By Albino C. Gamba

(APR. 17)—Two newly renovated classrooms at the UP Diliman (UPD) College of Science (CS), Institute of Mathematics, were turned over by Manulife Philippines to UPD on April 1.

Named Manulife classroom and John Hancock classroom, both are designed for multiple use—from a classroom to a conference set-up, allowing interactive learning among Actuarial Science students and enabling them to work in teams.

According to CS dean Dr. Jose Maria P. Balmaceda, CS and Manulife Philippines, through the Manulife Business Processing Services, entered into a partnership in 2009 with the latter providing a professorial chair and full scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students of actuarial science.

Manulife donated more than P4 million benefitting 25 undergraduate and graduate students from the scholarship grants, Balmaceda said.

“The challenge for the Institute of Mathematics is to produce actuaries and professionals with the analytical skills, business knowledge and understanding of human behavior needed to manage the complex risks facing society today. Manulife’s partnership with our Institute, through scholarship grants and infrastructure support, helps us to efficiently achieve this goal,” said Balmaceda.

Present at the event were UPD Vice Chancellor for Research and Development Dr. Fidel R. Nemenzo, UP System Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Dr. Jose Wendell Capili, IM director Dr. Marian Roque, and Mr. Craig Bromley, SEVP and President of John Hancock Financial Services (the US division of Manulife Financial Group).