Dr. Melinda dP. Bandalaria takes oath as UPOU's fourth Chancellor at university's 21st anniversary celebration.The year 2016 is UPOU's 21st year. On its anniversary celebration on 29 February 2016, UP Open University highlighted the turnover of the chancellorship and oath taking of its new Chancellor, Dr. Melinda dP. Bandalaria.
Dr. Bandalaria took her oath as the fourth UPOU Chancellor, in the presence of UP President Alfredo E. Pascual and UP Staff Regent Alexis Mejia. Dr. Alfonso turned over the UPOU mace to the new Chancellor. Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Melinda Lumanta assisted in the turn over.
Chancellor Bandalaria, in her acceptance speech, promised to build on what Chancellor Alfonso has started. She said that this year is also the start of home-grown staff taking over the more responsible positions in the university. She expressed her gratefulness to the past three chancellors of UPOU for nurturing and preparing her for this event. In the next three years, she hopes that UPOU's engagement in ODeL as a form of instruction, research and public service will be a springboard to contribute to the path to greatness that President Pascual has envisioned for UP. She is confident that with the support of the UP System, other CUs and its partners, UPOU will be able to attain its vision of contributing to national development through open and distance e-learning (ODeL).
She also took the opportunity to announce the re-appointment of Dr. Melinda Lumanta as Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Jean Saludadez as Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Adminitration, and Dr. Ricardo Bagarinao as University Registrar. Dr. Joane Serrano will be appointed as the Director of the Information Office and the Multimedia Center.
According to Chancellor Bandalaria, "It is an honor and privilege to serve this university in this capacity. It is a big responsibility too, a responsibility to which I seriously commit myself wholeheartedly as this also means serving my country and the Filipino people."
During the event, Hon. Alfredo E. Pascual, gave his anniversary message likening UPOU to a person who has turned 21 – legal to get married with only his parent's advice. "From where it started in 1995, UPOU has matured quite a lot," he stated. He thanked Dr. Alfonso for leading the UPOU for the past nine years and for making ODeL a brand for which UPOU has become known. He also congratulated the new Chancellor, Dr. Melinda Bandalaria, knowing that she can lead UPOU to greater heights in providing greater access to quality education to Filipinos everywhere.
Chancellor Alfonso, in her anniversary message, described UPOU at 21 as a strong and mature university that contributes to the strengthening of the UP as a national university. In UPOU's move towards ASEAN integration and transnational education, she mentioned the need for strong collaboration and partnership to grow, share and serve, and fulfill its mandate as the leader in ODeL in the country and the region.
Dr. Alfonso also delivered her farewell speech as the outgoing chancellor. She mentioned that her 36 years with UP is a dedication of her life to higher education. She said that it had been a privilege to be able to work with brilliant minds in UPOU and touch innumerable Filipinos. She passed on that privilege and responsibility to the incoming Chancellor, confident that Dr. Bandalaria will be able to lead the university to greater heights. She thanked President Pascual's administration and every member of the UPOU community for their support to the goal of serving the country through the provision of accessible and quality higher education. (Anna Cañas-Llamas)
