Transformation through diversity

The University of the Philippines Virata School of Business (VSB) and the alumni jubilarian batches are going full blast to hold their traditional annual alumni homecoming. But this time, it will be a virtual get together with the tagline “#come-back#giveback.” For the reunion, the VSB alumni of the 13 jubilarian classes, headed by the golden class of 1970, are now busy preparing for the December 5 virtual event.

We have come out with several flyers and brochures about our school. We are focused on the needs of our students and alumni stakeholders with our Listening Post online feedback survey and response system. We have conducted at least seven online surveys that gave us useful responses and feedbacks on the requirements and expectations of our students on such matters as remote learning, course offerings, financial assistance, demand for library facilities and the need for more learning and development engagements.

The traditional activities for the homecoming will be held, including the awarding of the Distinguished Alumni Award; the giving of the commemorative medallions to the members of the Jubilarian batches; release of the souvenir program cum yearbook, and the virtual fellowship of long lost and missed classmates; (the “comeback”) and the grant of donations to the College (the “giveback”) by the various batches. There are other activities being prepared by the Organizing Committee intended to make this very first virtual homecoming a memorable event even during these turbulent times of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As dean of the UP VSB, I am overwhelmed by the generosity of our school’s alumni and other donors of the school to support the “Looking in, Reaching out” sponsorship campaign I initiated to generate assistance for the college and its students. The most recent recipients of their generosity are our marginalized students who have encountered some hurdles in the remote learning system that has been adopted during this Covid lockdown. Donors have pitched in to provide these students access gadgets, like laptops and enotebooks, and broad band load access to the Internet. Others have pledged support to improve the facilities and resources of the school, including donations for the business practice and communications laboratory and other digital tools; a closed circuit TV camera system; and the upgrade of infrastructure and facilities. Others will support the updating of the Alumni directory and corporate network resource and the thought leadership initiatives of the College. As dean and former Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, I will be assisting the donors to qualify for tax benefits for their donation.

Communication with the stakeholders of the school is more than ever essential during this Covid crisis. The school has ensured that all avenues of communication are utilized, from the traditional telephone lines to all electronic based and social network resources. We have requested funding for the upgrade of our private automatic branch exchange or PABX network to provide a better communication to our publics via our telephone system. We are upgrading our web site to provide a better customer experience to its many users. The school uses various social-media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The college regularly sends e-mail blasts to announce important events and reminders. The VSB Vantage Point newsletter continues to provide information to our Philippine and global partners and constituents. We have come out with several flyers and brochures about our school. We are focused on the needs of our students and alumni stakeholders with our Listening Post (LP) online feedback survey and response system. We have conducted at least seven online surveys that gave us useful responses and feedbacks on the requirements and expectations of our students on such matters as remote learning, course offerings, financial assistance, demand for library facilities and the need for more learning and development engagements.

The administration, library and research assistant staff members have been re- invigorated with their duties and responsibilities more clearly defined and the assessment of performance based on agreed upon parameters. They have been accorded modest assistance, including loaned computers to allow them to work from home; procurement of bicycles to provide mobility; acquisition of online work essentials, such as computer cameras and ear and head phones; and providing dispensers of disinfectant alcohol as a anti- Covid prevention measure. The school will soon be able to bring in at least five new hires to supplement the administrative staff.

The College did its share in uplifting thought leadership and the school’s image to the public. Personally, as Dean, I have been engaging with the external community and talking in various fora and pursuing other advocacy activities. I continue to write and edit weekly articles in my Businessmirror’s Debit Credit space. A recent survey conducted in the LP initiative disclosed that 99 percent of the graduate students surveyed responded that the school should be more visible to the public with its thought leadership. Truly, the business school of the people should be at the forefront of public thought and advocacy engagements.

The executive administration of the school has also focused on the essentials of faculty, course and research development. Following University guidelines and its own initiatives, our school has been able to hurdle the requirements and challenges of remote learning brought about by the Covid pandemic.

The past months have tested the resiliency and will for resurgence of the school. On both counts, I believe that we have succeeded.

Joel L. Tan-torres is the Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business. Previously, he was the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy and partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the Sycip Gorres and Velayo & Co. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979.

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