Text by Charmaine Lingdas
Photos by Sarah Hazel Moces Pulumbarit
The University of the Philippines Manila officially welcomed its newest faculty members through the 2025 UP Manila New Faculty Orientation and Workshop held on October 6–7, 2025, at the Henry Sy Sr. Plenary Hall, College of Medicine.
Organized by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA) and the Committee on Instruction, the two-day orientation carried the theme “UPM NExT Conference: Empowering the Next UPM Educators: Navigating University Structures, Expanding Teaching Methods, Thriving through Professional Development.” It aimed to equip new faculty members with the knowledge, tools, and institutional understanding needed to succeed as educators, mentors, and scholars within the UP Manila community.
During the program, Chancellor Dr. Michael Tee underscored the central role of faculty in fulfilling UP Manila’s mandate as the nation’s premier health sciences center. “Our core business is education, and the faculty are the ones who deliver that to our main client—the students,” he emphasized.
He encouraged the new faculty members to envision long-term professional growth within the university, aspiring not only for tenure but also for eventual leadership and scholarly distinction.
He also urged the participants to review and familiarize themselves with the 2025 Faculty Merit Promotion Document, which serves as a guide for advancing their careers through excellence in teaching, research, and service. The Chancellor assured the attendees of the administration’s full support, highlighting collaboration with key offices such as Quality Assurance, International and Local Linkages, and Research and Extension.
“Ang pinakaimportanteng mensahe ko sa inyo ay ito: nandito naman ako araw-araw, nasa opisina lang ako. Kung meron kayong mga personal concerns na may kinalaman sa trabaho at sa tingin ninyo ay nade-delay o nagiging balakid ang sistema, ipaalam ninyo agad sa akin,” he emphasized.
The keynote address was delivered by UP College of Pharmacy Dean Mac Ardy Gloria, one of the youngest deans in the UP System. Sharing his personal journey from an assistant professor in 2017 to college dean in 2025, Dean Gloria reflected on the challenges and triumphs of navigating an academic career grounded in the university’s core values of honor, excellence, and service.
“By choosing UP Manila, you have chosen purpose over convenience and meaning over routine. You have chosen to serve where you can make a significant, meaningful, and lasting difference,” he told the new educators. “This event is more than just a formal introduction to the structures of the university, even to the policies and processes of the university. It should be a shared and safe space to learn, connect, and reflect on what it means and what it encompasses to be part of this academic community.”
He encouraged faculty to pursue continuous learning, uphold academic freedom with integrity, and remain steadfast in their purpose despite challenges. “Seeing with clarity, hearing with empathy, feeling with compassion, acting with generosity, and speaking with respect,” he said, highlighting the importance of mindfulness, mentorship, and collective growth in academic life.
Throughout the orientation, participants engaged in sessions introducing the university’s key offices and support systems, including the Offices of the Vice Chancellors, Human Resource Development Office, Health Service, Legal Office, and Office of Student Affairs. Discussions on the Learning Management System (ARAL -Academic Resources and Accessible Learning), library resources, and faculty and student wellbeing guided new members in navigating university structures and fostering mental wellness.
On the second day, workshops on teaching philosophy, outcome-based education, and instructional design encouraged faculty to align their teaching methods with UP Manila’s mission and goals. #
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