Once a tatay will always be a tatay.
Serving as the Father of the Davao City during his 22-year term as a mayor and then shaping the political climate of the country to win the presidency in 2016 and serve full term till June of 2022, Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (FPRRD) has continued to be a ‘tough yet loving’ father, without favouritism and, to his first born- the Davao Region, and of course to his first love- the Philippines.
Like a typical tatay, FPRRD before entering the complicated national politics has set his sight set on improving the plight of the Filipino people. He is a staunch advocate of dispersing development and economic activities of the cities to reach the underdeveloped country sides and far-flung communities that for so long has not received any kind of intervention from the government.
He pushed and spearheaded the Build, Build, Build (BBB) program- of which FPRRD envisions to improve the lives of many by bridging the infrastructure gap in the country. BBB program is designed to enhance mobility and connectivity as it touches and affects different facets of Filipino society- for example, education.
In gratitude for the dreams and aspirations FPRRD has inspired and for the inclusion of the University in the long list of BBB beneficiary, the members of the Top Management (TM) of the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) paid a Courtesy Visit to FPRRD at Matina Enclaves, Matina, Davao City on August 26, 2022.
Turning-over of tokens to FPRRD also transpired during the visit. The tokens feature a laser-printed portrait courtesy of the DigiHub Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab)- a USeP-housed Shared Service Facility (SSF) in partnership with DTI-XI and DOST-XI, an album of the infrastructure projects, and a polo shirt.
USeP President, Dr. Lourdes C. Generalao, led the visit and with her were the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Bonifacio G. Gabales, Jr.; Vice President for Administration, Dr. Maria Luisa B. Faunillan; Vice President for Research, Development, and Extension, Dr. Shirley S. Villanueva; Vice President for Planning and Quality Assurance, Dr. Tamara Cher R. Mercado; Secretary of the University and the Board of Regents, Dr. Joan D. Gervacio; and Director of the Zonal Computerization Center of Region XI, Dr. Irvin C. Generalao.
Aside from FPRRD, also present was Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go.
During the visit, Dr. Lourdes C. Generalao, in behalf of the USeP community, thanked FPRRD and his administration for being a tatay to the community and for helping the University in realizing its various plans and programs- which involved primarily the construction of several facilities and building on all campuses of USeP, and the hallmark passing of the Republic Act 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act” during his term as president of the Republic of the Philippines.
President Generalao, together with the members of the TM, expressed the commitment of USeP to replicate and demonstrate the success and the level of ambition the FPRRD Administration has inspired in its delivery of the synergy of the fourfold University functions: instruction, research, extension, and production by BUILDING, BUILDING, and BUILDING more dreams without limits.
FPRRD also expressed gratitude for visiting him and bringing tokens of appreciation.
Like a typical tatay, FPRRD smiled when his ‘children’ visit him.
