Our dear University of the Philippines is 113 years old! The pandemic has caused us to celebrate this momentous occasion in a subdued way, but our kickoff activity of illuminating the oblation was indeed poignant and steeped in meaning. For more than a century, UP has been offering itself to the nation and shining its light like a beacon of hope, which the oblation symbolizes. This selfless service to the country has been on full display in our campus as we take the lead in grappling with the virus. Our innovations in the field of education and burgeoning researches, especially into this pandemic, are rays of optimism in the delivery of excellent training and in envisioning an end to this scourge.
This celebration was highlighted by a talk on UP Manila’s expanding role in this pandemic given by Professor Emeritus Dr. Nina Gloriani. Finally, a fitting salutation to UP Manila’s retirees capped this weeklong commemoration. The successes that our community has gathered through the years, we owe to these men and women of intelligence, dedication, and kindness.
We mark the first year anniversary of the muchloved and highly educational TVUP’s Stop COVID Deaths webinar series. The program commenced with a tribute to our fallen healthcare comrades during the pandemic and this was followed by Dr. Anselmo Tronco who spoke on ways to deal with adversity. Dr. Jonas Del Rosario and singer Ardie Lopez also talked about their very personal experiences. These proceedings put a befitting exclamation point to the past year of the pandemic while equipping the listeners with strength for the ongoing struggle.
I would like to commend the College of Public Health for its many consequential initiatives and collaborations to cover many aspects of this pandemic. In this issue, we feature two — forum on public health higher education and online course on One Health in the Philippines. Another college that will share the results of their yearlong project is the College of Pharmacy. Their UPCP COVID-19 Pandemic Telepharmacy was very helpful to the public and their student pharmacists especially during the lockdown periods.
Overall, at this juncture in time of the pandemic, we have so much to be thankful for. The commemorations were simple yet elegant and eloquent, strategic programs are reaping rewards, and more importantly, people are given hope. With the blessings of the Almighty, our family, UP Manila, is infused with renewed vigor, inspiration, and optimism for the best days ahead!
Featured in the UP Manila Healthscape (Special COVID-19 Issue No. 29, 30 July 2021)
