Text of the Response of Patricia Licuanan PhD
Soon after I was informed about this award for government service, I had second and even third thoughts about accepting it. I wondered about the propriety of accepting an award from a higher education institution given CHED's regulatory function. Also, having generally kept a low profile at my job (except for a few notable exceptions, and not by choice), I was somewhat uncomfortable about the possible attention I would get, particularly having my face on a huge tarp along Katipunan. But perhaps my greatest doubts came from the fact that past awardees for government service had spent a lifetime in government. I, on the other hand, had not. Prior to CHED I spent over 25 years here at the Ateneo and then thirteen years as president of Miriam College. I must confess, however, that sometimes my seven years, two months and six days at the Commission on Higher Education have felt like a lifetime!
I never imagined that I would be working in government. In fact I would occasionally tell my children that if I began to sound as though I was seriously considering a government position, they had my permission to shoot me. To this they responded, "No mom but we might lock you up!" Well obviously they didn't lock me up, but when President Aquino announced that I was appointed Chair of CHED, my children wanted to know what made me change my mind. A fair question.
The simplest answer was timing. CHED came at the right time in my life. I had just completed my term as President of Miriam College and I was ready for a new challenge. But the more important reason was that I felt then, as I still do today, that change in our country is necessary, that change is possible, that government has a primary role in effecting change and that I wanted to do my part.
And what a journey it has been! There is nothing more exhilarating than commitment to a grand vision, the dream to achieve what the country and our people so desperately need; but nothing more disappointing than the reality of bureaucratic stumbling blocks, political pressure and yes, corruption. A high government position introduces one to the awesome power for good possessed by the state, the tremendous possibilities that can be achieved with enlightened policy and political will. But then again one must contend with realities of inertia, parochial and petty concerns and personal interest.
I have learned the importance of searching for the wise combination of courage, sticking to principles, never forgetting why I am in this job in the first place, at the same time being prudent, knowing when to speak out and when to remain silent, when to act and when to wait. I am forced to be acutely aware of politics and power. Often I pray for the wisdom to make the judgement when to stand firm and when some compromise is necessary, but always keeping in sight the line that I will never cross.
Some thoughts on higher education. Higher education performs a distinct social function. At the macro level it serves as an instrument for poverty alleviation, human capital formation, and national development and global competitiveness. At the micro level, it expands and enhances career and life choices and chances of individuals, produces persons with humanist values, a desire to serve their communities and the Filipino nation, academic, behavioral and technical skills, the ability to think through the ethical and social implications of their actions, and the competency to learn continuously and live meaningfully in today's complex world.
Philippine higher education has deeply-entrenched problems: 1) limited access to quality education for the deserving poor and disadvantaged; 2) commercialization of higher education as seen in the unchecked proliferation of higher education institutions, both private and public; 3) deteriorating quality that has led to skills-jobs mismatch, low productivity in research and development, and a deficient science and innovation culture; and 4) questionable and corrupt practices in the higher education system.
At the Commission on Higher Education we have pursued initiatives to open up access to higher education; ensuring steady and sustainable support for state universities and colleges while at the same time leveling the playing field between public and private education; aligning quality program standards to achieve desirable learner outcomes within a lifelong-learning paradigm; establishing academe-industry and academe-community linkages; strengthening inter-agency partnerships in support of government reforms such as K to 12 and the Philippine Qualifications Framework; laying the foundations for global academic partnerships; building up the research capability of universities; supporting leading-edge research that translates into technological innovations as well as viable solutions to persistent problems; and addressing transparency and governance issues in public higher education institutions and the bureaucracy of CHED.
But our work is not without its perils. On a regular basis we at CHED face damage to property from rallies held year round. Law suits are also part of the landscape, and even death threats. I have learned to deal with these as predictable forms of harassment that come with the territory of reform. And while the acts of the “bad guys” i.e. the crooks, the goons and the bullies can be disturbing, strangely enough, I find that I am more upset with the so called “good guys” or people I expect more from, who can be disappointingly self-serving, protecting their narrow interests against the larger good.
Sometimes, my children express concern for my safety and my health. I assure them that I am really okay and that an occasional adrenalin rush can actually be a good thing! I remind myself and let me remind all of us in this hall, most of whom are in education, that the Philippines has a population of over 100 million, 50% of whom are young. There are close to 4 million students in higher education and growing. We are dealing with a massive corps of Filipino men and women on the threshold of adulthood which forms the country’s rich talent pool. The challenge of actualizing the potential of this vital segment of the country’s human capital is indeed daunting but tremendously exciting and inspiring.
I thank the Ateneo for this award. But while I am honored and grateful for the recognition, in truth I have simply been doing my job. I will admit that this award comes at a time when things on the job have been a bit crazy. Thank you for the much needed encouragement and for strengthening my resolve to continue doing my job---and doing it right!
Thank you and good afternoon.
