arboleda

Grateful alumna gives back. Alumnus Dr. Ramon Miranda (BS Chemistry, ‘78) hands to President Alfredo Pascual a US$3,000 check from Dr. Mila Espejo-Ignatz, (BS Chemistry, ‘64; MAT Science Education, ‘66) to the Institute of Chemistry and the National Instittute for Science and Mathematics Education Development in honor of Chemistry professors Bienvenido and Salome Miranda, parents of Ramon, and Dr. Dolores Hernandez, who established what was then the UP Science and Mathematics Education Center. The turnover was held last May 30 at the Office of the President, Quezon Hall. Ignatz was a lecturer for two years at the UP College of Education and served as a member of the curriculum development team that produced a national curriculum program for teaching high school chemistry under the sponsorship of the Ford Foundation. After earning a PhD in Science Education at Florida State University in 1972, she had an outstanding career in Science Education in the US. “I am currently retired. As I look back and consider what I have become and have accomplished I owe and feel deep gratitude to three faculty members who served as models for me and have provided me with direction, guidance, mentorship, encouragement, and inspiration to be the best that I can be,” she tells the UP Newsletter.

sa Serbis na itinanghal noong 2005— panahon kung kailan kumalat ang Hello Garci tapes. Pinakita sa Serbis kung kaninong kamay ang dumadakma at sumasakmal sa alin upang maisakatuparan ang pulitikal na mga ambisyon. Sinadya man ng mandudula o hindi, magandang alegorya ang Serbis, hindi lang sa pambansang eleksyon noong 2004, kundi sa mga nauna at susunod pang eleksyon sa ilalim ng sistemang umiiral.

Mas mahirap sipatin ang dalawang nalalabing eksperimental na dulang itinanghal sa Virgin Labfest 3. Marahil, maaaring ilapat sa Baby B. ang konseptong ginamit ni Prof. Dennis Aguinaldo sa pagbabasa ng maikling kwento ni Donald Barthelme na pinamagatang “Bunny Image, Loss of: The Case of Bitsy S,” kung saan may epekto ng pagtapyas (truncation).

Ayon kay Aguinaldo, hindi katulad ng pagtapyas ng pangalan—halimbawa, sa kaso ng doktor ni Bitsy S., hindi binanggit

The Quimbo family headed by Vicente S. Quimbo Jr., a UP College of Business Administration (CBA) Distinguished Alumnus awardee, donated the Juanita Sansano Quimbo Memorial Professorial Chair in Business Administration worth P1 million in simple rites last May 14 at the Executive House at UP Diliman.

Quimbo, who is the founder and president of Bel Mondo Italia Corp. (makers of Novellino wines), named the donation after his mother who passed away last year.

During the event, President Alfredo Pascual awarded certificates of appreciation to the Quimbo matriarch’s living children present namely, Agnes, Vicente Jr., Francisco, Milagros, Concepcion, Jose and Asuncion.

Pascual expressed his appreciation for the generosity of the Quimbo family who had previously donated two professorial chairs to the university. “We are proud to honor the memory of Mme. Juanita Sansano Quimbo who raised a family whose contribution to the university and to the country is worth to be emulated by others.”

Responding in behalf of his family, Vicente Jr. said “Though not graduates of the University of the Philippines, we honor our mother, Juanita because she valued education as an investment for a good future for her children. She valued education as the key to shaping character.”

Among the guests were Dr. Emerlinda Roman, former UP president; Cesar Virata, former prime minister and former CBA dean; Roberto Alingog, UP CBA Alumni Association chairman; Dr. Ben Paul Gutierrez, CBA dean; and Dr. Erlinda Echanis, Professor Emeritus and former CBA dean. (H.C.P., UPDate Online) ang pangalan ni Altman—ang pagtapyas sa apelyido ay sumasalamin sa pasyenteng nasa impluwensiya ng gamot tulad ng paksa ng agham (subject of science), kaya si Bitsy S., tulad ni Baby B. na biktima ng patriyarkal na lipunan, ay tila walang kapangyarihan sa mga pangyayaring makakadawit at makakaapaketo sa buhay niya. Hiwalay siya sa pag-aaral ng kanyang sarili.

Ang Teatro Porvenir naman, sa isang banda ay maituturing na metanarrative, dahil malay nito ang pagiging dula niya.

Dula tungkol sa mga dula, dahil halaw ito sa istorikal na grupong nagtatanghal ni Andres Bonifacio. Bukod sa mga bahagi mula sa mga dula nina Bonifacio, Aurelio Tolentino, Francisco Baltazar, Santiago Alvarez, Jose Rizal, Marcelo Del Pilar at Soliman, tampok rin sa Teatro Porvenir ang salimbayan ng kultural at armadong aspeto ng rebolusyon.

Sa librong Pasyon and Revolution, ipinakita na rin ni Reynaldo Ileto kung paano magagamit maging ang pyudal at mapaniil na relihiyon upang maglunsad ng rebolusyon. Tinapos ni Dacanay ang Teatro Porvenir nang umaawit si Ynang Bayan mula sa dula ni Bonifaciong Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas nang may pag-awit na “parang pagdarasal ng mga babaylan.”

Ani Bonifacio, “Panahon na ngayong dapat lumitaw ang liwanag ng katotohanan.

Panahon nang dapat makilala ng mga Pilipino ang pinagbubuhatan ng kanilang mga kahirapan.” At mga manonood na lamang ang makapagsasabi kung may katotohanan sa liwanag ng tuwid na daan ng kasalukuyang administrasyon—habang malaya pa sa esensya si Gloria, hindi pa rin naipapamahagi ang Luisita, buhat pa nang maging pangulo ang kanyang ina, at patuloy na nakagapos sa neoliberal na mga polisiya ang kalakhan ng pamilyang Pilipino.

june 2012

The UP Debate Society dominated the Asian debating battleground by having four debaters and a judge land in the Top 10 Best Speakers and Top 10 Best Adjudicators of the United Asians Debating Championship (UADC) 2012, held from May 23 to 31 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Angelique Pearl Simbulan (IV BA Political Science) was awarded Over-all Best Speaker; Alistair Jan Zosa (BS Business Administration and Accountancy 2012) 2nd Best; Raymund Victor Vitorio (BA English Studies 2009; debated for the National University of Singapore) 3rd Best; and Valeri Filia D’Marie Inting (IV BS Social Work) 10th Best. Jesus Nicardo Falcis III (III Juris Doctor) was one of the Top Ten Adjudicators of the Tournament.

Meanwhile, Zosa was voted by the Union as Chief Adjudicator for UADC 2013. He will be leading the Adjudication

Core that will be in charge of making the motions for next year’s tournament.

(See full story at http://updebatesociety. com/2012/05/31/alistair-zosa-electeduadc-2013-ca/) / /) Two UPD teams perfor med well throughout the tournament. UP Diliman Team A, composed of Simbulan, Zosa, and Inting, garnered the highest aggregate speaker scores in the tournament, and was ranked fourth after the preliminary rounds.

The team finished at the quarterfinals after losing to Nanyang Technological University Team A, the eventual Grand Champions. The team had defeated NTU A in the preliminaries, but fell short during the quarterfinals. UP Diliman Team B, composed of Carlo Raphael Borromeo (IV BS Business Economics), Garie Ouano (IV Economics), and Jose Fernando Escalante (III BS Psychology) bowed out at the

UPMin architecture graduate places 2nd in board exam UP Mindanao (UPMin) BS Architecture 2010 graduate Alexis Ken Cartajenas placed second in the June 2012 Architecture Licensure Examination. Cartajenas earned a grade of 83.5 percent, closely following the first placer’s 83.8 percent. The topnotcher came from UP Diliman.

All 14 UPMin graduates who took the June exam passed.

The creation of UPMin’s Department of Architecture was approved by the UP Board of Regents last June 4.

Architecture was previously under the Department of Humanities. (Rene Rene Estremera Estremera) Cartajenas octofinals after losing to Ateneo de Manila University Team A, the eventual runner-up in the tournament. Vitorio’s team finished at the semi-finals in the tournament, also losing to NTU A. Diliman adjudicators performed well too, with Falcis on the panel in the Grand Finals. Meanwhile, Jo Javan Cerda (BA Journalism 2010) was a main quarterfinals adjudicator and Justin Jacob Jabines (III Photo by Stephanie Gabaldon

UP pride in France.

Three students from UP Diliman won the L’Oreal Brandstorm International Finals Global Marketing Competition in Paris this month. They are Stephanie Gabaldon, Ivania Sy and Regina Dimayuga, all graduates of Business Economics (Class of 2012). According to Nicardo Falcis, senior lecturer of UP College of Business Administration who was the coach/mentor of the team, they made history because it is the 20th year of Brandstorm and this is the first time that the Philippine team won overall in this competition.

Photo by Jun Madrid

Excellence in the performing arts.

Dulaang UP (DUP) alumni Eugene Domingo, 1997 AB English Studies graduate, and Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino, 1987 AB Theater Arts graduate cum laude, were honored with a dinner by DUP hosted

by UP President Alfredo Pascual at the UP Executive House in UP Diliman last May 23.

Domingo and CenteneraBuencamino received international acclaim in the 6th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong, winning the People’s Choice Awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.

UP System REPS gather to resolve issues Continued from page 1

description. There are 1,164 REPS members, a third of them university researcher staff. There are 169 university extension staff members, 150 college librarians, 42 guidance services staff members, 33 research professors, 33 science education staff members, 8 development management staff members, 8 law education/reform staff members, 2 museum research staff members, 1 extension assistant professor and 1 information systems analyst.

The highest salary grade (SG) to which REPS can be promoted is 24, but almost half of the REPS are below SG 15 (P24,887). Entry level is SG 12 (P12,940), which contains the most concentration of REPS, or 25 percent of them. Ten percent or 163 are “sagad” employees, or those who have reached the maximum promotion

level. REPS who are “sagad” cannot go to a chief administrative post because they are not qualified. If they choose to apply for faculty status, they will begin at entry level with no tenure. There is no automatic promotion among REPS. In terms of employment status, 18 percent are contractual, and 6 percent are temporary.

To further the interest of REPS, one of the group’s suggestions was to make changes based on the Supreme Court decision classifying REPS as academic, the Guidance Counseling Act of the Philippines and the UP Charter.

These instruments are handy in making changes with the Department of Budget and Management and the Civil Service Commission, which have control over

Photo courtesy of UPMin-OC

4 UPD debaters, 1 judge among Asia’s best

U.P. Newsletter 7

BS Psychology) a judge in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Category semi-finals.

UADC is an annual competition held in the Asian Parliamentary format that gathers over 600 debaters from universities all over Asia. Now on its 3rd year, the tournament is bid out yearly to a different host institution. There are no bids yet for next year’s tournament.

BALITANG UNYON Continued from page 3

tiles. At bunsod na rin ng ibayong pagtitipid, iminungkahi ni Joel Tuboro, kasalukuyang auditor ng unyon ng Diliman Chapter na pagtulong-tulungan na lamang ang pagkakabit ng mga tiles. Sinabi niya na, “Muli nating gunitain at isabuhay ang dakilang panahon ng ating mga ninuno sa tunay na diwa ng BAYANIHAN.” Kaagad naman sinang-ayunan ito ni Jun Bautista, kasalukuyang URC o union unit representative.

Habang binabasa niyo ang ulat na ito ay malamang na tapos na ang nasabing gawain sa pangunguna ng magiting nating auditor, si kasamang Joel, at siyempre pa ang buong kawan ng bumubuo sa ating unyon, nakahandang pasinayaan ang bagong renovate na opisina sa darating na buwan ng Setyembre 2012.

(Ulat ni Ka Felix Parinas) REPS Conference matagumpay na nailunsad Sa pangunguna ng All-UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) ay matagumpay na nailunsad ang isang Research, Extension and Professional Services (REPS) staff System-wide Conference. Dala-dala ang temang “REPS for ‘One UP’,” hangad ng kumperensyang matapos ang inaasam na REPS Manual na magiging gabay hinggil sa mga polisiya at patakaran na may kinalaman sa mga REPS sa Unibersidad.

Naganap ito sa NISMED Conference Hall noong nakaraang ika-31 ng Mayo hanggang ika-1 ng Hunyo. Dumalo ang mga REPS mula sa UP Baguio (4), Cebu (4), Diliman (20), Manila (9), Open University (2), at Visayas (5). Isinagawa ang kumperensya sa pamamagitan ng masipag na pagtutulungan at pamamahala ng mga kabilang sa core group na sina National Vice-President for REPS na si Guillermina Panizales, AUPAEU General Secretary Perlita Raña, Vice-President for REPS (Diliman Chapter) Celeste Vallejos at Dr. Leticia Tojos.

Nagbigay ng mga pambungad na mensahe ang UP President Alfredo Pascual at ang UP Diliman Chancellor Caesar Saloma.

Ipinahayag nila ang kanilang patuloy na suporta sa ganitong uri ng mga inisyatiba ng REPS bilang isang mahalagang akademikong sektor ng Unibersidad.

Kaugnay ng career path ng REPS ay iginiit ang pagtataas ng Salary Grade level, automatic promotion at ang pag-appoint sa mga kwalipikadong REPS bilang Head ng mga unit na may fixed term. Naging masinsinan naman at detalyado ang talakayan hinggil sa nilalaman at porma ng REPS Manual.

Napagkasunduan na isasaayos ito ng isang komite at ilalathala sa katapusan ng buwan ng Agosto. Libreng ipamamahagi ang REPS Manual at magiging available din sa Internet.

Sa dulo ng programa ay nakipagdiyalogo sina Vice-President for Academic Affairs Giselle Concepcion at Vice-President for Administration Maragtas Amante sa mga REPS hinggil sa posibleng mga tugon ng administrasyon sa kanilang mga usapin.

position items and salary grades.

The REPS also came up with a wish list, which includes a REPS Regent.

During the open forum with VPs Concepcion and Amante, the former mentioned current incentives including grants within and without the university for researchers and the Department of Science and Technology’s Scientific Career System as an alternative career path.

She stressed that REPS are vital to UP if it is to make its research world-class.

Foreign universities invest in highly-trained professionals, instrumentation experts, and IT specialists as “anchoring foundations” for research, she said. Concepcion also

encouraged REPS to teach and publish their innovations.

VP Amante said he was looking at removing publication requirements in the appointment of REPS and following up the proposal for an Academic Fellowship Committee, among other immediately doable solutions.

Concepcion and Amante both encouraged the REPS to further identify the points which make them feel they have less opportunities than the faculty and to document these.

8 U.P. Newsletter

june 2012

Kontra-GaPi reaches out to remote areas

Prof. Abraham assists a participant in Barugo, Leyte.

After performing in and around Iloilo, Miagao and Davao City last February, the Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino (Kontra-GaPi) took on Eastern Visayas from May 3 to 23 in line with the group’s continuing efforts to promote Philippine culture and showcase UP’s contribution to enhancing Filipino identity.

Through the invitation of UP Visayas (UPV) Tacloban College Dean Margarita dela Cruz, the troop went on a 20-day cultural caravan, visiting 19 locations in Biliran, Leyte, Northern Samar, and Western Samar.

They did 15 concerts, 20 dance workshops, 10 music workshops, a dance learning session with Curacha dancers, two interactions/consultations with artists and art groups, a lecture, a special keyboard recital and a press conference.

Kontra-GaPi founder-leader Prof. Pedro Abraham Jr. said the group experienced warm reception from the communities and received outstanding commentaries from individuals and groups. The group met several Department of Tourism and local government officials and performed in fiestas and festivals. They interacted with hundreds of local performing groups, artists, music and art teachers and students, and regaled crowds of thousands.

The group was sponsored by the Office of the UP Diliman Chancellor through a cultural exchange project Abraham considers the outreach activity “a farewell salute” to UP for his 35 years of service. between UPD and UPV. Abraham also considered the outreach activity as “a farewell salute” to UP for his 35 years of service. He retires this month.

“It is a great honor for Kontra-GaPi to give back to our kababayans the traditions from which it has drawn inspirations. This service is far greater than performing for international audiences,” said member Anna Isabel Navarro, a BS Chemistry major, of the Visayas tour.

Photo courtesy of UPV-IPO

Colleagues fete UP’s foremost fish taxonomist Lyncen M. Fernandez

Dr. Enrico Villoso, one of UP’s foremost fisheries taxonomists, was feted by his colleagues from the Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanology (IMFO), College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS) last March 27, two days before his birthday and retirement on March 29. The event was held at the Umali Hall, UP Visayas, Miagao, Iloilo.

IMFO Director Nathaniel Añasco said at the start of the program that the Philippines has the highest number of fish species per square meter but has a problem with correctly identifying them.

In his retirement lecture, Villoso treated his audience to a wealth of information and an extensive review of the history of fisheries in the Philippines as well as the history and evolution of CFOS, complete with anecdotes and behind-the-scene stories.

He also disclosed how he fell passionately in love with fish taxonomy, underscoring the importance of the discipline as an inclusive science and as the key to the literature of any animal species which is vital not only for scientists and researchers but to businessmen and traders as well.

“The experts on our fishes are foreigners,” decried Villoso, who pointed out that the country has no primary experts, attributing it to the fact that many view fisheries as a “very unglamorous career path.”

“Unless we know what we have, we will not value them,” he stressed, referring to the importance of the taxonomy in Philippine Fisheries.

Villoso has dedicated 37 years of his life in the service of the university as a teacher and researcher. He graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Fisheries from UP Diliman in 1970 and earned his Master of Science in Marine Biology in 1981. He finished his PhD in Marine Studies at the University of Delaware in 1989.

Prior to becoming a faculty member of CFOS in 1975, he worked at the National Museum as Junior Ichthyologist. He was

involved in various research projects such as the FSP Resource and Ecological Assessment of Ormoc Bay and San Pedro Bay. As an administrator, he served as chairperson of then Department of Marine Fisheries (now IMFO) when it was still in UP Diliman and director of the same in 1993-1995, and in 2000-2003; and as Head of the UPV Museum of Natural Sciences in 1995 - 2000.

Villoso’s foremost legacy, not only to UP but to the country, are the more than 40 research publications and technical reports that he authored, many of which are publications on the taxonomy of Philippine fishes. These have become trusted and useful identification guides for fisheries students, field workers, researchers and scientists.

Retiring as Professor 3, he is married

to his fellow Sariaya, Quezon “kababayan,” the former Aurita Balanaa, is blessed with three children, namely, Dreyden, Airah Dinea, and Jardean, and has three grandchildren.

His colleague at IMFO, Dr. Harold Monteclaro who introduced him before his lecture, said, “Dr. Villoso has distinguished himself as a fish taxonomist. At present, UPV has no other human resource that can match his expertise on such subject and with his retirement, the University will have a hard time to find a worthy replacement.”

Villoso is working on publishing a five-volume reference on Philippine fishes. (With sources from Dr. Harold “Unless we know what we have, we will not value them,” Monteclaro Monteclaro) says Prof. Villoso

Canadian expert talks federalism at TWSC Continued from page 11

statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to a government at the sub-national level, is identity politics. “Federalism is by its nature a territorial arrangement,” he added, while noting the importance of such factors as ethnicity, language and religion in creating federal states.

Anderson described the Belgian model as “not a very healthy design” and federalism in Spain as one which “decentralized as they democratized” in order to provide autonomy to the Basques, Catalans, Galicians and other groups.

For states undergoing a shift to federalism, he asserted the importance of untangling the symbolic dimension of federalism and autonomy from the

pragmatic dimension. Anderson explained that symbolic issues were generally harder to solve than functional ones, citing cases of exploding popular anger around issues that are symbolically important.

The practical issues include questions on the roles of different actors, which powers are to be transferred, access to revenues, and taxation in relation to broader financial structures. Anderson emphasized the potential difficulties to financial ministries given the technical nature of the issue.

Abueva commented on the importance of “being informed by the experience of other countries” in adopting the federal system. “We don’t want to reinvent the wheel,” he noted, while maintaining

Photo courtesy of Prof. Edru Abraham

Photo courtesy of Prof. Edru Abraham

Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc

advocacy for charter change.

He argued that the condition of the country under political oligarchs is unlikely to change as the oligarchs and the very poor had a “symbiotic relationship.”

He was however encouraged by the 10 Decision Points, saying that “what is good for the Moros is good for all of us.”

Brillantes stated that the advocacy for federalism continues, emphasizing that there was “no one-size-fits-all” model for those who wish to adopt it. He identified the major issues in pushing for federalism in the country as the “ethnic factor,” territorial arrangements, and symbolism.

Like Anderson, he also focused on the importance of resolving finance and other functional issues.

june 2012

U.P. Newsletter 9

Photo courtesty of Dulaang UP

Tagpo sa Dulaang UP unveils roster of plays for its 37th season Entabladong Cory at Gloria: Rebyu ng and human folly. The play is directed by theater legend Tony Mabesa and features ‘Telon: Mga Dula’ the Filipino translation of the play by Arbeen Acuña

May tatlong tesis sa pagsusulat, ayon kay Prof. Rolando Tolentino—na ang pagsusulat ay gawaing malikhain, intelektwal at pulitikal. Pinalawig niya ito sa Pag-aklas / Pagbaklas / Pagbagtas. Ganito rin ang anumang larangan ng sining.

Sadya man o hindi ng patnugot nitong si Tim Dacanay, tila nagwagi o naitanghal ang mga kasamang piyesa sa Telon: Mga Dula sa mga panahong nakaranas o nakararanas ang sambayanan ng banta o bigwas sa demokrasya sa ilalim ng babaeng pangulo: Kung hindi noong rehimeng Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, nagwagi o naitanghal ang mga dula matapos mapatalsik si Ferdinand Marcos—noong unang rehimeng Aquino. Mailalapat pa rin A scene from ‘Noli Me Tangere: The Opera.’ ang mga piyesang ito ngayong anak na ni For its 37th season, Dulaang UP (DUP) Cory ang nasa puwesto, lalo at inilathala ito ng Pambansang Komisyon para sa Kultura features return engagements of successful at mga Sining noong nakaraang 2011, kung productions from the previous seasons, kailan halos kakapanalo lamang ni Noynoy a classic play by a master dramatist, and an exciting new offering from a highlyAquino bilang pangulo.

Marahil, dapat lamang asahan na esteemed Filipino playwright.

The restaging of the musical treat of ang Telon ay bumatikos o tumalakay sa panlipunang kalagayan ng bansa dahil 2011, Noli Me Tangere: The Opera, kicks off mauugat ang Telon Playwrights Circle the new season. The critically-acclaimed sa pagkakatatag nito noong 1983, kung operatic retelling of Rizal’s opus by National kailan inilunsad ng konseho ng mga mag- Artist Felipe Padilla de Leon with libretto aaral sa pamumuno ng aktibistang lider- by another National Artist, Guillermo estudyanteng si Leandro Alejandro ang Tolentino, comes on the heels of its sold-out, four-week run last November. isang “malawakang Cultural Workshop.”

Ayon sa tagapagtatag at Artistic Director nitong si Rene Villanueva sa paunang mandudula sa kalipunang ito.” salitang isinulat niya noong 2007 para sa Sa “Towards a Revised History of Telon, nagkikita-kita sila noon sa UP Bliss Philippine Literature” mula sa Revaluation: at madalas ding sama-samang kumakain sa Essays on Philippine Literature, Cinema and UP Hostel. “Hindi mga teknikal na aspekto Popular Culture, binanggit ni Lumbera ang sa pagkatha ng dula” ang natanim sa isip ni dinaanang kasaysayan ng dula. Dekada ’60, Villanueva kundi “mga kamalayan tungkol nang muling buhayin ni Rolando Tinio ang sa buhay.” Dagdag pa niya, “Bagaman sarsuwela at isinalin niya sa Tagalog ang mga alam kong hindi mapipigilan dahil itinalaga dula nina Arthur Miller, August Strindberg, ng buhay, lihim kong dinarasal na sana’y Bertolt Brecht, at iba pa. Dekada ’70 huwag agad bumaba ang Telon.” nang magsimulang magtanghal ang mga Noong 1986—panahong ginanap ang aktibista sa rally, kabilang ang Barikada, tinaguriang People Power Revolution— dula tungkol sa Diliman Commune sa UP, unang nagkaroon ng produksyon ang ng grupong Gintong Silahis. Sa parehong organisasyon, kaya hindi nakapagtatakang sanaysay, sinabi ni Lumbera na tumatak ang itinakda nitong programa ay nakatuon ang unang mga dekada ng dulang Pilipino sa “pagtulong sa kabataang mandudula sa sa kasalukuyan, dahil ang mga bagong layon na mapataas ang sining pandulaan manunulat ng dula ay nagsusulat tungkol kasabay ng pagtugon sa pangangailangan sa mga isyung panlipunan. at mithiin ng mga Pilipino.” Sa mga Sa pagtatapos ng Dekada ’80, sinalamin piyesang isinama sa Telon, napanindigan pa rin ng mga dula ang ilang paglilinang ang layuning ito, kahit pa, sa mga salita ni ng lipunan sa entablado. Ang mga dulang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining Bienvenido nasa Telon na itinanghal sa panahon ni Lumbera sa kanyang introduksyon, iba-iba Cory ay ang mga sumusunod: Kaaway sa ang “hubog ng realidad na inihaharap sa Sulod ni Villanueva at Rolando Dela Cruz mambabasa,” “epektong sinikap likhain (Unang Gantimpala, Isang Yugtong Dula, sa mga manonood,” at “pananaw na nais Gawad CCP para sa Panitikan noong ipakilala.” Dagdag pa niya, “Sa iba-ibang 1987; itinanghal noong 1986 at 1987); buhay na nakapaloob sa mga akda may Maternal ni Luna Sicat-Cleto (Ikatlong liwanag na itinatanglaw sa kalagayan Gantimpala, Isang Yugtong Dula, Gawad ng ating panahon ang mga kabataang CCP para sa Panitikan noong 1987;

It is directed by DUP Artistic Director Alexander Cortez, with music direction by Camille Lopez Molina and features some of the country’s finest classically-trained singers. Noli Me Tangere:The Opera returns on stage from July 18 to August 12, 2012 and is also DUP’s tribute to Padilla de Leon’s birth centennial.

This is followed by the staging of what is widely considered to be Anton Chekhov’s greatest play, The Seagull (Ang Tagak), from September 19 to October 7, 2012. The play is an intimate study of Russian provincial life, unrequited love, itinanghal noong 1986); Gamugamo sa Kanto ng East Avenue ni Dela Cruz (Unang Gantimpala, Isang Yugtong Dula, Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature noong 1989; itinanghal noong 1987, 1998 at 1999); at Koloring Koloraw: Kuwentong Kalabaw ni Nicolas Pichay (Ikatlong Gantimpala, Tatlong Yugtong Dula, Gawad CCP para sa Panitikan noong 1986).

May tatlong dula sa Telon na itinanghal sa panunungkulan ni Arroyo: Serbis ni Eman Beltran Ingles na unang itinanghal sa Virgin Labfest 1 noong 2005, Baby B. ni Villanueva at Teatro Porvenir (Ikalawang Gantimpala, Dulang Ganap ang Haba, sa Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature noong 2006) ni Dacanay na kapwa unang itinanghal bilang staged reading sa Virgin Labfest 3 noong 2007. Mapapansing bagamat ipinalabas ang lahat ng dula sa pormal na mga tanghalan—halimbawa’y sa CCP o sa UP, magkaiba ang mga tagpo sa nabanggit na mga produksyon sa dalawang rehimen: mas kumplikado ang mga tagpo sa rehimeng Gloria—lalo’t nasa labas (outdoors), kumpara sa rehimeng Cory—na karamiha’y nasa loob (indoors).

Sa isang kubo ng NPA ginanap ang Kaaway sa Sulod Sulod, sa silid ni Esme ang Maternal Maternal, sa lumang bodega ang Gamugamo sa Kanto ng East Avenue at, bagamat tatlo ang yugto,

Philippine veggie markets book off the press A book on Philippine vegetable markets has been published by the faculty and staff of the UP Mindanao School of Management and Curtin University, Western Australia. Institutional Market Survey Report is the product of a research program to study the institutional demand for fresh vegetables in the Philippines arising from new consumption patterns, such as the increasing number of Filipinos shopping at supermarkets, and of food being consumed through food service and fast food outlets.

The book aims to help smallholder vegetable producers enter these high-value markets through collaborative marketing groups.

The book’s authors are Curtin University Professor Peter Batt, School of Management Dean Sylvia Concepcion, Assistant Professor Luis Hualda, Research Associates Marilou Montiflor and Jerick Axalan, and Maria Lourdes Lopez of the Professional Institute for Management Advancement.

Since the book was intended for small farmers, a book launch was held at each of

the project sites: in Banga, South Cotabato, in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, and in UP Mindanao, Davao City.

The research study was funded by the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) under Project HORT/2007/066, also known as “Enhanced profitability of selected vegetable value chains in the Southern Philippines: Component 4: Value Chain Analysis.” The book is published by UPSTREAM Foundation, Inc. To order, please call (082) 295-2188.

Rolando Tinio.

UP Playwright’s Theater (UPPT), which is under DUP, restages the hit children’s play Umaaraw, Umuulan Kinakasal ang Tikbalang, which had a successful run last year. The play is a reminder of the richness of our folk literature and the importance of taking care of the environment. Umaaraw, Umuulan Kinakasal ang Tikbalang is adapted from master storyteller Gilda Cordero Fernando’s children’s short story The Magic Circle and is written by Rody Vera and directed by José Estrella.

The play runs from November 21 to December 9, 2012. UPPT is now on it 26th theater season.

The world premiere of multi-awarded playwright Floy Quintos’ Collection closes the 37thseason and is directed by Dexter Santos. After writing celebrated plays for DUP like St. Louis Loves Dem Filipinos, Isang Panaginip na Fili Fili, FAKE, among many others, Quintos is back with a dark comedy on fashion and art. It is staged from February 13 to March 3, 2013.

All productions are staged at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero, 2nd floor, Palma Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City. For ticket inquiries, reservations, sponsorships and special bookings, call the Dulaang UP Office at telephone numbers 926-1349,

nanatili lamang sa isang bubong sa Quiapo ang Koloring Koloraw. Samantalang paiba-iba naman ang mga tagpo sa Serbis, Baby B at Teatro Porvenir Porvenir.

Ang mga dulang indoors ang tagpo ay itinanghal sa panahong inaakalang naibalik na ang demokrasya dahil sa pangakong dala ng bagong konstitusyon at pagwawakas ng batas militar. Subalit tampok pa rin sa mga akdang ito ang mga dalamhati—karaniwa’y internal—na dinadala ng mga tauhan sa kuwento. Bagama’t ipinakita ang kahinaang internal sa kilusan sa dulang Kaaway sa Sulod Sulod, madarama rito ang pighating kalakip ng pagnanais ng mga tauhang magkaroon ng mas malayang kinabukasan—si Fidel, ang NPA na naka-disciplinary action, ay anak ng magsasaka, subalit mayroon silang lupa.

Relatibong mas maluwag ang buhay niya kaysa sa deep penetration agent na si Ilyong na nagtaksil upang mabigyan diumano ng mas maginhawang buhay—hindi primarya ang kabuuan ng sambayanang Pilipino— ang pamilya niya. Madalas kinakausap ni Fidel ang mga nanonood at ipinakita kung paano napangibabawan ang madilim na yugto ng kilusan. Sa lahat ng karakter ng dula sa Telon, si Fidel lamang ang bumabasag (breaking the fourth wall) sa pagpapaliban ng pagtataka (suspension of disbelief) at direktang umuugnay sa mga manonood.

Tulad sa naunang dula kung saan nagaalala si Fidel at si Ilyong sa kanilang mga pamilya, ipinakita rin sa tatlo pang dula ang ganitong sensibilidad. Ganito rin halos ang nangyari sa mga Aquino—nakakuha ng simpatya si Cory nang paslangin si Ninoy, at mas naging madali ang pagkapanalo ni Noynoy dahil sa pagkamatay ng kanyang mga magulang. Sa mga angkan ng makapangyarihan—o nagnanais, malay man o hindi, na mapabilang sa mga naghahari o tagapagsilbi ng mga ito—normal nang unahin ang kapakanan ng pamilya. Sa kinagisnang kultura, dulot ng pribadong pagmamay-ari, maging ang maralita ay nahahawa sa kaisipan ng naghaharing uri—tulad sa kaso ni Ilyong.

Continued on page 7

10 U.P. Newsletter

june 2012

COMMENTARY Niceto S. Poblador, Ph.D.

The Role of the University in Technological Innovation Early this year, the university adopted a policy on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) which sets certain restrictions on the accessibility of theses, dissertations and defense proceedings. This essay looks closely into the implications of this policy and explores whether or not it is in keeping with the traditional role of the university in creating, preserving and disseminating knowledge. In particular, it examines the potential impact of the new set of guidelines on research output on the rate of technological innovation.

The Rise of the Entrepreneurial University By long-standing tradition, the sole function of a university is to develop, preserve, and disseminate knowledge for the ultimate purpose of enhancing the wellbeing of society. Historically, it has never been the function of a university to claim economic value from the new knowledge that it has developed or discovered. The generally accepted norm is that research at universities should be guided solely by the quest for knowledge, and should therefore be “…isolated from demands of economic utility” (Nelsen, 1998).

Of late, however, an increasing number of universities, in the U.S. in particular, have become more and more preoccupied with capturing economic value from their research output and publications. They have, in a word, become “entrepreneurial” (Gibb and Hannon, https://webspace.utexas. edu/cherwitz/www/articles/gibb_hannon. pdf ), not in the sense of turning out useful and marketable new products and services resulting from their scientific or creative work, but by claiming proprietary rights to the knowledge that they have produced and generating income from them. Patenting, and to a much lesser extent, copyrighting and other forms of proprietary claims to knowledge and information, has become a new raison d’être of institutions of higher learning in the United States, and increasingly, in Europe and in other parts of the world as well.

A recent move by the University of the Philippines suggests that it is following the lead of U.S. universities in its treatment of intellectual property rights (IPR). On February 2, 2012, Quezon Hall issued MEMORANDUM NO. PAEP 2012-03 which mandates the University to withhold public access to theses, dissertations and defense proceedings until potential property rights on their content are fully protected by law. While the avowed purpose of the policy is “to generate new knowledge and share this for the benefit of the wider public,” an implicit objective of seeking legal protection of property rights is to prevent others from expropriating economic value from new knowledge created in the university.

The underlying belief is that the university has a rightful claim to the economic value resulting from its research activities. To the extent that all research activities in the university are undertaken with publicly owned resources and in many cases with public funding, it follows, so the reasoning goes, that the university has residual rights to the patents that may be granted on these research findings, and by extension, on the revenues that may be generated from their commercialization.

In the implementation of this new policy, authors of theses and dissertations are instructed to allow access to their works only under any one of the following two conditions: (a) make them available only after consultation with the author/thesis adviser; or (b) make them available only to those bound by confidentiality agreements.

Otherwise, these are to be made available to the general public.

Considering that all forms scientific or creative works, or any new knowledge or piece of information have potential economic value and are therefore potentially patentable or copyrightable, it is to be expected that most – but certainly not all researchers at the university, be they students or members of the faculty, will be inclined to withhold their works from the general public and instead bet on realizing some financial benefits from their works, no matter how remote that possibility may be.

Implications of Restricting Access to Research Output We contend that the new set of constraints imposed by the university on its researches and publications are unusually restrictive, and have far-reaching consequences on the pace of technological development in the country.

By limiting access to its research output over extended periods of time, the university’s new policy on IPR tends to slow down if not totally inhibit the communal effort that is necessary in order to realize their full potential economic value.

The university’s new IPR policy seeks to withhold access to its research findings until such time that appropriate patents or copyrights shall have been granted. While copyrights are easily obtained, the process of acquiring a patent from an invention, a chemical formula or a new production process is a long and tedious one. In a highly dynamic and volatile knowledge environment, it is very probable that by the time the patent has been granted, the invention, process or formula shall have lost its potential value. The university could very well end up with another “Rembrandt in the attic.”

The economic value of new knowledge, ideas or inventions that come out of the university’s research activities are, by themselves, quite minuscule. Their potential value can only be fully realized by combining them with the complementary knowledge, ideas and inventions developed by others.

The required synergy – aka “network externalities” - can only be achieved through an extensive network of collaborating agents.

The process of capturing value from collective effort is a long, complex and arduous one. As we have just noted, it usually takes a long period of time before a new idea or concept is granted a patent. Further development of the patented invention into a functional and commercially viable prototype, and finally bringing the product to market, requires yet another extended period of time, and certainly more interaction with countless others. Only after the product or service has been fully accepted by the ultimate users can the value of the new product or service be firmly established.

In the fast-paced, knowledge-driven and highly-interconnected world, novel ideas and inventions tend to atrophy over time at an accelerated pace. The process of developing a product or production technique and bringing this to market should therefore be accomplished as quickly as possible in order to achieve first mover advantage. This requires that all participants in the collective effort - scientists, engineers, marketing experts and financiers - should have unhindered access to each others’ information.

One of the reasons often cited for patent protection is to prevent others from usurping the commercial value of new ideas by surreptitiously copying

them and passing these off as their own.

However, this generally accepted rationale for patent protection ignores the fact that it is extremely difficult and costly for imitators to copy somebody else’s work. It has been shown, for example, that on the average, imitation costs are 65 percent of the cost of developing it, and that the time it takes to imitate a technology is 75 percent of the time it took to invent it in the first place (Mansfield, 1986). The cost of possible litigation arising from charges of patent infringement is yet another deterrent to would-be copycats.

T he swiping of knowledg e and information embodied in the university’s research output by unscrupulous outsiders is costly and highly unlikely. The cost of insuring their safety from illegal expropriation is equally prohibitive. The university should therefore aim instead to provide the mechanisms and institutional arrangements by which to accelerate the development of its newfound knowledge into useful products and services that best serve certain specific needs of society. This can only be achieved by encouraging rather than limiting access to the results of its research activities.

An Emergent Business Model It appears that the business model that is being adopted by the university is one which is designed to generate income from the patents that it expects to accumulate from the implementation of its new IPR policy. The financial benefits from these patents may be realized not by developing the patented invention, formula or process into useful products or services and bringing them to market, by itself or in partnership with others, but by collecting license fees for their use by other parties.

With its new policy on IPR, the university seems to be following the path taken by a number of American universities such as MIT, Stanford and Carnegie-Mellon.

These well-known institutions have set up their own technology licensing operations (TLO) to manage their large arsenals of patents which have been accumulated through the years. However, the university should proceed with caution in pursuing this strategy because unlike many of its American counterparts, it lacks the enormous resources and long experience of university-industry collaboration to be able to successfully manage its own TLO. The university’s technology licensing office, recently renamed the Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) represents yet another layer of bureaucracy and adds yet another player to the already convoluted patenting game.

In addition to the TTBDO, we have the “inventor” presumably a UP professor, student or researcher, the “licensee”, a business entity which intends to make use of a patent owned partly or wholly by the university, and the university itself which represents the “public” whose interests it is supposed to serve. The presence of positive transaction costs, information asymmetries, and the conflicting interests of the four parties involved leads to a classic Agency Problem, and any contractual arrangement that may emerge from this situation is bound to be socially sub-optimal (Kenney, Martin and Donald Patton, “Reconsidering the Bayh-Dole Act and the Current University Invention Ownership Model,” http://brie. berkeley.edu/publications/wp182.pdf).

Another way of generating revenues from patents, one which is employed by many large patent holders (collectively referred to in the industry as “patent trolls”) is by collecting huge legal settlements from

those who infringe on them - willfully or otherwise. By becoming patent trolls themselves (see Jim Farmer, http:// mfeldstein.com/should-universities-patenttheir-research-universities-say-yes-butshould-they/), universities effectively slow down the pace of technological innovation by making it too costly and too cumbersome for other individuals and organizations to innovate.

There are signs that many large industry players (many of which have downsized their R&D operations) notably those in ICT such as IBM, HP and Intel have become increasingly disappointed with their dealings vis-à-vis university TLOs which they find too costly and too cumbersome to do business with. They are instead turning to the cloud, or to independent researchers and research institutions, including European universities, for their external technical input requirements. ((Patent Trolls: How Bad Is the Problem? http://www.popularmechanics. com/technology/gadgets/news/patenttrolls-how-bad-is-the-problem) m m) Patenting and the Rate of Technological Innovation Historically, patents and other forms of intellectual property rights have been regarded as an effective way of encouraging innovation and creativity. This is achieved by granting patent owners a temporary monopoly over their inventions, and in this way providing them the opportunity to enjoy the financial rewards from their works. It is for this reason that patents are highly valued, and inventors are willing to go through great lengths and incur enormous costs in acquiring patent rights.

Seeking patent protection has become one of the most common forms of rentseeking behavior, and is a major reason for the high costs typically associated with new products and processes – high enough to discourage potential product innovators and entrepreneurs, and to slow down the emergence of innovative and potentially useful ideas.

The granting of monopoly power effectively insulates patent owners from would be competitors who all-too-often have far superior (and cheaper) products to offer. Many of these patented products and processes such as the Watt-Boulton steam engine at the turn of the 19th Century, the Windows OS, and the internal combustion engine have become what are known as the dominant designs. (Other cases of inferior products designs that have become industry norms are the QWERTY keyboard design and the VHS recording system.)

Another argument given by advocates of the strict enforcement of IPR is that patenting reduces or eliminates the risks that are typically associated with new products or processes, and therefore accelerates the pace of technological innovation.

There is an alternative and equally plausible argument, however. Risk can be viewed as the market’s way of assessing the potential technical and commercial success or failure of a new product or process. It is an effective mechanism by which the market screens out potentially worthless inventions, thereby giving more innovative ones a better chance of being adopted.

Patents tend to enhance the probability that inferior products will prevail. Thus, by artificially reducing perceived risk, patents are likely to slow down rather than step up the rate of technological innovation.

There is mounting evidence that the role of patents in encouraging technological innovation has been grossly exaggerated.

For example, it has been shown that Continued on page 2

june 2012

U.P. Newsletter 11

Canadian expert talks Researchers take on multidisciplinary approach federalism at TWSC in writing Andre Encarnacion

I figured that when you cross to that other discipline, you are either multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary.”

For the past decades, there have been debates and discussions as to the meanings and nuances of each particular term. These debates still continue, “except there is more practice [now]. There is more evidence of what one constitutes to contrast it with another,” although this has also led to the emergence of more issues and debates.

Looking at the concerns of the world today—globalization, sustainable development, global health problems, migration, urban problems such as traffic and over-population, disaster risk “Federalism is by its nature a territorial management, human rights, poverty and arrangement.” says Anderson. so on—requires a broad perspective and multiple points of view. “If we adopt one its people to the unsuitability of the particular perspective, we can be restrictive status quo or the Autonomous Region in and very narrow-minded about it,” said Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). During his Rebullida. “I think the heritage and legacy stay in the country, Anderson is expected of the social sciences is really an openness. to advise both panels on the possible In this particular sense, let’s evolve an political-structural options for Muslim openness to various modalities by which Mindanao. each of these orientations can be made.”

Anderson said that one of the D o i n g m u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y, things that drive devolution, or the interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary and Continued on page 8 cross-disciplinary research requires “a sustained process of dialogue with other scholars and with yourself, or within the discipline, to know you have a joint-problem orientation.”

As a researcher, you can approach the problem by yourself in an interdisciplinary way, or you can have a dialogue with a member of your team from another discipline in order to construct a framework that puts your disciplines together.

With reg ard to academic institutions, according to Rebullida, the tenet of multidisciplinarity in policy sciences “violated the entire departmental structure of the contemporary university, which by this time was disciplinarily focused on increasingly narrow research topics.” Doing multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research requires numerous perspectives and invites partnerships and collaborations; Participants focus on a writing assignment during a workshop session. hence, the need to put up an institute or research unit that is multidisciplinary and in the Contemporary Social World,” with To cap the writeshop, Dr. Ma. Teresa interdisciplinary in nature. In UP, the Third a special focus on American economist- Trinidad Pineda Tinio, Far Eastern University World Studies Center is one such example. historian Douglass North and his take on Senior Vice-President for Academic Universities abroad, particularly in the unpredictability and formal institutions; and Affairs, also gave a lively discussion on United Kingdom, have also established on German sociologist Niklas Luhmann the entire process of writing a thesis or centers of policy research and studies in and his ideas on social systems theory and dissertation in “Rudiments of Writing: gender and race and ethnic issues, among complexity.

Topic selection, formulating research others.

Marian Ramos, Senior Lecturer at questions and objectives, writing a review For the graduate students working on the UP Diliman School of Library and of related literature, ethical considerations their theses and dissertations, Rebullida Information Sciences, spoke on “The in writing and research.” advised them to examine their epistemology World at Your Fingertips: Library and According to TWSC Director Maria Ela and to take a look at the concepts and Information Resource,” and gave the Atienza, the idea of the TWSC Research theories from other disciplines dealing with participants a tour of the UP Library. Writeshop began around two to three years their research topic in their review of related On the second day, UP College of Mass ago. “The TWSC thought of developing a literature so that they could construct their Communication Dean Rolando Tolentino training [workshop] on multidisciplinary research framework appropriately. spoke on “Current Trends in Social research skills that would supplement the The TWSC Research Writeshop Science Research: New Media and the training received by students in their regular offered its participants two days’ worth of Social Sciences”; UPD Department of classes,” she said in her opening remarks. valuable lessons, tips and advice on doing History professor Milagros Guerrero “After all, we see our Center as a prime multidisciplinary research in the social dealt with “Historical Methodology and mover or one of the prime movers into sciences and related fields. the Territory of the Historian”; and UPD quality multidisciplinary research.” The Besides Rebullida, the invited speakers College of Science Dean Jose Maria TWSC, which celebrated its 35th year last included Dr. Leland Joseph Dela Cruz, Balmaceda discussed the various ways February, held the first training program director of the Development Studies to use statistics and graphs in “Making of this kind in October 2010.

Program of the Ateneo de Manila Numbers Intelligible: Basic and Relevant The 2012 TWSC Research Writeshop University School of Social Sciences, who Quantitative Applications for Research in was co-sponsored by Far Eastern University spoke on “Theories and Their Applications the Social Sciences.” and the Office of the UP President.

Photo by Jun Madrid

When undertaking research especially in the social sciences, begin with a situation in which you have an interest, and which you correlate into a problem.

However, “social reality, economic reality and political reality are much broader than that one-sentence statement you posed as a [research] problem statement. So in many cases, what we might need is a multidisciplinary approach.”

This is according to UP Diliman Department of Political Science Prof.

Maria Lourdes Rebullida, addressing a group of graduate students undertaking their own research in the various social sciences and related fields. Rebullida was the first speaker in a series of social science and research experts invited to be speakers during the 2012 UP Third World Studies Center (TWSC) Research Writeshop titled “Multidisciplinar y Perspectives and Methodologies in the Social Sciences,” held May 7 and 8 at the Third World Studies Center, Palma Hall, UP Diliman.

“If you want to deal with your research problem in a disciplinary way, then there’s no problem with it,” Rebullida advised the graduate students. “Except that the disciplines are also saying, we cannot understand the complexities of a particular problem purely from one particular discipline. So we need to at least look into other related disciplines.”

Rebullida went on to describe the differences between the ter ms “multidisciplinary,” “interdisciplinary,” “cross-disciplinary” and “transdisciplinary.” When research is considered “multidisciplinary,” for one, different disciplines (e.g., history, political science, anthropology, sociology, psychology, law, economics, public administration, the so-called ‘hard sciences,’ and so on) are drawn upon but used parallel to one another rather than in conjunction with each other, in order to be better able to understand the particular phenomenon being investigated.

An “interdisciplinary” study, on the other hand, is a coherent, integrated study based on explicitly harnessed disciplines— meaning, an integration of disciplines, or a coherent way of putting together some of the ideas, concepts, theories and methodologies of at least two disciplines instead of just viewing the problem from two different, parallel disciplines. “This is something that is not very easy to do, but we might be already doing it without our knowing,” said Rebullida. “To have interdisciplinarity, we start by putting together two or more disciplines and combining them so that not one discipline can say ‘that is our discipline looking at this research topic.’” A further blending of these two or more disciplines can lead to the higher level of transdisciplinarity, which could also mean an “integrated work across disciplines united by a common theoretical framework as well as common methods.”

Fields of study that utilize interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity include health social sciences and policy sciences.

A “cross-disciplinary” study, said Rebullida, would be that done by, for instance, a political scientist looking at a particular phenomenon from the perspective of economics. “You cross from your discipline into another discipline. But

Photo by Bong Aboleda

Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta

A Canadian scholar and civil servant drew students, scholars and concerned citizens to the Third World Studies Center, Palma Hall, UP Diliman for a discussion on federalism and Muslim Mindanao last May 18.

In his presentation “Federalism and Autonomy: Exploring Political Structural Solutions to the Mindanao Conflict,” George RM Anderson, formerly a deputy minister in Canada and fellow at the Harvard Center for International Affairs, and currently an expert in the Mediation Support Unit of the United Nations, talked about his experience in Canadian politics and various experiences of federalism in other countries which could inform the creation of a new autonomous political entity as a solution to the ongoing Mindanao conflict. A roundtable discussion, which featured former UP President Jose Abueva and professor of Public Administration Alex Brillantes Jr. as reactors, followed.

The event came as both the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front together with Malaysian observers signed a document containing 10 Decision Points on Principles last April 24. The document expressed a range of agreements, from the mutual recognition of the Bangsamoro identity and the legitimate grievances of

12 U.P. Newsletter

june 2012

Blogging summit Rappler joins Y4iT as online media partner held at Malcolm Fred Dabu Online news network Rappler will long IT event last May 8 at the Vidal A. marketing purposes, and promote ITDC Theatre and Y4iT by placing the logos (with be the social media partner of this Tan Hall in UP Diliman, Quezon City.

Arbeen Acuña

As Y4iT’s partner, Rappler will publish news or feature stories about Y4iT and ITDC activities, post ITDC and Y4iT press releases on Rappler’s online news site and other affiliated sites, authorize ITDC and the UP System IT Foundation (UPSITF) to use Rappler’s logo for Y4iT

Photo by Bong Aboleda

Bloggers attended “iBlog: The 8 th Philippine Blogging Summit” (iBlog8) at Malcolm Theatre in UP Diliman last May 25 and 26. The first day of iBlog8 was intended for bloggers “wanting to understand how to tap blogs to promote their products and services,” while the second day was “meant for everyone interested in blogging.”

UP Jounalism Assistant Professor Danilo Arao talked about “Blogging, social media and journalism: The use, abuse and misuse of freedom of expression.”

The Powerpoint presentation may be accessed here: http://risingsun.dannyarao. com/2012/05/25/blogging-social-mediaand-journalism-iblog-8-presentation/.

Arao mentioned instances of cyberbullying and other unethical practices. He said that journalism ethics, being 400 years old, has the most developed media ethics and can be used as a barometer. “Standards are meant to be high,” said Arao. He added though that ethics are not rules and that ethical compliance is voluntary. Ostracism is the only punishment irresponsible bloggers get.

He said that one should “learn to identify (himself or herself) as a blogger or journalist.” He also said that one should “be ready for below-the-belt attacks.” Arao said that all posts contribute to shape public opinion.

“We never look down on our readers.

We treat them as co-equal and we don’t want to waste their time reading our text,” Arao said.

Anthony Ian “Tonyo” Cr uz of TXTpower talked about “Social Media and Social Change.” He also mentioned how bloggers became relevant during postSendong and Ondoy relief operations, and during the 2010 national elections when they were accredited by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) as media. Among the tools a social blogger can utilize for social change are Facebook pages, Twitter and hashtags, online petitions, blogging, maps and videos. He cited the Arab Spring as an example of social movements powered by social media.

“Blogging is not personal. Once you publish, it becomes social,” Cruz said.

The other resource persons and their presentations were Gellie Anne Abogado (“Unwritten Blog ging Etiquette”); Lloyd Salac, a biology student from UPLB (“Youth and Blogging: The Next Generation Bloggers Are Here”); James Jimenez of COMELEC (“Kasali Kayo: Reaching Out to Overseas Filipinos for the 2013 Elections via Social Media”); Boris Joaquin, Chief Marketing Officer of All Famous Asia (“Bloggers the new PR community”); and Garry De Castro of FinancialPlanningph.com (“Financial Planning for Bloggers”).

In the mor ning prior to these presentations, there were discussions on “Unboxing the true potential of your blog”

by Carlo Ople; “Creating a Blog Activation Campaign” by Mark Joseph Delgado; “On

year’s Philippine Youth Congress on Information Technology (Y4iT).

U P I n f o r m a t i o n Te c h n o l o g y Development Center (ITDC) Director Jaime D.L. Caro and Rappler CEO and Executive Editor Maria Ressa signed the memorandum of agreement for this week-

Caro and Ressa shake hands after sealing an agreement of mutual institutional support in the holding of the largest annual congress of IT students and practitioners in the country.

3 PP golds for UPIS athlete. Jaime “Jimboy” Mejia of the UP Integrated School brought home three gold medals and one bronze medal from the Palarong Pambansa. The golds came from 110-meter high hurdles, 4 x 100-meter relay and the 4 x 400-meter relay. He got the bronze from the 400-meter low hurdles where he narrowly missed snatching the gold when the runner next to him stumbled and almost brought him down. Another UPIS student, Joy Rodgers, competed in swimming. Text by Rene Matias, Photo by Dr. Agnes Mejia

Site Optimization 101” by Sean Patrick Si; “Inbound Marketing – Merging SEO, Social, Content Marketing, Conversion Optimization and Online Branding”

by Jason Acidre; and “Utilizing Blog Networks for SEO and Social Media Traffic” by Kim Tyrone Agapito.

The following discussions took place on the second day: “The Soul of Blogging”

by Rem Tanauan; “Politics of Blogging”by Janette Toral; “Making your blog post work: Inspiring Quotes and Posts” by Wendell Glenn Cagape; “Using Public Narrative In Blogging” by Bien Eli Nillos; “Blog comedy writing for the not-naturally-

funny” by Marcelle Fabie; “Teaching and Learning through EduBlogging” by Noel Feria; “How to make your blog stand out from the crowd” by Victorino Q. Abrugar; “Social Media Marketing Shiznit” by Carlo Angelo Gonzales; “Optimizing your Blog thru Social Media: Using Hashtags, tags, and keywords” by Jeoffrey Solas; “Twitter as an ally in learning” by Arvin Antonio Ortiz; “Social Media in Business and Advocacy” by Grace Bondad Nicolas; “Social Media Legal Issues” by Atty. JJ Disini; and “Increasing Health Information Access through Blogging”

by Alvin Cloyd Dakis.

hyperlinks) on www.rappler.com.

Glenda Gloria and Gemma BagayauaMendoza, Rappler’s managing editor and technology editor, respectively, will join Ressa in sharing their insights as resource speakers during the Y4iT. With the theme “IT is Power : Celebrating a Decade of Transforming Lives,” the 10th Y4iT will be held on September 10-15 at the University Theater, UP Film Institute, and UP Ang Bahay ng Alumni.

First held in 2003, the Y4iT is the country’s biggest, annual gathering of IT experts, professionals, students, and educators. Caro said it had attracted a total of 105,000 participants from all over the archipelago.

Caro expects this year’s Y4iT to be bigger than the previous years’, with more international speakers and as many as 30,000 participants eager to exchange information on the latest products, systems, innovations, and career opportunities.

Previous Y4iT’s featured live mascots, a cosplay show, and robotics exhibits.

“We add new things every year,” Caro said. “This year, we will also have Y4iT in Cebu for the first time,” he added.

Caro said the event will cover trends in IT, such as the game development industry, cloud computing, and valueadded processing. He said cloud computing helps reduce costs through paperless transactions and speeding up processes. He cited the e-UP as one of the university’s ongoing projects focused on IT. Caro added that the g rowing game development industry offers big potentials and can help boost our economy, since our country has very good programmers and creative people.

“Our programmers are highly adaptive and can adapt to different cultures and work arrangements,” he said.

On the relevance of social media and networks, Caro said UP already uses Twitter, Facebook and other platforms to reach out to the public and our alumni. He said the UP ITDC will also be conducting courses for faculty, students and staff to be able to use social networking to improve productivity and communication in the university.

During the signing, Ressa talked about how their organization’s research, data crunching and interpreting the numbers may be helpful for the community.

Caro further said “we have to continue building the culture of entrepreneurship.”

He cited the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) application which was launched last year as one of the applications produced in cooperation with the ITDC. The MMDA application for smartphones and tablets provides real-time traffic information to the public. It allows people to view or report Metro Manila’s traffic situation. (With a report from Ronn Andrew Angeles, UP ITDC)

U.P. NEWSLETTER PROF. DANILO ARAÑA ARAO Editor-in-Chief JO. FLORENDO B. LONTOC Managing Editor PROF. LUIS TEODORO Editorial Consultant ARBEEN ACUÑA, FRED DABU, ANDRE ENCARNACION, CELESTE ANN CASTILLO LLANETA, JO. FLORENDO B. LONTOC, KIM QUILINGUING, ARLYN VCD P. ROMUALDO Writers BONG ARBOLEDA, MISAEL BACANI, JONATHAN MADRID Photographers ARBEEN ACUÑA 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, REPS and students. Please send your contributions to: THE EDITOR U.P. Newsletter ewsletter Mezzanine Floor, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City 926-1572, 436-7537 e-mail: upnewsletter@up.edu.ph upsio@up.edu.ph