SAN FRANCISCO, February 4, 2021 – The public who have been wondering what the buzz is about the abrogation of the University of the Philippines and the Philippine Department of National Defense agreement (1989 UP-DND Accord) can now get a front-row seat to an extensive discussion on the topic at the webinar: In Defense of U.P. – A Digital Dialogue on the Abrogation of the 1989 UP-DND Accord – presented by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAASF).
In Defense of U.P. will be a zoom webinar scheduled on February 7, Sunday, at 5:00 P.M. (Pacific- US)/ 8:00 P.M (EST) (February 8, Monday, at 9:00 A.M. PHT in the Philippines). The webinar features a distinguished panel who will shed light on the issues surrounding the accord and its unilateral annulment.

U.P. Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo will provide context on the 32-year accord between the University of the Philippines and the Philippine government governing military and police operations on U.P. campuses, and recent developments surrounding the unilateral termination of this agreement by the Philippine Department of National Defense on January 15, 2021.
Atty. Ruben Carranza, senior expert for Programs at the International Center for Transitional Justice and former Editor-in-Chief of The Philippine Collegian, will share his direct role in the creation of the accord. Carranza helped negotiate the 1989 UP-DND agreement after his staffer at the Philippine Collegian was abducted by military agents on campus, and later tried and convicted.


Completing the esteemed panel of U.P. alumni are Dr. Anton Juan, a professor and theatre director at the University of Notre Dame du Lac; and Dr. Jennifer Mijares-Zimmerman, a pediatrician in Northwest Florida, providing care to the underserved population for over 20 years. They will provide insight on the stakes of the issue.

UPAASF Board Director and President + Founding Partner of Global MediaX Odette Alcazaren-Keeley will moderate the event.
The public is enjoined to take part in this webinar that provides detailed information and context as to why the issue matters.
Registration is required for the event. Go to http://bit.ly/3cvgxcd to claim your spot. Visit www.UPAASF.org or check www.Facebook.com/groups/upaasf for more information.