UP and the Philippine Senate A Study on the UP Values Inculcated on UP Alumni Senators

Abstract

The University of the Philippines has continued to produce leaders in the fields of business, arts, sciences, and politics. During the 13th Congress, there were seven UP alumni in the Senate—Ed Angara, Pia Cayetano, Franklin Drilon, Jinggoy Estrada, Kiko Pangilinan, Miriam Santiago, and Manny Villar. In line with this, the researcher studied whether these UP senators are embodying the values that the University is trying to impart on its students. Furthermore, the researcher also studied how these values were inculcated on the students and the significance of the values to society. For the realization of the study, the researcher conducted key informant interviews, focus group discussion, and a comprehensive literature review. Data that were gathered revolved around the UP values, the process of inculcation, public perception on UP alumni, and the impact of the UP values through the laws authored by the UP alumni. Information coming from these processes was analyzed through coding for themes and sub-themes. The study was able to establish that the UP alumni senators indeed performed well and they were in accordance to the values of the University. These values include: nationalism, excellence, hard work, tolerance of diversity, vigilance, and independence. Furthermore, the values were inculcated through formal and informal means, such as: the General Education program, policies and practices in the university, and the examples of professors. The vales were used by the senators in preparing for bills, voting and deciding for the passing for legislations, and deciding for critical issues among others. On the other hand, motivations for decision-making of the senators are not always driven by the values of the university. Values learned from the family, the church, organization, peers, e\self-interests could have also motivated the senators in pursuing their decisions. The researcher recommends that there must be the establishment of strong and proper values at the family level. Another recommendation is for the University of the Philippines to ensure and monitor the efficiency and relevance of the General Education (GE) courses as the formal process of the inculcation of values in the University, is laid down here. Furthermore, Professors and other University officials should be given adequate monitoring because they play an important role in the formal process of value formation. The University should be given fiscal autonomy for it to develop without the influence of others. Finally, the senators should always live up to the values of the University and support UP.