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Republic Act No. 9500

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9500 ]

AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES AS THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. – This Act shall be known as “The University of the Philippines Charter of 2008.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The University of the Philippines is hereby declared as the national university.

The State shall promote, foster, nurture and protect the right of all citizens to accessible quality education. Toward this end, it is the policy of the State to strengthen the University of the Philippines as the national university.

SEC. 3. Purpose of the University. – As the national university, a public and secular institution of higher learning, and a community of scholars dedicated to the search for truth and knowledge as well as the development of future leaders, the University of the Philippines shall perform its unique and distinctive leadership in higher education and development. The University shall:

(a) Lead in setting academic standards and initiating innovations in teaching, research and faculty development in philosophy, the arts and humanities, the social sciences, the professions and engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, and technology; and maintain centers of excellence in such disciplines and professions;

(b) Serve as graduate university by providing advanced studies and specialization for scholars, scientists, writers, artists and professionals, especially those who serve on the faculty of state and private colleges and universities;

(c) Serve as a research university in various fields of expertise and specialization by conducting basic and applied research and development, and promoting research in various colleges and universities, and contributing to the dissemination and application of knowledge;

(d) Lead as a public service university by providing various forms of community, public, and volunteer service, as well as scholarly and technical assistance to the government, the private sector, and civil society while maintaining its standards of excellence;

(e) Protect and promote the professional and economic rights and welfare of its academic and non-academic personnel;

(f) Provide opportunities for training and learning in leadership, responsible citizenship, and the development of democratic values, institutions and practice through academic and non-academic programs, including sports and the enhancement of nationalism and national identity;

(g) Serve as a regional and global university in cooperation with international and scientific unions, networks of universities, scholarly and professional association in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world; and

(h) Provide democratic governance in the University based on collegiality, representation, accountability, transparency and active participation of its constituents, and promote the holding of for a for students, faculty, research, extension and professional staff (REPS), staff, and alumni to discuss non-academic issues affecting the University.

SEC. 4. The University System. – The University of the Philippines is a university system and shall be composed of constituent universities established solely by its Board of Regents upon the recommendation of the President of the University. The University of the Philippines System is composed of its existing constituent universities, as follows: University of the Philippines Diliman; University of the Philippines Manila; University of the Philippines Los Baños; University of the Philippines Visayas; University of the Philippines Mindanao; University of the Philippines Baguio; University of the Philippines Open University; and those that may be created in the future. It is referred to in this law as the “National University.”

SEC. 5. Academic Freedom. – The national university has the right and responsibility to exercise academic freedom.

SEC. 6. Academic Excellence. – The national university has the responsibility to maintain and enhance its high academic standards in the performance of its functions of instruction, research and extension, and public service.

SEC. 7. Commitment to National Development. – The national university shall harness the expertise of the members of its community and other individuals to regularly study the state of the nation in relation to its quest for national development in the primary areas of politics and economics, among others, identify key concerns, formulate responsive policies regarding these concerns, and give advice and recommendations to Congress and the Philippines.

The Congress of the Republic of the Philippines, the Supreme Court and other lower courts, other government agencies and instrumentalities as well as any constitutional body may request the national university to conduct research or provide advice on any matter involving public policy. The budget for such research or request for advice shall come from the appropriation of these public agencies.

SEC. 8. Social Responsibility. – The national university is committed to serve the Filipino nation and humanity. While it carries out the obligation to pursue universal principles, it must relate its activities to the needs of the Filipino people and their aspirations for social progress and transformation. The national university may provide venues for student volunteerism.

SEC. 9. Democratic Access. – The national university shall take affirmative steps which may take the form of an alternative and equitable admissions process to enhance the access of disadvantaged students, such as indigenous peoples, poor and deserving students, including but not limited to valedictorians and salutatorians of public high schools, and students from depressed areas, to its programs and services.

No student shall be denied admission to the national university by reason solely of age, gender, nationality, religious belief, economic status, ethnicity, physical disability, or political opinion or affiliation.
The national university recognizes the separation of Church and State. It shall guarantee religious freedom and shall not discriminate on the basis of religion.

SEC. 10. Sports. – The national university shall undertake and support comprehensive sports programs that promote physical education, uphold excellence and encourage competitive participation in sports activities, instill school identity and solidarity, cultivate pride, self-discipline and teamwork which serve as a foundation for fostering active participation in the national university, as well as in nation building.

SEC. 11. Institutional Autonomy as the National University. – To provide greater flexibility, it shall be treated in a manner consistent with its institutional requirements as the national university by the service-wide agencies in the exercise of their respective jurisdiction. Taking into account national goals and priorities, it shall exclusively determine its teaching, research and extension thrusts, plans, policies, programs and standards, and, on the basis of such determination, the national university shall recommend its annual budget to the President of the Republic of the Philippines and Congress.

SEC. 12. The Board of Regents. –

(1) Composition – The governance of the national university is vested in a board of regents known as the “Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines System,” hereinafter referred to as the “Board,” composed of:

(a) The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education as Chairperson;

(b) The President of the University of the Philippines System as Co-Chairperson;

(c) The Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture;

(d) The Chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education

(e) The President of the U.P. Alumni Association, to serve as Alumni Regent during his or her incumbency in that position;

(f) One Faculty Regent representing all teaching personnel, chosen in accordance with the rules and qualification set by the constituent university councils to serve for a term of two (2) years;

(g) One Student Regent, to serve for a term of one (1) year, chosen by the students from their ranks in accordance with rules and qualifications approved in a referendum by the students;

(h) One Staff Regent representing the full-time permanent research, extension, and profession staff (REPS) and administrative personnel, and chosen by them from their ranks in accordance with the rules and qualifications set by their duly recognized organizations, to serve for a term of two (2) years; and

(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 term of two (2) years: Provided, That the Regents holding office as members of the Board at the time of the effectivity of this Act shall continue to serve until the expiration of their appointments as provided in Executive Order No. 204-A, issued by the President of the Philippines on July 15, 1987.

(2) Vacancy – In case of vacancy in the Board, except for the President of the University, such vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as provided for the predecessor, and such appointee shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term. In case of a sectoral Regent, membership in the Board ceases upon suspension, separation, or recall.

(3) Compensation – Members of the Board shall serve without compensation other than reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in attendance to meetings of the Board or other official business authorized by the Board.

(4) Meetings; Quorum – The Board shall convene regularly. The Chairpersons of the Board may call a special meeting whenever necessary: Provided, That members are notified in writing at least ten (10) working days prior to the meeting: Provided, further, That the notice shall contain a brief description of the agenda items to be discussed.

A majority of all members of the Board holding office at the time the meeting is called shall constitute a quorum for Board meetings.

In no case shall any and all members of the Board appointed representatives to act on their behalf: Provided, That the ex-officio members of the Board coming from Congress may participate and vote through teleconferencing or equivalent verifiable means of communication.

SEC. 13. Powers and Duties of the Board of Regents. – The administration of the national university and the exercise of its corporate powers are vested in the Board of Regents.

The Board shall exercise the following specific powers and duties:

(a) To define in general terms the thrusts of the national university and adopt broad policy guidelines to ensure their implementation;

(b) To preserve the integrity of the national university;

(c) To approve the institution, merger or abolition of academic programs, upon recommendation of the University Council of the constituent university concerned, through the President of the University;

(d) To approve the graduation of students and grant of honors, as recommended by their respective University Council through the President of the University;

(e) To confer honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of learning, statesmanship, or eminence in literature, science, or are, upon recommendation of a committee created by the President of the University; Provided, That such degrees shall not be conferred in consideration of any payment, gift or other valuable consideration;

(f) To approve the rules on student discipline recommended by the University Councils through the President of the University, with the Board retaining the power to review and pass final judgment on student disciplinary cases;

(g) To create, organize, reorganize, merge or abolish constituent universities, colleges, institutes and other academic and administrative units of the national university;

(h) To establish professorial chair awards;

(i) To provide fellowships, scholarships and grants, including athletic grants and to award the same to faculty, staff and students having special evidence of merit, especially those who are poor and deserving students;

(j) To elect the President of the University for a single term of six (6) years following a process of democratic consultation with the university community based on standards and guidelines set by the Board. In the event of a vacancy, the Board shall elect a president who shall serve a full term. A Chancellor chosen by the Board may act as Officer-in-Charge of the national university when the search process is in progress. In no case shall the search and election of the next President be loner than ninety (90) days from the date when the vacancy occurs;

(k) To appoint faculty members and other officials and employees to draw up a position classification and compensation plan for its faculty and staff, and, any law to the contrary notwithstanding, to fix and adjust salaries and benefits of the faculty members and other employees. Provided That salaries and other benefits of the faculty shall be equivalent to those being received by their counterparts in the private sector; to determine the hours of service of faculty and staff, and such other terms and conditions of employment as it may deem proper; to grant leave of absence under such regulations as it may promulgate, any other provisions of law to the contrary notwithstanding; and to remove them for cause as provided by law after due investigation and proper hearing;

(l) To extend, with their consent, the tenure of faculty members of the national university beyond the compulsory retirement age, any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, on recommendation of the units upon endorsement of the President of the national university, whenever their services are especially needed: Provided, however, That no extension of tenure shall be made beyond the age of seventy (70);

(m) To fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, as the Board may deem proper impose, after due and comprehensive consultation with students concerned. Such fees and charges, including government support and other income generated by the national university shall constitute special trust funds and shall be deposited in an authorized government depository bank. Any and all interest that shall accrue therefrom shall form part of the same funds for the use of the national university.

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, all incomes generated by the national university or by its subsidiaries shall, upon their collection, be retained by the national university and disbursed at the discretion of the Board for the professional growth and development, health, welfare, and other benefits of the students, faculty members and other personnel; for the acquisition, construction, maintenance and repair of urgently needed instructional and auxiliary facilities, equipment, buildings and other infrastructure; and for expenses necessary for the attainment of its purposes under its approved program of expenditures;

If the national university, for reasons beyond its control, shall not be able to pursue any project for which funds have been appropriated and allocated under its approved program of expenditures, the Board may authorize the use of said fund for any reasonable purpose for which it deems necessary and urgent for the attainment of the objectives of the national university: Provided, That funds collected from students for a specific purpose shall not be reprogrammed to other expenditures;

(n) To receive and appropriate all sums as may be provided by law for the support of the national university to the ends specified by law, and all other sums in the manner it may, in its discretion, determine to carry out the purposes and functions of the national university;

(o) To authorize the construction, maintenance and repair of its buildings, machinery, equipment and other facilities, and the purchase and acquisition of real and personal properties, including necessary supplies, materials and equipment;

(p) To receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal property of all kinds and to administer and dispose the same when necessary for the benefit of the national university and subject to the instructions of the donor, if any;

(q) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, to authorize its faculty and staff to travel abroad to study, deliver papers, attend conferences and disseminate research: Provided, That the fellowship, scholarship or grant is authorized by the Board: Provided, finally, That research and other activities funded by the national university shall likewise undertake research in fields or topics that have promising commercial applications, and that the faculty and staff involved in said research be allowed to participate in its financial or economic benefits;

(r) To exercise the general powers set out in the Corporation Code;

(s) To delegate any of its powers to the President of the University or other officials or officers as it may deem necessary;

(t) To prescribe rules for its own government and the discipline of the faculty and other personnel and to enact for the government of the national university such general policies, rules and regulations, not contrary to law, as are consistent with its purposes; and

(u) To exercise such powers as may be proper and necessary to carry out the objectives of this Act.

SEC. 14. The President of the University. – The President of the University is the chief academic officer, head of the university faculty and the chief executive officer of the University. The President of the University shall exercise the powers specifically provided for in this Act, those determined by the Board, those which pertain to the office of the president of a university, and those which are related or necessary to its functions. The Board shall determine the compensation of the President of the University.

The President of the University shall be appointed by the Board and shall serve for a single term of six (6) years.

SEC. 15. The Secretary of the University and of the Board of Regents. – There shall be a Secretary of the University appointed by the Board, who shall also be the Secretary of the Board, and who shall keep such records of the University as may be designated by the Board.

SEC. 16. The University Council. – There shall be in each constituent university a University Council consisting of the Chancellor as Chairperson, and all faculty members in the constituent university holding the rank of assistant professor and higher as members.

SEC. 17. Powers of the University Council. – The University Council shall be the highest academic body of each constituent university and shall exercise the following powers:

(a) Fix the requirements for admission to any college or unit, graduation, and the grant of honors subject to the minimum system-wide requirements;

(b) Prescribe the academic programs including their institution, revision, abolition and merger, subject to the approval of the Board;

(c) Recommend to the Board the graduation of students and the grant of honors;

(d) Exercise disciplinary power over the students, through the Chancellors or their appropriate committees, subject to review by the President of the University according to the limits prescribed by system-wide rules on student discipline;

(e) Undertake the periodic review of academic courses, programs, standards, thrusts and policies; and

(f) Adopt internal rules of procedure consistent with the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 18. The Chancellor of the Constituent University. - The Administration of each constituent university is vested in the Chancellor insofar as authorized by the Board and the President of the University. The Chancellor of the constituent university shall be elected by the Board upon nomination of the President of the University, following a process of consultation with the constituents of the constituent university based on standards and guidelines set by the Board. The Chancellor shall report to the President of the University and shall perform the duties and functions elsewhere stated in this Act, and all the usual, necessary and related functions of the Office of the Chancellor, subject to the policies and rules prescribed by the Board. The Board shall determine the term and compensation of the Chancellor. If a Chancellor fails to complete his/her term, the President shall appoint an acting Chancellor while a search process is in progress. In no case shall the search and election of the next Chancellor be longer than sixty (60) calendar days from the date when the vacancy occurs.

SEC. 19. The Faculty. - The teaching staff of each college shall constitute its faculty. The College Faculty shall be presided over by a Dean. The Dean shall be elected by the Board upon nomination of the President of th University and recommendation of the President of the University and recommendation of the Chancellor of the constituent university, following a process of consultation with the constituents of the college based on standards and guidelines set by the Board. If a Dean fails to complete his/her term, the Chancellor shall appoint an acting Dean while a search process is in progress. In no case shall the search and election of the next Dean be longer than sixty (60) calendar days from the date when the vacancy occurs.

SEC. 20. Appointment Requisites and Practice of Profession. - Faculty members as well as research, extension and professional staff (REPS) of the national university, shall be exempt as such to many civil service examination or regulation as a requisite to appointment. The provisions of existing law to the contrary notwithstanding, licensing requirements for professional regulatory boards shall not affect appointments to faculty positions. In the appointment of faculty members, no religious test shall be applied, nor shall the religious or political opinions or affiliations of the faculty members of the national university be made subject of examination or inquiry.

SEC. 21. Student Affairs. - (a) There shall be established in the national university the following student councils: for every college and degree-granting institute, a college or institute student council; and for every constituent university, a university student council; and for the University System, a general assembly of all student councils.

The student council shall be composed of elected students of a definite academic unit of the national university. Each member of the student council shall serve for a term of one (1) year, without prejudice to reelection.

The student council shall serve as the primary student body that shall advance the interests, welfare, and aspirations of the students of the national university. It shall have the power to adopt internal rules of procedure consistent with the provisions of this Act.

(b) Subject to due and comprehensive consultation with the students, there shall be a student publication established in every constituent unit and college to be funded by student fees. Freedom of expression and autonomy in all matters of editorial and fiscal policy shall be guaranteed especially in th selection of its editors and staff.

SEC. 22. Land Grants and Other Real Properties of the University. -

(a) The state shall support the University of the Philippines System as the national university in the form of lump sum amount, through general appropriations and other financial benefits, and in kind, through land grants and donations and use of other real properties. To carry out the intent of these grants, income derived from the development of all land grants and real properties shall be used to further the ends of the national university, as may be decided by the Board;

(b) Such parcels of land ceded by law, decree or presidential issuance to the University of the Philippines are hereby declared to be reserved for the purposes intended. The absolute ownership of the national university over these landholdings, including those covered by original and transfer certificates of title in the name of the University of the Philippines and their future derivatives, is hereby confirmed. Where the issuance of proper certificates of title is yet pending for these landholdings, the appropriate government office shall expedite the issuance thereof within six months from the date of effectivity of this Act: Provided, That all registration requirements necessary for the issuance of the said titles have been submitted and complied with;

(c) The Board may plan, design, approve and/or cause the implementation land leases: Provided, That such mechanisms and arrangements shall sustain and protect the environment in accordance with law, and be exclusive of the academic core zone of the campuses of the University of the Philippines: Provided, further, That such mechanisms and arrangements shall not conflict with the academic mission of the national university;

(d) The Board may allow the use of the income coming from real properties of the national university as security for transactions to generate additional revenues when needed for education purposes;

(e) The Board may approve the implementation of joint ventures: Provided, That in the event real properties of the national university are involved, only the income derived by the University from the use of the real properties shall be the subject of its participation or obligation in the joint ventures: Provided, further, That no joint venture shall result in the alienation of the real properties of the national university; and

(f) Any plan to generate revenues and other sources from land grants and other real properties entrusted to the national university shall be consistent with the academic mission and orientation of the national university as well as protect it from undue influence and control of commercial interest: Provided, That such programs, projects or mechanisms shall be approved by the Board subject to a transparent and democratic process of consultation with the constituents of the national university: Provided, further, That funds generated from such programs, projects or mechanism shall not be meant to replace, in part or in whole, the annual appropriations provided by the national government to the national university.

SEC. 23. Safeguards on Assets Disposition. – The preservation of the value of the assets of the national university shall be of primordial consideration.

The sale of any existing real property of the national university shall be prohibited: Provided, That the Board may alienate real property donated after the effectivity of this Act if the terms of the donation specifically allow it.

Notwithstanding the provision of this Act or any other law to the contrary, the lease of more than five (5) years of the assets of the national university and any transaction referred to in Section 22 shall be subject to the following conditions and procedures:

(a) The transactions shall be discussed with the members of the Board, in any of its formally convened regular or special meeting, at least one (1) month before a decision is to be made;

(b) The transactions shall be based on a multi-year comprehensive development plan, crafted and developed by qualified urban planning professionals having at least five (5) years experience, with prior consultations with and concurrence of third-party experts and duly approved by a majority vote of all the members of the Board;

(c) The transactions shall be subject to competitive and public bidding as provided under Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement-Reform Act”;

(d) In the case of two (2) failed biddings and negotiated transactions, if undertaken, the Board, when considering the approval of any such transaction, shall secure a fairness opinion report from an independent third-party body. This body shall have five (5) members, three (3) of which shall be nominated by the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP), Investment Houses Association of the Philippines (IHAP), Trust Officers Association of the Philippines, or the Financial Executive Institute of the Philippines (FINEX). The members shall be entitled to a reasonable per diem as the Board may specify.

The fairness opinion report shall contain a statement expressing the opinion of the body as to the fairness to the national university of the terms of the proposed transaction, particularly its financial terms. The report shall include, but not limited to, a review and analysis of the proposed transaction, financial statements, industry information, economic conditions assumptions using management projections and the assumptions used therein and a comparison of similar transactions: Provided, That if the Board differs with the fairness opinion report they shall justify their decision in writing and make this available to the community of the national university.

This provision shall not apply to leases granted to faculty and staff as part of their benefit and those for academic purposes; and

(e) If the contract or transaction involves an amount more than Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00), it shall be approved by three-fourths (3/4) of all the members of the Board: Provided, That the splitting of contracts, which is by breaking up a contract into smaller quantities or amounts or dividing contract implementation into artificial or arbitrary phases or subcontracts for the purpose of circumventing this provision, shall not be allowed.

SEC. 24. Management of Funds. – (a) There shall be an independent trust committee to be composed of the President of the University, as Chairperson, one (1) representative each nominated by the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP), the Investment Houses Association of the Philippines (IHAP), the Trust Officers Association of the Philippines (TOAP) and the Financial Executive Institute of the Philippines (FINEX). The members shall be entitled to a reasonable per diem as the Board may specify. (b) The independent trust committee shall recommend to the Board five (5) universal banks selected on a prudent basis which trust departments shall manage the corporate and other funds through trust agreements of the national university on a non-directed basis: Provided, That any such agreement shall be for a period of not more than two (2) years. (c) The independent trust committee shall provide the Board with direction on appropriate investment objectives and permissible investments with the view to preserving the value of the funds while allowing the University to earn a reasonable return thereon.

SEC. 25. Tax Exemptions. – The provisions of any general or special law to the contrary notwithstanding:

(a) All revenues and assets of the University of the Philippines used for education purposes or in support thereof shall be exempt from all taxes and duties;

(b) Gifts and donations of real and personal properties of all kinds shall be exempt from the donor’s tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deductions from the gross income of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended: Provided, That the deductions shall be equivalent to 150 percent of the value of such donation. Valuation of assistance other than money shall be based on the acquisition cost of the property. Such valuation shall take into consideration the depreciated value of property in case said property has been used;

(c) Importation of economic, technical, vocational, scientific, philosophical, historical and cultural books, supplies and materials duly certified by the Board, including scientific and educational computer and software equipment, shall be exempt from customs duties;

(d) The University shall only pay 0% value-added tax for all transactions subject to this tax; and

(e) All academic awards shall be exempt from taxes.

SEC. 26. Reportorial Requirements and Auditing of Accounts. – The national university shall submit an annual report to Congress containing the financial statements, statement of assets and liabilities, actual projected income from tuition fees and other revenue sources, contracts and investments entered into pursuant to Section 22 (c) hereof and programs of expenditure. All accounts and disbursements of the national university shall be audited by the Commission on Audit.

SEC. 27. Rules of Construction. – No statutory or other issuances shall diminish the powers, rights, privileges and benefits accorded to the national university under this Act or enjoyed at present by it under other issuances not otherwise modified or repealed under this Act, unless subsequent legislation expressly provides for their repeal, amendment or modification. Any case of doubt in the interpretation of any of the provisions of this Charter shall be resolved in favor of the academic freedom and fiscal autonomy of the University of the Philippines.

SEC. 28. Appropriations. – The amount needed to carry out the implementation of this Act shall be charged against the lump sum appropriation of the current fiscal year and other internal funds of the national university. Thereafter, such lump sum representing the responsibility of the national government for the continued growth, operation and maintenance of the national university shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

The national university may use unexpended balances in any appropriation for purposes that the Board determines.

In addition to the regular appropriations and increases for the university under the annual GAA, a centennial fund shall be appropriated in the amount of One Hundred Million Pesos (P100,000,000.00) per year for a period of five years, which shall likewise be included in the annual GAA.

SEC. 29. Separability Clause. – Should any provision herein be declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.

SEC. 30. Repealing Clause. – Act No. 1870, as amended, and all laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 31. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,

PROSPERO C. NOGRALES
Speaker of the House of Representatives

MANNY VILLAR
President of the Senate

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1964 and House Bill No. 2845 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on March 5, 2008 and March 4, 2008, respectively.

MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP
Secretary General
House of Representatives

EMMA LIRIO-REYES
Secretary of the Senate

Approved: April 29, 2008

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines

Paglilingkod

Nakakinis kung pipilitin ka ng tao na gawin ang mga bagay na di mo gusto para lamang magustuhan ka nila. Nakakainis rin na dahil may posisyon ka, may mga bagay na kailangan kang makibahagi. Nawawala na ang silbi ng pagpili. Sa aking pananaw, hindi namimili ang taumbayan kung papaano sila mapaglilingkuran. Kutunayan, mas maganda kung sa bawat sariling paraan ng indibidwal nya gagawin ang paglilingkod. Dito, lalabas ang kanyang pasyon sa paggawa. Mas natural.

Hindi mo kailangang magpakitang tao. Sabihin na ganito ang pananaw mo upang mahuka ang kanilang simpatya. Laos na estratehiya. Nakakainis lang kasi sa ibang tao, imbes na suportahan ka, ay lalu ka pang guguluhin. Imbes na bigyan ng mga pagganyak, lalu ka pang ibabagsak. Nakakadismaya.

Ito lang ang gusto kong bigyan ng diin: Bawat tao ay may kakayahan. Hayaan itong lumago. Sa ganoong paraan, mas madali maisasakatuparan ang kanyang mga naiisin sa buhay. Mas natural, mas maganda. Bukal sa loob at hindi pilit. Walang pagkukunwari.

P.S. Bunga ng inis.

Regrets on Friendship

Yes. I have some regrets why I met these people, why I treated them good. In the end, they will be your enemies. It was once said, and I will say it again, friendship that may end never actually started, Well, maybe there was no friendship after all.

Plus, may I say this again, in Filipino, “ang ‘di lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makararating sa paroroonan.” Once one has gone far, he may not realize that he started from nothing. I may be at times like that one, I am sorry to have not look back. But I also recognize that I was once a nobody, perhaps still a nobody.

Well, life is not easy. You are really to experience regrets. And I definitely regret meeting them.

P.S. Don’t ask me who are they. They are too many to mention.

My UPG

I went to UP Diliman this morning. I thought of getting my UPG, after three years of stay in the university. Well, my grade was kinda weird, but somehow expected. I got 79 in Laguage Proficiency. I got 89 in Reading Comprehension. I got 87 in Mathematics (imagine that!), and 85 in Science. The certification I got also said that I qualified in UP Manila for B.A. Political Science, so I’m one of the primary qualifiers. My University Predicted Grade: 2.347. The certification costs P50.00.

UNIVERSITY FOR THE FILIPINO*

by Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

Good morning. It is my distinct honor to have been invited by your Chancellor, Dr. Ramon L. Arcadio, to be your guest speaker in this, the 99^th graduation rites of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila.

Let me begin by congratulating all nearly 900 of you present here this morning, graduates of the 25 undergraduate programs and 33 graduate courses offered by UP Manila. Without any qualification, I say that as graduates of our state university, you immediately count as among the best and the brightest of your generation. Indeed, every year, consistently, 100 percent of UP Manila’s graduates pass nearly all the health licensure examinations, with a lot landing in the Top Ten. These are heights that I am hopeful our College of Law would be able to reach once more with regard to the Bar examinations.

I will be woefully remiss if I do not also congratulate your professors, families, and loved ones. While yours may be the name on the diploma, their guidance, encouragement, and support — not to mention sacrifice – have greatly aided and abetted your academic accomplishment. Thus, their presence here is no token gesture, but a sincere acknowledgment of their contribution to this happy occasion.

Let me reminisce a bit far; to paraphrase Shakespeare, what is past is prologue. In the case of UP Manila, it has been said that no other constituent university of the UP System has its history more closely bound with UP. Manila, the nation’s capital, was the university’s birthplace on June 18, 1908, during the American colonial regime when the Philippine Legislature’s Act 1870, otherwise known as the University Charter, was signed into law. According to Section 2 of the University Charter, UP’s purpose “shall be to provide advanced instruction in literature, philosophy, the sciences, and arts, and to give professional and technical training.”

In his inaugural – literally, commencement – speech, the first UP President, Murray Bartlett, understandably spoke of “hope rather than achievement, of promise rather than fulfillment.” He spelled out the expectations for the then fledgling university: It should not be “a reproduction of the American University … transplanted from foreign shores.” Instead, it would be a “University for the Filipino” that would “furnish leaders of the development of the resources” of the country, a university that “can serve the world best by serving best the Filipino.”

Already, President Bartlett was alluding to the eventual independence of the country from American colonial rule and the need to train Filipinos to take up the reins of governance. In this regard and going by the numbers, UP must be considered a resounding success, producing as of last count 4 Presidents, 2 Vice-Presidents, and 12 Chief Justices, among others.

Still and all, the incubation of future leaders of the country, concededly a significant task by itself, does not encompass the entirety of UP’s mandate. Besides the political arena, there yet remains another sphere in which UP has a special role to play, and I view this role as perhaps its greatest challenge—the creation of a just society. This socio-economic dimension of UP’s raison d’etre was spoken of by another American president of UP, its second and last, Guy Potter Benton, thus:

The UP will be a superfluous adornment of the country if it exists simply for the selfish benefit of those who enjoy its advantages. It will fail utterly unless it stimulates an effective and well-distributed social service; unless it raises the standard of living for all the people; unless it promotes the general comfort and happiness without making a privileged class who enjoys a monopoly of the so-called “good things in life” …

A Filipino UP President, Mr. Emil Javier, similarly expressed the expectations for UP students, thus:

Our students must stand out not only for clear, objective, and critical thinking, not alone for intellectual ability and leadership in their chosen fields but also for their nationalism and genuine caring for our people. To be from UP is to accept a sacred trust of leadership and service to the people.

Your UP diploma is significant. On a personal level, it is a certification of the depth and breadth of your intellectual sophistication. Coming from the best university of the land, your diploma will open to you doors of economic opportunity given only to the elite of our society and denied to the majority of our people. On an impersonal level, your diploma has in it a subliminal significance. It is the reminder that you graduated from our foremost state university, a center of learning supported by the money of our people. Your diploma, therefore, will open to you another door of opportunity — the opportunity to repay your obligation to our people, the duty to work for their upliftment from the stagnancy of their status quo.

Heretofore, you have been taught about life under ideal laboratory conditions. You were made to drink from the foundations of ancient knowledge. You were given a guided tour of the wisdom of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, Rousseau, Locke; including the latest political philosophers such as Marx, Engels, Nietzsche, Russell, Marcuse, Camus, and Sartre. You were taught the innards and interstices of the major economic schools of thought continuously waging war against one another, especially capitalism and communism and their descendants. You were taught the catechism and mysticisms of the different major religions and religious movements of the world from the East to the West, especially Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism and their offsprings, likewise incessantly battling for the body and soul of men. You were taught how science, through irrefragable reason, has helped humankind crawl out from its dark caves to the light of civilizations; and in doing so likewise fought, through the ages, the forces of organized ignorance.

All these and more, I am sure, transformed your being, for if there is any influence that can change our genetics it is the acquisition of new knowledge; But UP did not only impart to you inert knowledge; it did not only convert you to a warehouse of information. UP embedded beneath your epidermis a knowledge that is able to discriminate between truth and falsehood, a knowledge that can differentiate good from evil, a knowledge that can distill what is best for the many; in fine, the knowledge that will ennoble all, because it will enable us to cultivate to the highest our God-given potentials – free from the selfish interests of the ruling economic elite, free from the clutches of home grown and foreign oppressors, free from the embrace of religious bigots, free from all influences that tamper the sanctity of our natural rights. This different kind of knowledge is what distinguishes a UP graduate.

From the laboratories of the academe to the ugly realities of the outside world is a big gap. The time when you step into the real world will be the test of the success of UP in molding your character as worthy Filipinos. I need not tell you what you will see in our society today. As graduates of UP Manila, you more than other UP graduates are more exposed to them. You have seen them as the shirtless, shoeless patients of the Philippine General Hospital; you have seen them as the taong grasa sleeping on the sidewalks of Padre Faura near Taft; you have seen the beggars with bent backs, hurting stomachs and begging bowls in front of Robinsons at Padre Faura; you have seen them as street vendors who brave the searing heat of summer in their makeshift carts to sell to you your merienda of banana cue – all of them impervious to the issues of society, because all their attention is devoted to the problem of how to survive their involuntary poverty.

The challenge to you is: will you use your knowledge, your new power, to improve the lives of the poor who constitute the majority of our people? Or will you be indifferent to their plight, join their exploiters, and be the defenders of the stinking status quo? Our call, as one writer states it well, is not just to be successful but to be significant. We can never be significant if we allow the ethics taught to us in UP to be eroded by the virus of selfishness.

You do not at all have to look for inspiration. I refer you to the most recognizable icon of UP: The Oblation, a statue designed by Guillermo Tolentino.

What you may not know is that the Oblation was first unveiled in UP’s Padre Faura campus, fittingly enough by Gregoria de Jesus, the widow of Andres Bonifacio, on November 30, 1931. Somehow, it miraculously survived the horrific Battle of Manila, and a bronze copy now stands at UP Diliman. Historian Ambeth Ocampo writes:

The Oblation rises three and a half meters off the ground, an allusion to 350 years of Spanish rule. At his feet is a cluster of “katakataka,” a plant most people do not know or recognize today, to symbolize a continuous stream of heroism…The Oblation rests on a base made of rugged white stones alluding to the different islands in the Philippine archipelago. Taken individually, the stones have no effect, but when assembled into a pedestal, they become a symbol for unity and the Philippines as a nation.

At the base of the statue is a bronze plaque with a quotation from Jose Rizal. Specifically, it is a quotation from his novel El Filibusterismo, spoken by the good priest Father Florentino, after blessing the dying Simoun, whose desire to destroy the old corrupt order springs from revenge and hatred, rather than love and a desire to do good. It is an old quote but which you ought to remember so you will never forget what is expected of you by our people. I quote Father Florentino’s piercing questions:

Where are the youth who will consecrate their golden hours, their illusions, and enthusiasms for the welfare of the Motherland? Where are they who would generously shed their blood to wash away so much shame, so much crime, so much abomination? Pure and spotless the victim has to be for the holocaust to be acceptable. Where are you, youth, who will incarnate in yourselves the vigor of life that has fled from our veins, the purity of ideas that have been soiled in our minds and the fire of enthusiasm that has been extinguished in our hearts…?

On your response will it be judged whether UP has truly become, as promised a century ago, “a University for the Filipino,” a university in the service of the Filipino People.

Thank you and Godspeed!

* Delivered during the Centennial Graduation of the University of the Philippines Manila at the Philippine International Convention Center on April 18, 2008.

Wheel of Fortune

Congratulations Student Scientists!

Congratulations to Emmanuel Delocado, Edilberto Barcelona, Jose Noel Gamba, and Justine Cruz, students of the Manila Science High School for winning 2nd best exhibit, 3rd best presentation, and 2nd most significant study (over-all), for their study entitled “Bioluminescent bacteria (vibrio fisheri and vibrio phosphoreum) from isolated sea squid to reduce the number of leukemia cells.” There will be a Senate Resolution to congratulate and recognize these young scientists.

Right or Left?

The Right Brain vs Left Brain test … Do you see the dancer turning clockwise or counter-clockwise?

If clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain and vice versa. [I see it clockwise, I use more of the right side of the brain.]

Most of us would see the dancer turning counter-clockwise [Does it mean more are using the left side of their brains?] though you can try to focus and change the direction; see if you can do it. [ I can't do it.]

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling
“big picture” oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can “get it” (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking

Note: Bold items are my comments; from: http://www.everux.com/ura/lbrain_or_rbrain.html

Handwriting Analysis

Jan Robert is a very emotional person with a broad range of emotions from the highest highs to the lowest lows. He feels emotional situations very strongly. He’ll flash to the very peaks of elation, sweeping everything before him. Then, for some reason unknown to himself, he will burn out emotionally. These mood swings can be very disturbing to him. Sometimes, he feels that he can no longer produce anything. But, after given some time alone to “recharge his emotional batteries”, he will spring back into action.

Because Jan Robert feels situations intensely, he relates easily to others’ problems. If he is not careful, when he comes into contact with someone who is in a depressed frame of mind, he will also suffer the same emotions and change moods. Jan Robert reacts impulsively, without much thought before hand. He may plan everything in detail before he even begins, then do it completely different when the time comes to carry it through.

Jan Robert has a strong need for affection. He thrives on touching and being touched. Jan Robert desires being told that he is loved, every day. He enjoys being the center of attention. He loves attention, sometimes he even retells stories that got him attention earlier.

Jan Robert has the possibility of being a actor or natural born salesperson, simply because he relates so well to other people. He likes expressing how he feels, what he is doing, and what he plans to do. He is a people person.

He will work most efficiently in a people orientated job as opposed to a job working alone on an assembly line (that would drive him insane.)

Jan Robert tends to write a bit smaller than the average person. When a person’s letters are small and tiny, this indicates an ability to focus and concentrate. This character trait is a huge asset in careers like math, science, race car driving, and flying planes. However, if Jan Robert writes tiny all of the time, he will also display characteristics of someone who is socially introverted. Jan Robert will often sit on the sideline and watch others get the attention at parties. he might be willing to open up and be warm, but only in small groups or a select group of people. When he is busy working on a project, it is common for all other noises and distractions to just fade away and his ability to focus is incredible. When he says “he didn’t hear you”, he really means, he didn’t hear you.

Jan Robert will demand respect and will expect others to treat him with honor and dignity. Jan Robert believes in his ideas and will expect other people to also respect them. He has a lot of pride.

Jan Robert will be candid and direct when expressing his opinion. He will tell them what he thinks if they ask for it, whether they like it or not. So, if they don’t really want his opinion, don’t ask for it!

Jan Robert has a desire for attention. People around Jan Robert will notice this need. He may fulfill this need by a variety of ways depending on his own character.

Jan Robert can be defiant. He sometimes has the attitude that if someone doesn’t like it the way he is doing it, then they can just “go to hell!” This trait may reveal itself in a rebellious nature that is always ready to resist forces which he thinks are infringing upon his freedom of action.

In reference to Jan Robert’s mental abilities, he has a very investigating and creating mind. He investigates projects rapidly because he is curious about many things. He gets involved in many projects that seem good at the beginning, but he soon must slow down and look at all the angles. He probably gets too many things going at once. When Jan Robert slows down, then he becomes more creative than before. Since it takes time to be creative, he must slow down to do it. He then decides what projects he has time to finish. Thus he finishes at a slower pace than when he started the project.

He has the best of two kinds of minds. One is the quick investigating mind. The other is the creative mind. His mind thinks quick and rapidly in the investigative mode. He can learn quicker, investigate more, and think faster. Jan Robert can then switch into his low gear. When he is in the slower mode, he can be creative, remember longer and stack facts in a logical manner. He is more logical this way and can climb mental mountains with a much better grip.

Jan Robert is a practical person whose goals are planned, practical, and down to earth. This is typical of people with normal healthy self-esteem. He needs to visualize the end of a project before he starts. he finds joy in anticipation and planning. Notice that I said he plans everything he is going to do, that doesn’t necessarily mean things go as planned. Jan Robert basically feels good about himself. He has a positive self-esteem which contributes to his success. He feels he has the ability to achieve anything he sets his mind to. However, he sets his goals using practicality– not too “out of reach”. He has enough self-confidence to leave a bad situation, yet, he will not take great risks, as they relate to his goals. A good esteem is one key to a happy life. Although there is room for improvement in the confidence catagery, his self-perception is better than average.

Jan Robert is sarcastic. This is a defense mechanism designed to protect his ego when he feels hurt. He pokes people harder than he gets poked. These sarcastic remarks can be very funny. They can also be harsh, bitter, and caustic at the same time.

Jan Robert is selective when picking friends. He does not trust everyone. He has a select group of people that are truly close to him, usually two or three. He is careful when choosing his inner circle of friends.

Jan Robert has a very unusual lower zone y loop. If the data input is correct, Jan Robert’s y or g is large and opens up to the left side of the page. This is not a common trait, but the implications are very interesting. As you begin to study handwriting analysis, you will learn any loop indicates imagination. This lower loop indicates the amount of imagination Jan Robert has regarding sex and physical things. So, his lower zone stroke is large, so his sexual imagination is large and open. Furthermore, because the loop is incomplete and extends to the left, this indicates a particular fascination with certain aspects of sexuality that have not been fulfilled, yet. In a nutshell, Jan Robert is open to some very new ideas sexually and is willing to try anything once.

Jan Robert has a very unusual lower zone y loop. If the data input is correct, Jan Robert’s y or g is large and has triangle shape to the lower loop. This is not a common trait, but the implications are very interesting. As you begin to study handwriting analysis, you will learn any loop indicates imagination. This lower loop indicates the amount of imagination Jan Robert has regarding sex and physical things. His lower zone stroke is large, so his sexual imagination is large and open. Furthermore, because the loop has a triangle shape, this indicates a particular curiosity with certain aspects of sexuality. In a nutshell, Jan Robert is open to some very new ideas sexually and is willing to try anything once. I’d say Jan Robert is quite a dynamic and playful lover. Watch out world!

For a graphologist, the spacing on the page reflects the writer’s attitude toward their own world and relationship to things in his or her own space. If the inputted data was correct Jan Robert has left lots of white space on the left side of the paper. Jan Robert fills up the rest of the page in a normal fashion. If this is true, then Jan Robert has a healthy relationship to the past and is ready to move on. The right side of the page represents the future and Jan Robert is ready and willing to get started living now and planning for the future. Jan Robert would like to leave the past behind and move on.