Lifelong learning is an endless discovery: inspirations from NUAL-PH at the Nagoya University Entrance Ceremony

Los Baños, Laguna --- “Our journey as scholars and lifelong learners is an endless discovery.” This was highlighted by Dr. Andres Winston C. Oreta, Vice President of the Nagoya University Alumni-Philippines Branch (NUAL-PH) and Professor of Civil Engineering at De La Salle University, Manila ,at the Virtual Entrance Ceremony of the Nagoya University Asian Satellite Campus-Philippines (NUASC-PH).

Dr. Oreta was one of four inspirational speakers at the ceremony co-hosted by the Office of the Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). The NUASC-PH is located at UPLB campus. Dr. Oreta congratulated the two new NU-UP scholars who will start their doctoral studies at the Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences in this Fall semester under the Transnational Doctoral Programs for Leading Professionals in Asian Countries. The two new students are Mr. Hadji C. Jalotjot, University Researcher III of the UPLB College of Public Affairs and Development; and Mr. Angelo Tapia, Assistant Professor of the UPLB Institute of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture and Food Science.

Dr. Oreta stressed that being accepted as graduate students at Nagoya University, a prestigious international university, is already a milestone in their careers. He emphasized that “NU is not only one of the top universities in Japan but also ranks high as one of the best global universities.” He said that although they are still going to start their programs, they are already considered by NUAL-PH as part of the family and that once they finally become alumni of Meidai, he hoped that they will continue to contribute their knowledge to society especially through the alumni association.

Dr. Oreta then shared the happy news about the awards and recognition received by alumni, namely: Dr. Cynthia P. Saloma, President of NUAL-PH, as one of the 2021 Nagoya University Awardees for her contribution to international exchange; Dr. Nancy A. Bantog, Regional Director of the DOST-Cordillera Administrative Region, who was conferred the prestigious Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award from the Philippine Civil Service Commission; Dr. Mario J. Aguja who was appointed as Faculty Regent of the Mindanao State University System; Dr. Andres Winston C. Oreta, for his outstanding achievement in Structural Engineering Education by the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines during its 60th year anniversary; Dr. Edgardo Tulin, President of Visayas State University and Dr. Roel Suralta of PhilRice who , through their leadership as administrators obtained awards and grants for their respective institutions as leading research institutions in the country.

Dr. Oreta enjoined the new and ongoing students, as well as the NU alumni “not to lose sight of the fact that they are not alone in the journey of lifelong learning, and that the journey will be sad and incomplete if people around are suffering.” He encouraged everyone to always remember that they were “given the good fortune of attending an excellent university and that their degrees have opened a lot of opportunities to pursue their dreams, a privilege that is not available to many.” Thus, he said it is time to pay it forward, to give back to society by continuously contributing their minds and efforts to science and education, and to always try to put into practice the adage, “To whom much is given, much is also expected. He requested everyone to pray for the health and safety of all front liners, those who got sick and those who lost their lives due to the virus.

Other inspirational speakers were Honorable President of the University of the Philippines (UP), Atty. Danilo L. Concepcion; Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculturte (SEARCA), Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio; and Director for Research at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Dr. Ajay Kohli (read more feature articles about inspirations from speakers of this event at . http://asci.nagoya-u.ac.jp/philippines).


                      Dr. Andres Winston C. Oreta