鈥淪a kakulangan sa pagkain na mas lumalala, ano ang papel ng mga produkto ng UPLB bilang kataas-taasang Pamantasan ng Bayan?鈥� Dr. J. Prospero de Vera III asked the 2,315 members of the UP Los Ba帽os (UPLB) graduating class at the 52nd Commencement Exercises on August 3.聽
De Vera, Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and of the UP Board of Regents, emphasized that UPLB graduates should contribute to solutions that aim to address the country鈥檚 chronic problems, one of these being food insecurity. UPLB, created as the UP College of Agriculture in 1909, is expected to actively pursue solutions that address this problem. UPLB 鈥渘eeds to rise up to the challenge and show that UP as the national university matters in our national life,鈥� de Vera said.聽
Citing UPLB鈥檚 top performance in licensure examinations in Agriculture, Forestry, Nutrition, and Veterinary Medicine, and the National Scientists it has produced, de Vera added that there is no doubt as to UPLB鈥檚 excellence in teaching, research, and public service. But he then asked, 鈥淒o we, as RA 9500 requires, provide 鈥榰nique and distinctive leadership in higher education?鈥� And do we use our teaching, research, and public service expertise in. . .聽 the service of the nation?鈥�
De Vera challenged the Class of 2024 to take on 鈥渢he difficult task of developing and implementing policies and programs鈥� by becoming leaders in government. He urged the class to commit to research that would 鈥減rovide viable and realistic solutions to problems in agriculture.鈥�
He also said that UPLB must actively engage with state universities and colleges, especially those in far-flung and remote areas that need UPLB鈥檚 expertise the most. 鈥淢asusukat din ang ating pagiging National University kung ang ating galing ay nararamdaman sa mga liblib na pamayanan at mga pamahalaang lokal.鈥澛�
De Vera concluded his address by telling the graduating class, 鈥淭he Filipino people eagerly await your contribution to the country as a way of reciprocating the public’s investment in your education. . . . Let us not hesitate to serve and show that the Iskolar ng Bayan can bring positive and transformative change to the lives of Filipinos.鈥澛�
Speaking for the UPLB Class of 2024, the class valedictorian, Xheanttle Plata Mirasol (BS Nutrition, summa cum laude), urged the rest of her class, 鈥淏ilang magsisipagtapos, ibalik natin sa mamamayan, sa kanya-kanya nating paraan, ang edukasyon na ating pinakinabangan.鈥�
To her fellow graduates from the College of Human Ecology, Mirasol said, 鈥淎s human ecologists and nutritionists, we play a critical role in addressing the needs of the society amidst the issues on climate change and increasing malnutrition rates. Issues where Filipino resilience has been taken advantage of.鈥�
UPLB鈥檚 new alumni who graduated with honors included: 28, summa cum laude; 437, magna cum laude; and 649, cum laude. The graduation program began with the oath-taking of UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho Jr. for his second term, administered by UP President Angelo Jimenez.
