RT and Humanities

Excerpt from a feature article, "Top 5 favorite professors share great ideas"


"Dean Tolentino’s presentation, 'Mula Anak (F. Aguilar) tungong Baby (J. Bieber): Humanidades at Kritikal na Pag-iisip', conveyed his belief that the study of the Humanities is crucial in the development of a person’s critical thinking."


Read full article here.

Templates for Letters of Support

Dear everyone,

For those wish to write letters of support for Dean Roland Tolentino, you might find these templates helpful. Just click on the link and download either the word (.doc) or PDF (.pdf) file

(Basic template)
endorsement - roland chancellor TEMPLATE.doc

endorsement - roland chancellor TEMPLATE.pdf

Administratibong Kawani ng UP para kay Roland Tolentino.doc

Administratibong Kawani ng UP para kay Roland Tolentino.pdf

Faculty para kay Roland Tolentino.doc

Faculty para kay Roland Tolentino.pdf

REPS para kay Roland Tolentino.doc

REPS para kay Roland Tolentino.pdf

OR, you may go to this link http://www.mediafire.com/rtforchancellor to view and download these templates.

Please address your letters of support to:
UP Board of Regents and to UP President Alfredo Pascual


then e-mail to:
searchcommittee@up.edu.ph


and copy furnish to:
rolando.tolentino@gmail.com

rtforchancellor@gmail.com

Thank you!

Just a few of Roland Tolentino's published books

[Photo from this link]

RT and popular culture

Excerpt from a 2010 news feature:

"No less than the dean of UP Diliman’s College of Mass Communications, Rolando B. Tolentino, nominated and defended the word jejemon. In his presentation, Tolentino said jejemon is part of the evolution of the language of the jologs, or people belonging to the lower economic class that the elite and social climbers would call “baduy."

Tolentino, who has produced more than a dozen books on popular culture and literature, said when we look closely at the word jejemon, it will tell us something about economic stratification and class struggle in the country.

“Ang jejemon ay sintomas ng bagong pagsa-sub-uri sa bansa. Umalagwa na mga pasosyal (matatagpuan sila sa call centers), at ang tunay na sosyal, nakakabili ng latest na gadget o ang aproximasyon nito. May entitlement sa teknolohiya dahil ito ang pangako ng mamahaling gadget na binili mo. At dahil nga mahal ito, exclusibo ang turing sa karanasang inaakalang magpapabukod-tangi sa nakararami," he explained."

Read the full article here: Why jejemon was chosen as Word of the Year

Kultura ng Inobasyon at Public at Service University, presentation sa Faculty Forum

Dean Roland Tolentino's vision presented at the forum of chancellor nominees, January 31, 2011, 9-12 nn, Malcolm Hall, University of the Philippines, Diliman

Mga kasapi ng Search Committee, mga kapwa guro at kaibigan,

Magandang umaga.  At maraming salamat sa tiwala at pagkakataong makapaglahad ng bisyon ko para sa isang mas mabuti, magaling at kumakalingang UP Diliman.  Ako ay fictionist at nagsusulat din ng creative non-fiction.  Paratihan, para magkaroon ng bagong puwang sa literatura, kailangan ng inobasyon dahil hindi naman maaring muling imbentuhin ang matagumpay nang kalakaran sa pagsusulat. 

Magaling ang UP hindi dahil sa simula pa lamang ay magaling na ang ating estudyante, fakulti, REPS at staff.  Gumagaling at nagiging pinakamagaling sila dahil sa kalinga ng Unibersidad.  Kung ang layon ay makapag-akda at makapaglikha ng UP para sa bagong siglo, kailangan muling tanawin at bigyan-diin ng UP ang kanyang tungkulin sa iskolar ng bayan at pambansang pag-unlad na may transparency, accountability at demokratikong pamamalakad.  Ang mga ito ang mahahalagang kondisyon para yumabong ang kultura ng inobasyon sa hanay ng buong komunidad ng UP Diliman at magsusulong pa ng ating higit na kontribusyon sa pambansang pag-unlad. 

Malinaw ang tungkulin ng Unibersidad sa bago nitong Charter, “[T]he University of the Philippines shall perform its unique and distinctive leadership in higher education and development.”  Malinaw din sa kanyang Charter ang walong rasyonal ng kanyang pagiging Unibersidad, mga kadahilanan kung bakit kailangang umunlad ang UP bilang isang natatanging sistema.  Mula sa mga rasyonal ako humahalaw ng mga programang magbibigay-diin sa kultura ng inobasyon na may pagsaklaw sa public at public service na Unibersidad ng Pilipinas-Diliman.

1. Publiko serbisyo na nagbibigay ng natatanging akademikong kagalingan at pamunuan maging sa affairs ng bansa, kasama ang bolunterismo, na may kabuluhan ang UP sa loob at labas ng kampus nito.
2. Suporta at bagong programa para sa kahusayang akademiko na nakaangkla sa pambansang pag-unlad.
3. Kondisyong liberal na magtataguyod ng diskusyon at pakikipagtalastasan, “to think outside the box.”
4. Masiglang pananaliksik at pagbubukas sa UP Diliman bilang 24/7 center ng knowledge production, pati ang pagtiyak ng seguridad at amenidad ng paborableng environment ng pananaliksik.
5. Rennaisance ng sining at kultura, maging ang suporta sa wika; pati na rin ang pag-aaral kung paano ang kampus at personnel nito ay magiging bukas sa mga taong may kapansanan, maging ang mga programang magtitiyak ng compliance sa Magna Carta of Women’s Rights. 
6. Pagpapahusay at pagpapaunlad ng skolarsyip, serbisyo at fasilidad para sa estudyante, kabilang din ang demokratisasyon ng akses sa admission at edukasyon sa UP.
7. Mga sentrong multidisiplinaryo na maghihikayat ng kolaborasyon sa mga cluster, kolehiyo at instityut.
8. Kapakanan at karapatan ng fakulti, REPS at staff, kasama ang pantay na benefit package, pagpapaunlad ng housing at health care plans.
9. Pagtataguyod recreation at training fasilities para ang sports ay maging bahagi ng buhay UP, pati na rin ang pagpapaunlad ng mga programa at forum para sa nasyonalismo at pambansang identidad.
10. Pagpapatibay ng higit na ugnayan ng UP sa mga institusyon at unibersidad sa loob at labas ng bansa, pati na rin ang pagtustos sa membership fees sa professional organizations nang mahikayat mag-assume ng leadership role ang fakulti sa mga ito.
11. Demokratikong pamamalakad na maglilinaw ng ugnay at demarkasyon ng mga kapangyarihan at responsibilidad, pati ang kultura ng konsultasyon, at pagtataguyod ng malinaw na proseso ng grievance.
12. At ang napakahalagang suporta mula sa ating alumni, at ngayon, ang suporta ng Unibersidad para sa kanyang alumni.

Napapanahong paunlarin ang kultura ng inobasyon dahil sa ilang naging pagkaunlad ng UP na tila nagpawalay sa diwa ng kanyang bagong charter.  Mabilis na nakakasabay ang ilang mga pribadong unibersidad, at marami pa ang naghahabol, sa kalidad at lawak ng kagalingan ng UP:  Mayroon na rin silang mga kampus na nakapaloob sa kanilang system, mabilis ang kanilang inobasyon ng mga kurso at pamamahala, at malawak ang kanilang ugnayan sa iba’t ibang institusyon sa loob at labas ng bansa.  Marami ring pag-aaral—kahit na problemado ang mga ito—na nagsasaad ng pagbaba ng ranggo kundi man katayuan ng UP sa kanyang mga kahanay sa global na larangan.  Dagdag pa rito ang ilan pang kaganapan sa UP tulad ng atomization ng mga kolehiyo ng Diliman,  kasama na ang kanya-kanyang paghagilap ng resources para sa kanya-kanyang kagalingan; ang bagong class requirement ng mag-aaral sa UP, na hindi na lamang may talino kundi kinakailangang may-kaya na rin; ang disbentahe ng kawani at REPS sa benefit packages ng fakulti; ang kawalan ng grievance process para sa tenyur at promosyon; ang kakulangan ng enabling conditions para sa mga junior na fakulti, at ang maraming pagkakataong hindi nabibigyan ng dagdag na responsibilidad ang mga kwalipikadong senior na fakulti dahil sa parokyalismo ng mga namamahala; ang ugnayan at demarkasyon ng kapangyarihan ng governing units; ang lapat ng neoliberalismo o ang praktikal at ideolohikal na pagbibigay ng pribilehiyo ng pribadong negosyo at pamilihan sa pamamalakad ng Unibersidad gayong serbisyong publiko ang dapat na katangian; at iba pa.  Ang mga ganitong pag-unlad ang nakakapanghati sa solidaridad na inaasahan sa UP.

Bagama’t kailangang magpursigi ang UP sa kanyang motto ng karangalan at kahusayan (“honor and excellence”) kailangang nakaangkla ang mga ito sa serbisyo publiko, transparency at demokratikong pamamahala.  Sa aking palagay, walang dangal at husay na tunay na mapapaunlad kung hindi ito nakaugat sa paglilingkod sa bayan, sa malilinaw na mga proseso at sa demokratikong pamamahala sa Unibersidad.   Sa pamamagitan ng tunay na paghalaw sa diwa ng “skolar ng bayan,” na may akawntabilidad sa mamamayang tumustos sa pag-aaral at sa pagtatapos ay ang etikang gagabay na ang kanyang gagawin ay para sa interes ng bayan, tunay na yayabong ang natatanging tatak UP.  Ito ang inobasyon at paninindigang, nananatiling makabuluhan at hindi matatawaran.

Maraming salamat sa inyong pakikinig.

Campaign materials

I Support Dean Roland Tolentino for UP Diliman Chancellor

January 31, 2011

The Honorable Members of the Board of Regents

University of the Philippines

It is with distinct honor that I express my support to Dean Roland Tolentino of the College of Mass Communication for Chancellor of UP Diliman. I have known Dean Tolentino since my days as a student of the College of Mass Communication and have worked with him in the advancement of rights, not only of students but of other sectors in and out of the university, in my previous role as a student leader.

He is a well-respected and beloved teacher, one that imparts his wisdom with his students and peers, not just with textbooks or theories from thinkers. He constantly reminds us of how it is and what it takes to be a true Iskolar ng Bayan, through his example of service to the community and the country. He knows that social responsibility cannot be taught in and learned from the classroom, but through linking arms with the masses, the vast majority who pay for our tuition.

Dean Tolentino has proven his expertise in cultural understanding and development, within the academe and beyond, through his numerous publications. He is held in high regard by fellow writers, cultural workers and artists.

It goes without saying that he is committed to social justice, understanding the true essence of being a public servant. I would say that the inaccessibility and quality of education is one of the greatest injustice of our generation, if not of succeeding generations. Now, being able to obtain your degree from the University of the Philippines has become a dream-that most Filipino youth will never reach, not unless you have enough money, not even if you are the best or the brightest. Having a leader who knows that this injustice needs to be rectified and has the will to rectify it, is a leap into the right direction.

With the vision of democratic governance and unwavering commitment to service to constituents and the Filipino people, Dean Roland Tolentino, is without a doubt, the best suited candidate for UP Diliman Chancellor.

Sincerely,

Kristine Clare C. Bugayong

BA FAVC '00, MA WDS '03

UP Student Regent 2001

UP CMC Student Council Chair, AY 99-00

From Award-winning writer and UP Diliman Professor, Jun Cruz Reyes

Rolando Tolentino

Mayroon tayong mga episyenteng administrador sa U.P.  May mga akademiko tayong kinikilala sa loob at labas ng bansa.  May mga kritiko tayo na nag-uusad ng maraming diskurso.  May mga artist/ manunulat at iba pa na nagtataas ng kalidad ng sining ng sambayanan.  May komunidad rin tayo ng mga taong mas pinipili ang kapakanan ng nakararami sa halip na pangsarili.

Ang hinahanap nati’y personipikasyon ng maraming katangiang ito.  Sa madaling sabi, mahalaga ang papel ng isang bisyunaryo sa pagpapatakbo ng alin man institusyon.  Mayroon din tayo nito, bisyunaryo, si Rolando Tolentino.

Tanging maisusugal ko’y integridad, itataya ko iyon.  Sapagka’t nangangarap din ako ng makabuluhang  pagbabago, kahit man lang sa lupang kinatatayuan ko. Gusto kong sabihin, minsan sa kasaysayan, minsan sa buhay, may nag-aalay ng kanyang kakayahan.  Gusto kong sumabay sa kanyang mga hakbang.  Gustong muling mamayani ang dangal.

Jun Cruz Reyes

Propesor

Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas

Kolehiyo ng Arte at Literature

Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Diliman

Roland Tolentino

Award-winning writer and UP Diiliman Professor Rommel Rodriguez's personal essay on Rolando Tolentino and the bid for chancellorship.

Karaniwan, laging inihihiwalay ang pagiging malikhaing tao sa mga teknikal at gawaing kinasangkutan ng burukrasya. Kaya nga't hanggang maaari, maraming mga artista at manunulat na ayaw ang mga trabahong may kinalaman sa sistematisasyon ng mga proseso o dili kaya'y  ang pagiging administrador, lalo na ng isang pamantasan.  Ayaw niyang humawak ng kapangyarihan sapagkat batid niyang maaari itong maging dahilan ng kanyang pagkalugmok, hindi pa sa trabaho, kundi baka malusaw ang kanyang pagiging malikhain sa gitna ng mga gawaing may kinalaman sa pamamahalang administratibo.

Subalit dumarating din naman ang mga pagkakataon na nakikisangkot ang isang manunulat sa ganitong mga iniatas na tungkulin.  Mahalagang  batid niya na  kaya niyang gampanan ang mga ito at  matagumpay na maisagawa ang kanyang mga bisyon at misyon sa  isang pamantasang pumupusturang umuunlad kahit ang totoo'y  unti-unti itong nawawalan ng esensiya sa pag-iral. Sapagkat gabay niya ang malikhaing isipan at imahinasyon, sanay siyang harapin ang mga problemang kinasasangkutan ng unibersidad kung saan kailangan ng matinding pag-iisip ng mga posibleng  solusyon.

Sa ganitong pananaw ko nakikita ang pagtakbo ni Rolando Tolentino sa pagiging Chancellor ng UP Diliman.

Sabihin mang personal, malaki ang naitulong niya sa akin upang maiposisyon ko ang aking sarili sa larangan at propesyong kinapapalooban ko ngayon.  Isa siya sa mga gumabay sa akin upang tahakin ang mundo ng pagsulat at panitikan.Kabilang ako sa henerasyon kung saan siya ang naging guro sa mga kursong humubog sa aming intelektuwal at malikhaing kakayanan.  Marami sa amin ang nagkaroon ng malinaw na perspektiba sa akademiya at buhay dahil sa kanyang mga payo, pangaral at matalinong pagtasa sa aming mga kahinaan at pagkukulang.  Kung minsa’y namimigay siya ng libro, subalit mas madalas, mga aral ng buhay-estudyante at di naglaon, bilang guro, ang isinasalin niya sa aming kaalaman. Para niya kaming mga inakay na bago paliparin, tiniyak munang matibay ang aming mga pakpak.

Ngayon, nagsisimula nang palawakin pa ni Roland ang kanyang espasyo ng pamamahala. Kailangan ang mas malaking opisina para sa kanyang mga bisyon at misyon para sa pamantasan at buo nitong komunidad   upang mas epektibo siyang makapagsilbi sa higit na nakararami. Dito natin matitiyak na ang bawat testimonya at suporta na ipinapakita ng mga tao mula sa iba't bang sektor ng ating pamantasa'y  nagsisilbing mga patunay na karapat-dapat iluklok ang isang malikhaing administrador. Ito ang magsisilbing  mga patunay na walang mangyayaring pag-abuso ng kapangyarihan at pananamantala sa igagawad na tungkulin.

21 US-Based Academics from 17 Top Universities Endorse Dean Roland Tolentino

19 January 2011

President Alfredo E. Pascual

University of the Philippines

Dear President Pascual:

We are writing to express our support for Dean Roland Tolentino's nomination as Chancellor of the University of the Philippines in Diliman.  We believe that he is an outstanding academic and has a firm commitment towards public service and democratic leadership.

Dean Tolentino is without doubt an academic leader. He is a brilliant, and well-respected scholar in the areas of film studies, popular culture, and literature.  His numerous books and articles have received citations and awards, and are used in various courses, not only in the Philippines but also in the United States.

Dean Tolentino's work is truly outstanding because of his interdisciplinary approach to research, firm grasp of theory, and amazing breadth of knowledge.  He explores the intersections of culture and the economy, film, politics and geography, and globalization and sexualities -- thus making his work always interesting and exciting to read and discuss. 

In 2004, he was appointed Acting Director of the UP Film Institute and the year after was invited to be a Visiting Fellow at the University of Singapore.  In 2006, he was a Distinguished Visitor at the University of California Berkeley and UCLA Southeast Asian Studies Consortium.   In 2009, he was appointed Dean of the College of Mass Comminication, and in the past two years, have shown dedication and outstanding work.  We believe that very few scholars of his generation in his field could match his accomplishments. 

Dean Tolentino is also a true public intellectual.  He writes in both Filipino and English, and thus has an expanded readership in the Philippines and abroad.   He has also explored various formats in publishing (among them the monograph format), making his work accessible to students.  Moreover, he has, for many years, worked in the service of fellow educators, giving talks and lectures to public school teachers.

We also admire Dean Tolentino's unwavering commitment to public service. As Chairperson of the Congress of Teachers for Nationalism and Democracy, he has constantly supported teachers' rights and the right of students for free public education.  We believe that these principles will guide his democratic leadership should he be apponted as Chanceller.

We firmly support his candidacy and believe that he would be an excellent Chancellor for the University of the Philippines in Diliman.

Sincerely yours,

Pia Arboleda, D.A. Assistant Professor of Filipino and Philippine Literature, University of Hawaii

Nerissa Balce, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Asian American Literature, Stony Brook University

Pearlie Rose Salaveria Baluyot, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Art History, California State University San Bernardino

Jonathan Beller, Ph.D., Professor of Humanities and Media Studies and Critical and Visual Studies, Pratt Institute

Francisco Benitez, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature, University of Washington

Lucy Burns, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Asian American Studies, University of California Los Angeles

Julia Camagong, Adjunct Professor of Filipino, College of Mt. Saint Vincent

Richard T. Chu, Ph.D., Five College Associate Professor of History, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Peter Chua, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Sociology, San Jose State University

Deirdre de la Cruz, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of History and Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Sharon Delmendo, Ph.D., Professor of English, St. John Fisher College

Nenita Domingo, Ph.D., Lecturer of Filipino, University of California Los Angeles

Luisa A. Igloria, Ph.D. Professor of English and Creative Writing, Old Dominion University

Maria Josephine Leblanc, Ph.D. Lecturer of Filipino and Philippine Literature, University of California Berkeley

Bliss Cua Lim, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies and Director of the Ph.D. Program in Visual Studies, University of California Irvine

Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Ph.D., Professor and Coordinator, Filipino and Philippine Literature Program, University of Hawaii, Manoa

Martin F. Manalansan IV, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Asian American Studies and Anthropology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

A.M. Nornes, Ph.D., Professor of Asian Film, and Chair of the Department of Screen Arts & Cultures, University of Michigan Ann Arbor

Sarita Echavez See, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Michigan Ann Arbor

Neferti Tadiar, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of  Women's Studies, Barnard College, Columbia University

Benito Vergara, Ph.D. former Assistant Professor, San Francisco State University

RT is our Only Choice for UP Diliman Chancellor

Honorable Members of the University of the Philippines Board of Regents:

As the university confronts challenges brought about by the current education crisis, we need a chancellor who is committed to upholding UP’s cherished principles of academic excellence, freedom, and integrity. In these trying times, no other nominee for UP Diliman chancellor has the passion and dedication of a true leader than Dean Rolando B. Tolentino of the College of Mass Communications.

It is my honor and my duty to register my absolute support for Dr. Tolentino’s bid for chancellorship. As a junior faculty member who belongs to a vulnerable sector in the university, I strongly believe in Dr. Tolentino’s vision of creating a culture of innovation and democratic governance in UP. His unwavering defense of the junior faculty’s right to tenure against political repression is nothing short of inspiring. And unlike others who only serve a select sector in the university, Dr. Tolentino’s track record as educator and administrator speaks of his commitment to forward the rights, welfare and development of all sectors of the UP community.

Many can attest to Dr. Tolentino’s brilliance and dynamism as a creative writer and cultural critic. His pioneering works have contributed immensely to the development of arts, humanities, and culture as disciplines of social and national importance. Dr. Tolentino’s expertise in such marginalized fields falls in line with his vision of innovation and democratic governance, as this rejects the practice of privileging only those disciplines that have commercial potential, even at the expense of UP’s character as a public institution.

It is worth emphasizing that Dr. Tolentino’s commitments as a progressive educator and cultural worker extends beyond the confines of the university. Over the years, he has led and participated in multisectoral alliances and demonstrations on matters of national interest. Dr. Tolentino is proof that the university’s code of honor and excellence is not enough, if not directed in the service of the people.

For all his experience, passion and integrity, Dr. Rolando Tolentino should be our only choice for UP Diliman chancellor.

Sincerely yours,

Katrina Angela R. Macapagal

Instructor

Department of English and Comparative Literature

College of Arts and Letters

University of the Philippines, Diliman

Pag-asa kay Dekano Roland Tolentino

Ako ay isang administratibong kawani ng UP. Malaki ang pag-asa ko sa susunod nitong pangulo, na magkakaroon ng pagbabago tungo sa mahusay, mabuti at makatarungang pamamahala. Ito rin ang hinihiling ko at marahil ng ilang daang kawani sa magiging Diliman Tsanselor. Tsanselor na titingin at mangangalaga sa kapakanan at kabutihan ng lahat ng sektor na nasa komunidad nito at hindi papairalin ang pansariling kapakanan at kapakinabangan. Tsanselor na may tunay na layuning isulong ang tunay na tindig, kahulugan at kabuluhan ng UP bilang "Pambansang Unibersidad, " nakikisangkot sa maliit at malaking isyu ng lipunan at tunay na naglilingkod sa bayan. Ito ang mga mabuting katangian at dakilang layuning matatagpuan kay Dekano Roland Tolentino. Mabuhay ka! Sa iyo, malaki ang pag-asa ko at ng mga tulad kong administratibong kawani na nagbibigay ng malaking kontribusyon at sakripisyo para sa Unibersidad tungo sa mahusay, epektibo at taus-pusong paglilingkod sa bayan.


Eva Garcia Cadiz

Letter of Support

Dear Honorable Members of the University of the Philippines Board of Regents,

It is my honor to support College of Mass Communications Dean Rolando B. Tolentino's bid to become Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Diliman. Dr. Tolentino possesses the requisite intelligence, management skills, and vision rooted in a profound appreciation of Filipino culture and expressed with flair that is uniquely UP.

As a former faculty member of the Department of English and Comparative Literature of the College of Arts and Letters and former Deputy Director of the UP Press and the UP Institute of Creative Writing, I have known and worked with Dr. Tolentino in various capacities for several years now. And as a reader of literature, a creative writer, and a person who takes interest in our cultural heritage, I have known Dr. Tolentino’s works for even longer. 

His track record as a writer, a cultural worker, and a critic is impeccable and worth emulating. The staggering amount of books he has written and the quality of scholarship and artistry in them attest to Dr. Tolentino’s genius. His participation in various undertakings local and international is proof of his dynamism and the respect he commands in these circles. And his unwavering stand to serve the country and fight for social justice reveals how well he embodies the ideals of our university.

There is no doubt in my mind that Dr. Tolentino is the best choice for UP Diliman Chancellor. In our continued struggle to improve the state of our nation and develop the Filipino mind, our finest oblation to the Philippines to date is the selection of Dr. Tolentino as UP Diliman Chancellor.

Very truly yours,

JOSE CLAUDIO B. GUERRERO
BAES’97

NEXT UP DILIMAN CHANCELLOR: PROFESOR ROLANDO TOLENTINO (An Unsolicited Endorsement)

[Our friend, Dr. Roland Tolentino, has accepted his nomination for UP Diliman Chancellor... I am posting here a piece written by Marc Guerrero, a former newspaper colleague of ours.]

NEXT UP DILIMAN CHANCELLOR: PROFESOR ROLANDO TOLENTINO

(An Unsolicited Endorsement)

...from a communicator grandson of one of the first Filipino public-school principals and district superintendents under the American Thomasites

Roland T. during a Cultural Center of the Philippines Workshop for Grassroots Poets @ Makiling Arts Center in Laguna.

Photo by CHI

To all creative and compassionate Filipinos (in the homeland and worldwide), who aspire to become good, better, best, great, finest, excellent, perfect and divine:

Ang KABATAAN ANG PAG-ASA NG BANSA, NGAYON, HINDI BUKAS, NGAYON NA...

I and my press, media, literary and cultural colleagues --they will come forward to be recognized, as we go along-- have all the reasons to believe that NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR YOUNG (FREE, RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE) FILIPINOS TO REIGN IN OUR COUNTRY in the academe and all other clusters of our society.

Adults, old people, elders and seniors - not all of them had exemplified GENUINE STATESMANSHIP in their thoughts, feelings and actions. But elders, if and when they chose to be young-again, forever-young or YOUNG AT HEART, can definitely contribute their valuable experiences and expertise in young Filipino leaders' youth and idealism, youth and realism, dynamism, innovation, intellectual and intuitive risk-taking and synonymous other qualities of FILIPINOS na MAIKARARANGAL SA BUONG MUNDO.

The elders ought not to hang on but move on, move up, move right to their proper places in history by giving way to the youngsters who are inspired enough to lead, to serve, to manage, to administer, to govern and to serve.

I am one of the hundreds of mga "piping saksi" or silent witnesses as to how Committed writer, journalist, humanist and teacher, Professor ROLANDO TOLENTINO, grew as a person and as a professional (from the only Filipino broadsheet daily newspaper of the late-1980s, Diyaryo Filipino onwards), and how he nurtured himself (his career, his human relations and all) together with that of his juniors (his teachers and elders and anyone ahead of him, included) to achieve where he is now and to help them achieve where they are now.

Youth is sometimes wasted on the young, but not on Professor Tolentino.

Professor Tolentino – by and through discipline, hard work, studies and sacrifice – had become a highly respected Filipino in and out of the academe.

It is not only for these reasons that we endorse Professor Rolando Tolentino to be elected or appointed the next CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN.

We believe he can (r)evolutionize the UP System to the optimum, because Professor Tolentino is a "revolutionary," he is a "revolutionist" - with a capital E, and not with a capital R.

Lady “Juvenocracy” is knocking on our doors. She wants the young not just to rule, govern and reign, but most importantly, to inspire the elders, together with this and the next generation of Filipinos, in order to journey together (“magkahawak-kamay,” at “magkakapit-puso”) towards the ultimate destination:

We have to evolve as a Filipino nation.

Faithfully,

Marc Guerrero

Proponent of Journalism with Compassion

marc_guerrero@journalist.com

Relevant links

On the link below, you will find:

1. RT's presentation of his vision paper
2. A copy of RT's vision statement
3. RT's complete CV

Here is the link: Diliman UP Date Online,

Official Facebook Page

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The Culture of Innovation and Democratic Governance in UP as a Public University for Public Service

Vision for the University of the Philippines-Diliman

Rolando B. Tolentino, Dean , College of Mass Communications

An increasing number of private universities is fast catching up with the quality and scope of UP’s excellence. They now have campuses within their system, not to mention a rapid innovation in their courses and management. They also have an extensive system of linkages to different institutions within and beyond the country. There are a considerable number of studies which rank universities worldwide. Notwithstanding the perceived problems in the methodology of some of these studies, it is still important to take note of UP’s ranking which is getting lower compared to other universities in the country, in the region as well as in the global arena.

But more than its ranking, I strongly believe that the greatest challenge for UP as it enters into another century is to remain faithful to its character as a national and a public university whose scholars are honorable, excellent and of service to the people.

While UP has to strive to live up to its values it is known for – honor and excellence – these must be anchored on the values of public service, transparency and good governance. For me, there is no real honor and excellence if these were not rooted on service to the people, transparent processes and democratic governance in the University. There are various indications of UP’s divergence from this mission: the atomization of colleges in Diliman, along with their  income-generating schemes toward self-sufficiency; the emergent class character of UP students who must not only be intelligent but also financially endowed; the uneven distribution of  benefit packages among REPS, administrative staff and faculty; the lack of a formal grievance procedure for tenure and promotion; the lack of enabling conditions for junior faculty members and the many cases of exclusion of qualified senior faculty members from assuming more responsibilities on account of administrative parochialism; the interrelation and demarcation of power among governing units; the implementation of neoliberal policies or the practical and ideological privileging of private business and markets in running the affairs of the University when public service is its rightful character, etc.  

The situation is indeed alarming. It is high time to ensure the practice of innovation, especially for UP Diliman, as a way to redirect and recreate the University. The promotion of democratic innovations that are of service to the people is important in UP Diliman, the flagship campus of the UP System. This is so because it influences the other units within the System, as well as other SUCs and private universities which, according to the UP Charter of 2008, “[T]he University of the Philippines shall perform its unique and distinctive leadership in higher education and development.”[ii]

 The UP Charter lays down the rationale of the University for its next centennial: to lead in academic excellence, research, teaching and faculty development, to serve as a graduate and research university while maintaining its pubic service orientation, to protect and widen the professional and economic rights and welfare of its faculty and staff, open opportunities in developing democratic values, sports, nationalism and national identity, strengthen its linkages toward a regional and global university; and observe democratic governance.

Thus, my vision for UP Diliman is geared toward the upholding of the innovative and productive spirit of the Iskolar ng Bayan (one who is accountable to the Filipino people who subsidizes every scholar’s UP education; one who will serve the interest of the people after graduation) and the development of the culture of innovation as the means in laying down the programs which are attuned to the spirit of its new Charter. 

The UP Charter puts premium on academic freedom and excellence, commitment to national development, social responsibility and democratic access. The public service orientation of UP calls for a culture of innovation. How then do we recreate the Univeristy that is not removed from pursuing national development? There is a need for a transparent and democratic governance to arrest the atomization of colleges and constitutent universities, and the development of solidarity that recognizes and cares for the welfare of all.The goal of this vision is to make UP the leader in higher education both within the nation and the region. 

Public Service

This general vision can only succeed if UP Diliman adopts a preferential option for public service. This is beyond the common perception that being a public servant is in itself a sacrifice. This entails UP Diliman’s colleges and institutions to intervene and take a stand on crucial academic and non-academic issues. The promotion of opportunities includes voluntarism among faculty, students and staff so that UP’s public service will not only be established but be recognized as significant to the life and progress of the nation.

Academic Excellence

In the realm of academic work, there is a need to increase the support and incentive for outstanding faculty members, researchers and graduate students.

The kind of research that is anchored on the interest of national development will involve collective discussions. Notwithstanding the various programs already implemented, there is still a need to continue to support UP’s essential value of academic excellence. This includes the following: Increase funding for Research Dissemination Grants so that more faculty members will be able to propagate new knowledge through conferences, create a support system for excellent journals of the different colleges that will be able to solicit contribution from scholars from other universities and other countries; in coordination with the UP Press, allocate funds for book series on crucial topics of academic and social significance with a multidisciplinary approach; through consultation with the colleges, create a venue for expediting the process of review and recommendation of new and/or revised programs; the allocation of funds for book seminars so that  contributors who will be selected from the multidisciplinary and thematic proposals will be able to come to UP Diliman and discuss their projects; support the projects of the different  units within  the four clusters of UP Diliman as well as among the four clusters themselves to foster greater academic and personal interaction among faculty members and REPS; widen the scope of support for modernization projects for classroom and other academic facilities that will include the creation of smart classrooms; the designation of spaces for multi-disciplinary research; promote multidisciplinary teaching especially on General Education courses, support and increase funding for research endowment.

UP’s  Liberal Tradition

The tradition of liberal thought and proactive action must be carried on. The capacity to push scholars to think outside the box is what makes UP education distinctive. This can only be observed within an environment of liberal education. Hence the need to further support student projects including the generation of funds for the modernization of Vinzon’s Hall and the transfer of its administrative offices in more strategic locations. There is also a need to provide more tambayans for student organizations and other facilities that will cultivate the liberal tradition among their ranks. Other programs for the promotion of student welfare, including campus fraternities will be implemented. In general, there is a need to improve basic services and facilities for students, for example, the perennial problem of long and winding cues during enrolment period must be addresseed to its roots. A policy that will open UP Diliman to deserving students with disabilities must be implemented, one that will allow them to finish a degree by providing a learning environment that is responsive to their needs. It is important to formally involve elected student representatives in the crafting of proposed rules and regulations that will affect them.

Dynamic Research

As a graduate and research university, it is clear that UP’s direction is toward national development. For us to attain the status of a real graduate and research university, there is a need to encourage and support faculty and REPS to earn a PhD in their chosen fields and to continue their research, publication and artistic production. There is also a need to increase the graduate population of theUniversity so that the expertise and knowledge production of faculty and reps can be transferred to the next crop of scholars. The goal of  which is the UP Charter’s bid for a 24/7 knowledge production  and the campus and selected offices  must be literally and figuratively open for research activities of faculty members and reps. The campus must be well-lit and secure with strategically located emergency portals for a direct and faster access to the UP police. The amenities for a research environment must be within reach. The freedom of research in UP Diliman will be reinforced in keeping with the consensus of the higher education leaders in the 2007 Bologna Ministerial Meeting, “The basis of research in higher education is its independence and search for truth which justifies higher education’s continued exercise of academic freedom.” In addition to this, there is a need to develop a mechanism in inviting local and foreign visiting scholars who can enrich the academic programs and research of faculty and REPS of UP Diliman.  

The Cultivation of Arts and Culture and Other Issues

I intend to give emphasis on the further cultivation of arts and culture in UP Diliman. As a writer, I am aware of how artisitic production is not equally valued relative to knowledge production in other disciplines.  An equal valuation of arts and culture—to my mind, one of UP Diliman’s crown jewels —will be observed in different endeavors and projects. The same will be observed for research on art and culture as well as the support  for Filipino language and its more active dissemination of this in the campus and in the country.  

The passage of the Magna Carta of Women in 2009 gave the impetus to reinforce UP Diliman’s support in ensuring the vital integration of women and gender issues in the academica dn administrative life of the university. It is crucial to institutionalize the UP Diliman Gender Office through a BOR approval, the same that was granted to women and gender centers of UP Manila, Los Banos and the Visayas.

The environment is also an important issue. Ours is a beautiful campus but the realities of calamity and modernization cannot be overlooked. We need to put our heads together in fostering an environment-friendly policy that will cover the preservation of open and green spaces in teh academic oval. There is also a need to put in place a disaster-prepearedness policy.

Student Support

As a public service university, it is most important to allocate considerable funds to support qualified indigent UP students who cannot afford to pay tuition and other fees and living expenses.  UP loses its public character if it fails to open its doors to qualified but poor students. The democratization of UP’s admission policy as well as the augmentation of the endowment fund for financial support based on student needs will have my full support. Deserving students shall be provided with slots in the dormitories with book provisions, meals and daily allowance.  It is a known fact that on the average, out of 100 Grade 1 students only 14 can graduate from college. It means so much for a high school graduate who went through the average class size of 60-80, the scarcity of books and classrooms to be accepted and actually finish a degree from UP.

 Multidisciplinary Centers and the Opening Up of the Campus

Support will be provided for multidisciplinary centers that will serve as primary mechanism for extension work of collaborating colleges. It is important to develop the creative collaboration between the College of Engineering and the Third World Studies Center in providing Internet access to public shools in Batanes and other rural areas. UP Diliman may as well explore the possibility of opening its campus in order to allow people outside of the UP Community an increased accessto its amenities and participation in its events. This entails the systematization of schedules of museums and galleries, walking tours, publicity of fora and gatherings in the campus, as well as linkages to different universities and institutions outside of the campus. There is also an opportunity for UP Diliman to be the center of culture in this part of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga and Rizal.  In all of these, it will be ensured that all programs of UP Diliman would have a public service aspect that will be recognized within and outside of the campus.

Welfare of the Faculty, REPS and Staff

In the interest to provide protection and push for the professional and economic welfare of facult, REPS and staff, the provision for equal welfare beneifits is in order. In my experience as dean,  the reality of very low salaries and benefits for staff and REPS has become even much clearer to me. An increased support of knowledge and skills development of rank and file and REPS is much needed. Other forms of support for faculty, REPS  and non-academic staff include the provision of additional housing on campus, and if possible, outside of the campus, computer plans, shuttle service, medical and dental plans and other basic social services are on the agenda. Among the ranks of faculty and REPS, a grievance mechanism will be put in place for issues regarding tenure, promotion and other grievances.

Sports, Nationalism and National Identity

In providing opportunities in developing democratic values, sports, nationalism and national identity, implementing programs that will support the same will be developed.  The relaunching of Pahinungod which promoted voluntarism particularly among students  may be considered in order to promulgate service to the people and for this value to be brought to the poorest of communities. The same rationale of providing opprtunties will be implemented for the benefit of the shows, radio programs in DZUP, performances in UP Theater and Film Center, exhibitions an programs of the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino, Center for Women’s Studies, Center for Internationl Studies, Third World Studies Center, Institute of Creative Writing, as well as for  multidisciplinary centers, colleges and institutes.   

The provision of improved campus facilities, especially for sports will be supported through tie ups with private and public agencies towards the creation of a sports complex and training facility. The involvement of UP Diliman in the activities of the mass movement as well as linking up to their sectors and communities to support academic programs and extension work; and also to support the legitimate demands of different mass organizations.  

Regional and Global  Linkages

In widening the UP’s linkages toward becoming a regional and global university, the colleges are expected to identify their partner universities, professional, cultural and scientific organizations to build and/or strengthen linkages. Funding will be allocated for faculty and REPS for them to become members of international and professional organizations and encourage them to become leaders in these formations. Holding of annual conferences of professional organizations in UP Diliman will be supported. UP Diliman will also assist in establishing research consortiums, academic programs and various forms of extension work with institutions within the country and Southeast Asia.

Democratic Governance

The rationale of democratic governance calls for an open communication with the BOR, the UP System as well as with other campuses for cooperation and demarcation of functions and power.  We shall strongly assert that the BOR respects the University Council decisions pertaining to academic issues such as the enforcement of disciplinary action on students.  A mechanism for democratic consultation on relevant issues in order for UP Diliman to take a stand on academic and non-academic matters will be established.  As per the UP Charter, there is a need to provide venues for the discussion of non-academic issues and ensure the active participation of students, faculty, staff REPS and alumni.[1]

The  active  discussion of academic issues  is already part of the University Council’s practice. There is a need, however, to encourage more of its members to participate in the discussion of non-academic issues, which can be done with the committees’ presentation of their respective programs. There is a need to come up with a mechanism that will enjoin junior faculty members  to participate in the discussion of academic and non-academic issues. On the Executive Committee level, the sharing of programs among colleges and institutes so that e may learn from  This will also develop solidarity among the different units.

Support  for and from our Alumni

The alumni have greatly contributed to academic programs, infrastructure and other needs of the University. This is in keeping with the value of being Iskolar ng Bayan. We will maintain and further develop close ties with the UP Alumni Association and alumni associations of the various colleges through regular communication. This must be a two-way process. We shall endeavour that this relation will not only consist in identifying what the alumni can contribute to UP but also what UP can do for them as  professionals and/or citizens here or abroad

Rational Financial Base of the University

This can be realized through a more rationalized and clearly allocated funding for UP Diliman, one that will closely monitor expenditure, prioritize projects, eliminate duplications and maximize resources and benefits in a way that is transparent. I will cooperate in the endeavour to achieve a long-term budgetary support for UP and prompt the national government   to what is clearly stated in the UP Charter, “[I]t is the policy of the State to strengthen the University of the Philippines as the national university.”[2] There is a need for us to pool our efforts to make the national government appreciated and understand the necessity of MOOE for the proper maintenance of the newly built and existing infrastructures. The state budgetary allocation must be the primary soruce of funding for the University.  However, the Charter provides for the utilization of the University resources to augment funding based on a transparent framework and process: “[It] 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…” [and  subject for approval after a] “transparent and democratic process of consultation with the constituents of the national university.” [3]

Innovation and Democratization

There is a joke that has been making the rounds in the Internet about prestigious universities. The joke is relevant because it is directly favorable to UP:

UST - We accept only wise students.

La Salle - We accept only students who are great.

Ateneo - We accept only the best students.

UP - We don't accept the best, the great, or the wisest students.... we make them that way.

UP is excellent not because its students, faculty, REPS and Staff are excellent from the start. They get better and become the best because of the University. If the objective is to recreate UP for the new century, it is necessary for the University to reconsider and emphasize its task for the Iskolar ng Bayan and national development with transparency, accountablitiy and democratic governance. These are significant enabling conditions for the thriving of the culture of innovation among the members of the UP Diliman community, the same condtions that will foster our greater contribution to national development.

[1] University of the Philippines Charter of 2008, ibid.

[2] “Section 2.  Declaration of Policy,” ibid.

[3] “Section 22.  Land Grants and Other Real Properties of the University,’’ ibid.