Jose Abueva

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José Veloso Abueva
Born	Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines
Occupation	educator author
Spouse	Cora Abueva
Parents	Teodoro Abueva Purificacion Veloso

Dr. José Veloso Abueva (MPA, UP; PhD Political Science, University of Michigan) is former president of the University of the Philippines. A Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awardee for political science in 1962, he has devoted much of his career in academic circles. He has been faculty member of the UP College of Public Administration and visiting professor at Brooklyn College, City University of New York and Yale University. He has also worked with the United Nations University in Tokyo. He is now professor emeritus of political science and public administration at UP. Professor Abueva's service to the nation includes stints as secretary of the 1971 Constitutional Convention, executive director of the Legislative-Executive Local Government Reform Commission and Chairman of the Legislative-Executive Council that drew up the conversion program for former military bases. Professor Abueva has written a number of books, including "Focus in the Barrio: The Foundation of the Philippine Community Development Program" and "Ang Filipino sa Siglo 21." Among the publications he has edited is the 20-volume "PAMANA: The UP Anthology of Filipino Socio-Political Thought since 1872."

Abueva is a Filipino educator and author. He was the president of the University of the Philippines from 1987 to 1993. He is currently the President of Kalayaan College as well as U.P. Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Public Administration.^[1] He also chairs the advisory board of the Citizens Movement for a Free Philippines.^[2] He was elected by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as chairman of the consultative constitutional commission in the Philippines. He is a strong supporter of federalism and parliamentary government for the Philippines. ^[3]

He forms the team of analysts of Pulse Asia, a public opinion polling body in the Philippines. ^[4]

1 Biography and career
2 Significant contributions to Philippine governance
3 Quotes
4 References
5 Additional readings
6 External links

[edit] Biography and career

Dr. Abueva was born in Tagbilaran City, Bohol to Teodoro Abueva, a Bohol congressman and Purification Veloso, president of the Women’s Auxiliary Service. His father was a friend and contemporary of former Philippine President Manuel Roxas and Ambassador Narciso Ramos. He was a member of the Provincial Board, and later became the Provincial Governor of Bohol. He ended his career as a Congressman in 1934. Both of Abueva's parents died serving their country.

As a young boy of 16 during World War II in the Philippines, he had to search for his parents who were taken by the Japanese, eventually finding them dead. ^[5]

Dr. Abueva has six other brothers and sisters: Teodoro, Jr., now based in New York, USA; Purificacion, married to Atty. Ramon Binamira of Tagbilaran City; Napoleon Abueva, Philippines National Artist for sculpture; Amelia Martinez, now living in Chicago; Teresita Floro, now living in Sydney, Australia; and Antonio, a landscape artist who met a tragic fate aboard Princess of the Orient; his body has not been found. ^[6]

After the war, the orphaned Abueva children pulled together to take care of each other, growing into fine adults. Jose studied at the University of the Philippines and then the University of Michigan before eventually becoming a professor at his alma mater in the Philippines. ^[5]

He earned his A.B. (Arts-Law, cum laude) at U.P. and his Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Ph.D in political science at the University of Michigan. In 1968, he received the Distinguished Scholar Award of U.P. He was Visiting Professor at the City University of New York (1966-1967) and Yale University (1969-1970). He also worked with the Ford Foundation (1973-1977), and with the United Nations University in Tokyo and New York, 1977-1987. He served as Secretary of the 1971 Constitutional Convention and as Chairman of the Legislative-Executive Military Bases Council under President Corazon C. Aquino. He heads the research and advisory panel of the Citizens’ Movement for a Federal Philippines.

Dr. Abueva served as President of the University of the Philippines in 1987-1993. He introduced the Socialized Tuition Fee Assistance Program (STFAP) in 1987. Dr. Abueva also institutionalized a Filipino language policy within the university.

He is currently the President of Kalayaan College as well as U.P. Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Public Administration.^[1]

He is author, co-author, or editor of several books published in the Philippines and abroad, including Focus on the Barrio; Ramon Magsaysay - A Political Biography; The Philippines Into the 21st Century; Filipino Nationalism; Leadership and Authority in Asia; Political and Administrative Development; Development Administration in Asia; and New Challenges for Development and Modernization.

Dr. Abueva is married to Mrs. Cora Abueva from Surigao.

[edit] Significant contributions to Philippine governance

Dr. Abueva, who was also an elected delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention, has been a staunch advocate for constitutional reforms particularly the shift to a unicameral parliamentary government and the march towards federalism in the Philippines.^[7]

He chaired the Consultative Commission formed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005. The commission came up with a draft constitution that called for unicameral parliament with both a president and a prime minister.^[7]

To Dr. Abueva, the adoption of a federal form of government will address the country's woes. According to him: “Countries under the federal system are more productive, are able to accelerate their development and the people are more resourceful. Under the present system we have not solved our problems." Abueva said the present political set-up does not fit the country's archipelagic nature and diverse cultures.^[8]

[edit] Quotes

"There were many reasons (for the proposal to scrap the 2007 polls). That is just one of them." (referring to popularity)
"Our electoral system may not be reformed at that time (2007). This would raise questions on the credibility of the elections."
"I respect his (Ramos) opinion but I am standing with the commission's recommendation. He is entitled to his opinions but we should look at the substantive proposals."^[9]