Dr. Dionisia A. Rola arrived in Iloilo in 1973 as Dean of the UP-College Iloilo though it was not her first time at the university as she had previously taught here in the '50s. People who have worked with her all know that Dr. Rola is very dedicated to her work – time never limited her from accomplishing anything she put her mind towards doing. She was flexible yet stern when dealing with people. She was very diligent in attending meetings for her office or as a member of the numerous government organizations she was part of in Iloilo and Manila. It was not surprising that she expected all her constituents to show the same dedication to UP-College Iloilo.
She was a great mentor and an expert in everything, from education, arts, language, administrative affairs to building construction. She always performed her duties flawlessly, and she trained those who worked with her to do the same. If somebody submitted a less-than-perfect report to her, she would return it with copious red correction marks. She was also very meticulous about the cleanliness of office areas, grounds, and other facilities. Her work ethic set a bar so high that it has seldom been replicated at the university since. With Dr. Rola, there was no room for mediocrity.
CDAR (Chancellor Dionisia A. Rola) crafted UPV Miagao into existence. When she was the Dean of UP College Iloilo, she had great visions, dreams, and plans for its expansion. She worked hard and pulled all possible strings that would make possible the creation/establishment of U.P. Visayas in Miagao. She was behind the entire operation of establishing UPV Miagao Campus – from requesting the BOR to approve the creation of a new autonomous campus in the Visayas, to getting a loan from the World Bank, to coordinating with other national, regional, provincial and municipal leaders for advice and assistance needed in the land acquisition. She had the skills to convince government officials to assist farmers, tenants, and the community. She consistently communicated with people affected by the land acquisition and ensured their fair compensation. Landowners were paid for their trees and their land, house owners were paid for all their structures - including their animal sheds, and tenants were compensated for having to deal with the disturbance. Dr. Rola was very compassionate towards everyone who was affected, and by her actions, she gained the trust and respect of everyone she encountered. In many ways thus, she was not just the architect of UPV Miagao as an institution, she is the epitome of what UPV Miagao should stand for.
Her leadership skills were an asset to UP Visayas. During the construction phase of UPV, she displayed great integrity. Contractors sent her Christmas gifts, but she refused to accept anything and made sure to return them all. Dr. Rola did not only focus on her job. She also found time to talk to her personnel and listen to their problems. She extended all sorts of assistance to those in need and attended to her staff's welfare. Dr. Rola was an inspiring boss. She recognized individual strengths and weaknesses and made her subordinates recognize these as well. She knew how to push people to be their best and to give credit where it was due. It is amazing how even now, she remembers the smallest of details about those individuals whose lives she touched.
Until now, CDAR never forgets UPV and the Miagao Community. She still talks about how UPV can uplift the marginalized community in Miagao. She has even expressed a desire to spend her last days in Miagao. We are all certainly looking forward to that and the next one hundred years!
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAAM ROLA." WE LOVE YOU!!!
