his paper is a self-reflection on the state of openness of the University of the Philippines Open

University (UPOU). An exploratory and descriptive study, it aims not only to define the elements of
openness of UPOU, but also to unravel the causes and solutions to the issues and concerns that limit its
options to becoming a truly open university. It is based on four parameters of openness, which are
widely universal in the literature, e.g., open admissions, open curricula, distance education at scale,
and the co-creation, sharing and use of open educational resources (OER). It draws from the perception
survey among peers, which the author conducted in UPOU in July and August 2012. It also relies on
relevant secondary materials on the subject.

What if you could revisit and download the questions you took during the UPCAT (University of the
Philippines College Admission Test)? I received information that this will soon be a possibility. Its not
yet official though.
For some people, including yours truly, this is the same set of questions that made and unmade
dreams. Not all UPCAT takers make it. Only a small fraction pass the test.
Some of the passers see it as a blessing. Some see it as fuel, firing their desire to keep working
harder. Some see it as an entitlement instant membership to an elite group.
Whatever its worth, the UPCAT is the entryway to the University of the Philippines, a
scholastic community with a unique and celebrated tradition spanning more than a century. But take
heed none of its legacy would have been possible if not for the hard work of Filipino taxpayers.
The UP Administration will provide more details about their new plans for the UPCAT during the last
few days of July. By that time, UP President Alfredo Pascual would be back after an official trip to the
United States of America.
Expect a press conference.
Expect also that UP officials will face a lot of questions, some of them more difficult to answer than
those found in the UPCAT.

Purple Haze
While UP President Pascual was away, the university was shrouded in a veil of mystery involving an
unreported hazing incident.
For more than a week, the newscast State of the Nation with Jessica Soho assigned me to work
on a lead about a student of UP Diliman who almost died after sustaining serious injuries from
initiation rites.
Details were elusive, but one thing we knew was that the victim was a minor.

In deference to our sources, we could not reveal the name of the victim, the fraternity involved, and
even the hospital where he was confined for a week to recover from near-fatal injuries. We needed
to get direct confirmation from the parties involved, but no one would talk.
For a while, it began to look like an urban legend.
There were reports that the hazing incident in UP Diliman happened before Guillo Cesar Servando,
a freshman student of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, died from injuries sustained in fraternity
hazing rites. Affidavits from witnesses tagged members of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity as those
behind the incident.
A family member of the UP Diliman student told one of our sources that the untimely demise of
Servando could have been avoided if news about this earlier hazing incident found its way into
mainstream media.
But why did it remain unreported?
For one, it was difficult to do the story because there was no official police report. It is supposed to
be the protocol for hospitals to report any suspicious injuries or casualties to government authorities,
but the Quezon City Police Department received nothing.
The family of the victim did not want to talk too. They wanted privacy; they may also have been
afraid.
One of my sources asked me: was there a cover-up?
On July 4, 2014, we finally received confirmation that the hazing incident was not the product of our
imagination. The family had decided to cooperate with the authorities.
UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan released an official statement confirming the involvement
of Upsilon Sigma Phi the same fraternity that counts President Ferdinand Marcos and Senator
Benigno Aquino Jr. among its members.

The family of the victim has authorized me to divulge the name of the fraternity and to say they will
be taking formal legal action next week. They reiterate a request for privacy.

- UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan

In my news report, Popoy de Vera, a top-ranking UP official, made assurances that an investigation
would take place. He acknowledged that UP President Pascual is a member the Upsilon Sigma
Phi fraternity, but De Vera said this will not affect the outcome of the case.
The next day, the University Student Council enforced preventive suspension on three of their
members who also happened to be Upsilonians. In an interview, USC Chair Arjay Mercado
explained that this move was not meant as a penalty, but only a means to ensure the impartiality of
their institution. If the family decides not to push through with their legal action, the USC can file a
criminal case as a representative of the students.
Despite three days of follow-up reports, the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity did not release any
statement. To this day, they have remained silent.
On July 8, 2014, UP President Alfredo Pascual broke his own silence with an online statement:

Incidents of violence, done even for the noblest of reasons, have no place in UP. I hope this will be
the last time that we shall hear of acts of violence that endanger the lives of our students and
produce a climate of fear among the members of the university community and their families.

- UP President Alfredo Pascual

I dont know how it feels like to belong in a fraternity. Im not in a position to criticize or judge
organizations with Greek letter names.
I can speak for myself though. When I was an undergraduate student of BA Broadcast
Communication, my fratman professor invited me for dinner. It was a subtle recruitment pitch.
I seriously considered joining a fraternity. The mere invitation somehow made me feel important.

Ultimately, I declined the dinner invitation.

Later, I learned that one of my blockmates had joined another fraternity. After his hazing, his
legs were so violet it would have made Barney insecure.
Hazing would have happened to me too if I joined. Who are we kidding here? Some may scorn me
for being afraid of pain, but I couldnt understand why I would have to let strangers harm me. For
what?
If I had to endure all that pain to protect my son perhaps, I would do it willingly. But as it is, pain is
the premium membership fee I would have had to pay to join an exclusive club.
No.
The problem with UP is that its prestigious fraternities, sororities, and organizations could start a
trend by completely removing hazing out of the equation but its not happening yet.
Im hoping it does, sooner than later. Change can only come from within.
Bracket A
Because of the hazing story, I recently spent quite of a bit of time at Quezon Hall and Vinzons Hall
two buildings on opposite ends of the UP Academic Oval. One is for the administration, the other for
the student organizations.
When I was a student I never ventured in these parts, nor did I participate actively in school issues.
I did attend a rally once, but it was my first and last.
In 2003, my freshman year, our sociology professor encouraged me to participate in a student
protest in front of the Senate. It was against another budget cut for UP. I believed in the cause so I
marched with them. One of the street leaders then was Atom Araullo.
It didnt end well. The police dispersed us quite violently.
Back in 2003, my tuition was 300 pesos per unit. Thats about 6,000 pesos every semester, more or
less. Still, the activists demanded more state subsidy and support for students.
Fast forward to 2014. The tuition is now 1,000 or 1,500 pesos per unit. Every semester, this amounts
to at least 20,000 pesos or higher. If some students would stage a similar protest rally today and the

administration gave them our old 2003 rate, I bet some of the new students will feel they scored a
major victory.
But its not enough. I would always hear my activist friends say this: Education is a right, not a
privilege.
I just discovered that the STFAP (Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program) has been
retired. In its place is the new STS or Socialized Tuition System.
This new program aims to improve scholarship applications using digital technology. Before the start
of a semester, every student must now fill out two online forms (instead of 14 printed documents
during STFAP). The system assesses the answers and assigns the student to an income bracket,
depending on his or her financial status.
Bracket E is the lowest category. Students who end up here will not pay any tuition. They will also
get a monthly stipend.
Bracket A is for students with above average family income. They will get no tuition discount.
There are varying degrees of tuition discount in the middle brackets. If you dont answer the online
forms, you are automatically put in a bracket, which is likely Bracket A.
A student can appeal the assigned bracket. But in social media, many UP students expressed
frustration about their bracket results. On June 30, 2014, #Bracket A Ka Na trended globally on
Twitter.
On the surface, the hashtag may just be a collection of jokes and sarcastic quips. But it was the
pulse of many UP students. Most believe the slightest hint of comfort was enough reason to get
them into Bracket A.
UP is the premier state university. It is reasonable to expect greater subsidy from the government.
Yet, some students feel Bracket A is the norm and Bracket E is the exception. It should be the other
way around.
The problem with UP is that it is seemingly making use of its competitiveness in order to exceed the
tuition of other private universities.
Calendar Shift
Things have changed in UP since I was a freshman there in 2003.

The Beach House has closed its doors.

The academic calendar has changed:
1st Semester: from June-October to August-December
2nd Semester: from November-April to January-May
Summer classes: from May-June to June-July
Some things have yet to change though: the culture of hazing and greater state subsidy are just one
of many pressure points in the university.
There may be problems in UP, but I believe we shall not run out of reasons to be proud of the
university. There will always be students and graduates who are committed to serving the people.
I feel its really none of my business to write about UP. I lost touch with the university after I
graduated in 2007.
But the problem with UP is that I left a part of me there. I cannot stop caring.

Eduardo Manalo

executive minister of Iglesia Ni Cristo

Dong Abay

Former Yano band member, musician

Nilo Alcala

composer, arranger, vocalist

Rikki Mathay

Fernando Amorsolo

Cristina A Ang

broadcast journalist (ABSCBN), philanthropist,

Senate Spokesperson, "Magna Cum Laude"

visual artist and National Artist

Architect, Urban Planner Bonifacio Global

City development control manager

Hero Angeles

actor, host, film director, artist

Angel Aquino

film and television actress

Atom Araullo

TV news broadcaster, TV host

Kim Atienza

broadcaster, TV host, weatherman (ABS-CBN)

Julius Babao

Christian Bautista

Ramon Bautista

Christine Bersola-Babao

Santiago Bose

broadcast journalist, radio commentator, anchor,

host (ABS-CBN)

singer, actor, host and model, landscape

architecture graduate

TV personality, internet celebrity, radio dj

broadcast journalist and TV personality, Cum

laude

mixed media artist, founding member of the

Baguio Arts Guild

Lino Brocka

film director and National Artist

Zean Cabangis

painter

Benedicto Cabrera ("Bencab")

visual artist and National Artist; founding member

of the Baguio Arts Guild

Ryan Cayabyab

conductor, composer, arranger, pianist, resident

judge ofPhilippine Idol

Gilbert Luis Centina III

poet and member of the Augustinian Order

Cristeta Comerford

first female White House executive chef

Renato Constantino

historian and social critic

Wency Cornejo

singer/songwriter, TV host

Prudenciana Cruz

director of the National Library of the Philippines

Luchi Cruz-Valdez

broadcast journalist (TV5)

Ebe Dancel

Kara David

Randy David

Karen Davila

Vincent de Jesus

Former Sugarfree (Filipino band) front man,

musician

journalist, Cum laude

professor, sociologist, columnist, former TV public

affairs show host

broadcast journalist, anchor and, host (ABS-CBN)

composer, librettist, musical scorer and musical

director

Martin del Rosario

actor and model

life coach, American-trained psychologist,

Randy Dellosa

psychiatrist, Europe-trained psychotherapist, Pinoy

Big Brother/Pinoy Dream Academy/Kapamilya
Deal or No Deal resident psychiatrist

Nick Deocampo

film director

TJ Dimacali

Science fiction author and science journalist

Pepe Diokno

director, producer and screen writer

Eugene Domingo

TV, indie film, movie actress/comedienne

[1]

Eraserheads members Ely Buendia, Raimund

Marasigan, Marcus Adoro and Buddy Zabala

Gretchen Espina

Pinoy Idol Season 1 winner

Gretchen Fullido

model and anchor

Pia Guanio

TV host and actress

Terence Guillermo

Agot Isidro

theater director, vocal teacher and choirmaster,

singer

singer, TV host and actress

Kamikazee members Jay Contreras, Jomal

Linao, Led Tuyay, Jayson Astete, and Allan
Burdeos

Joel Lamangan

TV and film director

Cholo Laurel

film director

Maricel Laxa

TV actress and host

Cheche Lazaro

broadcast journalist

Anna Theresa Licaros

Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2007; BA Broadcast

Communication,summa cum laude; lawyer

Levi Lusterio

Web Designer/Developer

Ivan Mayrina

Newscaster and Reporter (GMA-7)

Mark Meily

film and TV director

Maningning Miclat

visual artist and poet

Chito Miranda

lead vocalist of Parokya ni Edgar [2]

TV host, newspaper columnist, Professor of

Solita Monsod

Economics, former Economic Planning secretary;

BS Economics, cum laude

Jose "Pitoy" Moreno

fashion designer and "Asia's fashion czar"

Angelo Muyot

news journalist, anchor and host (TV5)

Sitti Navarro

bossa nova artist, TV host

Lloyd Navera

documentary producer and voice talent (GMA)

Grace Nono

musician

Oscar Oida

Reporter (GMA-7)

Ces Orea-Drilon

broadcast journalist and anchor (ABS-CBN)

Paula Peralejo

Maki Pulido

TV and film actress, AB Philosophy minor in

Tourism, magna cum laude

broadcast journalist and host (GMA-7)

Radioactive Sago Project members Rastem

Eugenio, Francis De Veyra, EJ Delgado, Arwin
Nava, Jay Gapasin, Goo Simpliciano and Pards
Tupas

former child actor, member of the 80's TV show Eh

Ryan "Atong" Redillas

Kasi Bata! current professor in UP Manila,

graduate of Art Studies in UP Diliman, cum laude

Frances Rivera

U.S.-based Emmy award-winning TV journalist

Eddie Romero

film director and National Artist

Ninotchka Rosca

novelist

Lucio San Pedro

musician, professor of music and National Artist

Giselle Sanchez

TV Personality, Magna Cum Laude

Pura Santillan-Castrence

writer, essayist and diplomat

Bernadette Sembrano

broadcast journalist, anchor and host (ABS-CBN)

Jose Maria Sison

Professor of Literature and Social Sciences, poet,

founder of theCommunist Party of the Philippines

Jessica Soho

broadcast journalist and host (GMA-7)

Auraeus Solito

film director

Shamcey Supsup

Louie Tabing

Jal Taguibao

Miss Universe 2011 3rd Runner-Up; BS

Architecture, magna cum laude

multi-awarded rural broadcaster, radio anchor

(DZMM)

Former Sugarfree (Filipino band) bassist,

musician, University of the Philippines Diliman

professor

Kidlat Tahimik (formerly Eric de Guia)

Mel Tiangco

film director

broadcast journalist, anchor and host (GMA-7),

GMA Kapuso Foundation chair

Amelyn Veloso

Newscaster and TV host (Solar News)

Jessica Zafra

writer, columnist (Philippine Star)

Arnold Zamora

composer and resident arranger of the Philippine

Madrigal Singers

Business, economics and finance[edit]

Name

Dante Canlas

Felipe L.
Gozon

Rowena V.
Guanzon

Importance

National Economic and Development Authority director-general (20012002)

Chairman and CEO of GMA Network, Inc.

Commissioner, Commission on Audit

Felipe Medalla National Economic and Development Authority director-general (19982001)

Solita Monsod

Loida NicolasLewis

Ma. Gracia
Pulido-Tan

Ralph Recto

Gerardo Sicat

Manuel Villar

Cesar Virata

economist, professor, TV anchor, and National Economic and Development

Authority director-general (19861989)

Chairman and CEO of TLC Beatrice International Holdings, Inc.

Chairperson, Commission on Audit

Senator and National Economic and Development Authority director-general

(20082009)

economist, professor and National Economic and Development Authority directorgeneral (19731981)

Owner - Vista Land and Lifescapes, Inc., Senator, Senate president (20062008)
and Speaker of the House of Representatives (19982000)

Prime Minister of the Philippines (19811986) and National Economic and

Development Authoritydirector-general (19811986)

Engineering, sciences, medicine and the allied medical

professions[edit]
Name

Adelina Barrion

Paulo Campos

Importance

Biologist, Entomologist, and Geneticist whose extensive work on Philippine

Spiders led her to be dubbed "Asia's Spider Woman"

physician dubbed as Father of Nuclear Medicine in the Philippines, National

Name

Importance

Scientist

Griselda Justiniana
Garcia-Bausa

Edwin Copeland

Conrado Dayrit

Fe del Mundo

Geologist, "First Filipina Geologist"

founder and first dean, U.P. Agricultural College (now U.P. Los Baos)

cardiologist, co-founder of the Philippine Heart Association, "Father of virgin

coconut oil"

pediatrician, first woman admitted to Harvard Medical School, National

Scientist, founder of the 1st pediatric hospital in the Philippines

Juan Flavier

medical doctor, former Secretary of Health and Philippine senator

Mikaela Fudolig

former child prodigy, current U.P. professor

Delfin Ganapin, Jr.

former Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary and now head of

the UNDP Small Grants Program-Environment in New York

civil engineer, Dean of the UP College of Engineering, former Minister of

Alfredo Juinio

Public Works and Highways and Administrator of the National Irrigation

Administration

Roman Kintanar

meteorologist

Alejandro Melchor

civil engineer, mathematician, and former Secretary of National Defense

Name

Baldomero Olivera

Raymundo
Punongbayan

Jose R. Velasco

Alfredo Mahar
Lagmay

Alonzo Gabriel

Importance

2007 Harvard Foundation Scientist of the Year, biochemist

geologist, professor, consultant on volcanology, geology, seismology and

disaster preparedness, former director of PHIVOLCS, recipient of Unit Award
for Excellence of Service

agricultural physiologist and chemist, National Scientist

geologist, professor, Executive Director of Project Noah[3][4]

Food Science professor, University Scientist, recipient of 2013 TOYM and

Outstanding Young Scientist (NAST) awards

Politics, law and governance[edit]

Delia Albert - Secretary of Foreign Affairs (20032004)

Erlinda Fadera-Basilio - Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the

United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland. Undersecretary
for Policy - Department of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador to China.

Leandro Alejandro - student council leader, activist

Edgardo J. Angara - Senator, Senate president (19931995), and University of the

Philippines president (19811987)

Juan Edgardo Angara - House of Representatives member

Bellaflor Angara-Castillo - Governor of Aurora, House of Representatives member (1995

2004), and Majority Floor Leader of the House of Representatives (20002001)

Benigno Aquino, Jr. - Senator (19671972), columnist, and martyr

Glenn C. Aquino - Lawyer

Joker Arroyo - Senator and House of Representatives member (19922001)

Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez - Supreme Court associate justice (20022009)

Lauro Baja - Ambassador to the United Nations (20032007)

Robert Barbers - Senator (19982004)

Herbert Bautista - Mayor of Quezon City, movie and TV actor

Antonio Carpio - Supreme Court associate justice

Alan Peter Cayetano - Senator and House of Representatives member (19982007)

Pia Cayetano - Senator

Rene Cayetano - Senator (19982003)

Edgardo Chatto - Governor of Bohol, House of Representatives member (20012010) and,

lawyer

Minita Chico-Nazario - Supreme Court associate justice (20042009)

Nikki Coseteng - Senator (19922001) and House of Representatives member (19871992)

Simeon Datumanong - House of Representatives member and Cabinet secretary

Hilario Davide, Jr. - Supreme Court chief justice (19982005)

Teresita de Castro - Supreme Court associate justice

Arthur Defensor, Sr. - Governor of Iloilo and House of Representatives member (20012010)

Michael Defensor - Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (20042006), House of

Representatives member (19952001), and Presidential Chief of Staff (20062007)

Miriam Defensor Santiago - Senator

Franklin Drilon - Senator

Emilio Ramon Ejercito - actor, Mayor of Pagsanjan, Laguna (20012010), and Governor
of Laguna

Juan Ponce Enrile - Senator and Senate president

Francis Escudero - Senator and House of Representatives member (19982007)

Marcelo Fernan - Supreme Court chief justice (19881991), Philippine senator (19951999)
and Senate president(19981999)

Arnulfo Fuentebella - House of Representatives member and Speaker of the House of

Representatives (20002001)

Cancio Garcia - Supreme Court associate justice (20042007)

Gwendolyn Garcia - Governor of Cebu

Pablo John Garcia - House of Representatives member

Richard Gordon - Senator (20042010), Secretary of Tourism (20012004), Founding Chair

of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and Mayor of Olongapo City (19801986)

Carolina Grio-Aquino - Supreme Court associate justice (19881993)

Roseller Guiao - Vice Governor of Pampanga and head coach of the Red Bull Barako team
in the PBA

Magtanggol Gunigundo - House of Representatives member

Constantino Jaraula - House of Representatives member (19982007)

Francis Jardeleza - Solicitor General

Edcel C. Lagman - House of Representatives member

Salvador H. Laurel - Vice President of the Philippines (19861992)

Katrina Legarda - lawyer

Loren Legarda - Senator and broadcast journalist

Marvic Leonen - Supreme Court associate justice

Cardozo M. Luna - Philippine Ambassador to Netherlands (20092010) and AFP Vice Chief
of Staff

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo - President of the Philippines (20012010) and House of

Representatives member

Catalino Macaraig, Jr. - Executive Secretary (19871990)

Imee Marcos - Governor of Ilocos Norte and House of Representatives member (19841986;
19982007)

Liza Maza - House of Representatives member (20012010)

Nur Misuari - former leader of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)

Conchita Morales - Ombudsman and Supreme Court associate justice (20022011)

Oscar Orbos - lawyer, Executive Secretary (19901991), Governor of Pangasinan (1995

1998), and TV host

Rey Pagtakhan - Canadian cabinet minister and Canadian Parliament member (19882004)

Francis Pangilinan - Senator

Jose P. Perez - Supreme Court associate justice

Aquilino Pimentel III - Senator

Reynato Puno - Supreme Court chief justice (20062010)

Romero Quimbo - House of Representatives member

Leonardo Quisumbing - Supreme Court associate justice (19982009)

Gilbert Remulla - House of Representatives member (20012007) and broadcast journalist

Juanito Victor Remulla - Governor of Cavite

Jesse Robredo - Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (20102012) and Mayor
of Naga City (20012010)

Rufus Rodriguez - House of Representatives member and lawyer

Flerida Ruth Romero - Supreme Court associate justice (19911999)

Gerardo Roxas - Senator (19631972)

Rafael Salas - first head of the United Nations Population Fund

Antonio M. Santos - Director of the National Library of the Philippines and lawyer

Abraham Sarmiento - Supreme Court associate justice (19871991)

Abraham Sarmiento, Jr. - martial law activist, editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian

Ma. Lourdes Sereno - Supreme Court chief justice

Jose Maria Sison - Communist Party of the Philippines founder

Victor Sumulong - House of Representatives member (19982007)

Mamintal Tamano - Senator (19691972; 19871992)

Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. - Secretary of National Defense (20072009) and House of

Representatives member (19982007)

Ruben D. Torres - Secretary of Labor and Employment (19901992) and Executive

Secretary (19951998)

Antonio Trillanes IV - Senator and Oakwood mutiny and Manila Peninsula mutiny leader

Niel Tupas, Jr. - House of Representatives member

Niel Tupas, Sr. - Governor of Iloilo (20012010) and House of Representatives member
(19781984; 19871998)

Presbitero Velasco, Jr. - Supreme Court associate justice

Luis Villafuerte - House of Representatives member

Manuel Villar - Senator, Senate president (20062008), and Speaker of the House of
Representatives (19982000)

Liwayway Vinzons-Chato - House of Representatives member (20072010)

Perfecto Yasay - Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Commission (19952000)

Consuelo Ynares-Santiago - Supreme Court associate justice (19992009)

Haydee Yorac - Chairwoman of the Commission on Elections (19891991) and

the Presidential Commission on Good Government (20012005)

Social sciences[edit]
Name

Encarnacion
Alzona

Lia Andrea
Aquino Ramos

Importance

first woman historian in the Philippines, National Scientist

Binibining PilipinasMiss Universe 2006

life coach, American-trained psychologist, psychiatrist, Europe-trained

Randy Dellosa

psychotherapist, Pinoy Big Brother/Pinoy Dream Academy/Kapamilya Deal or No

Deal resident psychiatrist

Virgilio Enriquez

Father of Filipino Psychology, founder of 'Sikolohiyang Pilipino'

Gregorio F. Zaide historian

Sports[edit]

Eric Altamirano - basketball coach, former member of the UP Fighting Maroons basketball
team

Jun Bernardino - former member of the U.P. Fighting Maroons basketball team, and
commissioner of the NCAA andPBA

Marvin Cruz - former UP Fighting Maroons basketball player, player of the Burger King
Whoppers in the PBA

Ryan Gregorio - former UP Fighting Maroons basketball player, current head coach of
the Meralco Bolts basketball team in the PBA

Yeng Guiao - current head coach of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters team in
the PBA, Pampanga vice governor

Jireh Ibaes - former UP Fighting Maroons, player of Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in
the PBA

Joe Lipa - former UP Fighting Maroons basketball team player and commissioner of
the UAAP, former UP Fighting Maroons basketball team coach, commissioner of the NCAA

Ronnie Magsanoc - former UP Fighting Maroons basketball player, current assistant coach
of the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants team in the PBA

Paolo Mendoza - former UP Fighting Maroons basketball player, current player of the Sta.
Lucia Realtors in the PBA

Benjie Paras - TV actor, comedian and host, former member of the U.P. Fighting
Maroons basketball team and the PBA

Bo Perasol - former UP Fighting Maroons basketball player, former head coach of the Air21
Express basketball team, current assistant coach of the Coca-Cola Tigers in the PBA

Bruce Quebral - former UP Fighting Maroons basketball player, Pinoy Big Brother Season
Two housemate, TV actor

Notable University and College Student Council leaders[edit]

UP Diliman[edit]

Lean Alejandro -USC Chairperson

Atom Araullo -USC Councilor, ABS CBN Reporter

Jejomar Binay -USC Councilor

Alan Peter Cayetano -USC Councilor

Randy David -USC Vice Chairperson

Michael Defensor -USC Vice Chairperson

Miriam Defensor Santiago -USC Vice Chairperson, Philippine Collegian Editor-in Chief

Franklin Drilon -USC Councilor

Marcelo Fernan -USC Chairperson

Richard Gordon -USC Councilor

Eric de Guia (a.k.a. Kidlat Tahimik ) -Student Union Chairperson

Raymond Palatino -USC Chairperson, National Union of Students of the Philippines National
President, Former Representative of Kabataan Partylist in the Congress

Francis Pangilinan -USC Chairperson

Alfredo Pascual -USC Councilor

Leonardo Quisumbing -USC Chairperson

Rafael Salas - USC Chairperson

Wenceslao Vinzons -USC Chairperson

Shahana E. Abdulwahid- USC Chairperson

Rommel Romato- USC Chairperson

Sitti Meryam Agatha Reyes - USC Councilor

Notable past and present faculty[edit]

Vicente Abad Santos - former Supreme Court justice

Nicanor Abelardo - renowned Filipino musician, composer of "U.P. Naming Mahal" ("U.P.
Beloved"), the University of the Philippines Hymn

Jos Abueva - former University of the Philippines president

Napoleon Abueva - sculptor and National Artist

Virgilio S. Almario - National Artist, former director of the U.P. Institute of Creative Writing,
and current UP College of Arts and Letters dean

Walden Bello - sociologist

Henry Otley Beyer - co-founder, UP Department of Anthropology

Emilia Boncodin - former Budget and Management secretary, Hyatt 10 member

Clarita Carlos - political analyst, president of Center for Asia Pacific Studies, Inc., pioneer
of political psychology in the country

Ryan Cayabyab - musician, artistic director of the San Miguel Foundation for the Performing
Arts

Irene Cortes - lawyer and former Supreme Court of the Philippines justice

Adrian Cristobal - writer, columnist

Isagani R. Cruz - literary critic and playwright

Randy David - professor of sociology, newspaper columnist, former TV public affairs host

Malou de Guzman - film and TV actress, senior lecturer at the UP Film Institute

Raul de Guzman - Dean NCPAG, Chancellor UPLB

Juan R. Francisco - indologist and professor

N. V. M. Gonzalez - fictionist and National Artist

Margarita Holmes - renowned psychologist and sex expert, TV personality

Jun Lana - playwright, screenwriter and director

Cheche Lazaro - broadcast journalist, founding president of Probe Productions, Inc.

Salvador P. Lopez - writer, journalist, diplomat, former University of the Philippines president

Alexander Magno - political scientist, TV host, newspaper columnist

Rogemar Mamon - mathematician, quant, British and Canadian academic

Paz Mrquez-Bentez - fictionist

Roger Lee Mendoza - economist and professor

Solita Monsod - professor of economics, former Economic Planning secretary, newspaper

columnist, broadcast journalist

Ambeth R. Ocampo - historian, writer, Chairman National Historical Institute, TOYM History,
decorated by Spain and France

Cristina Padolina - professor of chemistry, current President of Centro Escolar University

Raymundo Punongbayan - geologist, former Philippine Institute of Volcanology and

Seismology (PHIVOLCS) director

Henry J. Ramos - first Filipino plasma physicist, inventor

Maria Ressa - current ABS-CBN News & Current Affairs head

Nicanor Reyes, Sr. - economist, one of the founders of Far Eastern University

Temario Rivera - political scientist

Carlos P. Romulo - Pulitzer Prize winner, president of the United Nations General
Assembly 1949-1950, former chairman of the United Nations Security Council and University of
the Philippines president

Caesar Saloma - applied physicist, Dean of College of Science, recipient of

2004 International Commission for Optics-Galileo Award, 2008 ASEAN Outstanding Scientist
and Technologist Award

E. San Juan, Jr. - poet and cultural critic

Bienvenido Santos - poet and fictionist

Rogelio R. Sikat - writer

Cesar Virata - former Philippines prime minister and Finance secretary, former dean and
professor at the UP College of Business Administration

Haydee Yorac - professor of law, former Philippine Commission of Elections and chairperson
of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) commissioner

The Metrobank Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT)[edit]

U.P. continues to dominate Metrobank Foundation's Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT) with
over a score of winners, including: Milagros D. Ibe (1987), Priscelina Patajo-Legasto (1998)
and Caesar Saloma (2007).

Faculty members who are writers[edit]

Gmino Abad

Reuel Aguila

Alwyn Aguirre

Virgilio Almario

Mila Aguilar

Merlie Alunan

Mykel Andrada

Carlos Ojeda Aureus

Romulo Baquiran, Jr.

Joi Barrios

Jos Wendell Capili

Lourdes Castrillo Brillantes

Conchitina Cruz

Rosario Cruz-Lucero

Jun Cruz Reyes

Jose Dalisay, Jr.

Leoncio Deriada

U Eliserio

Eugene Evasco

Celeste Flores-Coscolluela

Emil Flores

Edel Garcellano

Felino Garcia

J. Neil Garcia

Teresita Gimenez-Maceda

Luis Katigbak

Thelma Kintanar

Angelo Lacuesta

Domingo Landicho

Edna May Landicho

Amelia Lapena-Bonifacio

Marra Pl. Lanot

Bienvenido Lumbera

Francis Macansantos

Paolo Manalo

Sylvia Mendez-Ventura

Timothy Montes

Vim Nadera

Jimmuel Naval

Ambeth R. Ocampo

Charlson Ong

Elmer Ordoez

Carla Pacis

Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo

Priscelina Patajo-Legasto

Carlos Piocos

Nonilon Queano

Isabelita Reyes

Luna Sicat-Cleto

Victor Sugbo

Priscilla Supnet-Macansantos

Ligaya Tiamson-Rubin

Nicanor Tiongson

Roland Tolentino

Ricardo de Ungria

Rosario Torres-Yu

Rene Villanueva

National Artists[edit]
Of the 66 National Artists of the Philippines thus far honored, majority are U.P. alumni, inclusive of
three former students but did not earn their degree at the University. The honored league of National
Artists from U.P. are:

Architecture

Juan Nakpil

Ildefonso Santos

Dance

Francisca Reyes-Aquino

Ramon Obusan

Film

Ishmael Bernal

Lino Brocka

Eddie Romero

Literature

Jos Garca Villa

Carlos P. Romulo

Francisco Arcellana

Virgilio S. Almario

Edith Tiempo

Amado V. Hernandez

N.V.M. Gonzalez

F. Sionil Jos

Bienvenido Lumbera
Music