UE confers president emeritus title on former CHED chair

 The University of the East (UE) has conferred the honorific title of President Emeritus on its past president of 17 years, Dr. Ester Albano Garcia, in formal ceremonies held on Monday afternoon, November 11, 2024, at the UE Manila Conference Hall.  

Garcia, former chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) from 1999 to 2003 with vast and outstanding academic and governmental achievements, is the first female official and only the second in UE history to receive the president emeritus title. The first honoree was the University’s founding President, Dr. Francisco T. Dalupan Sr., who was named President Emeritus upon his retirement on May 18, 1972, after 21 years of service to the institution.

In her speech, the newly installed Garcia said, "I want to express my gratitude to the trustees and officials of UE for this singular honor of being named as President Emeritus. I served this University from January 6, 2006, to December 31, 2022, and I hope to continue serving as a trustee for a few more years, sharing whatever expertise I have in academic management which I have learned over the years in CHED, University of the Philippines (UP) and other universities."

UE Vice Chairman David Chua led the the awarding of the president emeritus stole, medallion and certificate to Dr. Garcia, joined by other high-ranking UE officials. Also in attendance at the rites were former Ombudsman and Supreme Court Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, former Ateneo de Manila University President Bienvenido Nebres, S.J., and former UP Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo.

"Reviewing what I had done with my life, I would like to think that I had served this country well in the different positions I have held, both in the public and private sectors. It is my privilege to have led pioneering achievements especially in science and engineering," Garcia added.

The UE president emeritus earlier helped organize the former Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Engineering Technology Research and Development, now the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development, under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). She also initiated the upgrading of the UP Division of Natural Science and Mathematics to the UP College of Science. She also helped conceptualize the Engineering and Science Education Project, a World Bank-funded DOST project that supported 10 science and 19 engineering colleges across the country.

In commending Garcia, incumbent UE President and Chief Academic Officer Zosimo Battad highlighted Garcia's several major feats, including UE's attainment of the CHED-certified autonomous status for its Manila and Caloocan campuses, and the title of Center of Excellence in IT Education via its College of Computer Studies and Systems.

Battad cited, "Dr. Garcia's UE presidency has been marked by her unwavering dedication and commitment to quality, excellence and global competitiveness, resulting in significant improvements in the University's three core functions: instruction, research and extension."

 "In deepest gratitude for her exemplary service, visionary leadership, and tireless commitment to the University, the UE Board of Trustees confers, with pleasure and privilege, upon Dr. Ester Albano Garcia the title of President Emeritus of the University of the East, with all the privileges and honors accompanying this distinction," the current UE president said.

Dr. Garcia was also President of the UE Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Inc. (UERM) from September 2018 to December 2023, and remains a member of the Boards of Trustees of both UE and UERM since January 2006.  

Founded on September 25, 1946 and now on its 78th year as a leading private academic institution, UE has produced hundreds of thousands of graduates that include achievers in the public and private sectors led by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and many other luminaries.