Nurturing a University’s Dreams Through Fatherly Love

IN A FIELD CHARACTERIZED BY RANKINGS AND COMPETITION, PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA IS CHARTING A UNIQUE PATH—ONE THAT IS ROOTED IN EMPATHY, DISCIPLINE, AND CARE. LIGHTING THIS PATH IS A LEADERSHIP FOUNDED ON FATHERLY LOVE, ONE THAT IS SLOWLY TRANSFORMING THE UNIVERSITY INTO A HOME WHERE DREAMS ARE TRULY VALUED.

While many are still asleep, Domingo “Sonny” Reyes, Jr., is already awake—starting his day with a reflection at 3:30 in the morning. This has been his practice even before his stint as president of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM). He shares his reflections on the university’s website and friends. And while others are about to rise from sleep, he has already completed his routine, including his daily visit to the university’s chapel. The university president’s regular day in school starts at 6:00 in the morning, beginning with greeting students, faculty, and staff around the campus. “I would normally walk around to see students and personnel who are already on campus earlier than me. And then I give those who are already here the pan de sal I bring every morning."

MORE THAN A PRESIDENT

While school presidents are often perceived as distant and are always behind closed doors in the office, in PLM grounds, it’s not unusual to see Reyes walking around cheerfully greeting everyone he passes. Those younger ones would even reach out for a “mano”—a traditional Filipino gesture of respect where a younger person bows slightly and takes the hand of an elder to gently touch it to their forehead. League Magazine witnessed several occasions of this. He is fondly called “Tatay Sonny” or “Tay Sonny” in PLM, a title he earned that symbolizes how he is to the students and the rest of the people in the school.

He would even offer students a ride if he saw them walking along the streets on his way to the university. He would have breakfast with the students and engage in casual conversations. For Reyes, this is an opportunity to connect with the students and gather feedback from them. This kind of approach, he says, would also be helpful for the school's improvement and how they can fully serve the students according to their needs. “People come here [to the office], and I believe I owe them my time. That’s why I am in school; I am here to be interrupted by people because they will not come to me if they do not need anything,” that’s why just like a father, he gives people time, even for a short while.

His background in the seminary influences his approachable and nurturing nature. Reyes would have wanted to become a priest when he was young; that's why he entered the seminary. However, he chose a different career path. He believes that God has a different mission for him. Though he never became a priest, he is still performing his priestly role as president in PLM. “I always believe that each one of us has that priestly vocation in different ways, not in the religious connotation that we all know, but in our calling or ministry. We are priests. I believe that, even if I wasn't a priest or an ordained priest, I would still be able to fulfil the mission that God gave me,” Reyes shares.

REYES ENVISIONS A VIBRANT AND CARING PLM COMMUNITY FOUNDED ON A CULTURE OF GREETINGS, SMILES, AND MALASAKIT—WHERE POSITIVITY, MUTUAL RESPECT, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY CREATE A HAPPY AND ORDERLY ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL.

A DIFFERENT CALLING

Reyes graduated with a degree in psychology and later on became a lawyer. He built a 15-year career in human resources in the corporate world at the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation and at the Philippine Long  Distance Telephone Company before entering the academe. He spent 23 years at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, assuming various roles such as program chair, human resources director, assistant to the vice chancellor, and ultimately assistant vice chancellor. He never imagined a role in PLM. He first entered the university as a student of a master’s program. He was inclined to decline the offer to become part of the board of regents because he was already enjoying his consultancy work and semi-retired life, which included traveling, especially to parts of Europe that he loved. He initially accepted the role as member of the board of regents, thinking that he would just attend meetings. He was, however, elected in 2023. “I feel I'm not ready to go back to full-time work. So I was actually quite nervous that night. But I felt better when I said, 'Okay, Lord, if you think this is the way for me, if this is what you want me to do, then so be it. I'm accepting it.' I calmed down and said, Okay, I'm accepting the gift,” he recalls. The rest is history.

He's the first to arrive at the office. Long before the halls are filled with footsteps and chatter, he’s already at his desk, quietly starting his day. “I’m not even imposing on people to come early,” he shares. “I just request the community to be on time.” Long before PLM, he was already known as “Sonny, the person who is always ahead of his time,” for he always arrives early for events and his appointments. For Reyes, it’s not about being strict—it’s about showing respect. He values respect for the work and time of others, and the commitments they have made. In every meeting or event, he makes it a point to begin promptly, whether the venue is full or not. And yes, he admits, he gets a little irked when schedules are not followed. “I was trained to wait, not to be waited on,” he stresses.

SHAPING A CULTURE

The very first thing that Reyes did when he started leading PLM was to establish a vibrant community by changing the people’s behavior through a culture of greetings. Every morning on Mondays and Wednesdays, he would stand at the gate of the school and greet the students who came in, saying, “Good morning. How are you?” It is his way of creating a culture of smiles. He also loves to crack jokes even in meetings. “I try to live by example that, despite the stressful and toxic problems that we encounter, we have to smile and laugh once in a while. It’s difficult, but you have to live it,” he stresses.

Another is a culture of malasakit (concern). He started this by going around picking up garbage around the university. “Because the simple thinking of trash speaks volumes of the kind of people we are inside the university. I am very conscious of that. I want an orderly environment, a campus that is clean,” he explains.

BRIDGING OPPORTUNITIES

PLM is a state university; thus, financial sustenance is an enduring challenge. But this is not a hindrance for the institution to improve. Reyes says that one of their strategies is to strengthen the graduate programs, as this generates additional income without sacrificing academic excellence. They are also tapping donors for help aside from government subsidy.

 Partnerships, especially through international connections, is one of the strategies implemented by PLM under Reyes’ leadership in order not only to expand the institution’s reach but also to accelerate students’ knowledge, experience, and excellence. In 2024, PLM signed memoranda of agreement and memoranda of understanding with various global and local partner institutions such as

• Dalhousie University (Canada)

• National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan)

• Kunshan University (Taiwan)

• Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia

• INTI International University (Malaysia)

• Centennial College (Canada)

• International Cultural Communication Center Malaysia (ICCCM)

• University of the Philippines-Open University (UPOU)

• SM Supermalls

• Healthway

• Universidad de Manila (UDM)

• University of the Visayas

• Department of Education-Manila These institutions have become the university's partners for joint research, collaboration, internships, and scholarships

as exchange students. Currently, PLM has seven scholars in Taiwan’s top university—Kunshan University. This student’s exposure outside the country is not just an enhancement of excellence but also makes PLM’s presence in the global field felt to open more opportunities for international networks that would help strengthen the university’s resources.

PLM also hosted and participated in global events like the ASEAN Social Business Conference and the E-Learning Material Development Competition.

Research also is one area where PLM is strengthening its partnerships, for Reyes believes that it is the driving force to promote the university’s global standing. This is the rationale behind PLM's collaboration with local government units and other academic institutions. “We want to position PLM not only as a center for learning but as a hub for research that truly matters,” he shares.

He stresses that research is one of the pillars of any academic institution; that’s why he spearheaded efforts to review the institution's existing research policies when he assumed office, making them meaningful and aligned with its established purpose. He acknowledges that while students and teachers are free to explore relevant topics of their choice, an institution should, however, align its research with its purpose. PLM, being a community-based institution, should focus its research agenda on sustainable development, particularly addressing the urban challenges of Manila. This agenda has now become the roadmap that guides faculty and student researchers. “We want research that can be implemented,” Reyes explains. “The problem with many academic institutions is that there’s a wealth of research that ends up unused. If it is not applicable in the actual world, we must reconsider its purpose.”

Reyes also tapped the help of the Unified PLM Alumni Association, Inc. Its alumni are also active in giving support through donations and linking the university with international and local partners. “Even when we don’t invite them, alumni drop by. And without fail, they always bring something—a check, a gift for the university. Regardless of the amount, it’s heartwarming. All of these stems from their heartfelt gratitude for the life PLM helped them build. This truly demonstrates the depth of their character," he states.

I DIDN’T DREAM OF BEING PRESIDENT. BUT WHEN I WAS ASKED TO SERVE, I SAID YES—WITH MY HEART.

RESILIENCE THAT INSPIRES LEADERSHIP Many of the students at PLM come from the underserved communities of Manila, like Baseco and Tondo, and are determined and hopeful to achieve a better life through education. Scarcity and poverty, however, are daily realities that these students face, and others would walk long distances to the campus to save their fare for other more important expenses like food. “Some walk to school to save on fare; others ask if they can buy just half a hotdog at the canteen. And yet, they still show up, hungry but hopeful, because they understand the value of education,” he shares. Their struggles are Reyes’ motivation in facilitating help from friends abroad to donate their laptops. Since an individual textbook is a luxury for many PLM students, the students took upon themselves the initiative to address the book divide, and with the full support of the Office of the President, launched a book donation program to address the growing "book divide," where students will no longer need to buy brand-new textbooks every semester.

"Dito mo nakikita na nagkakaroon ng mukha ang kahirapan (This is where you see poverty take on a face)," says Reyes, reflecting on the day-to day struggles many students face. He tells stories of students selling snacks in recycled containers, used school supplies, or pre-loved uniforms online. What struck Reyes and serves as source of pride is that despite this, these students do not become dependent on other people's help, for they hustle with pride and dignity. “They don’t want dole outs or pity. They want to work with dignity and self-respect, wanting to prove themselves,” he explains. This kind of students' character, attitude, and determination to succeed and make their lives better not only inspire Reyes to work hard for PLM but also fuel his drive to give more than what is expected of him—not just as a university president, but as a servant leader. For him, this isn’t just a job—it’s a calling. “I didn’t dream of being president,” he often says. “But when I was asked to serve, I said yes—with my heart.