Pay it forward

Are you or do you know someone who's a graduate of the noisiest college ever in University of the Philippines-Diliman? Then read here.

Out of the three things they are asking me to do, I'll probably choose the numbers 2 and 3. I'm so financially broke that I am even thinking of asking for donations for myself.

The letter below came from Dr. Elena Pernia, president of the UP College of Mass Communication Foundation (CMCFI) and current dean of the college.

Dear Alumnus/na,

Mabuhay and warm greetings to a fellow alumnus/na!

I represent a group of our co-alumni of the University of the Philippines’ College of Mass Communication (UP-CMC) who are concerned that the quality of communication and media education may take a downturn given the continuing budgetary strictures of our State University. Our concern has moved us to organize, together with the UPCMC Foundation Inc., a major fund-raising campaign entitled, Pay it Forward. The goal of this campaign is to bring back the glory of UP, one College at a time, starting with the CMC. To do this, the campaign is targeting to raise P50 million by the end of 2010 that will be used to:

• Modernize and equip the CMC with the state-of-the-art facilities and,
• Provide incentives for faculty recruitment and development

The UP-CMC (formerly UP-IMC) has graduated many of the finest communication and media professionals who have done our country proud, in the spirit of our national hero Plaridel (nom de plume of Marcelo H. del Pilar) after whom the college building is named. To this day, the College continues to produce outstanding graduates despite aging (almost obsolete) equipment, overused facilities, and underpaid faculty.

That is why we turn to you for help and hope that you will answer with generosity and kindness. As a graduate of the CMC (or IMC), you still have an “incomplete”. And the way to complete it is by helping your alma mater that now urgently needs your assistance. You can help by:

• Providing financial assistance to the College via donations and solicitation of donations
• Assisting in your field of expertise, or endeavor in ways that could benefit the College and/or
• Contacting other alumni, thereby, assisting us in developing an accurate alumni database.

You can see more details on the Pay-it-Forward (PIF) Fund-raising Campaign describing its overview, campaign specifics and most importantly, the specific objects to which you are donating on the PIF website at http://cmc.upd.edu.ph/. To make it easier for you to send your donation, you may fill out the interactive Donation Pledge Form on the website.

We earnestly hope that you too will respond positively. Should you have other questions or concerns regarding this matter, I will be more than happy to address them. You may contact me by phone (928-3188 at CMC or 0920-906-4976) or by email: eepernia@zpdee.net or elena.pernia@up.edu.ph.

Sincerely,


Dr. Elena E. Pernia
President, CMCFI