ANNIVERSARY SPEECH

How is it feel to be a part of UP? As Isko and Iska, did anyone of us think of our responsibilities in this country? Did those questions ever come into our mind even for once? Frankly speaking, I enrolled in this university without having any idea what really UP is. My mom said, “Nak, kuyaw nah nga skwelahan ang UP.” That statement inspires me to join the Summer Bridge Program last 2007, those were the times that I really had difficulties adjusting my academic performance. I really want to give up. But then I was able to stand for my decision to enroll in this university. My stay here allows myself to answer some of those questions that confuses and bothers me a lot, certain facts for example. The longer I stay in UP Min, the more I understand our role in Mindanao. It’s been already UP MIN’s 12th year of molding students like me.

Looking back, there were lots of struggles before they finally put up UP Mindanao. Believe it or not, the plan, process and amendments of establishing a UP in Mindanao took more than two decades. UP was established on February 20, 1995 through Republic Act 7889, signed into law by former president Fidel V. Ramos. UP was sixth unit in the UP system. Its first campus was actually located in Ladislawa and later moved to Bago Oshiro, Mintal.

For 12 years, UP Mindanao has been empowering Mindanao. It is successful in developing and imparting the UP education to all sectors particularly the poor, isolated and those inadequately prepared for higher education with all its tradition of excellence, liberalism, total human development, social relevance and leadership will impact on the economic, socio-cultural, political and sustainable development in Mindanao.

Our campus may not be that nice compare to other school campuses in the downtown area. It is distant from the city. One thing you can notice is the green green grasses around you. But you will eventually get use to it. As you can observe, UP Min has its gradual but better transformation now. Obviously, the road to UP Mindanao is partially concrete, at least. The CHSS building doesn’t look like a cement factory anymore. More jeepneys are going inside and out of our campus. The betterment of UP Mindanao is also proved by the students, the Isko and Iska. Excellency in Leadership, Education, Nationalism, Cultural sensitivity, and Environmental nurturance can be attained through awareness, name different awareness as much as you like.

Fellow students, being an iskolar ng bayan is a much greater responsibility than anyone of us imagine. For that last 12 years, UP Mindanao have prove to the nation that we exist. UP is the maker of the intellectuals. What makes UP the best is not its name, not its history but what it had attained. Sulong iskolar ng Bayan!