A canopy, a cradle, a raging river

The acacia trees. Arms outstretched to the heavens and over concrete rivers, forming a canopy over motorists and pedestrians alike.

That was my first vivid impression of the University of the Philippines Diliman campus over three decades ago, as I was driven through the campus’ main road, turning right before the Oblation, then left down the acacia-shaded road to the College of Arts and Sciences (which we simply referred to as “AS”), the cradle for all the privileged newbies accepted into the UP Diliman campus.

A canopy for all those who seek to get the best education, the University of the Philippines, however doesn’t shelter you from the storms. In fact, it purposely lets the storms shake the branches of your canopy, so that those who walk under its shade learn to dodge the elements when necessary, or raise their faces to the rain.

In a way, the tough love I got from my professors at the UP nudged me towards the right direction. If my Math 100 teacher didn’t give me such a hard time, giving me my first “3,” which I thought would be a permanent blemish on my life (it turned out to be a temporary blush instead), I would not have pursued Journalism and found true happiness, which I like to define the way John F. Kennedy did: “The ancient Greek definition of happiness was the full use of your powers along the lines of excellence.”

I believe that I was able to strive for excellence, because I went into a field  — Journalism/Communication — that was my enabler.

So I thank the canopy of learning for providing me a place conducive to my intellectual and social (not sosyal) growth; a canopy that did not shield me from the harshest of suns and the strongest of storms — but was there to nurture me, nevertheless.

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In late June, the UP Alumni Association (UPAA) honored several of its distinguished alumni during its general homecoming at the Ang Bahay ng Alumni at the UP Diliman campus. Chosen were alumni who “have attained exceptional achievements and made outstanding contributions in their chosen fields of endeavor.”

According to UPAA president Ramon Maronilla, the 2016 Homecoming adopted the theme Walang Humpay ang Tagumpay (Never Ending Success and Achievements) because it was descriptive “of the unflagging endeavors of UP alumni to attain greater heights.”

Conceived in 1933, the Awards began with the UPAA Gold Medal of Merit and the Diploma of Honor — conferred on Manuel Roxas (BSA’11, MS’13) and Cristobal Manalang (DTM’17), respectively. In 1957, the UPAA began giving awards in different categories (today’s Distinguished Alumni Awards).

This year’s UPAA “Most Distinguished Alumnus” is Dr. David M. Consunji, BSCE’46 and LLD’93.

The UPAA Most Distinguished Alumna, on the other hand, is Amina Rasul-Bernardo, AB’75.

I was privileged to be among the three Distinguished Alumni in Communication, along with Dr. Severino Sarmenta and Dr. Dante Velasco.

The UPAA Lifetime Distinguished achievement awards were given to Dr. Cornelio G. Banaag, Dr. Enrique T. Carlos, Dr. Mario S. de Villa, Dr. Consuelo Joaquin-Paz (who introduced the “sablay” as part of the graduation attire), Dr. Lourdes Ladrido-Ignacio, Dr. Zorayda E. Leopando and Dr. Leonardo Q. Liongson.

Awardee for Law is Senior Justice Josue N. Bellosillo, who retired from the Supreme Court with no case backlog.

UPAA Presidential Awards were given to Atty. Jose Gerardo Alampay, Prof. Felipe M. de Leon, Mr. Wilfrido “Willy” Nepomuceno and Dean Danilo Concepcion of the UP College of Law. Under Concepcion, the quality of UP’s Law graduates showed marked academic excellence in Bar exams not seen in the years immediately before he took over.

(For more awardees, visit www.upalumni.ph.)

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With my mother Sonia Reyes-Mayor, a UP alumna herself (Business Administration), and my husband Eduardo Ramirez (Broadcast Communication), we drove through the concrete river under the leafy acacia trees once more to the university that was both my canopy, my cradle and my raging river. At the awards ceremonies, we were joined by STAR’s Jerry Donato (of UP Open University, who nominated me) and the lone Atenean in my immediate family, my son Chino.

And receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award in Communication was sweet, because Journalism has given me a life as well as a living; and has been and is — a genuine source of happiness.

(You may e-mail me at [email protected].)