Dean Alex Brillantes Jr. and Director of Studies Mila Reforma held a dialogue with DPA students on July 30, 2008 in the the NCPAG case room. In the dialogue, the graduate students raised their concerns about how the academic program is implemented and other matters related to it. Twenty students attended the meeting.

One of the major issues raised is research. It was pointed by the students and Dean Alex himself that in universities in the States, students, upon entry to a graduate program, are automatically assigned to a mentoring program under a faculty who shall serve as their counselor or adviser until the completion of the degree. This scheme helps students identify and work on their research interests. It was suggested that the college device a system wherein students and faculty could match their research interests. Still related to this point, it was also suggested that a roadmap for graduate students be drafted.

Immersion, internship and other group activities were also suggested to be included in the activities in graduate courses. One student also raised the issue of the increasing number of foreign students enrolled in the DPA program. In relation to this situation, it was suggested that more focus be given to international affairs.

As regards enrolment, it was proposed that the academic records of graduate students be separated from those of undergraduate students for easier retrieval and processing during registration. Students also implored on extending the library hours during weekdays until 8pm to accommodate students who can go to the library only after office hours.

Dean Brillantes assured the students that he will present the matters discussed in the dialogues with the faculty and the concerned departments of the college. Prof. Reforma proposed that dialogues be held regularly.

A paper presented in the public colloquium on: “Is there a Philippine Public Administration: A Timeless Issue,” held on June
26-27, 2008 at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG).

As an age-old problem in the society, corruption is essentially the abuse of trust in the interest of personal and private gain. Therefore, corruption is a form of seeking personal gain. In some countries, nepotism is also considered as one kind of a corruption practices. While the economic reasons, such as poverty and unemployment, is a main reason for corruption practices, others socio-cultural aspects also play an important role in spread-out of the corruption in a country. Such as colonialism and culture inherited in society as well as the weakness of religious and ethical teaching are also have a significant contribution to the existence of the corruption which is occurred in a country.

ASINAS, NEILSTER JON S.; BARSAGA, NEIL JR. P. ; BRILLANTES, LOVE JOY C.; BULSECO, FRANCISCO III S.; DEGOLLADO, ETHEL MARIE G.; DUMAMA, SHA ELIJAH B.; DUMLAO, JOVIAN JUBERT S.; FONTILLAS, HYACINTH C.; GADUANG-ROYALES, ANITA A.; MENESES, GERALDINE S.; MERCADO, KATHERINE C.; MONGAYA, ANNA KRISTINE C.; POJAS, PHILIP JOHN L.; REYES, RONCES ANNE S.; SABADO, SUSAN PHOEBE R.; SURIL, ETHEL REA G.; TIMBOL, JENNIFER L.; VELICARIA, ANTHONY RAYMOND M.

Fernando Javier addressed the 137 “centennial graduates” of the NCPAG in the commencement exercises held on April 26, 2008 at the NCPAG Dome. He started by sharing his own graduation in 1930 in UP which was then still in Manila. From there, he related his life journey, including his experience During World War II and participation in the Bataan Death March. Taking cue from this, he lamented that “In spite of stark differences between life in the 1940s and life today, I see many similarities. Our country may not be devastated by war, but it is beset by problems There are problems of underemployment for even young graduates as yourselves, and overpopulation and poverty continue to exist. There is moral degeneration. Corruption and dishonesty are rampant everywhere.”

Calling all Alumni of the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG), you are all invited to the Centennial Homecoming on June 14 2008, Saturday, at the NCPAG Assembly Hall in UP Diliman. Outstanding Alumni Achievement Awards will be given.

For inquiries, please contact the UP NCPAG Alumni Association Secretariat and look for Sheila at these numbers: 9818500 Loc 4177 / 9283861 / 09165514573 or e-mail us at ncpagaa@yahoo.com.

A proud UP-NCPAG UP-Centennial Publication will be officially launched for national release on April 17, 2008 at the UP-NCPAG Assembly Hall, UP-NCPAG, Diliman, Quezon City.
For inquiries please call Winnie Flores at +63447911548 or Becky Oropilla at +6329283914. You can also send email inquiries to pa_gsr@yahoo.com .

The author exchanges notes with Dr. Alex B. Brillantes, Jr., dean and professor of the University of the Philippines’ National College of Public Administration and Governance, on the former’s pioneering book which pushes for greater national awareness of administration and public management issues.

Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto poses with book author Ma. Gladys C. Sta. Rita to endorse the latter’s Running a Bureaucracy: A Guidebook for LGU Administrators, Other Public Managers, and Elected Officials, a pioneering Centennial Publication of the UP-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG). The book, anticipated by its celebrity endorsers to be a bestseller, will be launched on April 17 at the UP-NCPAG.

"The real challenge before us is not how to bring the Arroyo administration down or how to silence the opposition. The real challenge is how each and everyone of us may be consistent with the Scriptures in whatever we do and say; how not to be led by bursts of emotions but by our deep commitment both to the Law of God and the law of our land; how we all can uphold a rule of righteousness, decency and law.... "

UP-NCPAG welcomed Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson at the 20th Diliman Governance Forum (DGF) entitled, “Wala Nga Bang Ku-Corrupt? The Impact of Graft and Corruption on Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)” held at the Assembly Hall, 28 February 2008, Thursday from 2 to 5 pm. The event was sponsored by Mayor Santiago Austria of Municipality of Jaen, Nueva Ecija; Congresswoman Ann Hofer,2nd District, Zamboanga Sibugay, Vice-Mayor Alvin Mojica of Trece Martires City, Cavite; Congressman Ronaldo Zamora, City of San Juan, UPNCPAG Alumni Association, and Cordillera Coffee. The organizers were PA 235 (Fiscal Policy and National Administration) students under Professor Leonor Briones.

The Honorable Senator tackled the issue of graft and corruption in the country, highlighting its pervasiveness in the present administration. Senator Lacson was complemented by three reactors, namely; Commissioner Jaime D. Jacob of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC); Campaign Coordinator, Ms. May-I Fabros, of Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), and NCPAG’s Prof. J. Prospero “Popoy” De Vera lll. The event was also graced by Quezon City Vice-Mayor Herbert Bautista and ANC newscaster Ricky Carandang.

It was a standing-room occasion with students, faculty and employees from the University, University of Kalookan, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), and New Era University actively participating in the open forum.