Effective today (April 2) – the day after April Fool’s, I know! – I will head the Office of Research and Publication (ORP) of the UP College of Mass Communication (UP CMC) again.

If you may recall, I was the first director of the ORP from its establishment in November 2003 to May 2005. Prof. Luis Teodoro became the second ORP director from June 2005 to March 2007. Since he will be retiring (he’s already 65 though he looks 50!), CMC Dean Elena Pernia asked me if I’m interested to re-assume the directorship of ORP. I immediately said yes. I’ve always believed, after all, that service to the College is an opportunity that one must not ignore.

At the College Executive Board (CEB) meeting that ended a few hours ago, I jokingly told my colleagues that coming back to ORP is part of my weight-loss reduction program. Would you believe that I was half-serious when I said that?