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By Ruby Villavicencio Paurom
Nature calls attention unto itself. It does not seem to do so for itself but for those whose existence depends on a harmonious relationship with it.
Harnessing alumni talents for culture and nature
Experiencing up close the strong signals that nature casts, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) harnesses exemplary talents in its reach, galvanizes support and spurs actions for the environment-oriented projects it has launched alongside a stream of other projects.
The past year, the UPAA put together some 100 works of alumni artists in an exhibit dubbed “Kalikasan.” The theme was chosen to highlight the beauty of nature with the hope that people would become more aware of the environment and the need to preserve it. Even as paintings evoke strings of thoughts and stir up various feelings, the works in “Kalikasan” collectively pointed to nature’s awesomeness on one side, and its frailty, which results in fury, on the other.
The exhibit was held from Sept. 23 to Oct. 31, 2009 at the Gateway Mall, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City. It featured works from participating UP Centennial Artists, the group that was formed after a series of monumental cultural and art exhibitions mounted in 2008 to celebrate UP’s 100th year.
Notions of forthcoming dangers brought about by environmental degradation had been pervasive. But for sure, the UPAA did not know that one overly disastrous Typhoon Ondoy was going the way of the Philippines barely three days after it opened the “Kalikasan” exhibit.
The devastation wrought by the typhoon was heart-breaking. To help rebuild the lives of the typhoon victims, the UPAA decided to stage “Pagbangon,” a musical-literary concert that was held on Dec. 12, 2009 at the University Theater with the cooperation of UP Diliman.
The task of immediately getting acclaimed celebrities and musical and literary talents spawned by the University to be part of the typhoon fund drive proved not that difficult. Not only was there overwhelming support from artists, the UPAA, itself, also had enough recent experience with the spectacular “100 Years of World Class Music” it produced about a year earlier.
Interestingly, the “100 Years” extravaganza and other successful UP centennial presentations produced by the UPAA carved a record with the Aliw Awards Foundation, Inc. Just before the staging of “Pagbangon” late last year, the Foundation gave the UPAA a Special Award, the first ever to be conferred on an alumni association by the 33-year-old award-giving body in the entertainment industry.
Exerting more energies for environmental sustainability, the UPAA moves onward with the preservation of the Mount Makiling forest reserve in partnership with UP Los Banos. More tree-planting activities are planned at Mountt Makiling, the only intact forest reserve in the country today. In 2008, the UPAA Maria Makiling Foundation was set up to institutionalize the UPAA’s efforts in this area. The last tree planting was held in October 2009 and served to mark the boundary of the forest reserve.
Building and rebuilding campus icons
Since UPAA’s founding in 1913, five years after UP was established, the UPAA has completed successful projects which, through time, have become integral parts of university life. The Oblation is one such project. A masterpiece of Filipino sculptor Guillermo E. Tolentino, it was commissioned in 1935 by President Rafael Palma, first Filipino president of the University. Tolentino was tasked with translating the second stanza of Jose Rizal's "Mi Ultimo Adios" into a monument and identifying landmark of UP. Students, teachers and the alumni pitched in for the funding of the Oblation in a two-month campaign.
The Association is also zealous about the restoration of the UP Carillon, which is another UP icon. Gifted to the University in 1952 by the UP alumni, its recent restoration was a major UP centennial project of the UPAA. Thirty six of the 48 bells have already been replaced with new bells specially made in the Netherlands. The carillon tower has also been restored and part of the carillon plaza has been built. To propel the completion of the second phase of development, the creation of a separate foundation is being studied by the UPAA.
A third landmark contributed by the UP alumni to the University is Ang Bahay ng Alumni. Completed over 15 years ago after an arduous fund drive by the UPAA, Ang Bahay has become the hub for alumni activities and other events in the University.
These iconic projects, in themselves, have become silent witnesses to the significance of the UPAA. The three campus icons – Oblation, UP Carillon, and Ang Bahay ng Alumni – along with the seal of the University, are fittingly depicted in the logo of the UPAA.
Who is to say what role or symbol an important project such as the preservation of the Mount Makiling forest reserve would take in the future life of the University and the UPAA? With full agreement coming from all fronts on the urgency of environment conservation, Mount Makiling may soon be the symbol for collective action by the UP alumni to make our country and our world, a conducive and life-nurturing planet for future generations.
Serving alumni members and recognizing achievers
The UPAA is the central organization of alumni of the UP System, now comprised of seven constituent universities located in 12 campuses throughout the country. The UPAA has individual members, as well as affiliated chapters in-country and abroad. It is recognized by the UP Charter, which grants the UPAA President a seat on the UP Board of Regents.
Bringing the alumni closer to the University are seminars and forums organized by the UPAA. Alumni institutes have been held in cities as Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Iligan and Iloilo. Overseas events have also taken place in Bangkok, Brunei and Jakarta.
With Ang Bahay ng Alumni as a convenient venue, periodic socials are held to promote alumni networking and camaraderie. Hobby classes are also being offered for the benefit of alumni; a few voice classes have already held their respective recitals during the past 12 months. Painting lessons will be offered soon.
Keeping the UPAA perennially on its toes is the annual alumni reunion and homecoming. Held in the month of June, the homecoming renders special focus on those celebrating their 25th, 40th, 50th, 55th and 60th anniversary of graduation. The jubilarians are invited to present a number each in the homecoming program. Preparations and rehearsals for these are supported by the UPAA.
The annual homecoming also serves as the occasion to honor outstanding alumni achievers through the UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awards. Those who have rendered exceptional service in the pursuit of the goals of the University and/or of the Association are also recognized through the UPAA Distinguish Service Awards.
The UPAA yearbook is an annual publication that features the achievements of the Univesity and the Association. It is greatly enlivened by the stories shared by jubilarian classes.
To be of further service to the alumni and their family members and friends, the UPAA has recently established the U.P. Alumni Cooperative (UPAC). The initial offering being planned by UPAC is the so-called Medicine Cabinet – a program for providing a regular supply of maintenance medicine to its subscribing members.
Supporting students and future alumni
Beyond service to fellow alumni, the UPAA also maintains a scholarship program for need-based financial assistance to selected students. A major fund-raising effort is being contemplated to augment the over P5 million currently available to fund scholarship awards.
Continuing with fresh inroads, the UPAA adds to its spheres of influence the exciting arena of molding sports champions. The UPAA recently assumed the responsibility for managing the UP Men’s Basketball Team. A mutually beneficial relationship is expected to develop with the arrangement. With alumni support for the UP Maroons, the much-coveted UAAP championship is deemed more attainable. At the same time, a championship is expected to galvanize a more dynamic university spirit. Strong performance in the UAAP by the UP Maroons in the coming years is certain to infuse a mega dose of energy into the UP community as a whole.
To assist in the placement graduating students, the UPAA also participated in the 2010 UP Job Fair which was held last January 25 to 29 in cooperation with the UP Student Council and Office of the UP Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.
Responding to national challenges
The UPAA tries to bring the experience, expertise, and network of U.P. alumni to bear on issues and challenges confronting the country. When called for, it takes a stand on issues of great significance and makes its position known to the concerned parties and the public as a whole.
In May this year, the country went through a major political exercise of choosing new national and local leaders using for the first time ever, an automated election system (AES). The poll automation required the voters to take a great leap of faith amidst an atmosphere of mistrust and a rapidly shortening period for installing and testing the new system.
Recognizing both the historic significance of the poll automation and the formidable challenge of implementing the AES, the UPAA rose to the occasion and urgently resolved to work towards helping ensure the successful holding of the maiden automated polls. It collaborated with like-minded groups from the academe, IT profession, churches, and civil society, and together they formed AES Watch, an independent, broad-based, and multi-sector coalition which sought to monitor the preparation for and conduct of the automated elections.
With UPAA President Fred Pascual serving as lead convener and with UP alumni and other experts providing technical support, AES Watch worked to identify and address weaknesses in the AES that could put the political exercise at risk, engaging Comelec and the voting public in the process. It also set up a web-based citizens’ monitoring system that gathered incident reports from volunteers across the country on election day and a few days before and after.
A post-election evaluation that AES Watch is undertaking will draw lessons that can inform the next rounds of automated elections in the country. According to President Pascual, “The UPAA can be proud of being an active participant in writing the Philippine electoral history of 2010.”
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