Members of the All University of the Philippines Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) marked World Teachers’ Day with a mobilization that also ushered in the Academic Union Month at the Quezon Hall Lobby in UP Diliman, October 5.
Highlights included group dance sessions, raffle draws, and a communal breakfast catering to both faculty members and staff. The union also unveiled its lineup for the Academic Union Month, including the launch of the Paaralang Teresa Magbanua Union Curriculum and the AUPAEU Diliman Health and Wellness Program Seminar.
In his message, UP President Angelo Jimenez emphasized the integral role of the University’s employees. “Ang reminder ko lagi: pagsilbihan ang sambayanan. May obligasyon táyo na iangat lahat para sa sambayanan. Hindi lang po táyo honor and excellence, [dapat] honor, excellence, and service,” Jimenez said.
(My constant reminder is to serve the nation. We have an obligation to uplift everyone for the greater good. Beyond just honor and excellence, we should embody honor, excellence, and service.)
Jimenez also issued a memorandum encouraging University employees to actively partake in the forthcoming Academic Union Month events.
“Hinikayat at pinahihintulutan ang mga empleyado, sa ilalim ng nararapat na pagpapasiya ng bawat opisina na panatilihing magbigay ng skeleton force para sa pagpapatuloy ng paglilingkod sa ating mga nasasakupan, upang dumalo sa iba’t ibang programa at aktibidad na inihanay ng AUPAEU sa lahat ng constituent universities sa opisyal na oras ng paggawa.”
(Employees are encouraged and allowed, under the appropriate discretion of each office to maintain a skeleton force for the continuity of service to our constituents, to attend various programs and activities organized by AUPAEU for all constituent universities during official working hours.)
In a show of support, UP Faculty Regent Carl Marc Ramota underscored his office’s commitment to combat contractualization. He also said his office will fight for academic freedom and salary increase
AUPAEU’s mobilization coincided with the UP Board of Regents’ special meeting which resulted in the election of Dr. Michael Tee as the new Chancellor of UP Manila and the reappointments of Dr. Jose Camacho and Dr. Clement Camposano as Chancellors of UP Los Baños and UP Visayas, respectively.