The University of the Philippines is at a crossroads. For the most part of its history, UP has embodied the principles of academic freedom and excellence. It has maintained its tradition of honor and public service through the promotion of emancipatory discourse, accountable leadership, and commitment to democratic governance (“kapangyarihang mapagpalaya”).
But these principles need to be nurtured through practice, in and out of the university. More than ever, there is a need to resist the slide toward authoritarianism and red-tagging that threaten critical thinking and emancipatory action as well as patronage politics and clientelism that eat into the UP community’s and the nation’s moral fiber. It’s imperative to ceaselessly voice our concern, assert our democratic rights and welfare, and defend the voices of the academic body politic.
The forum will be conducted at the Seminar Room, 2nd floor, Asian Center, GT-Toyota Asian Cultural Center, Magsaysay Avenue cor. Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines at 1:00-4:00 PM. The forum will be led by the following speakers:
Dr. Ramon G. Guillermo
Director, Center for International Studies
Former Faculty Regent
Dr. Eduardo C. Tadem
Professor Emeritus
Asian Center
The following are the reactors of the said event:
Dr. Mary Grace R. Concepcion
All UP Academic Employees Union
Jose Mario De Vega
PhD Philippine Studies Program
Kian Noguera
Chairperson, UP College of Education
Student Council
Juniesy Estanislao
MA Philippine Studies Program
The forum will discuss the challenges to and future of democratic governance in the University and beyond. The discussion will apply a multidisciplinary approach, through the lenses of culture, politics, governance, and development and toward strengthening the democratic processes and moral governance, both inside and outside UP.
