Students at the UP Manila Freshmen Assembly. Photo by Bong Arboleda (UPSIO).
At the UP Manila Welcome Freshmen Assembly held on August 1st at the Girl Scouts of the Philippines Auditorium in Manila, UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita D. Padilla opened the program with a message to the new batch of Iskolar ng Bayan entering the University.
Padilla said that for the first time only 278 made it to UP Manila as a result of the K-12 program in basic and secondary education. The batch is composed mostly of students from private schools, such as the Ateneo de Manila High School, Miriam College, De La Salle High School and Colegio San Agustin Makati.
Welcoming the new batch were UP President Alfredo E. Pascual, UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita D. Padilla and other officials. Photo by Bong Arboleda
These students are considered the “lucky batch”, according to Padilla, as they are the first to avail of the up and coming new facilities of the campus, such as the new student dorm, gymnasium, and s state-of-the-art library and research hub.
In his welcome message, UP President Alfredo E. Pascual asked, “What can our country expect from you? I ask because you have been given a great gift – the trust of the Filipino people. The same trust given to those who came before you. As Iskolar ng Bayan, our people have invested in you, have faith in you, and trust you to become the future leaders who will bring positive change to our country.” He reminded the students of the challenges and the rewards of having the university experience, more so of a UP education.
The guest speaker of the assembly was outgoing Student Regent (AY 2015-2016) Miguel Enrico A. Pangalangan. His inspirational message centered on realizing the role of students in the University. He recalled how students gained representation in the University from the establishment of student councils in 1914 to their active political participation through the years of UP and Philippine history. He encouraged the students to enjoy what UP had to offer, and more importantly to realize the essence of being an Iskolar ng Bayan, which “is to make UP education serve the people, as to liberate the other sectors of society.”
For Jon Michael Kimpo, incoming freshman and the only Oblation Scholar under the Intarmed program of the College of Medicine, “there are endless possibilities, hence we are free to choose. However, we should always be reminded why we decided to be an Iskolar ng Bayan and that is to be defined by one, and that it should live in our practices.”
The event was graced by other UP Manila officials: University Registrar Dr. Jocelyn C. Del Mundo; Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Michael L. Tee; Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Nymia Pimentel-Simbulan; School of Health Sciences Dean Salvador Isidro B. Destura; National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions Dean Nemuel Fajutagana; College of Arts and Sciences Dean Leonardo R. Estacio, Jr.; College of Allied Medical Professions Dean Jocelyn Christina B. Marzan; College of Dentistry Dean Vicente O. Medina III; College of Medicine Dean Agnes D. Mejia; College of Pharmacy Dean Imelda G. Peña; College of Public Health Dean Romeo R. Quizon; and College of Nursing Dean Lourdes Marie S. Tejero.
For more photos of the event, please click through the album below.
