UP Mindanao (UPMin) held “Parangal para kay President Alfredo E. Pascual,” a tribute program for the outgoing UP president at the Lorenzo Hall, Administration Building on February 3, a week before the end of his term.
Sectors of the UPMin community honored Pascual in different ways. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences, through its BA Communication Arts students, created a video presentation. The College of Science and Mathematics’ tribute was a song performed by one of its BS Biology students. Another song was performed by BS Agribusiness Economics students as the School of Management’s (SOM) tribute. Performances were also given by UPMin’s choral group, Koro Kantahanay, and the UPMin Dance Ensemble.
The program also featured tribute messages from: [Ed: in this position, his being an alumnus is presumed] UP Mindanao Foundation Inc. Chair Sebastian Angliongto; Officer-in-Charge Michael Aportadera of the Sports Development Division-City Mayor’s Office, who represented Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio; SOM Dean Larry Digal, who spoke on behalf of the faculty; President Analiza Fulvadora of the All-UP Workers Union-UPMin Chapter; President Michael Gatela of the Research, Extension and Professional Staff Association; former Davao City 3rd District Representative Isidro Ungab; and, leaders of the Obu Manuvu Tribe led by Datu Joel Unad, who presented Pascual with the tribe’s traditional costume and a plaque of recognition. Pascual also received gifts from UPMin employees through Fulvadora and Gatela, who represented them in the program.
UPMin Chancellor Sylvia Concepcion presented Pascual with the constituent university’s token of appreciation—an heirloom kris or “sudeng” from the T’boli tribe. She narrated how the sudeng was made by a chief sword maker and was a family heirloom before it was bartered for a horse with Datu Bundos Fara, who came from a long line of metal crafters. Concepcion added that the sudeng was a type of sword made for datus. It symbolized “authority, vigor, leadership, and magic,” and was believed to be endowed with “magical, mystical, and healing powers.” The sudeng is considered a highly-prized possession by the T’bolis.
Vice President for Academic Affairs Gisela Concepcion and Vice President for Planning and Finance Joselito Florendo, who attended the tribute, were also given tokens of appreciation by UPMin. Concepcion was given an “aged” kris from the Maranao tribe, while Florendo received a “new, unused” sword called a “kampilan”—also made for datus as a symbol of leadership by T’boli bladesmiths.
Apart from thanking UPMin for the tribute program, Pascual also looked back on his first visit to the campus and talked about how the constituent university has developed over the last six years. He also called on the UPMin community to support the succeeding administration of 21st UP President Danilo Concepcion. Pascual announced that after his term as UP president, he was still willing to serve the University as a UP alumnus and a Filipino citizen. (Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo, UP MPRO)
Fore more photos of the event, please click here.
