The measure of a man is difficult to determine. To measure a man's greatness is infinitely more difficult. Privadi “Vadi” Dalire is a great man. But he is gone. He bid farewell early in the morning of Sunday, March 2, 2008. For forty odd years, Sir “Vadi" was the heart and soul of FEATI Geodetic Engineering. He taught, he mentored, and later he led the Department. In the process, he gave hundreds of students and graduates a part of himself. He turned many into board topnotchers, but most of all, he turned them into professionals, globally competitive professionals.
ENGR. PRIVADI J.G. DALIRE With SAGE Basketball Team
To enumerate the scholarships and grants that allowed him to study at the best surveying and photogrammetry universities and centers in the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany, would be an understatement of Engr Privadi Juan Gumallaci Dalire's remarkable persona. Just for the record, he is among those educators in the University who had heart to heart talks with his students before they took the Board Exams; he is among the few who had the guts to spend time with students at a nearby diner; and he is that sort of professor who even watches as his BSGE students play tong-its!
Indeed, to fully realize what really makes Sir Vadi stand out, his childhood would be the very best part to start. During his grade school days, that is, during and after the Second World War, he already proved himself to be a brilliant youngster, graduating in Grade Six after only four years of study under an Accelerated Program. But no, he is not your usual “gifted child stereotype” for he graduated not from a private school but from Villasis Elementary School. He then graduated as the Valedictorian of High School Batch 1951 of Pangasinan Central Colleges.
Life at the University of the Philippines followed soon afterwards where he first enrolled in the BS Civil Engineering Program. After obtaining an Associate in Surveying, he then shifted gears and became a Bureau of Lands “pensionado” in Geodetic Engineering. In 1956, he acquired his degree in BS Geodetic Engineering. And of course, during his college life, he was a consistent academic scholar. Moving on, one cannot help but be amazed at the postgraduate studies Engr. Dalire went into.
ENGR. PRIVADI J.G. DALIRE with his students
He finished his (postgraduate) BS degree in Photogrammetric Engineering at ITC in The Netherlands as a Dutch government scholar in 1969. Then, in 1970, after a year of hard work and perseverance, Engr. Dalire acquired his Postgraduate Professional Master in Photogrammetric Engineering (MPhE), again from ITC in The Netherlands and again, as a Dutch government scholar.
In the course of his studies in The Netherlands, Engr. Dalire attended classes in different universities and institutes in The Netherlands (Appledorn and Delft), France (Paris), Belgium (Brussels), Switzerland (Zurich Institute of Photogrammetry, Berne Photogrammetry Institute, St. Gallen Institute of Photogrammetry and institutes in Heerbrugg and Aarau), Germany (Munster and Oberkochen), and the United Kingdom (London, Southampton, Maidenhead, Surbiton and Borhamwood).
In Asia, Engr. Dalire's travels as a part of scholarships and grants and as a manifestation of his expertise in surveying include a stint in Taiwan where he acquired his Certificate in Land Reform in Rural Development, sponsored by the Republic of China, 1985.
He also has gone to Queensland, Australia where, in 1990, as an Australian grantee, he obtained his Certificate in Land Administration.
In the early years of his career, he worked with the Bureau of Lands. He attained the rank of Chief Geodetic Engineer and retired in 1998 as Chief of the Geodetic Surveys Division of the Land Management Bureau.
During his long stay in FEATI, the Department of Geodetic Engineering had nineteen Board Examination first placers over a period of 35 years (59 Board Examinations). In this period, from 1972 to 2007, the Department had 123 examinees in the top ten (2nd to 10th place) and more than seventy other placers (11th to 20th place).
In addition Engr. Dalire applied himself to his profession, honing his technical and even legal skills. He served as Consultant in various companies and government agencies. He was also a long-time member of the Board of Governors of the Geodetic Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (GEP). His techno-legal expertise was recognized not only by engineers and lawyers but by members of the judicial profession as well. For this he was often called “Attorney” Dalire.
All these “Ser” Dalire had reached, yet he remained as a low-profile department head, even wearing a “sando” in his office during breaks and using not computers but his typewriter in preparing his paperwork.
He could have made himself a celebrity, even wealthy and famous, if he had just engaged himself with surveying conglomerates, yet Engr. Dalire taught, choosing instead to share himself with his students. They reciprocated by becoming great engineers, confirming his greatness in the process... They, his former students are themselves the living mementos of a great man, mentor, educator, scholar, “attorney”, professional, maestro, endearingly calling him, (in their circles) “Sir Finger”. (DEPJ, AJRG)
Sir Vadi in the eyes of his colleagues and students…
First impressions (from the Dean of Engineering)
A very serious person dedicated to his profession
A. Get to see him in meetings, meet him in the corridors – carries himself very humbly, is quiet and hardly raises his voice
B. The performance of his students in the board exams is quite good, especially some who get to be topnotchers
Fatherly figure to his students and staff
Students’ Remarks
Mabait sa lahat; parang tatay; approachable
Jokes when the class is bored
Malinaw, matiyaga, does not get mad (only once but that was when he already got sick)
Tumutulong; nag-aadvise
Kasama palagi sa outing and other occasions of the department. Supports all activities. Would jokingly say he will mark twice absent those who do not join or cooperate
Usually working in his office but comes out to share stories with students
They know he is very busy when he constantly moves from the faculty room to his office and back
Stays in contact with his students even when they have already graduated and have jobs. Also helps in looking for jobs for those who need them.
Marami nang naging estudyante dati pati anak ng mga naging estudyante. (One of the students interviewed, Jan Philip Tamundong, is the son of a former student.)
Send off Message
“I am inspired by Buddy’s example of dedicated service to
the profession and his students. He was working even
when he was ill and in bed. And I believe we all want to go
the way he did. He died with his boots on. We thank you
Buddy for a mission oriented life and your example of love
and dedicated service. May you meet our Maker with a
scorecard we can all be proud of.”
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