Kik's ALUMNI PRESENTATION AT LLFC

by Celestino Rivera, Jr., PUCA '71

Part I.

I attended Dr. Kik's first AWESNA presentation this afternoon excited to put a face on a name long been circulating positively & negatively in the web pages of FB. Much to my surprise he was very personable but find his conviction short of my expectations. I will get to that later. The first part of the presentation was about AUP's population and the students/teachers ratio at 1 to 10. Pretty impressive but I'd say not cost effective. Then came the "selling of COM" presentation which included the steps taken to ensure the problems of the past are not repeated. Being in the same trade I concur! As in any marketing or solicitation you start with the good news, then the bad news....the need of funds! It was quite impressive how AUP was able to do a "feasibility" study of how to raise the funds needed but dismal on the feasibility study of its profitability and sustainability. Dismal since there was no presentation! If you have to market a product to investors you must have both...cash outlay projection and profit projection! Why be in business without knowing your NET income projection? Can you tell the stark difference in thinking between a businessman and a layman?

As I have repeatedly said, leave the business of business to businessmen! Also, can I conclude we are up for uncertainty? Besides, why include the elementary, high school and college students in the equation in fund solicitation? Don't these students usually come from the SAME family who are alumni and asked to contribute as well? That's a potential quadruple whammy that families can't afford! If they are taken out of the equation, then the alumni will take all the cudgels by increased contribution, not just $1,000 as suggested. Nevertheless, this presentation did not convince me otherwise my vocal objection for building a COM. 

Q and A portion lasted only for about 30 minutes touching upon the subject of feasibility study, funding and sustainability. There was no satisfactory answer as far as I am concerned (see reasons as described above). But the one closest to my advocacy was raised by a non-Filipino alum in which the gentlemen proclaimed his hesitance in contributing more funds until the corruption issue is resolved. Mr. Gayoba sadly recognized the existence of such selfish and evil act (my words) and indicated that “they are doing their best to eradicate this problem as evident in their investigation and termination of its workers”, and asked for help by bringing this problem to the table. He objected to the use of the popular social network medium, FACEBOOK in airing of grievances towards erring employees, let alone identifying them publicly. He seemed helpless and overwhelmed with other issues. I suspect this is not his number one priority at this time. I would have preferred for him to have expressed his CONVICTION TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ISSUE and DECLARED A TOUGHER STANCE IN HIS CRUSADE AGAINST THIS ACT OF BETRAYAL BUT INSTEAD I WAS LEFT WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS SERIOUS CONCERN WILL BE UP FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO TAKE ACTION. Our fight continues……

After the presentation I introduced myself to him….I’m Dune River of FACEBOOK. I saw a faint smile.

Part II.

REALITY CHECK

Now I have a fairly good idea why AUP will remain stagnant, if not head backward. It is because of a leader who is supposed to listen but only pretends to listen! Any suggestions appear to just come in and out of his ear coupled with a stare and a nod then moves on to another subject. YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW IF HE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED YOUR SUGGESTION. HE DOES NOT MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE OR SENSE THAT HE DID. You say to yourself, "It's like talking to a wall". I didn't see him take any notes nor someone taking any notes for him. How could he remember all the suggestions especially in the middle of all the criticisms? Object if you object and debate if you need to debate. 

Furthermore, I did not feel his conviction to initiate change but rather excuses due to the status quo of the system. He must stand for what he believes in and fight the system that installed him when necessary. A leader must be a listener especially when the leader has no experience in managing a school and who admittedly says he sometimes depends on the internet for information rather than asking for help and advice. A leader should not just be in the company of his supporters but also with his adversaries and win support. You don't need to convince those who are already on your side. I GUESS HE IS JUST PRETENDING TO BE A LEADER. Mr. Gayoba, you need help? We are here to help. Ask for it! Lastly, with due respect, a PhD degree is excellent but it does not necessarily qualify a person to be a leader.

ROOT CAUSE PROBLEM ANALYSIS: 

As in any problem solving absolute solution is indeterminate unless problem is shredded up to its last layer. It is conclusive that AUP is in this current problematic state NOT only because of the perpetrators that took advantage of the situation BUT also by its own “perpetrators” that set the stage and allowed the disadvantage to occur. AUP could have chosen competence over ignorance! Secondly, the greed exemplified by our trusted SSD/NPUM leaders transformed and strengthened the will of an already weak character susceptible to corruption into a callous flawed character. Thirdly, the continued absence of a foolproof check and balance system that continue to fan the flames of greed by others in hope of an easy selfish future.  It is imperative that immediate actions are taken to prevent AUP’s eventual demise.

Part III.

My VISION of AUP…from a Layman’s Point of View 

A lot of criticisms have been hurled and an equal amount of suggestions have been thrown but still an impasse exists in our search for that elusive response from the powerful few to a simple request for “transparency and accountability”. The quest for a response has led to division in our ranks and bitter exchanges between friends and acquaintances simply because of a STUBBORN FEW’S EGO to remain in power together with its “benefits”. As an FB group considered as “trouble makers” we must also show our other side…that we are better than just the “FB rants”. We have an excellent pool of people with leadership qualities and ideas waiting to be tapped ALL developed by the “School that Trains for Service”. 

I am starting this “thread” to tap each one’s talents to contribute to our VISION of AUP. Several administrations have come and gone but each has its own VISION some blurred by greed. It is now time for a COMMON VISION and become united. I declare I am not an expert in all subjects I have enumerated below therefore I ask each one for suggestions (add or delete). Please refrain from unnecessary comments. However, comedy or humor is always welcome!

VISION: A master-planned community established based on the Christian values of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church comprised of the following:

1. Nationally competitive schools and colleges 

2. Housing for students, employees, alumni & friends

3. Parks and sports facilities

4. Business establishments to support the community’s growth.

OUR CORE VALUES:
1. Trustworthiness: honesty, candor, non-deception, promise keeping, loyalty 
2. Fairness: openness, impartiality, equity, due process, consistency
3. Respect: privacy, autonomy, dignity, courtesy, tolerance, acceptance 
4. Caring: kindness, compassion, unselfishness, charity
5. Responsibility: accountability, self-restraint, quality
Short Term Goals:

A.  INFRASTRUCTURE 1. Appoint a qualified Development Director 2. Develop a Master Development Plan with consideration of existing infrastructures 3. Marketing of MDP to constituency & alumni -marketing video or brochure 4. Completion of asbestos cleanup 5. Maintenance & improvement of existing structures 6. Re-opening or re-construction of a new Narra Boy’s Dorm 7. Improvement of existing roads and utility lines with consideration of future MDP 8. Completion of COT.

B. SCHOOLS & COLLEGES 1. Appoint AUP Top 10 Director 2. Achieve Top 10 recognition each year in national exams 3. Establish Review Classes to achieve Top 10 recognition 4. Technical Schools Note: Each school and college should be able to set their short term goals besides above to achieve vision of being nationally competitive
C. HUMAN RESOURCE 1. Review current resources to decrease operating cost 2. Define specific roles of resources

D.  FINANCE 1. Create budget with ZERO deficit  2. Initiate a more foolproof of check & balances - Competitive bidding - Maintain set of pre-approved qualified vendors  3. A healthy financial statement

E.  ALUMNI AFFAIRS: 1. Establish a website to show the following: - updated summary of projects indicating funds received and disbursed - official solicitation projects - Quick communication through Q and A

F.  INVESTMENTS 1. Appoint an Investment Director 2. Establish programs - 30-50 year land lease for business - Marketing of housing opportunities by Real Estate Company 3. Explore alumni investments and financing in business ventures

LONG TERM GOALS: 1. College of Medicine 2. College of Engineering