UP should produce more patriotic scholars—Binay

There should be more “patriotic scholars” from the University of the Philippines, according to this year’s most distinguished UP alumnus.

Vice President Jejomar Binay called on fellow alumni to get more involved in helping their alma mater produce more graduates willing to serve the country, whose taxpayers financed their education.

UP graduates could help “continue to produce an endless and more abundant stream of scholars and patriots worthy of the highest aspirations and hopes of our people,” he said.

Binay has been named the UP Alumni Association’s Most Distinguished Alumnus for 2011. He is set to receive the award along with other awardees who include Jose “Pitoy” Moreno, who will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, along with Dr. Baldomero Olivera, who discovered a snail toxin more powerful than morphine.

Also set to be feted are renowned painter Araceli-Limcaco Dans and UP artist in residence Corazon Generoso-Iñigo, among others.

“As awardees, it becomes our solemn duty to do whatever it is within our individual and collective capacities to raise the university’s standards to the summit of universal excellence,” said Binay during a dinner hosted by UP president Alfredo Pascual.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award is given to graduates who have made exceptional contributions in their fields of expertise and to society, bringing honor to UP and the country.

UP, as a state university, is funded mostly with taxpayer money, earning for its students the sobriquet “Iskolar ng Bayan.”

Binay said that being given such an honor by the UPAA was akin to winning a new office.

“Like it or not, we have just gained a new office, without having sought or aspired for it. And we must submit ourselves to the closest scrutiny of our peers, whom we do not even see,” he said.