THE CHANCELLOR of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila urged yesterday its latest batch of graduates to be incorruptible and responsible leaders as he stressed that the university?s interest is not limited to the ?ranking game? in the Asian region.

During Friday?s 102nd commencement exercises at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) UP Manila chancellor Ramon Arcadio exhorted the university?s 975 graduates to be upright citizens and persons of honor and integrity, saying, ?The university?s goal is educate students who will love and serve their country and people, women and men who will attend to the needs of the underserved and marginalized Filipinos.?

He emphasized that the school is not interested in joining the university rating or ranking game in the Asian region which he described as a ?mere commercial activity.?

?Our teaching and learning environment is not geared to pass a board examination. Our graduating classes, however, are usually at the top like Medicine and the annual 100% passing in Dentistry, 100% in Pharmacy, and 100% in Nursing, among others,? he stated.

About half of UP Manila?s graduates annually take the professional licensure examinations in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, and biochemistry.

Arcadio added, ?My wish is that when people speak of UP graduates, the value will not be based only on academic excellence. My hope is that when UP graduates start actual work, they would be recognized because of honest, dedicated, and sustained quality service whatever the circumstances. We, at UP Manila, would love to hear other people praise our graduates this way: ?UP yan, kaya magaling, maprinsipyo, matulungin, magalang at mapagmahal sa kapwa.??