University of the Philippines as a research university

Oblation, symbol of academic freedom in UP

UP President Emerlinda Roman at a conference held in May this year underscored the need for the university to establish its “identity as a research university.”

Roman defined a research university “as one with a research orientation and highly active graduate programs across a wide variety of fields.”

“Research universities are distinguished by the fact that they aspire not only to apply and transmit existing knowledge but to create new knowledge,” said Roman, whose remarks were published in the July-August 2009 issue of the UP System Information Office’s FORUM newspaper.

Nice words from UP’s highest official.

But it will take more than carefully-crafted statements to make UP a research university.

Where should we begin? The university should assess the dedication to research of the people in UP’s graduate programs.

How many of them can honestly say that they’ve really helped researchers in UP?

Now, now, that’s one research problem.

Trip gives people a chance to revisit Philippine history

In one of my classes in graduate school, the instructor asked us to go to Intramuros.

Intramuros, or “within the walls,” was the seat of the government established in the Philippines by Spain, which colonized the archipelago from the 1500s to the 1800s.

During that period, Intramuros alone was considered Manila. Now, it is just a part of one of Manila’s six districts. 

“This trip is designed to give you the opportunity to revisit history so that you can undertake a critical reflection of colonialism’s disruptive impact on Filipino culture and consciousness,” the instructor, Johnathan Rondina, said. (Note: His name is really spelled that way)

Nice words.

He added: “You need to open your eyes and ears to the silent revelations of the past, to the quiet murmur of things forgotten, and to the echoes of heroes’ voices muted by the passing of the years.”

This slideshow contains photos of our class’ trip to Intramuros, Manila:

Unofficial student enjoys his status in class

The Media 250 class handled by newly-appointed UP College of Mass Communication Dean Dr. Rolando Tolentino met for the second time yesterday.

I’m not officially enrolled in his class. I’m just a “sit in” – a student who is not officially enrolled in a particular class but attends it anyway.

Two of my classmates talking to each other during the 10-minute break

It’s my first time to be a “sit in.”

My reason? That class is about the political economy of media, the framework that I’m using for my master’s thesis proposal.

I like my status in class. I get to learn so many things, meet new people and interact with them, without having to submit any requirements.

Italian PM Berlusconi statement reminds me of sex class in graduate school

“I never understood where the satisfaction is when you’re missing the pleasure of conquest.”

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi issued this statement in an interview with Italian magazine “Chi,” which was quoted by the BBC in a report about Italy’s leader.

Sex class

Berlusconi’s statement reminded me of the Anthropology 287 class (Seminar in Sex and Culture) that I attended in 2005.

The subject wasn’t about hardcore porn or sexual positions.

It did tackle those things, but it focused primarily on the interrelation between the sexual practices of humans and the other aspects of human culture.

The title of the first article mentioned in this Anthropology 287 class syllabus is "What would Life be without Sex?" I'm wondering too

Jerome Bailen, the instructor, emphasized the importance of sex in society.

Bailen told us that he couldn’t think of any human activity that’s not linked directly or indirectly to sex.

He said that through sex, society replenishes itself as a biological entity and it preserves the values of its ancestors.

Class discussions

In that anthropology class, the instructor and the students talked about several sex and culture-related works.

One of the articles mentioned an interesting quote from Dr. David Givens, an anthropologist from the University of Washington.

“It’s funny. We do all kinds of very technical work, but out goals are still the basic animal goals – courtship and sex,” the article quoted Givens as saying.

I suppose Berlusconi was right when he said that he couldn’t understand the satisfaction derived from sex sans the conquest part of it. He must be really good at wooing women.

He could be the reincarnation of Giacomo Casanova.

Swine flu comes closer to home

Anti-swine flu notice near the entrance to the UP-CMC annex building

The last time I was here in UP Diliman, on June 16, it was still swine-flu free, very much unlike many other educational institutions in the country.

The following day, on Wednesday, UP Diliman reportedly confirmed its first ever case of swine flu. 

Home

I was in mainland China when I first heard the term “swine flu.” CNN was reporting about the spread of the disease in Mexico.

The virus was in a faraway land.

Now, the disease is here, very close to home – close to where I live, work and study.

I’m not worried though.

The suspected cases are at two of the university’s dormitories, places that I have never been to.

Besides, unlike many other schools, UP Diliman is composed of several buildings, and has a land area that is almost three times the size of Monaco.

I’m not scared, that’s why I’m currently here at the UP College of Mass Communication (UP-CMC) Library, after doing some research at the UP Main Library.

Bye for now.

A www.inquirer.net report says three of the four suspected cases in UP Diliman are roommates at the Yakal dormitory

Swine flu fails to scare me

The UP-CMC Library, and other libraries, will be my third home in the next few weeks or months. Second home is the office; first home is my real home

Right now I’m at the library of the UP College of Mass Communication (UP-CMC), waiting for my ID to be countersigned.

I know this sort of post resembles a “tweet,” but each tweet is limited to only 140 characters.

I want to write more than that.

Swine flu

Today is the first day of classes in UP and many other educational institutions.

In recent days the swine flu scare in the country has intensified, with some students in primary schools and universities getting infected with the virus.

Like many other students, I’ve chosen to come to school and not be affected by this scare.

I think what would prevent me from coming to school, the library in particular, is bad weather. Not the spread of some disease.

I’m happy that classes have finally begun, after being postponed for a few days due to the swine flu alert. I’m happy because I would finally be able to go to the library again to do some research for my master’s thesis.

It’s time for me to go now and borrow some theses and other materials.

Activists urge gov’t to increase education budget

The UP-CMC, where I'm taking up graduate studies

I would like to thank the student activists who trooped to the University of the Philippines-College of Mass Communication (UP-CMC) on Friday, June 5, 2009, third day of enrolment.