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Acceptance of Nomination for the Deanship
Alex Brillantes Jr
May 15, 2007
It is with a profound sense of humility that I am accepting the nomination to a second
term as Dean of the National College of Public Administration and Governance. I do it
out of a sense of responsibility and deep love for our College.
Why I Accept the Nomination
The decision to accept the nomination was a difficult one. As I articulated during the
faculty meeting last April 11, and in the presence of the Chancellor, I declared that I
would not run for the Deanship for second term. This decision was arrived at after
consultation with my family who felt that I needed to spend more time with them.
However, during the faculty meeting, a number of the faculty members, including the
most senior and most respected ones in the College – including Professors Liling Briones
and Maricon Alfiler, among others - asked me to reconsider my decision. They pledged
to continue, and even increase their support for my Deanship. It was after all, upon their
advice and guidance that I was accepted the responsibility to the Dean three years ago.
And I will be forever grateful to them for their confidence and support. The tipping point
to reconsider my decision not to run again came when University Professor Leddy Carino
saw me in my office a few days later and advised me to consider a second term for the
Deanship, noting that, continuity is an essence for the moment. She also said that the
conditions that necessitated a change in the Deanship at this point in time in the history of
the College were not present. I therefore reflected on what my senior colleagues told me.
I was also informed by my colleagues and friends in the NCPAG family, that many of the
current and former faculty (including former senior faculty members, Professors Raul de
Guzman and Nestor Pilar), staff, students and other stakeholders of NCPAG College
signed up to nominate me for the Deanship.
I was certainly humbled and overwhelmed by this show of support and affirmation of my
leadership the past three years.
I therefore once more consulted my family and said that I would reconsider my decision
not to run. After much prayer and discussion with them, my wife and my children said
that they would support my decision, whatever I felt was best for my family, and for the
College.
It is within this context that I humbly accept the nomination.
What Team NCPAG has Accomplished the Past Three Years
Certainly without meaning to be presumptuous nor boastful, I am therefore taking this
opportunity to take stock of what Team NCPAG has collectively accomplished over the
past three years under my Deanship.
We have started the curriculum review process. The faculty retreat in Tagaytay last year
was very encouraging with our colleagues actively engaged in the curriculum review and
strengthening process. We have involved the students in the governance of the College
especially when it comes to matters involving the students. We have strengthened our
local and international network, including the Association of Schools of Public
Administration of the Philippines (ASPAP). We have also revived the Philippine Society
for Public Administration (PSPA). We have worked with our international partners
including the Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration (EROPA) and the
Network of Asia Pacific Schools and Institutes of Public Administration (NAPSIPAG),
the European Union, the UNDP, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.
Bilaterally, we have revived our partnership with the National Institute of Development
Administration (NIDA) of Thailand.
Through the Diliman Governance Forum, the College has likewise been in the forefront
in the discourse and analysis of burning issues of the day. We have had around 17 DGFs
addressing issues ranging from Reorganization to Corruption to Decentralization to
Metropolitan Governance and Justice Reforms. These forums were very well attended by
public administration stakeholders, practitioners and academics alike and were reported
in the national papers therefore drawing attention to the College’s efforts to contribute to
responsive public administration and good governance.
We have tried to enrich our teaching by actively engaging the services of special lecturers
in our classes. These include former cabinet members, local officials and even members
of Congress who were invited to share their practical insights to our students giving flesh
and meaning to the praxis of public administration and governance teaching and
education.
In celebration of our 55th anniversary this year, we launched the public lecture series. This
was largely inspired by Dr Jose Abueva who encouraged faculty to share their research
and academic interests to our colleagues. So far, since its launching three months ago,
two lectures (by myself and by Professor Erwin Alampay) have been delivered. The
schedule of public lecturers by our colleagues has been made for the rest of the year
ensuring a year long celebration of our 55th Anniversary.
A collective accomplishment I am particularly happy about over the past years is
NCPAG’s active involvement in Gawad Kalinga. In the University, NCPAG has played a
visible and leading role in the Iskolar ng Bayan Village with the active participation of
our students, faculty and staff. This is all part of our walking the talk in the discourse of
governance whereby civil society participation in governance is not only recognized but
encouraged as well. Our involvement in GK – largely through our Center for Citizenship
Leadership and Democracy – concretizes this. Of course, we are honored that Brother
Tony Meloto has agreed to be appointed as a Fellow of CLCD (even before he received the Ramon Magsayasay Award and the Filipino of the Year Award.)
We have tried our best to strengthen our publications program. The past three years have
seen the PO publish several working papers as a result of our Diliman Governance
Forum. More importantly, though, by making a serious effort to complement the staff of
the PO, we have tried to update our Philippine Journal of Public Administration. We are
moving closer to that goal. With the hard work of our PO, the 2006 issues are to be
released this year. Our 2005 Annual Report has been released sporting a new corporate
look and our 2006 Annual report is already in press. A number of our faculty members
have also received the International Publications Award. (Again for whatever it is worth,
I might note that I was a consistent recipient of the IPA from 2003 to 2007.)
Internally, as far as management and operations of the College are concerned, Team
NCPAG has likewise accomplished big and little things, including observance of the
regular flag ceremonies and annual team building activities (such as the NCPAG
sportsfest and the summer outings). Perhaps among the most visible changes in the
College are the improvement and upgrading of our facilities. These included the
improvement of our classrooms, the Academic Program Office (CPAGE), the
Publications Office, the alumni office and the Dean’s Office and conference room. We
have also constructed the Governance Dome, the Atrium, the New Assembly Hall (now a
stand alone facility complete with restrooms), and of course the student “tambayan” in
the friendship garden. Now that the students have a new place of their own, they no
longer need to occupy the end of the hallways of our building as their “headquarters.” I
recall that ever since the then CPA moved to Diliman, faculty, staff and students alike
have asked that something be done about these student tambayans that have had the
tendency not only to be messy but also noisy. Hopefully the relocation to the new
tambayans will address these concerns, with the cooperation of all. The construction and
improvement of the above facilities was largely a result of our efforts to reach out to
NCPAG partners and supporters like Senator Aquilino Pimentel and Congresswoman
Nanette Castelo-Daza. Key to accessing such resources is the support of NCPAG alumni
such as Engineer Ray Tagudando and Fenny Tatad. We have very recently obtained
support from Quezon City Mayor Belmonte for the repair of the canteen and construction
of a case room.
To address the fraternity related violence that the College has unfortunately been a victim
of, we have constructed a security gate by the entrance of the atrium. More importantly,
the organization of an inter-fraternity council was made possible– largely through the
advice and support of faculty fratmen colleagues like Professors Joel Mangahas and
Danilo Reyes, and in partnership with the student leaders and fratmen specifically Past
Council President Ralph Degolacion and present Council President Paolo Ante. This
effort was supported by Vice Chancellor Betsy Enriquez, who also supported the rally
against frat violence that the NCPAG initiated last year.
Indeed, what we have accomplished is a product of our collective teamwork. It is the
result of the work of the NCPAG Team. I am very gratefully to the support of our
Programs Heads (Professor Mila Reforma of CPAGE, Professor Simeon Ilago of CLRG,
Professor Joel Mangahas of CPED, Professor Lily Domingo of CLCD, Professor Vic
Mariano of PO), Dr Fe Mendoza, the faculty representative to the ExCom, Ms Perla
Patacsil, Mrs Estrella Ocampo, Mr Jun Giron, Mr Lito Aurelio, our Executive
Committee, our faculty, staff and students for their support.
Finally, the above accomplishments of Team NCPAG would not have been possible had
it not been for the support and encouragement of Chancellor Sergio Cao and President
Emerlinda Roman who have always been available and lent the prestige and integrity of
their good offices, including resources, to us as we collectively pursued our initiatives for
the good of the College and that of the University.
What we Hope to Do the Next Three Years
At the beginning of my deanship, I stated that we are where we are because we stand on
the shoulders of those who have gone ahead of us. We are privileged to build upon the
hard earned gains of our predecessors. It is within this context, that if once more given
the opportunity, privilege and confidence to serve NCPAG once more as Dean, Team
NCPAG shall pursue the following, among other things:
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In the latest team building and planning workshop held by the College early this month,
we went through a “stop-start-continue” reflection workshop. A number of plans,
programs and activities have been suggested, ranging from strengthening the faculty,
revising our curriculum to rationalizing our researches and continuing the improvement
of our facilities and even addressing the problem of cats on campus. We shall consolidate
these and incorporate them as we formulate our directions and programs for the coming
months. This we shall do in constant consultation with the faculty, students, staff and
partners of NCPAG.
Indeed, inspite of our collective accomplishments, much must still be done as we carry
out our responsibility and perform our modest share as the National College of Public
Administration and Governance in our collective pursuit of the goal of responsive public
administration and good governance. But with the cooperation, hard work and dedication
of the NCPAG family members – team NCPAG – and with the support of our students,
alumni, international and local partners, and our University officials led by President
Roman and Chancellor Cao, and with the blessings of the Almighty, NCPAG can - and
will – continue to do its share in the promotion and advocacy of much needed reforms for
improved public administration and good governance.
Mabuhay and NCPAG! Mabuhay and Universidad ng Pilipinas! Mabuhay and
Sambayang Pilipino!
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