Guided by the university’s motto, “Honor and Excellence in the Service of the Nation”, and aligned with the strategic plans and Quality Management System (QMS) initiatives of UP President Angelo A. Jimenez, the UP LINANG: Mga Serye ng Pagsasanay para sa Pagpapaunlad ng Paglilingkod sa Pamantasan at Bayan was established to advance these aspirations. This program aims to cultivate dynamic relationships, social responsibility, appropriate behavior, and a commitment to the quality of work within the university and the community. It empowers employees with the knowledge, mindset, attitudes, and skills needed to elevate their professional expertise and consistently deliver effective, efficient, and high-quality service.
UP LINANG Program Runs
The LINANG Program inaugural run was held on February 28 and 29 and March 1, 2024, at the UP National Engineering Center in UP Diliman, Quezon City. This initial implementation catered to 41 staff members of the UP Office of the Vice President for Administration (OVPA) and representatives from select constituent universities, marking a significant step in fostering collaboration and professional growth. Figure 1 features Vice President for Administration Augustus Resurreccion delivering the welcoming remarks and explaining the rationale behind the LINANG program during its inaugural run.
The second run of the LINANG program was for the UP System Administration (UPSA), which took place on August 15-17, 22, and 27, 2024, at the university Hotel in Diliman, Quezon City with 32 participants from different UPSA offices. At the opening ceremonies, UP President Angelo A. Jimenez underscored that inefficiency poses a greater threat to public service than corruption.
In his message, President Jimenez highlighted the critical impact of inefficiency on public service, arguing that countless opportunities to serve the Filipino people are squandered due to sluggish operations and ineffective systems. He then invited everyone to join his administration in the attainment of one of his flagship programs, the Quality Management System (QMS). He called on all UP employees to critically assess their work processes, emphasizing the need for efficiency and responsiveness to meet the diverse needs of the university’s stakeholders, including students, faculty, REPS, administrative staff, and the general public.
In the last quarter of 2024, the LINANG team successfully launched the program in two constituent universities: UP Diliman and UP Cebu. As shown in Figure 3, the program received full support from the vice presidents, chancellors, vice chancellors, HR directors, and administrative staff.
From top left to right: VP Augustus Resurreccion & VP Leo Cubillan during the UPSA run, HR Director Arthur Gonzales III and Chancellor Edgardo Vistan II during the UP Diliman run, and VC Hazel Trapero in UP Cebu. Photo by the UP LINANG Team, UP OVPA
On November 5, 7, 11-12, and 15, 2024, the UP Diliman LINANG Program took place at the SOLAIR Auditorium and New Building. The program was attended by 39 participants, comprising both academic and non-academic staff.
Chancellor Vistan II during the UP Diliman run in November 2024. Photo by the UP LINANG Team, UP OVPA
The final run of the LINANG Program for 2024 was conducted on November 18-22 at the Performance Art Hall, UP Cebu. The program was attended by 37 participants, comprising both academic and non-academic staff. Similarly, Vice Chancellor Hazel A. Trapero lauded LINANG as a transformative initiative. In her address, she emphasized its role in fostering personal growth and self-improvement, and empowering participants to achieve their fullest potential.
The program was developed and is being implemented by the UP Office of the Vice President for Administration (OVPA). It encompasses a comprehensive series of training sessions aimed at enhancing core human resource competencies. The program includes:
- Unang Serye: Relasyon at Operasyon – Relationship Operations and Sensitivity Enhancement Seminar (ROSES), focusing on improving interpersonal relationships and operational effectiveness;
- Ikalawang Serye: Asal sa Paggawa – Work Attitude and Value Enhancement Seminar (WAVES), promoting a positive work attitude and strengthening professional values; and
- Ikatlong Serye: Kalidad ng Trabaho – Completed Staff Work (CSW), which serves as a practical tool for effective decision-making and management.
UNANG SERYE: ROSES, is spearheaded by Professor Richard S. Javier, UP OVPA Assistant Vice President, who underscores the pivotal role of self-awareness in professional development. He highlights the fact that understanding one’s emotions and behavior is essential for fostering effective leadership and teamwork. AVP Javier also emphasizes how self-awareness strengthens our ability to adapt to dynamic environments, enabling us to navigate challenges with resilience and communicate more effectively.
To reinforce these concepts, he engaged participants in hands-on activities that allowed them to experience firsthand the process of discovering themselves and opening up to others. Additionally, he incorporated activities focused on practicing positive strokes, helping participants recognize and appreciate the strengths of their colleagues. These activities not only enhanced self-reflection but also cultivated a culture of empathy, mutual respect, and positive reinforcement among participants. This, in turn, strengthened group cohesion and motivation, fostering a more united and driven organization.
IKALAWANG SERYE: WAVES, led by and Dr. Tiffany Adelaine G. Tan, UP OVPA Assistant Vice President, highlights the profound impact of our belief systems. Tan emphasized that, whether we recognize it or not, our beliefs significantly shape our thoughts, emotions, and actions. She stressed that these belief systems are foundational, influencing how we perceive and approach every aspect of our lives.
She added that sessions like WAVES help employees develop a shared understanding of the university’s values, not just what’s written on the website, but how these values are reflected in everyday interaction with students, employees, and other stakeholders. Tan strongly echoes Professor Emeritus Solita Monsod’s call for “honor before excellence,” believing that UP employees can embody this principle when given the opportunity. She explained that when a significant number of employees consistently practice these values, they shape the organization’s culture. Drawing on the Pareto principle, she noted that if just 20% of UP employees, those who influence 80% of the organization’s transactions, practice “honor before excellence,” the entire institution will eventually embody this principle in its service to the nation.
As the national university, UP has a mandate to lead the country’s social development. Tan believes that a UP that truly lives by its core values can help create a better Philippines, a country led by individuals who are, above all, honorable and excellent. UP plays a vital role in shaping the nation’s future, and it begins with living its values.
IKATLONG SERYE: CSW, is headed by Pepito T. Dizon, UP OVPA Program Development Associate. He always started his session by asserting that the true potential of Completed Staff Work (CSW) could only be realized if it becomes a personal habit for each individual and is embraced as a collective culture within the organization. He stressed that, like any other management tool, CSW could only flourish when supported by key mechanisms, such as strategic and visionary leadership, and open communication across all levels.
Through engaging group workshops and presentations, Dizon facilitated participants’ learning on how to systematically identify problems and analyze alternatives using different methods, a process bearing similarities to academic research. He pointed out that CSW should even thrive in an academic environment like UP, where rigor and precision are valued. He further shared practical tips and real world scenarios where CSW could be applied, demonstrating its relevance to the daily operations of the university.
CSW with Pepito Diaz during the UP Cebu run in November 2024. Photo by the UP LINANG Team, UP OVPA
LINANG marks a significant step toward empowering and strengthening the UP community by fostering a culture of honor and excellence in the service of the nation. With its steadfast commitment to these values, UP LINANG is set to expand across all constituent universities by 2026, continuing its mission to inspire and equip individuals for greater service to the university and the nation.