On 1 April 2016, a devastating fire at the Faculty Center of the UP College of Arts and Letters resulted in the loss of irreplaceable items that held immense sentimental value to me. The destroyed items were the original copies of all my diplomas, from grade school to my Ph.D. In addition, my books and other publications, medals, trophies, plaques, and certificates were all gone in the blaze.
The fire also consumed my library, which contained souvenirs from my travels and studies overseas. Books, journals, newspapers, magazines, family portraits, photo albums with friends and students, blue books, drafts and papers of former students (since 1988!), and other memorabilia that held memories were reduced to ashes. Among the lost items were an antique narra trunk that belonged to my maternal grandmother and art nouveau narra chairs from my paternal grandparents.
The fire also claimed posters and invitations from plays where many students had been involved with theater groups like Dulaang UP, UP Repertory Company, UP Tropa, and UP Playwrights Theatre (among them, Kanakan Balintagos, Eugene Domingo, Frances Makil-Ignacio, Lani Sumalinog, and Buddy Zabala, who, with the other members of The Eraserheads, took part in Kanakan’s Manhid at Palma Hall Lobby). I also lost personal copies of invites to launch books from Anvil, Bookmark, Giraffe, Kalikasan, New Day, UP, Ateneo, DLSU, and UST publishing houses. A long table from my late father's library and sketches, paintings, and other artworks created by friends, colleagues, and former students from the UP College of Fine Arts (among them, Leo Abaya, Virginia Dandan, Neil Doloricon, Alexis Galvez, Sajid Imao, Maningning Miclat, Anthony Palomo, Annie Pacaña) were also lost in the fire.
The destruction of archival data from my research projects, as well as book gifts from mentors and friends, added to the overwhelming loss. The CAL Faculty Center, which was not just a workplace but a place of creativity and community and home to many National Artists, Palanca winners, and highly acclaimed figures, is gone. Since 2016, my colleagues and I have not had a designated physical space to write, read, prepare lectures, upgrade our expertise, and connect with students, colleagues, and guests from other academic units, universities, and institutions.
The fire's aftermath has left me grappling with unanswered questions about its cause and the extent of the damage. The absence of permanent offices and incubation spaces for CAL teachers, artists, researchers, and staff members is a bitter realization. Despite the loss, I am grateful for the memories and experiences housed within the Faculty Center, and I will carry them with me as I navigate this new chapter without a physical space to call my own.
However, In addition to the individual impacts on our work and well-being, the absence of designated faculty offices and incubation spaces since 2016 has profoundly affected the overall sense of community within our college. The lack of shared spaces where we can come together, brainstorm ideas, and collaborate on projects has resulted in a noticeable decrease in interactions and partnerships among faculty members.
This isolation from one another has created a disconnect within our college community, hindering our ability to work together effectively. As a result, our capacity to engage in creative and research projects has been significantly compromised. Without these essential spaces for collaboration, we are unable to fully leverage the diverse expertise and talents of our colleagues, ultimately limiting our potential for innovation and growth.
CAL urgently needs more than just administrative offices. We require dedicated spaces to facilitate and enhance our ability to work together, fostering a more vibrant and collaborative environment. By providing us with the necessary infrastructure and resources, we can better compete with other institutions locally and globally, ensuring our continued success and relevance in the academic community.
