Edieser Dela Santa
Dean
Asian Institute of Tourism
University of the Philippines
Master of Public Policy (’00)
Please tell us about your career path so far. What is your area of specialization and how did you come to work in this area?
Edieser showing his Certificate of Appointment as the Dean
Prior to studying at GSPS in 1998, I was a tourism marketing specialist at the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (now Tourism Promotions Board), the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism. A year after GSPS, I transferred to the University of the Philippines as an Instructor. I have been with the university since then. In 2006, I went to the University of Otago in New Zealand for my PhD. I have held a few administrative positions in my home college including College Secretary and Director of Academic Affairs. In November 2016, I was appointed as the 7th Dean of the college.
You are currently working as Dean of the Asian Institute of Tourism, University of the Philippines. What are your main roles and responsibilities?
What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your work? And what have been the most interesting or rewarding aspects of your career thus far?
There are many challenges in my work and one is resource generation. Previously, faculty-administrators only have had to worry about teaching, research and extension work. Now, they are expected to be excellent fund-raisers too. It is a very challenging job considering that the university has a lot of priorities. In addition, state universities like UP are now not allowed to collect tuition, so funds have become scarcer for us.
A good psychic reward is the immense satisfaction obtained when we are able to win people to our side. Recently, we were able to get the approval from the highest levels for our graduate degree program proposals. This came after six years of planning and tenaciously following up with them. It was greatly satisfying to see our efforts paying off.
What led you to GRIPS/GSPS? What is the most important thing you got out of your studies here, and how has your experience at GRIPS prepared you for future endeavours?
Have you had any involvement, professional or otherwise, with Japan since your graduation?
Edieser at Saitama University’s I-House (first building) when he visited in 2015. Behind him are the letter boxes that held his letters mailed from the Philippines when he was a GSPS student.
I have been to Japan a couple of times since graduation. In 2015, I was a Hitachi Komai Research Fellow. I was hosted by Wakayama University to do research on a project entitled “Tourism post-disaster recovery: Governance of public-private tourism initiatives to rejuvenate areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake”. Last year, 2017, I came back to lead a workshop on Philippine tourism policy research and tourism policy planning upon the invitation of Japan Travel Bureau Foundation.
How do you maintain a balance between your work and the rest of your life? And what is your favorite thing to do when you are not working?
I have three small children and indeed it is a challenge to maintain a balance between the demands of my job and family. I just try to wake up early so that unfinished work can be done while my children are still asleep. I tend my garden and take care of my banana trees when not working.
What are some of your fondest memories of your time spent at GRIPS? And what do you miss about Japan?
My study in Japan was one of the best times of my life. It was made very memorable by friends I made, professors I met and the culture and landscape of Japan. Hashimoto-sensei was a very friendly and generous man – he would always have a treat for students. I tasted many ethnic foods personally prepared by classmates from different regions of the world during GSPS parties or during important cultural and religious events observed by students in their rooms at I-House. We had field trips from as far south as Okinawa to as far north as Hokkaido, which allowed us students to explore the beauty of Japan.
With batchmates in front of the GSPS building at Saitama University. Photo courtesy of Hardyanto from Indonesia, GSPS ’00
If you could give one piece of advice to anyone considering studying at GRIPS what would it be?
Maximize opportunities to interact with classmates from all over the world. These interactions bring people closer, allow formation of support groups, and cement ties that can be tapped in the future. GRIPS students are really future leaders, so it’s important to make the connection early in the careers of your classmates.
How would you like to maintain involved with the School? What do you expect from GRIPS as an alumnus and do you have any suggestions on how to further utilize the GRIPS alumni network?
GRIPS should maintain ties with alumni by continuing to communicate with them. In areas with active alumni associations, some projects including the holding of policy forums can be co-organized. In this way, alumni can get a sense of engagement with GRIPS.
