Letter of support from Prof. J. Neil Garcia, UP Diliman

6 February 2011


The Board of Regents
University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City

Cc: President Afredo Pascual
University of the Philippines


Dear Sirs/Ma’ams:

I have the pleasure of endorsing Dr. Rolando B. Tolentino for the position of
Chancellor  of the Diliman campus of the University of the Philippines.

Dr. Tolentino’s credibility as a scholar and professor is beyond reproach, as
his curriculum vitae and its extensive listing of publications (both critical
and creative), fellowships, exchange professorships, grants, and awards
abundantly show. Dr. Tolentino’s record as Dean of the College of Mass
Communication likewise demonstrates his estimable and capacious leadership
qualities, guided by his commitment to sustain and promote the University’s
mission to provide an excellent and ever-renewing wellspring of innovative
national education—one that will seek to address the country’s many urgent
problems, and will instill the necessary sense of national responsibility and
fellowship that presupposes and conditions such an important task.

Speaking on a more personal note, I can confidently vouch for Dr. Tolentino’s
integrity as an indefatigable researcher, critic, leader, and artist, animated
and ennobled by his unwavering commitment to national emancipation through a
truly democratic, Filipino education. We have been colleagues at the UP
Institute of Creative Writing for more than a decade now, and in all this time
I have quietly observed and admired him for tirelessly and cheerfully working
for the good of the University, always mindful of its diverse constituency as
well as its complicated and many-valenced character.

Suffice it to say that I have complete trust in Dr. Tolentino’s integrity and
abilities. I am confident he will responsibly carry out the duties and
obligations of the office of the Chancellor, always as his own person. To my
mind, he possesses in full measure the requisite critical, practical, and
affective skills to overcome the obstacles and succeed admirably in this
regard.


Sincerely yours,


J. Neil C. Garcia
Professor
University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City

Letter of support from Prof. JPaul S. Manzanilla, Department of Arts and Communication, UP Manila

I am respectfully endorsing the candidacy of Rolando Tolentino for Chancellor of the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

Roland Tolentino embodies the kind of leader the university’s flagship campus needs. He is an outstanding scholar who studies relevant topics in literature, film and popular culture. His labors in explaining the politics of in/visibility in visual culture, the political economy of wishes and fantasies (in consuming, “malling,” viewing and eating, for examples) the historical development of literary and artistic styles and the ineradicable materialism of culture are invaluable in clarifying subjects in various disciplines. Dr. Tolentino supports the scholarship of the young by consistently inviting their contributions to publications and participation in numerous conferences, believing that such undertakings should cease in being venues of mutual admiration societies by engaging with fresh and thoughtful ideas. He devotes his scholarship to addressing pressing social problems, problems that themselves define the kind of writing he pens.

Prof. Tolentino’s positions of leadership in the Film Institute and College of Mass Communication, in Congress of Teachers and Educators for Nationalism and Democracy and Alliance of Concerned Teachers, and in many other institutional and social formations demonstrate good administration. He complies with rules of good governance by being transparent in his transactions, is firm when it comes to regulations and deadlines, always hears out opposing views, is vigilant in cases of rights violation, and upholds the rights and welfare of the majority. I firmly believe that the examples he set will be tested in the difficult post of Diliman Chancellor. Further, the university direly needs academic excellence in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research, intensified development of sports and culture programs, linkages with institutions, financial support to students, and economic and other benefits to the university staff. Dr. Tolentino broadly covers these in his mission statement.

Rolando Tolentino is not only excellent but committed. The difficult duty of being honorable in excellence, he struggles to fulfill. We all need a Chancellor who upholds academic excellence and public service in their inseparable form.

JPaul S. Manzanilla

BA Comparative Literature, MA Art History; Instructor, UP Manila Department of Arts and Communication

(former Student Regent, University Student Council (Diliman) Chairperson, College of Arts and Letters Student Council Chair)

Letter of support from Nelson Nava PI. Turgo, PhD, Cardiff University

Sa mga kinauukulan,

Sinusuportahan ko po ang kandidatura ni Dr. Rolando B. Tolentino bilang chanselor ng UP Diliman.

Hindi ko masasabing matalik kong kaibigan si Dr. Tolentino. No. Kakilala ko lamang siya bunsod ng aming mga kaibigan – kaibigan ko ang ilan niyang kaibigan. Kakilala ko din siya bunsod ng kanyang mga nasulat, maraming mga sanaysay, aklat at maikling kuwentong naghawan ng mga landasin sa rurok ng iskolarship na Filipino sa iba’t ibang larangan. Naging guro ako sa Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas ng UP Diliman sa mga panahong lumipat naman siya ng ibang kolehiyo. Magkagayunpaman, lagi’t lagi rin kaming nagkakadaupang-palad bunsod ng maliit na mundo ng akademya, ng UP Diliman, Small world, ika nga ng nobela ni David Lodge.

Naniniwala ako sa kakayahan ni Dr. Tolentino na lalo pang mapahusay ang kalagayan ng UP Diliman, ang kinikilalang flagship campus ng UP System. Malaki ang hamon sa uupong chanselor. Lahat ng sektor ng unibersidad ay gustong mabigyang pansin ang kanilang kalagayan. Bilang guro ng unibersidad, nananangan ako sa paniniwala na itataguyod ni Dr. Tolentino ang kapakanan ng mga guro, may dignidad na sahod (yung sa kabila ng pambayad sa bahay at pambili ng pagkain, may matitira pa para pambili ng aklat, pampanood ng sine at pambayad sa bakasyon), pagkilala at pagpapahalaga sa mga produktibo at de-kalidad na guro at mananaliksik at pagtiyak na yaong may karapatang magturo lamang sa unibersidad ay yaong pinakamahusay sa kanilang larangan.

Para sa mga kagaya kong batang guro at ilang taon ding nawalay sa unibersidad, sa aking pag-uwi at pagharap sa reyalidad na hindi kayang sumapat ang kita sa UP sa uri ng buhay na aking naranasan sa ibang bansa, ang tanging konsolasyon lamang  ay yaong sa aking pagbabalik, may simbuyo at alab ng kahusayan, integridad at ideyalismo ang aking uuwiang unibersidad. Pinanghahawakan ko ito sa aking pagbabalik sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas at naniniwala ako na ito ang kakatawaning pamumuno ni Dr. Rolando B. Tolentino.

Sumasainyo,

Nelson Nava PI. Turgo, PhD

School of Social Sciences

Cardiff University

Wales, UK

Letter of support from UP Sining at Lipunan

Ika-5 ng Pebrero, 2011

Isang maalab na pagbati!

Kami po ay ang UP Sining at Lipunan (UP SILIP), isang organisasyon mula sa Kolehiyo ng Pangmadlang Komunikasyon na naglalayong ipakilala at ipalaganap ang isang natatanging sining na nagmumula at para sa masa, gamit ang pelikula bilang isang pangunahing porma. Naitatag ang UP SILIP noong Marso 8, taong 2003 at mula noon ay patuloy na nagsasagawa ang mga miyembro nito ng mga gawaing makapagsusulong sa pang-kultural na interes hindi lamang sa mga mag-aaral sa loob ng unibersidad ngunit maging sa labas nito.

Nais naming magpahayag ng suporta kay Rolando Tolentino, dekano ng Kolehiyo ng Pangmadlang Komunikasyon, na mahirang bilang Chancellor ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas. Sa halos walong taon ng UP Silip, instrumental ang naging papel ni Sir Roland bilang taga-payo ng aming organisasyon bago siya mahirang na maging dekano ng aming kolehiyo. Bukod rito, naipamalas hindi lamang sa mga mag-aaral ng kolehiyo ang galing at husay ni Sir Roland kundi maging sa mga mag-aaral mula sa iba’t ibang kolehiyo ng pamantasan. Sa kanya ring pagiging dekano, direktor ng Film Department ng UP Film Institute, patuloy niyang ipinakita ang isang mataas na kalidad ng pamamahala na may pangunahing pagtingin sa kapakanan ng mga mag-aaral, sa larangan pang-akademiya man o hindi.

Bukod sa kanyang track record sa larangang pang-akademiko, masugid din si Sir Roland sa pagkampanya sa mga isyu sa loob at labas ng pamantasan, at hindi iilang pagkilos ng mga mag-aaral, gaya ng pag-kondena sa Maguindanao Massacre, tuition fee increase at iba pa ang kanyang sinamahan at pinangunahan.

Hindi maaabot ng aming organisasyon ang walong taon na patuloy na pagmulat at pagkilos sa loob at labas ng Kolehiyo ng Pangmadlang Komunikasyon kung wala ang gabay ni Dekano Roland Tolentino, at dahil dito at sa mga nabanggit ng dahilan ay ibinibigay ng UP SILIP ang suporta sa kanya upang maging bagong Chancellor ng ating unibersidad. Panahon na upang magkaroon ng marapat na representasyon ang mga Iskolar ng Bayan sa Tanggapan ng Chancellor, at walang iba kung hindi si Roland Tolentino ang nababagay punan ang posisyong ito, para na rin sa ikauunlad ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan at ng buong komunidad ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas.

Sumasainyo,

Rob Jara

Tagapangulo

UP Sining at Lipunan

(Signed)

Rob Jara

Miko Mendizabal 

Lara Mendizabal 

Charley dela Pena

Kenneth Castillo 

Marcz Banaag 

Emerson Lozano 

Owen Berico 

Deng Ponce 

Astrid Agbayani 

Aiess Alonso 

Kathy Molina 

Carlo Cielo

Viola Fule 

Daena de Guzman

Letter of support from Prof. Matthew Santamaria, Ph.D, Asian Center, UP Diliman

Greetings to all! It is with great pleasure for me to endorse Dr. Rolando B. Tolentino for Chancellor of UP Diliman.  Dr. Tolentino's achievements in research and publication are unparalleled by scholars in his field and generation.  His record as Dean of the College of Mass Communication is also quite excellent.  Moreover, I believe that among the nominees for the post, Dr. Tolentino has the best ability to reach out to the members of various sectors of the UP Dilman community. Best wishes.  Mabuhay tayong lahat! Matthew Constancio Maglana Santamaria, Ph.D. Professor of Asian and Philippine Studies Asian Center, UP Diliman

Pagkilala at Pag-endorso kay Dr. Rolando B. Tolentino para maging susunod na UP Diliman Chancellor

Mahal na Lupon ng mga Rehente:

Mula sa pang-masang organisasyon ng League of Filipino Students – College of Mass Communication (LFS-CMC), kami ay buong diwang sumusuporta kay Dr. Rolando B. Tolentino sa kanyang pagnanais na iangat ang kanyang paglilingkod hindi lamang sa aming kolehiyo o sa unibersidad, kundi pati na din sa sambayanan, bilang susunod na Chancellor ng UP Diliman.

Hindi matatawaran ang kagalingan ni Dr. Tolentino, na mas kilala naming mga estudyante bilang Dean Roland, sa pangakademikong larangan. Kilala siyang iskolar at propesor ng pelikula sa aming kolehiyo. Matunog din ang kanyang pangalan sa aming mga estudyante sa dahilang ang kanyang mga akda ay ginagamit bilang batayang teksto sa maraming larangan katulad ng humanidades, sosyolohiya, panitikan, pelikula, politika at ekonomiya. Sa labas ng Kolehiyo ng Pangmadlang Komunikasyon, sa labas ng unibersidad, at maging sa labas ng bansa ay hinahangaan si Dean Roland bilang pinuno at miyembro ng pangakademikong komunidad.

Mayaman din si Dean Roland sa mga administratibong posisyon na mapaghahalawan niya ng mga karanasan sa demokratikong pamamalakad bilang susunod na Chancellor. Kahit sa kasalukuyang responsibilidad niya bilang Dekano ng aming kolehiyo, ay hindi nahadlangan si Dean Roland sa pakikisangkot sa mga isyung nagaganap sa unibersidad at maging sa lipunan. Mariin niyang ipinaglaban ang demokratikong karapatan ng iba’t-ibang sektor ng komunidad ng UP. Para sa aming mga estudyante, tumampok dito ang matapang na pagtindig niya at pakikiisa sa pag-martsa sa lansangan upang kundenahin ang mga di-makatarungan kaltas sa budget sa edukasyon. At bilang alagad ng media na aming hinahangaan, pinangunahan ni Dean Roland ang aming kolehiyo para kundinahin ang pagsupil sa mga boses ng mga mamahayag kabilang na ang kawalan ng katarungan sa mga biktima ng Maguindanao Massacre.

Sa mga kadahilanang ito, naniniwala ang aming organisasyon na karapat-dapat na maging susunod na Chancellor ng UP Diliman si Dr. Rolando B. Tolentino. Isa siyang tunay na alagad ng media na kumakatawan sa di-mapantayang kahusayan sa maraming larangan. Higit sa lahat, taglay niya ang kamulatang hindi nahihiwalay ang bawat isyu sa isa’t-isa at bawat sektor sa isa’t-isa. Tulad namin, naniniwala siya sa bisa ng kolektibong pagkilos na siya namang tunay na paraan ng pagkamit ng ating mga demokratikong karapatan. Kailangan natin ng Chancellor na nakasandig at kaisa ng kanyang pinaglilingkuran nang masigurado ang tunay at demokratikong pamumuno.

Lubos na gumagalang,

Pangalan	Posisyon	Unit	Signature
Jake Coballes	Chairperson	CMC	(Sgd.)
Ershad Ibba	Vice-chairperson	CSSP	(Sgd.)
Jourdaine Bernardez	Secretary-General	CMC	(Sgd.)
Miko Gloria	PADEPA Officer	SE	(Sgd.)
Rochelle Porras	Member	CMC	(Sgd.)
Roselyn Correa	Member	CMC	(Sgd.)
Toby Roca	Member	CMC	(Sgd.)
Ericson Sayno	Member	CMC	(Sgd.)
Jenevieve Iligan	Member	CMC	(Sgd.)
Lau Quirimit	Member	CMC	(Sgd.)
Mikko San Deigo	Member	CMC	(Sgd.)

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.)