How I Survived Kidnapping from up Six Economic Theories

How I survived kidnapping from UP six economic theories

By Robina Gokongwei-Pe

UP School of Economics

Sunday, May 25, 2008

(Editor's note: We stole this speech of Robina Gokongwei-Pe from the UP School of Economics website. Robina was the guest of honor during their Recognition Day last April 25.)

Thank you very much, Prof. Dante Canlas, for your wonderful, wonderful introduction.

Dean Emmanuel de Dios — Dean de Dios was my professor of international trade way back in 1981, and it is not only because he gave me a grade of 1.5 that I agreed to be your guest speaker for today. It is hard for me to remember all my teachers in college, but Dean de Dios was someone I remembered very well, because I couldn't imagine how one so young could be so brilliant. He was personally chosen by UP President Emerlinda Roman to be one of the speakers at the UP Centennial Lecture Series. He will speak on "Secular Morality and the University" on May 7 (plugging, plugging).

By the way, President Roman says that noted filmmaker Behn Cervantes keeps reminding everyone that it's pronounced "centennial" with a short "e," and not "centeeeennial."

Former Dean Raul Fabella — it's unfortunate that I missed Dean Fabella in college. I think he was in the US when I was a student.

College Secretary Oggie Arcenas — Di ko rin inabutan si Prof. Arcenas, but then he must've been still in high school when I was at UPSE. When I saw him, I came to the conclusion that UPSE college secretaries are all boyish-looking because the college secretary during my time, Prof. Cayetano Paderanga, who incidentally taught me Econ 101, had the same features. (During my time, there were two cutie pies — Professsors Vito Inoferio and Cayetano Panderanga.)

Professor Dante Canlas, who taught me Econ 181. He was the only professor man enough to give me a grade of "1" even if I didn't take his midterm exams. I will tell you about that later.

Professor Solita Monsod — the irrepressible Winnie Monsod with her sexy legs, miniskirt, booming voice, cigarette and iced tea in tow. Prof. Monsod taught us Econ 11 and Econ 101, and she explained everything so clearly it made economics less scary than I thought it would be. One morning during a class in the auditorium, she said, "Hey, who's been spreading the news that this glass I'm carrying every day to class contains scotch? Of course I don't bring scotch to class. It's iced tea!"

Professor Manny Esguerra — Sayang, di ko naging teacher si Prof. Esguerra.

Professor Benjie Sandoval of the College of Business Administration — Benjie is executive director and my barkada at the UP Centennial Commission.

Tita Eden Bautista, former administrative officer at SE 101, who gave me my honorable dismissal in 1981 when I unexpectedly left UP in my senior year. If I need someone to remember where I placed all my things, it has to be Tita Eden. In fact, she is right now holding my handbag for me.

Joaquin Teotico, president of the UPSE Alumni Association; academic personnel, administration personnel, parents and graduates: Good afternoon.

I'm very happy to be back in the university that I never graduated from but wish I had. I am simply one lucky bitch to be speaking on your recognition day. Thank you to the UPSE Student Council, led by Sarah Adan and Jances Parado, for inviting me. In their letter, Sarah and Jances asked me to share my experiences and insights into being an instrument of meaningful change in society. And if could please bring in the concept of economics as an instrument of change and progress.

I gave Dean de Dios a call and said, "Dean, it's a wonderful topic but I don't know what I'm supposed to say," and he told me, "Let's have lunch with the students and talk about it."

And so I did, and I met Sarah, Jances, and other student reps Mario Garcia, Nica Maloles and Jelain Reyes, plus Dean Fabella, Professors Arcenas, Monsod and Jack Teotico. I asked the students what they would really, really be interested in. They asked "Can you talk about what's in store for us after economics?" The faculty said, "How about entrepreneurship?" or "How about matching economic theories with reality?"

And so I decided to put everything