August 9, 2022  — “Ang pagkakaisa ay para sa pagtatanggol ng values bilang isang unibersidad. Ang katapatan ay katapatan sa bisyon-misyon ng unibersidad, [at] hindi katapatan na humahantong sa bulag na pagsunod sa mga awtoridad,” sixth chancellor of UP Manila Dr. Marita V. Tolentino-Reyes stated during the university’s 114th founding anniversary celebration of the University of the Philippines on June 20, 2022.

(We unite to defend the values upheld by our university. Our loyalty is to the mission-vision of the university; not the kind that leads to blind obedience to the authorities.)

Carrying the theme “Tinig ng Kasaysayan, Hamon ng Kinabukasan”, the virtual event was held to commemorate the university’s remarkable contributions over the past century while being committed to preserving honor and excellence.

This year’s guest speaker recalled the 1987 crisis in the UP College of Medicine that shook the practice of academic freedom of the faculty, students, and staff. “Dahil sa mga pangyayaring yumanig sa mga paniniwala ng faculty, students, and staff tungkol sa academic freedom, sa prinsipyo ng respect for collegial decision-making, at dahil sa mga paratang na tinanggap ng ilang faculty na nagtanggol sa kanilang mga prinsipyo, naging malaking pagsubok ito sa pagmamahal ng faculty sa unibersidad.”

She shared that while some faculty members were forced to resign because of the abuse they have witnessed, most chose to stay, fight, and patiently wait for justice.

Love and Loyalty

In an open letter to the university titled “Isang liham ng pag-ibig para sa UP,” Dr. Reyes explained that she will continue to love the university to the best of her capacity, for as long as she is able. She reads, “Naipakita namin sa inyo, na ang tunay na pagmamahal ay hindi nang-iiwan. Ang tunay na pagmamahal ay isanasaloob ang kabutihan ng minamahal.”

She closed her speech by vowing to serve the university, because the university awakened her abilities and deepened her desire to serve the country. “Narito ako para sa iyo hanggang may buhay, lakas, at kakayahan… Sana ay lalo ka pang umunlad at maging makabuluhan para sa mga Pilipino at bayan.”

Dr. Reyes was Dean of the UP College of Medicine from 1988 to 1991 and a UP Faculty Regent in 2001. She was actively involved in research ethics when she became Chairperson of the National Ethics Committee from 1996 to 2016, and the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board from 2006-2010. 

In 2017, the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges formally recognized her achievements in Medical Education; while the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development and Philippine Health Research Ethics Board formally recognized her exceptional contributions in pioneering the standardization of research ethics review in the country in 2016

Currently, Dr. Reyes is Chair of Health Technology Assessment Council of the Department of Health. 

Meanwhile, Chancellor Carmencita Padilla announced that a 12-volume book about the extensive history, growth, and development of UP Manila as the birthplace and cradle of the University of the Philippines is set for release in 2023.

The event was hosted by Prof. Carolina Pulumbarit, Director of the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino-Manila and was livestreamed via Zoom and UP Manila Facebook.

Anne Marie D. Alto