Going high-tech and state-of-the-art

Many of those who walk the corridors of power in the hotel, travel, tourism and communications sectors–including no less than White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford–once walked the hallways of the venerable Teodora Alonso Hall in the University of the Philippines Diliman campus. Alonso Hall is the home of the College of Home Economics (CHE), and since 1961, it has produced over 5,000 graduates, most of whom are now successful professionals in their respective industries.

Now on its 44th year, the CHE aims to polevault into the ranks of the most modern colleges in the Philippines with the construction of a P280-million state-of-the-art complex that will include a six-story teaching hotel, lecture rooms, laboratories, an audio-visual room, a commercial-size kitchen and dining room–and even a clothes museum! Excluding the teaching hotel, the complex will have a total area of 10,024 square meters.

"The UP can be more efficient and will be able to deliver better academic services to its students and faculty if its current physical structure is rehabilitated and expanded," stresses Dean Demetria Bongga, PhD.

The college started as a mere department within the College of Education. Home Economics was elevated to a full college only in 1961, largely due to the efforts of Dr. Presentacion T. Perez, who served as its first dean.

The new college started with two undergraduate programs: Bachelor of Science in Food Technology and Bachelor of Science in Home Economics, with six majors to choose from, including Nutrition and Dietetics; Home Arts; Clothing Textiles and Related Arts; Family Life and Child Development; Clothing, Home Furnishing and Crafts Merchandising; and Food and Equipment Merchandising.

Today, the college offers 17 undergraduate and graduate programs, and has graduated over 5,000 students since 1961 and trains an average of 1,300 undergraduate students per semester. The College offers programs under five departments: Family Life and Child Development (flcd); Food Science and Nutrition (fsn); Clothing, Textile and Interior Design; Home Economics Education (heed); and Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management (hrim).

Family Life graduates now run their own pre-school outfits all over the country. A good number serve as consultants of national and local government units, private and non-government agencies to help design early childhood programs or monitor child-care and family-oriented programs.

Nutrition graduates, for their part, have consistently been top placers in the board exams and several hold key posts in hospitals and various nutrition agencies here and abroad. UP Nutrition graduates are often hired to organize and supervise hospital dietary departments.

Graduates of the Food Science and Technology program, honed by their exposure to the CHE Pilot Food Plant operations and internship in the industry, have pioneered the processing of many local food manufacturing businesses.

ctid graduates have become designers and merchandisers in big department store chains. Others successfully establish their own design concept stores or start their own ready-to-wear clothing lines and accessories.

Home Ed graduates are making their mark as entrepreneurs and teachers. Filipino and international students and graduates of the masteral and doctoral programs in Home Economics Education are academic leaders in home economics in different institutions.

hrim graduates are visibly at the helm of the hospitality industry here and abroad, displaying the skills and professionalism they honed at the college. hrim alumni are hired as hotel managers, food and beverage or restaurant managers. They hold top positions as president or vice president of big fast-food companies, even in airlines’ food service operations.

Strong Faculty

A major strength of the College is its faculty, composed of experts from here and abroad. They are much sought-after resource persons in international fora and have published journal articles and books used for instruction. Despite facilities that need a lot of improvement, CHE faculty researchers have proven themselves the best in their field.

Still, the college is conscious that the best has to remain the best, and that the bar of excellence has to continuously be raised. In addition to being a center for excellence for the professional education of students, the college aims to help develop responsible citizens who value the development and preservation of a good family life.

Today, the college is turning to its own as it moves forward to achieve its goals. According to Dean Bongga, the CHE aims not only to modernize its teaching and research facilities, it also wants to promote academic excellence through student scholarships. In addition, it aims to motivate scholarly research through a well-planned faculty development program and the creation of professorial chairs.

The expansion and upgrading program is a tall order and will require a lot of resources, but with the support of its alumni and friends, the college is confident this is not an impossible dream, and will be a fitting highlight of the university’s centennial celebration in 2008.

For more information on how to be a part of this project, contact the UP College of Home Economics through Dr. Ma. Lourdes Catral at tel. no. 922-0291.