Evaristo Angeles Abella: The Legacy Lives On

Dr. Evaristo A. Abella took on the role of the 11th President of Central Luzon State University (CLSU) after being appointed by the Board of Regents (BOR) during a special session held on December 17, 2023 at the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd). He assumed his office on December 19, 2023 day after taking his oath before the BOR.   His Foundation Born to Dr. Pedro and Emilia Abella on October 26, 1964 at their Miflor cottage in CLSU, he was named after the martyr patron saint, San Evaristo, who was the fifth Pope and the immediate successor of St. Clement I.  His childhood was spent closely knitted with his six siblings - Crisostomo, Leovito, Julita, Tereso, Floyd and Pedelino. “Resty”, as he is fondly called, practically triumphed his student life in the University. He finished his elementary at the CLSU Elementary Laboratory School in 1976; his secondary education at the University Science High School in 1980; and his tertiary education with a degree in BS Biology, at the College of Arts and Sciences as Cum Laude in 1984. Eventually, he stepped out of the grounds of CLSU since in 1998 he pursued his Master of Science in Environmental Science at the University of the Philippines, Los Baños under CHED-FDP scholarship; his doctorate degree in Biotechnology at the University of Manchester, United Kingdom as a Ford Foundation International fellow in 2006, and his Post-doctoral Advanced Research in Mycoremediation at the University of Florida, USA under the Fulbright Scholarship in 2016. Versatile as a sports man, researcher-academician, and administrator, he is also a family man. Married to Gella Patria who is the head of the Institute for Climate Change and Environmental Management (ICCEM) of this University, he is a doting father to Kyla Gelle, 22 and Evan Gello, 15.   His Professional Journey Rising from the ranks, Dr. Abella earned his first administrative designation as director of Center for Tropical Mushroom Research and Development (CTMRD) in 2002; then chair of the Department of Biological Sciences in 2012. Since then, he has climbed the administrative ladder, becoming the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and eventually the College of Science by virtue of splitting the old College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) – a way forward for the University which he accomplished during his term as the dean; and in January 2023, he was designated as Vice President for Administration. Dr. Abella has been productive in his various engagements in externally-funded projects such as Biodiversity and Biological Screening of Ethnomedicinal Species; Myko-Mining of Wild Edible Mushrooms and other Allied Species; Cutting-edge R&D for Technology and Information Generation of Wild Toxic Plants with Pharmacological Potential; among others. He is also a prolific researcher manifested by his several publications, best paper awards, volunteer technical consultancy services, and international trainings through the years.   His Presidential Bid As if the presidency was destined to be for him – the pathways from conceptualization, submission of documents, and his presentation during the Presidential Public Forum, Search Committee Panel and BOR interview for the next CLSU President ran accordingly. During the forum, Dr. Abella picked his spot as the third presenter among the four presidentiables, a number significant to him as he will be the third Abella to rise in the presidency should he win. His father, Dr. Pedro A. Abella, became acting president in 1986 while his older brother, Dr. Tereso A. Abella, is CLSU’s 9th President. Declaring his programs to the public, he envisioned that CLSU will further invest towards excellent student services, conducive learning environment, happy workforce, innovative research, and strengthened community relations. His mission statement - through a more inclusive and transparent governance, CLSU shall provide student-focused services, enabling mechanisms for a vibrant workforce to engage in transformative R4D and foster strategic partnerships in the international arena. Encapsulated in his plans are ways to address the needs of the community with his E-treatments as he vows to Effectively Achieve Advancement.   His Pledge to CLSU Community Dr. Abella will lead more than 1,000 personnel and the CLSU constituency in the next four years in his capacity as the University President. During the flag-raising ceremony and transfer of the key of responsibility, Dr. Abella narrated, “I asked for divine intervention at hindi Niya ako binigo. Everything aligned and worked for me to stand now as your President.” Furthering his sharing on the divine providence all throughout his presidential pursuit, he even recounted the prophetic pronouncement of a Datu he met in 2005 that he would become president of his University. On a serious and solemn note, he vowed to remain steadfast to his promises during the forum and said, “Tutuparin ko ang mga pangako ko sa inyo. Naniniwala ako na kapag tayo ay motivated, we can bring CLSU to the next level.” The CLSU community can now seamlessly transition from the leadership of Dr. Edgar Alcantara Orden (EAO) to Dr. Evaristo Angeles Abella (EAA). For the great Central Luzon State University, the legacy lives on.