After giving her opening remarks, Dr. Vivian A. Gonzales, OSA director, presented the different freshmen blocs and the guidance specialists assigned to them. The OSA assists the new freshmen in their adjustment to college and UPLB life by organizing them into blocs which hold meetings regularly to address the bloc members' concerns.

Dr. Myrna G. Carandang, the university registrar, introduced University officials and the deans of colleges to the new students.

In his inspirational message, Chancellor Luis Rey I. Velasco announced to the new freshmen that on that same day, the University of the Philippines was also celebrating the 101st anniversary of its foundation day. On that note, he enjoined the new freshmen to continue UP's tradition of excellence, leadership and service. He also expounded on UPLB's uniqueness as a constituent university of the UP System.

Paradigm shift

"In UPLB, we believe that we are more than iskolar ng bayan and this led us to venture into a paradigm-shifting slogan - one that I believe best describes what we at UPLB really are: Tayo ay mga iskolar para sa bayan," the Chancellor said. He also reminded the new freshmen that 2009 is UPLB's centennial year and of how UPLB has made a difference in our society in the past 100 years.

Chancellor Velasco called the new batch "the new breed of leaders and nation builders that will make a difference in the lives of the Filipinos" and encouraged them to have a "sense of critical, science-based, and integrative thinking and conceptualization."

The Chancellor promised the new students that the UPLB administration, notwithstanding its limited resources, will do its best to provide quality education. He enumerated various infrastructure development projects such as the construction of two new dormitories and establishment of campus-wide Wi-Fi.

Chancellor Velasco said that by providing better student services, UPLB will hopefully be able to produce dedicated graduates who will become pillars of industries and society. He reminded the new freshmen about their responsibilities and priorities, and expressed his hopes for them to imbibe the UPLB spirit of volunteerism, philanthropy and service to the country.

On the other hand, Dr. Gonzales assured the UPLB community that this new batch of students, with proper guidance, will have the highest number of graduates. She challenged the new batch to be hardworking students and be united in order to graduate intact.

Living up to the challenge

Two freshmen, Melissa Kimberly H. Castro (PreVM) and Timothy James R. Manching (BSCS), spoke on behalf of their batchmates. In their speeches, both students challenged their batchmates to live up to the name iskolar para sa bayan.

"Hindi sapat ang maging iskolar ng bayan ngunit nararapat tayo'y maging mga iskolar para sa bayan," said Manching, while asserting that the youth is the next generation of heroes who will fight for real freedom. Real freedom, he said, is freedom from ignorance, poverty and injustice, and freedom to live together in peace. He also emphasized that intelligence is useless without good character. "Only character can make us go beyond the call of duty, beyond the bonds of selfish ambition into sacrificing and living for this country."

On the other hand, Castro encouraged her peers to prove that they are worthy of the tag "iskolar para sa bayan." She said that they are expected to become leaders of the nation who know the difference between honesty and dishonesty, vice and virtue, and right and wrong. Expressing her belief that "happiness is not found in power, beauty or money but in the service to one another," Castro said that the young generation has the power to influence people and change the society. For her, a true iskolar para sa bayan should see and focus more on development rather than the worsening problems of society. (EBV Bernardo)