Save UP College of Arts and Letters (UP CAL) faculty members!

The University of the Philippines College of Arts and Letters (CAL) was founded in 1983 after the UP College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) was reorganized. Previously, UP CAL was an integral component of the UP College of Philosophy, Science and Letters (1910). On 30 June 1911, the College was renamed the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The CAS offered the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences as fields of specialization. On 30 September 1976, the Reorganization Plan of the College of Arts and Sciences resulted in the creation of three divisions, namely: the Division of Humanities, the Division of Science, and the Division of Social Sciences and Philosophy. The Division of Humanities consisted of five Departments: the Department of Humanities (now Art Studies), the Department of English and Comparative Literature, the Department of Spanish (now European Languages), the Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature and the Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts. These departments are now connected with UP CAL.

UP CAL is currently the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) Center of Excellence in English, Filipino, Literature/Creative Writing and Foreign Languages. It also has the largest assemblage of Philippine National Artists (e.g. Francisco Arcellana, Virgilio S. Almario, N.V.M. Gonzalez, Amado V. Hernandez, Bienvenido Lumbera, Carlos P. Romulo and Jose Garcia Villa for Literature; Wilfrido Maria Guerrero for Theater; Ishmael Bernal, Lino Brocka and Eddie Romero for Film, Rolando Tinio for Theater and Literature, etc.) and recipients of many important national and international prizes, including winners of Ramon Magsaysay (e.g., Lumbera), Southeast Asia (SEA) Write (e.g., Virginia Moreno, Ricaredo Demetillo, Jose Maria Sison, Bienvenido Santos, Almario, Isagani R. Cruz, Alfred Yuson, Domingo Landicho); TOYM (Almario, Dalisay, Nadera); Fulbright, British Council, Monbusho, the Carlos Palanca, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Premio Zobel, Metrobank Outstanding Teacher and Philippine National Book awards, scholarships and fellowships, in its past and present student, faculty and alumni roster.

Most importantly, all UP students attend UP CAL’s iconic general education and specialized courses in Creative Writing, English Language, Communication, Anglo-American literature, Comparative Literature, Filipino, Philippine Studies, Philippine Literatures and Cultures, European Languages, Speech Communication, Theater Arts, Art Studies, Philippine Institutions (Jose Rizal) and Humanities.

Unfortunately, the Philippine government's Salary Standardization Law (SSL) does not allow UP (despite its stature as the country's national university) to promote properly its prizewinning faculty members. Considering UP CAL's impact locally and internationally, its faculty members are earning just about PHP10,000-PHP 30,000 (US$ 200-600) per month. Many UP CAL faculty members moved to other national and international institutions, companies and corporations because they could not support their families with their UP salaries. Many of those who were sent to study in foreign universities did not return to UP because of opportunities to earn more elsewhere. Some UP CAL faculty members are now teaching part-time in Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Miriam College and University of Asia and the Pacific to pay their monthly bills. Those who stay behind are teaching because of their unwavering commitment to UP, UP students and the teaching profession.

But these faculty members can only take in so much. Unlike UP alumni in Engineering, Business Administration, Medicine, Law, the Sciences and Economics, UP CAL alumni are mostly artists, teachers, scholars and NGO workers. These graduates are unable generally to help UP CAL in terms of material support.

UP CAL is requesting UP alumni, alumni groups and their friends to help retain UP CAL faculty members. UP CAL needs permanent professorial chairs to ensure that UP and UP CAL gets to retain its best faculty members, especially those who teach general education courses to all UP students.

Otherwise, UP will slip further down the drain and lose its academic leadership to its rival universities in the Philippines and elsewhere.

For further details, drop by, call or send an email to Philippine National Artist and UP CAL Dean Virgilio S. Almario or UP CAL Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Jose Wendell Capili.

College of Arts and Letters
University of the Philippines

Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines

CAL Website
http://kal.upd.edu.ph

CAL-related websites

http://todaimitaka.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html
http://upkal.blogspot.com/

CAL Webmail
upkal2007@gmail.com or kal@up.edu.ph

Telephone Number
(+63)(2) 9818500, extension 2101 / 2102 / 2104 / 2105 or 2106

Direct Line/Fax Number

(+63)(2) 4344686 or 9294508

the u.p. college of arts and letters

***

Ways to help UP CAL faculty members

One

Individuals and groups may organize and raise funds for a UP College of Arts and Letters professorial chair. The professorial chair may be named after the donor/s, a favorite UP/UP CAL teacher, a deceased loved one or a person designated by the donor/s

Two

Have your name inscribed in special commemorative tiles in the Academic Oval area across the UP College of Arts and Letters and the Jorge Vargas Museum to show your support for UP CAL and UP Diliman.

UP Diliman Chancellor Sergio Cao is developing the existing inner sidewalk along the Academic Oval will be developed into The Walk.

Through the project, UP alumni and friends will be tapped to support UP CAL and other UP Diliman faculty. The income generated from the project will form part of the UP Diliman Faculty Development Fund (UPDFD) and will be utilized to support professorial chairs and faculty grants.

The Oval will be rehabilitated using modular blocks, each measuring 1.45m x 0.60m. Each block will carry interlocking pavers at the center, flanked on both sides with pre-fabricated concrete sand finish, on which a leaf patterns and the alumni donor's name(s) are inscribed.

The leaf symbolizes the return of UP Diliman alumni and the flowing interlocking pavers the collective alumni's support, loyalty and love for the Alma Mater.

The first 1,000 tiles will require a donation of P20,000 each; the next 1,000 at P25,000 each and the remaining tiles will be P30,000 each.

Three schemes are available. Option A is for an individual alumnus/alumna; Option B will enable up to four (4) individuals to share one module; and Option C allows a family with a maximum of three (3) members to share one tile.

To make a reservation, email the following details to: upkal2007@gmail.com

Name
Address
Contact numbers (landline, mobile phone, email address)

Choose option:

Name__________________________
Degree/s________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________

Name 1__________________________
Degree/s_________________________
Name 2__________________________
Degree/s_________________________
Name 3__________________________
Degree/s_________________________
Name 4__________________________
Degree/s_________________________

Family name______________________
Name 1__________________________
Degree/s_________________________
Name 2__________________________
Degree/s_________________________
Name 3__________________________
Degree/s_________________________

***

Or, drop by, call or send an email to Philippine National Artist and UP CAL Dean Virgilio S. Almario or UP CAL Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Jose Wendell Capili.

College of Arts and Letters
University of the Philippines

Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines

CAL Website
http://kal.upd.edu.ph

CAL-related websites

http://todaimitaka.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html
http://upkal.blogspot.com/

CAL Webmail
upkal2007@gmail.com or kal@up.edu.ph

Telephone Number
(+63)(2) 9818500, extension 2101 / 2102 / 2104 / 2105 or 2106

Direct Line/Fax Number

(+63)(2) 4344686 or 9294508

UP CAL will contact you to confirm your reservation. Upon confirmation, donors will be requested to make check payments.

Make checks payable to: College of Arts and Letters Foundation

Official UP CAL Website

Check out the official website of the University of the Philippines College of Arts and Letters (Kolehiyo ng Arte at Literatura).

Kung Bakit Bad Trip and Pagtatapos by Benedicto Reyes Cabrera (Bencab), National Artist of the Philippines for the Visual Arts

(delivered before graduating students of the University of the Philippines College of Arts and Letters, 21 April 2007, at the UP Hardin ng mga Diwata, Diliman, Quezon City)

Kapuwa kong Pambansang Alagad ng Sining at Dekano VIRGILIO ALMARIO, Kawaksing Dekano MARILYN CANTA, Kawaksing Dekano JOSE WENDELL CAPILI, Kawaksing Dekano REGINA GOCHUICO, Kalihim ng Kolehiyo Dr. TEODORO MARANAN, KAGURUAN ng Kolehiyo, mga MAGULANG, mga PANAUHIN, at mga MAGSISIPAGTAPOS, magandang hapon sa inyong lahat.

Anong ginagawa ng estudyante sa eskwelahan? Pupunta ng klase. Tapos? Pupunta sa susunod na klase. Tapos? Magtatanghalian. Tapos? Pupunta ulit sa isa pang klase. Tapos? Pupunta sa huling klase. Tapos? Tapos, araw ng pagtatapos.

Graduation. Araw ng pagtatapos. Sino ba ang nagtatapos? Kayo. Ano ba ang natatapos? Kayo rin. Tapos ang maliligayang araw n’yo. Dapat araw ng pagsasaya ang araw na ito, at sigurado akong kahit anong mangyari, kahit ano pa ang sabihin ko ngayon, walang magpapalungkot sa inyo. Kaya naman naghanda ako ng listahan: ang sampung dahilan kung bakit bad trip magtapos. Pagkatapos kong magsalita, tingnan lang natin kung di kayo mag-unahang mag-enrol ulit.

Unang dahilan, pag tapos ka na, wala nang baon. Pakapalan na ng mukha kung manghihingi ka pa ng pera sa mga magulang mo. Dati-rati, nakakakupit ka pa, ’yung sobra sa hiningi mong tuition fee, halimbawa. Pag tapos ka na, ikaw na ang magbabayad para sa koryente, sa tubig, sa renta. Kung may mas bata kang kapatid, ikaw naman ang magbabayad ng tuition fee n’ya. Pag nagkataon, ikaw na ang hihingan ng baon ngayon.

Ikalawang dahilan, pag tapos ka na, wala nang kaibigan. O, sobra naman yata ’yon. Pero aminin na natin, kokonti ang panahong makakapagsama kayo ng barkada mo. Alangan namang sa iisang kompanya kayo lahat pumasok? Liliit na rin ang oportunidad na makakilala ka ng bagong kaibigan. Sa kolehiyo, bawat sem may bago kang nakikilala kasi may bago kang kaklase. Mas mabagal ang prosesong ito sa permanenteng trabaho. Isipin n’yo na lang, pag estudyante pinakanakakaasar ‘yung walang kuwentang group mate. Ang trabaho, para s’yang isang napakahabang group work.

Ikatlong dahilan kung bakit bad trip magtapos, wala nang panahong magbasa. Kayong mga taga-College of Arts and Letters, may bentahe kayo. Masarap mag-aral ng arte at letra. Isipin n’yo na lang ‘yung mga taga-Eng’g, sa tingin n’yo ba nag-eenjoy sila sa pag-aaral? May kakaibang sarap sa pagbasa ng tula , sa panunuri ng mga larawan, sa pagkatuto ng kung ano ang “Good Morning” sa Aleman, sa pagtatanghal sa teatro, sa pagtatalumpati. Pag tapos ka na, pag nagtatrabaho ka na, pagod na lagi ang utak mo sa pag-uwi. Telebisyon na lang ang pahinga.

Ikaapat na dahilan, wala nang bakasyon pag tag-init. At mas maikling bakasyon sa Pasko. Kawawa naman kayo.

Ikalimang dahilan, wala nang libreng gimik. Dito sa U.P., maglakad-lakad ka lang may makikita ka nang kasiyahan. Pag fair, halimbawa, p’wede kang umupo lang sa benches ng Sunken Garden. Rinig mo na ang musika. E pag tapos ka na, saan ka pupunta? Alangan namang mag-camp out ka sa labas ng Araneta Center?

Ikaanim na dahilan, hindi na p’wedeng umabsent ng anim na beses. Wala nang academic freedom kasi wala ka na sa akademya. Pag tapos ka na, pag nagtatrabaho ka na, umabsent ka ng higit sa tatlong beses, tingnan lang natin kung saan ka pupulutin.

Konektado ito sa ikapitong dahilan, pag tapos ka na, hindi ka na p’wedeng mag-drop. Pag mag-aaral ka pa, at power-tripper ‘yung guro, p’wede kang mag-drop at tapos ang problema. Pag masyadong mabigat ang academic load, p’wede kang mag-drop. Kunin mo na lang sa susunod na semestre ‘yung sabjek. Hindi ‘yan p’wede sa tunay na mundo. Hindi ka p’wedeng mag-drop ng trabaho. Pagkatapos, aaplayan mo na lang paglipas ng ilang buwan.

Ikawalong dahilan kung bakit bad trip magtapos. Pag tapos ka na, hindi ka na p’wedeng magtext sa klase. Pag nababato ka sa trabaho, walang ibang p’wedeng gawin kundi tumuloy sa pagkabato, sa pagtatrabaho. Sa klase magtetext ka para magset ng oras kung kailan kayo magkikita ng mga kaibigan mo. E pag tapos ka na, di ba nga wala nang kaibigan.

Ikasiyam na dahilan, hindi na p’wedeng mangopya. Hindi na p’wedeng ipaxerox ang notebook ng katabi mo. Hindi na p’wedeng sumulyap-sulyap sa papel ng kaibigan mo pag exam. Kasi, wala nang exam. O, araw-araw exam.

Pag tapos ka na, tapos ka na. Ito ang ikasampung dahilan kung bakit bad trip magtapos: hindi na p’wedeng bumalik. Hindi ka na p’wedeng bumalik. Tapos na ang mga araw ng baon, kaibigan, pagbabasa, bakasyon, libreng gimik, pag-aabsent, pagda-drop, pagtetext, pangongopya. Tapos ka na e. Tapos na. Oras na para magsimula.

Benedicto Reyes Cabrera (Bencab), National Artist of the Philippines for the Visual Arts

misplaced emphasis on english by manuel l. quezon iii

The long view by Manuel L. Quezon III
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines -- Tomorrow, a petition is going to be filed with the Supreme Court by a group of concerned groups and individuals, among them the most glittering names in Philippine arts and letters -- ranging from critic Isagani R. Cruz and national artist Bienvenido Lumbera, to Romulo Baquiran Jr. and Nicanor Tiongson, to educators Patricia Licuanan and sociologist Randy David. The petitioners also include minors, represented by their parents. The petition is asking the Court to issue a restraining order to stop the President of the Philippines from further implementing Executive Order 210, series of 2003.

Signed on May 17, 2003, the EO has as its fairly non-controversial purpose, “Establishing the Policy to Strengthen English as a Second Language in the Educational System.” The petition says the five main points of the EO are: (a) English should be taught as a second language at all levels of the educational system, starting with the First Grade; (b) English should be used as the medium of instruction for English, Mathematics, and Science from at least the Third Grade Level; (c) English shall be used as a primary medium of instruction in all public institutions of learning at the secondary level; (d) As the primary medium of instruction, the percentage of time allotment for learning areas conducted in the English language in high school is expected to be not less than 70 percent of the total time allotment for all learning areas; and (e) The Filipino language shall continue to be the medium of instruction in the learning areas of Filipino and Araling Panlipunan.

On Aug. 22, 2006, the secretary of education implemented EO 210 by promulgating Memorandum Order No. 36, Series of 2006. The MO provides for the following: (a) English shall be taught as a second language starting with Grade I; (b) As provided for in the 2002 Basic Education Curriculum, English shall be used as the medium of instruction for English, Mathematics and Science and Health starting Grade III; and (c) The English language shall be used as the primary medium of instruction in all public and private schools in the secondary level, including those established as laboratory and/or experimental schools, and vocational and technical institutions. As the primary medium of instruction, the percentage of time allotment for learning areas conducted in the English language should not be less than 70 percent of the total time allotment for all learning areas in all year levels.

Both the President’s order and the subsequent Department of Education instructions, according to the petitioners, are objectionable on many grounds. Among the main objections is that the order is deceptive, claiming, as policy, strengthening English as a second language—but actually it establishes English as the primary language of instruction from the secondary level up. This goes against the Constitution.

Article XIV, Sec. 6, which established Filipino as the national language, also includes the following policy: “Subject to provisions of law and as the Congress may deem appropriate, the Government shall take steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of official communication and as language of instruction in the educational system.” Sec. 7 of the same Article says, “For the purpose of communication and instruction, the official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English.” Furthermore, “The regional languages are the auxiliary official languages in the regions and shall serve as auxiliary media of instruction therein.”

Granted that the President’s intentions are motivated by a concern to keep Filipinos competitive and to make them better-educated, still, whatever reforms she undertakes must be compatible with the Constitution. Secondly, reforms should be reforms, not a reactionary attempt to simply decree an English-speaking campaign.

Licuanan, speaking earlier this year, explained why the President’s policy is not only unconstitutional, but counterproductive: “The use of English as medium of instruction will not improve the quality of English in the country nor will it present the opportunities for intellectual and economic advancement as claimed. The ones who benefit most from education in English are those who have high levels of proficiency in English to start with and those who belong to environments where English language inputs, materials and resources are available. The overwhelming majority of Filipinos will forever struggle with English as a foreign language and will feel alienated in the classroom where they are required to speak in English. They are likely to learn very little and enjoy the so-called learning process even less. They will fail examinations and eventually drop out. The use of English as medium of instruction in our schools may also explain the lapse into illiteracy among school dropouts who were taught to be literate in English through rote memorization. English, therefore, is not the solution to poverty in the country but may actually be part of the cause of poverty.”

By what means, then will a student learn best? The petitioners say, by using languages closer to home: that is, first of all, the local language of a child, and then, the national language of the country. As Juan Miguel Luz wrote in this paper, “The key to better English is better implementation; more teacher training in grammar, composition, vocabulary; more mechanisms to expand English usage in schools such as campus journalism, campus radio, assigned days for English and Filipino communication and the like, more bilingual reading books and elocution contests and spelling bees (both in English and Filipino).” The key to better science and math skills is to teach them in the native tongues.

Filipino writers, scholars and teachers led by National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario, prizewinning writers Isagani R. Cruz, Roberto Anonuevo, Efren Abueg, and Romulo Baquiran Jr., UP Diliman Sentro ng Wika Director Galileo Zafra, former UP Integrated School Principal Ma. Theresa L. de Villa, and UP Department of Filipino and Philippine Literatures Chair Vina Paz gather outside the Supreme Court, Manila, 27 April 2007

u.p. college of arts and letters graduation, hardin ng mga diwata, u.p. diliman 21 april 2007

entrance of colors with the singing of the philippine national anthem by the u.p. singing ambassadors

tribute to the late u.p. theater artist and professor ogie juliano

the u.p. singing ambassadors sing the u.p. cal hymn composed by professor felipe de leon jr. and professor, dean and national artist for literature virgilio s. almario

national artist for the visual arts benedicto reyes cabrera (a.k.a. bencab) and u.p. cal professor, dean and national artist for literature virgilio s. almario at the claro m. recto hall

master of ceremonies u.p. diliman sentro ng wikang filipino director galileo zafra and u.p. diliman office of extension coordination director ma. crisanta nelmida flores

dean almario delivers the opening remarks

the class of 2007

the sun over the class of 2007

professors ramona flores, antoinette bass hernandez, celia bulan and faviola ortiz from the department of speech and theater arts

theater arts professor edna mae landicho and philippine studies professor and former vice chancellor for student affairs/arts and letters dean rosario torres yu

prizewinning writers marra pl. lanot and jose f. lacaba

bencab with u.p. cal faculty members and students

the u.p. singing ambassadors

bencab received a rousing applause for his well-crafted speech

european languages chair erwin bautista reads the names of graduates from his department, assisted by prof. teodoro maranan, prof. marilyn canta and dean almario

speech communication and theater arts chair belen calingacion's turn to read the names of graduates from her department

english and comparative literature chair naida rivera's turn to read the names of graduates from her department

outstanding phd dissertation winner eugene evasco of the department of filipino and philippine literatures receives his medals from dean and national artist almario, former dean rosario torres yu and his parents