Text by: Ehcel S. Hurna
Photos by: Ronald Verceles
The University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) hosted the investiture ceremony for Dr. Michael L. Tee, the 10th Chancellor of UP Manila on April 30, 2024, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). Chancellor Tee’s official appointment by the UP Board of Regents (BOR), the university’s highest governing body, took place in October 2023. The ceremony was graced by distinguished figures including Chairperson and Commission on Higher Education Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III, UP President Angelo Jimenez, Philippine Red Cross Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon, as well as past and present Regents, Presidents, Vice Presidents, Executive Vice Presidents, members of the Chancellor Management Team, Deans, and Chancellor Tee’s friends and family.
Fulfillment of sworn duty through ‘IDEA’
Chancellor Tee laid out his administration’s plans and programs encapsulated in the acronym
IDEA:
I – Innovations for Life-long Learning Dedicated to Service,
D – Discovery and Research,
E – Environment that Nurtures our Mind and Body, and
A – Accessible UP Leadership.
Innovations for Life-long Learning Dedicated to Service
UPM will promote social interactions that stimulate the exchange of ideas, and will maintain a globally competitive and locally engaged education focusing not only on undergraduate programs but also post-graduate programs for faculty and alumni.
The future of the School of Health Sciences (SHS) will be anchored through technology. SHS will now benefit from advanced technology, such as regular virtual classes and meetings with faculty from the main Manila campus, as well as from other partner universities and colleges.
UPM aims to produce multi-specialty alumni, and shall continuously invite its graduates to come back, re-learn new ideas, and thus become lifelong learners. The years after their graduation will pose a challenge to UPM alumni, as they may be hired into jobs which are not their specialty– they can become organizational managers, chief executive officers, and even industry leaders. Hence, in the push for micro-credentials, UPM will offer certification courses which shall further equip our alumni with new knowledge and skills appropriate for their new and advancing roles as leaders in their own fields of interest.
Discovery and Research
One important initiative that supports community-driven innovations in healthcare is the Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI). Through research, training, and advocacy, SIHI identifies and supports community-engaged social innovations while promoting gender equity and social justice.
Researchers can expect operational efficiency in their research. “Asahan ninyo na ang buong burukrasya ng UP Manila ay tutulong sa ating project leader para mas maging madali sa inyo ang pagsasaliksik.” Citing an example of turning research products into commercial products, Dr. Tee recalled how the Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) facilitated and sealed the agreement with Pascual Pharmaceutical Corporation, which previous negotiations took more than 14 years; the current administration was able to close the deal in just four months, attributed to the change of views.
Environment that Nurtures our Mind and Body
To mitigate climate change and decrease its carbon footprint, UPM is preparing to install additional solar roof panels to 10,000 square meters on 11 academic and administrative buildings that will yield an expected 1.6 million KWH of solar energy resulting in a projected annual savings of P17 million.
To date, 48.6 kilowatts peak solar panels (also known as photovoltaic panels) have been installed at the Henry Sy, Sr. Building, allowing the campus to save at least thousands of kilowatt hours on power consumption, generating an annual savings of P650,000 in electricity charges, as well as promoting sustainability in the campus.
“We will be an independent power producer of renewable energy on our campus,” Chancellor Tee vowed. “The heat index is the language of the sun,” he added, as UPM maintains its reputation as the city’s primary user of solar power, the largest in Manila.
This is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and is equivalent to the planting of 173,000 trees, preparing for a world where the future of economics is in “carbon tax” and “carbon credits.” Additionally, the campus has an initiative of catching rainwater and recycling “gray water” as part of its contribution to minimize its carbon footprint and help save the environment.
Plus, the construction of important infrastructure such as the University Library and the faculty housing project is underway to meet the needs of the UP community.
Accessible UP Leadership
The University is maximizing its sphere of influence to solve the issue of the shortage of human resources for health. To date, UP Manila has conducted benchmarking activities with 17 colleges of medicine and anticipates engaging with additional institutions as new nursing colleges open. UP Manila will not just share its alumni; it will share its product as well.
Academic Government Industry Leadership Engagement or AGILE is being implemented, with the World Health Organization, USAID, GoNegosyo, Filipino General Commerce and Industry, and Clark Development Corporation as initial partners.
True North
Chancellor Tee shared his personal “North Star” – a steadfast vow that guides his actions and decisions.
“As the national university, we at UP Manila not only teach, but we also heal. And we do this more effectively because we co-create data and evidence that serve as the basis for our actions. It is with this in mind that we must redefine UP Manila’s leadership as a catalyst for improving the health of every Filipino,” he said.
In the program, UP Manila Vice Chancellor (VC) for Planning and Development Jose V. Tecson III commended Chancellor Tee for his exceptional qualities as a leader, researcher, and “five-star” physician. “His various awards serve as a testament that he has been true to his calling. As a clinician, he continues his pursuit engaging in research and professional development to keep advancing the state of healthcare and integrating clinical care with the social determinants of health. He is also a decision maker,” VC Tecson said in his speech.
Chancellor Tee holds a BS Biology undergraduate degree from UP Diliman (1993), a Doctor of Medicine from UP Manila (1998), a Masters in Health Professions Education from UP Manila (2007), and an MBA from UP Diliman (2015). He was part of a groundbreaking international clinical trial that led to the registration of a rheumatoid arthritis drug which delivers comparable efficacy to infliximab but at a fraction of the cost, marking a significant advancement in accessible healthcare.
He was also part of a group of healthcare professionals who helped develop a new gaming technology called AXEL (Augmented eXperience E-health Laboratory) Virtual Care that helps address cognitive and motor disabilities in individuals with cerebral palsy and dementia. ■
