Abayon assumes ASU leadership

by Sally R. Villasis

RAC Representative

Aklan State University

“I am very much overwhelmed by the faculty and staff who welcomed me. I cannot express my happiness seeing you with us this morning,” Dr. Danilo E. Abayon, said in an address to the Aklan State University (ASU) community, during the Welcome Program on March 16, 2011 at the ASU Amphitheater in Banga, Aklan.

On March 15, 2011, Abayon took his oath of office as the third University President before the members of ASU Board of Regents (BOR) led by Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson and ASU Governing Board chairperson.

In his speech, President Abayon envisioned a “sustained development through greater leverage of the University’s pillars of excellence for progressive leadership towards the Centennial.” He vowed to achieve the vision through GEAR HIGHER, his 10-point agenda which stands for Governance architecture, Excellent human capital, Academic and entrepreneurial excellence of students, Rationalized curriculum and instruction, Healthy physical environment, Integrated laboratories, Geared up research, Hub library, Extension launchpad for community development, and Resource corporatization and generation of income. Abayon's "Gear Higher" focuses on the implementation of strategic actions that span until the University’s Centennial in 2018.

Prior to assuming ASU's leadership, Abayon was Executive Director of ASU's College of Fisheries and Marine Sciences in New Washington, Aklan for the last three years. He also served as Dean of College of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Sciences for five years and 17 years administrative work starting as Acting Supply Officer in 1985. Starting as Secondary School Teacher in 1978, Abayon is currently Professor V.

A native of Balete, Aklan, Abayon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture major in Agricultural Education and Masters degree in Agricultural Education from Aklan Agricultural College (now ASU); a master's degree in Agricultural Science major in Animal Science and a doctorate in Agricultural Science major in Animal Science, cognate in Horticulture from Central Mindanao University. He also holds a Diplomate in Tropical Animal Production from Van Hall Larenstein University for Professional Education in the Netherlands and completed academic requirements in Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Management from the University of San Agustin.

Abayon's leadership credentials include the Filipinos for Leadership and Management Excellence (FLaME Elite) conducted by the Development Academy of the Philippines; the Junior Executives’ Training conducted by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges; and the Value Chain Analysis and Development conducted by Larenstein University for Professional Education and Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Shanghai, China. Abayon also took part in various educational travels in Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, Europe: Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, England, France, Switzerland and Austria.

Abayon will serve ASU until March 2015.