The OBLATIONThe University of the Philippines Centennial Newsletter Vol. 2 No. 1 January-March 2008 CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS LAUNCHED n the morning of January 8, 2008, in the midst of all the problems of the country Iand the University, Dr. Emerlinda R. Roman, the Centennial president of the UP as well as its first woman president, said “there was this day to look forward to.” “The thought that, perhaps, this anniversary would serve to unite us—despite our conflicts and problems, both internal and external—was a source of encouragement,” Roman said at the Centennial kick-off ceremonies at UP Thousands converge Manila. “You are all aware that we have had at the Oblation Plaza our share of problems, particularly with regard (right) in front of to our decision to adjust student fees to more Quezon Hall during realistic levels, and our continuing efforts to get the January 8 kick-off Congress to approve a new UP Charter. Not to ceremonies, while the mention the day-to-day business of running the Centennial Cauldron University.” (below) carries the flame—symbolizing the Roman considers the Centennial as an UP spirit—that has been occasion to celebrate, assess the University’s passed from generation performance in the past century, and to imagine to generation. its role in the next. The Centennial Lecture Series enlisted a competent group to be part of As the contingents massed along UP’s stock-taking and planning. University Avenue and the Oblation Plaza in UP alumni engineers President Roman paid tribute to the past 18 UPD, helicopters hovered low and scattered UP presidents, who offered themselves to UP, confetti, flower petals, and balloons among reunite at the Fort with much dedication, patience, endurance, and the crowd. The gathering was also highlighted sacrifice resulting in a UP that the Philippines by two batches of sky-divers from the espite the early afternoon downpour, can be proud of. She concluded saying that military’s Special Action Force and the police the NBC Tent in Fort Bonifacio “one thing has remained constant—a quality bearing the emblems of the different UP Global City was filled with laughter difficult to define but recognized by all who D constituent units and congratulatory banners and camaraderie, as close to 400 UP Alumni have spent either a season or an entire lifetime of the Centennial. The sky-divers executed Engineers of the College of Engineering in the university. For lack of a better term, we a perfect landing on the open field beside came to celebrate its 60th Grand Alumni might call it the UP spirit—the force that serves Plaridel Hall. Homecoming on November 9, 2007. Most as a bond across generations and even across All throughout the day, projectors batches were represented, with the event being continents. We can build on this UP spirit and flashed highlights of the activities live on at made more memorable by the presence of we will,” Roman said. least four giant screens installed along the the oldest guest, 99-year-old and Diamond Later in the afternoon, UP officials, faculty University Avenue and the Oblation Plaza. Jubilarian, Fernando Javier (CE ’33). UP members, staff members, students, alumni, Intermittently, the newly-restored Carillon President Emerlinda R. Roman and former and friends from all over the country arrived rang out with tunes being played by Prof. Department of Energy Secretary Dr. Francisco in droves in a grand motorcade. Many of the Jerry Dadap, one of the first carilloneurs of L. Viray (EE ’70) also graced the occasion. alumni came home from abroad and some from the University. The program started at 7:00 in the other places in the Philippines. As the parade ended, a group of evening with the upbeat opening number of students blew ten tambulis while a barrage the UP Pep Squad, this year’s UAAP Cheering of kwitis rocketed to the sky to signal the Competition Champions. Ting Joson-Pascual Carillon plays music once again start of a program in front of the Oblation (IE ’87), Eric Nera (MetE’83), Riza Gervasio- Plaza. Torches were then passed by a Mantaring (EE ’92), and Ji Reyes (ME ’83) UPAA hundred alumni, University officials, former hosted the affair. officials led UP presidents, students, national scientists “Be Eng’g Proud,” the theme of this by Ponciano and artists, and other alumni around the year’s homecoming, was chosen by the UPAE Rivera, Gari 2.2-kilometer Academic Oval, accompanied to reflect the fact that some of the country’s Tiongco, and Gen. by a 100-gun salute from the UP Rifle Team. top-caliber engineering professionals and Jaime de los According to Alumni Regent Ponciano decision-makers are College of Engineering Santos,turn Rivera Jr., concurrently president of UP alumni. Dean Guevara spoke about her pride over the new Alumni Association (UPAA), the flame and gratitude on being an alumna of the Carillon bells symbolizes UP’s quest to learn more and be College. to President of service to mankind. Roman, while Centenary, p. 6 UP alumni, p. 3 UP System and UP Diliman officials witness. UP honors Pinoy scientist in Harvard UP regents greet Prof. Baldomero Olivera, Harvard Foundation Scientist of the Year, after conferring upon him an honorary doctorate. Dr. Olivera n December 18, 2007, after almost frames, bolts, cables, walls, and ceilings were leads research in drug two decades, the UP Diliman (UPD) refurbished. discovery from animal campus was once again ringing with Past and present UPAA officials and other sources, particularly O from venomous snails carillon musical pieces as 36 new bells were influential alumni and donors gathered at the installed in the UPD Carillon. Through the Carillon site to witness the turnover of the bells found in Philippine seas. A UP alumnus efforts of the UP Alumni Association (UPAA), to UP, and the lowering of a time capsule for the and research ally, he the bells were imported from The Netherlands, next phase of the UPAA Carillon project, the delivered the second the old clavier keyboard was replaced with a establishment of the Carillon Plaza. of the UP Centennial new heavy-duty oak-wood one, a hook-up with Former UPAA President Lt. Gen. Jaime Lecture Series on a master clock, and synthesizer; and the steel Carillon, p. 6 January 16, 2008. probes, Alice S. Laya laughter, Centennial 4 news 3 Chair 5 UPCBA honors UP at 100! 2 Ang galing mo! distinguished alumni The The 2 | The University of the Philippines CENTENNIAL NEWSLETTER OBLATION OBLATION Volume 2 Number 1 JANUARY-MARCH 2008 |3 Looking back in appreciation and gratitude, moving forward ow best to remember a loved one, how to give tribute to a beloved teacher, mentor or boss in a meaningful and continuing way? Many alumni have found that a gift to their alma mater in the form of dedicated professorial chair or a faculty grant in their honor, especially in this centennial year, is at Honce a fitting testimonial, an investment in, and a legacy to UP. Presented here are various professorial chairs endowed to honor and remember, and to move the beloved alma mater and our nation forward. Amb. Ramon V. Del Rosario, Sr. Professorial The Teresa Ancheta Aquino Chair in Business Administration Centennial Professorial Chair in Nursing r. Belinda Aquino, (AB English ’57) recently donated Da Centennial professorial chair in honor of her mother Teresa Ancheta Aquino. Dr. Aquino wrote that she “makes the financial assistance for personal and institutional reasons as her supreme tribute to her late mother, Teresa Ancheta Aquino, who struggled through a profoundly painful childhood to acquire a basic education and eventually become a modern woman and productive citizen. The young fragile life of the donor’s mother was punctuated by extreme adversity in a time of cholera, dysentery, smallpox, leprosy, bubonic plague and other diseases that decimated her She adds, “the Donor is Dr. Magdaleno Albarracin Jr., Mrs. Trin Albarracin, Ambassador Ramon V. del Rosario Sr., President Roman, Dr. Cesar Virata, family, aggravated by the ravages of dedicating this assistance as well to the and Chancellor Sergio Cao during the donation turnover the Philippine-American War. That other hardy pioneers of her mother’s Excerpts from the welcome remarks of a great investment vehicle. Let me be very significant and memorable. she survived at all was probably an generation, trailblazers in building the Dr. Magdaleno B. Albarracin, Jr. on 17 apply the concept of intrinsic value Those were the more idealistic and act of God, but was also a tribute to profession of nursing at a crucial time January 2008 at the Phinma Boardroom. which Warren Buffet, the second perhaps more reckless years—thus her fortitude, determination, courage, of the nation’s confrontation with richest person in the U.S., uses in more dear to recall. Some met their capacity for endurance, and good old modernity, especially with science and elcome to Phinma on the evaluating companies and stocks for future spouses while in U.P. They Ilocano resilience. She became one of health issues. Without their knowing it, occasion of the launching acquisition. (See table below) should donate perhaps 10% of value the pioneer nursing students, possibly they were making history. They were Wof the Amb. Ramon Now what enterprise creates added. Others fell in love but lost it one of the first from Northern Luzon, part of the core group from whom the del Rosario, Sr., U.P. Centennial such wealth at such low cost? If with lots of regret. But the memory at the Philippine General Hospital in great institution we now know as the Professorial Chair in Business there were a way to collect from is sweet and lingers on.