UPOU remembers milestones, recognizes partners, and launches new book on its 20th anniversary celebration.UPOU’s 20th Anniversary Program took place under the stars on February 24, 2015. Amidst flickering lights, paper lanterns and lush greenery, members of the UPOU community, guests, and partners gathered outside the UPOU Main Building in Los Baños, Laguna to celebrate UP Open University’s achievements with the theme “OUREvolution.”
This year’s anniversary theme can be read as “OU revolution, our evolution, our revolution.” It captures UPOU’s evolution as an open and distance learning institution and its continuing commitment to innovate as it addresses the constantly changing needs of lifelong learners in the country and beyond.
The program officially opened with Dr. Grace Javier Alfonso, Chancellor of the UP Open University, delivering the anniversary message. She described how UPOU established the systems and structures for distance education during its initial years and its subsequent shift to online delivery in 2001. She said that UPOU’s success is a product of the collective efforts of UPOU regular and affiliate faculty, REPS and administrative staff members as well as the support of the University of the Philippines System and the university’s partners.
On behalf of UP President Alfredo Pascual, Dr. Maragtas V. Amante, Vice President for Administration of the UP System, congratulated UPOU for marking its second decade with an impressive list of accomplishments and “excellence in innovative and accessible education.” Vice President Amante also mentioned that UPOU’s “leadership in open and distance e-learning is unquestioned” as acknowledged in the Republic Act 10650 or the Open and Distance Law.
The activities slated for the yearlong anniversary celebration were launched through an audiovisual presentation. This was followed by the launch of the book “Through their Voices… Through the Years: Thought Papers of UPOU Chancellors,” which is a compilation of papers read by Dr. Cristina Padolina, Dr. Felix Librero and Dr. Grace Javier Alfonso, who all had the privilege of leading the university. Dr. Melinda Lumanta, UPOU Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and also the book’s editor, gave copies of the publication to Dr. Alfonso, Asst. Prof. Linglingay Padolina-McDermott representing Dr. Padolina, and Asst. Prof. Al-Francis Librero representing Dr. Librero.
Dr. Melinda Bandalaria, Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication Studies, led the presentation of plaques to the university’s partners as part of sharing with them “whatever glories were reaped, as well as lessons and insights which resulted from the partnership.” Memoranda of agreement were signed with new partners earlier that day. The recognized partners were:
- Asian Development Bank
- Association of Nursing Service Administrators of the Philippines (ANSAP)
- Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
- DENR -Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)
- Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
- DepEd Quezon
- Hanoi Open University (HOU)
- Hospicio De San Jose
- IBPAP
- Intel
- Kansas City Community Release Center
- King Hammad University
- LGU-Mauban
- Mandukit Anluagi Sta. Ursula
- Municipal Government of San Agustin, Romblon
- National Anti-Poverty Commission(NAPC)
- National Youth Commission(NYC)
- Paete Artists Guild
- Open University of Malaysia
- Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT)
- Provincial Government of Agusan Del Sur
- Quezon Power (Philippines), Limited Co., (QPL)
- SMART Communications
- Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)
- SukhothaiThammathirat Open University (STOU)
- Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
- UNICEF
- Universitas Terbuka (UT)
- UPOU Foundation Inc. (UPOUFI).
The 20th Anniversary AVP was presented, featuring the evolution of the university over the past twenty years.
Before the anniversary program, Joseph the Artist rendered his sand art interpretation of several popular songs. A band from AFP provided additional music.
Against UPOU Chorale’s soaring musical number, the program ended with a colorful display of fireworks. (Anna Cañas-Llamas)
