Student representatives of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Provisional Committee (ProvComm) met with the UPOU Chancellor, Dr. Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria, along with UPOU Deans and Directors, and other members of the UPOU staff and administration. The dialogue was held on 30 June 2022 at the UPOU Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, to discuss and formally submit the newly Ratified Student Constitution following the Article 434 of the U.P. System Code.
Present on-site during the dialogue were Dr. Joane V. Serrano, Dean of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS); Dr. Ria Mae Borromeo, the Director of Office of Student Affairs; Dr. Myra Almodiel, the Director of Office of Public Affairs; and Hon. Renee Louise M. Co, UP Student Regent. Also present on-site from the students’ side were members of the ProvComm led by their Chairperson Isaiah Crisanto, members of the writing subcommittee Dangiela Javier and Olga Lauzon, and members of the Campaigns subcommittee Beatrice Castillo and Sabb dela Cruz. The student representatives arrived from New York, Baguio, Cainta, Antipolo, and San Pablo.
Following the new normal, the meeting was hybrid with the Dean of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), Dr. Diego Silang S. Maranan, and the Dean of Faculty of Education (FED) Dr. Ricardo T. Bagarinao joining virtually through Zoom and members from the ProvComm Campaigns subcommittee Miki Tolentino, Isabella Fojas and Joemer Prado who connected from Manila and Japan.
The first hybrid dialogue of SR and ProvComm with the UPOU Chancellor
The meeting began with the singing of the National Anthem and opening remarks from the Student Regent. Chairperson Crisanto then introduced the members of the ProvComm and expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome to the UPOU HQ. He articulated that the inclusion of the National Anthem serves as a reminder that the efforts to draft a Student Constitution, and by extension, the creation of a university student council are not only for the betterment of the university’s students but also for the country. Chancellor Bandalaria said, “Whatever happens, we shouldn’t stop pursuing what is best not only for the university but also for our students.”
Regent Co opened the dialogue with a brief overview of past efforts of the previous 2016 ProvComm, in collaboration with the UP Office of the Student Regent (OSR) and UPOU Office of Student Affairs (OSA), in drafting a Student Constitution and establishing a University Student Council. She emphasized the need for Student Constitutions, which protect and forward students’ democratic rights. Chairperson Cristanto added that the ProvComm had learned from the past mistakes of the previous committee as he shared an anecdote of how one of the ProvComm joint sessions was devoted entirely to a critical review of the previous ProvComm’s report. “We need to take this seriously,” he stated.
ProvComm Members (left to right: Dangiela Javier, Sabb dela Cruz, Beatrice Castillo,
Olga Lauzon and Isaiah Crisanto) and Student Regent Renee Co
Crisanto proceeded with the Committee Report as he presented the timeline activities of ProvComm over the past months. He reported the demographics, analysis, and voter turnout of the Constitutional Referendum held on 18 – 30 April 2022 through the new student platform, Tagpuan. The Constitution was successfully ratified with 649 votes for the Constitution and 23 votes against it. He expressed his contentment at having received votes against the Constitution, saying that this implies that there are critical thinkers in the university. He also explained the works of the consultations and campaigns subcommittee on conducting open forums to hear student concerns, which ProvComm member Lauzon presented in the dialogue. “Student representation recognizes the concerns of the students. We need it to address the concerns immediately.”
After the Committee Report, Crisanto formally presented the newly ratified Student Constitution. The presentation started with Crisanto highlighting the articles and sections of the Constitution unique to the context of UPOU as a distance learning educational institution. He illustrated that UPOU has more graduate than undergraduate students, making UPOU distinct from other constituent units. Given this demographic, the UPOU Student Constitution aimed to have both the undergraduate and graduate students be represented accordingly. During the report, financial concerns for the university student council funds were brought up, and the ProvComm explained that it would ultimately be the decision of the future USC.
Chancellor Bandalaria with UPOU officials, SR Renee Co, and UPOU Provisional Committee
Following the presentation of the ratified Student Constitution, the ProvComm continued by asking for updates regarding the existing Committee for Accreditation of Student Organizations (CASO) resolution and proposal. Dean Serrano and Director Borromeo explained that this is being prioritized through immediate discussions with a task force committed to the initiative. The following steps of OSA and OSR to appoint a committee on elections, which will be held at the beginning of the next academic year, were also discussed.
In closing, Chancellor Bandalaria expressed her gratitude for the efforts of the UPOU Provisional Committee and the Student Regent’s support towards having a genuine student representation in UPOU.
ProvComm Members in front of the UPOU Community Hub Sign
#UPOpenUniversity
