Lawrence B. Dacuycuy
Conferred AY 2021 – 2022
Professional Profile:
I received my formal appointment as a University Fellow from Br. President Bernard Oca in September 2021. I was conferred the title seven months later in a virtual ceremony presided over by Dr. Arnulfo Azcarraga, then head of the Society of University Fellows, almost 20 years after I entered the University as a part-time faculty member. Indeed, it was a rare occasion celebrated amidst uncertain times.
I am a product of three distinct yet complementary educational/learning processes. The University of the Philippines introduced and showcased the usefulness of economics; Kyoto University advanced my research competencies, and De La Salle University enabled my transformation as an educator and researcher in many ways.
Early in my career, I was fortunate that the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) recognized my early explorations in labor economics two years after rejoining the Economics Department in 2007. I received the Outstanding Young Scientist Award for contributing to labor economics, specifically in wage outcome measurements, using advanced nonparametric and semi-parametric methodologies.
Unexpected excursions into administrative work broadened my set of preoccupations. The University taught me the importance of service and how it could coexist with academic obligations and expectations of intellectual growth. I headed the Economics Department back when it was still a part of the College of Business and Economics and became the dean of the School of Economics in 2013.
Externally, I have engagements with key stakeholders in economics education and research. I have been a part of the CHED technical committee for over a decade. I headed the Philippine Economics Society a year before the pandemic and continue to serve other organizations.
I have long been an ardent student of economics and, over the years, have be- come acquainted with its ways, making me aware of its intellectual demands. I have been fascinated by the positive side of economics, one that prioritizes mathematical and logical rigor. The normative aspects interest me as well.
Learning in economics does not stop; it remains unhindered by the perception of expertise, and faith in orthodoxy does not guarantee intellectual acceptance. I still remember the 2019 GA address of Br. President Raymundo Suplido extolling lifelong learning skills. Learning how to learn, determining what to learn, and motivating oneself to learn are essential questions. Blended with a sense of resolve and dedication, lifelong learning sustains knowledge ecosystems and prevents the onset of premature intellectual disengagement.
Being a part of the esteemed Society of University Fellows is a rare privilege, for which I am eternally grateful. I know its immense value since I come from a School steeped in the tradition of excellence and collegiality, dynamically evolving to keep up-to-date with the times. I look up to Dr. Tereso S. Tullao, Jr., Dr. Angelo Unite, Dr. Michael Alba, the late Dr. Ponciano Intal, and Dr. Myrna S. Austria, the illustrious Fellows who preceded me.
Knowledge indeed flows to those who seek it, but there are times when this should be directed to those who would like to access it but could not. In support of the La Sallian Mission, I remain committed to teaching, researching, and conducting trainings in economics, hoping these tasks will collectively contribute to social transformation.