FORUM 1 ANG PAGPANGALAN SA CESAR E.A. VIRATA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS 19 Kasarinlan: Philippine Journal of Third World Studies 2012–13 (27–28): 19–64 FORUM 1 Ang mga Isyu at Interes sa Pagpangalan sa UP College of Business Administration na Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business Miyerkules, 3 Hulyo 2013, 9:00 n.u.–12:00 n.t. Pulungang Claro M. Recto (Faculty Center Conference Hall) Bulwagang Rizal, Kolehiyo ng Arte at Literatura Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (UP) Diliman RICARDO T. JOSE (DIREKTOR, THIRD WORLD STUDIES CENTER AT PROPESOR, DEPARTAMENTO NG KASAYSAYAN, KOLEHIYO NG AGHAM PANLIPUNAN AT PILOSOPIYA, UP DILIMAN): Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat at maraming salamat sa inyong pagdating maski masama ang panahon. I would like to acknowledge the presence of Chancellor Caesar A. Saloma, and of course, iyong mga bisita at tagapagsalita natin. Ano ba itong paksa na ito? The issue of renaming the UP College of Business Administration (CBA) (basahin ang appendix 1.1, 277–78). Marahil ay narinig ninyo na bago na ang pangalan ng CBA at ito ay officially iyong Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business. Kailan ba [ito] nagpalit ng pangalan? It was actually fairly recently. Nalaman ng ibang faculty sa UP noong graduation ceremonies noong Abril nang ini-announce na Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business na ang institusyon na iyon. Ngayon, out of this, maraming mga isyu at maraming mga kontrobersiya ang lumabas, maraming nagsulat sa diyaryo, maraming nagsulat din sa mga [online] discussions, pero wala pang opisyal na forum sa UP na tumalakay sa isyu na ito. So, sa Third World Studies Center, we think that it is a good opportunity na puwede nating i-discuss ang isyu na ito from different vantage points. And we try to see from different perspectives kung ano iyong mga issues, ano iyong mga kontrobersiya, ano iyong mga problema na involved dito. Among these, we found out that there were issues relating to [the] naming of institutions. 20 KASARINLAN VOL. 27 (2012)–VOL. 28 (2013) Mayroon tayong patakaran on naming physical structures, buildings, roads, [and] plazas. May republic act relating to this and the rules are very clear.1 Kaya lang, kapag sinabing mga institusyon, it can sound not as clear as that, so medyo may gray area dito. But anyway, ano ba iyong chronology nito? The CBA faculty unanimously decided that they would request the formal change of name on 19 July 2012. They wrote a formal letter to the Board of Regents (BOR), which they submitted through channels dated 15 March 2013 (basahin ang appendix 1.2, 279–96). It was studied by the chancellor’s office and raised to the BOR on 11 April 2013. The chancellor wrote that he was recommending approval, provided—and this was very clear in his letter—na magkaroon ng clear guidelines on naming institutions especially after people who are still alive (basahin ang appendix 1.3, 297–300). Iyon iyong one of the major issues. Aside from this, there were also issues relating to the role of Virata during the martial law years, which led a lot of the faculty to think na parang very short iyong memory ng mga Filipino, that they have forgotten what happened during the martial law years, and that Virata was the prime minister during the 1980s and was an active player during the Marcos administration. So, there are several issues that were involved here. These will be discussed in fuller detail by the speakers that we have this morning. So, rather than go further into these, I would like to turn over the discussion to our speakers. Ito iyong some of the items that we have found. There are some very strong reactions to the renaming of the CBA. It is the only institution I think, at least in UP Diliman, that is named after a living person at this point. So, may mga iba’t ibang issues and we hope to take this as an opportunity to discuss these in a more formal way. Maraming salamat muli sa pagdalo ninyo dito. MARIA LUISA T. CAMAGAY (PROPESOR, DEPARTAMENTO NG KASAYSAYAN, KOLEHIYO NG AGHAM PANLIPUNAN AT PILOSOPIYA, UP DILIMAN): Salamat, Dr. Jose. Ipapakilala ko iyong mga tagapagsalita natin ngayon ayon s_a_ k_un_g_ p_a_an_o_ s_ila_ n_a_h_ah_a_na_y sa ating programa at pagkatapos ko silang 1. Ito ay ang Republic Act No. 1059, “An Act Prohibiting the Naming of Sitios, Barrios, Municipalities, Cities, Provinces, Streets, Highways, Avenues, Bridges, and Other Public Thoroughfares, Parks, Plazas, Public Schools, Public Buildings, Piers, Government Crafts and Vessels, and Other Public Institutions after Living Persons.” Ayon sa section 1 ng batas na ito, kung kondisyon ang pagpapangalan sa isang donasyon na magiging pabor sa gobyerno, maaring ipangalan ang mga nabanggit na pampublikong institusyon sa buhay pang tao. FORUM 1 ANG PAGPANGALAN SA CESAR E.A. VIRATA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS 21 ipakilala ay magsasalita na si Dr. [Judy] Taguiwalo, G. Nelson Navarro, Dr. [Eduardo] Tadem, at Dr. Amado Mendoza. Si Dr. Judy Taguiwalo ay propesor sa [Women and Development Program] bago pa ito maging Women and Development Studies sa College of Social Work and Community Development dito sa UP Diliman. Siya ay naging faculty regent [ng UP] at naging political prisoner noong panahon ng diktadura ni Marcos. Si G. Nelson Navarro naman ay kolumnista sa Philippine Star at alumnus ng CBA, UP Diliman. So, [magsasalita siya] tungkol sa bagay na ito na lumabas sa kaniyang column noong Linggo. Si Dr. Eduardo Tadem ay propesor sa Asian Center, UP Diliman at ang kaniyang mga areas of interest ay rural development, agrarian reform and the peasantry, at social movements and civil society organizations. Siya ay nakapagsulat na ng papel hinggil sa paksang ito na pinamagatang “Technocracy [and the Peasantry: Martial Law Development Paradigms and Philippine Agrarian Reform]” (Tadem 2015). Si Dr. Amado Mendoza ay propesor sa Departamento ng Agham Pampulitika sa College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, dito rin sa UP Diliman. Ang kanyang mga interes ay international studies, policy research and advocacy, at business/economic journalism. Sila po ang ating mga tagapagsalita. Sa palagay ko, marami tayong mapupulot na kaalaman at magiging mayaman ang ating talakayan. So, tawagin po natin muli si Dr. Taguiwalo. JUDY M. TAGUIWALO (PROPESOR, PROGRAMA SA KABABAIHAN AT PAG- UNLAD, KOLEHIYO NG GAWAING PANLIPUNAN AT PAGPAPAUNLAD NG PAMAYANAN, UP DILIMAN): Ang gusto kong pokus sana ay ang pag-rename ng UP CBA sa konteksto ng nangyayari sa UP sa kasalukuyan. Para sa akin, tatlo ang sangkot sa mga isyung kaugnay ng pagpapangalan sa UP CBA na Cesar Emilio Aguinaldo Virata School of Business: (1) ang isyu ng pagbibigay-dangal sa mga matapat na naglingkod sa awtoritaryang rehimen ni Marcos; (2) ang isyu ng pagpapangalan ng mga gusali at programang pang-akademiko ng UP sa mga buhay na tao at batay sa donasyon sa konteksto ng neoliberalismo sa ngayon sa Pilipinas at sa buong daigdig; at (3) ang isyu ng demokratikong proseso ng pagdedesisyon sa loob ng unibersidad. Hindi magkakahiwalay ang mga isyung ito dahil nakasalalay ang mga ito sa katangian ng UP bilang isang pampublikong unibersidad, ang naging papel nito sa kasaysayan, at ang kaniyang kasalukuyang tunguhin sa panahon ng neoliberalismo. 22 KASARINLAN VOL. 27 (2012)–VOL. 28 (2013) Ang isyu ng pagbibigay-dangal sa matatapat na naglingkod sa awtoritaryang rehimen ni Marcos. [Sa] pagtingin ko, marami na tayong nabasa, marami nang naisulat at narito ngayon si Nelson Navarro na maglilinaw pa kung bakit hindi katanggap-tanggap, bakit historical revisionism, bakit adding insult to injury, ang pagpapangalan ng isang akademikong yunit ng UP sa isang matapat na naglingkod sa diktadurang Marcos (basahin ang appendix 1.4, 301–10). Marami nang mga usapin tungkol dito. Ang sabi: Virata was a robotic technocrat, unfeeling of the sorry state of the people, programmed by, and following, his boss’ program to a T . . . . He does not deserve the honor UP gave him. Decency dictates that he decline it. Virata is a case study of morality and ethics. What was committed in naming the CBA after him was a violation of moral and ethical standards; it effectively approved his behavior while serving the Marcos regime. (Pulmano 2013) Galing ito sa isang alumnus ng UP na si Eugenio A. Pulmano na taga- UP College of Medicine. Nabasa rin natin ang kolum ni Randy David (2013) at ganoon din ang sinabi: By naming its school of business after a Marcos technocrat, UP is, in effect, signaling that it aims to produce graduates who, even as they excel as problem-solvers in their respective fields, can be trusted to put their political consciences on hold while they do their work. At ang “Historical Revisionism” [na] editoryal ng [Philippine Daily] Inquirer (2013): Another argument is “we consulted the constituents in the college.” Ignore for now the posts in the social media from alumni and students denying precisely this. Even assuming a bona fide consultation—and we have copies of the signatures of alumni, students, faculty, former deans of the CBA who supported the recommendation of the dean of the CBA—this is one choice where there are stakeholders outside the college, namely, the other members of the UP community who have invested much of their lives fighting the Marcos dictatorship. FORUM 1 ANG PAGPANGALAN SA CESAR E.A. VIRATA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS 23 If their sacrifices are about to be diluted, surely they are entitled to be heard on this issue. Yet it is more than just a problem of forgetting. The renaming is just a symptom of a deeper problem: the drastic shift in people’s mindsets away from looking at Virata’s place in history and toward looking at him as an individual. It is now possible to extol Virata’s personal virtues and be oblivious to his lending his sterling reputation to deodorize the Marcos dictatorship. The UP BOR had this to say: “Virata has served UP, the Philippine government and the country for many years and with clear distinction.” So, those are the criticisms from outside the university. At siyempre, I am in full agreement with those criticisms. I believe that UP should uphold respect for honor and excellence, that is supposed to be the call of the university. Excellence cannot be separated from honor. We say that again and again. And we say that, “UP ang galing mo, ialay sa bayan, hindi sa diktadura.” Ang isyu ng pagpapangalan ng mga gusali at programang pang- akademiko ng UP sa mga buhay na tao at batay sa donasyon. Sinabi ni Rigoberto [“Bobi”] Tiglao, “Nakakainsulto.” Pinangalan na nga sa isang minion ng diktadura, hindi pa humingi ng donasyon. Magkano ba ang donasyon? Limang bilyon? Dalawang bilyon mula sa hidden wealth ng mga Marcoses? Hindi ito ang point, pero ito na nga ang patutunguhan ng unibersidad. “Marcos Pa Rin!” ang isyu sa forum natin ngayon pero kinukonteksto ko ito sa tunguhin ngayon ng UP ng pagbebenta ng naming rights sa university. Relatibong bagong patakaran ang pagpapangalan ng mga gusali sa UP batay sa donasyon. Ang patakaran noong 1984 sa pagpapangalan sa mga gusali, istruktura, kalsada, at iba pang lugar—take note, places, walang academic programs—ay “after outstanding alumni for their exceptional and exemplary professional, scientific, or artistic achievements.” Galing ito sa [UP] Naming [Rights] Policy ng BOR na inaprubahan noong Agosto 2009 (University of the Philippines Gazette 2009b). Ang guidelines ay binago sa panahon ni President Francisco Nemenzo. Ang guidelines sa pagpapangalan ng mga buildings, structures, streets, parks, and other places na may kakabit na donasyon ay inaprubahan ni UP President Nemenzo noong 27 Hulyo 2004 at inihapag sa BOR bilang 24 KASARINLAN VOL. 27 (2012)–VOL. 28 (2013) Matters for Information of the Board noong ika-1185 meeting ng Board noong 26 Agosto 2004. “Noted” ang naging [tugon] ng BOR. Ano ang laman ng patakarang iyon? Ang pagpapangalan, “1 . . . may be named after natural (living or deceased) persons, juridical persons and objects. 2. [Naming] . . . shall be allowed only when it is made a condition in a donation in favor of the University and for meritorious considerations,” kapag living persons (University of the Philippines Gazette 2009b, 56). So, consistent siya sa batas na sina-cite ni Rene Saguisag. Pangalanan mo ang building sa buhay na tao kapag kondisyon siya sa donasyon. Pero nakasaad din doon: 3. In naming a building, a structure, a street, a park or a place in the University after a natural or a juridical person, the person so honored: 3.1.1. must have exceptional or exemplary achievement in his/her field/profession, or significant contribution to the University of the Filipino people; and 3.1.2 must have sterling reputation or could be looked upon as a role model of the youth. (University of the Philippines Gazette 2009b, 59) May “3.2,” hindi lang sa amount ng donation. Although sinasabi na “the donation should not be less than 50%”—may pera-pera na talaga— “of the construction cost of such building, structures, streets, park or place” (University of the Philippines Gazette 2009b, 57). Lalong na-institutionalize ang guidelines noong 28 Agosto 2009 sa 1248th pulong ng Board. Kabahagi ako ng BOR nang inaprubahan ito—ang Naming [Rights] Policy na inihapag ng noon ay UP President Emerlinda R. Roman na siya ring number one signatory sa endorsement ng recommendation sa renaming ng CBA. At nililinaw niya na mahalaga ito to supplement government funding. So, ang naming ng mga buildings ng UP ay kaugnay ng patuloy na kakulangan sa subsidyo ng gobyerno sa isang public university katulad ng UP. Pero pinalawak ng patakarang ito ang saklaw ng puwedeng pangalanan mula doon sa 2004 guidelines ni President Nemenzo. Nandoon pa rin ang “buildings or parts of buildings (such as wings, pavilions or annexes); theaters, laboratories, classrooms; outdoor areas, which may be gardens, courtyards, ovals and playing fields, roads or walkways; other facilities that may be recommended for naming; chairs, centers, institutes; [and] programs and projects” (University of the Philippines Gazette 2009b, 56). FORUM 1 ANG PAGPANGALAN SA CESAR E.A. VIRATA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS 25 Inihapag ng administrasyong Roman ang patakarang ito pagkatapos ng BOR meeting noong Hulyo 2009 kung saan matindi ang talakayan kaugnay sa pagpapangalan sa bagong tayong mga gusali, [tulad ng] iyong kolehiyo, Dr. [Eduardo] Tadem. Ano ang proposal in the naming of the new Asian Center facilities to be donated by Toyota Motor Philippines to the university: (1) That the entire 1-hectare property be officially designated as the GT–Toyota Asian Cultural Center; GT as in George Ty— (2) That the Museum–Library Research Institute building be named GT–Toyota Hall of Wisdom; and, (3) that the auditorium retain the name originally proposed GT-Toyota Asian Cultural Center Auditorium. (University of the Philippines Gazette 2009a, 51) Mahabang talakayan ito na sa minutes sinabi ko na: . . . this is the first time that a building in the university is going to be named after a corporation. In the past, buildings in the university are named after heroes or deceased administrators/ academic leaders of UP . . . naming a building after George Ty and Toyota on the account of their donations runs counter to the spirit of the university as state university. Previously, donors were simply honored with plaques of appreciation [located in prominent places on the building]. The chair [Emmanuel Angeles] took note of the observations of the faculty and the student regents. He then called for a division of the house. Five (Regents [Emerlinda] Roman, [Abraham] Sarmiento, [Nelia] Gonzales, [Alfredo] Pascual, including Regent [Cynthia] Villar . . . ) voted in favor of the proposal. Three (Regents [Judy] Taguiwalo, [Clodualdo] Cabrera, and [Charisse Bernadine] Bañez) voted against the proposal. (Ibid., 51–52) Mahalagang matukoy ang pag-apruba sa GT–Toyota building bilang unang break sa tradisyon ng pagpapangalan ng mga gusali sa UP batay sa accomplishments ng binibigyan ng karangalan at hindi batay sa donasyon. We are talking of buildings here. Dati ang mga nagbibigay ng donasyon ay 26 KASARINLAN VOL. 27 (2012)–VOL. 28 (2013) kinikilala sa pagpapangalan ng mga professorial chairs or awards or scholarships para sa kanila. Dati nang praktika ito. Ang nagbibigay donasyon sa mga pagtatayo ng mga gusali ay kinikilala sa pamamagitan ng plake na kumikilala sa kanilang kontribusyong pinansyal. Matingkad na halimbawa nito ang “Sentro Optalmolohiko Jose Rizal ng PGH [Philippine General Hospital]” na itinayo sa pamamagitan ng donasyon ng pamahalaan ng Espanya. Hindi ito pinangalanang “Spanish Government Ophthalmological Center,” pero may malaking plake sa bungad ng gusali na kumikilala sa donasyong ito. Ang praktikal na pagpapangalan ng mga gusali kapalit ng donasyon sa unibersidad at lumilitaw sa debate kaugnay ng pagpapangalan sa CBA na Cesar E. A. Virata School of Business Administration ay bahagi ng patuloy na pribatisasyon ng isang pampublikong unibersidad tulad ng UP. Malinaw na praktika ng mga pribadong unibersidad sa Pilipinas tulad ng Ateneo at La Salle na ipangalan, hindi lamang ang kanilang mga gusali kundi pati na ang kanilang pang-akademikong programa, sa malalaking donors. Sa La Salle, halimbawa, nariyan ang “Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business” at ang “Gokongwei College of Engineering.” Ang Ateneo naman ay mayroon ding “John Gokongwei School of Management.” Talaga namang mayaman-yaman ang mga Gokongwei. Hindi ako nagtataka na ang unang gumawa ng hakbang na mawasak ang tradisyon ng UP bilang isang pampublikong unibersidad at gayahin ang praktika ng mga pribadong unibersidad ay ang CBA. Hindi lamang sa pagpapangalan ng building sa isang korporasyon na akala ng iba ay pagawaan ng kotse ng Toyota dito sa UP, kundi sa ngayon ay ang pagbabago ng pangalan ng isang akademikong programa na lilitaw sa certificates ng mga estudyante ng UP, kung hindi man sa kanilang diploma. Sinabi ko noon sa panahon ng administrasyong Roman na bumilis ang kumpas ng pribatisasyon ng UP, at ito iyong presentation ko noon sa 20[10] Alumni Council: Some of the manifestations of the diminishing public character of the University are the transfer to the students of a larger part of the cost of their education through increased tuition and the imposition of various fees such as higher and/or new laboratory fees, joint ventures with big business, the selling of naming rights, the privatization of former university services such as the University Food Service and the UP Printery, contracting a private entity to set up laboratory, pharmacy, and radiology inside the PGH compound. (Taguiwalo 2010) FORUM 1 ANG PAGPANGALAN SA CESAR E.A. VIRATA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS 27 Initially named the Daniel Mercado Medical Arts Building, now renamed Faculty Medical Arts Building, because [of] the attempt to downplay the protest [regarding] “the private management of university dorms,” reached approval [of] the BOR but which fortunately has not been implemented in the current administration “are only some examples of the accelerating and diversified ways of privatization of the University of the Philippines” (Taguiwalo 2010). A UP alumnus, Eric “Cabring” Cabrera, suggested the following renaming of other UP institutions to continue the momentum started with the approval of the Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business. Kung hindi ninyo pa nabasa sa Facebook, babasahin ko na lang ngayon: The Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III School of Neoliberal Economics; The Ferdinand Edralin Marcos College of Martial Law; The Vicente Castelo Sotto III Creative Writing Center; The Liwayway Gawgaw Tapia College of Education; The Manuel “Lito” Lapid College of Superhuman Kinetics; The UP Maroonongs (to replace Maroons; pampataas ng confidence levels, especially for the basketball team); The Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo National College of Public Administration and Governance; The Wilfredo Buendia Revillame College of Mass Hysterical Communications; The Lucio Tan School of Contractual Labor and Industrial Relations; The Henry Sy Sr. University Shopping Center (pushing for “Mart”); The Sixto Serrano Brillantes Jr. Financial Assistance Program (to be known as the Sixto-FAP) with Brackets 60, 30, and 10; The Imelda Romualdez Marcos Sunken Garden of Truth, Goodness, and All Things Beautiful; and The Zobel de Ayala Public-Private-Partnership University of the Philippines (Cabrera 2013) Ang isyu ng demokratikong proseso ng pagdedesisyon sa loob ng unibersidad. I think it would be good if we understand the governance processes involved in the decision regarding the renaming of an academic unit. I would just like to note that there are ongoing 28 KASARINLAN VOL. 27 (2012)–VOL. 28 (2013) donations for buildings in UP Diliman. At least, the donation made by Rep. [Fatima Aliah] Dimaporo to the College of Architecture Auditorium has not been named “Dimaporo Auditorium.” It is called Mindanao Auditorium because she [gave] PHP 50 million. But happily, she did not impose as a condition of the donation that it be called the “Dimaporo Auditorium.” The College of Arts and Letters has also received donations for the construction of a theater. A simple groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 13 at the site [where the theater,] envisioned to be a three-story building from the design of architect Jason Buensalido, will [be erected]. But who are the donors? Present during the ceremony were UP President Alfredo Pascual, UP Diliman Chancellor [Caesar] Saloma, College of Arts and Letters Dean [Flora Elena] Mirano, officials of the Euro Towers International Inc. led by Ignacio Gimenez, chairman of the board and a UP Diliman alumnus, Edmundo Las, Hotel Sogo chief executive officer, and William Go, the hotel managing director. Does this mean that we are going to have a Sogo theater inside [UP]? We can laugh so much if it does not hurt kung hindi talaga ang pagpapangalan ng academic unit ay pagbibigay-dangal sa isang masugid at matapat na tagapaglingkod ng diktadurang Marcos. Hindi na rin ako nagulat, kasi noong last graduation, sino ang commencement speaker ng UP? Si Edgardo Angara, na ganoon din naman ang masasabi natin. Ano ba ang naging papel ni former senator Edgardo Angara sa panahon ng diktadurang Marcos? Uulitin ko, ang pagbibigay-dangal sa mga naging bahagi ng diktadurang Marcos ay betrayal ng mga sakripisyo—kabilang ang sakripisyo ng buhay ng marami-raming estudyante, kabataan, guro, at mamamayang Pilipino na lumaban sa diktadurang Marcos. Walang puwang ito sa UP na pamantasan ng bayan. Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat. NELSON A. NAVARRO (KOLUMNISTA, PHILIPPINE STAR): Grumadweyt ako sa CBA noong 1968 at si Virata ang pumirma sa aking diploma. Noong 1968, kagalang-galang pa iyang si Virata. I mean you know, [graduate ng The] Wharton [School] at saka talagang technocrat. Itong pagpapangalan kay Virata, as far as I am concerned, is invalid. It is against the law. Hindi lang ito pinoint out ni Rene Saguisag na mayroong republic act na nagbabawal magpangalan sa mga taong buhay pa. Ngayon, nakausap ko rin si [Maria Serena] “Maris” Diokno, na ngayon ay chairperson ng [National Historical Commission of the Philippines] at sabi niya may pamamalakad tayo na ang pagpapangalan ng mga ganito, kailangang [pagkatapos] pa ng fifty years. Patay na sila ng fifty years. Bakit