UP Baguio Chancellor Nominees Share Motivations for Chancellorship
By Chinee Ortega | April 25, 2024
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB) chancellor nominees shared their motivations in accepting the nomination for chancellorship during the public forum held at Teatro Amianan on Monday, April 22.
The nominees, Dr. Joel M. Addawe and Dr. Wilfredo V. Alangui, responded to questions given by the participants inside the Teatro Amianan and from the online live streaming.
One of the questions given to both nominees by the online participants is the internal and external factors that motivated the nominees to accept the nomination as chancellor.
“External siguro sabihin na natin yung sa different committees sa system that I’ve been allowed to join, iba eh,” Dr. Addawe answered. He also added that it is difficult to navigate a system if one does not understand how it operates.
“So, at the end of the day, sabi ko nga, I think you really have to know the whole process,” the nominee answered.
Dr. Addawe also shared that the withdrawal of former Chancellor Abansi in the search process was the internal factor.
“Nung nag backout ka [former Chancellor Abansi] sabi ko ‘edi ako na lang,’ sayang yung ininvest ng previous chancellors,” Dr. Addawe stated.
In addition, Dr. Addawe said it would be a waste not to continue what the three previous chancellors have started.
“Para sa akin, maraming projects na kailangang ituloy at sana magawa,” Dr. Addawe expressed. “And at the same time, with the new use of technology now, hopefully we can integrate those things.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Alangui responded by saying that from the search process held after the term of Professor Emeritus and former Chancellor Pricilla Macansantos, several people had already approached him to consider running. He added that every search process since then, people came to him to convince him to run.
Dr. Alangui expressed that he felt that he was already serving the university in different capacities. However, he noted that the difference is that he sensed “some desperation” from the Search Committee this time.
“I realized that a lot of things can be done if you are the chancellor,” Alangui said. “Yung ginagawa ko dati, baka mas marami pa akong magagawa if I were the chancellor.”
Dr. Alangui stated that another factor is the petition that was made to urge him to run for chancellorship. He also said that a lot of people, within and outside UP Baguio, whom he respects and value convinced him to accept the nomination.
“So talagang parang feeling ko, para ngang siguro time, time na to step up and present myself, offer myself to the community,” he said.
As for the internal factors, Dr. Alangui said that he considers his own capabilities and the weather conditions outside Baguio, given that he would need to travel outside Baguio regularly.
“Pero those are small sacrifices na I think, it’s time for me to step up before I retire in seven years,” he added.
The public forum was organized by the Search Committee for the next UP Baguio chancellor, headed by Professor Maria Regina Lucia M. Lizares. This is the first public forum after the withdrawal of the former Chancellor Abansi from the search.
The next step after the public forum was the sectoral consultations with the UPB constituents that happened on April 23 until today, April 25.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was updated to correct the headline. We thank the reader who brought this to attention.
