Message on the UP Diliman Chancellorship

March 3, 2011


Dear all,



First of all my deepest gratitude to all of you.



Many of you know that winning was only one of my goals for accepting the nomination. So please do not be saddened by the result because I/we have achieved other outcomes. This is why I have been saying that I am happy nonetheless. (And I am not just trying to keep a stiff upper lip.)



Most importantly, so many of you have come out in support. I am happy at the nature of this support because I do not think it was about patronage or personality but about common visions and principles. It is heartwarming that dear friends would go to bat for me, but also heartwarming that acquaintances and even people I did not know helped out.



I also see that many who did not support my bid are of the same principles. They just felt the other candidates more worthy. Even to these people, I am grateful.



My world is so much larger at the end of this process.



I hope that your worlds are also larger now. For a few weeks I was one of the foci of this larger community that you also belong to, and that has been a real joy and honor.



I am happy to say that I am now back to my other concerns. In a week or two I may be able to talk to you about a new initiative on pushing academic freedom. In the meantime, please do not forget our big March 8 rally for the reproductive health bill. Please go to the Likhaan website for final details.



As for UP, let us continue to be involved in its politics. Many of you believe as I do that UP's situation hinders or facilitates our goals for social justice.



While some of you are understandably disappointed about the processes and the outcome, I am convinced UP will continue to do what it has always done---survive because of (and despite) its leaders.



I congratulate Dr. Caesar Saloma and pledge my cooperation to him as the new Chancellor of UP Diliman.