by Allain Dumon Fonte

One of my favorite professors, Dr. Fredrick Boholst, once joked that “if there is a god, he must be a man; otherwise, the world will not be as chaotic as it is now.”  As an advocate of equality, I really did not know how to react, at first; but, I eventually laughed realizing that the joke came from a man.

It was not too long ago that in the Philippines women were not even allowed to go to school.  The highly paternal culture in Asia has classified women in to the role of family support, and not in nation building.  I remember how my great-grandmother, Rosario Acosta y Nacua, told me that she almost could not find a husband; just for being one of the first women in her town in Daan Bantayan, Cebu to obtain a university degree.  With her degree in education from the Cebu Normal School (now, Cebu Normal University), she expected to land a teaching job in the city.  However, she was appointed to teach in the mountain-barangay-schools in Pulang Bato.  She said that she had to spend her weekdays in the school, and was literally living inside her classroom, to save the 600 meters hike uphill and downhill to and from the main road in Pit-os.  Weekends were her only time with the family.  By the time she got married, my great-grandmother was convinced by her parents to stop teaching, so she could be a good wife to my great-grandfather.  Eventually, she became a homemaker and raised seven children.  That was the life that most women had back then.

Now, a lot has changed, and many women have infiltrated the education sector; and, even leading it.  Women leaders are more aggressive but have calculated risks when it comes to decision making, this is how the associate vice-president of the MD Adamson Cancer Center, Dr. Elizabeth Travis, perceives women leaders.  According to Dr. Travis that women have already outnumbered men in the academia; thus, it is expected for women to start leading it.

The University of San Carlos, the oldest school in the Philippines, used to be a male-concentrated institution because it was a formation school for future priests as Colegio de San Idelfonso; then, Colegio-Seminario de San Carlos.  In 1948, Colegio-Seminario de San Carlos became the University of San Carlos, and since then has accepted women students.  Because the university is run by priests of the Society of the Divine Word, the management and academic leaders were used to be monopolized by men.  But, Because of USC’s commitment to gender equity, there have been an increasing number of female faculty members.  And now, for the first time in the history of USC, the university has an all-women academic dean team.

For the past years, the USC schools have been ranked as the Centers of Development and Centers of Excellence by the Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities.  Hence, these women leaders, committed to service, have proven that women power can bring USC to farther heights in academic excellence.  Let us get to meet these women who set the bars higher for USC.

(photo from the University of San Carlos website)

Delia E. Belleza

Dean, School of Arts and Social Sciences

Dr. Belleza is an alumna of USC, where she completed her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in social psychology.  She obtained her Doctor of Philosophy in Social Psychology from the University of the Philippines in Diliman.  She has conducted researches in culture social psychology and adolescent studies.  The Department of Psychology, under the School of Arts and Social Sciences, has produced topnotch graduates in the National Psychology and Psychometric Board Examinations, and has been ranked as the 3^rd best university to study psychology by the Professional Regulations Commission; basing from the passing percentage of the licensure exams.

(photo from the University of San Carlos website)

Melanie Banzuela-de Ocampo

Dean, School of Business and Economics

Dr. de Ocampo holds a master’s degree in management from the University of the Philippines and completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration from the University of San Carlos.  Prior to joining the academia, Dr. de Ocampo is a veteran in the financial management industry.  Dr. de Ocampo’s research expertise is on Managerial Finance, Strategic Planning, Marketing Strategy, Educational Technology, and Curriculum Development.  The School of Business and Economics is ranked as Center of Excellence for Business Administration, Office Administration, and Entrepreneurship programs.  The SBE has a 100% passing rate in the accountancy board examinations in 2017.

(photo from the University of San Carlos website)

Margret Rosario

Dean, School of Architecture, Fine Arts, and Design

Architect Rosario specializes in design and planning for hospital and medical facilities.  She currently became the dean of the school of architecture, fine arts, and design in July 2019.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of San Carlos, and has a master’s degree in architectural drafting from the Cebu Technological University.  Architect Rosario is a fellow of the United Architects of the Philippines.  USC ranks as the second best university to study architecture basing from the passing percentage of the National Architecture Board examinations in 2019; with a passing rate of 89.96%.

Rita May Tagalog

Dean, School of Education

Dr. Rita May Tagalog lectures on educational development, computer-supported learning systems, and teaching strategies. She has an accounting degree; and, holds a master’s degree in education with a focus on special education from USC. She completed her Doctor of Education degree, with focus on Instructional Systems and Resource Management, from the University of San Jose-Recoletos. She attended a professional certificate program in Inclusive Education at the University of Queensland in Australia; and, participated in a 40-day-teacher-exchange program at the School of Education and Communication at Jönköping University in Sweden, under the Linnaeus-Palme International Exchange Program. The USC’s School of Education is ranked as a Center of Excellence by the Commission on Higher Education since 1998. The School of Education is the home of the Department of Science and Mathematics Education and the Department of Teacher of Education.

Yolanda Chua Deliman

Dean, School of Healthcare Professions

Professor Deliman has served the University of San Carlos as the academic pharmacist prior to becoming the Dean of the School of Healthcare Professions.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of San Carlos and holds a master’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences.  She is also a full time professor in the Department of Pharmacy on research courses.  Professor Deliman is widely published in the fields of Cytotoxic Studies and Genotoxic Studies.  Professor Deliman has been working on a partnership with the USC’s Department of Pharmacy and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Studies in Okayama University, Japan.  The Department of Pharmacy and the Department of Nursing are both accredited as Level III by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities.

Evelyn B. Taboada

Dean, School of Engineering

Dr. Taboada is  also the Director for the Bioprocess Engineering and Research Center in the University of san Carlos.  She is an alumna of USC, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering.  She completed her master’s degree in chemical engineering at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.  In 2001, Dr. Taboada went to the Netherlands to pursue further studies in biotech and bioprocess engineering at the Delft University of Technology, where she received her master’s degree and her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biochemical Engineering.  Dr. Taboada works on research themes on biotechnology, bioprocess, and technoprenuership.   The School of Engineering in USC has six Level II FAAP-accredited programs through PAASCU evaluation. The seven programs (Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Electronics, Industrial, and Mechanical Engineering) have attained full accreditation from the Philippine Technological Council, reflecting global standards conforming to the Washington Accord. The Commission on Higher Education has also designated two Centers of Excellence and five Centers of Development in the School of Engineering.

(photo from the University of San Carlos website)

Joan S. Largo

Dean, School of Law and Governance

Atty. Joan Largo is a senior partner at the Cebu office of Romulo Law Firm.  She is a professor of Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, Constitutional Law, Torts and Damages.  She has also conducted researches on Litigation and Arbitration, Labour and Immigration, and Corporate and Family laws.  Atty. Largo authored the book “Laws and Jurisprudence on Torts and Damages” and co-authored the book “Beyond Outcomes Accreditation” with William Spady.  She graduated magna cum laude in 1995 with the bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of San Carlos.  As a recipient of the R.H. Goeping Foundation full scholarship, Atty. Largo studied juris doctor at USC, and graduated cum laude and class valedictorian.  Atty. Largo has been given due credit for making the USC School of Law and Governance as one of the top laws school in the country, and was conferred by the Legal Education Board with an Award for Excellence in Legal Education. USC School of Law and Governance has produced topnotch graduates in the Philippine Bar examinations successively in the past six years.

Since 1595, well-respected men in the field of education have managed the university and brought it to its glory.  Now, we welcome these dedicated women in the hall of USC’s great men.  Once again, USC has proven to be an institution of true liberal education.