04/04/2024
𝗨𝗣𝗕 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗟 𝗢𝗙 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗢 𝗢𝗙 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗢 𝗣𝗔𝗝 𝟮𝟰-𝟯𝟵 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙. 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗬
We, the recognized student organizations and formations of the University of the Philippines Baguio, are one in forwarding our call for a democratic and pro-people UP Baguio; hereby, express our full support to Dr. Wilfredo V. Alangui to be the next University Chancellor of UP Baguio. With this, we also forward our opposition to the Administrative Order No. PAJ-39, which extends the Search Process for the Next Chancellor.
The role of the students and their organizations in the overall welfare of the university is imperative. It is with utmost importance that our Chancellor, whose decisions and programs directly affect all sectors inside our university, embodies the values and principles of UP as the national university. The chancellor must uphold academic freedom as the core of its mandate. Thus, this Chancellor Selection in April is a crucial process defining UPB for the next three years.
The UP Baguio community faces issues such as the lack of physical spaces, rampant repression of our democratic rights, inaccessible basic social services, and the lack of funding for offices, student institutions, and varsity. On top of these, students of UP Baguio and the Cordillera community are experiencing these challenges amid development aggression in the region, wherein dams and mining projects threaten the ancestral lands and livelihood of Indigenous Peoples (IPs).
We need a Chancellor who will recognize that these demands are our rights as constituents. We need a Chancellor who will proactively address our concerns. We need a Chancellor who will be with us in our struggle for a nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented education. We need a Chancellor who has firm principles and knows the university’s mandate to serve the Cordillera region.
We need a chancellor who is democratic, proactive, and grounded in the university’s situations and demands.
With this, the student organizations and formations of UP Baguio see Professor Alangui as the best candidate to be the 4th University Chancellor of UP Baguio. We have seen his unwavering commitment to forwarding IP studies through Ethnomathematics as his main research interest. In his vision paper, he emphasizes that one of the mandates of UPB is to strengthen its commitment to the region. Recognizing this mandate is vital as it is often forgotten by many. It is high time that we remember our roots.
Professor W***y Alangui also supported the students in their calls for mass promotion at the onset of the pandemic and Ligtas Balik Eskwela later on. He also shared his time and knowledge conversing with student leaders regarding the campaign against red-tagging. We have seen his presence and participation in our activities and mobilizations. That speaks volumes about his character as a leader, mentor, and professor.
In relation to this matter, released last March 27, 2024, was an extension for the Search for the Next University of the Philippines Baguio Chancellor. The motion, through Administrative Order No. PAJ 24-39 was instructed by UP President Angelo A. Jimenez to consider the “consistently expressed preference of the Board of Regents to have more than one (1) nominee for high University position”. We express our concern about the appalling transparency from the University President behind the process of this decision, provided that this “preference” has not been consulted with all members of the Board of Regents.
Thus, and lastly, to the Board of Regents, we appeal and urge the Board of Regents to heed the call of UP Baguio, our Ili, to appoint Professor Wilfredo V. Alangui as our next Chancellor. Evident in his vision paper is his knowledge of the concrete conditions of the university. His plans are aligned with what we are currently fighting for. Given all these, we, the recognized student formations and organizations of UP Baguio, will remain critical of his programs and stances.
We urge the members of the Board of Regents to heed the call of the community to uphold the democratic process and to be transparent in any decision-making in the ongoing Chancellor Selection Process.
We continue to register our mandate: Serve the People!
W***y Mula sa Ili, Para sa Ili: Heed the Call of UP & Cordilleras
UP Office of the Student Regent
Office of the Staff Regent
University of the Philippines Baguio
***yParaTiUmili
