Text by Charmaine A. Lingdas
Photos by Sarah Hazel Moces S. Pulumbarit and Charmaine A. Lingdas
UP Manila formally opened Academic Year 2025-2026 with a Welcome Ceremony on August 18, 2025, held simultaneously across multiple venues and connected via Zoom. Students gathered at the UP Manila Sports Science Wellness Center, UP College of Medicine Medical Sciences Building Henry Sy Hall, National Teacher’s Training Center for the Health Professions, and the UP Manila School of Health Sciences (SHS) campuses in Palo, Tarlac, Baler, and Koronadal for the annual event that sets the tone of their long academic journey in the country’s premier health sciences institution.
“UP was established to uplift the lives of Filipinos and to find solutions, specifically to find solutions to the problems of society, particularly the health problems,” said Chancellor Michael L. Tee during the program. The Chancellor framed the UP mission as a living commitment that continues to evolve with the times. He recalled how during the American occupation, the University was created to respond to outbreaks of cholera and malaria by training Filipinos to care for fellow Filipinos. He stressed that this tradition of service remains at the core of UP Manila’s identity.
He reminded students that “honor is not just about getting the summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude. It is about living with integrity in your thoughts, words, and actions—and doing what is right with honesty, fairness, and respect.”
Furthermore, he added that excellence is cultivated both inside and outside the classroom, highlighting the value of peer interaction and collaboration. “You will learn as much outside of the classroom, interacting with your peers, as much as you will in your classroom,” he said encouraging them to join student organizations.
Reassuring students of institutional support, the Chancellor emphasized that safety nets are in place for those encountering financial or personal difficulties. He encouraged them to approach the Office of Student Affairs for assistance, and if necessary, to come directly to his office, assuring them of the administration’s commitment to finding solutions to their concerns. He concluded, “Because you are now part of the community, I hope that someday, you will be the leaders that are similar to the leaders that we have.”
UP President Angelo A. Jimenez meanwhile placed UP’s leadership role in historical and contemporary context. Recalling the founding of the University, he said: “In 1908, the university was established to produce leaders. That was the purpose—to produce leaders.”
He noted that many of the country’s leaders in both the private sector and government are UP alumni. “You will join them, whether you like it or not, whether you dream about it or not,” he told the students, underscoring the vital role they are destined to play. He added, the University has consistently taken in hundreds of students each year, shaping them into future leaders.
Turning to a present-day challenge, Jimenez cited the 2018 PISA survey where the Philippines ranked last in reading comprehension. “We were last, or second to the last. That is a fact,” he said. He then posed the challenge: “So, the challenge is: how do we change that? You are here. You are the ones to make a difference. That is the image of the University—its mission. What is it? To serve. You will serve, and you will serve with honor and excellence.”
Guest speaker Margarita M. Gutierrez, Associate Professor at the College of Pharmacy, encouraged students to nurture idealism—not as naïveté, but as a disciplined force for nation-building. “Today marks the beginning of a dream,” she began. “Idealism… is a powerful force. It is the belief that a better world is possible, and that you have the power to create it. My challenge to you today is this: hold on to your ideals but ground them firmly in service to our nation.”
Assoc. Prof. Gutierrez introduced a hand-shaped mnemonic to guide the students towards IDEAL (Integrity, Dedication, Excellence, Altruism, and Leadership). She reminded them that integrity means “choosing what is right, even when it is invisible to everyone but yourself,” especially in the health sciences where lives depend on decisions. On dedication, she said: “Intelligence and talent may open doors, but dedication is what keeps you moving when things get tough.” On excellence: “Excellence is not perfection. Failure taught me that excellence is not about never falling—it’s about learning and moving forward.” On altruism: “Service is not just about passing exams—it’s about changing lives. It is about giving, acting, and transforming.” Finally, on leadership, she emphasized: “Leadership is not about position—it’s about presence.”
As the new academic year began, students were called to live out the values of honor, excellence, and service—the hallmarks of being an Iskolar ng Bayan.
