Lawyer Angelo A. Jimenez officially took the helm as the President of the University of the Philippines (UP) after former UP President Danilo L. Concepcion turned over the leadership during a ceremony held at the Quezon Hall Lobby in UP Diliman on Friday morning, Feb. 10.

Jimenez was a former student of Concepcion who also served as a Student Regent in 1992 and as a Regent from 2016 to 2021.

The 22nd UP president taught at the UP Law Center's Institute for the Administration of Justice during the same period.

Jimenez was also a consultant at the International Training Center for Authorities and Leaders Philippines and a deputy administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration from 2005 to 2007.

A look back at Concepcion's term

In his speech, Concepcion enumerated some of the university's most notable achievements during his term from 2017 to 2022.

One of those is the institutionalization of 60 new degree programs across the UP System as well as the development of data science and artificial intelligence programs.

Concepcion noted that his administration also converted more than 340 UP contractual personnel into regular workers.

Moreover, the 21st UP president reiterated that the university had received over P2 billion worth of infrastructure funds annually over the past six years from congressional initiatives.

This excludes the budget allocated by the President for UP from the national expenditure program.

Concepcion said that this fund was utilized to create new buildings, laboratories, and public areas within the UP community.

At the end of his speech, Concepcion expressed gratitude for his wife, Atty. Gaby Roldan-Conception, and their children for supporting him throughout his term.

"My wife has added her own heart to mine and made my heart bigger for the much-needed love and compassion in performing my duties to all of you," he said.

Concepcion expressed his hope that the new president will continue to support the university's progressive initiatives and uphold academic freedom.

"I am now retiring from my post with deep pride and gratitude for this opportunity of a lifetime," he said.

"I now welcome my successor with high hopes and expectations," he added.

Jimenez bares plans for UP

Meanwhile, Jimenez assured in his acceptance speech that UP will always uphold its honor.

"Ang UP ay mananatiling bulwagan ng dangal at ipagpatuloy natin ang simulaing ito tungo sa husay at dangal (UP will remain a hall of honor and we will continue this principle towards excellence and honor)," he said.

He also promised that the UP community would strive for honor and excellence through diversity, inclusivity, and respect.

Also, one of the things Jimenez pointed out in his message was UP's transition towards 21st-century education, where students can learn anywhere and anytime through new technologies.

"UP needs to digitally transform learning in order to be responsive to the period of rapid change in an increasingly globalized environment," he said.

He also shared his vision of enhancing UP's digital competence by creating accurate and quality e-learning materials that can be accessible to all UP students.

The new president also hoped to reach out and extend the premier university's honor and excellence to other research centers and public universities by sending experts who would assist these institutions' capacity-building programs.

"UP must replicate itself demographically," Jimenez said.

Lastly, he said that they will review the benefits of the UP staff and will discuss with the Department of Budget and Management and the Civil Service Commission the regularization issues of the UP personnel.

"The whole mark of UP in the next six years will be service to the nation, serve the people," he said.