Letter of Support from Prof. Elmer Ordonez

TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

As a retired professor and chair of the U.P. Department of English and  Comparative Literature,  I would like to add my voice in support for Dr. Rolando Tolentino for the chancellorship of the U.P. Diliman campus.

I have read his “Vision for the University of the Philippines-Diliman” which is a most comprehensive statement of the challenges facing the institution and what he plans to do as chancellor.  His curriculum vitae is a very impressive enumeration of his academic qualifications from distinguished universities, awards and honors for achievements in his field and related areas, and the wealth of his research/publications.  Unquestionably he is the consummate and fully dedicated academic person.

Beyond this he has demonstrated his management skills and possesses the administrative experience to lead the flagship campus to overcome the challenges facing the UP System along with the new U.P. President, other chancellors, and  constituencies in the faculty, students, researchers and non-academic staff -- for public service, academic excellence, dynamic research, the cultivation of arts and culture, student support, multidisciplinary centers, welfare of the faculty, REPS and staff, and expanding the linkages of the U.P . toward a regional university.

Paramount in Dean Tolentino’s concerns are academic freedom, democratic governance, transparency, and finding a “more rationalized and clearly allocated funding” for  U.P. Diliman.  Of the latter, I am sure he will work in tandem with the new President in putting the UP System on a sound fiscal basis.

Lastly, may I say that I have known Dean Tolentino since the 80s as a student, cultural worker, academic colleague, and friend – imbued with a strong sense of nationalism.  This and his above qualities should stand him in good stead as UP Diliman chancellor.

ELMER A. ORDONEZ

(Former Professor  and Chair of the Department of English and Comparative Literature , and founding director of the University of the Philippines Press.)