University of the Philippines (UP) President Danilo Concepcion led, on March 3, 2022, the time capsule laying for the new UP Diliman Campus Maintenance Office Complex (UPD-CMO), consisting of buildings, workshops, and a yard.
The complex is a joint project between UP and the Human Rights Violations Victims Memorial Commission (HRVVMC), which is funding the project as part of a memorandum of agreement for the construction of an HRVV Memorial / Museum / Library / Archive / Compendium—proposed to be called the Freedom Museum—in UP Diliman.
The Freedom Museum will rise on CMO’s old site. CMO relocates to a new, more spacious complex beside the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
“Ipinagmamalaki ko ang malawakang pagsasaayos, modernisasyon, pagpapalawig, at pagpapanatili ng ganda at kasaysayan ng pisikal na kalagayan ng ating mga kampus. Ginawa natin ang mga ito para sa ating mga estudyante, guro, mananaliksik, mga manggagamot, mga kawani, at para sa mas malawak nating pamayanan. Hindi naman maaaring maiwan ang mga kasamahan nating mahusay na nangangalaga sa ating pangalawang tahanan (I take pride in the comprehensive upgrade, modernization, expansion, and aesthetic and historical preservation of the physical state of our campuses. We are doing these for our students, the faculty, researchers, doctors, administrative staff, and the larger community. We must not forget our colleagues who are well taking care of our second home),” Concepcion said in his opening remarks.”
Alam kong palipat-lipat ang CMO at matagal nang nangangarap ng isang permanenteng tahanan (I know how CMO has transferred from one place to another and long dreamed of a permanent home),” UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo said in his closing remarks. He recalled seeing the old Physical Plant Office, the forerunner of the CMO, near the playground during his childhood.
“Napapanahon na magkaroon ng panibagong building ang CMO at mabigyan ng pansin ang mga pangangailangan nito, dahil isa ito sa mga gulugod ng kampus (The time is right to have a new CMO building and its needs addressed, as it is part of the campus backbone),” CMO Acting Director Perlita Raña said in an interview after the capsule-laying ceremony. “Nitong pandemya, nalaman natin na esensyal siya na gawain. Hindi ito huminto sa pagseserbisyo, kasama ng Health Service. (During the pandemic, we come to realize just how essential its work is. It continued to serve, together with the Health Service.)”
“Next naman sana in line ay mga bagong sasakyan (We hope new vehicles are next in line),” Raña added.
The CMO is responsible for the physical upkeep of the university: its buildings and offices, dormitories and housing units, roads, sewers and drainage systems, parks and gardens, nurseries, and the Arboretum. It performs hauling activities, fabrication, and installation of street signs.
The HRVVMC has a mandate to establish a museum in honor of human rights violation victims during the Marcos regime. UP and HRVVMC agreed to collaborate on the project during the administration of UP President Alfredo E. Pascual. Meanwhile, the UP System administration under President Concepcion administration initiated the relocation of CMO to its new site.
“Ang mga gagamit ng museo ay doon na lamang papasok sa CP Garcia… At meron din namang kaming isang gallery dito na puwede nilang idamay sa kanilang pagbisita… Dalawa ang magiging pakinabang nila: kasaysayan at kultura (Visitors of the museum can easily access it via CP Garcia. … And we have another gallery which they can also visit. … They will benefit in terms of both history and culture),” Concepcion said.
