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https://up.edu.ph/security-advisory-phishing-attempts-posing-as-someone-from-the-up-kaagapay-project/ | SECURITY ADVISORY: Phishing Attempts Posing as Someone from the UP Kaagapay Project – University of the Philippines | SECURITY ADVISORY: Phishing Attempts Posing as Someone from the UP Kaagapay Project SECURITY ADVISORY: Phishing Attempts Posing as Someone from the UP Kaagapay Project September 9, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Please be informed that there have been reports of phishing attempts through emails posing as someone from the UP Kaagapay Project. The email masquerades as coming from “admin@up.edu.ph”. The email might contain the attached file “HUMINGI NG PARA SA ALOK 09-09-2020·pdf.zip.exe.” DO NOT click this file or any other files and links provided in said email. Please DELETE this email IMMEDIATELY. We would like to remind once more our users that the University will never ask for your username, password, or any other access credentials. Please be extremely careful when accessing websites or corresponding through email, social media, and other online platforms. If you encounter suspicious websites, emails, and posts on social media sites, please immediately inform our Helpdesk at helpdesk@up.edu.ph. For your guidance and information. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-launches-portal-to-facilitate-donations/ | UP launches portal to facilitate donations – University of the Philippines | UP launches portal to facilitate donations UP launches portal to facilitate donations October 5, 2021 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Visit the Padayon Public Service Office website to view the Give to UP Online Donation Portal. The University of the Philippines (UP) is launching a portal to facilitate online donations and promote calls for donations of UP-sanctioned programs. Developed through the Padayon Public Service Office (PPSO) under the UP System Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs, the Give to UP Donation Portal at https://giveto.up.edu.ph carries links to webpages, online donation channels, and donation packages for campaigns and programs across the UP constituent universities (CUs) that the public can support. UP fundraising campaigns and programs that the public can help support. Image from a report from the UP Padayon Public Service Office. One of the featured campaigns and programs is the Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral ng Iskolar ng Bayan of the PPSO, organized to assist financially challenged students to cope with remote learning needs occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. It has gathered donations for gadgets and internet connectivity and, with the help of the UP Office for Student Financial Assistance, has benefited 403 students thus far across the CUs. Beneficiaries of the UP Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral ng Iskolar ng Bayan campaign. Images from a report from the UP Padayon Public Service Office. Distribution of gadget assistance to different students in the Constituent Units through the Kaagapay program. Image from a report from the UP Padayon Public Service Office Through the portal, donors can also support PGC (Philippine Genome Center) Para sa Bayan, UP Fights COVID-19!, various programs for scholarships, professorial chairs, faculty grants, research, infrastructure, and facilities, athletics, and public service. Webpages for each are provided in the portal. The website can be accessed through links prominently featured in the websites of the UP System, the Padayon Public Service Office, and the UP Alumni. Donation channels include credit cards, online bank transfers, and e-wallets. |
https://up.edu.ph/more-up-students-aided-for-remote-learning/ | More UP students aided for remote learning – University of the Philippines | More UP students aided for remote learning More UP students aided for remote learning February 16, 2022 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Thousands of UP students have been granted remote learning assistance in the course of the pandemic, according to reports from the UP System’s Padayon Public Service Office (PPSO) and the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA). Many more will benefit from the expansion or continuation of their programs this year. Based on the February 2022 report from the PPSO on the Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral ng Iskolar ng Bayan program (#KaagapayUP), at least 1,647 students have been granted either gadgets or internet connectivity, or both since 2020 through the program which utilized P8,713,152.25 in donations. A balance of P4,053,693.07 and of $17,131.91 have been earmarked for program expansion this year. Figures from the OSFA showed that it provided 980 students with internet connectivity and gadgets or their cash equivalent in the Academic Year (AY) 2020-2021, and 339 students from October to December of AY 2021-2022. Remote learning assistance in the form of only internet connectivity was granted to 746 students in AY 2020-2021, and to 357 students from October to December of AY 2021-2022. Slide from the UP Padayon Public Service Office’s February 2022 report on the Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral ng Iskolar ng Bayan program. Based on available data, the figures total to almost 4,000 grants of remote learning assistance to financially challenged students since the pandemic struck in 2020. UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia estimated that of its roughly 60,000 students, there were around 1,600 financially challenged students who would not have had the resources to acquire computers and stable internet access. She added that there were some 4,000 students from households categorized “vulnerable”, whose incomes could not fully support these needs because of the pandemic. Launched as UP transitioned into remote learning mode in response to the pandemic in 2020, the KaagapayUP fundraising campaign has been conducted by the UP System and each constituent university (CU). Figures from only up to June 2021 are available from the local campaigns. Information on donating to the program, administered by the PPSO, can be accessed at https://kaagapay.up.edu.ph. KaagapayUP disburses the funds based on requests from the CUs. The mechanism for applying for remote learning assistance and other forms of assistance from the OSFA is available at its Student Learning Assistance System Online, which can be accessed at https://slasonline.up.edu.ph/. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-fighting-maroons-conquers-nu-bulldogs-for-a-back-to-back-win/ | UP Fighting Maroons conquer NU Bulldogs for a back-to-back win – University of the Philippines | UP Fighting Maroons conquer NU Bulldogs for a back-to-back win UP Fighting Maroons conquer NU Bulldogs for a back-to-back win September 24, 2019 | Written by Stephanie Cabigao It’s another nail-biter, one-point lead win for the UP Fighting Maroons against the winless NU Bulldogs, just days after Adamson’s Soaring Falcons suffered the same fate in the previous game. The Mall of Asia Arena filled with a majority of maroon-wearing audience bore witness to this back-to-back victory on September 18 that moves the UP Men’s Basketball Team to the second spot in the men’s basketball first round standings. Fighting Maroon Ricci Rivero charges against Bulldogs’ strong defense. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. UP fought a hard game to defeat NU, as the Bulldogs were determined to bag its first win by starting off the first quarter with a 5-point lead. Coming back in the second quarter in a more aggressive play, the Fighting Maroons scored 44 points, an 8-point lead ahead of the Bulldogs’ 36 points with the help of UP Forward Javi Gomez De Liaño firing consistent 3-pointers in the quarter. And in the third quarter, the Fighting Maroons maintained an 8-point lead with 67 points against 59 points by NU’s Bulldogs. Unstoppable Bright Akhuetie shoots two for the bucket. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. Until the game reached the fourth quarter, NU’s Dave Ildefonso redeemed the team from UP’s continued 10-point lead by closing in a one-point deficit at 74-71, with 3:27 left in the final stretch. The next ball maneuvers got even more intense with a shooting streak coming from Akhuetie and Paras making UP maintain the lead with 78-71. UP Pep Squad flexing form and creativity during halftime. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. A nail-biter finish was just in order when NU’s Enzo Joson and Dave Ildefonso responded with their sure-fire buckets to close the gap with only 4 points behind, 78-74 at 32.3 seconds. Akhuetie’s free throw recovery of his missed charities against Ildefonso’s freebies and solid three-pointer all led to a heart stopper one-point lead by the Fighting Maroons, 80-79 with 11.6 ticks left. The game clincher was the foul called out on Ildefonso that sent UP Forward David Murrell to the free throw line. However, he missed his 2-point free throw opportunity. As NU favored the last draw to the goal, John Lloyd Clemente failed to cash in the bucket. Akhuetie swiftly charged for ball possession as the buzzer called off the game. Video Player Fighting Maroons’ new hotshot and player of the game Kobe Paras firing his power dunk. Video by Stephanie Cabigao, UP MPRO. Just a day before his birthday, UP’s hotshot Kobe Paras made a back-to-back win for the Fighting Maroons, performing better than his first run, with 25 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two highlight dunks. Akhuetie’s free throw clincher, sending the Fighting Maroons to a back-to-back win. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. Other top scorers of the game were UP’s MVP Bright Akhuetie who delivered 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Javi Gomez De Liaño with 17 points and two rebounds. Loud and proud: The UP Fighting Maroons together with the UP community singing UP Naming Mahal as the game brings to a close. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. Loud and proud: Atty. Gabby Concepcion sings UP Naming Mahal with raised fist with the UP community. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. At the post-game’s press conference, UP Fighting Maroons Coach Bo Perasol emphasized their need to break the one-point victory habit. “We need to learn how to close out games as a team, but that’s the process,” he said. “I know we can, there were just lapses but we are going to learn from that.” UPMBT Coach Bo Perasol with the player of the game Kobe Paras during the post-game press conference. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. |
https://up.edu.ph/atin82-for-up-mens-basketball-team-is-powered-by-ardent-sponsors/ | #Atin82 for UP Men’s Basketball Team is powered by ardent sponsors – University of the Philippines | #Atin82 for UP Men’s Basketball Team is powered by ardent sponsors #Atin82 for UP Men’s Basketball Team is powered by ardent sponsors September 4, 2019 | Written by Stephanie Cabigao The UP Men’s Basketball Team has once again become a UAAP basketball team bet. Sliding into a fresh season, the team is powered by not only a solid player line up, but also its ardent sponsors, such as the asset management company, Januarius Holdings Inc. UP President Danilo L. Concepcion (3rd from left) awards the iconic Oblation trophy to one of UPMBT’s staunch supporters Januario Jesus “JJ” Atencio (middle), founder and CEO of Januarius Holdings Inc. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) In a renewal of partnership held on August 22 at the UP Executive House, the UP Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) and Januarius Holdings Inc. (JHI) signed a memorandum of agreement. The signing was graced by UPMBT Team Manager and Chairman of NOWHERETOGOBUTUP Atty. Agaton Teodoro Uvero; Cocoy Mercado, Executive Committee member of NOWHERETOGOBUTUP Foundation, Inc.; Rina Tan; and, Head Coach Dolreich Perasol. UP Officials were represented by President Danilo Concepcion; UP College of Human Kinetics Dean Francis Carlos Diaz; Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili III; and, Atty. Gabriela Concepcion. Attending from Januarius Holdings Inc. party were its founder and CEO, Januario Jesus “JJ” Atencio, and Januarius COO Marcy Valenzuela. Coming together, the UPMBT with Mr. Januario Jesus “JJ” Atencio, Atty. Agaton Teodoro Uvero and UP President Danilo Concepcion during the signing of the memorandum of agreement. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) “I asked for a genie; instead an angel was given to us,” Renan Dalisay, founder of NOWHERETOGOBUTUP Foundation, confessed. He referred to JJ Atencio backing his full support of the UPMBT for this season. Despite being an alumnus of the Ateneo de Manila University, Atencio identifies with the story of the UPMBT, and saw the potential of UP in finally getting the title this season. “Third time’s a charm, so we win it all,” he expressed during the signing. In his short message, Fighting Maroon Kobe Paras signified the team’s gratitude for the unwavering support of its ardent supporters which is vital for the team’s progress, especially in earning the championship title. |
https://up.edu.ph/padayon-public-service-stages-thatsmybay-highlights-up-initiatives-towards-manila-bay-rehab/ | Padayon Public Service stages #ThatsMyBay, highlights UP initiatives towards Manila Bay rehab – University of the Philippines | Padayon Public Service stages #ThatsMyBay, highlights UP initiatives towards Manila Bay rehab Padayon Public Service stages #ThatsMyBay, highlights UP initiatives towards Manila Bay rehab October 2, 2019 | Written by Stephanie Cabigao “Coincidentally it is 157 years ago today , September 23, 1762, that the British flotilla landed in Manila Bay, marking the start of the British invasion of the Philippines. These days, there is another kind of battle waging once again in Manila Bay – a struggle to clean up and rehabilitate it. This new battle is an offshoot of a 1999 lawsuit, launched by a group of concerned citizens and law students on behalf of Mother Nature against the government. In 2008, after more than a decade of equal battle, the Supreme Court decided in favor of Mother Nature, directing the DENR and 12 other government agencies to clean up, rehabilitate and restore the bay and make it fit for swimming, skin diving and all other forms of contact recreation,” UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena E. Pernia stated as she opened the public forum, #ThatsMyBay, in her welcoming remarks. UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena E. Pernia opens the public forum #ThatsMyBay. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. “A whole society approach is necessary to achieve, as the Supreme Court stated, for the return of Manila Bay to its former glory—a remarkable natural endowment that is a source of food, employment, income, transportation, recreation, beauty, culture, and history,” Pernia added. The forum was one of the series of activities organized by UP Padayon Public Service Office headed by its Director Jeanette L. Yasol-Naval to showcase its commitment to align the various University efforts and facilitate significant endeavors, such as the creation of a research and development agenda and the mobilization of research funding in relation to the programs lined up for the Manila Bay rehabilitation. Science experts, government officials, and professors and students packed the forum at the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology Auditorium in UP Diliman. It featured UP initiatives to keep Manila Bay sustainable. UP Padayon Public Service Office Director Jeanette L. Yasol-Naval underscored the unit’s commitment in aligning various University efforts to different significant societal improvement and progress such as the Manila Bay rehabilitation. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. The UP Padayon Public Service Office gathered UP experts involved in Manila Bay’s rehabilitation and restoration projects. UP’s very own former UPLB Chancellor Rex Victor O. Cruz, a leading consultant of the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan project conducted by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), provided an overview of the project’s status and progress. “It is a work in progress and is very much under the process of fine tuning,” Cruz said. “As we refine the master plan’s first version, we hope to finish it in October in time for the operational plan,” Cruz reported. Former UPLB Chancellor Rex Victor O. Cruz, a leading consultant of the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan project conducted by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. The strategic goals of the master plan project have been based on an integrative and holistic approach that is ecosystem-, science- and participatory-based. With its strategic goals, the project aims: to promote inclusive growth; to improve informal settlers conditions; to engage in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation; to improve the water quality system; and, to protect the ecosystem in Manila Bay. Giving an overview of the UP tri-campus efforts on the Manila Bay rehabilitation, Director Laura T. David of the UP Diliman Marine Science Institute stressed the importance of data-sharing. “We aim to achieve in surfacing the science behind the rehabilitation process as palpable as possible.” David also emphasized that ultimately, these scientific studies must be understood by the general public, as she enumerated four common stages through which they may be able to evaluate Manila Bay’s rehabilitation progress, such as “see”, “smell” “swim”, and “eat”. Prof. Benjamin M. Vallejo, Jr. Ph.D. presents his study on “Manila Bay’s Biodiversity”. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. “The Battle of Manila Bay Lingers on: A Mesocosm of the Nationwide Efforts to Conserve Our Philippine Coastal Ecosystems” a study by Prof. Rene N. Rollon, Ph.D. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. Prof. Melody Anne B. Ocampo, MSc of UP Manila shares her study on “Marine Fouling Community on Manila Bay” Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. Sharing their marine and biodiversity researches on Manila Bay’s ecosystem were: Dr. Benjamin M. Vallejo Jr. and Dr. Rene Rollon, both from UP Diliman Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology; and, Prof. Melody Anne B. Ocampo of UP Manila Department of Biology. Presenting the collaboration of disaster risk response and internet-powered climate monitoring sensors were Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay of the UP Resilience Institute and College of Science Dean Giovanni A. Tapang. Representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, particularly from its Manila Bay Coordinating Office and Coastal Marine Division, also participated in the forum. UP Resilience Institute Executive Director Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay, Ph.D. presented his study “Manila Bay Watersheds” and its relation to disaster risk and reduction. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. College of Science Dean Giovanni A. Tapang presents his research output known as “Project CATFish,” a low-cost climate sensors for monitoring bodies of water such as the Manila Bay. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. The UP Padayon Public Service Office Director Jeanette L. Yasol-Naval and staff, together with Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia, and the forum presenters and guests. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. Watch the full forum session here. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-fighting-maroons-takes-over-ue-red-warriors-in-a-winning-streak/ | UP Fighting Maroons take over UE Red Warriors in a winning streak – University of the Philippines | UP Fighting Maroons take over UE Red Warriors in a winning streak UP Fighting Maroons take over UE Red Warriors in a winning streak September 25, 2019 | Written by Stephanie Cabigao For a group of alphas, there’s nowhere to go but to become a team of Fighting Maroons in a huddle before settling to another win against the UE Red Warriors. Photo by Stephanie S. Cabigao, UP MPRO. It’s a winning streak for the Fighting Maroons. The victory against UE is a break to the one-point lead cycle of wins for the UP Men’s Basketball Team. Fresh out of a win against the NU Bulldogs, the UP Men’s Basketball Team was back at it again, sweeping UE’s Red Warriors at the Ynares Center, Antipolo, Rizal on Saturday, September 21. An easy start for the team at the first quarter of the game, Fighting Maroons earning an eight-point lead with 23 against 15. Photo by Stephanie S. Cabigao, UP MPRO. At the jump ball, manning the Fighting Maroons were Jun Manzo, Kobe Paras, Bright Akhuetie, Javier Gomez de Liaño and Jaydee Tungcab. It was an easy start for the team on the first quarter of the game with a dynamic rotation of players earning an eight-point lead with 23 against 15. UP’s Kobe Paras powers up for a 2-point shot. Photo by Stephanie S. Cabigao, UP MPRO. The second quarter consisted of a heavy rotation of players for the Fighting Maroons. A highlight of this period was Paras’ power block. At 1:38 on the clock, UP led the quarter with 35 points ahead of UE’s 25 points. Player of the game Bright Akhuetie charging for a 2-point shot. Photo by Stephanie S. Cabigao, UP MPRO. Akhuetie’s sure fire bucket points and free throws put up for UP to close the quarter in its biggest lead of the game by 12 points with 39 to 27. In the third quarter, the 12-point lead of the Fighting Maroons was brought to a stagnating state. Meanwhile, the UE Red Warriors stepped up to compensate for the 12-point deficit. Picking up the momentum was the consistent triple shot play by Jojo Antiporda. It was also Alex Diakhite’s layup that survived the team’s fate in the quarter. The Red Warriors came close with 42 points, only 4 points behind the Fighting Maroons’ 46 points. In the game’s critical moment, Fighting Maroon Kobe Paras faces the crowd, encouraging the UP audience to lift the team’s spirit by cheering on as loud as they can. Photo by Stephanie S. Cabigao, UP MPRO. Maroon standout: an alumnus cheers on in clenched fist and a #UPFight placard. Photo by Stephanie S. Cabigao, UP MPRO. The closest lead of the game was in the final quarter with only 1:54 minutes remaining, 57 points for UP, one point ahead of UE’s 56 points. The clincher for the Fighting Maroons was the sure fire free throws early on in the last quarter, finalized by Jaydee Tungcab’s left corner 3-point shot, leaving the Red Warriors 6 points behind in a final score of 62-56. Video Player Silent worker Jun Manzo’s great passes make good scoring for the Fighting Maroons such as the solid pass to Javi Gomez de Liaño for a 2-point shot. Video by Stephanie S. Cabigao, UP MPRO. Akhuetie prevailed with his best stats of 16 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. UP’s winning streak in a takeover against UE was also powered by Javi Gomez de Liaño 15, Paras 12, Rivero 7, Tungcab 4, Ju. Gomez de Liano 3, Manzo 3, Webb 2. It was pointed out by Fighting Maroons Coach Bo Perasol during the post-game press conference that another factor of UP’s win was minimizing scoring opportunities for UE’s Rey Suerte. “Our intention was really to limit his output. We wanted to clamp down on Rey Suerte, but the others did step up,” said Perasol. Clean pass, clean shot: Manzo’s killer pass to Akhuetie’s smooth 2-pointer. Video by Stephanie S. Cabigao, UP MPRO. UP rises second (4-1) in the first round of standings. When asked about the preparation of the team against DLSU as they battle it out on Wednesday, September 25 at the Mall of Asia Arena, Perasol quickly answered back, “We all know the kind of personnel that they have. Susubukan naming mag-improve pa rin, from our previous games which is this game. And I hope that we can be better to make sure that we can have the chance against a powerhouse team like La Salle.” |
https://up.edu.ph/up-csc-draw-hundreds-of-applicants-at-the-government-job-fair/ | UP, CSC draw hundreds of applicants at the government job fair – University of the Philippines | UP, CSC draw hundreds of applicants at the government job fair UP, CSC draw hundreds of applicants at the government job fair October 3, 2019 | Written by Stephanie Cabigao Various government agencies set up their respective job application booths at the UP GT Toyota Asian Center Auditorium. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. The Civil Service Commission National Capital Region (CSC-NCR) held a one-day government job fair at the UP GT Toyota Asian Center Auditorium in Diliman, Quezon City on September 24. The job fair is a nationwide search for the next generation of government employees and is part of the series of activities in celebration of Civil Service Commission’s 119th anniversary. CSC Chairperson Alicia dela Rosa-Bala welcomed the officials and staff of participating government agencies as well as the hundreds of hopeful applicants. Early bird applicants check out the job listings posted outside the UP GT Toyota Asian Center Auditorium. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. With their anniversary theme, “Upholding Integrity and Building a High-Trust Society”, CSC aims to continue holding activities that inspire and motivate individuals, build teams and networks, promote solidarity among government workers, and uphold public service values. Hopeful applicants going through the application process one form at a time. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. “We expect the best applicants. We have a lot of openings, and we expect a lot of people coming in that UP can choose from. Secondly, our own personnel will be able to know that there are openings in other agencies that they might want to explore and apply, too, especially job order [workers], also our non-UP contractual since we cannot offer them items yet as this opens up opportunities for them. As much as we want to keep them, we cannot stop them from getting more opportunities knowing that there are other government institutions,” said UP Vice President for Administration Nestor Yunque, who attended the opening of the event. The staff of the UP Vice President for Administration and Human Resources Development Office with Vice President for Administration Nestor Yunque (third from right) manning the UP application booth. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. “I expect a young generation of applicants since UP is in the education sector; and also we have not only the administrative, but also the research and teaching function that I think serve as our edge to other government agency offerings,” Yunque added. Participating agencies aside from the University of the Philippines System and Diliman include: the Bureau of Customs, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Department of Education, the Department of Health, Rizal Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, National Center for Mental Health, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Metro Manila Development Authority, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Deposit Insurance Company, Philippine Health Insurance Company, and Securities and Exchange Commission. The CSC, in partnership with JobStreet.com, will hold the Online Career Fair for Government from October 21 to 25, 2019. Interested applicants may visit the CSC website and its Facebook page for updates. |
https://up.edu.ph/fighting-maroons-redeem-winning-spot-at-red-warriors-expense/ | Fighting Maroons redeem winning spot at Red Warriors’ expense – University of the Philippines | Fighting Maroons redeem winning spot at Red Warriors’ expense Fighting Maroons redeem winning spot at Red Warriors’ expense October 16, 2019 | Written by Stephanie Cabigao Making every point worth celebrating, solid Fighting Maroons audience cheers on until the game ended at 78-75. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. The rematch between the Fighting Maroons and the Red Warriors was a maintained intense game as much as in the previous round, at the Mall of Asia arena on October 12 for UAAP Season 82’s round 2. The UE squad was a hard team to beat. However, the UP Men’s Basketball Team returned to the court with consistent offensive play and better defense. It was a redemption game for the Fighting Maroons, as well as a return of the momentum especially to Jun Manzo and Ricci Rivero, as they overcame the Red Warriors in a 3-point lead victory coming from a two-time loss. Manzo drives hard to well-deserved bucket points. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Solid offense and sure fire three- and two-pointers by Jun Manzo, Kobe Paras and Bright Akhuetie respectively defined the first quarter of the game. Leading the team in the first run of the game were Manzo, Akhuetie, Paras, Jaydee Tungcab, and Jaybie Mantilla. The smart ball passes and tight play coordination resulted in UP’s biggest lead of the game, and ruled the early part of the match with 27 points against 10. Manzo makes an early three-point shoot in the game. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. The second quarter was manned by brothers Javi and Juan Gomez de Liaño, Noah Webb, Ricci Rivero, and Jerson Prado. Establishing the first score of the quarter, Rivero delivered his 3-point shot at the line. However, the Red Warriors stepped up with Rey Suerte’s consistent shots that inched the team’s way to a tie with the Fighting Maroons at 41 points in the last minute of the quarter. Reclaiming the leg were Manzo’s signature shot—a teardrop that made a 3-point difference for UP leading the game in the last two seconds, ending the quarter in favor of the Fighting Maroons, 46 against 41. MVP Akhuetie charges to earn two points for the bucket. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. In the third quarter, the Fighting Maroons maintained their tough offense with Manzo, Ju. Gomez de Liaño, Paras, Akhuetie, and Tungcab at work, concluding the quarter with a 15-point lead by UP, 65 points against UE’s 50 points. It was another edge-of-the-seat moment in the last minute of the game. As the Red Warriors inched their way close to the lead score, they picked-up the play ultimately at 3:12 minutes left on the clock with only a two-point deficit, 67-69. But the quarter was saved by Paras’ 3-point shot at 2:18 minutes making a 72-67 lead. And Paras’ play by his strong ball pass to Javi for two made a 74-67 lead with 1:51 left on the clock. Also, Akhuetie’s 2-point shot, a saved opportunity from Rivero’s failed attempt, brought the lead to 76-69 with 1:10 minutes remaining. Down the line, it was a series of free-throw exchanges, between UE’s Chris Conner, Alex Diakhite, and UP’s Manzo and Ja. Gomez de Liaño. The game ended with the Fighting Maroons’ return in the winning column with 78-75. Fighting to victory, the UP Men’s Basketball Team conquers UE’s Red Warriors for the second time. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. At the post-game press conference, the men of the game, Manzo and Akhuetie, were brought to the table by assistant coach Ricky Dandan. “We were able to bounce back. In the perfect basketball world, we would have wanted a more convincing one, but we’ll take this of course because we’ve come from back-to-back losses,” Dandan said. “We still have to work hard for the upcoming game against UST, and we will practice as early as tomorrow,” he added. Men of the hour, Jun Manzo, Bright Akhuetie and assistant coach Ricky Dandan, answer questions at the post-game press conference after their win against UE. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. A productive weekend game it was with the Fighting Maroons garnering 78 points from: Akhuetie 18, Manzo 17, Paras 14, Ja. Gomez de Liano 10, Rivero 10, Ju. Gomez de Liano 4, Mantilla 3, Tungcab 2. Exiting the post-game press con, Akhuetie gives up on his pained ankle, and tries to sit it out for a while in the hallway, as Manzo stays by his side. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. A little later, to the rescue is the UPMBT rushing and making a human stretcher out of themselves to take Akhuetie back to the dug-out room. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. The win over UE is significant for the Fighting Maroons, despite the absence of Fighting Maroons Coach Bo Perasol, to prove their worth in keeping their solo second standing (6-3). They are out to prove it once more, together with Coach Perasol fresh from a two-game suspension, and this time around to conquer UST’s Growling Tigers on Wednesday, October 16 at the Mall of Asia Arena. |
https://up.edu.ph/fun-run-marks-ugnayan-ng-pahinungods-26th-year-celebration/ | Fun run marks Ugnayan ng Pahinungód’s 26th year celebration – University of the Philippines | Fun run marks Ugnayan ng Pahinungód’s 26th year celebration Fun run marks Ugnayan ng Pahinungód’s 26th year celebration October 25, 2019 | Written by Stephanie Cabigao At daybreak on October 20, the UP community and friends gathered at UP Diliman’s Palma Hall steps to mark the UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungód’s new chapter, as it celebrated it’s 26th inception anniversary through a fun run. Pahinungód directors, staff, volunteers and participants are all ready at gun start. Photo by Stephanie Cabigao, UP MPRO. The fun run commemorated and helped relaunch Ugnayan ng Pahinungód’s revitalized volunteer program, according to Ugnayan ng Pahinungód System Director Grace Aguiling-Dalisay. More than a hundred registrants coming from various UP constituent universities, such as Diliman, Manila, Los Baños, Visayas and Open University, participated in the 4.4 kilometer-race around the Academic Oval. A Zumba dance class was also offered during the event. The top three finishers were Isidro Perpetua, Jovie Villaganas and Kristoffer Troy Sison who earned the first, second and third places, respectively. “Kasabay ng ating pagtakbo ang pagbuhay nating muli sa Ugnayan ng Pahinungód bilang isang tanggapan ng UP System. Ako ay labis na natutuwa sa suportang ibinigay ninyo ngayon. Ito ay isang pagsasama-samang walang katumbas, na ang ibig sabihin ay buhay na buhay ang malasakit nating mga taga-UP,” UP President Danilo L. Concepcion said. Ugnayan ng Pahinungód Fun Run 2019 top three runners with UP President Danilo Concepcion, Atty. Gabriela “Gaby” Roldan-Concepcion, and the Ugnayan ng Pahinungód directors. Photo by Stephanie Cabigao, UP MPRO. The Ugnayan ng Pahinungód, also known as Oblation Corps, started over two decades ago. It was an offshoot of and a response to a study conducted by Dr. Maria Luisa Doronila and Dr. Ledivina Cariño that looked into how much value UP students ascribed to social commitment. Following the study was the creation of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungód/Oblation Corps on February 28, 1994, making it as the country’s first university-based formal volunteer service program. The event was attended by Ugnayan ng Pahinungód’s directors, among them were UP System Director Grace Aguiling-Dalisay, UP Diliman Director Jocelyn Caragay, UP Manila Director Eric Talens, UP Open University Director Rhonna Marie Vereña, UP Visayas Director Ruben Gamala, as well as UP faculty, non-teaching staff, students and other members of the UP community. |
https://up.edu.ph/bakunahan-sa-upd-at-uplb/ | Bakunahan sa UPD at UPLB – University of the Philippines | Bakunahan sa UPD at UPLB Bakunahan sa UPD at UPLB May 21, 2021 | Written by Stephanie Cabigao The University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, in partnership with the Quezon City Local Government Unit, opened a vaccination hub at the UP College of Human Kinetics gymnasium, dubbed the “Bakunahan sa UP Diliman”. When the vaccination hub called for volunteers to act as medical and non-medical frontliners, members of the UP community responded to the call. The hub’s initial operations ran for a week, starting on April 26 when it held a simulation run and vaccination for its medical and non-medical frontliner volunteers, and continued from April 28 to May 5, 2021. The QC LGU, led by Mayor Joy Belmonte, poses with the UP Task Force COVID heads Prof. Dulce Natividad and Dr. Alfred Tengonciang at the Bakunahan sa Diliman site during an inspection. Photo by Stephanie Cabigao, UP MPRO. The first batch of vaccines rolled out to the UP Diliman vaccination hub catered to 817 vaccines. Following the Department of Health’s (DOH) COVID-19 Vaccination Prioritization Framework, individuals who were given priority for the vaccines and received the jab were in the A1 to A3 categories: senior citizens; persons with comorbidities; and, non-medical frontliners and UP employees who physically report to work for essential services, such as maintenance personnel and security guards. Senior citizens line up to receive their first jab at the Bakunahan sa Diliman. Photo by Fred Dabu, UP MPRO. The 4-step process Dr. Alfred Tengonciang, one of the overall supervisors of the Quezon City-UP College of Human Kinetics Vaccination Hub (QC-UP CHK), explained that there is a DOH Interim Omnibus for the deployment of the vaccine. He added that for the QC-UP CHK vaccination site, the system in place is quite different. Volunteers prepare the master list of A2 vaccines scheduled for the day. Photo by Stephanie Cabigao, UP MPRO. IT volunteers serve A2 vaccinees at the registration station. Photo by Fred Dabu, UP MPRO. As registration is the first step in the whole vaccination process, the hub expanded the registration station to prevent people from bundling up as they fall in line. The registration station consists of: the help desk; the orientation that is part counseling, part health education, and part assistance offered to vaccinees in filling in the forms; and, the data encoding. The second step in the process takes place in the screening station where the vaccinees have their vital signs checked by volunteer medical frontliners, after which they are then cleared to be vaccinated by volunteer doctors.. The vaccination station comes after screening, wherein vaccinees receive the first dose of the Sinovac vaccine. In the last step, vaccinees undergo post-vaccination observation in the monitoring station. Medical interns from UP Manila record the vital signs of vaccines at the screening station. Photo by Fred Dabu, UP MPRO. Medical personnel volunteer as vaccinators at the Bakunahan sa UP Diliman. Photo by Fred Dabu, UP MPRO. “If people are moving in all of the stations, they will feel and see that the system is making progress at the different stations. The design of the vaccination system makes the flow at the hub smoother and easier,” Dr. Tengonciang said, adding that with a smoothly working system in place, the vaccination team is looking at increasing the capacity of its operations in the succeeding days. UP community effort The volunteers who man and maintain the QC-UP CHK vaccination hub include administrative staff, REPS, and faculty from the UP System, UP Diliman, and UP Manila. A vaccinator’s tool set at the vaccination station. Photo by Fred Dabu, UP MPRO. Dr. Maria Dulce Natividad, Chairperson of the Special Committee of the UPD COVID-19 Task Force, explained that in early 2021, UPD Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo was already engaged in talks with Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte regarding the procurement of vaccines for the UP community. The QC-UP CHK vaccination hub is a huge undertaking, especially considering that the Task Force had only two weeks to prepare and set up the vaccination site. Setting up the hub was made easier through the vaccine surveys initially sent out to the potential vaccinees, and through the voluntary effort of the UP community to make sure that a safe and efficient operation was put into place. One of the maintenance personnel frequently disinfects seats and tables at the vaccination hub. Photo by Fred Dabu, UP MPRO. “UP has a mandate to render public service. Given the resources made available for UP, we urgently need to respond by providing accessible vaccination to all. We really wanted the initiative to be a community effort so that people can participate in it, and not only UP for UP. What we want is to get everybody on board and be part of this initiative. We are working together to help take care of public health,” Natividad said. The Bakunahan sa UP Diliman Volunteers, composed of UP’s administrative staff, REPS, faculty, and medical and essential personnel, deliver safe and efficient vaccinations to the UP community. Photo by Stephanie Cabigao, UP MPRO. For the second batch of vaccine rollout scheduled on the second week of May, the volunteers of the QC-UP CHK vaccination hub will serve retired employees and dependents of active UP employees who are in the A2 and A3 categories of the DOH priority of vaccines. Copeland Gym as UPLB’s vaccination hub Members of the UHS COVID-19 Vaccination Team accommodate A2 vaccinees at the registration area of the UPLB Copeland Gym. Photo by the UPLB University Health Service Facebook Page The UP Los Baños (UPLB) administration immediately responded to the call to serve as a vaccination hub after the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Union of the Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) called for partnerships for resiliency, rehabilitation, and national recovery in the fight against COVID-19, according to a press release by the CHED. QR Code scanning is used as part of the registration for the vaccinees. Photo by the UPLB University Health Service Facebook Page “We responded to CHED’s commitment with the ULAP to have the facilities of higher education institutions (HEIs) as vaccination centers for the country’s expanded immunization program. UPLB, through the guidance of our UP President Danilo Concepcion, was very supportive of the initiative,” UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr. said in a CHED statement. The UHS COVID-19 Vaccination Team. Photo by the UPLB University Health Service Facebook Page The UPLB vaccination hub is serving citizens from two municipalities in Laguna. According to the UPLB University Health Service, the hub has partnered with the Los Baños Municipal Health Office led by Municipal Health Officer Dr. Alvin Isidoro. The UHS COVID-19 Vaccination Team is composed of doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-leads-public-service-conference-underscores-academe-community-partnership/ | UP leads public service conference, underscores academe-community partnership – University of the Philippines | UP leads public service conference, underscores academe-community partnership UP leads public service conference, underscores academe-community partnership October 28, 2019 | Written by Stephanie S. Cabigao The UP Padayon Public Service Office organized its 3rd Colleges and Universities Public Service Conference (CUPSCON 3) which opened on October 16 at the UP Visayas auditorium in Iloilo City. The three-day conference took up the theme, “Public service through academe-community partnership: Addressing challenges on health, environment, gender, culture & education, and other key issues”. Director Jeanette L. Yasol-Naval of UP Padayon revealed that new to the conference is the opportunity given to NGOs, LGUs, and civic society organizations to participate in the conference and encourage collaboration in addressing public service issues. Welcoming the participants, presenters, guests and government officials to the host UP campus is Chancellor Ricardo Babaran. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Taken up on the first day of the conference were topics that delve into: mainstreaming gender-related issues through different modes of public service; building competencies towards youth empowerment; fostering social responsibility among the youth; empowering students through service learning; honing local leaders through academe-government partnership; promoting disaster preparedness in various sectors; enriching teaching and research through public service; the role of the academe in achieving sustainable livelihood; the role of CSOs in community development; media in public service; public service for health promotion; and, the use of technology in public service. UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia emphasizes the relevance of this year’s conference as a potential platform to establish partnerships to make research works more strategic, efficient and truly sustainable to communities. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Dr. Ernesto Pernia, former Lead Economist at the Asian Development Bank and now Socio-economic Planning Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), was the keynote speaker. He discussed advancing public service through academe-community partnership. “We want the academe to be part of our journey in delivering relevant, strategic and sustainable public service. We should treat communities as partners in research and development activities so that they can contribute to translating indigenous knowledge into appropriate policies and effective actions on the ground. The promotion of structure partnerships between higher education institutions (HEIs) and stakeholders in the communities, business, and industry is also emphasized in the Philippine Development Plan with the integration of formal research and innovation efforts with informal grassroots knowledge and innovation,” Pernia emphasized. Delivering the keynote speech is National Economic and Development Authority Socio-economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia. He underscores that research works and platforms such as CUPSCON deliver their primary role in uplifting poverty in the country. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. L-R: Rhodella A. Ibabao of the UPV Office of Continuing Education and Pahinungod; UP Padayon Director Jeanette L. Yasol-Naval; UP Visayas Chancellor Ricardo Babaran; NEDA Socio-economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia; and, UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia at the CUPSCON 3 in UP Visayas. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. The second day of the conference was led by the plenary speaker Dr. Ma. Crisanta Nelmida-Flores. Former UP Padayon Director Flores took into account her public service experience in discussing “Measuring Outcomes and Impact of Public Service”. She underscored how “measuring and evaluating the impact of public services rendered by HEIs and its academic volunteers need utmost attention due to the diversity and complexity of social phenomena. Approaches, policies, quantitative analysis, tangible qualities and other social outcomes can be tools for evaluation and measurement of a given program. But looking at the perspective of the target beneficiaries and community instead of relying only on the program’s sustainability can develop new theories of change for greater impact and success.” Former UP Padayon Director Ma. Crisanta Nelmida-Flores lectures on “Measuring Outcomes and Impact of Public Service”. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. The topics on the second day of the conference included: expanding public service through international engagement; capacitating teachers through provision of training programs; strengthening disaster resilience through research; strengthening the community through entrepreneurship; integrating service-learning in the pedagogy of higher education institutions; academe at the service of the government; academe’s crisis response and disaster intervention; community empowerment and poverty alleviation through skills training; public service in food security; technical assistance as public service; women empowerment through livelihood programs; and, culture, heritage, and community-based tourism. With over a hundred research submissions, the CUPSCON 3 participants packed the UP Visayas auditorium. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. One of the series of parallel sessions during the CUPSCON 3 in UP Visayas. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. On the third day of the conference, the plenary speaker was Dr. Divine Love Salvador, an associate professor from the Department of Psychology, UP Diliman. She said: “There is increasing consensus that research and practice must be integrated for public service to be effective, ethical, relevant, and ultimately beneficial. However, this is easier said than done; and there are a few resources to help public service individuals and institutions navigate the challenges of integrating research and practice. This lecture presents these challenges, ways to address them, and guidelines on crafting programs that reflect an integrated research-and-practice agenda.” Plenary speaker Dr. Divine Love Salvador discusses the challenges of an integrated research-and-practice agenda. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Wrapping up the last day of the conference were research presentations that focused on: research as public service; capacitating HEIs through collaborative modes of public service; empowering communities through social enterprise; and, assessing opportunities and best practices for extension in HEIs. |
https://up.edu.ph/student-academic-information-systemcomputer-registration-system/# | Student Academic Information System/Computer Registration System – University of the Philippines | Student Academic Information System/Computer Registration System The University of the Philippines uses the Computerized Registration System (CRS) and the Student Academic Information System (SAIS). Each constituent university has its own system which allows students to check if the courses they plan to take for the semester are available. UP Diliman uses the CRS. To access the system, please click here. UP Los Baños, UP Manila, UP Open University, UP Baguio and UP Cebu use the SAIS. To log-on the system, please click here. UP Visayas also uses a CRS system similar to UP Diliman. To log-in, please click here. UP Mindanao has a Student Records System, which is similar to the UP Diliman CRS. To access the system, please click here. Other sections which you might be interested in: Socialized Tuition System Academic Calendars |
https://up.edu.ph/socialized-tuition-system/# | Socialized Tuition System – University of the Philippines | Socialized Tuition System What is STS? In the University of the Philippines (UP), all students receive financial support from the National Government since the full tuition is much lower than the cost of education in the University. Given that students in UP come from all walks of life, there are those who may not be able to afford paying the full tuition. So UP created the Socialized Tuition System (STS) which provides tuition discount at rates that are based on the assessment of the paying capacity of the household to which a student belongs. This assessment looks at the income as well as the socio-economic characteristics of the household. The current STS was approved by the UP Board of Regents on 13 December 2013. Who can apply? To qualify for tuition discounts from STS, the student must: 1. Be a Filipino; 2. Be a bonafide undergraduate student. Except for students of Law and Medicine, the applicant must not have a bachelor’s degree. For new students, the applicant must have an admission slip; 3. Never have been adjudged guilty of any offense that carries a penalty of more than 30 days suspension; and 4. Be in need of financial assistance as determined by the University Application Process 1. Visit https://sts.up.edu.ph/ and log in using your Student Number and 5-digit PIN. 2. Indicate your intent to apply and your consent to the terms and conditions of STS. 3. Complete your Student Profile with information about yourself and your parents/guardian and siblings. 4. Answer the Household Characteristics questionnaire. 5. Accomplish the Household Income form. 6. Review all entries before proceeding to submission. You cannot view or change your answers after you submit your application. 7. Proceed to submission. You and your parents/guardian need to indicate consent to the terms and conditions of the application. 8. Confirm submission of your STS application. Results will be released according to the posted schedule. You may view the results by logging into https://sts.up.edu.ph/ using your account. Check out the Announcements tab for any updates during the application period. Terms and Conditions before applying for tuition discount The University reserves the right to determine whether the student deserves financial assistance, and the amount and form of assistance. The STS Office, in co ordination with the Offices of Student Affairs (OSAs) and the Office of Scholarship and Student Services (OSSS), will organize a fact-finding team to check information submitted by the applicants. STS privileges may be withdrawn when a student withholds or gives false information, without prejudice to other penalties that may be imposed by the University. All information supplied in the application will be kept secure and confidential. All information may be used by the University for research, with the assurance that personal details of the applicant will be kept secure. Other sections which you might be interested in: Academic Programs offered by the constituent universities How to get to UP Diliman Campus Maps |
https://up.edu.ph/maging-gurong-pahinungod/ | Maging Gurong Pahinungod – University of the Philippines | Maging Gurong Pahinungod Maging Gurong Pahinungod May 21, 2019 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The UP College of Education is reviving its Gurong Pahinungod program in partnership with Balangkayan National High School (Eastern Samar) and Apu Palamguwan Cultural Education Center (Bukidnon). To our Eduk graduates (and graduating batch), heed the nation’s call, be a Gurong Pahinungod! For inquiries, contact the College of Education’s Dean’s Office at 981-8500 local nos. 2801 and 2814 or at 929-9322. You may also send an email at lgaoanan@up.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/nih-marks-20th-anniversary-with-scientific-conference/ | NIH marks 20th anniversary with scientific conference – University of the Philippines | NIH marks 20th anniversary with scientific conference NIH marks 20th anniversary with scientific conference March 16, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office (L-R) Dr. Emmanuel P. Estrella, Dr. Jinky Leilanie Del Prado-Lu, Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-de la Paz, and UP Pres. Danilo L. Concepcion (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) The National Institutes of Health (NIH) – University of the Philippines Manila, in celebration of its 20th anniversary, organized a scientific conference focusing on the importance of work, health, and well-being of the Filipino people. Attended by about 400 participants from colleges and universities, government and non-government organizations, and corporations, the conference was held on March 14 at the Bayanihan Center, UNILAB, Pasig City. Plenary sessions highlighted the role of government and non-government organizations in promoting a healthy workforce, and featured discussions and presentations on occupational health and safety, gender and health research, active aging, treatment of infectious diseases, and other topics. In his message, UP President Danilo L. Concepcion praised the personnel and the accomplishments of the NIH. He said, “The research, technology innovations, and advocacy work that NIH’s dedicated faculty members and researchers have done have led to great improvements on the health of Filipinos, from the level of the communities to the highest levels of national policy. Laws were enacted by Congress to implement the research outputs of the NIH, such as the Newborn Screening Act and the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act.” DOLE Undersecretary Jacinto Paras and DOH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III lead the ceremonial opening of the exhibits. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Concepcion said the NIH has lived up to its mandate and enjoys the full support of the University. “I see the NIH as an essential partner in our administration’s strategic plan, as a national institution that bridges knowledge creation to improve health, R&D, and public service through advocacy, community work, extension services, and influencing policy making, all towards the goal of improving our people’s general welfare,” he said. Concepcion also challenged the NIH to “come up with a breakthrough in the field of medicine that will merit a nomination to the Nobel Prize.” Secretary Francisco T. Duque III of the Department of Health (DOH); Senator Risa Hontiveros; Chancellor Carmencita D. Padilla of UP Manila; Executive Director Jaime C. Montoya of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD); Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); and Khalid Hassan, Country Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO), also delivered congratulatory messages for the NIH anniversary-conference. Dr. Joseph Lachica of the Office of Sen. Hontiveros, DOLE Undersecretary Jacinto Paras, DOH Sec. Duque, and Katherine Brimon of the ILO’s Safe Youth at Work Project each presented their organization’s role in promoting a healthy workforce in the Philippines. Attended by about 400 participants from colleges and universities, government and non-government organizations, and corporations (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) The afternoon sessions featured plenary discussions by experts on the following topics: chronobiology, health, and productivity of shiftworkers by Prof. Gayline F. Manalang Jr., College of Public Health, UP Manila; devastating work-related injuries by Dr. Emmanuel M. Estrella, Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, NIH, UP Manila; occupational diseases by Dr. Vivienne F. Fadrilan-Camacho, College of Public Health, UP Manila; occupational health safety programs by Dr. Maria Beatriz G. Villanueva, Health Control Division, DOLE; gender equality by Dr. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio, UP Center for Women’s Studies, UP Diliman; gender, health, and research by Dr. Anthony GH. Cordero, Community Health and Development Program, UP Manila; gender differences in tuberculosis by Dr. Marissa M. Alejandria, Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, NIH, UP Manila; HIV in the workplace by Dr. Edsel Maurice T. Salvaña, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, NIH, UP Manila; eye health in the workplace by Dr. Leo DP. Cubillan, Philippine Eye Research Institute, NIH, UP Manila; wellness in the workplace by Dr. Aster Lynn D. Sur, Institute of Human Genetics, NIH, UP Manila; and, active aging and the workforce by Dr. Shelley Ann F. de la Vega, Institute on Aging, NIH, UP Manila. The NIH was created by the UP Board of Regents on January 26, 1996. With the signing into law of the “Health Research and Development Act of 1998”, it was established by the Philippine Government as a national health research center on February 13, 1998. (Fred Dabu, UP MPRO) To view more photos of the event, click here. |
https://up.edu.ph/sc-justice-leonen-addresses-up-manila-class-of-2018/ | SC Justice Leonen addresses UP Manila Class of 2018 – University of the Philippines | SC Justice Leonen addresses UP Manila Class of 2018 SC Justice Leonen addresses UP Manila Class of 2018 June 28, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office UP Manila graduates taking the Pledge of Loyalty to the Alma Mater. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) The University of the Philippines Manila, the nation’s Health Sciences Center, held its 109th Commencement Exercises at the Philippine International Convention Center on June 22, 2018. A total of 1,095 members of UP Manila Class of 2018 were conferred their titles and degrees. With the theme, “Iskolar ng Bayan Manindigan para sa KKK: Katotohanan, Katarungan, at Karapatan”, Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen delivered the commencement address at UP Manila’s graduation rites this year. In his message, Leonen urged the audience to ”. . . find the patience to read, to think, to share, to organize and then to act. . .” as he explained that genuine democracies were founded on truth, “real conversations”, social justice, “collective consciousness, and collective action”. “Do not be silent in the face of injustice,” he advised the graduates. “As you leave the great gates of this University, may you also be haunted by these words, and I share them with you: Kung hindi tayo kikilos, sino ang kikilos? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa? Iskolar ng Bayan, paglingkuran ang sambayanan!” concluded Leonen. Martin M. Mamangon, graduating with a BS Public Health, spoke on behalf of the graduating class after the ceremonial distribution of diplomas, awarding of honor graduates, and hooding of doctoral candidates. After the induction of graduates into the UP Alumni Association and the UP Manila Alumni Association, members of the graduating class held a lightning protest in front of the stage to denounce “tyrannical and anti-people” policies of the Duterte administration, such as the TRAIN law, martial law in Mindanao, extrajudicial killings, and rising impunity, among others. UP Manila has nine degree granting units, namely: College of Allied Medical Professions (CAMP), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), College of Dentistry (CD), College of Medicine (CM), College of Nursing (CN), College of Pharmacy (CP), College of Public Health (CPH), National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions (NTTC-HP), and the School of Health Sciences (SHS). (Fred Dabu, UP MPRO) University of the Philippines System and UP Manila officials pose with Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen at the Philippine International Convention Center lobby prior to the UP Manila Commencement Exercises. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) Members of the UP Manila Class of 2018. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita D. Padilla introduces the commencement speaker. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen delivers the commencement address at UP Manila’s graduation rites. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen receives the Plaque of Appreciation from UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita D. Padilla. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) A UP Manila graduate receiving her diploma from Chancellor Carmencita D. Padilla and Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Nymia P. Simbulan. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) UP officials, together with Chancellor Carmencita D. Padilla, distribute diplomas, award medals, and assist in the hooding of UP Manila graduates. (Photos by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) BS Public Health graduate Martin M. Mamangon delivers his message on behalf of Class 2018. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) UP System Executive Vice President Teodoro J. Herbosa leads the graduates in making the Pledge of Loyalty to the Alma Mater. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) Hon. Ramon M. Maronilla, UP Alumni Regent and President of the UP Alumni Association, inducts the graduates into the UP Alumni Association. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) Mr. Rene Madarang, President of the UP Manila Alumni Association, inducts the graduates into the UP Manila Alumni Association. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) UP Manila graduates are inducted into the UP Manila Alumni Association. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) Members of the graduating class conduct a lightning rally to denounce “tyrannical and anti-people” policies of the Duterte administration. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) Members of the graduating class raise their fists to show solidarity during the lightning protest against the “tyrannical and anti-people” policies of the Duterte administration. (Photos by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) With raised fists, the graduates triumphantly cap the commencement exercises with the singing of the UP Naming Mahal. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) |
https://up.edu.ph/the-abcs-of-gen-xyz-understanding-our-learners/ | The ABCs of Gen XYZ: Understanding our Learners – University of the Philippines | The ABCs of Gen XYZ: Understanding our Learners The ABCs of Gen XYZ: Understanding our Learners November 17, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Due to the success of the GEC Lecture for UPD GE Faculty entitled “The ABCs of GEn XYZ: Understanding Our Learners” conducted for the CAL and CSSP faculty during the first quarter of 2020, the General Education Center (GEC) Diliman, will once again hold the Lecture as a webinar. This webinar will now open to all colleges and units in UPD and other CUs, even for non-GE faculty members. Title: GEC Lecture for UP Faculty: “The ABCs of GEn XYZ: Understanding Our Learners” Schedule: 23 November 2020 (Monday), 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM Brief description: The webinar is a one and a half hour lecture with a 30-minute open forum / Q&A afterwards. The resource speaker will share her rich experience and informed knowledge on educational psychology (e.g. generational differences between Generations X, Y, Z, how to educate Generation Z or the iGEn students, identify their psychosocial needs, how the faculty can respond to these, etc.). Intended audience: UP faculty members Resource speaker: Professor Grace S. Koo, College of Education, UP Diliman Register in advance for this webinar: https://up-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_I3OBq3yxSD2trXDBwt0UWA This webinar will also be streamed live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/UniversityComputerCenterUPD/live For inquiries, you may contact GEC at gec_ovcaa.upd@up.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-manila-forms-group-to-tackle-the-nations-addiction-crisis/ | UP Manila forms group to tackle the nation’s addiction crisis – University of the Philippines | UP Manila forms group to tackle the nation’s addiction crisis UP Manila forms group to tackle the nation’s addiction crisis February 4, 2019 | Written by Fred Dabu In response to the glaring problems arising from addiction, particularly illegal substance abuse in the Philippines, experts from the country’s health sciences center, the University of the Philippines Manila (UP Manila), formed the Technical Working Group on Addiction Science (TWGAS) and partnered with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and various organizations in 2018. (L-R) UP Manila College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean Leonardo Estacio Jr., Dr. Armando Crisostomo (representing UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla), Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) President Engelbert Coronan, Jr., and DAP Prof. Jo-Ann De Belen present a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UP Manila and DAP for institutional cooperation on “transdisciplinary work of drug policy design and implementation.” Photo from UP Manila IPPAO. This is UP Manila’s first formal and multidisciplinary initiative, which aims to “tackle the problem of addiction from the academic point of view,” according to UP Manila Vice Chancellor for Research Dr. Armando C. Crisostomo. While the TWGAS focuses on research and teaching, it also aims to help generate scientific evidences as bases for crafting appropriate government policies. Crisostomo, who is also the chairperson of the TWGAS, explained, “Addiction is a national issue. We have to partner with many organizations to provide a more meaningful perspective on addiction in this country. Emphasis has been placed on the criminal or police aspects of the problem. Of course there are issues that need to be resolved by the police, but we would like to view it more as a social and health problem that needs to be addressed.” Members of the TWGAS started to convene as early as 2017, Crisostomo said, “with like-minded professionals from within the UP Manila community,” mainly from the College of Medicine, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Nursing, College of Public Health, and the UP-Philippine General Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry and Family Medicine, coming together in 2018 for meetings, workshops, and partnerships leading to community-based treatment and rehabilitation of illegal drug users. The TWGAS is concerned with both substance and behavioral addiction. Crisostomo explained that substance addiction includes consumption of legal substances (such as tobacco, alcohol, medicine, including pain killers) and illegal substances (such as methamphetamine or shabu, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin). Behavioral addiction, meanwhile, pertains to gambling, video gaming, sex, and others, as declared by the World Health Organization. The TWGAS will “not just focus on the illegal substances abuse but on addiction itself as an important public health problem which UP Manila, the health sciences center, must be able to address,” Crisostomo said. Related story: UP Manila, partners to develop com-based drug rehab and treatment program The term “addiction science” is broad and covers various fields, not just medicine, Crisostomo explained. “We are using a broad definition. We have not scratched the surface of the other forms of addiction. We don’t want to call ourselves an ‘addiction medicine’ working group because we don’t want to confine ourselves to medicine as a field. Social scientists, nursing practitioners, barangay health workers, and even ordinary families deal with this problem; so ‘science’ covers all the things that we are trying to do,” he said. Technical Working Group on Addiction Science (TWGAS) Chairperson Dr. Armand Crisostomo briefs participants representing different sectors on the goals and expected outputs of the workshop held at the Development Academy of the Philippines, Pasig City. Photo from UP Manila Newsletter. Crisostomo reported that their two-day workshop on the community-based program, in partnership with DAP and other organizations, held on August 30 to 31, 2018, was just one of their activities. This workshop involved international and Filipino experts, social workers, barangay health workers, and participants from civic organizations and urban communities, where they were able to exchange best practices, generate evidence-based strategies, and come up with an initial framework for the curriculum on which they are working together. The TWGAS also laid out its other programs, Crisostomo revealed, such as strengthening the teaching of addiction science in the undergraduate curriculum of UP Manila (in time for the opening of classes in August 2019) creating a fellowship in Addiction Medicine, and, developing a course in Master of Science in Addiction Counselling. The Department of Psychiatry aims to offer a fellowship in Addiction Medicine, Crisostomo added. He said that completion of residency in either Psychiatry, Neurology, Family Medicine, General Pediatrics, or General Internal Medicine is required so that one can become a sub-specialist in addiction medicine. The Master of Science in Addiction Counselling being developed is to be hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). These are among many other efforts to help the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Health (DOH) develop and implement the community-based drug rehabilitation and treatment program for minor drug offenders, or those who constitute the overwhelming majority, or 80 to 90 percent of those suffering from addiction. “The curriculum will be a work in progress. We have to formally develop the final curriculum, pilot test it, develop the training materials, modules, then roll it out throughout the country in cooperation with the DILG. This will probably take at least 2 to 3 years,” Crisostomo said. Among the members of the TWGAS are: Dean Leonardo Estacio and Prof. Laurie Ramiro of CAS; Prof. Angela Mabale of CN; Prof. Jonathan Guevarra of CPH; Dr. Benjamin Vista, Dr. Jojo Pascual, and Dr. Rowalt Alibudbud of the Dept. of Psychiatry; and Prof. Allan Dionisio of the Dept. of Family and Community Medicine. |
https://up.edu.ph/upou-turns-24-begins-run-up-to-25th-year/ | UPOU turns 24, begins run-up to 25th year – University of the Philippines | UPOU turns 24, begins run-up to 25th year UPOU turns 24, begins run-up to 25th year March 13, 2019 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo The UP Open University (UPOU) commemorated its 24th anniversary on March 1 at its headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna with its usual celebratory activities. Memoranda were signed, projects and publications launched, partners recognized, the Gawad Chancellor given, and Family Day celebrated. UPOU 2019 Programs and Projects Projects and programs that UPOU shall pursue starting 2019. The programs ranged from academic to administrative undertakings. Posted by UPOU Multimedia Center on Monday, March 11, 2019 UPOU formally launches its projects for 2019. UPOU Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria, whose three-year term ended on February 28, also presented her End of Term Report. She remains in a holdover position since the UP Board of Regents is expected to elect the next chancellor on March 28, according to a February 13 memo from UP President Danilo Concepcion. Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria presents her End of Term Report. The day started with UPOU officials signing two Memoranda of Understanding with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Red Cross Youth of UP Los Baños (UPLB). The former, on capacity-building programs specific to the needs of DENR-National Capital Region; and the latter, on collaborative activities, such as blood donation drives. Top photo: From left, DENR-NCR OIC Assistant Regional Director for Management Services Gwendolyn Bambalan and UPOU Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria sign the MOU, with witnesses, Faculty of Management and Development Studies Dean Primo Garcia and Prof. Juvy Gervacio. Bottom photo: From left, Christian Bismonte and Cary Olivar of the Red Cross Youth of UPLB, and UPOU Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria sign the MOU, with Vice Chancellor for Administration Jean Saludadez as witness. (Photos by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Initiatives were also launched. First was “The Race to Wellness”, a series of open educational resources in health created in partnership with UP Manila (UPM). Next was the “Online Training and Certification Course on Data Privacy” that is aimed to strengthen capacity in the understanding and implementation of Republic Act No. 10173 or The Data Privacy Act of 2012. UPOU then announced the beginning of the construction of the Multimedia Center Building. Principles of green architecture and engineering will be incorporated in its design. The two-level structure will house video studios, digital audio recording booths, video editing rooms, and facilities for video conferences. UPOU’s chatbot, IskOU, can be found at https://askou.upou.edu.ph. After that, attendees were treated to a demo conversation with IskOU-Iska, the chatbot designed to reply to UPOU-related inquiries. Another project that was launched was the Conversation Paper Series. The first two issues of the series were presented: “The changing profile of UPOU graduates and the changing modes of delivery: a GIS-based analysis” by Faculty of Education Dean Ricardo Bagarinao and Percia Secreto of the Office of the University Registrar; and, “Operationalizing the institutional vision statement of the UPOU” by Professor Emeritus and former UPOU Chancellor Felix Librero. UPOU Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria hands a copy of “The changing profile of UPOU graduates and the changing modes of delivery: a GIS-based analysis” to Percia Secreto of the Office of the University Registrar (left photo) and a copy of “Operationalizing the institutional vision statement of the UPOU” to Professor Emeritus and former UPOU Chancellor Felix Librero (right photo). (Photos by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) A separate launch and press conference were held in the afternoon for the website of Aruga sa Batang may Cancer. The project aims to improve the capabilities of health professionals and primary caregivers to provide palliative care to pediatric cancer patients. Its telemedicine and cancer registry components are currently undergoing completion. The website of Aruga sa Batang may Cancer may be accessed at https://arugaproject.com/. UPOU also paid tribute to last year’s partner institutions. They were: the Association for the Rights of Children in Southeast Asia; Capiz State University; Childhope Philippines Foundation Inc.; Development Bank of the Philippines; Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University; Home Development Mutual Fund; Philippine Health Insurance Corporation; Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care; Social Security System; UPLB Credit and Development Center; UPM; and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. UP Manila (UPM) is UPOU’s partner in a series of open educational resources on health. In this photo, UPOU Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria (left) presents tokens of appreciation to UPM Chancellor Carmencita Padilla. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Then there was the highly anticipated awarding of the Gawad Chancellor to outstanding employees. This part of the anniversary program has always been met with much excitement because of the surprise announcement of awardees. This year, the Gawad Chancellor awardees were: Ela Abao of the Office of the Chancellor (administrative staff 1st level); Encarnacion Jaen of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration (administrative staff 2nd level); Emely Amoloza of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (research, extension, and professional staff); and, Prof. Myra Almodiel (faculty), also of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies. From left: UPOU Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria, Vice Chancellor for Administration Jean Saludadez receiving the Gawad Chancellor for administrative staff 2nd level on behalf of Encarnacion Jaen, Gawad Chancellor faculty awardee Prof. Myra Almodiel, Gawad Chancellor administrative staff 1st level awardee Ela Abao, Gawad Chancellor REPS awardee Emely Amoloza, and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Melinda Lumanta. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The rest of the day the UPOU community enjoyed Family Day. This is the annual informal gathering where people behind the institution are lauded for their exemplary and loyal service, and their professional and personal accomplishments. Staff members from UPOU learning centers across the Philippines even fly out to join the UPOU community in the celebration. This year’s edition of the annual UPOU “family photo.” (Photo from the UP Open University’s Facebook page) |
https://up.edu.ph/mutation-making-a-more-infectious-coronavirus-up-webinar-explores-the-questions/ | Mutation making a more infectious coronavirus? UP webinar explores the questions – University of the Philippines | Mutation making a more infectious coronavirus? UP webinar explores the questions Mutation making a more infectious coronavirus? UP webinar explores the questions July 16, 2020 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office On July 2, The Washington Post published an alarming headline: “This coronavirus mutation has taken over the world. Scientists are trying to understand why.” Scientists have found a specific change occurring in the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in outbreaks in Europe and the US. The mutation is known as D614G after the switch in one of the virus’ “spike proteins”, which allows the virus to infiltrate human cells and gives the coronavirus its crown-like appearance. New research has been showing that the newer form of the virus may be even more readily transmitted than the original form. More questions follow: Is this new strain the dominant version of SARS-CoV-2? Is the mutated version of the SARS-CoV-2 virus more infectious or more lethal? Does it make any difference to what health practitioners need to do? Will this affect the way health services are organized? And what are the implications for the development of a vaccine? The scientists at the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) have realized that the debate on the impact of the D614G mutation must be translated to practical terms. This will be the topic of discussion during the 13th installment of the UP Webinar Series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates”, organized by the University of the Philippines in partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center. The webinar on “Genetic Sequencing Research: Mutation of SARSCov2 (Implications for Clinical Management and Vaccine Development)” will be held on July 17, Friday, at 12:00 nn. Executive Director Cynthia P. Saloma of the UP Philippine Genome Center, who is a professor of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at UP Diliman, will be the resource speaker. In 2013, the Philippine Genome Center (PGG) was established at the University of the Philippines. The PGG was developed to promote health by understanding the genetic basis of diseases affecting Filipinos through diagnosis and early detection of genetic conditions that can be treated. In a pandemic, however, there now is a spotlight on this center as a national resource center for local scientists to use genomics tools on the COVID-19 outbreak in the country and predict patterns of spread based on genetic information. One of the major pillars of Genomics involves the sequencing (i.e. determining the nucleotide base arrangement) of the entirety or fragments of an entity’s genetic material.Applied to the current COVID-19 outbreak, examining the sequences obtained from different cases can enable tracing of the virus’ transmission route and source of infection. Moving forward, genetic sequencing can inform public health interventions to prevent the source of the spread of COVID19. Register now for the 13th installment of the the UP Webinar Series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates”: bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar13 You may also watch the replay of the webinar on TVUP’s YouTube channel. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-university-of-rhode-island-meeting-targets-increase-in-academic-engagements/ | UP, University of Rhode Island meeting targets increase in academic engagements – University of the Philippines | UP, University of Rhode Island meeting targets increase in academic engagements UP, University of Rhode Island meeting targets increase in academic engagements October 25, 2019 | Written by Stephanie Cabigao UP and URI officials meet at the BOR Room to discuss future academic prospects and partnerships. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. Officials including deans of both universities from their respective colleges such as Business, Education, Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences as well as Fisheries from the University of the Philippines (UP) and the University of Rhode Island (URI), held a meeting that aimed to increase academic engagements between the two institutions. On October 14 at the Board of Regents’ Room, the University of the Philippines was represented by its President Danilo L. Concepcion; Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa, MD; Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and Office of International Linkages Director Gil Jacinto, Ph.D.; Cesar EA Virata School of Business – Business Administration Department Chair Ma. Gloria Talavera, Ph.D.; College of Education Dean Jerome Buenviaje, Ph.D.; College of Pharmacy Dean Bienvenido Balotro, RPh, MBA, MS; Department of Pharmacy Assistant Professor and Office of International Linkages Coordinator Shiela May Jayme Nacabu-an, RPh, MHPEd; College of Nursing Coordinator for Community Nursing John Joseph Posadas; National Institutes of Health Executive Director Eva Marie Cutiongco-dela Paz, MD; College of Public Health Assistant to the Dean for Planning and Development Marian Lomboy; College of Pharmacy members Joanna Orejola and Czarina Dominique Rodriguez; and Nygiel Armada of USAID Fish Right Program. Leading the senior level delegation of the University of Rhode Island were Vice Provost for Global Initiatives Gifty Ako Adounvo, Ph.D.; Dean of Pharmaceutical Science Paul Larrat, Ph.D.; Professor of Fisheries and Aquaculture Michael Rice, Ph.D.; College of Business Professor Shaw Chen, Ph.D.; and Assistant to the Provost for Global Strategies and Academic Partnerships Nancy Stricklin. Exchange of tokens marking UP and URI’s academic partnership. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. UP President Danilo Concepcion encouraged URI officials to visit UP’s other constituent universities. He also shared UP’s oblation and its relevance to the nation’s challenges and progress. Meanwhile, URI’s Vice Provost for Global Initiatives Gifty Ako Adounvo expressed that she is looking forward for the collaboration especially in the areas of oceanography and marine sciences as these are one of URI’s strength. “URI’s collaboration in the Philippines in the fisheries research is looking for expansion and is committed to international partnership and exchange. I believe that the partnership in the Philippines would be productive in becoming interdependent and committing to its global agenda in facing global challenges,” she added. URI officials get a tour of the Diliman campus with its first stop at the Quezon Hall and the Oblation Plaza. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. According to Prof. Shaw Chen, URI offers its undergraduate, graduate, and professional students distinctive educational opportunities designed to meet the global challenges of today’s world. “URI has been invested in capital improvements across its four campus, with new facilities for chemistry and forensic science, pharmacy, and communications,” he emphasized. During the meeting, breakout sessions were held to give way for dialogues between UP and URI’s officials in their respective disciplines and areas in business and education, pharmacy, science and health sector, as well as global initiatives and collaboration. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-signs-mou-creating-mindanao-genomics-consortium/ | UP signs MOU creating Mindanao Genomics Consortium – University of the Philippines | UP signs MOU creating Mindanao Genomics Consortium UP signs MOU creating Mindanao Genomics Consortium December 12, 2019 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo The University, through UP Mindanao (UPMin) and the Philippine Genome Center-Mindanao Satellite Facility, has partnered with 41 institutions to establish the Mindanao Genomics Consortium (MG Consortium). A ceremonial signing of the memorandum of understanding was held on October 28 at the UPMin College of Science and Mathematics. MG Consortium consists of academic institutions, government agencies, civil society organizations, and industry representatives who recognize the importance of omics research and its pursuit. This includes the need for both a multi-omics facility to accommodate emerging omics research and capacity building programs to strengthen the scientific workforce of Mindanao. Department of Science and Technology Region XI Regional Director Anthony Sales gives a brief background of MG Consortium. (Photos by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The group aims to facilitate the conduct of omics research and collaborations that will enhance omics work in Mindanao, which it says have the “comparative advantage . . . to augment scientific advancement in the areas of agriculture, fisheries and aquatic resources, forestry, food safety and security, water quality, biodiversity, environmental management, health, forensics, emerging technologies, and human diversity in Mindanao.” To this end, MG Consortium has three general courses of action: (1) to develop the manual of operations for the consortium; (2) to promote awareness on omics research and applications in development; and (3) to foster collaborations among consortium members. Representatives of some member institutions in MG Consortium sign the memorandum of understanding. In the topmost photo are UP Mindanao Chancellor Larry Digal (middle) and Philippine Genome Center-Mindanao Satellite Facility Program Director Lyre Anni Murao (rightmost). (Photos by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The 43 MG Consortium member institutions are: Department of Science and Technology XI Department of Science and Technology X Ateneo de Davao University Brokenshire College Brokenshire Integrated Health Ministries Inc. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources XI Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao Inc. Caraga State University Central Mindanao University Commission on Higher Education Region XI Compostela Valley State College Davao Doctor’s College Davao Light and Power Co. Davao Medical School Foundation Davao del Norte State College Davao Oriental Science and Technology State College Davao Regional Medical Center Department of Agriculture XI Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau Durian Industry Association of Davao Mindanao State University-General Santos Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology Mindanao State University-Naawan Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography Philippine Eagle Foundation Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care Philippine National Police Regional Crime Laboratory Office XI Philippine Science High School- Southern Mindanao Campus Samahang Magmamangga ng Davao Region Inc. San Pedro College Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology Southern Philippines Medical Center Surigao del Sur State University Tagum Agricultural Development Company Inc. University of the Immaculate Conception University of Mindanao University of the Philippines, through UP Mindanao University of Southeastern Philippines University of Southern Mindanao Vegetable Industry Council of Southern Mindanao Inc. Western Mindanao State University Xavier University Philippine Genome Center-Mindanao Satellite Facility |
https://up.edu.ph/who-is-the-filipino-genomically-speaking/ | Who is the Filipino, genomically speaking? – University of the Philippines | Who is the Filipino, genomically speaking? Who is the Filipino, genomically speaking? February 21, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo This is what the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) is trying to find out. One of its key research initiatives is piecing together Filipino genomic identity and history. Speakers and participants in the Philippine Genome Center’s “The Story of the Filipino through the Genomics Lens.” (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) In its first forum for 2020, PGC gathered resource persons to help tell “The Story of the Filipino through the Genomics Lens” on January 31 at the Institute of Biology Auditorium, UP Diliman (UPD). With references from relics of the past to present day practice, from human to poultry DNA, the event featured different approaches to exploring who the Filipino is. Dr. Armand Mijares kicks off the forum with “Homo luzonensis and Advancement in Human Evolutionary Debate.” (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Dr. Armand Mijares talked about his team’s discovery of Homo luzonensis and what it meant for human evolution. Dr. Michael James Herrera shared his ongoing study on human mobility using chickens as “bio-proxies”. Both are from the Archaeological Studies Program, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, UPD. On human genetics, Dr. Maria Corazon De Ungria and Jazelyn Salvador briefly described their research on the genetics of Mangyans in Mindoro and of Philippine Negritos, respectively. They are both from the DNA Analysis Laboratory (DAL), Natural Sciences Research Institute, College of Science, UPD. Meanwhile, Prof. Jae Joseph Russell Rodriguez of the Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, UP Los Baños, also in collaboration with DAL, discussed his investigation into the human genetic history of the Sulu Archipelago. The morning open forum with, from left, Jazelyn Salvador, Dr. Maria Corazon De Ungria, Dr. Armand Mijares, Prof. Jae Joseph Russell Rodriguez, and Dr. Michael James Herrera (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Talking about the bigger picture, DAL’s Frederick Delfin highlighted the importance of the Filipino Genomes Research Program to making human genomics research more inclusive. Corollary to this, UP Manila National Institutes Health (NIH) Director Eva Maria Cutiongco-dela Paz emphasized the need for a non-European reference sequence in human genetic studies to account for inter-ethnic variability. This is especially crucial to making medical treatment more precise and effective, not just for Filipinos but for underrepresented populations as well. The afternoon open forum with, from left, Norman King, Prof. Edlyn Jimenez, Dr. Mary Jane Louise Bolunia, Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-dela Paz, Prof. Fatima Alvarez Castillo, Atty. Gibran Abubakar, and Frederick Delfin (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Ethics in research elicited an animated discussion at the event, especially in studies concerning indigenous peoples, whether scientific or cultural. There was a clamor from those present for stricter and a more harmonized and streamlined implementation of rules among concerned government units, such as local governments, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), and the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB), among others. Resource persons on the subject of ethical research included: Prof. Edlyn Jimenez of NIH, PHREB Chair Leonardo De Castro, Atty. Gibran Abubakar of NCIP, NM’s Dr. Mary Jane Louise Bolunia, and Social Inquiry and Building Capacities for Research, Inc. President Fatima Alvarez Castillo. Norman King ends the series of presentations in the PGC gathering. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) A UP alumnus and now a faculty member of Pampanga State Agricultural University, Norman King, closed the series of talks and presentations with the discussion of his Ayta tribe’s dynamics in hunting wild pig. Even as he presented a cultural perspective from experience, he asked the scientists present, “Is there something in our tribe’s genes that dictates our abilities?” |
https://up.edu.ph/up-fetes-invention-disclosures-tech-transfers/ | UP fetes invention disclosures, tech transfers – University of the Philippines | UP fetes invention disclosures, tech transfers UP fetes invention disclosures, tech transfers March 6, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo KamoTea, developed by Dr. Casiana Blanca Villarino, Prof. Abigail Rustia, Fredelyn Gascon, and Jan Carlo Aningat of the UP Diliman Department of Food Science and Nutrition with Fresh Q Enterprises, were distributed at the event. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Twenty-three inventions were awarded incentives by the University in the 5th Invention Disclosure Incentive Awarding Ceremony, organized by the Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) and held on February 5 at the Philippine Genome Center, UP Diliman (UPD). Of the 23, six were invention disclosures while the remaining 17 were technology transfers. “I will do my best for you,” UP President Danilo Concepcion promises the University’s scientists and researchers. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) UPD had two awardees for invention disclosures: “Pyoluteorin and Mindapyrrole B and their Use in Single and Combination Antimicrobial Chemotherapy” developed by Noel Lacerna II, Jortan Tun, Dr. Gisela Concepcion, Jose Miguel Robes, and Albebson Lim of the Marine Science Institute (MSI); and, the collaboration between the Institute of Chemistry and MSI, “Neuroactive Synthetic Analogues of TRPV1 Antagonist Nobilamide B” developed by Oliver John Belleza and Dr. Aaron Joseph Villaraza, also with Tun and Concepcion. Three of the developers of “Pyoluteorin and Mindapyrrole B and their Use in Single and Combination Antimicrobial Chemotherapy” (middle three) with, from left, UP System Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis Sison, UP President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, and UP Diliman TTBDO Director Adeline Pacia (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Three of the developers of “Neuroactive Synthetic Analogues of TRPV1 Antagonist Nobilamide B” (middle three) with, from left, UP System Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis Sison, UP President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, and UP Diliman TTBDO Director Adeline Pacia (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Three invention disclosures were from UP Los Baños (UPLB). These were “Organic Pest Management for Eggplant Fruit and Shoot Borer” developed by Dr. Pio Javier and Evangeline Punzalan of the Institute of Weed Science, Entomology, and Plant Pathology; the joint work of the Institute of Chemistry and Institute of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering titled “Water Evaporation Retardants for Agricultural Applications (AquaSave)” by Dr. Milagros Momongan Peralta, Vicente Ballaran Jr., Moises Dorado, Maris Asuncion Bayhon, and Ronaniel Almeda; and, “HormoGroe” by the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology’s Dr. Lilia Fernando, Dr. Erlinda Paterno, Herald Nygel Bautista, Juan Miguel Parami, Dr. Florinia Merca, and Teofila dC. Villar. One of the developers of “Organic Pest Management for Eggplant Fruit and Shoot Borer” (middle) with, from left, UP System Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis Sison, UP President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, and UP Los Baños TTBDO representative Jalyza Maye Jalbuena (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Three of the developers of “Water Evaporation Retardants for Agricultural Applications (AquaSave)” (middle three) with, from left, UP System Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis Sison, UP President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, and UP Los Baños TTBDO representative Jalyza Maye Jalbuena (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Three of the developers of “HormoGroe” (middle three) with, from left, UP System Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis Sison, UP President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, and UP Los Baños TTBDO representative Jalyza Maye Jalbuena (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) UP Manila was recognized for the invention disclosure of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BIOTECH) and the Institute of Human Genetics’ “CFI Marker for Leptospirosis Prognosis” by Dr. Jose Nevado Jr., Dr. Nina Gloriani, Dr. Jamie Trifalgar-Arches, Dr. Evalyn Roxas, Dr. Catherine Lynn Silao, and Dr. Maridel Borja. Two of the developers of “CFI Marker for Leptospirosis Prognosis” (middle two) with, from left, UP System Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis Sison, UP President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, and UP Manila TTBDO Director Ludy Tejero (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The six tech transfer awardees from UPD were: “KamoTea” by Dr. Casiana Blanca Villarino, Prof. Abigail Rustia, Fredelyn Gascon, and Jan Carlo Aningat of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition with Fresh Q Enterprises; Three of the developers of “KamoTea” (middle three) with, from left, UP System Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis Sison, UP President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, and UP Diliman TTBDO Director Adeline Pacia (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “CharM” by Engr. Leo Allen Tayo, Asst. Prof. Niño Christopher Ramos, Engr. Rovinna Janel Cruzate, Engr. Emmanuel Brian Arceo, Engr. Billy Joel Esquivel, Engr. Karl Lyndon Pacolor, and Engr. Raphael Victor Canseco of the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute, with CHRG Electric Vehicle Technologies, Inc.; Two of the developers of “CharM” (third and fourth from left) with, from left, UP System Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis Sison, UP President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, then UP Diliman (UPD) Vice Chancellor for Research and Development and now Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, and UPD TTBDO Director Adeline Pacia (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “Smart Surface” by Dr. Nestor Michael Tiglao and Charles Kevin Verdad of the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute with Adapsense Technologies, Inc.; One of the developers of “Smart Surface” (third from left) with, from left, UP System Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis Sison, UP President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, then UP Diliman (UPD) Vice Chancellor for Research and Development and now Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, and UPD TTBDO Director Adeline Pacia (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “Fish-i” by Dr. Prospero Naval Jr. and Dr. Laura David of the Department of Computer Science and Marine Science Institute with Fish-i, Inc.; The developers of “Fish-i” (third and fourth from left) with, from left, UP System Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis Sison, UP President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, then UP Diliman (UPD) Vice Chancellor for Research and Development and now Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, and UPD TTBDO Director Adeline Pacia (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “CLINN-GEM” by Engr. Herman Mendoza of the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering with the local government of Benguet and the Benguet Federation of Small-Scale Miners, Inc.; and, The developer of “CLINN-GEM” (third from left) with, from left, UP System Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis Sison, UP President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, then UP Diliman (UPD) Vice Chancellor for Research and Development and now Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, and UPD TTBDO Director Adeline Pacia (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “LEAP” by Dr. Susan Festin, Dr. Rowena Guevara, and Prof. Mario Carreon of the Department of Computer Science and Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute, with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) IV-A; DOST VI, and Cebu IT BPM.Organization Foundation Inc. UPLB had 11 tech transfer awardees. They were: “Trichoderma” by Professor Emeritus Virginia Cuevas and Dr. Alfredo Sinohin of the Institute of Biological Sciences and Institute of Plant Breeding with Biospark Corporation; One of the developers of “Trichoderma” (middle) with, from left, UP System Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis Sison, UP President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, and UP Los Baños TTBDO representative Jalyza Maye Jalbuena (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “Nutrio” by Dr. Virginia Padilla of BIOTECH with Fullbloom Agricultural Corporation; “ACTICon” by Irene Papa and Teofila Zulaybar of BIOTECH with Golden Agricon; The developers of “ACTICon” (middle two) with, from left, UP System Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis Sison, UP President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, and UP Los Baños TTBDO representative Jalyza Maye Jalbuena (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “Mykoplus” by Dr. Jocelyn Zarate and Dr. Reynaldo Dela Cruz of BIOTECH with Bio-Z Resources Corporation; “Fruitect” by Dr. Veronica Sabularse, Dr. Hidelisa Hernandez, and Rhea Mallari of the Institute of Chemistry with QPro Tech Philippines Inc.; “Pectin from Mango Peels” also by Sabularse, Hernandez, and Mallari, joined by John Kris Bartolome, and also with QPro Tech Philippines Inc.; Two of the developers of “Fruitect” and “Pectin from Mango Peels “ (middle two) with, from left, UP System Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis Sison, UP President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, and UP Los Baños TTBDO representative Jalyza Maye Jalbuena (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “Microbial Rennet” by Dr. Susana Mercado of BIOTECH with Aust-Phil Food Manufacturing Corporation; The developer of “Microbial Rennet” (middle) with, from left, UP System Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis Sison, UP President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, and UP Los Baños TTBDO representative Jalyza Maye Jalbuena (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “Sinta Papaya” by Dr. Violeta Villegas of the Institute of Plant Breeding with East-West Seed; The developer of “Sinta Papaya” (middle) with, from left, UP System Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis Sison, UP President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, and UP Los Baños TTBDO representative Jalyza Maye Jalbuena (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “Hirang Papaya” by Dr. Pablito Magdalita of the Institute of Plant Breeding, also with East-West Seed; “Timyas Papaya” also by Magdalita with East-West Seed; and, “Liyag Papaya” again by Magdalita with East-West Seed. The developers of “Hirang Papaya,” “Timyas Papaya,” and “Liyag Papaya” (middle four) with, from left, UP System Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) Director Luis Sison, UP President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, and UP Los Baños TTBDO representative Jalyza Maye Jalbuena (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The event also featured the kick-off of the TTBDO-supervised University Innovation Fellowship Program, which is open to faculty members and researchers on a tenure track in identified fields of expertise. The program will connect University innovators with potential industry partners. |
https://up.edu.ph/uplb-marks-112th-year-exhibits-future-proofing/ | UPLB marks 112th year, exhibits future-proofing – University of the Philippines | UPLB marks 112th year, exhibits future-proofing UPLB marks 112th year, exhibits future-proofing March 25, 2021 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Screenshots from the livestream of the UPLB’s 112th foundation anniversary convocation. Watch the replay on the UPLB Facebook page. UP Los Baños celebrated its 112th founding anniversary on March 6, 2021 with the theme of “future-proofing” itself. According to UPLB Chancellor Jose Camacho Jr. in his opening remarks for the foundation day convocation at Baker Hall, the theme “reflects the various activities and initiatives which we have undertaken in this time of pandemic as well as the natural calamities that have beset the country the past year: our anti-COVID-19 measures, disaster relief operations, remote learning initiatives, the webinars that helped capacitate our personnel and students, and government and institutional partnerships.” UPLB Chancellor Jose Camacho delivers his opening remarks. Screenshot from the livestream of the UPLB’s 112th foundation anniversary convocation. Watch the replay on the UPLB Facebook page. Pointing out how UPLB “rose to the occasion” and coped with changes that would “ripple throughout society” beyond the pandemic, he said, “I know that UPLB—with compassionate hearts and determined spirits—can prepare for [future] challenges and then surpass them once they arrive.” In his message to the UPLB constituents during the convocation, UP President Danilo Concepcion reiterated his vision of a “UP for the future”, which is a future-proof UP. He described a university which is able to keep up with changes brought about by modern technology, global trends, climate change, and crises such as global pandemics. “We will never sacrifice the quality of UP education. . . . We will never compromise the quality of our graduates,” Concepcion emphasized. UP President Danilo Concepcion reiterates is vision of “a UP for the future”. Screenshot from the livestream of the UPLB’s 112th foundation anniversary convocation. Watch the replay on the UPLB Facebook page. He enumerated what UP had done in the past year which gave a glimpse of UP as “future-proof”. These included employing modes of teaching-learning, research, and public service appropriate for a time of pandemic. Foremost among UP’s distinct public service activities during the year was leading the fight against COVID-19, specifically by the doctors, health workers, and health researchers in the UP Philippine General Hospital and the UP National Institutes of Health, which share expertise with the UP Philippine Genome Center. “Our faculty, administrative personnel, officials, and even our students and alumni are working together in applying creative and appropriate solutions that can be part of what we shall call as ‘better new normal’,” Concepcion added, in Filipino. He commended such initiatives in UPLB, including the opening of its laboratories for pandemic viral testing. Honorary degree for EQJ In the afternoon, also at Baker Hall, the University conferred upon National Scientist and UPLB alumnus Emil Javier an honorary Doctor of Laws for, in summary, “his invaluable and lifelong service and commitment to improve the livelihood of Filipino farmers and fishers”. National Scientist and former UP President Emil Q. Javier accepting his honorary degree. Watch the replay of the conferment ceremony on the UPLB Facebook page. Javier is known as an institution builder, credited for his essential roles in the establishment of the UPLB Institute of Plant Breeding, the UPLB National Institute for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, the UPLB Farming Systems and Soil Resources Institute, the UPLB National Plant Genetic Resources Laboratory, the UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungod, the UP Learning Resource Centers, the UP Manila National Institutes of Health, the UP Open University, and UP Mindanao. He was: the chancellor of UPLB from 1979 to 1985; chair of the National Science Development Board, revamped as National Science and Technology Authority to become the precursor of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), from 1981 to 1986; UP President from 1993 to 1999; and, the president of the National Academy of Science and Technology from 2005 to 2012. He was conferred the Order of National Scientist in 2019. Javier’s scientific profile by DOST highlights his contributions in tropical agricultural research and crop production, which “find applications in agronomy, plant breeding, seed production and management of tropical grasses and legumes, and in the utilization and grazing management of native Imperata grassland”. Series of foundation day events The UPLB 112th founding anniversary was also marked by recognition of the Japanese government’s support to UPLB since the 1980s. A new Nihon torii and Nihon Koen marker were inaugurated in the presence of Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko, who was also the guest speaker during the convocation. Special guest, Amb. Koshikawa Kazuhiko, addresses the UPLB community. Screenshot from the livestream of the UPLB’s 112th foundation anniversary convocation. Watch the replay on the UPLB Facebook page. The newly recognized outstanding UPLB personnel pose with their trophies. Special guest, Amb. Koshikawa Kazuhiko, addresses the UPLB community. Screenshot from the livestream of the UPLB’s 112th foundation anniversary convocation. Watch the replay on the UPLB Facebook page. An awarding of outstanding UPLB personnel followed the presentation of a token of appreciation to the ambassador. Earlier, at the SEARCA building, the Jose Sotero Laurel III Professorial Chair in Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship was launched. UPLB alumnus and UP Regent Francis Laurel had sponsored the chair to recognize professors who make significant contributions to the development of agribusiness management and entrepreneurship. On the same day, one-stop-shop products of UPLB were also launched; and an online founding anniversary exhibit went live at https://exhibit.uplb.edu.ph/ |
https://up.edu.ph/what-every-frontliner-needs-to-know-about-the-delta-variant-in-upcoming-up-webinar/ | What every frontliner needs to know about the Delta variant in upcoming UP webinar – University of the Philippines | What every frontliner needs to know about the Delta variant in upcoming UP webinar What every frontliner needs to know about the Delta variant in upcoming UP webinar July 15, 2021 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The COVID-19 Delta variant. Known to be about 50% more contagious than the Alpha variant that was first identified in the UK. The Delta variant, or B.1.617.2, has mutations on the spike protein that make it easier for the SARS-CoV-2 virus to infect human cells. It has now been tagged by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a “variant of concern”. At the same time when the world races to vaccinate against COVID-19, this highly contagious version of the virus is sweeping the globe and is feared to be moving faster for vaccination efforts to catch up with it. So what exactly is the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 and what should every frontline worker know about this new phenomenon? Are the symptoms different? Is it transmitted the same way as the Alpha variant? Why are more young people affected? Can it cause more severe symptoms? Can it cause serious health problems to persons who are already fully vaccinated? These questions and more will be answered in the 61st episode of the University of the Philippines (UP) “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar series, to be held on Friday, 16 July 2021, at 12:00 noon. The 61st “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar will be a virtual international conference, titled “THE DELTA VARIANT: What Every Frontliner Needs to Know”. Dr. Franco Felizarta, Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine Specialist and a member of the UP Medical Alumni Society in America (UPMASA), will be the presenter. The panel of reactors include: Dr. Eva Cutiongco-de la Paz, Executive Director of the UP Manila National Institutes of Health and Director of the Health Program of the UP Philippine Genome Center; Dr. Lai Poh San, Head of the Human Molecular Genetics Lab, Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, and Adjunct Faculty of the Genome Institute of Singapore; Dr. Abishek Rimal, Regional Coordinator of the Emergency Health for Asia Pacific, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; and, Dr. Niño Dal Dayanghirang, Programme Management Officer of the World Health Organization, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Dr. Ernesto Domingo, National Scientist and UP Professor Emeritus, will deliver the opening remarks, while UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita D. Padilla will give the closing remarks. Those interested to watch this virtual international conference can register here. This UP “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar can also be viewed on TVUP’s YouTube channel. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-to-highlight-world-class-filipino-covid-19-innovations/ | UP webinar to highlight world-class Filipino COVID-19 innovations – University of the Philippines | UP webinar to highlight world-class Filipino COVID-19 innovations UP webinar to highlight world-class Filipino COVID-19 innovations July 29, 2021 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Battling COVID-19 requires attacking it on all fronts—from healthcare workers on the ground to policymakers and government units and, of course, with the cooperation of the whole community. However, behind the scenes, local scientists and researchers have also been a huge helping hand in this pandemic. Their innovations in technology have and are continuously enabling cost-effective and evidence-based care for Filipino patients. This week’s special topic episode of the University of the Philippines’ (UP) “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar series, titled “LAGING HANDA: World Class Filipino COVID-19 Innovations”, is shining the spotlight on the brilliant minds of local scientists who have produced, invented, and are constantly researching ways on how to innovate equipment that can help better protect frontliners, utilize technology that can make patient care more efficient, and bring health care closer to homes through teleconsultation services. The webinar will be held on tomorrow, Friday, 30 July, at 12:00 noon. To register, visit this link bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar63 or head over to TVUP’s Facebook and Youtube accounts for the livestream. Four scientists will talk about their local inventions: Dr. Edward Wang, head of UP SIBOL in the UP Philippine General Hospital (UP PGH), will share his team’s journey in the development of SaniPod, a no-touch self-contained disinfection cubicle that adds an extra layer of protection against COVID-19. He will be followed by Dr. Samuel Arsenio Grozman of the UP PGH’s Department of Orthopedics. He will present his Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR), a device that protects its user against airborne contaminants. Dr. Nathaniel Orillaza Jr’s myBESHIE, or My Bot Ensuring Safety and Health in Isolated Environments, will also be shared and discussed. It is a telepresence device that allows health care providers to interact with isolated patients remotely. Lastly, Dr. Abundio Balgos, President and CEO of The Health Centrum Hospital and Wellness Center, will talk about GINHAWA, an alternative and compact ventilator very much needed by many COVID patients. Dr. April Llaneta, Dr. Kimberly Mae Ong, Dr. Mark Anthony Sandoval, and Dr. Camilo Roa, Jr. will further discuss these products’ benefits. The opening remarks will be delivered by Dr. Raul Destura of the UP Philippine Genome Center, while UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla will give the closing synthesis. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-virtual-conference-to-discuss-stealth-omicron/ | UP virtual conference to discuss ‘stealth’ omicron – University of the Philippines | UP virtual conference to discuss ‘stealth’ omicron UP virtual conference to discuss ‘stealth’ omicron February 16, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor The University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (PGH), invites you to join the fight against COVID-19. These past few weeks, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been monitoring an Omicron sub-variant, BA.2, better known as “stealth” Omicron because of its genetic mutations that potentially make it harder to distinguish using PCR tests. This sub-lineage of Omicron is now present in 57 nations, including the Philippines. While the WHO says that there is no indication of a change or increase in severity and transmissibility compared to the original, stealth Omicron is still quickly becoming the dominant variant in several countries as cases continue to rise. While experts continue to research and monitor new developments every day, it is still essential to keep an eye out and make plans should another surge come our way. What does this all mean? What is the difference between “stealth” Omicron and other Omicron variants? How are our hospitals faring, and what is the update on the country’s vaccination and booster rollout? This episode of UP’s “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar series will be a Virtual International Conference, with speakers from the United Kingdom, Singapore, and the Philippines. Titled “Stealth’ Omicron Variant: What Every Frontliner Needs to Know,” the webinar will feature Dr. Martin Hibberd from the London School of Tropical Medicine, Dr. Hsu Li Yang, Associate Dean of the College of Medicine, National University of Singapore, and Dr. Cynthia Saloma, Executive Director of the UP Philippine Genome Center (PGC). These experts will discuss this sub-variant and share what has been happening on-ground. This Friday, February 18, 2022, the webinar will be from 12 pm to 2 pm. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter Account and TVUP’s YouTube and Facebook pages. The “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-inaugurates-genomics-facility/ | UP inaugurates Genomics facility – University of the Philippines | UP inaugurates Genomics facility UP inaugurates Genomics facility February 27, 2019 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo A researcher uses the Illumina® MiSeq FGxTM Forensic Genomics System, one of the next-generation sequencing equipment at the SGCL. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The Shared Genomics Core Laboratory (SGCL) at the Philippine Genome Center (PGC), UP Diliman was inaugurated on February 20 and officially handed over by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to the University. Clockwise from top: (1) The SGCL marker is unveiled by (from left) CHED Chair Prospero de Vera III, DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, and UP President Danilo Concepcion, with UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla and DOH Assistant Secretary Lyndon Lee Suy. (2) CHED Chair de Vera hands the set of keys to the SGCL rooms to UP President Concepcion. (3) The ribbon at the SGCL entrance is cut by (from left) CHED Chair de Vera, DOST Secretary de la Peña, UP President Concepcion, and UP Manila Chancellor Padilla. Behind them are (from left) SGCL project leader, and UP Manila Vice Chancellor for Research and National Institutes of Health Executive Director Eva Cutiongco-de la Paz, PGC Executive Director Cynthia Saloma, and UP VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista. (Photos by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The facility, comprised of seven rooms, is the product of a grant from CHED-Philippine-California Advanced Research Institutes (CHED-PCARI). In its marker, the SGCL is described “as a purpose-built resource which seeks to strengthen national laboratory capacity for high-throughput genomics research, and expand collaborations, networking and information exchanges within the Philippine scientific community, Government and Private Universities and Colleges, and Research Institutions in the country.” SGCL project leader, and UP Manila Vice Chancellor for Research and National Institutes of Health Executive Director Eva Cutiongco-de la Paz shows (from left) CHED Chair Prospero de Vera III, DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, and UP President Danilo Concepcion the next-generation sequencing equipment during a tour of the facility. Bottom photo: A light moment captured after DOST Undersecretary Rowena Guevara (rightmost) tells UP President Concepcion beside her that more plantilla items are needed by the PGC. He, in turn, asks DBM Undersecretary Lilia Guilllermo (leftmost) for the said items, as DOST Philippine Council for Health Research and Development Executive Director Jaime Montoya looks on. (Photos by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “This is a promising time in the use of genomics,” says PGC Executive Director Cynthia Saloma in her welcome remarks. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Genomics research is vital to human, animal, and plant health. During outbreaks, for example, genomics can help in the identification of known and unknown pathogens needed for rapid response, control, and treatment. Genomics and next-generation sequencing are also integral to the achievement of precision medicine, where a patient’s genes determine drug therapy and dosage. SGCL project leader, and UP Manila Vice Chancellor for Research and National Institutes of Health Executive Director Eva Cutiongco-de la Paz illustrates in her report the process of precision medicine using the Cancer Genomics Program as an example. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) In the program, Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-de la Paz, leader of the CHED-PCARI SGCL project, revealed that one of the lab’s initiatives toward precision medicine is on pharmacogenomics-driven treatment for heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Their goal, she said, is treatment that prescribes “the right drug at the right dose for the right Filipino”. Cutiongco-de la Paz also announced that the SGCL will be instrumental to the PGC’s flagship project, FILIPINOme, which aims to sequence 7,107 Filipino genomes. By doing so, she said, the project can “increase understanding of genetic variations that lead to new treatments and diagnostics; promote greater public understanding of the benefits of genomic medicine and facilitate the integration of genomic medicine into health system; and stimulate discoveries and innovations in the Philippine life science industry.” “We don’t do research to satisfy academic curiosity. We do research to find solutions to the woes of our people,” UP President Danilo Concepcion reminds scientists and researchers. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “This is an affirmation that the CHED-PCARI program was a good decision from the start,” says CHED Chair Prospero de Vera III, who has been part of the initiative since he was UP VP for Public Affairs. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “The Department is paying close attention to the utilization of research,” reveals DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “Precision medicine will be groundbreaking for our country,” declares DOH Assistant Secretary Lyndon Lee Suy. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “PGC still needs a lot of help, especially with items for its employees,” says UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla. She was instrumental in the establishment of the PGC and was its first executive director. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “We are accountable to the Filipino people,” UP VP for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista emphasizes in her closing remarks. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) As its name indicates, the SGCL is a shared facility that is open to Filipinos doing genomics research. It also offers low-cost, high-quality sequencing services, conducts training and instruction on next-generation sequencing methods and analysis, and complements current resources that support innovations in teaching genomics. |
https://up.edu.ph/the-up-forum-roundtable-discussion-on-ups-legacy-of-music-prof-dennis-john-f-sumaylo/ | The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on UP’s Legacy of Music: Prof. Dennis John F. Sumaylo – University of the Philippines | The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on UP’s Legacy of Music: Prof. Dennis John F. Sumaylo The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on UP’s Legacy of Music: Prof. Dennis John F. Sumaylo January 14, 2019 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office 1.What musical event in UP do you look forward to or regularly attend? Why? In UP Mindanao, students always look forward to the celebration of the February Arts Festival in which different art groups mount concerts. This is also a chance for other students to take part in the music scene in the University. 2. Name one or two composers, performers, (individual or group), or mentors from UP who have largely contributed to Philippine music. Discuss briefly his or her contribution. Prof. Andrea Veneracion and Mark Anthony Carpio, choirmasters of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. Their work with the Madz and the vision of Prof. Andrea Veneracion of a singing Philippines helped in the promotion of choral music and Filipino arrangers not just in the country but all over the world. 3. Aside from the current program offerings of the College of Music, what else, do you think, should the College offer or promote? I would like the College of Music to go out and visit provinces in Mindanao and organize music camps for the marginalized population in geographically isolated communities. I hope that the College of Music will offer short summer courses, or even degrees, in Mindanao for those who cannot afford to send their kids to Diliman. There are UP campuses in Mindanao that can host a College of Music degree program. For instance, UP Mindanao is hosting UPLB’s PhD in Development Studies program. |
https://up.edu.ph/off-the-press-the-up-forum-special-20th-anniversary-issue-is-now-online/ | OFF THE PRESS: The UP Forum Special 20th Anniversary Issue is now online – University of the Philippines | OFF THE PRESS: The UP Forum Special 20th Anniversary Issue is now online OFF THE PRESS: The UP Forum Special 20th Anniversary Issue is now online April 11, 2019 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office It’s a milestone year for the UP Forum! To celebrate the 20th anniversary of its creation as a monthly community publication for and by the UP Community, the UP Forum’s January-March 2019 issue is featuring some of its most notable and relevant past articles. These articles span two decades and focus on still-controversial national issues and reflections on the nature and role of UP as national university. Get your FREE copy of the UP Forum magazine now. Please send an email to upforum@up.edu.ph or visit the UP Media and Public Relations Office at Room 6B, Fonacier Hall, Magsaysay Avenue, UP Diliman, Quezon City. copy here |
https://up.edu.ph/is-this-man-the-father-of-up-2/ | Is This Man the ‘Father of UP’? – University of the Philippines | Is This Man the ‘Father of UP’? Is This Man the ‘Father of UP’? May 27, 2019 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion Oil portrait found at the Pangasinan Governors Gallery, Capitol Building, Lingayen, Pangasinan. Photo from Ms. Joy Napolitano, Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, Pangasinan Murray Bartlett, the first President of UP. Ignacio Villamor, the first Filipino UP President. Guillermo Tolentino, sculptor of the Oblation. Great men in UP’s history, all of them. But none of them is known as the ‘Father of UP.’ Is there even anyone who deserves such an honor? Enter Juan Alvear, a famous espiritista and former Pangasinan congressman. According to Philippine studies scholar Dr. Maria Crisanta Nelmida-Flores, this remarkable individual was actually behind the establishment of the University in the early 20th century. Here are a few fast facts about Alvear: According to Flores’s research, Alvear was from San Fabian, Pangasinan and a member of the Malolos Congress. He founded several schools, including the School of Arts and Trades in Lingayen. He is better remembered (if at all) as a major figure in Philippine Spiritism, having also founded the first Spiritist Center in San Fabian, Pangasinan in 1901. The book, Pangasinan, 1901-1986: A Political, Socioeconomic and Cultural History, by Rosario M. Cortes described Alvear as a former Philippine revolutionary who became a member of the Partido Nacionalista during the American occupation. The Partido Nacionalista advocated absolute independence from the United States. As a member of this party, Alvear won a seat as a delegate in the First Philippine Assembly as a representative of Pangasinan’s 3rd district. Alvear made higher education history as a representative by first proposing the need for a ‘national university.’ This came after his equally important proposal that a ‘national hospital’ was also needed by the nation. His latter proposal eventually became Act No. 1688, which was passed in 1907. This Act appropriated the sum of P780,000 for the construction of the Philippine General Hospital. The former resulted in Act No. 1870, which was passed in 1908. It established the University of the Philippines—an institution to provide “advanced instruction in literature, philosophy, the sciences and the arts, and to give professional and technical training.” The seeds of what we know now as the UP System had been planted. After his tenure in the House, Alvear ran for Pangasinan provincial governor and won. Details of his life after the governorship are sparse but sources indicate he passed away in 1918. Today, in spite of his role, this leading candidate for the title of the ‘Father of UP’ is all but forgotten. Flores hopes that more historians would be inspired to look into Juan Alvear’s life and tell us more about this all-important figure in our history. Condensed from the original article published in the UP Forum October-December 2017 issue Get your FREE copy of the UP Forum magazine now. Please send an email to upforum@up.edu.ph or visit the UP Media and Public Relations Office at Room 6B, Fonacier Hall, Magsaysay Avenue, UP Diliman, Quezon City. |
https://up.edu.ph/champions-league-athletic-excellence-beyond-the-uaap/ | Champions League: Athletic Excellence beyond the UAAP – University of the Philippines | Champions League: Athletic Excellence beyond the UAAP Champions League: Athletic Excellence beyond the UAAP May 27, 2019 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo The University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) is a collegiate league giant. And in UP, athletes who compete here get the most attention and support. UP doesn’t lack non-UAAP athletes who bring honor and glory to the University and the country. But they are hardly recognized, perennially falling under the UAAP’s shadow. A look at some of them reveals athleticism that is no less excellent and exciting. The first Southeast Asian women to reach the summit of Mt. Everest: (from left) Carina Dayondon, Janet Belarmino, and Noelle Wenceslao. (Photo by Peewee Wenceslao) Climbing the highest mountain Alumna Noelle Wenceslao was literally on top of the world. On May 16, 2007, she was the first Southeast Asian woman to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Minutes later, she was joined by fellow alumna Janet Belarmino and teammate Carina Dayondon. They were part of the First Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition. Not only were they the first Southeast Asian women to reach the world’s highest peak. They were also the first women to traverse it—ascending on the north side (Tibet) and descending on the south side (Nepal). Looking at this petite, energetic, and unassuming woman, one wouldn’t think she had climbed the highest mountain in the world. Noelle doesn’t want to say “conquered.” “To conquer it makes it sound adversarial. Nature isn’t something you’d want to go against. You’re at its mercy.” Noelle should know. She suffered from pulmonary edema due to the cold, thin air during the expedition. “Climbing Mt. Everest wasn’t just a personal accomplishment. We represented the Philippines and showed our nation can overcome the impossible and face the most difficult hurdles life throws our way.” Amaya “Aya” Paz. (Photo from Aya Paz) Hitting the target Amaya “Aya” Paz is taking a break from archery for a semester. She needs to finish her remaining subjects and earn her BS Psychology degree in October. For someone who has been in the sport for less than ten years, Aya has accomplished much. In the last Southeast Asian Games, she bagged the individual women’s gold in the compound bow event and helped her team win a collective gold in the same category. As the youngest member of the Philippine Team, this is certainly impressive. In 2005, she swept all the individual events in the compound bow category at the Asian Grand Prix. And all these came from one boring summer in 2001, when Aya, who liked to keep busy, was faced with the prospect of doing nothing and just decided to try archery. “It’s true that sports [on the national level] aren’t given enough support—financially and facilities-wise. In our case, we don’t only compete, we also look for sponsors. We manage our finances. That way, we can enter as many prestigious competitions as possible.” Aya admits she has never considered tapping UP as a source of financial support. As she is the only national team member from UP, Aya feels it would be unreasonable to expect the University to support the whole team. After graduation, Aya looks forward to going back to archery. “If I feel that I have accomplished all that I could in the national and regional events, it’s time to enter the larger arena and compete with the world’s best.” Danny Dematera. (Photo from Danny Dematera) Catching the ultimate throw Danny Dematera has been an athlete for twenty-one years and working at the Institute of Mathematics for the past seventeen. As full-time staff member, Danny has to report for work eight hours a day, five days a week. For an athlete, this is doubly hard. He plays ultimate frisbee, or what is simply called “ultimate.” Since its beginnings in the Philippines five years ago, Danny has been actively involved in the sport. Prior to that, he was an adventure racer, a rower, and a triathlete. He started out as a member of the track and field team of the UP Integrated School and eventually went on to other sports. His team, UP Sunken Pleasures, just won the overall championship at the Ultimate Summer League this year. The team, composed of UP students, faculty members, and administrative staff, is working on getting accreditation from the University as an official sports organization. Danny also coaches the UP Dragon Boat team, which is often selected to represent the country in international competitions. The team has received financial support from the University. Though he was invited to join the National Dragon Boat Team, Danny begged off. “The living conditions aren’t exactly appropriate for someone who works hard to bring honor to the country.” Condensed from the original article published in the UP Forum May-June 2008 issue Get your FREE copy of the UP Forum magazine now. Please send an email to upforum@up.edu.ph or visit the UP Media and Public Relations Office at Room 6B, Fonacier Hall, Magsaysay Avenue, UP Diliman, Quezon City. |
https://up.edu.ph/science-in-up-thriving-despite-constraints/ | Science in UP: Thriving despite Constraints – University of the Philippines | Science in UP: Thriving despite Constraints Science in UP: Thriving despite Constraints May 27, 2019 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo “I expect the Filipino scientist to contribute towards establishing a scientific culture in the Philippines,” Dr. Caesar A. Saloma, director of the National Institute of Physics (NIP), said when he received the first Concepcion Dadufalza Award for Distinguished Achievement in 2001. Indeed, Saloma wasn’t and isn’t alone in this expectation. In science teaching and scientific research, he’s joined by hundreds of colleagues in UP, long the acknowledged leader in this field of endeavor in the Philippines. But in this new millennium, what is the state of science in UP, and how does UP stand in science against the rest of the best in the region? Dr. Pablito Magdalita shows one of the papaya varieties he is working on in his laboratory at the Institute of Plant Breeding, UP Los Baños. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) High marks UP clearly leads in science education and research in the country. Science majors from UP consistently win awards for outstanding performance in their research efforts. Just as significant as these awards are the publications posted by University scientists, teachers, and students in internationally refereed scientific journals. Aside from these, several units of the University have become national centers of excellence by virtue of presidential proclamations. These include the National Institute of Geological Sciences, the Marine Science Institute (MSI), the Natural Sciences Research Institute (NSRI), the NIP, the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH), and the National Institutes of Health. Other departments across the UP System have also been declared centers of excellence and development by the Commission on Higher Education. The National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology building at the National Science Complex in UP Diliman, which was inaugurated in 2012 (Photo by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo, UP MPRO) Technology and talent The quality of research done in UP relies on the communion of technology and talent. UP has striven to match the brainpower it has to generate outstanding scientific outputs with the facilities to accomplish them. The University prides itself in being the only university with a DNA Analysis Laboratory (DAL) as well as being the only institution in the country with a Femtosecond Laser Facility and a High-Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT) receiving station. Triumph over tragedy The DAL’s mettle as the Philippines’ own “CSI” was put to the test in a heartrending tragedy a few years ago. In December 1998, a fire gutted the orphanage run by the Asocacion de Damas de Filipinas, a social welfare institution in Paco, Manila. The fire killed 25 children and five adults, whose remains were charred beyond recognition. Three months after burial, the bodies were exhumed, and the DAL used painstaking DNA analysis to identify the victims; eventually, 18 bodies were given names. One of the laser facilities at the National Institute of Physics (Photo from UP NIP) Lasers and oceans In the field of physics, UP’s NIP boasts of its P18-million femtosecond laser—one of a handful around the region. Lasers have played a major part in research and NIP, in fact, owns several types. Its latest acquisition, however, is a huge step forward in the study of physics because it emits high peak powers of light energy in short intervals—one-quadrillionth of a second, too fast for the naked eye. In marine science, UP is proud of the MSI’s HRPT. The remote sensing facility receives pictures taken by satellites at least twice a day. The images are processed by determining the amount of chlorophyll detected in the water. This is important because areas with the most chlorophyll are those with the most plankton. And where plankton is abundant, fish are plenty. The resulting images pinpoint potential fishing grounds for Filipino fishing fleets. Protein Enriched Copra Meal (left), a product developed by Dr. Laura Pham and her team at the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, UP Los Baños, was originally intended as feed for swine and poultry. A team at the Institute of Aquaculture, UP Visayas led by Prof. Valeriano Corre Jr. and Dr. Rex Traifalgar found the feed promising as well for tilapia, milkfish, and shrimp aquaculture. (Left photo from Dr. Laura Pham, right photos from UPV Institute of Aquaculture) High-value products In UP Los Baños (UPLB), BIOTECH has done some impressive studies of its own. The Environmental Biotechnology Program undertakes activities like evaluating the potentials and environmental impact of distillery waters, effective waste management, utilization and recycling of waste materials as fertilizers, and the deodorization of livestock waste. The UPLB College of Veterinary Medicine has a Virology Laboratory that studies in-depth molecular biology in the areas of animal vaccine, animal biotechnology, and animal disease diagnosis. Also being undertaken is research on Multiple Ovulation-Embryo Transfer to hasten the genetic improvement of livestock, promote the conservation of animals with superior or unique genetic traits, and provide an alternative to the importation of cattle. UP Visayas leads in the study of fisheries and aquaculture so it’s no wonder that many of UPV’s research efforts have been recognized here and abroad. UP Manila, meanwhile, leads in the medical sciences and public health. It is looking forward to the completion of the Sentro Oftalmologico Jose Rizal this year, among its many projects. It will serve as a specialized facility for ophthalmology and will become the field’s research center in the University. A researcher at the UPLB Institute of Plant Breeding dissects a banana stem. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Money and manpower Despite all these achievements, UP still faces formidable obstacles—mostly financial—to the growth of science education and scientific research. Its annual subsidy from the national government has never been enough, especially given the pace of developments in science and technology around the world. UP cannot afford to lag too far behind. Of course, money matters in research, but so does manpower. Lured by better pay and better labs, some scientists and researchers have taken their talents elsewhere. Despite those who have left for greener pastures, NSRI Director Ernelea Cao stresses the value of those who have remained, the ones who have stuck with UP because they love their work and appreciate their mission as the avatars of science in a developing country. The latest batch of UP Diliman scientists and researchers receive incentives for invention disclosure in December 2018 (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The path to excellence Dr. Edgardo Gomez, former MSI director, has this vision of the path to excellence: “Everything considered, UP is not a bad home for science, especially in a developing country context. We have relatively free rein on directions to take, the only major limitation for some being logistical support. But for creative scientists who have the drive and vision, there is scope for progress in the international arena, making contributions to specific fields of research that are of interest globally. The recent surge in the marine sciences and in physics attests to this. “I continue to hold the position that the support services that should make the life of scientists (and of other academics) more pleasant and productive are sorely inadequate, although there is a slow progress in some areas. “It’s the intellectual assets that are the salient strengths of this university. We manage to capture some bright minds every so often, but it’s sad to note that we also lose a significant percentage of them because of the weaknesses I mention above. The leadership should face this situation squarely, and it should consider being elitist rather than populist in its approach if we are to make real headway in the intellectual world.” Making that kind of headway is a tough challenge for UP’s scientists and administrators—but one which, against all odds, UP has been surmounting, bravely and boldly. Condensed from the original article published in the UP Forum January-February 2004 issue Get your FREE copy of the UP Forum magazine now. Please send an email to upforum@up.edu.ph or visit the UP Media and Public Relations Office at Room 6B, Fonacier Hall, Magsaysay Avenue, UP Diliman, Quezon City. |
https://up.edu.ph/rainbow-connections-making-up-safe-for-lgbtqs/ | Rainbow Connections: Making UP Safe for LGBTQs – University of the Philippines | Rainbow Connections: Making UP Safe for LGBTQs Rainbow Connections: Making UP Safe for LGBTQs May 27, 2019 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Participants in UP’s Pride March of June 2013. Photo by Misael Bacani, UPMPRO. As the country’s premier secular institution of higher learning, UP takes pride in being a haven of liberalism, open-mindedness and independent thinking. But the university is hardly free from the discrimination, ostracism, harassment and violence inflicted upon LGBTQs. Nevertheless, where else but in UP can we begin to create a safe place where LGBTQ rights and identities are not only recognized and tolerated but actively affirmed, included and promoted as well? Three contexts for LGBTQs “In the LGBTQ literature, we make a distinction among three kinds of contexts,” says UP Diliman Department of Psychology Prof. Eric Manalastas. “On one hand, we have contexts that are hostile to LGBTQs, such as in places where you have policies against cross-dressing or same-sex relationships, or where there is a certain amount of jeopardy in being ‘outed’ as an LGBTQ in the institution. On the other end of the spectrum, you have the LGBTQ-affirmative context” such as an institution with “an explicit inclusion policy, a policy that says we do not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, among others.” Somewhere between the two extremes is a middle ground marked more by a mild or negligent tolerance of LGBTQs. LGBTQs are not exactly marginalized, but are not fully integrated into the mainstream either. LGBTQ rights and issues are regarded as esoteric, frivolous or even as the latest in-thing, and discussions of these never go beyond the superficial. Hence, Manalastas regards the issue in terms of bringing the LGBTQs into the center “of creating those spaces that are LGBTQ-specific, and then the spaces that integrate LGBTQs issues into the mainstream”—of transforming the environments for LGBTQs, including UP, from hostile or neutral to affirmative. One way to do this is by addressing the lack of concrete data, including actual number of cases of sexual harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ students, faculty and staff within the UP campuses. LGBTQ discrimination and harassment can take several forms, from the non-recognition of one’s gender identity to the “classical” forms of stigmatization based on sexual orientation or gender identity, including exclusion from or ostracism by a group or organization, ridiculing and name-calling, bullying, violence and sexual assault. Unfortunately, formal complaints of sexual harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ students, faculty and staff in the UP campuses are rare, and officially resolved cases are even rarer. Sharing stories Still, many stories are shared by the LGBTQ victims of sexual harassment and discrimination or by friends and witnesses, with the intention to vent, to seek counsel, to protect the victim or to inform. Very few of these stories were shared with the intention of actually filing a case. One common situation among the UP campuses is that of peer harassment between two LGBTQ students, with one forcing his or her unwanted attentions on another. The stories of LGBTQ discrimination—from ridiculing, stigmatizing and bullying LGBTQs to failing to recognize or respect their gender identities—are also common. For UPLB Gender Center Director Maria Helen Dayo, the lack of LGBTQ cases filed with the OASH may be due to under-reporting. “Only an insignificant percentage gets reported, if you look at it in terms of the population on campus.” UPV Gender and Development Program Director Diane Aure concurs: “In some informal interviews, some students think that it might affect their grades if they report an incident where the perpetrator is a faculty member.” Others in a similar bind simply choose to grin and bear it, perhaps out of a sense of shame and humiliation, or for fear of retaliation or of making the situation worse. Some LGBTQ students who experienced harassment, discrimination, violence, bullying or abuse opted to transfer to another university. “It’s a kind of double-victimization,” says former UP Baguio Kasarian Gender Studies Center convenor Prof. Jennifer Josef. “The students become victims of violence, and because they don’t want to complain and don’t see any support or progress in their case, they just leave UP, so they are deprived of a UP education.” Oble joins the celebration of Pride March in June 2013. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. Coming out of the closet one semester at a time Despite these, UP remains a sanctuary of openness, acceptance and liberalism for members of the LGBTQ community. This leads to another common story for LGBTQ students in UP: their dual life as openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered while in UP, and as “proper” boys and girls who conform to traditional hetero-normative rules when at home with their parents and families, who, more often than not, are unaware of their children’s sexual orientation and gender identity. As for UP helping its LGBTQ students deal with their families’ lack of acceptance, “definitely we can do something,” says Manalastas. “Our students are part of our community, and I don’t think we can make an artificial divide between the moment they step inside the campus and outside the campus. We should be concerned about our students, that is why we equip them with the tools they can use outside the campus—critical thinking and resourcefulness, for example, and all those analytical tools that we give them.” At heart, LGBTQ issues in UP are about creating a safe, open space where people of all sexual orientations and genders are shielded against homophobia, transphobia, sexism and sexual harassment, beginning in the classroom. “The challenge is extending this shield outside the four corners of the classroom, to create a safe space for LGBTQs,” Manalastas says. Condensed from the original article published in the UP Forum March-April 2012 issue Get your FREE copy of the UP Forum magazine now. Please send an email to upforum@up.edu.ph or visit the UP Media and Public Relations Office at Room 6B, Fonacier Hall, Magsaysay Avenue, UP Diliman, Quezon City. |
https://up.edu.ph/flight-as-fight-for-survival/ | Flight as Fight for Survival – University of the Philippines | Flight as Fight for Survival Flight as Fight for Survival May 28, 2019 | Written by Fred Dabu Filipinos unite to call for nationwide wage and salary hikes and an end to the contractualization policy on May 1, Labor Day 2018, Manila. Photo by Fred Dabu, UP MPRO. (This article reviews the domestic and overseas Filipino workers’ situations as of 2012. It also articulates hope through policy interventions pertaining to wage hikes and better opportunities as feasible solutions that will help the working-age population in the daily fight for survival here in the Philippines.) The Filipino workers’ hopes for a better future take them to countries where they think they may improve their economic status. Their flight is most of all a fight for survival. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported a total of 2.8 million unemployed Filipinos in 2011 while the April 2012 Labor Force Survey (LFS) of the National Statistics Office (NSO) estimated that some 7.3 million Filipinos are underemployed out of the 40.6 million it considers part of the labor force. The same NSO survey showed that the majority of employed and underemployed Filipinos are in the services sector (51.4 percent of employed, 40.2 percent of underemployed) and the agriculture sector (33 percent of employed, 43 percent of underemployed). UPDATE: The Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) October 2018 LFS indicated that there were 2.2 million unemployed and 5.5 million underemployed, out of the 71.9 million Filipinos who are 15 years old and over. Filipinos in the services sector comprised 56.8 percent, the agriculture sector showed 24.1 percent, while the industry sector registered only 19.1 percent of the total employed. “Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are not considered part of the labor force in the Philippines.” IBON Foundation Inc. estimated that 4.64 million Filipinos were unemployed in 2017 and “inflation has increased the family living wage (FLW) needed for meeting basic needs to Php1,175 for a family of six in the National Capital Region (NCR) as of June 2018.” The country’s more than 300,000 registered nurses remain either unemployed or “mis-employed,” although Philippine government hospitals need a whopping 300-percent increase in the number of nurses to meet the ideal 1:10 nurse to patient ratio. UPDATE: Nurse-patient ratio in hospitals ranges from 1:50 up to 1:80 as of February 2018, according to #LabanNurses Movement. These numbers point to what Migrante International (MI) calls the “primary push factor” for workers to seek jobs abroad. “Underdevelopment—aggravated by the perennial lack of livelihood, income and opportunities—forces Filipinos to migrate, separating them from their loved ones while working in another country.” According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), a total of 1,470,826 Filipino workers were deployed overseas in 2010. The data do not include undocumented OFWs whom MI estimates to be as many as 900,000 as of 2007. UPDATE: The POEA reported that 1,992,746 workers were deployed as OFWs while MI claimed that there were almost 1 million undocumented OFWs in the US alone for the year 2017. Thousands of protesters joined the “SONA ng Bayan” to dispute President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24, 2017 in Batasan, Quezon City. Photo by Fred Dabu, UP MPRO. MI also says that there are 12 million to 15 million Filipinos overseas, and that 30 percent to 40 percent of the entire Philippine population depends on remittances from their relatives abroad. Among those interviewed for this story were former employees of the University of the Philippines Manila. One of them served the public sector for four years before flying to Dubai to allow her to meet her family’s growing needs. “Salary was just enough for the most basic commodities; we could hardly make both ends meet,” she said, adding that her take-home pay was only good for paying off their bills and debts. That is why she decided to work abroad. Outside the Philippines, she said, “There are many companies that offer better salaries and benefits. Even skilled workers are empowered and can attain a better life.” Aside from economic reasons, she decided to leave the Philippines because she no longer sees it as a safe country. “The Myth of Migration for Development” report by IBON and MI states that “the income benefits from remittances for households are arguably considerably offset by the social harm for families due to separation for long periods of time.” “The country still suffers economic backwardness despite increasing migration and remittances over the last decades and since the start of the government’s labor export policy in the mid-1970s,” the report states. She and many other overseas Filipinos hope to see the progress and opportunities they saw abroad become attainable here in the Philippines. She proposes the “leveling of employees’ wages to the cost of living, coupled with the provision of better benefits and proper protection.” She says that policy-makers should “create a better system that allows employees to have a progressive career and not just a stagnant job.” “If employees are given better wages, better benefits and better career paths, I think nobody has to leave,” she says. UPDATE: Filipino workers, legislators, and peoples’ organizations are pushing for a national daily minimum wage of Php750 and the abolition of the regional wage boards for the private sector, and for substantially increasing the monthly salaries of public sector personnel, along with hikes in benefits and allowances, as urgent and realistic measures for families to be able to cope up with rising prices. References: 1 National Statistics Office. (2012, April). Labor Force Survey. Retrieved June 11, 2012 from http://www.census.gov.ph/data/sectordata/2012/lf120202.pdf 2 Philippine Statistics Authority. (2018, December). Employment Rate in October 2018 was Estimated at 94.9 percent. Retrieved January 29, 2019 from https://psa.gov.ph/content/employment-rate-october-2018-was-estimated-949-percent 3 IBON Foundation. (2018 – 2019). Retrieved January 29, 2019 from http://ibon.org/2019/01/the-jobs-crisis-is-real-but-disguised/ and http://ibon.org/file/2015/11/2018-Midyear-Birdtalk-Illusory-Growth-Emergent-Authoritarianism.pdf 4 #LabanNurses Movement. (2018, February). Overworked, underpaid nurses. Retrieved January 29, 2019 from Inquirer.net https://opinion.inquirer.net/110714/overworked-underpaid-nurses 5 Migrante International. (2012, June 7). SUMA: Summing-Up of the State of Migrants Under Aquino (2010-June 2012). Retrieved June 11, 2012, from http://www.scribd.com/doc/96254642/SUMA-Summing-Up-of-the-State-of-Migrants-Under-Aquino-2010-June-2012 6 Philippine Star and Migrante International. Retrieved January 29, 2019 from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/09/24/1854138/ofw-deployment-drops-after-10-year-growth and https://migranteinternational.org/2017/06/30/suma-2017-a-year-of-big-talk-band-aids-and-business-as-usual-for-ofws-and-families/ 7 IBON Foundation and Migrante International. (2009, July). The Myth of Migration for Development. Retrieved June 13, 2012, from http://iboninternational.org/resources/pages/EDM/75/58 8 Kodao and IBON Foundation. (2018). Retrieved January 29, 2019 from https://kodao.org/2018/07/05/teachers-call-for-30k-salary-increase and http://ibon.org/2018/04/php750-national-minimum-wage-a-legitimate-call-ibon-facts-figures-excerpt/ Get your FREE copy of the UP Forum magazine now. Please send an email to upforum@up.edu.ph or visit the UP Media and Public Relations Office at Room 6B, Fonacier Hall, Magsaysay Avenue, UP Diliman, Quezon City. |
https://up.edu.ph/re-imagining-the-nations-future/ | Re-imagining the Nation’s Future – University of the Philippines | Re-imagining the Nation’s Future Re-imagining the Nation’s Future May 28, 2019 | Written by Jay L. Batongbacal Art by Tilde Acuña. Lack of familiarity with the historical basis and continuing evolution of our national boundaries is the source of government’s (and the general population’s) seeming lack of agreement and consistency in the conception of the national territory and how the Nation-State should respond to external challenges to its integrity and stability. Philippine national territory was legally described by the 1935 Constitution as being comprised of all territories ceded to the US by Spain in the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and the Treaty of Washington of 1900, as well as territories under the 1930 Convention between the US and the United Kingdom. The territorial lines drawn by the first and third agreements, combined and appearing as an irregular “box,” have comprised a technical description of our territorial boundaries. But such description creates anomalies, because the Treaty of Paris left some features (e.g., the Batanes Islands, the Turtle Islands, one-half of Sibutu Island, Scarborough Shoal) outside the box, while the Treaty of Washington states that such islands also deemed to have been subject to the cession are part of Philippine territory. The Philippine claim to Sabah is disconnected from this legal definition. The 1930 Convention draws a line separating the islands belonging to the Philippines and the islands belonging to North Borneo. The claim to Sabah is based on a document of cession executed by the Sultan of Sulu in 1962. The Sultanate transferred to the Philippine government its rights over the territory of Sabah, which was previously and perpetually leased to the British in 1878, but included among the federated states of Malaysia when it was constituted in 1963. The Philippine claim to Sabah has been described as merely “proprietary.” It is not a claim to sovereignty by a State, but to ownership by an ordinary property-owner, which impliedly admits that it can be subject to the sovereignty of the State where the property is located rather than the State of its owner. Complicating this peculiarity is the assertion by the current Sultan of Sulu that his family revoked the 1962 cession to the Philippines and reverted all rights to the Sultanate in 1989. In the meantime, there have been changes in international law affecting national territories and jurisdictions. Foremost is the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that expresses international consensus on the extent to which State territories and jurisdictions can be exercised beyond their shores. UNCLOS recognizes a system of maritime zones radiating from baselines. Inside the baselines, the State has complete sovereignty over internal waters; beyond them, its sovereignty is subject to allowing innocent passage of foreign vessels within 12 nautical miles, reduced to specific jurisdictions within 24 nautical miles, and then limited to only exclusive resource rights in the waters from 24 to 200 nautical miles seaward (or to a maximum of 350 nautical miles on the seabed). In the 1970s, the Philippines pushed for recognition of the Treaty of Paris and the Treaty of Washington lines as the outer limits of Philippine territory, but this was rejected by the international community. The Philippines then officially agreed to the compromise formula of the maritime zones in UNCLOS. But even with the enactment of Republic Act No. 9522 in 2009 to establish archipelagic baselines conforming with the technical requirements of UNCLOS, the Philippines has not officially defined an UNCLOS-compliant territorial sea or contiguous zone extending from those baselines. Yet, it has asserted rights to a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. Just [recently], it secured validation of its claim to an additional continental shelf area in the Benham Rise Region—its first successful expansion of national resource jurisdiction in accordance with international law. Batongbacal as a resource person of Akademyang Filipino in its forum on the West Philippine Sea, November 24, 2018, at UP Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Photo by Abraham Q. Arboleda, UP-MPRO. Around the same time it fought diplomatically for expanded maritime space, the Philippines exercised and consolidated its sovereignty over the Kalayaan Island Group west of Palawan. It entered a complicated contest, over the islands and the maritime spaces they generate, with Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, China and Taiwan, in an area that is also a focal point of interest for the maritime trading and naval powers of the world. Cooperation and compromise are the only means by which these disputes should be resolved, because the Philippines cannot even hope to engage in a contest of force. The global economy’s shift toward Asia, the rise of China as world power, the American rebalancing in Asia-Pacific, the ASEAN attempt at regional integration, the resurgence of maritime trade, and the regional drive toward economic development place the Philippine national territory at a maelstrom of competing domestic and foreign interests. The issues that bedevil us today are outcomes of unresolved clashes between the rich cultural legacies of our past and the barren colonial worldviews that define our present. The University should now direct its intellectual energies toward re-imagining our nation’s future. Atty. Jay L. Batongbacal is an associate professor at the UP College of Law, and the director of the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea. He was a member of the technical team that prepared and defended the Philippines’ claim to a continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the Benham Rise Region. Condensed from the original article published in the UP Forum March-April 2013 Get your FREE copy of the UP Forum magazine now. Please send an email to upforum@up.edu.ph or visit the UP Media and Public Relations Office at Room 6B, Fonacier Hall, Magsaysay Avenue, UP Diliman, Quezon City. |
https://up.edu.ph/poverty-war-and-peace-lumad-and-muslim-womens-issues-in-mindanao/ | Poverty, War and Peace: Lumad and Muslim Women’s Issues in Mindanao – University of the Philippines | Poverty, War and Peace: Lumad and Muslim Women’s Issues in Mindanao Poverty, War and Peace: Lumad and Muslim Women’s Issues in Mindanao May 28, 2019 | Written by Ma. Arve B. Bañez In UP Diliman, the Lakbayan participants call to end attacks in Lumad schools, to lift Martial Law in Marawi, and to stop the imperialist plunder of Moro territories, among others. Photo by Pau Villanueva, taken from her September 7, 2017 article for CNN Philippines Life, “Following the Lumad, from Bukidnon to Manila.” Check out her other works at www.pauvillanueva.com. Background Mindanao is home to diverse communities, with 13 ethno-linguistic groups and around 30 Lumad groups. Of its total population of 25.73 million, some 18 percent are Muslims and approximately 5 percent are Lumad; the rest are migrants and their descendants. Females comprise half of the population. Hence, by sheer number, women are a vital resource for Mindanao’s development. However, according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Gender-related Development Index (GDI), “which measures the inequality in the achievement of women and men based on life expectancy at birth, educational attainment and standard of living,” are also low in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Sulu had the lowest GDI in the entire country at 0.322. According to a report: “Mindanao women need urgent attention in the areas of economic opportunities, reproductive health, political participation, education, and even basic services such as water and power.” Poverty, it said, “is deepest and most severe in the provinces where the indigenous peoples and Muslims reside.” In December 2009, I visited Mintal gym, where more than a thousand Lumad families camped while they begged for pinaskuhan in downtown Davao. The Mintal gym is just one of the places provided by the city government to accommodate the so-called “exodus of Lumad” every Christmas season. There were piles of sacks containing clothes and crockery. The people slept inside the gym and cooked in the makeshift communal kitchen located outside. There was a crowd at the children’s park where some enterprising Lumad put up stalls that sold packets of coffee, sugar, oil, salt, and soy sauce. Candies, biscuits, hotdogs, and barbecued chicken necks and feet were for sale. Strategies to deal with poverty Begging to survive Lolita, an Ata Manobo from Bukidnon, arrived at Mintal gym together with 18 family members. Lolita said the rations allotted by the city government cannot feed her troop, so they have resorted to begging. As a strategy, they identify themselves as Matigsalog when they beg. Had she not spent the Christmas season begging, Lolita would be in Bukidnon, tending to her vegetable patch. Stashing the Christmas presents received from the Davao City government Eva, a Matigsalog from Marilog, went to Davao with four of her children. Begging is not her game plan for she considers it ulaw (shameful). Instead, she keeps the ration of two cans of sardines and two packs of Quick Chow noodles. To feed her brood she cooks only two cups from her ration of two kilos of rice and vegetables from the nearby Mintal market. When she goes home on December 26, she brings with her 34 cans of sardines, 34 noodle packs and 17 kilos of rice, addressing somehow the food security of her family. Before she got married, Eva was employed as domestic helper in Manila for 14 years. Their strategies may differ, but it is clear that severe poverty caused these Lumad women to go to Davao over the Christmas season. Their situations demonstrate the feminization of poverty. Photo by Abraham Q. Arboleda, UP MPRO. Muslim women waging peace IRIN (formerly Integrated Regional Information Networks) reported in 2008 that women suffered the most in the Mindanao conflict. Displacement due to evacuation engenders problems and risks such as lack of water and privacy, susceptibility to diseases given the cramped space shared with other evacuees, sexual violence, trauma caused by death of family members, and loss of livelihood. Sohaili, a Maguindanaon evacuee, said that to get by, her family simply relies on the relief assistance extended by international humanitarian organizations. They have deserted their homes for fear of getting caught in the crossfire between the armed men of the Ampatuan and Mangudadatu families. Lumad and Muslim women in Mindanao bear the brunt not only of poverty but also of violence. A groundbreaking project aimed at empowering Muslim women as peace advocates, especially the aleemat or Muslim women religious scholars, was organized in partnership with women leaders from civil society, academe, government, youth, balik-Islam, and indigenous peoples. Former Senator Santanina Rasul, one of the prime movers of the project, said that the project aims to work for peaceful and clean elections, especially in ARMM, now known as the “cheating capital” of the Philippines. To realize this, they will focus on educating voters in time for the automated elections. The Muslim women of Sulu are calling for the dismantling of the Police Auxiliary Unit, which is being used as private armies of political families. At the community level, they intend to restore the moral leadership of the ulama and aleemat to propagate Islamic values and peace education. To Dr. Amany Lubis, an aleemat from Indonesia, there is no sexism in Islam based on the Qur’an. Islam promotes gender equality and respect for human beings. But because of biased interpretations of this text, Muslim women are marginalized. Every day, Lumad and Muslim women in Mindanao deal with poverty and violence. They strategize to survive and take concrete measures to attain peace and development in Mindanao. Prof. Ma. Arve B. Bañez is currently a faculty member of the Division of Professional Education, College of Arts and Sciences, UP Visayas, Iloilo City campus. She is also a PhD Candidate in Development Studies at the Ateneo De Davao University, working on her dissertation entitled “The Narratives of Development of Lampirong (Placuna Placenta) Fishers of Oton, Iloilo”. Condensed from the original article published in the UP Forum January-February 2010 issue Get your FREE copy of the UP Forum magazine now. Please send an email to upforum@up.edu.ph or visit the UP Media and Public Relations Office at Room 6B, Fonacier Hall, Magsaysay Avenue, UP Diliman, Quezon City. |
https://up.edu.ph/uplifting-lives-through-interior-design-3/ | Uplifting Lives through Interior Design – University of the Philippines | Uplifting Lives through Interior Design Uplifting Lives through Interior Design May 28, 2019 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc BS Interior Design Batch 2019 realizes their theme “Hilom: Rebuilding Spaces, Rebuilding Lives” in healing spaces for the shelter of End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT) Philippines, filling interiors with images of Philippine flora and colors associated with hope, healing, and wellness, as typified by the re-designed living room shown in the first photo. The second one shows the room before rehabilitation. Which school should lead in integrating public service in its undergraduate courses but the public service university itself, UP? UP’s Interior Design program is a trailblazer. Since more than 15 years ago, it has left the studio for its application course in order to embrace public service, an initiative that has given its students an edge over others. The decision to take this untrodden path followed an era of soul-searching in the University, where a study in the early 1990s revealed that students ranked social orientation and moral uprightness far down in the order of importance of the qualities their colleges were developing in them. Reaching out to the community became a buzz-word, with UP Vice President for Public Affairs Ledivina Cariño promoting service learning as “learning to serve, and serving to learn.” A basic need The College of Home Economics led by Dean Cecilia Florencio was one of the first to respond by serving the poor of nearby Libis. The Interior Design program saw an opportunity to turn the impression of Interior Design as elitist on its head. From the beginning, it was the wrong impression, Interior Design professor Adelaida Mayo says. She places Interior Design as a basic need. “There’s food, clothing, and shelter. Architecture deals with shelter, but where is its soul? It’s in the space people use. It’s inside. The shelter will just be the shell of it,” Mayo says. She raises the question of livability: the lack of finances precludes enjoying the benefits of proper interior design. “In low-cost housing, for example, there is really no Interior Design team to do it. And that has led to problems and accidents.” The advocacy for democratizing Interior Design must start with students. They must have the opportunity to directly touch people’s lives through the discipline they have been studying in the past three years, and to understand the enormous public service potential of their field. Going into direct public service was a practical alternative for an application course, which aims to “apply the knowledge, skills and competencies acquired and developed during the first three years of extensive training in interior design through a special project of their choice.” The Counselling Room of the ECPAT Shelter, before and after being rehabilitated by the UP BSID Batch of 2019. Beyond the studio For a long time, students of Interior Design were applying their skills only in the studio. This is understandable as designing actual interiors and implementing them requires a license, which students could not possibly have before graduation. They were compelled to simulate interior space, staging mock-ups of walls and ceilings and floors, furnishing, decorating and then exhibiting them inside halls, which was an expensive affair. But the resources went to waste in the inevitable dismantling for the egress. The students had no idea how their designs would have held up in actual use. Mayo and Raquel Florendo, who were handling the two classes of ID 179 Special Projects Class, broached the idea of merging their classes to serve financially challenged institutions whose spaces were in dire need of rehabilitation. The students would be under the close supervision of the professors, whose licenses would take care of the legal requirements for the projects. The students discussed the proposal among themselves and accepted the new challenge of the class. Grouped into teams, they helped look for project sites. They consulted with, and proposed designs for screening by, their professors. They coordinated among themselves to unify their concepts. Making cost estimates, they then set out to raise funds and get sponsorships. In academic year 2001-2002, ID 179 Special Projects rolled out in eight cottages of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Reception and Study Center for Children; the clinic and therapy rooms of the Golden Acres Home for the Aged; and a model unit for Gawad Kalinga. At the end of the first semester, what had been dark, dreary, and beat-up spaces had turned into bright and proper spaces to welcome back children recovering from trauma, the aged regaining strength and positive outlooks, and the poorest of the poor reclaiming their dignity. The bar was set for future batches. Since then, students have worked on important sections of public hospitals and clinics; schools and dormitories; halfway houses and shelters for women, children, the recovering sick and the disabled; dance studios for the talented poor; libraries; and Gawad Kalinga housing. “Caring for the sick child not only needs competent healthcare professionals,” said Dr. Julius Lecciones, director of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, “but also an appropriate healing environment in the hospital… With the use of smart colors, lighting and design, the students were able to transform clinically drab and impersonal outpatient consultation rooms into a welcoming haven that exudes warmth, brilliance and comfort.” One of the bedrooms of the ECPAT Shelter, before and after being rehabilitated by the UP BSID Batch of 2019. Bringing joy to families “I can’t thank the students and the teachers enough for their sacrifices, work, physical struggles, and good heart,” says Donald Geocaniga, a Gawad Kalinga director. “They brought joy to seven families whose houses they fixed. They raised the level of their living. They showed the way in caring for the poor, as they volunteered their services to us.” Aside from the gratitude of partner institutions, the students had more benefits going their way. As expected, the students got to learn the practical side of their discipline and expanded their competencies into community work. Limited resources stretched their creativity. Also, they got the rare portfolio edge of having implemented designs on special sites, and getting critiques from the end-users. “What they did gave us a place that is very comfortable for the body and beautiful for the eyes. Before, cleaning seemed to make little difference in our unit. It’s much better now,” says one Gawad Kalinga beneficiary. “At night, we finally have the sleep we could only crave in the past. And when we wake up, wow! Our home now energizes us. I am now more active in serving the Lord, bonding with neighbors and other people,” says another. Balancing aesthetics, function, and safety By working on actual spaces with their beneficiaries, all the more do the students realize the importance of consultations, understanding the idiosyncrasies and needs of different people, and temperance and balancing aesthetics, function, and safety. Students also get to feel they are very much needed in the world. By making a difference in people’s lives, they contribute to an awareness of Interior Design as essential to the quality of life. But public service requires commitment, which may be hard to afford at times. Sometimes, the logistics are too much to grapple with, and piecemeal efforts could prove wasteful. Sometimes, the students feel they have too much on their hands. In such cases, the students could opt to go back to mounting studio exhibits, which, though not less expensive or less expressive of their talent, is less complicated and formidable. In the end, serving a needy institution is a decision by students deliberating among themselves. The students’ public service, when they choose to do it, thus stands as an act of voluntarism. And for some, this is the kind of public service that gives UP students a real defining edge. Get your FREE copy of the UP Forum magazine now. Please send an email to upforum@up.edu.ph or visit the UP Media and Public Relations Office at Room 6B, Fonacier Hall, Magsaysay Avenue, UP Diliman, Quezon City. |
https://up.edu.ph/learning-from-chaos/ | Learning from chaos – University of the Philippines | Learning from chaos Learning from chaos May 10, 2017 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta “I love chaos. That’s why I love being Executive Vice President of UP. You can quote me on that.” With good humor, a booming laugh, and an enthusiasm that fills up a room, Dr. Teodoro “Ted” Javier Herbosa—trauma surgeon, UP College of Medicine professor, disaster medicine and emergency medical care specialist, and former Department of Health (DOH) undersecretary—explains what just might be his main qualification for the job of UP’s first EVP in decades: “I love blood, guts and gore. My line is trauma, and I get excited in a chaotic environment. I get bored with routine. . . so I’m the ideal guy to put in an environment of chaos.” UP, a chaotic environment? When university leaders around the world have compared managing academics to herding cats? Say it isn’t so. “I step in, and there’s the conflict over general education already,” Ted points out with a laugh, describing the situation that greeted him upon his appointment as EVP. For him, it was all “very interesting.” A UP EVP for the 21st century It is also in a sense quite new. As the first EVP since the time of UP President Edgardo Angara, Herbosa has the task of dusting off the position and updating it to fit the realities of a massive university system in the 21st century. “The EVP is the alter-ego of the President,” he explains. In a corporation, the equivalent of the EVP is the Chief Operating Officer, who sees to the day-to-day operations of the company and makes sure everything is well coordinated and running smoothly, as well as performing any other tasks designated by the President. “We’re still in a state of flux. Because we haven’t had an EVP in a long time, I have no model to follow. All the previous EVPs came before the chancellor system,” Ted continues. Now, however, we have a system in which the chancellors of UP’s eight constituent units customarily report straight to the UP President. “It’s an interesting model. I noticed the chancellors are not used to it. Like them, I’m also looking for my sweet spot.” He is also well aware of the challenges of running a university. “It’s a little different from my position as undersecretary,” says Herbosa, who served as DOH undersecretary from 2010 to 2015, where he achieved the DOH’s objective of implementing universal health care coverage. Although, as a government agency, the DOH is much larger than UP, the chain of command was hierarchical, with Herbosa serving as chief of staff directly under the DOH secretary. “It’s very linear. It’s like a military organization. Civil servants follow the mandate of authority.” This is in clear contrast with an academic institution like UP, where every decision is subject to debate and every opinion has an equal and opposite opinion. However, before Herbosa became DOH undersecretary, he was already a faculty member of the UP College of Medicine and a doctor at the UP-PGH. His background as a UP teacher stands him in good stead. “My style of leadership is very liberal, so I think I will fit well in the academic world. I grew up in an academic environment in UP Manila, so I understand this. The opinions of different people, all looking at the same thing from a different light—it’s enriching.” Enriching, sure, but it can also be frustrating. He laughs: “I like that. ‘Frustrating but enriching.’ Well, I’m an optimist, so that’s one thing that got me to where I am in terms of positions.” Twists and turns Optimism, coupled with a willingness to take risks, to learn new things, and to get out of his comfort zone. For example, he describes himself as a baby-boomer who is also a techie, having founded the Philippine Medical Informatics Society in addition to being certified for COBIT 5 for governance and IT management during his time in the DOH, making him the highest-ranking Filipino government official with that certification. But the path that Herbosa’s life took, which eventually led him to the position of UP EVP, also featured some surprise twists and turns. “I didn’t plan to be EVP of the University,” he confesses. “I just wanted to be a good teacher. And now I’m here.” As a matter of fact, neither did he plan on becoming DOH undersecretary. “You know what I planned? I wanted to be Director of the PGH. I didn’t get it, but I did become DOH undersecretary, the director of many hospitals. Then I said, I want to run for UP Manila Chancellor. But because of politics, I decided, never mind, I’m done with this leadership role. Then here comes the UP President asking me to be his EVP.” He adds, laughing, “Funny how life goes.” Few people know that Ted and his lawyer sister Tess, the Securities and Exchange Commission chair, are descended from Jose Rizal’s elder sister Lucia, who married an Herbosa. Life’s plot twists actually began during his childhood. For one thing, he didn’t start out wanting to be a doctor. “I wanted to be in Fine Arts, because I drew a lot and very well.” As a medical student tasked with drawing the organ specimens they were studying, his classmates used to laugh at him for putting such an inordinate amount of effort into sketching and shading his drawings. “Eventually, my mother killed that, because she said I would only end up starving. I sometimes say, if only my mother were still alive, she’d know how much I pay for paintings now.” Ted and his wife, Grace, channel their love of art now into collecting choice artworks and appreciating good art. Later in high school, Ted realigned his life plans and entered a Benedictine monastery with every intention of becoming a monk. “I was in the abbey for, like, six months. But then my mother and oldest sister convinced me to go to college first, and if I still wanted to become a monk after that, then they said they would even pay for my education.” So out of the monastery and into UP he went, becoming a BS Biology student in Diliman. And the boy who had heretofore attended an exclusive boys’ school discovered something that pretty much nixed his plans to become a monk: the opposite sex. “I had a girlfriend by second year college,” he says with a laugh. He entered UP in 1975, at the height of student activism. “UP was like an independent island, like an oasis of free thought and free thinking. I joined rallies, of course, because everybody was joining rallies. You joined the boycott because when there was a call for a boycott, no one went to class. Even the professor didn’t go to class.” He was in his second year in residency in surgery when the first EDSA revolution broke out in 1986. “We were one of the first to go to EDSA. We brought an ambulance with a team. We were scared it would get worse, so we wanted to be ready to provide healthcare. We witnessed history change.” From trauma surgery to emergency care The days after the EDSA revolution brought a new sense of hope, a kind of energy he channeled into being part of the administration and helping develop the country. During Dr. Alfredo Ramirez’ term as chancellor of UP Manila, the PGH Trauma Unit was created, and Herbosa joined the team. Chancellor Ramirez sent him to take an international postgraduate sourse in Surgery in 1991 at Tel Aviv University, on a scholarship offered by the Israeli government. Aside from the training, Ted, who had once aspired to monkhood, appreciated the chance to study in Israel for another reason. “That scholarship brought us on weekends to all the holy sites, so I had a second certificate of pilgrimage to all the holy sites—Nazareth, Bethlehem, the Mount of Beatitudes. I value that more than the international diploma from Tel Aviv University.” He even made a wish during his visit to the Wailing Wall. “I put my wish there to marry my girlfriend. And when I came back home, we got married.” When he returned from his training abroad, he joined the UP Manila faculty and as a teacher in the PGH’s trauma division. He also served as part-time head of trauma in the Jose Reyes Hospital. Prior to his stint as undersecretary, he also served the DOH under then Secretary Juan Flavier by developing a disaster program called the STOP D.E.A.T.H. Program (Strategic Tactical Option for the Prevention of Disasters, Epidemics, Accidents and Trauma for Health). The program drew the attention of the World Health Organization, which offered him a scholarship to the University of Geneva in Switzerland, where he earned a diploma in Emergency and Crisis Management, the first such program in the world. Using a module he developed as his thesis in the University of Geneva, Herbosa developed an elective course on disaster and crisis management for medical students, although he eventually had to give up teaching the course because too many students were enrolling in it. He also established the Fellowship Program for Trauma and Residency Program in Emergency Medicine and headed the Emergency Department in the PGH. His stint as DOH undersecretary had him handling mostly policymaking and administrative work. For example, he was charged with pushing for the sin tax as a health bill, with managing the DOH’s public-private partnerships, and with IT development in the DOH. But his expertise in emergency medical care and disaster medicine came to the fore in 2013 when Super-Typhoon Yolanda struck. As chair of the Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Taskforce for Yolanda, he coordinated and managed 180 foreign medical teams in the wake of the most devastating tropical cyclone recorded at landfall. “That was the highlight of my being a disaster expert,” he says. “Imagine, the strongest typhoon in the world, and your boss tells you, ‘O, ikaw bahala dyan.’ And to have this level of gratification—we had no epidemics, no diarrhea outbreaks. We did fairly well. I think we can do better,” he adds, “but we showed the world what we could do with good coordination.” UP and the four Cs of disaster management There were plenty of lessons to be learned in the aftermath of Yolanda. “You always learn in a disaster. You always learn in a war. Chaos is a good teacher,” Herbosa says, reflecting a principle in trauma surgery and emergency care. And among these lessons gleaned from managing crises and medical disasters are some that can well be applied to UP even in a non-crisis situation. “I think UP has a very unique role in the development of the country and of human society in the Philippines,” Herbosa says. “We’re always regarded as the kontra sa gobyerno. We educate our youth by showing them what’s wrong with the government. We are always opposing. Speaking as a guy in disaster work, you can’t do that in a disaster.” There are three Cs that are key to disaster management: collaboration, coordination, and communication. Regarding the first C, “I think we as a national university should learn to collaborate with each other in the different specialties, and with other universities,” Ted says, adding that the increasing number of research collaborations and partnerships between UP and foreign universities is a very good sign. On the second C, coordination: “I think the way to work is to work with government and work for government. We’re a government-funded institution; we are part of every administration that comes in. We don’t have to be political, but we can be coordinated,” He said. One example is the training of local government officials being done by the National College of Public Administration and Governance—services that directly impact communities and transcend political parties and administrations. He also mentions the many UP medical alumni who are now serving the people as department heads and directors of public hospitals. “I’d like to see UP continue to do that.” On the third C, communication: Ted emphasizes the need for people in UP to cross disciplinal boundaries and communicate with one another. For instance, he says, he took a tour of UP Los Baños, and discovered a lot of health-related research being conducted and products being produced there, from nutrition gardens to larvicides—things not a lot of people within the UP System, let alone the greater public, know about. “I see a lot of potential in what UP can offer, but we need to communicate it,” he says. “I think UP is really about all the professors who work here and the great ideas they have.” And these kinds of hidden treasures are what we must share with the world. He adds a fourth C, which is not quite disaster-related but very much aligned with UP’s purpose: creation and innovation. “The University’s role is really to create new knowledge that is relevant to society. That is my vision of what a university does,” Herbosa says. “So we need to collaborate, coordinate and communicate to create and innovate. “I think the way to lead our professors, our National Scientists and National Artists, is to lead from the back. Academic administration, they say, is a paradox. How can you administer professors and National Scientists and National Artists? You can’t. You just allow them to blossom. So my job, and even the UP president’s job, is to make sure they continue to be in an environment that allows them to be creative.” And where else is creativity born if not from chaos? |
https://up.edu.ph/towards-a-more-gender-sensitive-community/ | Towards a more gender-sensitive community – University of the Philippines | Towards a more gender-sensitive community Towards a more gender-sensitive community May 10, 2017 | Written by KIM G Quilinguing At its 1324th meeting on January 26, 2017, the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines approved the UP Anti-Sexual Harassment Code, finally adopting into policy a proposal by gender advocates in the University which had been in the works for almost a decade. The passage of the Code, which had been spearheaded by the UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, was necessary, despite the University having adopted an earlier anti-sexual harassment policy which served as the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law. More responsive to the needs of the community Prof. Odine de Guzman, PhD. Photo by KIM G. Quilinguing, UP MPRO. According to UP CWGS Director Odine de Guzman, efforts to amend the University’s 1998 Implementing Rules and Regulations to the 1995 Anti-Sexual Harassment Law or Republic Act 7877 can be traced back to 2002. This was after gender advocates realized the rapidly changing gender situation in the University and the need for a more responsive policy. Also, the Civil Service Commission had issued Resolution No. 01-0940 providing for Administrative Disciplinary Rules on Sexual Harassment Cases. Approved in May 21, 2001, the resolution defined sexual harassment as an administrative offense and prescribed a “standard procedure . . . for the administrative investigation, prosecution and resolution of sexual harassment cases in the public sector.” If Republic Act 7877 defined sexual harassment as a crime in work places and other venues for training or instruction, such as schools, the Civil Service Resolution prescribed the manner by which the law may be applied to government institutions, such as UP. In consideration of these developments, gender advocates in the University proposed that revisions to the 1998 IRR be made. And as early as 2005, a draft of the revised policy was presented. Considering the size of the University community, and the need to conduct sufficient consultation with its stakeholders, it was not until 2010 that a draft with the proposed revisions to the 1998 IRR was presented to the University’s highest policy-making body, the BOR. While the proposals were well received, the proposed revised IRR would be shelved until 2014. On September 17, 2014, President Alfredo E. Pascual signed Memorandum PAEP No. 2014-54-A which endorsed the then Center for Women’s Studies’ sponsorship of “a UP System-wide conference to assess and identify effective strategies, which would promote and strengthen UP’s implementation of RA 7877.” The Center, which was then under Director Judy M. Taguiwalo, was tasked by the President to “forward recommendations for further refining and improving our anti-sexual harassment initiatives and for strengthening our advocacy for women’s empowerment and gender equality.” Gender advocates and experts from the University gathered in UP Baguio in March 2015 for a UP System-wide conference. Another conference followed also in UP Baguio in June 2015, where the draft of the proposed revisions was presented. By August 2015, a draft proposal was submitted to the President. It was hoped that the proposed changes would also be presented to the BOR for consideration. An initial review recommended several actions, including the reconciliation of the proposed amendments with a proposal from gender advocates of UP Diliman. Officials from the CWGS, the UPD Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the Diliman Legal Office, and the Office for Anti-Sexual Harassment would spend several months reconciling the proposals, as well as accommodating other measures which dealt with sexual harassment. The resulting proposal not only defined what sexual harassment was in the context of the University, but also the various relationships where it might arise, as well as the various forms it might take. It also addressed gender concerns which were ambiguous in the IRR. This final draft received the nod not only of gender advocates in the University, but also those of legal experts from the UP Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs and the UP Law Center. Better appreciation of identities and modes Director de Guzman takes great pride in the Anti-Sexual Harassment Code, as a University policy which may be the first of its kind in going beyond the traditional concept of gender and perpetration of sexual harassment. As a Code, de Guzman says, the policy does not only draw inspiration from RA 7877, but also from other anti-sexual harassment policies of government agencies, advocacy groups, and even of advocates and gender groups themselves. “The dropping of the reference (solely) to the Law recognizes numerous sources for the Code,” she adds. The new anti-sexual harassment policy of the University does not only define the offense and the various modes by which it can be committed, but also describes the different relationships where these offenses can be committed. The Code “expanded the definition of sexual harassment and it showed a better appreciation of the online and different modes,” de Guzman added. Under the Code, sexual harassment is defined as “unwanted, unwelcome, uninvited behavior of a sexual nature or inappropriate sexual advances or offensive remark about a person’s sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity.” The Code covers the following acts: malicious leering or ogling; sexual flirtation; inquiries about another person’s sex life and gender orientation; communicating sexist remarks, causing discomfort, embarrassment, offense or insult; display of sexually-offensive pictures; sexual advances or propositions; touching of private parts; forced kissing; and requesting sexual favors in exchange for academic or employment advancement. De Guzman says that while people traditionally think of sexual harassment as something that can be committed only by a superior against a subordinate, or in the case of an educational institution, a teacher against a student, the Code recognizes various other situations where it may occur. It can be committed, she explains, by a faculty member against another faculty member; a student against a faculty member; an administrative employee against a faculty member; a student against an administrative employee; and, a student against another student. The Code covers all teaching personnel, non-teaching personnel, students, other UP workers, and even UP organizations. With the adoption of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Code, de Guzman hopes the University community would not only be able to address gender issues among its constituents, but more importantly promote an awareness of the various gender identities within the University community. Towards a more gender-sensitive community If the Code defines acts which can be considered sexually offensive, the UP Gender Guidelines, on the other hand, seek to provide an environment where faculty, staff and students can have access to different services and benefits regardless of their sex or sexual orientation. Adopted by the BOR in its 1309th meeting on July 22, 2015, the Guidelines provide for the right of women to participation and representation; equal treatment before the law; equal access and the elimination of discrimination in education, scholarships and training; the right to health; and the right to decent work. Conceived during the time of the CWGS director at that time, Sylvia Estrada-Claudio, the Guidelines were approved by the BOR during Director Taguiwalo’s tenure. The Guidelines declare that “The University shall not discriminate on the basis of gender; shall not violate human rights with the understanding that women’s rights are human rights; and shall work for the promotion and fulfillment of gender equality.” Inspired by the Magna Carta for Women or Republic Act 9710, de Guzman says the Guidelines allow UP to promote gender sensitivity, women’s empowerment, and the promotion of gender acceptability. “Through this we are able to initiate more programs on gender equality in the University,” she says. De Guzman adds that the Guidelines enabled the promotion of affirmative action for women in the University, and created an environment where all persons in the community can fully develop their potentials regardless of their sexual orientation. While the Code penalizes acts which offend persons of different genders, the Guidelines, she said, are a declaration of the beliefs by which the University stands. “It expresses our principles, our values and our world view,” she adds. With the recent approval of the Code, and the promotion of the Guidelines, de Guzman hopes to see a University which is more sensitive to people of various genders, allowing them to fully realize their potentials in UP for the benefit of the people and of the country. |
https://up.edu.ph/fighting-leptospirosis-with-a-local-vaccine/ | Fighting Leptospirosis with a local vaccine – University of the Philippines | Fighting Leptospirosis with a local vaccine Fighting Leptospirosis with a local vaccine September 6, 2018 | Written by KIM G Quilinguing Video by KIM Quilinguing for the UP Media and Public Relations Office. “It takes 10 to 14 years to develop a vaccine,” says Dr. Nina Gloriani of the University of the Philippines Manila College of Public Health. And that’s not counting the intervening periods where one attends to other professional and personal activities which also require time and attention. Recently however, she and her team have registered the proof of concept for LeptoVax, the first locally produced vaccine against the Leptospirosis bacteria. With assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan Science and Technology Agency, and in collaboration with scientists from Kyushu University and the Chiba Institute of Science, Dr. Gloriani and her team developed LeptoVax in 2010. It is expected to be used on house pets and livestock to protect them from the Leptospira bacteria which is being transmitted by rats. Dr. Nina Gloriani of the UP Manila, College of Public Health. Dr. Gloriani heads the development team for LeptoVax. Photo by KIM Quilinguing, UP MPRO. Aside from the team’s foreign partners, the project was also supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), particularly the Philippine Council for Health Development. Over the years, the research team studied the various factors affecting the transmission of Leptospirosis in Metro Manila, using a Geographic Information System (GIS). They also developed diagnostic kits and conducted advocacy campaigns for information and health promotion against Leptospirosis. These came on top of the vaccine which they hope to develop further for human use. An information campaign poster used by the UP Manila College of Public Health team in spreading awareness of Leptospirosis. Using samples collected from individuals affected with the bacteria, the team was able to identify several areas nationwide where Leptospirosis strains are present and being spread by rats and other animals. “We actually have around nine regions: from Region 1, 3, 4A, 5, that’s Bicol region. Of course, the NCR. We worked with Region 6, Region 7, Region 8, 10, 11,” Dr. Gloriani says. In July of this year, the Department of Health declared a Leptospirosis outbreak in several parts of Metro Manila when the number of individuals infected with the bacteria increased. In a news report on DZMM, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said 58 had died out of the 454 patients admitted to hospitals from January to July 2018. Originally believed to be a seasonal disease which occurs during the rainy season, Leptospirosis has become endemic in some areas, according to Dr. Gloriani. She continues, “For example, Region 6, the Iloilo-Western Visayas region, has a lot of agricultural lands and we have farmers, we have a lot of livestock there. Even without extensive floods, they have many cases.” The rainy season, she adds, only aids in spreading the disease more quickly and affecting more people in populated areas. Dr. Gloriani warns that despite the common notion in the country that the bacteria spreads when one comes in contact with surfaces having the urine and wastes of rats, research in other countries have also shown that it can be contracted by bats which inhabit caves. She says that it can also spread via water-related activities or sports. In research papers available on the United States’ Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website, scientists from Brazil, China, Madagascar, and the Union of the Comoros have recorded incidents in some areas in their countries where bats have tested positive for Leptospirosis. The CDC also lists buffaloes, cattle, goats, horses and sheep as among the animals which may aid in spreading the virus. Asked on what can be done to stem the tide of Leptospirosis in several areas in the country, Dr. Gloriani sums it up in two words: hygiene and sanitation. She says the bacteria spreads due to the problematic waste and drainage situation in many areas of the country. “Until we don’t solve problems in public engineering, Leptospirosis outbreaks will continue,” she emphasized. Dr. Gloriani’s teammate, Dr. Sharon Villanueva, agrees with correcting the notion that rats are the only culprits in spreading the bacteria. “It is not only spread by rats or during floods or heavy rains and flood. But it can also be spread by other animals like dogs and livestock animals,” Dr. Villanueva says. She adds that Leptospirosis can also be acquired by a person who comes in contact with soil on which the bacteria may be present. Dr. Sharon Villanueva of the UP Manila College of Public Health. Dr. Villanueva heads the public awareness and information campaigns group for LeptoVax. She has also been working with Dr. Gloriani in developing the vaccine. Photo by KIM Quilinguing, UP MPRO. Dr. Villanueva underscores information dissemination and awareness as essential tools in the fight against Leptospirosis. She adds that efforts to address the disease must also involve whole communities and not only those who are have contracted it from exposure. Dr. Villanueva says that while providing affected patients with prophylaxis can help individuals affected with Leptospirosis, a more holistic approach against the bacteria would be more effective in preventing it from infecting a community. “Of course, we cannot completely eliminate the rats. So, what we have to do is really clean our environment, our surroundings, so as to prevent the infestation of rats,” she says. Dr. Villanueva has been working with Dr. Gloriani on LeptoVax since 2012. And they have conducted research in various locations in the country where several strains of Leptospirosis exist. In their findings they were able to identify two serovars common in the country: Leptospira interrogans serovar Manilae and Leptospira interrogans serovar Losbanos. They were also able to identify two serogroups: Leptospira interrogans serogroup Grippotyphosa and Leptospira borgpetersenii serogoup Javanica. While it may still take some time to fully complete LeptoVax trials on animals, Gloriani is hopeful that the findings from their tests will be positive. After successful tests on hamsters, she and her team hope to conduct tests on carabaos and dogs. Dogs, she says, are very susceptible to the bacteria. “We believe that a lot of the human cases also come from dogs. Not just rats contaminating the environment,” she says. While concentrating on developing the vaccine which would protect livestock and pets from Leptospirosis, Dr. Gloriani, Dr. Villanueva, and the rest of their team, hope to eventually produce a vaccine which can be used by humans. Villanueva however, speaks with caution, as producing one is not an easy undertaking. Short of that, the team hopes, at the very least, to limit the spread of Leptospirosis among animals with which humans spend most of their days. |
https://up.edu.ph/promoting-tolerance-through-books-and-education/ | Promoting tolerance through books and education – University of the Philippines | Promoting tolerance through books and education Promoting tolerance through books and education May 10, 2017 | Written by KIM G Quilinguing “At 22, people say that I am ‘accomplished’ and they expect that I’ll be even more accomplished as I grow. This induces a lot of pressure, and the fear of not living up to people’s expectations can cripple anyone. However, I have to remind myself that these accolades are just decoration. The real work lies in the everyday toil that no one sees. The real achievement lies in building and growing things that are quietly changing lives.” That’s what University of the Philippines alumna Arizza Ann Sahi Nocum says when asked how she feels about being constantly recognized for her efforts to promote dialogue between Christians and Muslims through the Kristiyano-Islam or KRIS Peace Library. The daughter of a Roman Catholic father, Armand Dean Nocum, and a Muslim mother, Annora Sahi, she shares the passion of her parents in bridging the gap between two of the country’s most active religious groups. On February 9, 2017, Arizza was chosen as one of this year’s Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) and recognized in a ceremony held at the Heroes Hall of Malacañang Palace in Manila. Her efforts to promote education through books and libraries in conflict areas in Mindanao, while maintaining her academic standing in UP Diliman, were cited as reasons for the award. The engineer turns advocate Prior to the TOSP award, Arizza’s efforts had been recognized with the Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs Award in 2011, when she was still a freshman at the University. In 2016 she was also chosen as a Young Leader of the Extremely Together initiative of the Kofi Annan Foundation and One Young World. Aside from these, she was also part of the team of UP Diliman Industrial Engineering students who brought home the championship title from the Industrial Engineering Competition at the Institut Teknologi Bandung in Indonesia in January 2016. And during her time in the University, she enjoyed a full scholarship as an Oblation Scholar, having been among the top 50 passers of the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT). Graduating with a degree in Industrial Engineering, magna cum laude, in 2016, Arizza now spends most of her time with the non-profit organization which she and her family started in 2008, in an effort to provide books to hard-to-reach areas in Zamboanga. Libraries for peace This industrial engineer started working for KRIS Peace Library in 2011, which at that time she says “was very informal. Essentially, it was just me and my family doing projects on the fly that were not expertly planned, maintained, and evaluated.” The KRIS Peace Library maintains six libraries all over the country, one each in Zamboanga City; Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City; Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay; Bangkal, Zamboanga Sibugay; Rodriguez, Rizal; and Davao City. Aside from providing books and educating children, the Kris Peace Library promotes dialogue and understanding between groups of different faiths and brings these groups together through education. Asked what advice she could give to people of different religious convictions, she suggests, “Exercise empathy. Before judging, blaming, pointing the finger, or fearing a person who may be different, try to put yourself in that person’s shoes. Live out his or her story. Expand your capacity for understanding.” Acting as overall head of the organization, Arizza tries as much as possible to divide her work days equally, half of the day working for the library, leaving the other half for other commitments. But she admits she does find it difficult. “I average about 16 hours of total work every day,” she says. “Unfortunately, I don’t have much of a social life at the moment,” she adds with a wry smile. When asked about her student involvements in college, Arizza says she joined the UP Industrial Engineering Club where she headed several teams which did outreach work. “Being part of IE Club really taught me the soft skills which I otherwise wouldn’t have learned in my classes, such as handling people, managing my time, and resisting distractions,” she says. As for her favorite haunts in Diliman, Arizza recalls that she was usually to be found at the Bahay ng Alumni. She also used to frequent the Engineering Library 1, the Engineering cafeteria, and the Main Library. She would also hang out with her friends at the UP Town Center along Katipunan Avenue. As for her preferred spaces for peace and quiet, she says that “I have always loved the Main Lib and walking around the oval.” A turning point While she admits she has had many memorable experiences in her years in the University, she says there was one particular instance which she considered to have been a significant turning point. “During the day of the Engineering Job Fair in my senior year, I felt very uneasy because, while everyone else was excited handing out resumes, I decided to withhold mine and not apply to anything. This was my heart telling me that these jobs were not for me; that I was being pulled to take on a different path. I’m glad that happened to me,” she says. Since graduating from college, Arizza has made several changes on how the Library does its work. “In that year, I formed the first volunteer core team. Our team then set the strategic direction for KRIS, set our first mission and vision on paper, created a working structure, recruited more volunteers, started systematizing operations, and hired our first full-time coordinator,” she says. But she also candidly adds that they are “still very much a work in progress.” For those considering non-profit or non-government organization work after university studies, this is what she had to say: “Concentrate on the people. Get people around you who are equally passionate about your cause. Find people with resources and connections who can support you as you secure funding and other needs. Find leaders from your target beneficiaries or communities who can bridge your work to these communities.” She also adds that it is important to focus on one’s self, particularly on one’s internal strengths. ”Build on your resilience to failure and disappointments, and choose to be happy in your work even if other people think you should be working somewhere else. This is your life, after all. Right now, I have this quote by Bob Dylan plastered on my desktop: ‘People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent.’” Asked if there was one important lesson she learned from UP, Arizza says that “I think the most important life lesson I got from my UP education is humility. Having met so many talented, hardworking, and genuinely intelligent people, I often felt challenged and would always aspire to be a better version of myself. Outside the university, humility is what keeps me growing and learning with every chance I get.” |
https://up.edu.ph/what-makes-a-good-senator-tips-from-an-old-senate-hand-turned-up-prof/ | What makes a good Senator? Tips from an old Senate hand turned UP prof – University of the Philippines | What makes a good Senator? Tips from an old Senate hand turned UP prof What makes a good Senator? Tips from an old Senate hand turned UP prof May 23, 2019 | Written by KIM G Quilinguing Video by the UP Media and Public Relations Office With the Commission on Elections finally declaring the winners of the recent senatorial elections, it is apparent that some of those who made it are new to the legislature. And with much to learn about the duties and responsibilities of members of the chamber, these senators-elect may need all the tips and help they can get. For Assistant Professor Jean Encinas-Franco of the University of the Philippines Diliman, Department of Political Science, it is important to acquire and develop traits useful when they assume their responsibilities in the Senate. One of these, she said, is the ability to communicate well. “The Senate is a deliberative body, so it needs people who are able to talk and articulate issues of the day,” she said. Their ability to have legislation passed hinges on their capacity to explain their stand and concerns in public debates. Knowledge of and experience in government bureaucracy would also come in handy, she said, since it would be very difficult if the new legislators would be working with little or no knowledge on how the public sector works. A 15-year veteran of the Senate, Franco spent four years working in the office of Senator Freddie Webb, and 11 years in the Senate Economic and Planning Office, where she attained the rank of Director III. She later moved to the academe as a lecturer in the Miriam College International Studies Department and as a faculty associate of their Women and Gender Institute. She later joined UP Diliman, where she now teaches. Portrait of Dr. Jean Encinas-Franco, UP Media and Public Relations file photo Professor Franco specializes in gender and the politics of labor, legislative politics, women’s rights and international migration. She teaches Philippine Politics and Government, Political Analysis, Research in Political Science, and Theories in International Relations in UP Diliman. She earned her Communication Research degree from the UP Diliman College of Mass Communication (CMC) in 1990. Later on, she would earn her Master in Public Administration degree from the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) in 1997 and her doctorate in Political Science from the UP Diliman College of Social Science and Philosophy (CSSP) in 2011. Outside the classroom, Franco has also been involved with several research projects on the struggles of overseas Filipino workers, including nurses hired by agencies in the United Kingdom, India and locally. She has also been actively involved in the University’s UP sa Halalan election initiative since 2013, spearheading the project in 2016. She is among the University’s go-to analysts for news organizations, programs and other platforms where analyses of current issues require her perspective. Adding to communication skills and knowledge of and experience in government, Franco said senators should never cease to learn about various issues which confront the nation, “particularly, because the world is fast changing, and we need to align our legislation, our legal and political environment, so that we help Filipinos respond to these massive changes in the world today.” Franco said new senators must also learn to navigate the Senate floor very well. “Even if you know your law, even if you are articulate, if you do not know how to play good politics, then it would be very difficult for you to have other senators agree to your proposals.” Good relations with fellow senators is very important for new legislators who want to see their proposals or pet bills through, she said. The 12 candidates who made it are re-electionists Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe, Sonny Angara, Koko Pimentel and Nancy Binay; returning senators Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid and Bong Revilla; and the Senate newbies — former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Bong Go; former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa; former Ilocos Norte governor Imee Marcos; and former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Francis Tolentino. Go, dela Rosa, Pimentel and Tolentino ran under the administration’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-LABAN) ticket; Villar, Cayetano and Marcos ran under the Nacionalista Party (NP). Angara ran under the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) party; Lapid ran under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC); Revilla ran under the Lakas-Christian and Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD); Binay ran under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA); and Poe ran as an independent candidate. Newly-elected senators and congressmen who wish to acquire relevant skills and knowledge before they officially begin work as legislators can undergo training in NCPAG, where Franco is an alumna of its MPA program. Then rookie Senator Nancy Binay and first-time congresswoman Sol Aragones of Laguna were in the roster of training participants of NCPAG. |
https://up.edu.ph/the-psych-oclock-habit-taking-filipino-psychology-to-the-airwaves/ | The Psych o’Clock Habit: Taking Filipino Psychology to the Airwaves – University of the Philippines | The Psych o’Clock Habit: Taking Filipino Psychology to the Airwaves The Psych o’Clock Habit: Taking Filipino Psychology to the Airwaves November 13, 2018 | Written by KIM G Quilinguing Video by KIM Quilinguing for the UP Media and Public Relations Office It was Thursday and just a little past six in the evening. Two professors were busily finalizing the flow of their program in DZUP’s radio booth. With teasers playing on air, Jay Yacat and Summer Parcon agreed on what questions and issues they would discuss with their guest. A ringing school bell sound effect plays and then the technician gives his signal to the hosts. Going live on 3… 2… 1 and “Good evening everyone, ako po si Jay. At ako po si Summer. At ito ang Psych o’Clock Habit.” Now on its eighth year, Psych o’Clock Habit, or PoCH, is a regular radio program on the University of the Philippines Diliman’s campus radio station DZUP 1602 on the AM band. Originally conceived in 2009 by former Department of Psychology Professor Cherrie Joy Billedo, it was the result of an observation that there is a proliferation of programs on mainstream radio stations which offer advice by phone to questions from listeners. According to Assistant Professor Jay Yacat, Billedo saw how popular the radio programs were and felt that the Department of Psychology could come up with a radio show which will capitalize on the expertise of its faculty members in discussing psychological issues and at the same time promote psychology as a program to its listeners. With Assistant Professor Ton Clemente, Billedo would host the show. “The goal was to make psychology more accessible,” Yacat says. While the program was not originally conceived to tackle mental health issues in the university, Assistant Professor Apryl Mae Parcon, better known as Summer, says it is inevitable that PoCH take on topics and concerns which deal with the psychological welfare of its listeners, particularly those emotional challenges that confront students of the university. Asst. Prof. Jay Yacat of the Department of Psychology, UP Diliman. Photo by KIM Quilinguing, UP MPRO. Yacat and Parcon now regularly anchor the radio program on Thursday evenings. Aside from being on the booth on DZUP, they also maintain PoCH’s social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. And they also maintain a blog, where former host and fellow Psychology Department faculty member, Ton Clemente, helps write the entries. Previous episodes of the program are also hosted on the DZUP website, as well as on IskWiki or the university’s interactive online learning platform. Without their own production assistants, researchers, and writers, the show’s hosts take on a more direct role in the program, preparing the music playlists that accompany their discussion themselves. They also run the program as a free-flowing discussion, which Yacat says could be its greatest strength, since they are not constrained by a fixed flow for their conversations with their guests, thus making their episodes more natural and interesting. “I feel that this is how the program distinguishes itself, by being spontaneous,” he adds. For Developmental Psychologist Parcon, the spontaneous flow of the program could be the reason why their audience follows every episode. “It’s good that you can discuss certain concepts in a very conversational way,” she says. “The listeners feel like they’re just eavesdropping on a conversation, but at the same time, they’re also learning certain things,” she adds. With its tagline Usapang Malaman, Hindi Puro Chika Lang, PoCH has held discussions on air which dealt with love, courtship and relationships; academics and sports; body image; cultural identity; gender; supernatural beliefs; sleep; and even habits. The radio show has also tackled much-talked about issues such as the concerns of indigenous communities, elections, and social media. “One of our strongest advocacies is Sikolohiyang Pilipino. For every episode, as much as possible, we try to contextualize things in our culture,” says Yacat. Social Psychologist Yacat attributes their ability to tackle different issues aside from those which are covered by their expertise to the willingness of faculty members from other departments in UP Diliman and other UP campuses to participate in their program. “We also use the program to showcase local talents, faculty research, students, and their talents,” he says with a chuckle. Asst. Prof. Apryl Mae “Summer” Parcon of the Department of Psychology, UP Diliman. Photo by KIM Quiinguing, UP MPRO. Aside from social issues, PoCH has also served as a platform for the presentation and discussion of research works of experts and students taking up subjects with the Department of Psychology. Parcon says this helps in the dissemination of the ideas and a deeper understanding of the phenomena covered by the studies. While PoCH may have covered serious and in some cases controversial topics, both Yacat and Parcon say they have not had any problem with their guests or listeners in their discussions. They do admit to being careful with handling the discussions so as not to cause undue concern and attention. Both hosts also attribute the program’s resilience over the years to the support extended to them by their department, which considers PoCH as an important platform which promotes its academic programs, as well as the expertise of its faculty and works of its students. “We try as much as we can to present psychology in a non-threatening manner,” says Parcon. Yacat and Parcon with College of Human Kinetics Instructor Mona Maghanoy at the DZUP radio booth. Photo by KIM Quilinguing, UP MPRO. Over the years, PoCH has not only attracted more and more audiences but also the attention of award giving bodies. In 2014, the program landed on the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Golden Dove Awards as a finalist in the Best Radio Magazine Show award. The hosts attribute this recognition to the show’s impact on its listeners, particularly among the university community. Aside from award-giving bodies, Psych o’Clock Habit has also attracted the attention of some faculty members of other colleges and universities. Yacat notes a time when they learned from some students of another university who were advised by their teacher to go over the archived episodes of the radio show for a paper in their class. Parcon on the other hand highlights the story of a UP Diliman student who took up Psychology, after having been a listener to the radio program since her high school years. As a pioneering radio program on DZUP hosted by faculty members of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Yacat says that PoCH has served to inspire other departments to also have their own shows on the campus radio station. Yacat admits that hosting the program takes up time and effort, but he finds value in how it has been able to help out some students and members of the university in understanding social phenomena and issues. For Parcon, one of the significant contributions of the program is how it has also become a platform for the dissemination of the research of members of the university community. “For as long as we can do it, we’re committed to Psych o’Clock Habit,” Yacat adds. Psych o’Clock regularly airs Thursday evenings from 6:00 pm to 7:00 p.m. on DZUP 1602 on AM radio. It is also streamed live on dzup.org. |
https://up.edu.ph/still-swinging-at-40/ | Still Swinging at 40 – University of the Philippines | Still Swinging at 40 Still Swinging at 40 January 14, 2019 | Written by KIM G Quilinguing Video by KIM Quilinguing for the UP Media and Public Relations Office Jazz was bawal talaga. Bawal. It was forbidden.” This is what UP College of Music Associate Professor Raymundo Maigue most remembers of the time he entered the university as a freshman in 1974. Jazz being taboo in the college, he and his friends had to express their passion for the musical genre in secret. “When the professors heard us, they would tell us to stop. We couldn’t do anything but hide.” While there was no formal course then, Maigue remembers one professor at the college who taught a non-credit jazz improvisation course, which heightened their fascination for the genre and their growing need to understand it more. But jazz was still not considered part of their formal training. Though prohibited from formally practicing their music in the college, he vividly recalls the challenges they faced then in pursuing their passion for jazz. “We used to jam wherever, in secret—at the Carillon, under the stairs. We had no instruments, we just borrowed amplifiers, trying to beat each other. It was fun then, it felt like we had all the time. Even when it got dark, we continued jamming.” Prof. Rayben Maigue conducting the UP Jazz ensemble. (Photo courtesy of Prof. Rayben Maigue.) As to why he has more passion for jazz than other musical genres, Rayben, as he is known to family and friends, explains that it allows him to have a different take on the usual arrangement of songs. “You can jazz up even Tagalog songs, which of course changed because of the arrangement. We changed things around.” Jazz, he adds, enables him to have a more personal rendition of some songs. Things turned for the better for Rayben and his fellow enthusiasts in 1977, when visiting American professor and jazz musician Joseph Howard joined the college through the Fulbright Scholar Program. Howard taught jazz theory and improvisation. “We were so happy, the books were free, the teaching was free.” The American professor shared his passion for the music with his Filipino students for eight months before returning to the US. With Howard back in the States, the genre was again relegated by some conservative academics to being, in Maigue’s words, a nuisance in the college. But by this time, there were also some members of the College of Music who had grown to appreciate jazz. And some of them would even occasionally hire them for personal events. Maigue says the UP Jazz Ensemble started as a small group called the Laboratory Band. “If you had a composition, we played it just to hear it, good or bad.” The band eventually became the ensemble. In the 1970s and ‘80s, the UP Jazz Ensemble became a popular group in UP Diliman, enabling them to eventually form a big band, which is usually made up of four sections or groups: trumpets, trombones, saxophones and rhythm. Maigue considered the formation of the group a challenge as it has always been difficult to find qualified musicians. The UP Jazz Ensemble in one of their performances. (Photo courtesy of Prof. Rayben Maigue) The popularity of the group went beyond the campus, resulting in invitations for performances outside the university. “We perform in corporate parties and festivals. We perform in jazz concerts.” Maigue is quick to add that in recent years, they have observed a dwindling appreciation of the genre in UP Diliman itself, which he suspects is due to the shift of preference for pop music, particularly from abroad. “We’re fading away,” he said. He takes comfort in the continued appreciation of the genre by people outside the campus, where they continue to play. The UP Jazz Ensemble has 30 regular members, which is a combination of both students and alumni of the College of the Music. Its playlist includes well-known tunes from Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, and George Gershwin. Aside from these, they also perform jazzed up tunes from the Beatles and John Williams, as well as Filipino jazz tunes from Richie Quirino, Jon Palacio, and Angel Peña. Over the years, the UP Jazz Ensemble has gained recognition as one of the most notable bands in the country. In 1989, the band was recognized by DWFR, Citylite 88.3, precursor to the current Jam 88.3, in its First City Jazz Awards, for its important role in the promotion and contributions to the field of Philippine New Age and Jazz Music. In 1999, the UP Jazz Ensemble was also recognized by Petron Corporation as the prime mover of jazz in the country. In 2010, Maigue himself was recognized by the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines in its Arts Productivity Awards for his efforts in the appreciation and promotion of jazz and his contributions to Filipino and contemporary music. The UP Jazz Ensemble with its bandleader, Prof. Rayben Maigue (in gray jacket). (Photo courtesy of Prof. Rayben Maigue) Now on its 40th year, the UP Jazz Ensemble continues to swing as a band that does not only perform great jazz but also promotes the genre through its performances and collaborations with other organizations which support the genre and music in general. Aside from recognition as a group, the UP Jazz Ensemble has also become a training ground for several Filipino musicians who have now found employment in international cruise ships and in Hong Kong Disneyland. “Their salaries are higher than mine!” he jokingly adds. Now nearing his retirement from the university, Maigue looks back with fondness at what the UP Jazz Ensemble has become in four decades. He admits it was not easy pursuing his passion for jazz and eventually forming the band. “Even if there’s no money in it, we persevered to promote jazz. I hope it stays because I’m retiring in four years, although I’ll keep on playing,” says the man who himself also never gets tired of swinging. |
https://up.edu.ph/cardinal-santos-medical-center-ceo-pagdanganan-joins-up-board-of-regents/ | Cardinal Santos Medical Center CEO Pagdanganan joins UP Board of Regents – University of the Philippines | Cardinal Santos Medical Center CEO Pagdanganan joins UP Board of Regents Cardinal Santos Medical Center CEO Pagdanganan joins UP Board of Regents July 14, 2021 | Written by Fred Dabu Hon. Raul C. Pagdanganan, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cardinal Santos Medical Center, takes his oath of office as a member of the University of the Philippines (UP) Board of Regents (BOR). The ceremony was witnessed by: UP President and BOR Co-chairperson Danilo L. Concepcion; PAUW-UP President Gaby Roldan-Concepcion; Secretary of the University and of the BOR Roberto MJ Lara; members of the Pagdanganan family; and, UP staff. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. Mr. Raul C. Pagdanganan, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cardinal Santos Medical Center, became the newest member of the University of the Philippines (UP) Board of Regents (BOR) on Wednesday, July 14, 2021. The oathtaking ceremony was held at the BOR Room in Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Witnessing the event were: UP President and BOR Co-chairperson Danilo L. Concepcion; Secretary of the University and of the BOR Roberto MJ Lara; Philippine Association of University Women (PAUW)-UP President Gaby Roldan-Concepcion; members of the Pagdanganan family; and, UP staff. In his message to UP, Pagdanganan said he considered it an honor to serve the University, his Alma Mater, and vowed to help shape policies and programs to sustain UP’s leadership role in knowledge creation and public service. He recalled his humble roots as a newspaper boy in Bulacan, who dreamt of becoming a doctor but instead finished business administration and accountancy at UP Diliman, and then worked alongside health personnel as an administrator of various hospitals. The UP BOR is the highest governing body in the UP System. |
https://up.edu.ph/regents-urge-defense-of-house-bill-institutionalizing-accord/ | Regents urge defense of House Bill institutionalizing Accord – University of the Philippines | Regents urge defense of House Bill institutionalizing Accord Regents urge defense of House Bill institutionalizing Accord November 5, 2021 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The University of the Philippines (UP) Board of Regents is urging members of the House of Representatives to declare as null and void the reconsideration of the approval on third reading of House Bill No. 10171, which would institutionalize the 1989 UP-Department of National Defense (UP-DND) Accord by amending Republic Act No. 9500 or the 2008 UP Charter. In its 1365th meeting held on November 4, 2021, the UP BOR, the highest governing body of the UP System, approved and adopted a Resolution commending the authors of the bill and the members of the House of Representatives “who heeded the calls of the UP community to defend academic freedom and who worked and fought for the approval of HB No. 10171”. The Resolution named Reps. Sarah Jane Elago, Isagani Zarate, France Castro, Ferdinand Gaite, Arlene Brosas, Eufemia Cullamat, and Jose Christopher Belmote, who moved to declare as null and void the reconsideration of the approval on the third reading of HB No. 10171, citing the reconsideration as a “violation of Section 106 of the Rules of the 18th Congress”. The UP BOR Resolution urgently calls on the Senate to undertake parallel efforts to approve the Senate version of the bill filed by Senator Joel Villanueva, which as of current time remains pending at the committee level. The Resolution also requests the DND and the DILG to continue to observe and enforce the principles, objectives and guidelines of the 1989 UP-DND Accord and the 1992 UP-DILG Accord “as an act of good faith in the light of the recent development in Congress seeking to enact them into law”. Read the UP BOR Resolution here. The UP-DND Accord was signed on June 30, 1989, between the University and the DND to recognize the Constitutional guarantee of academic freedom. The Accord prohibits any element of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies to enter or conduct any operations in any of the UP campuses without prior notification to, invitation from, and coordination with the University, except in hot pursuit or similar emergencies. In 1990, following the enactment of Republic Act. No. 6975 establishing the PNP, UP and the Department of Interior and Local Government also entered into a similar agreement, known as the 1992 UP-DILG Accord. The two agreements, both signed in good faith by all institutions involved, were meant to protect the University’s constituents from possible abuses by the military and police. In a letter to UP President Danilo L. Concepcion dated January 15, 2021, DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana unilaterally abrogated the 1989 UP-DND without prior notice to or consultations with UP. The move sparked waves of protest from members of the UP community, many of whom perceived it as a threat to academic freedom and freedom of expression within the University. House Bill No. 10171 was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives on its third reading on September 21, 2021, with 179 affirmative votes and no negative votes and abstention. The bill would amend Section 11 of the UP Charter to include Sub-Sections A-H. Sub-Section 11-A would require the PNP, AFP or any other law enforcement agency to give prior notification to University officials before conducting any activity within the campus. Sub-Section 11-B, on the other hand, would bar the entry of the PNP, AFP and other law enforcement agency personnel in all campuses except in cases of hot pursuit and similar emergencies. Other sub-sections would prohibit any interference by law enforcement agencies of peaceful protest actions within UP premises. Information about any UP student, faculty, or staff arrested anywhere in the country should promptly reach UP authorities. However, the House approved the motion to reconsider its third reading approval of the bill on September 30, 2021. Several representatives countered by moving to declare the reconsideration null and void. The University expressed its full support of this move, citing the unanimous approval on the third reading as the express recognition of the Filipino people that the provisions of the Accords are essential for UP to enjoy academic freedom as guaranteed by the Constitution and as the lifeblood of UP’s existence. |
https://up.edu.ph/college-of-medicine-alumnus-is-new-up-regent/ | College of Medicine alumnus is new UP Regent – University of the Philippines | College of Medicine alumnus is new UP Regent College of Medicine alumnus is new UP Regent March 14, 2022 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo University of the Philippines (UP) alumnus and renowned obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Gregorio Pastorfide has been appointed to the UP Board of Regents by President Rodrigo Duterte, replacing Dr. Maria Arlissa Aguiluz. UP President Danilo Concepcion administered Pastorfide’s oath of office on March 10 at the Executive House in UP Diliman. Dr. Gregorio Pastorfide takes his oath of office before UP President Concepcion as the newest member of the UP Board of Regents, with his wife, Dr. Georgina Pastorfide. Photo from the Facebook account of Atty. Gaby Roldan Concepcion. Considered a pioneer of in vitro fertilization or IVF in the Philippines, Pastorfide is a 1967 graduate of the UP College of Medicine (UPCM). He then underwent an internship at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Maryland. Afterward, he furthered his training at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. Completing his stint at Tufts in 1972, he went to Harvard Medical School as a teaching and research fellow. Moving back to the Philippines, he moved up the ranks at the UPCM—from instructor to clinical assistant professor, then associate professor, and eventually, full professor. He became chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1998 to 2001. Under his leadership, the unit received the 2000 UP Medical Foundation Silver Cup for Outstanding Clinical Science Department. He served the University for 33 years, from 1974 to 2007. Pastorfide, also President of The Foundation for Reproductive Care Inc. for the past 22 years, was a 2012 Distinguished Alumnus of the UP Medical Alumni Society (UPMAS). Dr. Gregorio Pastorfide (2nd from left) pose with UP President Concepcion (left), Dr. Georgina Pastorfide and Dr Napoleon Pilarta. Photo from the Facebook account of Atty. Gaby Roldan-Concepcion. |
https://up.edu.ph/bagong-faculty-regent-nanumpa/ | Bagong Faculty Regent nanumpa – University of the Philippines | Bagong Faculty Regent nanumpa Bagong Faculty Regent nanumpa January 4, 2023 | Written by Fred Dabu Panunumpa ni Katuwang na Propesor Carl Marc Ramota (sa kanan) bilang Faculty Regent ng UP. Photo ni Misael Bacani (UP MPRO) . Nanumpa si Katuwang na Propesor Carl Marc Ramota bilang ika-27 na Rehente ng Kaguruan o Faculty Regent ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (UP) sa seremonya ng panunumpa kaninang umaga, ika-4 ng Enero 2023, sa UP Board of Regents (BOR) Room sa Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Katuwang na Propesor ng Agham Pampulitika si Ramota. Siya ay magsisilbing kinatawan ng mahigit 4,000 kaguruan ng UP sa BOR o Lupon ng mga Rehente hanggang ika-31 ng Disyembre 2024. Bilang rehente, ang ilan sa kanyang mga layuning matupad sa loob ng dalawang taon ay: rebyuhin at repasuhin ang mga patakarang nakakaapekto sa empleyo at gawaing akademiko ng kaguruan, higit pang isulong ang well-being ng kaguruan, madagdagan ang mga benepisyo at pribilehiyo sa mga serbisyo at pasilidad ng UP, at matugunan ang mga suliranin sa empleyo tulad ng tenure at work overload. Nagsilbing pambansang pangulo ng All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) si Ramota noong 2017-2020 at pangulo ng tsapter ng AUPAEU sa UP Manila noong 2014-2017. Siya ay aktibo sa mga adbokasiya at pambansang organisasyong nagsusulong ng kapakanan ng mga guro at kawani sa sektor ng edukasyon, at ng karapatang pantao. Siya ay Convenor ng network na Akademya at Bayan Kontra Disimpormasyon at Dayaan (ABKD) mula 2021; fellow sa governance think tank na Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) mula 2011 hanggang sa kasalukuyan; board member ng Crispin B. Beltran Resource Center, isang labor think tank, mula 2012 hanggang sa kasalukuyan; at Chairperson ng Alliance of Concerned Teachers – State Universities and Colleges (ACT-SUC) mula 2014 hanggang 2021. Ang bagong Rehente ng Kaguruan ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (naka-puti sa gitna) kasama ang mga kasapi ng All UP Academic Employees Union. Photo ni Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). Si Ramota ay naging Chairperson ng Department of Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), UP Manila noong 2010-2013, at coordinator ng programa nito sa Political Science mula 2008-2014. Inaanyayahan ni Ramota ang kaguruan na maging aktibo sa paggawa ng mga desisyon at sa mga kampanya sa pangangalaga ng kalayaang akademiko at sibil sa loob at labas ng pamantasan. |
https://up.edu.ph/on-the-interim-appointment-of-the-oasd-director/ | On the Interim Appointment of the OASD Director – University of the Philippines | On the Interim Appointment of the OASD Director On the Interim Appointment of the OASD Director March 1, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office There have recently been reports that outgoing UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo has appointed CHK Dean Francis Diaz as interim Office for Athletics and Sports Development (OASD) Director. In light of this, Vice President for Legal Affairs Abraham Rey M. Acosta stresses that Executive Order No. 15-02 establishing the OASD explicitly states that while it is the Chancellor who recommends the Director of the OASD, it is the President who approves and appoints the same. As of today, no recommendation has been forwarded to the Office of the President by the Office of the Diliman Chancellor. The VP for Legal Affairs acknowledges that though the Office of the Director of OASD has remained vacant throughout the term of Chancellor Nemenzo, the recommendation for the appointment of the OASD Director should be left to the next Chancellor, who will be elected by the Board of Regents on 27 April 2023, given that: (1) the recommendation is being made by Chancellor Nemenzo, whose term ends on 1 March 2023 and is on holdover capacity only until 2 March 2023; and (2) the term “interim” to characterize the Directorship of OASD is not in accordance with current legal processes in the appointment of UP personnel, and the use of interim appointments is reserved to appointments that require Board of Regents approval. In the meantime, the University will continue to work with the varsity teams and various support groups to address the concerns and needs of our athletes. Prof. Jose Wendell P. Capili Vice President for Public Affairs To view the memorandum from the Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs, please click here. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-bor-releases-official-list-of-candidates-for-next-up-president/ | UP BOR releases official list of candidates for next UP President – University of the Philippines | UP BOR releases official list of candidates for next UP President UP BOR releases official list of candidates for next UP President October 20, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office At a special meeting held on 19 October 2022, the Board of Regents (BOR) of the University of the Philippines (UP) approved the nominations of six official candidates for the position of next UP President after conducting preliminary screening and evaluation of the nominees based on the minimum requirements previously announced. The six official candidates for the next UP President, who will succeed UP President Danilo Concepcion, are: 1. Dr. Patrick Alain T. Azanza 2. Atty. Salvador B. Belaro, Jr. 3. Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez 4. Dr. Fidel R. Nemenzo 5. Dr. Benito M. Pacheco 6. Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. A public forum will be held on 11 November 2022, Friday, 1:00 p.m., where all six UP presidential candidates will present their plans and programs and respond to questions from the UP constituency. The public forum will be held at Cine Adarna, UP Diliman, and will be live-streamed to all constituent units. Further details of the mechanics of the public forum shall follow. Read the official memorandum from the UP Office of the Secretary of the University and the BOR here. |
https://up.edu.ph/beloved-writer-and-professor-butch-dalisay-retires-after-35-years-of-service/ | Beloved writer and professor Butch Dalisay retires after 35 years of service – University of the Philippines | Beloved writer and professor Butch Dalisay retires after 35 years of service Beloved writer and professor Butch Dalisay retires after 35 years of service January 22, 2019 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo “Keep the liberal spirit alive, maintain harmony between all branches of our University administration, and take care of the UP Institute of Creative Writing (ICW).” These were Dr. Jose “Butch” Yap Dalisay Jr.’s requests as he retired from the University on January 15 after 35 years of service. He was a Literature and Creative Writing professor and former chairperson at the UP Diliman Department of English and Comparative Literature and Vice President for Public Affairs. “UP is unique and in some ways immutable. The University is bigger than any one or even all of us. It has a life and an integrity of its own. We need to keep fighting for a UP truly worthy of its founders’ dreams—a UP governed by merit rather than by patronage, and led by men and women of impeccable intelligence, ability, and most of all, integrity.” -Dr. Jose “Butch” Y. Dalisay Jr. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The UP System administration led by President Danilo Concepcion hosted a retirement dinner in Dalisay’s honor at the Executive House on his last day in UP, where he was celebrated by family, friends, and colleagues. Dalisay spent 45 years in government service, having worked at the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) for ten years prior to UP. “I started as a writer at age 19, fresh out of martial law prison and a college dropout with no more than 21 freshman units to my name,” he said. During the course of his stint at NEDA, he was readmitted to UP and became a working student. He later left the agency to finish his AB. Thus began his 35-year career in academe. Dr. Gerardo Sicat (left), whom Dalisay says “took a chance on him” by hiring him at NEDA. When Sicat left NEDA, he gave Dalisay a typewriter as a parting gift and asked him to pick ten books from his personal library. He reveals with a laugh that Dalisay picked his favorites. Dr. Judy Celine Ick (right) met Dalisay in French class when he had returned to his studies in UP Diliman. The classmates became friends and later, colleagues at the DECL. “In the days before computers, when Butch used to type out his stories, I was always a recipient of a signed carbon copy.” (Photos by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Dr. Lily Rose Tope (left), DECL chair, says Dalisay’s “deep baritone was like the voice of god” that immediately restored calm during heated discussions in department meetings when he was chair. Dr. Ma. Cynthia Rose Bautista (right), VP for Academic Affairs, reveals that Dalisay, being the techie that he is, set up a Viber group for the UP System officials. (Photos by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) In his speech at the retirement dinner, Dalisay said that apart from being trusted with administrative positions—department chair, ICW director, and Vice President twice (his first during the presidency of Dr. Francisco Nemenzo)—”the greatest honor” he received was the approval of the One UP-Jose Y. Dalisay Jr. Professorial Chair in Creative Writing., which he considers “an honor I did not have to die first or even retire first to see. That chair, under its present terms, will be good for another 30 years, and it will survive me long after I am gone.” UP President Danilo Concepcion reads Dalisay’s citation. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) UP Executive VP Teodoro Herbosa leads the toast to Dalisay. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Dalisay was given a citation that evening which recognized him for the following: For his able leadership and distinguished service as the U.P. System’s Vice President for Public Affairs (OVPPA) from 1 May 2003 until 9 February 2005, and 10 February 2017 until 15 January 2019; For his valuable and meaningful contribution as member of the President’s Advisory Council (PAC) and the U.P. System Executive Committee; For performing his role as a dynamic and effective spokesperson of the University in the mass media and online platforms, giving light to and providing accurate perspectives on timely and relevant University issues; For successfully initiating and implementing OVPPA milestone initiatives that contributed to U.P.’s visibility and character as the country’s national university, among them: Transforming the U.P. System Information Office (SIO) into the UP Media and Public Relations Office (MPRO); Reviving, repackaging, and consistently disseminating (online and in print) the U.P. Carillon Magazine; Helping raise the awareness of the Filipino people on various nationwide issues by co-hosting public fora, like the U.P.-CNN senatorial forum, Akademyang Filipino, the 2nd Colleges and Universities Public Service Conference (CUPSCon 2); Providing management and logistical support to various U.P. System initiatives, such as U.P. DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) free public concerts in U.P. Diliman, and the recognition of eight public service programs of the University as recipients of the GAWAD PANGULO FOR EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE; Pioneering THE WRITESHOP to improve skills of University personnel in producing journal articles based on U.P.’s public service programs; Managing U.P.’s internal and external communication systems and enhancing its viability, through the maintenance of the U.P. System website and social media accounts, thereby linking the Constituent Universities together, ensuring the University’s visibility and accessible to a larger community, and enlightening a wide spectrum of stakeholders about the University’s major undertakings. For being the consummate Penman, the multi-awarded author of literary works in fiction, poetry, drama, nonfiction, and screenwriting; For having written and published close to 30 books of his stories, plays, and essays, and having six of these receiving the National Book Award from the Manila Critics Circle and more than 20 screenplays produced; For having won 16 Palanca Awards in Short Story in English, Novel in English, Full-length Play in Filipino, Essay in English, Poetry in English, One-act Play, thereby being elevated to the Palanca Hall of Fame in 2000; For garnering five Cultural Center of the Philippines awards for playwriting, and Famas, Urian, Star and Catholic Film awards and citations for his screenplays; For being awarded Premio Cervara di Roma in Italy for his literary achievements; For his bold literary eloquence that has made his writings on the topics of science, economics, and politics understandable and pleasurable to the layman; For his mentoring a generation of writers as a full professor and Chair of the U.P. English Department, as Fellow and former Director of the UP Institute of Creative Writing; and, Overall, for his exemplary service to the University of the Philippines, embodying honor and excellence in his roles as professor, artist, and administrator. |
https://up.edu.ph/upaa-hosts-forum-on-federalism/ | UPAA hosts forum on federalism – University of the Philippines | UPAA hosts forum on federalism UPAA hosts forum on federalism May 10, 2017 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) hosted the “Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP”, a regular public forum for nationally relevant issues, on April 18 at the Ang Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman, Quezon City. Resource speakers discussed the pros and cons of having to shift the Philippines form of government to federalism. In his presentation, “Establishing a Stronger, and a More Efficient, Effective, Responsive, and Accountable Philippine Democracy”, Dr. Jose V. Abueva, President of Kalayaan College and former UP President, discussed the need for system change. Abueva favored a shift to a unitary and parliamentary form of government to resolve the country’s decades-long problems arising from the current system which he said constitutes a weak nation and an unconsolidated democracy. Counterarguments to the Duterte administration’s proposed shift to federalism, on the other hand, were given by Hon. Vicente V. Mendoza, retired Supreme Court Justice. His presentation supported more decentralization and local autonomy in government as he cautions against federalism and Constitutional amendments. According to Mendoza, federalism will intensify regionalism, create new problems, and lead to fragmentation. He explained that more decentralization and local autonomy in government, not federalism, can help resolve the issues posed by those who are pushing for federalism; and that the desired developments can be attained without changing the form of government. Atty. Ramon M. Maronilla, UPAA president; Atty. Reynaldo C. Laserna, UPAA 2nd vice president; Atty. Domingo C. Palarca, UPAA director; Atty. Oscar P. Palabyab, UPAA 1st vice president; and Atty. Pastor Marcelo M. Reyes, Jr., UPAA Public Issues Committee chair, facilitated the forum. Additional photos of the event can be viewed by clicking here. |
https://up.edu.ph/covid-19-and-iei-how-do-we-test-and-treat-it/ | COVID-19 and IEI: How do we test and treat it? – University of the Philippines | COVID-19 and IEI: How do we test and treat it? COVID-19 and IEI: How do we test and treat it? September 21, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor COVID-19 can have severe effects on people with immunity problems. They are part of the group of immunocompromised individuals who must be vaccinated and provided with additional protection, even more than the general population. There are more than 400 types of immunodeficiencies that have been identified. Some people have inborn immunity errors (IEI), while other immunodeficiencies manifest later in life. Recent studies in the Philippines show that there seem to be more cases of IEI among children, so it is important to keep a close watch on children, particularly those with severe COVID-19 symptoms. This Friday, September 23, from 12nn to 2 pm, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), would like to invite you to join the fight against COVID—current COVID-19 problems, other outbreaks, viruses, infections, and disasters. This week’s episode of the “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar series is entitled “Problema sa Immune System: COVID-19 and Inborn Errors of Immunity.” We will take a closer look at IEI to understand how to identify these patients and provide a proper referral to specialists who can help manage them, particularly if they acquire COVID-19. We will find out how IEEI can be tested and treated. We will also talk about family history and the genetic predisposition for acquiring these conditions, as well as pregnancy, cancers, and other diseases that could be affected by IEI. The main presenter is the leading pediatrician in IEI, Dr. Fatima Johanna T. Santos. She is the Head of the Immunology Council of the Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (PSAAI) and the Advisor of the Philippine Organization of Patients with Primary Immunodeficiency (PHILPOPI). Two IEI patients will also talk about their experiences: Harris Baraguir and Katrina Villareal, both members of PHILPOPI. The synthesis and closing remarks will be delivered by Dr. Stella Marie L. Jose, Deputy Director for Health Operations at UP PGH. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter account, TVUP’s YouTube channel, and Facebook page. The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community. |
https://up.edu.ph/what-we-should-know-about-covid-and-children-with-cancer/ | What we should know about COVID and children with cancer – University of the Philippines | What we should know about COVID and children with cancer What we should know about COVID and children with cancer September 29, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 4,700 new childhood cancer cases in the Philippines annually. Forty percent of these cases are leukemia—a treatable condition, especially during early diagnosis and with consistent chemotherapy. Unfortunately, 1,700 children still die from leukemia each year in our country. Compounding this are unseen impacts of COVID-19 on children’s health, especially those immunocompromised, such as children with cancer and undergoing treatment. What happened to all the children with cancer during the pandemic? How have the lockdowns affected transport and accessibility of care? How are we doing with the vaccination of these immunocompromised children? This Friday, September 30, from 12nn to 2 pm, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), invite you to join the fight against C.O.V.I.D—current COVID-19 problems, other outbreaks, viruses, infections, and disasters. In this “Stop C.O.V.I.D. Deaths” webinar titled, “Children with Cancer and COVID-19”, we will focus on an important group of immunocompromised children and tackle everything there is to know about it, from the latest statistics to prevention and treatment, and how this also relates to COVID. The main speaker will be Dr. Mae Dolendo, Head of the Children’s Cancer Unit at the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City. She is the leading expert on pediatric oncology, recognized internationally for her advocacy work. The panel will also feature Ms. Shalom Rea Bernales from the award-winning Kythe Foundation Inc., one of the pioneering programs for children with cancer that started as a volunteer organization from Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU). She will talk about the countless volunteers who have made life a little easier for these children and their families. Dr. Stella Marie Jose, Deputy Director for Health Operations at the UP-PGH, will deliver the synthesis and closing remarks. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter account, TVUP’s YouTube channel, and Facebook page. See you on Friday! The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community. |
https://up.edu.ph/increasing-liver-disease-cases-why-should-we-care/ | Increasing liver disease cases: Why should we care? – University of the Philippines | Increasing liver disease cases: Why should we care? Increasing liver disease cases: Why should we care? October 5, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor Experts have noticed an increasing number of individuals with asymptomatic liver disease and abnormal liver profile tests. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can remain benign but also progress to severe conditions like cirrhosis and liver failure. Some of the risk factors and co-morbidities of COVID-19 include the linkage of NAFLD with obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia-metabolic syndrome. It is estimated that as many as one of three Filipinos could have fatty liver. But what mainly causes liver disease, and can it be prevented? How can one manage it and reduce the risk of becoming a more serious disease? When should a general practitioner refer patients with abnormal liver profiles to specialists? This Friday, October 7, from 12nn to 2 pm, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), invites you to join the fight against C.O.V.I.D—current COVID-19 problems, other outbreaks, viruses, infections, and disasters. In this episode of the “Stop C.O.V.I.D. Deaths” webinar, “FATTY LIVER: Why Should I Care?”, we will zero in on livers and how we can keep our livers healthy and save lives. Dr. Janus P. Ong, Head of the Liver Research Program at UP-NIH and Hepatologist-Gastroenterologist at the UP-PGH, will give you the latest information on the topic inside and outside the country. Meanwhile, Dr. Elizabeth Paz-Pacheco, a consultant with the UP-PGH Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, will also share her perspectives in line with her work. Dr. Stella Marie Jose, Deputy Director for Health Operations at UP-PGH, will deliver the synthesis and closing remarks. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter account, TVUP’s YouTube channel, and Facebook page. The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-sets-its-sights-on-visual-impairment-problems/ | UP webinar sets its sights on visual impairment problems – University of the Philippines | UP webinar sets its sights on visual impairment problems UP webinar sets its sights on visual impairment problems October 13, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have near or distant vision impairment. In half of these cases, vision impairment could have been prevented. Myopia, or near-sightedness, is the most common ocular disorder worldwide. It is also the leading cause of visual impairment in children. Its incidence has increased rapidly and has become a major public health concern in many East Asian countries. In the Philippines, the national average of cases is about 10% but can go as high as 30% in more disadvantaged urban areas. Why are myopia cases increasing? What are the possible signs and symptoms of visual acuity problems? Did the COVID-19 pandemic and its multiple lockdowns affect the population’s quality of vision? This Friday, October 14, from 12nn to 2 pm, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), invite you to join the fight against C.O.V.I.D—current COVID-19 problems, other outbreaks, viruses, infections, and disasters. This episode of the “Stop C.O.V.I.D. Deaths” webinar series, titled “Ilang taon dapat magpacheck-up ng mata ang isang bata?” will talk about the role of both genetics and environment in the development of possible visual impairment problems. The main presenter is Dr. Leo Cubillian, Director of the Philippine Eye Research Institute, UP-NIH. The latter will walk the audience through an important project to start early visual acuity studies. Dr. Lorna Abad, Immediate Past Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the UP-PGH, and Gypsy Love Edullantes, Kindergarten Teacher III with the Department of Education Region VII, will also share their perspectives. The synthesis and closing remarks will be delivered by UP-PGH Coordinator for Training, Dr. Dionne Sacdalan. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter account, TVUP’s YouTube channel, and Facebook page. The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-drives-up-on-road-safety-traffic-education/ | UP webinar drives up on road safety, traffic education – University of the Philippines | UP webinar drives up on road safety, traffic education UP webinar drives up on road safety, traffic education October 20, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor The World Health Organization (WHO) reports road traffic injuries as the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29. Approximately 1.3 million people die each year because of road traffic crashes. Over half of all these road traffic deaths are among vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Nearly 30% of all road crash deaths involve powered two- and three-wheeled vehicles. This type of accident is something that we should focus on, especially in a country where motorcycles and tricycles are the main modes of transportation. With this, we ask, “How safe are motorcyclists in the Philippines?” This Friday, October 21, from 12nn to 2 pm, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), invite you to join the fight against C.O.V.I.D—current COVID-19 problems, other outbreaks, viruses, infections, and disasters. In this episode of the “Stop C.O.V.I.D. Deaths” webinar series, titled “NAGMOMOTOR: LIGTAS KA BA?”, experts will discuss Philippine traffic safety and WHO’s “Powered two- and three-wheeler safety: a road safety manual for decision-makers and practitioners.” Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa, Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at UP-PGH, will also share local data on motorcycle crashes based on reports from Philippine hospitals. Dr. John Juliard L. Go, National Professional Officer of WHO-Philippines, will talk about the work of WHO in supporting countries in making roads safer. Mr. Antonio Pagulayan, Officer-in-Charge of the Traffic Education Division of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), will discuss challenges and solutions for road safety. UP-PGH Coordination for Training, Dr. Dionne Sacdalan, will deliver the synthesis and closing remarks. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter account, TVUP’s YouTube channel, and Facebook page. The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community. |
https://up.edu.ph/new-covid-subvariants-loom-over-the-holiday-season/ | New COVID subvariants loom over the holiday season – University of the Philippines | New COVID subvariants loom over the holiday season New COVID subvariants loom over the holiday season November 3, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor As the holiday season approaches, it is expected that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country will once again spike. Omicron continues to be the dominant variant, and unfortunately, new subvariants have cropped up anew: XBB, which is a recombinant of BJ.1 (of the BA2.10.1 sublineage) and BM.1.1.1 (of the BA.2.75 sublineage); and BQ.1.1, a descendant of the BA.5 subvariant of Omicron. There are a little over four million COVID-19 cases in the Philippines. Currently, the proportion of individuals testing positive for COVID-19, at least in Metro Manila and several provinces, has decreased to ten percent. In contrast, rates in Isabela, Benguet, Cebu, and Negros Occidental have increased. These new subvariants, associated with significant immune escape and antibody evasion, may cause breakthrough infections. Hospital cases are now being closely monitored in case of another COVID surge. What are the main characteristics of these new Omicron subvariants? How can the country prevent another surge, especially with the holidays? What are the country’s latest updates on vaccination and infection regarding COVID-19? This Friday, November 4, from 12nn to 2 pm, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), would like to invite you to join the fight against C.O.V.I.D—current COVID-19 problems, other outbreaks, viruses, infections, and disasters. In this new episode of the “Stop C.O.V.I.D. Deaths” webinar series, titled “BAGO NA NAMAN? XBB and BQ.1., Alamin!”, familiar faces will be explaining these new subvariants and how everyone can further protect themselves from the virus. Dr. Franco Felizarta, an infectious disease specialist, based in California, will provide everything we need to know about the variant based on current scientific studies. Dr. Anna Ong-Lim, pediatric infectious diseases specialist from UP-PGH, will share additional information on what we can do to protect ourselves vis-à-vis the new policies that have been issued in recent weeks. Dr. Stella Marie Jose, Deputy Director for Health Operations at UP-PGH, will deliver the synthesis and closing remarks. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter account, TVUP’s YouTube channel, and Facebook page. The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community. |
https://up.edu.ph/working-with-covid-lessons-on-workplace-safety-amid-the-pandemic/ | Working with COVID: Lessons on workplace safety amid the pandemic – University of the Philippines | Working with COVID: Lessons on workplace safety amid the pandemic Working with COVID: Lessons on workplace safety amid the pandemic November 16, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor The past two and a half years have been a rollercoaster ride of trials and errors in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the harder obstacles that had to be dealt with was how to keep the workforce afloat while protecting employees not only at work but even as they go home to their loved ones. How can employers from all industries make their spaces safer for their employees? What will sectors and the workforce look like in the near future? This Friday, November 18, from 12nn to 2 pm, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), would invite you to join the fight against C.O.V.I.D—current COVID-19 problems, other outbreaks, viruses, infections, and disasters. This new episode of UP’s “Stop C.O.V.I.D. Deaths” webinar series—is titled “MAY LIWANAG BA ANG BUKAS PARA SA MGA HEALTH WORKERS? Lessons Gained from the Pandemic” —will take a closer look at occupational health and how workplaces have adapted to the pandemic. Dr. Joselito Gapas, Head of Occupational Health at First Philippine Holdings Corporation and the Lopez Group of Companies, will talk about workplace preparedness and response to the pandemic from the private sector’s perspective. He will also talk about health facilities as a workplace and what opportunities health workers have to take further control over their lives, especially during peaks of disease transmission in this pandemic. Veteran journalist Roby Alampay will also share his perspective as a start-up business manager and journalist covering the business beat. The synthesis and closing remarks will be delivered by Dr. Stella Marie L. Jose, Deputy Director for Health Operations at UP-PGH. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter account, TVUP’s YouTube channel, and Facebook page. The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community. |
https://up.edu.ph/to-mask-or-not-to-mask-the-up-webinar-takes-on-the-question-of-voluntary-masking/ | To mask or not to mask: The UP webinar takes on the question of voluntary masking – University of the Philippines | To mask or not to mask: The UP webinar takes on the question of voluntary masking To mask or not to mask: The UP webinar takes on the question of voluntary masking November 9, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor The COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet. As long as people are getting infected, there is a chance that the virus will keep mutating. However, we have come a long way from how things started in 2020. Vaccination, testing, and various treatments have helped us get back to a semblance of normalcy and, most importantly, have decreased the rates of severe infection, hospitalization, and death. With these developments, some countries, including the Philippines, have shifted to voluntary masking outdoors. Voluntary masking outdoors received mixed reactions and prompted discussions on whether the country is ready for such. This Friday, we take that discussion further and back up various claims with science. What do we know about the new subvariants, and how do we prevent their spread? Is one type of mask more beneficial than the other? What are the likely scenarios regarding voluntary masking in the Philippines? This Friday, November 11, from noon to 2 pm, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), would like to invite you to join the fight against C.O.V.I.D—current COVID-19 problems, other outbreaks, viruses, infections, and disasters. This next episode of the “Stop C.O.V.I.D. Deaths” webinar series, titled “TO MASK OR NOT TO MASK,” will try to answer the questions above. Dr. Marissa M. Alejandria, Immediate Past President of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Disease and Chair of the UP Clinical Epidemiology Unit, will discuss the basic principles to keep in mind to stay protected when masking. Dr. Ralph Elvi Villalobos, leading pulmonologist of UP-PGH, and Dr. Anna Lisa T. Ong-Lim, pediatric infectious diseases specialist, will also share their views on vulnerable groups and risky behaviors in public. The synthesis and closing remarks will be delivered by Dr. Stella Marie L. Jose, Deputy Director for Health Operations at UP-PGH. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter account, TVUP’s YouTube channel, and Facebook page. The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community. |
https://up.edu.ph/its-okay-to-not-feel-okay-a-webinar-on-mental-health-amid-covid/ | It’s okay to not feel okay: A webinar on mental health amid COVID – University of the Philippines | It’s okay to not feel okay: A webinar on mental health amid COVID It’s okay to not feel okay: A webinar on mental health amid COVID November 23, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor The COVID-19 pandemic’s most far-reaching impact is its huge toll on people’s mental health. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 23 to 46 percent of healthcare workers experience anxiety symptoms, while 20 to 37 percent have depression. Burnout has also reportedly spiked among the population, even more so heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Control methods for COVID have become increasingly definitive and reliable, and the same focus should be directed toward the parallel pandemic of mental health problems. As WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in his foreword to the WHO World Mental Health Report for 2022: “Ultimately, there is no health without mental health.” Kumusta? How have you been feeling during this pandemic? Are you harboring negative thoughts or an inability to see the future? Are you often irritable and agitated? This Friday, November 25, from 12nn to 2 pm, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), would like to invite you to join the fight against C.O.V.I.D—current COVID-19 problems, other outbreaks, viruses, infections, and disasters. This episode of UP’s “Stop C.O.V.I.D. Deaths” webinar series, titled “PARA! GUSTO KO BUMABA! It’s Okay not to feel Okay,” will tackle stress, mental health, and well-being of students, doctors, nurses, and health professionals. Dr. Josefina Ly-Uson, Associate Professor of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the UP-PGH, will discuss the Wellness Program of UP-PGH and the College of Medicine. Meanwhile, Dr. Noel D.J. Atienza, the Dean of the College of Medicine at San Beda University, will share their university’s efforts toward protecting and promoting mental health. Dr. Teresita Cadiz-Brion, former Dean of the College of Public Health at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), will also share the PLM’s experience. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter account, TVUP’s YouTube channel, and Facebook page. The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-announces-grading-policy-for-the-rest-of-ay-2021-2022-and-midyear-2022/ | UP announces grading policy for the rest of AY 2021-2022 and Midyear 2022 – University of the Philippines | UP announces grading policy for the rest of AY 2021-2022 and Midyear 2022 UP announces grading policy for the rest of AY 2021-2022 and Midyear 2022 May 5, 2022 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo The Quezon Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman. UP MPRO file photo. On April 29, the University of the Philippines Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (UP OVPAA) issued Memorandum No. 2022-09B, “Grading Policy Related to Remote Teaching and Learning Implemented for the Second Semester/Trimester, Third Trimester AY 2021-2022, and Midyear 2022”. What remains enforced: the no-fail policy, no grade of 4 or 5, and giving a grade of DRP to a student whose class standing is “failing” or whose class performance is unsatisfactory, and that DRP will be annotated with “due to COVID-19 pandemic”. The no-fail policy does not apply to cases where the student is guilty of intellectual dishonesty. Specific scenarios for getting DRP include those who never participated in class nor communicated with the course instructor, with incomplete requirements and “failing” standing, with incomplete requirements but still “failing” even after getting a perfect score in their lacking requirement, and with complete requirements yet “failing” class standing. “Faculty members are urged to exercise utmost prudence in using the DROP option for students in difficult circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic or the devastating typhoons, who, in their judgment, are nevertheless striving to meet academic requirements,” according to the UP OVPAA memo. What has changed: rules on INC will now be strictly applied. Who will receive INC marks? Those whose class standing is “passing” but have not completed the course requirements. If they cannot meet the condition within the prescribed one-year period, the INC will remain and be annotated with “due to COVID-19 pandemic”. If the student retakes the course instead of completing the requirement but later decides to just complete the course requirements, then the student should first drop the re-enrolled course before completing the course requirements where they got an INC. Those with “passing” class standing and who have completed the course requirements shall receive a final numerical grade. Students enrolled in courses that require in-person activities for course completion, such as laboratory, thesis, or dissertation, will have their grades deferred, following OVPAA Memo No. 2021-19A. When these courses have been allowed to conduct limited face-to-face sessions or alternatives as provided by OVPAA Memo 2021-5, the student may be given a grade at the end of the term. The OVPAA memo also states that students’ grades in the second semester/trimester, third trimester AY 2021-2022, and midyear 2022 will be part of the general weighted average or GWA computation. |
https://up.edu.ph/off-frame-a-k-a-revolution-until-victory/ | Off Frame a.k.a. Revolution Until Victory – University of the Philippines | Off Frame a.k.a. Revolution Until Victory Off Frame a.k.a. Revolution Until Victory October 18, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines (UP) Film Institute will be screening Off Frame AKA Revolution Until Victory (2016) by Mohanad Yaqubi on Tuesday, October 24, and Thursday, October 26, 5PM, at the Cine Adarna, UP Diliman, Quezon City. This is part of the UPFI Film Center’s mandate to address the university constituency’s educational needs relating to film and moving images. Programmed by Associate Professor Patrick F. Campos, the film is hoped to offer a broad historical context and provide a point of reflection and discussion for current conflict in the Middle East. SYNOPSIS Showcasing an unprecedented depth of research and access, Off Frame AKA Revolution Until Victory is a unique historical portrait in the Third Cinema tradition of “imperfect films” of the Palestinian people’s struggle to produce their own image from the 1960s to the 1980s. Using material long hidden in archives across the globe, this hybrid archival documentary reaches back through the modern history of Palestine and reverses the colonial angle with a mosaic of struggle from the perspective of the colonized. DIRECTOR’S BIO Mohanad Yaqubi is a filmmaker, producer, and co-founder of the Ramallah-based production Idioms Film and the curatorial collective Subversive Films, which focuses on militant film practices. Off Frame AKA Revolution Until Victory (2016) premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. His latest, R21 AKA Restoring Solidarity (2022), features archival films of the Palestinian struggle deposited in Japan which he helped restore, and is currently being shown in international venues and film festivals. TRAILER: Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration starts at 4PM. |
https://up.edu.ph/what-is-up-mail/ | What is UP Mail? – University of the Philippines | What is UP Mail? What is UP Mail? November 22, 2019 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The UP Mail (@up.edu.ph) is an email service available to all currently enrolled UP students and employed faculty and staff (whether regular, contractual or ICS (Individual Contract of Service), and offices in partnership with Google. Is the @UP Mail different from the@upd, @upm, @uplb, etc.? Each constituent university has its own webmail service for employees and students. This email service is maintained by each CU’s respective Computer Center or IT office and it is free to maintain such service depending on its mandate. UP Mail is different from these emails in such a way that it is used as the official access to the Core Information Systems, with simplified domain name (@up.edu.ph) and standard to all CUs. Perks of Using UP Mail Greater file storage and file sharing capability – Unlimited file storage for Google Drive Professionalism and Institutional Identity – UP Mail is recommended for submission of papers to local and international conferences and sending invitation for UP events Collaboration Tools No Advertisement – stricter spam filter Mobility – UP Mail account can be used across all UP campuses Get your UP Mail account now. Visit itdc.up.edu.ph/uis/the-up-mail. |
https://up.edu.ph/true-false-or-maybe-facts-on-covid-19-prevention-and-treatment/ | True, false, or maybe? Facts on COVID-19 prevention and treatment – University of the Philippines | True, false, or maybe? Facts on COVID-19 prevention and treatment True, false, or maybe? Facts on COVID-19 prevention and treatment April 14, 2021 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, more and more pieces of information on the prevention and treatment of this new disease continue to circulate. From the scientific to the anecdotal to the downright absurd, there seems to be too much to sift through. Misinformation and disinformation spreads just as fast, perhaps even faster, than scientific and expert data. It is a race between fact and unverified information driven by the fallacy of argumentum ad populum: if many believe it, it must be true. And at a time when fear, doubt, and uncertainty can overwhelm sound judgment, there are those who will cling to anything that gives a semblance of hope to survive. The 48th episode of the University of the Philippines’ (UP) “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar series, “Facts and Fiction on COVID-19 Prevention and Treatments,” will address the confusion on drug therapies for COVID-19; discuss the dangers of self-medication, self-formulation, and buying and ingesting unregistered products; and explain how health professionals rank and weigh evidence before dispensing medical advice and making recommendations. Speakers are Dr. Marissa Alejandria, President of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and Professor for Clinical Epidemiology; Dr. Joseph Adrian Bunesalido, Clinical Associate Professor for Infectious Disease of the UP Philippine General Hospital (UP PGH); Dr. Nina Castillo-Carandang, Professor of the Department of Clinical Epidemiology at the UP College of Medicine; Dr. Jason Ligot, Director for Development Communication with Organic Intelligence; and Dr. Beverly Ho, Director of the Health and Communication Service of the Department of Health (DOG). The event will be on April 16, 12:00 noon, via Zoom. It will also be streamed live in TVUP’s YouTube channel. Register here: bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar48 |
https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-to-tackle-medical-teaching-simulation-in-new-normal/ | UP webinar to tackle medical teaching, simulation in new normal – University of the Philippines | UP webinar to tackle medical teaching, simulation in new normal UP webinar to tackle medical teaching, simulation in new normal October 27, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor The COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone to consider other ways of gaining knowledge and acquiring skills, especially in medicine. While many things came to a halt in the ‘new normal,’ health faculties continuously tried to find innovative ways to prepare the next generation of doctors, nurses, and other medical practitioners. These past two years have shown simulation as a valuable teaching tool that increases skills and knowledge acquisition in all aspects of medical training. Not only is it effective, but it also offers a realistic approach to practicing such skills without causing harm to a living patient. Most importantly, it keeps students and residents safe in their learning environments. Despite that, many are still wary, can skills training be effective not only in competency-based education but also in outcome-based care? How important is mentoring during simulation? How can simulation be effectively used to ensure that we have enough health workers for the most vulnerable? Tomorrow, October 28, from 12nn to 2 pm, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), would like to invite you to join the fight against C.O.V.I.D—current COVID-19 problems, other outbreaks, viruses, infections, and disasters. This episode of the “Stop C.O.V.I.D. Deaths” webinar series titled “SKILLS TRAINING: How effective is a simulation in OB-GYN?” UP-PGH’s Dr. Stella Marie L. Jose will share a simulation of the teaching-learning of Obstetrics and Gynecology in a tertiary hospital during the pandemic. Other panelists will also share their own experiences: Dr. Erlyn A. Sana, Professor at UP Manila National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions; Dr. Noel D. Atienza, Dean of San Beda University College of Medicine; and Dr. Teresita Cadiz-Brion, an OB-GYN and former Dean of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila College of Public Health. UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita D. Padilla will deliver the synthesis and closing remarks. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter Account, TVUP’s YouTube channel, and Facebook page. See you on Friday! The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community. |
https://up.edu.ph/lively-up-korean-relations-reported-in-up-meeting-with-ambassador/ | Lively UP-Korean relations reported in UP meeting with ambassador – University of the Philippines | Lively UP-Korean relations reported in UP meeting with ambassador Lively UP-Korean relations reported in UP meeting with ambassador March 19, 2019 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Ambassador Han Dong-Man (fifth from right) and the Embassy’s First Secretary Song Areum (fifth from left) are joined by (from left) Asian Center Dean Joefe Santarita, Virata School of Business Prof. Dani Rose Salazar, Korea Research Center (UP-KRC) OIC Director Aldrin Lee, Vice President for Finance Jose Florendo, UP Diliman Extension Program in Pampanga Director Grace Gorospe-Jamon, National College of Public Administration Dean Fe Villamejor-Mendoza, Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa, Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Gil Jacinto, and UP-KRC Associate Kyungmin Bae on the Quezon Hall bridgeway. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO Active relations between the University of the Philippines (UP) and Korea were highlighted during the first lecture and meeting with top UP officials of Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-Man. Both events took place in UP Diliman on March 18, 2019. UP through its Korea Research Center (UP-KRC) invited Han for the first UP-KRC public lecture for 2019 and a “courtesy meeting” with UP officials to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Philippine-Korean bilateral relations, which were formally forged on March 3, 1949 when the Philippines became the fifth country to recognize the Republic of Korea. Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-Man talks about his government’s vision for peace in the Korean peninsula. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO As the ambassador gave a lecture on Korean reunification and enhancing the growing economic, cultural, and people-to-people relations with the Philippines, UP officials who welcomed him enumerated the relations the University already has with Korea. Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs for Internationalization and Director of the UP System Office of International Linkages Gil Jacinto mentioned: the three-year operations of the UP-KRC; UP’s membership in the Korean Studies Association of Southeast Asia (KoSASA); its 2016 hosting of the KoSASA biennial conference; UP’s pioneering of Korean undergraduate classes; and, its academic exchange with 36 Korean universities. Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-Man shares the table with Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Gil Jacinto, Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia, UP Korea Research Center OIC Director Aldrin Lee, and the lecture’s master of ceremonies Dani Rose Salazar of the Virata School of Business, as UP cadets prepare the entrance of colors. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO Jacinto reported that South Korea is the second top destination for student exchange for UP, consisting of 123 undergraduate students in 2017-2018 and 14 faculty members currently taking up graduate studies there. Dean Ma. Fe Villamejor-Mendoza of the UP National College for Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG), the host institution of the lecture, spoke of the College’s co-membership with Korean counterparts in the Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration (EROPA), and of partnerships with Korean universities and associations for public administration and policy studies. National College of Public Administration and Governance Dean Ma. Fe Villemjor-Mendoza presents Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-Man with college publications , as Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Gil Jacinto waits to hand over tokens from the UP System Administration. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO Concluding his lecture, “Vision for Peace in the Korean Peninsula and the Philippines-Korea Relations”, at the International Center for Public Administration of NCPAG, Han expressed a vision for “co-prosperity between Korea and the Philippines” and asked for “continuous support for our strong ties based upon optimism.” Korean Ambassador Han Dong-Man is warmly received by the University represented in the group photo of lecture attendees by (front row) UP Korea Research Center (UP-KRC) OIC Director Aldrin Lee, National College of Public Administration and Governance Dean Ma. Fe Villamejor-Mendoza, Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Gil Jacinto, former UP-KRC Director Eduardo Gonzalez, UP Diliman Extension Program in Pampanga Grace Gorospe-Jamon, Virata School of Business Prof. Dani Rose Salazar, and College of Human Kinetics Prof. Gilda Uy. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO The ambassador then proceeded to Quezon Hall for a courtesy meeting and working lunch with UP officials led by President Danilo Concepcion and Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa. Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa welcomes Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-Man to the Board of Regents Room, Quezon Hall after the latter’s lecture on campus, then turns the program over to President Danilo Concepcion who has a brief introductory exchange with the ambassador before a working lunch. Photos by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO On a brief overview presentation on UP given by Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia, Han took special note of UP’s social responsibility, its Open University, and rigorous admissions policy. Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-Man enumerates points he noted specially from the overview presentation by Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia (foreground) on the UP System. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO |
https://up.edu.ph/up-krc-and-apppfi-hold-joint-forum-on-south-koreas-new-southern-policy/ | UP KRC and APPPFI hold Joint Forum on South Korea’s New Southern Policy – University of the Philippines | UP KRC and APPPFI hold Joint Forum on South Korea’s New Southern Policy UP KRC and APPPFI hold Joint Forum on South Korea’s New Southern Policy July 30, 2019 | Written by Reini Evangelista The speakers and participants of the joint public forum on Korea’s New Southern Policy, held by the UP Korea Research Center and the Asia Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation Inc. on July 22 at Microtel by Wyndam, Quezon City. Photo from the UP Korea Research Center. The UP Korea Research Center (UP KRC), in partnership with the Asia Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation Inc. (APPPFI), held a joint public forum entitled “Significance of Korea’s New Southern Policy for the Philippines and ASEAN” on July 22, 2019 at Microtel by Wyndam in Quezon City. The forum aimed to analyze the significance of New Southern Policy to the Philippines and ASEAN in the field of defense, security, and economy; to discuss how to strengthen Philippines-Korea defense and security partnership within the framework of New Southern Policy; and to forge an institutional partnership between Philippine-based institutions and Korean think tanks. In his opening remarks, Dr. Aldrin Lee (UP KRC OIC-Director) gave a brief background on the UP KRC and noted that this was the first public forum held on the New Southern Policy (NSP). The guest speaker, Dr. Jaehyon Lee (Asian Institute of Policy Studies) gave a talk entitled “New Southern Policy and ASEAN-Korea Strategic and Security Cooperation,” which focused on the NSP and Peace Cooperation, and the Potential and Limits of Strategic Cooperation. The NSP aims to include ASEAN among South Korea (ROK)’s major partners, along with Japan, China, USA, and Russia. It is also seen to secure national security by strengthening relations with neighboring countries (strategic networks), especially with a “revisionist China” and a “unilateral isolationist US” under the Trump administration. The NSP, according to Dr. Lee, serves as ROK fulfilling their role as a middle power and contributing to international community as a middle power. Dr. Jaehyon Lee of the Asian Institute of Policy Studies spoke about the “New Southern Policy and ASEAN-Korea Strategic and Security Cooperation.” Photo from the UP Korea Research Center. A talk on the “PH-ROK Defense Cooperation: Prospects and Challenges” was given by Capt. Dianne Despi (Armed Forces of the Philippines), which covered the milestones, shared security environment, three frameworks of cooperation, and current engagements between the Philippines and ROK. Capt. Despi also noted that the NSP is welcome in the Philippines as this diversifies the partnerships the country has in terms of defense cooperation and may prove to be helpful and important in conducting strategic assessments. Challenges in the defense cooperation were also given, and these include language barrier, gap in technology development, and a priority mismatch between the Philippines and ROK. Lastly, Prof. Ser Percival Peña-Reyes (Ateneo de Manila University) lectured on the “Trade Integration and Socioeconomic Disparities Among ASEAN States.” Macroeconomic, Development, and Trade Integration Data of ROK, G7, and ASEAN were presented. Data revealed that there is a disparity in economic performance within ASEAN and ASEAN is net importing vis-à-vis the world. The performance indicators set by the ASEAN have yet to reflect economic cooperation within the region, and ROK may act as a catalyst so ASEAN countries could trade within the region. Focusing on the Philippines, Prof. Peña-Reyes comments that Mindanao as a food basket can still be utilized to improve the country’s economy and its trade relations with Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia, and that the Philippines needs to shift from consumption to investments in terms of having the most contribution to the country’s GDP. The panel and reactors during the joint public forum on Korea’s New Southern Policy. Photo from the UP Korea Research Center. Prof. Raisa Lumampao (UP Department of Political Science) and Dr. Ricardo Barcelona (Imperial College Business School, London) served as reactors. Prof. Lumampao stated that the NSP shows both ROK’s desire to expand its relations and its strategic foreign policy. ROK, therefore, needs to understand ASEAN states more deeply and to know how to utilize middle and small powers. The NSP, she noted, will have a long-lasting effect if it strengthens maritime security, especially with the Philippines. Dr. Barcelona discussed choosing between trade and security is a false dichotomy, as one cannot exist without the other. He also states that we should not aspire for equality among ASEAN states but rather for the expansion of access to prosperity; and that conditions where opportunities must be enhanced should be created. An open forum was held to entertain questions from the attendees, and afterwards, Prof. Herman Kraft (APPPFI) gave the closing remarks. The author is participating in 2019 Korea Foundation Public Diplomacy Camp from August 17 to 23, 2019 in Korea. |
https://up.edu.ph/korean-diaspora-forum-sheds-light-on-transnationalism/ | Korean diaspora forum sheds light on ‘transnationalism’ – University of the Philippines | Korean diaspora forum sheds light on ‘transnationalism’ Korean diaspora forum sheds light on ‘transnationalism’ August 28, 2019 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Prof. Chulwoo Lee, keynote speaker of the Congress, interacts with the audience. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO “The making, existence, and expansion of the citizenry outside of the borders and the increasing transborder political participation of the diaspora mark a transnationalization of the nation-state and citizenship,” said Dr. Chulwoo Lee, professor of Law at Yonsei University Law School, as keynote speaker of the 2nd Philippine Koreanist Congress on August 17, 2019 at Novotel, Cubao, Quezon City. With the title: “How does diaspora engagement reshape citizenship and nation-statehood?”, Lee’s paper was about countries redefining their ambit and according rights to migrants, based on concepts of citizenship that have been shifting alongside increased global migration. Prof. Chulwoo Lee is an expert on how countries dealt with citizenship in law as complicated by migration. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO “The Philippines and Korea are in tune with the times. Incorporating diaspora members into the active citizenry is now regarded as a democratic requirement,” Lee added. Both Korea and the Philippines have provisions for overseas voting, for example, but the Philippines is more advanced in allowing postal voting, he said. Aside from dual citizenship, concepts such as “ethnizenship” and other forms of the “noncitizen diaspora status” are creating and expanding the “transnational nation”, Lee said. Prof. Chulwoo Lee, who previously lived in Manila, addresses the Koreanist congress. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO In the open forum, he further argued that “limiting dual citizenship is increasingly unsustainable”. The Second Philippine Koreanist Congress, with the theme: “Mapping the Korean diaspora in the Philippines: 70-year history and friendship in retrospect”, was spearheaded by the UP Korea Research Center in cooperation with The Academy of Korean Studies and supported by the Korean Cultural Center and the UP Department of Linguistics. The Second Philippine Koreanist Congress at Novotel, Cubao, Quezon City on August 17, 2019. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO Present to welcome the participants and congratulate the organizers were: UP Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa, who represented UP President Danilo Concepcion; Scalabrini Migration Center Executive Director Maruja Asis; and, UP Korea Research Center Founding Director Eduardo Gonzalez. Prof. Raymund Abejo of the UP Diliman Department of History presented interactions between Korean individuals and the Philippines since the 17th century up to the 1920s. Prof. Bubbles Beverly Asor of the De La Salle University Department of Sociology presented the migration of Koreans to the Philippines as linked to “geoarbitrage” or achieving a better life at lower cost. Antonio Miranda of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs-Foreign Service Institute surveyed the landscape of Korean communities in the Philippines, noting that mutual empathy has been impeded by power relations paralleling the disparity in economies and benefactor-beneficiary arrangement. Presenters on “Immersion and Emergence of the Korean Community in the Philippines”: Prof. Raymund Abejo of the UP Department of History; Prof. Bubbles Beverly Asor of the DLSU Department of Sociology; and, Antonio Miranda of the DFA Foreign Service Institute. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO In the second session, Normi Son of the Kopino Children’s Association Inc. presented a study of satisfying and enduring Korean-Filipino marriages. Oliver Quintana of the Ateneo de Manila University Political Science Department made a case study of Korean War veterans in the Philippines for an organization’s role in institutionalizing national memory. Prof. Danirose Salazar of the UP Cesar Virata School of Business Department of Accounting and Finance showed that bilateral trades between South Korea and the Philippines were reflections of the economic development of the two countries over the years. Presenters on “Futuristic Partnership After the 70-Year Ties”: Normi Son of the Kopino Children’s Association Inc.; Oliver Quintana of the AdMU Political Science Department; and, Prof. Danirose Salazar of the UP Cesar Virata School of Business. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO The last session was devoted to a workshop by the participants aimed at identifying milestones in their respective fields related to Korea and Korea Studies. They then assessed how these areas fare today and how these can be improved. UP Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa meets Dr. Young-Mee Jee accompanying her husband, Prof. Chul Woo Lee, keynote speaker of the Congress. She had stayed in Manila for a post in the World Health Organization involving immunization. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili facilitates the opening ceremony of the Congress. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO Dr. Maruha Asis, executive director of the Scalabrini Migration Center, congratulates the UP Korea Research Center for organizing the Congress. She notes that both Korea and the Philippines used to be both origin countries for international migrants until the 1970s; and that in the 1980s, Filipinos and Koreans were the second and third largest immigrant groups, respectively, in the US. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO |
https://up.edu.ph/up-korea-research-center-and-up-department-of-linguistics-hold-the-6th-philippine-korean-studies-symposium/ | UP Korea Research Center and UP Department of Linguistics hold the 6th Philippine Korean Studies Symposium – University of the Philippines | UP Korea Research Center and UP Department of Linguistics hold the 6th Philippine Korean Studies Symposium UP Korea Research Center and UP Department of Linguistics hold the 6th Philippine Korean Studies Symposium December 8, 2019 | Written by Reini Evangelista Participants of the 6th Philippine Korean Studies Symposium With the theme “Forging New Perspectives and Directions in Korea-Philippines Cooperation: Towards Sustainable Peace and Prosperity,” the 6th Philippine Korean Studies Symposium (PKSS) was held on November 21 to 23, 2019 at the NISMED Auditorium. The symposium aimed to promote academic research on Korea-related studies by Filipino scholars here and abroad, strengthen Korean studies as area studies, and to develop networks with both local and international institutions. Plenary lectures were given by Dr. Doobo Shim (Department of Media and Communication, Sungshin Women’s University), and Dr. Minyoung Seo (Head of Development Research Division, KDI School of Public Policy and Management). Dr. Shim gave a lecture on “Korean Popular Culture and the International Cultural Flow,” while Dr. Seo discussed “Korea’s Knowledge Sharing for International Development.” Dr. Doobo Shim of Sungshin Women’s University’s Department of Media and Communication UP Korea Research Center (UP KRC)’s core researchers discussed the results of their research works: Dr. Erik Paolo Capistrano gave a presentation on the economic agenda and relevant bilateral relations of South Korea and the Philippines; Dr. Aaron Jed Rabena discussed South Korea’s soft power strategy and how the Philippines can learn from their strategy; and Dr. Jean Encinas Franco and Samuel Cabbuag presented the media representations of Koreans in the Philippines. Dr. Minyoung Seo, KDI School of Public Policy and Management’s Head of Development Research Division The symposium also featured parallel paper presentations on various topics such as the Korean Wave, media, business, diplomacy, feminism, migration, translation studies, and South Korean policies; and undergraduate presentations from the GS 197 class: The Making of Global Korea. A panel discussion was also held which focused on the challenges and visions forward in relation to the 70 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Korea. On its third day, a workshop on teaching Korean as a foreign language (KFL) was held, followed by a roundtable discussion on the issues in KFL. The three-day symposium was supported by the Korea Foundation and hosted by the UP KRC and the UP Department of Linguistics. |
https://up.edu.ph/a-mind-for-boxing/ | A mind for boxing – University of the Philippines | A mind for boxing A mind for boxing August 28, 2018 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion National Boxer Mario Fernandez (right) shows his stuff in the 2017 SEA Games. (Photo by Skip Tan, via Marcus Jarwin Manalo) Few athletic disciplines are as primal, exciting, and yet as visibly violent as boxing. The thrill of seeing an athlete physically dominating another in the ring has been one reason behind boxing’s immense following, from the age of Pancho Villa and then Flash Elorde to that of Manny Pacquiao. Despite, or perhaps due to this popularity, it is also one of the most misunderstood of all sports. Far too easy is it for casual viewers to dismiss boxing bouts as exercises in unmethodical brutality. Marcus Jarwin Manalo of the UP College of Human Kinetics (UP CHK), however, knows that there is much more than blind aggression to the “sweet science.” For the past five years, Manalo has served as the Sports Psychology consultant for the Philippine National Boxing Team. Armed with lessons from the ring, he is on a mission to educate athletes and coaches on the benefits of mental skills training. And a major component of that goal is his personal quest to create an ideal environment that helps our pugilists give their best, both in sports and in life. Split seconds “What I focus on are performance issues of the athletes as well as of the coaches,” says Manalo. As opposed to Clinical Sports psychologists, who deal with severe disorders like depression, his consultancy focuses on training skills like mental toughness, goal setting, concentration, and anxiety management. “One misconception people have is that they think these skills are innate,” he notes. “Either you have them, or you don’t. Believing nothing can be done to improve these skills, many athletes act accordingly, failing to improve them despite the nominally important status of the ‘mental game’ in sports.” UP CHK’s Marcus Jarwin Manalo. (Photo by El Bacani, UP MPRO) In contrast, mental and physical skills are more alike than different. “Think of dribbling and shooting skills in basketball. You need to practice them regularly. Mental skills are the same. You need constant practice for them to become automatic during competitions.” Moreover, and contrary to stereotypes, he considers emotional control to be the cornerstone of a good boxer’s mental toolkit. The science of boxing goes far beyond mere suntukan or bugbugan. In reality, all-out aggression leaves most boxers open to counterattacks. “You want to be aggressive, but also calm in the sense that you can make good decisions in the ring. And all of these decisions are happening in split seconds.” Manalo uses mindfulness-based interventions to help his boxers manage the chaos of competition. These involve being aware of and accepting experiences in the present moment, rather than fighting them. For practice, team members are asked to use deep breathing and guided imagery techniques even before training camp. “Sometimes it’s just them lying down and focusing on the environment, and what it sounds like.” The Philippine National Boxing Team warming up. (Photo by Marcus Jarwin Manalo) In competitions, worries and concerns can overwhelm an athlete before the first punch is thrown. Here, mindfulness can help them to stay in the moment. Manalo says, “It lets them know that yes, they’re feeling frustrated. Then they can recognize it, acknowledge it. And then can they ask—what’s the best thing I can do now?” Like other skills, however, it does takes practice. “You can’t just start doing mindfulness when you’re already at the Asian Games! it might not work.” Establishing rapport Tall and trim, Manalo had always been an athlete in his own right. Like many Psychology undergraduates, however, he once dreamed of going to medical school. One class that he took at the UP Department of Psychology threw a wrench into those plans. “The class was discussing specific fields we could specialize in,” he recalls. “Like Educational Psychology and Counselling.” In that conversation, however, someone brought up Sports Psychology. His interest piqued, the soon-to-be graduate’s goals would change forever. Marcus Manalo explains the importance of mental skills. (Photo by El Bacani, UP MPRO) After graduating, Manalo pursued a diploma in Exercise and Sports Science at the UP CHK, which he followed up with a master’s degree with a concentration in Sports Psychology from Texas Tech University. Returning to teach in 2013, he was also recruited that year into the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP), who was on the hunt for a new Sports Psychology consultant for the national squad. “The coaches were skeptical,” he says. “If you look at the staff, at the time I was the only one who was not a boxer. It was like: how can you help us, when you haven’t experienced what we have?” Apart from the fact that not everyone knew what Sports Psychologists did, the former basketball player, who had never boxed in his life, found himself in a completely alien culture. How he responded, and what he still considers to be the most important aspect of his job was: “Establish rapport.” Over the next weeks, creating a collaborative relationship with the boxers and their coaches became his top priority. Mornings, he was running with the team, doing the same exercises they were doing. His computer’s hard drive was soon filled with the team’s sparring videos. Manalo ate with the team and slept together with them during their Baguio-based training camps. As his knowledge of the sport grew, both the boxers and the coaches also began to see Manalo as a trustworthy and approachable presence. “It’s important to make them see that you’re not just a professional that’s comfortable in an office or clinic setting,” he said. His closeness and integration with the team also helped him to become more effective as a professional. “Not all of our national athletes are comfortable with pen-and-paper assessments,” Manalo noted. The time he spends in casual conversation with the team, therefore, also doubles as opportunities to assess the needs of his athletes and becoming available to them individually. Winning takes care of itself With the launch of the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia this August, Manalo is expected to fly in with the Philippine team. While optimistic, especially after a strong five-medal showing in the recent Korotkov International Tournament in Russia, he does not want medals to be the team’s primary focus. Marcus Manalo (front row, black jacket) celebrates with the National Team in Russia. (Photo by Marcus Manalo) “You don’t talk about the gold medal,” Manalo points out. Fans and management may consider that the metric by which athletic success is measured, but he has seen how an exaggerated focus on outcomes can saddle athletes with unnecessary pressure. “Ironically, if you want to win, you need to have less of an emphasis on winning. If you take care of the process, winning will take care of itself.” With in-competition preparations becoming more mental than physical, this stage may be when our pugilists may need Manalo the most. Whatever the outcome, however, he hopes that the work he is doing now can help more teams to open their minds to Sports Psychology and how it can contribute to every stage of the athletic journey. “I think the future of Sports Psychology is bright,” he says. “The only limiting factor is that there are no institutions offering a degree in it here, you have to go abroad to study.” But with the hard work of practitioners like Manalo, more coaches and athletes are seeing its value. “Eventually,” he adds, “maybe the CHK can even offer a master’s degree in it once we get more professionals in the country and in UP!” |
https://up.edu.ph/life-of-an-island-iska/ | Life of an island Iska – University of the Philippines | Life of an island Iska Life of an island Iska September 5, 2018 | Written by Stephanie Cabigao Eight hundred kilometers southeast of Manila is Siargao Island. Much has been written in travel blogs about this surfer’s paradise, this next big thing of a tourist destination. Like many travelers, Marja Abad has been backpacking most of her life in and out of the Philippines and has gone to Siargao. However, unlike many of them who have to the island come and gone, she chose to stay. UP CSWCD alumna Marja Abad shares her Iska story (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Immersions and encounters Abad revealed that she was first admitted to the Theater Arts program of UP Diliman’s College of Arts and Letters. However, she decided to leave the campus and go back to Miriam College where she had finished high school, to take up general education courses. “That one time we were sent to an Aeta community in Pinatubo, it was my first immersion that got me on my foot and wanting to see more communities around the country,” she says excitedly. She headed up north of Luzon as far as Sagada where she had more encounters with Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities. She then realized her love for community work, and finally decided to go back to UP to enroll in a Social Work degree program in the UP College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD). “It was my exposure during my travels up north that encouraged me to learn more about our local and IP communities. I value them so much because they’re the ones whom I turn to whenever I go backpacking into unfamiliar places. Instagram was non-existent at the time, so these locals were really the best guide,” says Marja, a UP Mountaineer. After graduation, Abad, a founding member of UP Sports Climbing, decided to move to Davao. As a Manileña, she also wanted a break away from the metropolis where she grew up. She became a river-rafting guide, and continued to explore the country’s south for surf spots until she set foot on Siargao Island for the first time in 2006. “I also went back and forth to Davao and Singapore for work. And the many times I went away from Siargao, I kept coming back here,” she says. “Everything I learned from Social Work—like the urge to help communities and learn so much about our culture through the locals—reignited my desire to work with communities especially on this island. The more I stay here, the more I see the issues. Since I already have a deep connection with this place, I always want to give back and to contribute to the community.” People behind the SEA Movement: Marja and the children of Siargao gather every Sunday for a beach clean up (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) An island Iska Landing a corporate job that allowed her to make the island her home, Marja finally settled in Siargao in 2015. The drive to stay on the island, while others were making it big internationally or in major industries, was strongly influenced by her UP education. She claims, “I was never like that. I wanted to stay close to nature. I wanted to be active. I wanted to hear stories. It was never my dream to climb the corporate ladder. I just wanted to travel.” “I value so much my UP GE courses because it’s what makes you holistic. The Humanities and Social Sciences are the reasons Iskos and Iskas have a good grasp on why the world is the way it is today. I think it really helped mold me into who I am right now. UP taught me to be proud of being a Filipina because it taught me about our heroes, our history and our culture. I really take it to heart and seriously as an Iska. It is about time that I give back to the community,” she continues. “Here, I can still do what I want—surf, have a job that allows me to still travel outside the country, and most of all turn this movement towards community and environmental sustainability work on this island,” says the overjoyed Iska. Taking some time off from work, Marja surfs the majestic waves of Siargao. (Photo by Pedro Morena) The SEA Movement Finally settling on the island, Abad realized that the waste issue was her ultimate concern. It has dramatically increased since the first time she came to Siargao in 2010. “I started the Siargao Environmental Awareness or SEA Movement in 2015 with once-a-month beach clean-ups. It is a collaborative effort to help preserve the natural resources and beauty of the island, which the local community and visitors rely on for a simple yet beautiful life. Suddenly, we had so many volunteers coming out to join us, until the clean-up became a Saturday thing for us. Little by little, we had a structure which was ripe enough for us to establish an organization,” she recalls. Today, there are four groups under the SEA Movement which are into environmental advocacy in Surigao and Cebu. “The struggle is where do we put the trash after? When will we stop cleaning the beach? When will people stop littering? And when will the local government be strict on littering, and with policies? When will we see more trash bins? When will we see garbage collection? For the past three years, it was the same,” she complains. SEA Movement’s Sunday beach clean up along the coast of General Luna (Photos by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) But the hopeful Iska is making a bold move this year, aiming to have SEA Movement officials elected to local government posts. She looks forward to the time when, through them, local government units will be more tuned in to environmental issues. While the SEA Movement is establishing sustainable waste management on the island, it also focuses on other site-and-sector-specific projects. One is the setting up of organic farms on the island which recently tied up with farmers in the municipality of Pilar. Acting as a hub to connect networks of people with unique skills in order to contribute to solving the island’s problems, the SEA Movement has also partnered up with people from the US for an environmental book drive, with a teacher-training series for literacy and critical thinking for about a hundred teachers from General Luna, Dapa, and Santa Monica. The SEA Movement co-founder revealed that the organization’s biggest project so far is being part of Gina Lopez’s Quest for Love. “We are the 16th semifinalist. If we get chosen as one of the eight finalists, then we will get a grant. Towards the end of the year and on to next year, we hope to get the funding to start to set up the SEA Movement office, hire people, and provide them with good wages.” It will also be launching its new fashion line called SEAM, with an all-women sewing crew using recyclable materials to make surf and casual apparel. An upcycled tote bag made for SEA Movement’s newest line called SEAM by an all-women sewing crew using recyclable materials to make surf and casual apparel. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) “I just want to pursue the projects. The SEA movement is my brainchild, but I wouldn’t have done it without the other people, especially the kids. So I always tag myself as the co-founder, because I got help from a lot of people in Siargao,” Abad concludes. |
https://up.edu.ph/meet-the-snake-lady/ | Meet the “Snake Lady” – University of the Philippines | Meet the “Snake Lady” Meet the “Snake Lady” October 25, 2018 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Dr. Leticia Afuang shows the latest snake specimens at the UPLB Museum of Natural History. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) No, she’s not a snake charmer. Nor is she some kind of snake whisperer. She is herpetologist Dr. Leticia “Letty” Afuang of UP Los Baños (UPLB). And while she specializes in all things reptilian and amphibian, she has become quite known as the “snake lady.” Saw a cobra slithering around? Woke up to find a satisfied snake instead of your lovebirds in the cage? With one barangay even named “Maahas” (an area with many snakes), people around LB know whom to call. Photos of snakes caught at the Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve from the UPLB Museum of Natural History Forest CANOPI Program Project 3 – Forest Canopy Vertebrate Fauna: clockwise from left, Ahaetulla prasina (Asian vine snake), Boiga dendrophila (Gold-ringed cat snake), and Trimeresurus flavomaculatus (Philippine pit viper) “I make myself available because those are valuable teaching opportunities. There are people whose first instinct is to kill the snakes they see because they are afraid. It’s part of my duty as an educator to allay their fears by sharing knowledge,” the pastor’s wife and mother of two says. But how did she get the moniker in the first place? Letty attributes it to all her public lectures and speaking engagements, where the interest in herpetology mainly gravitates toward snakes. “Questions about frogs or lizards, for example, are rare. I think it’s really the fear of snakes that makes people so curious about them.” Over time, she became known as UPLB’s resident snake expert. And despite almost dying from accidental envenomation by a viper during field work in Palawan almost 20 years ago, she continues to advocate for the non-violent handling of snakes. “The venom felt hot and I could feel it crawling up my arm.”—Dr. Afuang on getting envenomated in Palawan. She wasn’t bitten, but had gotten venom through a wound in her hand, trying to free a viper that was tied up by its captors. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “This snake was tied up by some people and it was struggling to breathe. I wanted to relieve its pain.” Forgetting that she had a wound in her hand, she went to untie the thrashing viper. Venom got into her wound and within seconds, she felt her hand go warm. She had to be carried down the mountain, transported in a small boat, then in a mixer that later broke down, and then in another mixer that passed by, before finally reaching the hospital. “It’s a miracle I survived with no antivenom. I woke up the next day like nothing happened.” A clip from Dr. Leticia Afuang’s video of Tropidolaemus philippensis Gray, 1842 taken in 2009. (Video courtesy of Dr. Leticia Afuang, Animal Biology Divison, Institute of Biological Sciences, UP Los Baños) From animal lover to teacher-scientist Growing up on a farm in Isabela, Letty reveals she was always fond of animals. But it was high-school Biology that turned that affinity into a deeper interest in studying them. “I loved that class so much that I was already preserving specimens of lizards, insects, and worms for study. In relation to herpetology, I became fascinated with amphibians first.” It was only natural for her then to pursue a BS Zoology degree in UP Diliman in the mid-1970s, where her attention shifted to invertebrates. When she graduated in 1979, Letty went to teach at Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Nueva Ecija. And after just one semester, she got a scholarship to pursue a master’s degree. She wasn’t able to enroll in Diliman because she was late and was advised to try UPLB isntead. She laughs as she recalls how she was given instructions on getting there. “I didn’t know UPLB! But when I arrived, I just fell in love with the place and the people.” In the left photo, Dr. Afuang points out that sea snakes are distinguished by flat, paddle-like tails like this specimen, Laticauda semifasciata. In the other photo, she explains that a tell-tale sign a snake is venomous is the triangle-shaped head and skinny neck just like on the viper specimen she’s holding, Tropidolaemus wagleri. Both snakes are found in the Philippines. (Photos by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) She finished her MS in Zoology, major in Vertebrate Biology, in 1985. By then, she was enamored with wildlife biology and brought her CLSU students to UPLB each summer for training in that field of study. In 1991, just two years after her term as chairperson of the Department of Biological Sciences, Letty resigned from CLSU and returned to UPLB—this time to teach. She juggled teaching, doing research, family life, and getting her PhD while also dealing with a heart ailment. And in 2003, after around four years, she finally earned her PhD in Environmental Science and Management from UPLB. This time, she specialized in protected areas planning, development, and management, with particular focus on wildlife biology and herpetology, and a minor in genetics and forestry. Clockwise from top left: Dendrelaphis pictus found at Dr. Afuang’s UPLB campus residence in 2007; Boiga dendrophila found in the mangroves of El Nido, Palawan during a biodiversity assessment of the island in 1998; Dendrelaphis pictus found at Dr. Afuang’s residence in 2006; Trimeresurus mcgregori found in Mt. Iraya, Batanes in 2006 while Dr. Afuang’s thesis advisee was doing research; and another Trimeresurus mcgregori in Mt. Iraya on the same day (Photos from Dr. Leticia Afuang) Leaving a legacy behind Letty is turning 60 next year. In a few more years, she’ll be retiring and it’s making her think of her life’s work. She revived the herpetology program in UPLB, shocked to find out it had been dead for three years when she joined the faculty in 1991. “Wildlife biology can’t be complete without herpetology!” She enlisted the help of Dr. Pedro Alviola III to team-teach herpetology courses and he agreed. He did the lectures and she took care of the lab work. She also got Dr. Angel Alcala to deliver guest lectures even while he was Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Letty admits that without their support, the program would have been harder to bring back. Dr. Afuang’s former student in Herpetology, Mark Vincent Yngente, holds up the tail end of Ophiophagus hannah or King cobra found feeding on a monitor lizard in Mt. Makiling. (Photo from Mark Vincent Yngente) Over the last two decades or so, she has been seeing the results of that revival: students’ interest in herpetology continues to increase; more endemic and threatened species have been discovered; changes in taxonomy, reptile assessment being undertaken again; and, the establishment of the Herpetological Society of the Philippines, among others. In all her work as a scientist—in the lab, in the field, writing papers, undertaking extension projects— she considers the identification of priority areas for conservation as one of her bigger contributions to Philippine biodiversity. She was project manager of the National Biodiversity Conservation Priority Setting Program, which ran from 2001 to 2002, the result of which has become the baseline data for funding of conservation efforts. But looking back on her almost 40 years of teaching, Letty Afuang believes that being a mentor to future scientists and experts just might be the best thing she’s done—and still doing—for wildlife biology and biodiversity conservation. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-led-international-team-discovers-new-human-species-in-the-philippines/ | UP-led international team discovers new human species in the Philippines – University of the Philippines | UP-led international team discovers new human species in the Philippines UP-led international team discovers new human species in the Philippines April 11, 2019 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion Video from the UP Media and Public Relations Office An international multidisciplinary team, led by University of the Philippines Associate Professor Armand Salvador B. Mijares, discovered a new human species, the Homo luzonensis, from an excavation site inside Callao Cave in Peñablanca, Cagayan. Mijares said the hominin fossils and teeth are from at least three individuals, nicknamed Ubag after a mythical cave man, that were excavated in 2007, 2011 and 2015. He and the members of his team, paleoanthropologist Florent Détroit of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, zooarchaeologist Philip Piper of Australian National University, and geochronologist Rainer Grün of Griffith University, dug up the hominin fossils from a sedimentary level located three meters below the current surface of the cave floor. Figure 1. The different fossils remains of Homo luzonensis from Late Pleistocene sediments at Callao Cave. a, holotype CCH6: postcanine maxillary teeth in occlusal (left) and buccal (right) aspects, b, left P3 or P4 CCH8: occlusal (left) and buccal (right) aspects, c, right M3 CCH9: occlusal (top) and buccal (bottom) aspects d, juvenile femoral shaft CCH7 (anterior, lateral, posterior aspects. e, distal manual phalanx CCH5 (dorsal, lateral/medial, palmar aspects) f, intermediate manual phalanx CCH2 (dorsal, lateral, palmar aspects).g, 3rd metatarsal discovered in 2007 h, intermediate pedal phalanx CCH3 (dorsal, medial, plantar aspect)..) i, proximal pedal phalanx CCH4 (dorsal, lateral). Source: A new species of Homo from the Late Pleistocene of the Philippines, Nature, 2019 Uranium-series (u-series) dating, which is a method used to calculate age via the radioactive decay of uranium, determined the fossils to be 50-67,000 years old. These would make them the earliest human remains to be discovered in the Philippines, predating even the Homo sapiens found on Palawan island to the south estimated at 30-40,000 years. The species was first described by Mijares and his team in a 2010 article through a single metatarsal bone. Comparative analyses via 3-dimensional imaging methods and geometric morphometrics showed that Homo luzonensis had a mix of primitive features resembling Australopithecus and more modern ones closer to Homo sapiens. This singular combination of traits distinguishes it from other representatives of the genus Homo, especially its contemporaries known in Southeast Asia like Homo floresiensis, which was discovered in Indonesia in 2004. Prof. Armand Salvador Mijares explains the unique anatomy of Homo luzonensis at a press conference at the UP College of Science Auditorium. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. Luzon, which is the largest island in the Philippines, was not known to be accessible by foot during the Quaternary period (around 2.588 million years ago to present) and is known for its high rate of endemism. Discovered anthropogenic elements such as stone tools and the remains of animals, including nearly a complete rhinoceros with clear marks of butchery in the Kalinga, are evidence that hominines were present on the island for at least 700,000 years ago. Figure 2. (Left photo) Location of Callao Cave in north of Luzon Island, Philippines, which has never been accessible by foot from the Asian continent during the Quaternary epoch (medium gray and light gray tones indicate the extension of the emerged lands at lower sea levels of 50 and 120 m respectively). (Right photo) View of the excavations of Callao Cave in 2011. Source: A new species of Homo from the Late Pleistocene of the Philippines, Nature, 2019 Like Homo floresiensis, which was nicknamed “hobbit” by the scientific community, Homo luzonensis probably represents another species of the genus Homo that evolved under the effects of insular endemism, while being unique. Where it came from and how it got here remain largely a mystery, but its presence highlights the complexity and diversity of hominine migrations and the evolutionary history in the islands of Southeast Asia. “The study situates the Philippines as a major area for evolutionary research,” Mijares said. “This discovery, to me, is a dedication to the Filipino people. It is our contribution to Filipino heritage and to the world’s heritage.” Professor Armand B. Mijares with the history-making fossils of Homo luzonensis. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. The project that led to the discovery of Homo luzonensis was funded by the Wenner-Gren Foundation, the Leakey Foundation Research Grant, and the University of the Philippines via the Enhanced Creative Work and Research Grant in cooperation with the National Museum of the Philippines, the Cagayan Provincial Government, and the Protected Area Management Board-Peñablanca. |
https://up.edu.ph/busy-bees-for-public-service-the-uplb-bee-program/ | Busy bees for public service: The UPLB Bee Program – University of the Philippines | Busy bees for public service: The UPLB Bee Program Busy bees for public service: The UPLB Bee Program March 25, 2019 | Written by KIM G Quilinguing Video by KIM Quilinguing, UP MPRO. A small area tucked away in the Institute of Biological Sciences of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños gives proof to the saying that good things come in little packages. The wards of the University’s Bee Program are no bigger than one’s thumb, but they are able to provide a livelihood and a whole range of products to those who are interested. What began in 1989 as a coordinating body with only five members of the UPLB community, has now grown into a research and extension program with around 35 members from various fields of expertise. Led initially by the late Dr. Pacifico C. Payawal of the Institute of Biological Sciences, the Bee Program would eventually become an integrated, multi-disciplinary group, which would tackle everything from beekeeping, bee science and other bee-related research work. UPLB Associate Professor Jose Rene L. Micor, Chair of the UPLB Bee Program. Photo by KIM Quilinguing, UP MPRO Program Chair Jose Rene L. Micor said that the program aims to formalize and integrate all bee-related research activities of UPLB. The 35 multi-disciplinary members of the Bee Program have been continuously working as a team to become a dynamic research and extension center capable of providing a variety of technical assistance to different sectors. “We are basically providing assistance to almost everyone who needs help with regard to bee science or bee-related research,” he said. The program provides training in beekeeping, and over the years, it has worked with various local government units, state universities and colleges, higher education institutions, non-government organizations, and even private farms interested in bee sciences. “Initially it was 1 to 2 [trainings per year], but nowadays we have it 4 [times per year] because it’s always full,” said Micor. Among those which they have partnered with are the Cavite State University and the University of Southern Mindanao. They have also worked with the Balay Buhay sa Uma in Sorsogon and the Yumi farm in Tayabas, Quezon. Aside from the training, the program provides technical services related to beekeeping, such as: Beekeeping Management and Apiary Establishment, Honey and Pollen Analysis, Pollen Advisory and Bee Disease Diagnosis. A member of the UPLB Bee Program giving a talk to trainees. Photo courtesy of the UPLB Bee Program. Associate Professor Micor added that they hope to standardize bee products and develop apicultural or beekeeping technologies which can be used by farmers, entrepreneurs, researchers, students and those who have pursued bee science as a livelihood or academic pursuit. The program also seeks to aid biodiversity conservation, particularly in the management of bee species, considering their work with both indigenous and foreign bee species. After joining the program in 2010, Micor led a research team that tested different bee products, such as honey from different bee species. Their research resulted in the crafting of the Philippine National Standard for Honey. Micor, who is a chemist by training, said that their Bee Program has produced more than just honey. Working with different units of the University, the program has developed bee products such as soap, insect repellent, massage oil, cider, and even wine, from both local and imported bee species. Apart from beekeepers, the program has helped farmers maintain their fruit trees, particularly mangoes. Their training on Pollinator Management in an Agroecosystem for tree growers has helped farmer-trainees increase their yield and productivity, while minimizing damage to the ecosystem. Instead of pesticides, pollinators were used to grow fruits. Beyond research and training, the Bee Program also aided in the rehabilitation of some communities in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013. In an interview with the UPLB Office of Public Relations, former Bee Program Chair, Professor Emeritus Cleofas R. Cervancia recounted the program’s partnership with New Zealand’s University of Canterbury and the Guiuan Development Foundation which brought colonies of bees to Tarong, Carles, Iloilo and Maliwaliw, Salcedo, Eastern Samar. Serving as pollinators, the bees were necessary for the restoration of fruit trees in the areas. They also provided livelihood opportunities for the locals. Members of the UPLB Bee Program receiving the Gawad Pangulo for Excellence in Public Service from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion (4th from left). Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. In recognition of the significance of the UPLB Bee Program as a research and extension program of the University, it was awarded the Gawad Pangulo for Excellence in Public Service on February 28, 2019 in ceremonies at the UP Diliman. The award serves as a testament to the impact of the program, particularly for its contribution to the bee sciences and the assistance it has provided to various communities all over the country. The Gawad Pangulo is the most recent recognition that the UPLB Bee Program has received as it has been accorded the Civil Service Commission (CSC) PAG-ASA Award in 2008; the National Winner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Outstanding Extension Award and Regional Winner of the CHED Outstanding Research Program Award, both in 2011; and the UPLB Outstanding Extension and Research Program Award. The program was also named the National Center for Bee Research and Development by the Asian Association of Apiculture. The research and extension services that the program has provided in the three decades since it began as a small group of five academics is proof of how much it has grown. Like the colonies of bees that they maintain, the UPLB Program has grown to a multi-disciplinary group, which involves several units and members of the academic community. And like the little busy bees that provide food for the colonies, these scientists, educators, researchers, students and staff aid the communities they serve. The UPLB Bee Program conducts the intensive beekeeping course four times a year. It also provides training in Management of Tropical Bees, as well as in Product Development. For more information, please visit their Facebook page. They can also be reached via email: beeprogram.uplb@uplb.edu.ph. Published on: Mar 25, 2019 |
https://up.edu.ph/meet-ups-next-satellite-builders/ | Meet UP’s next satellite builders – University of the Philippines | Meet UP’s next satellite builders Meet UP’s next satellite builders April 25, 2019 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion Video by KIM Quilinguing for the UP Media and Public Relations Office On June 29, 2018, a peculiar little satellite was launched into space aboard a Falcon 9 rocket in Florida, USA. As far as Philippine satellites go, space enthusiasts are familiar with the balikbayan box-sized class of microsatellites like Diwata-1 and Diwata-2. But this nanosatellite, Maya-1 was even smaller. Created by Filipino scholars Adrian Salces and Joven Javier as part of the Kyushu Institute of Technology’s (KyuTech) Birds-2 project, Maya-1 tipped the scales at barely over a kilogram, while carrying hardware that could facilitate communication in disaster scenarios. It was the first Filipino built nanosatellite and would be an inspiration for future developments in the Philippines. A few years ago it was difficult to imagine us Filipinos having our own satellites, let alone having qualified personnel to build them. But with the success of Maya-1, as well as the Diwata microsatelllites, the UP and the Department of Science and Technology-funded STAMINA4Space program (formerly PHL-Microsat) have launched a project that will develop this future crop of satellite builders. The name of the project is STeP-UP, and its scholars will not only be trained to build satellites like Maya-1, but–they will also be doing almost all their work inhouse. Perfect System At the centerpiece of the STeP-UP project (short for Space Science Proliferation through University Partnerships) is the Masters in Engineering program at UP’s Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (EEEI). With support from the STeP-UP program, the Institute is now offering its first two-year graduate track on nanosatellite engineering. Eight DOST-funded scholars from different backgrounds and institutions passed the gruelling screening process to become part of the pioneering batch this 2019. Their mission–to be able to create two 10x10x10 cm. nanosatellites at the end of their study period. All the design and construction work will be done at the Institute, with Kyutech helping with space environment testing in preparation for the launch of the satellites at the International Space Station (ISS). STeP-UP scholars Bryan Custodio (left) and Gladys Bajaro (right). Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. According to STeP-UP head, Engr. Paul Jason Co, the project is about passing on what their team has learned to partners in the academe back home. “We have to proliferate all this knowledge across the country,” he said. “If only the same sets of people are the ones working on space technology, that would be a waste.” With the graduate program track on nanosatellite engineering, the STeP-UP project through the Institute can get to engage with other universities on the way to creating a university consortium for space technology. Members of that consortium will share in the satellite-building capacities that STAMINA4Space has pioneered; while UP and its STeP-UP partners will also develop ground stations in these universities to manage the nanosatellites they build. Why nanosatellites or ‘cubesats’? “For one thing, cubesats are very small,” Co said. Unlike microsatellites like Diwata or their more enormous brethren, these satellites are much cheaper to build. STeP-UP scholars (from left to right): Christy Raterta, Marielle Magbanua-Gregorio, Gladys Bajaro, Lorilyn Daquioag, Renzo Wee, Bryan Custodio, Judiel Reyes, and Derick Canceran with DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña (center). Photo by Mae Ericka Jean Picar, STAMINA4Space “And,” he continued, “since it’s a small system, it’s a perfect fit for learning about this technology. For bigger satellites, it will take years, even decades to develop one of them.” The nanosatellite, on the other hand, fits neatly within the two years allotted to the postgraduate students to produce them. No Stranger STeP-UP scholar Gladys Bajaro had been working on satellites even before the program was launched. In fact, this graduate of Electronics and Communications Engineering from Bicol State College of Applied Science and Technology played a key role in the success of the country’s initial forays into satellite technology. As lead engineer of the amateur radio and satellite station at the EEEI, Bajaro applied her skills to tracking Maya-1 and helping out on Diwata-2’s amateur radio unit. Still, despite her experience, none of her previous feats truly prepared Bajaro for the holistic training required to build a satellite from scratch. STeP-UP scholar Gladys Bajaro. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO Bajaro detailed the three courses she and her classmates are taking in their first semester. “First, we have satellite communications,” she said, which tackles the basics of how satellites can converse with ground stations on Earth. The second is a course on nanosatellite development, which covers the process of building the different subsystems, from the circuits to the antenna, of a satellite like Maya-1. Finally, each semester has a Directed Studies course, where the students engage in hands-on experiments and testing to prepare them for the final output. This focused course handles topics that regular classes barely touch on, like planning satellite missions and prototype making, and where students get to “learn by doing”. Putting Trust With space technology being in its infancy in the Philippines, there is a lot of pressure resting on the shoulders of the scholars, according to former Far Eastern University (FEU) Institute of Technology faculty member Bryan Custodio. The licensed engineer used to teach courses in Electronics and Communications Engineering until a letter from UP to his institution launched his journey as FEU’s representative to the program, an honor he takes very seriously. “The application was tough,” he said, “because this is UP Diliman. But when I read the results and I learned that I passed, I was speechless. Because I never thought they would put their faith in me to be a part of this program.” STeP-UP scholar Bryan Custodio. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO As a scholar, Custodio is being trained to be a well-rounded engineer, rather than a narrow specialist. “In my case, my assigned subsystem is the antenna subsystem, with some involvement in the communication subsystem,” he said. But without much precedent literature to guide them, he and his classmates are learning bits of every subsystem and process. “Every day is an opportunity to learn something new.” Like Bajaro and his fellow scholars, Custodio aims to give back to the country through research and helping to build the proposed Philippine Space Agency. “Hopefully we, the pioneering batch, can continue what we learned through that Space Agency. And I hope I can get to teach the next generation, the next batch of scholars who will develop satellites and work on other aspects of space technology,” he continued. T-Shaped People While STeP-UP scholars like Bajaro and Custodio entered the program with highly varied skillsets, Co believes that diversity is the group’s strength. In fact, he encourages any prospective student with a background in science or engineering to apply for the next scholarship cycle. “If you know the scientific method, you’re welcome.” He compares their training philosophy to STAMINA4Space program leader Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano, Jr.’s intent to build ‘T-shaped people’. “We have different students that bring their own expertise,” he explained, “and that’s the vertical pillar. But since developing a satellite is a multidisciplinary task, we expect them to reach out and learn other aspects as well.” STeP-UP scholars discuss satellite design and construction at the EEEI. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO Co gives the example of an electronics engineer who expands his or her focus once accepted into the program. “You don’t restrict yourself to just electronics. You learn the physics side, the mechanical engineering side, the materials side. Basically, the whole thing.” “That’s what we expect our graduates to be. They may come in as, say, mechanical engineers or computer engineers. But when they graduate, we expect them to be systems engineers,” he continued. While funding for the program lasts for four years, Co hopes that this experiment will blossom into something bigger. “We want this to continue offering this program. We want other universities to build their own satellite-building programs.” “These scholars, they are the seeds,” he said. “We want them to grow and spread their own seeds, until we have a critical mass of researchers for us to sustain a local space industry.” |
https://up.edu.ph/caring-for-kids-with-cancer/ | Caring for kids with cancer – University of the Philippines | Caring for kids with cancer Caring for kids with cancer May 15, 2019 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo A scene in the situational video in Chapter 5: Helping the Child Cope with Treatment of the Aruga sa Batang may Cancer website “You have cancer.” No one ever wants to hear to those words. Imagine when the cancer-stricken patient is young, a child or a teenager who should still be looking forward to many experiences life has to offer. Even more devastating is that “in the Philippines, two-thirds of pediatric patients with cancer are diagnosed at advanced stages.” This is the grim reality revealed by Prof. Loyda Cajucom of the UP Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Management and Development Studies. She is a registered nurse, and a graduate and a former faculty member of UP Manila who has firsthand experience of dealing with pediatric cancer patients. This, along with the lack of developed palliative and supportive care programs in the country and UPOU’s leadership in open and distance e-learning, led her to spearhead “Aruga sa Batang may Cancer (ABC).” This online resource, funded by a grant from the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, is dedicated to, as the name indicates, caring for children with cancer. ABC is the first of its kind in the country. The Aruga sa Batang may Cancer website can be accessed at https://arugaproject.com/. Not one-size-fits-all Dr. Rumalie Corvera, founder and executive director of Ruth Foundation, a palliative care service provider and an ABC partner, explains that palliative care is a form of assistance given to patients of life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses and their families and loved ones. Dr. Rumalie Corvera, founder and executive director of Ruth Foundation (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Palliative care is not limited to alleviating the physical pain of the patient, as some perceive it to be. It is a holistic approach which includes ensuring the psychosocial well-being of the patients and their loved ones as well. Sometimes, Cajucom says, the mental and emotional toll of a cancer diagnosis weighs far more heavily than the physical. “I saw it many times when I was at the Philippine General Hospital.” Corvera says of Ruth Foundation’s experience: “It’s often the parents who have a harder time accepting their child’s illness. There are times when it’s the patient who even comforts his or her parents and tells them to be strong.” Palliative care, which is more prevalent in Western countries, cannot simply be applied as is in the Philippines because of cultural beliefs, traditions, and attitudes. In a country where practice of and knowledge on palliative care leaves much to be desired, Cajucom and her team had to conduct assessments to get a clearer picture of what needs to be done and how. They also had the support of other partners like Kythe Foundation, Inc. and the John Wayne Cancer Institute. “Parents, often mothers, have a tendency to blame themselves when their children are diagnosed with cancer. They would ask themselves, ‘What did I do wrong?’ or think they didn’t care for themselves properly when they were pregnant with their children.”—Prof. Loyda Cajucom (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Hospitals in strategic locations across the country eagerly participated in the activities. These are: the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Metro Manila; Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital in Albay; Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu; and, Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao. Arugaproject.com The result of their work is the ABC website, https://arugaproject.com/, which was formally launched on March 1 as part of UPOU’s 24th anniversary celebration. The site has a learning management system for primary caregivers available in three languages: Bisaya, English, and Tagalog. This section contains information materials, text, images, and videos, that can be accessed by anyone visiting the site. The text and images may be downloaded in PDF format for offline reading. In this video, Dr. Angie Sievert-Fernandez, a Kythe Foundation, Inc. child life specialist, discusses how parents can explain cancer to their child once diagnosed. This is one of many resources posted on the ABC website. Two other components provide online training programs for health care professionals. One is for doctors and the other is for nurses and allied health professionals. Access to these sections is limited to the intended users. Its cancer registry and telemedicine components are still being completed. The cancer registry will be a database of pediatric cancer information and statistics to guide policymaking and implementation by appropriate government agencies. Relevant statistical data for public information may also be posted in the section. The telemedicine function of the site will help facilitate consultations between physicians of pediatric cancer patients and specialists, which would otherwise be nearly impossible because of geographical distance. UPOU launches the ABC website at its headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna on March 1 as part of its 24th anniversary celebration. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Beyond pediatric cancer Cajucom aims for this pioneering effort to be later duplicated to address other diseases prevalent in or of interest to the country. A web-based platform is a cost-effective and accessible way for patients, caregivers, professionals, and even state agencies to get accurate information on and relevant training in the provision of necessary health care services. This is one way to bridge the gap between patients and health care providers, who, because of limited resources on one end, may not meet at all. Data that will be collected through sites like https://arugaproject.com/ will also be the basis of analysis for trends and patterns that will inform and guide state policy and action in health care. ABC is starting off the country’s movement towards harnessing information and web technologies in finding innovative solutions to problems in the provision of crucial health care services to Filipinos. Here’s hoping more will follow suit. |
https://up.edu.ph/tsek-ph-in-the-historical-records-of-the-us-library-of-congress/ | Tsek.ph in the historical records of the US Library of Congress – University of the Philippines | Tsek.ph in the historical records of the US Library of Congress Tsek.ph in the historical records of the US Library of Congress April 26, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office As part of a collection of historically and culturally significant websites designated for preservation, Tsek.ph was recently selected by the US Library of Congress for inclusion in their Philippine General Election 2022 Web Archive. The Library aims to preserve digital content, making it available to current and future generations of researchers. Part of its vision too is to expand access to the Library’s collections to increase opportunities for education and scholarship around the world. Given the current political landscape, academics and scholars can learn more about the ongoing war on disinformation through the collaborations of Tsek.ph. The website hosts and curates fact-checks created by its partner institutions and categorizes each according to its five ratings: false, misleading, no basis, needs context, and accurate. A quiz and update are also published weekly to summarize the top stories and test readers about the fact-checks released the week prior. Press releases and other pertinent information are also archived on the site for easy access. The incorporation of the Tsek.ph website in the world’s largest library honors the hard work accomplished by our partners in this election season and the values that fact-checking organizations uphold, especially with the precarity of the upcoming elections. For more information on the Philippine General Election 2022 Web Archive of the US Library of Congress, you can visit the website by clicking here. Tsek.ph was initiated by the University of the Philippines in 2019 as a public service commitment to combat disinformation. It is a project under the university’s Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs and spearheaded by the Department of Journalism under the College of Mass Communication. Currently, the revitalized alliance includes 34 institutions and initiatives from the academe, media, and civil society: ABS-CBN Fact Check, ABS-CBN Bayan Mo, Ipatrol Mo, Agence France-Presse, Akademya at Bayan Kontra Disimpormasyon at Dayaan, Asian Center for Journalism, Baguio Chronicle, BarangayHub, Carlos Hilado Memorial State College, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, DZUP, E-Boto, Fact Check Patrol, Fact Check Philippines, FactRakers, FYT, IDEALS, Interaksyon, Kontra Daya, Philippine Association for Media and Information Literacy, Philippine Press Institute, Philstar Global, PressOne.PH, Probe, MindaNews, Trinity University of Asia, University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, UP Baguio, UP Cebu, UP Los Baños, UP Open University, UP sa Halalan 2022, UP Visayas, Vera Files, and Xavier University. Tsek.ph is supported by the UP System, Google News Initiative, Rakuten, Viber, Meta, Meedan, the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines, UP Journalism Department and the UPCMC Foundation. For more information on Tsek.ph, visit the website, email secretariat@tsek.ph, or like and follow it on Viber, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Press release from Tsek.ph |
https://up.edu.ph/amidst-woes-on-the-ground-up-led-scientists-of-the-philsa-find-our-place-in-space/ | Amidst woes on the ground, UP-led scientists of the PhilSA find “Our Place in Space” – University of the Philippines | Amidst woes on the ground, UP-led scientists of the PhilSA find “Our Place in Space” Amidst woes on the ground, UP-led scientists of the PhilSA find “Our Place in Space” August 28, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion Amidst COVID-19 troubles on the ground, the nation looked to space for hope on August 6, 2020 as the “space sector” behind the launch of and knowledge product creation through the first ever Philippine-made microsatellites held a press briefing. The event, “Our Place in Space: What’s Next for the Philippines Space Sector?”, invited the media for a virtual discussion over Zoom to talk about what’s next in terms of research and development (R&D) from the sector a year after the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) was officially established with Republic Act 11363. DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña giving the opening remarks. Screenshot from the replay of the press briefing here. The organizations that make up the sector are: the PhilSA; the UP-led STAMINA4Space Program, which succeeded with the much lauded PHL-Microsat project in developing the country’s capacities in small satellite technology; and the Department of Science and Technology Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI). The briefing was composed of presentations by seven speakers from different corners of the space sector, each giving updates on the latest developments in their space-related R&D specialties. Engr. Harold Bryan Paler, Senior Science Research Specialist at the DOST-ASTI, talks about PEDRO. Screenshot from the replay of the press briefing here. The first presentation came from Engr. Harold Bryan Paler, Senior Science Research Specialist at the DOST-ASTI. Paler talked of the Philippine Earth Data Resources and Observation Center (PEDRO Center), which is the country’s ground monitoring station for satellites. The primary function of PEDRO is to monitor, give commands, and receive data from the project’s earth observation satellites,such as Diwata-2. It has independent stations with corresponding tracking antennae in all three major islands of the Philippines: in UP Diliman, Quezon City for Luzon; in Dumangas, Iloilo for the Visayas; and, in Davao City for Mindanao.These stations track the satellites from horizon to horizon. It also boasts of the Computing and Archiving Research Environment or COARE to store and process the often large-sized images that satellites produce. Engr. Roel de la Cruz of the DOST-ASTI on satellite mapping and disaster risk reduction. Screenshot from the replay of the press briefing here. The next two presentations strictly dealt with the many present and future ways that data from satellites can be applied to disaster risk reduction, and to agricultural and environmental efforts. Engr. Roel de la Cruz of the DOST-ASTI discussed how the DATOS project uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to translate satellite derived data into mapping and monitoring solutions for floods, land cover, seasonal crops, and calamities, among other applications. For example, using radar satellites that pass every 12 days, his team can determine the signatures that differentiate sugarcane from rice, corn, and other crops. Doing so, the team can now map and monitor plantations like these in the country and currently have agreements with government agencies to accomplish this feat. UP researcher Mark Jayson Felix of STAMINA4Space on how optical imagery can be used to track changes in the environment. Screenshot from the replay of the press briefing here. Similarly, UP researcher Mark Jayson Felix of STAMINA4Space showed how optical imagery can be used to track changes in the environment. These space technology applications are used to track air and water quality, as well as to do econometric work. Included in this work is the surprising finding that higher levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) in the air appeared to have a relationship with the number of COVID-19 fatalities in areas they studied. This, according to Felix, mirrored similar studies in Europe that found similar relationships that he hoped could be used to improve air quality without severely compromising the economy. These series of presentations were punctuated by the unveiling of the Space Data Dashboard where one can view relevant research outputs from the various projects mapped on the web. The team displayed its capabilities by running over the dashboard’s COVID-19 pertinent functions to the media. A slide from Engr.DelburgMitchao’s presentation. Screenshot from the replay of the press briefing here. Moving from data applications to building the satellites of the future, Engr. Delburg Mitchao of STAMINA4Space discussed building actual satellites locally, in the past and the future. He discussed the locally developed modules developed for Diwata-2: the amateur radio payload, the attitude control unit, and the sun aspect sensor. He noted how the future of microsatellite development lies in creating the satellite “bus”, or the vehicle where these modules are contained, as well as a local onboard computer that interfaces with communication modules (UTACH) and aids in its control. A slide from the presentation of Dr. Maricor Soriano of the UP Diliman Institute of Physics and head of the STAMINA4Space OPTIKAL project. Screenshot from the replay of the press briefing here. Similarly, Dr. Maricor Soriano of the UP Diliman Institute of Physics and head of the STAMINA4Space OPTIKAL project brought media members up to speed on her team’s current projects, including the development of two cameras for remote sensing. These are the Hyperspectral Imaging Camera (HYPIE) and the Multi-Application Line Imaging Camera-Monochrome and Tri-Linear Array (MALIC-MATA). The former will be carried by a drone and the latter by a satellite. Both are line scanning cameras that sweep over a scene just as a flatbed scanner might work on a smaller scale. Engr. Mary Ann Constante of the STAMINA4Space STeP-UP project. Screenshot from the replay of the press briefing here. Lastly, Engr. Mary Ann Constante of the STAMINA4Space STeP-UP project detailed the steps her team were taking to make the space program more locally sustainable. Other than supporting Masters and PhD students and offering the first ever Nanosatellite Engineering track in the Masters of Engineering program at the UPD Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (EEEI), the team also established a local chapter of an international space engineering consortium (UNISEC Global) that serves as a platform for local universities to join UP Diliman in space-related activities. They are also coordinating with local agencies and industries for space product manufacturing. Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano, Jr., Director General of the PhilSA and faculty member of the UPD-EEEI, on the mandate of PhilSA. Screenshot from the replay of the press briefing here. Wrapping up the entire event was Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano, Jr., Director General of the PhilSA and faculty member of the UPD-EEEI. Talking about value creation in space S&T and its applications, Marciano cited the PhilSA’s vision: “a Filipino nation bridged, uplifted through the peaceful uses of outer space.” He clarified that while the PhilSA was being built from the ground up, it is not starting from scratch, since prior efforts have produced significant capabilities, trained personnel, and infrastructure that were on full display during the press briefing. While drafting RA 11363 implementing rules and regulations kept Marciano and his team busy, he pointed out PhilSA’s two flagship initiatives: mobilizing satellite images and data for digital inclusion, economy, and government; and, the Build, Build, Build in Space (B3iS). As part of these initiatives, he mentioned plans for the creation of a locally made multispectral satellite and what will be the Diwata 3 microsatellite, among others. A slide from PhilSA Director Marciano’s presentation. Screenshot from the replay of the press briefing here. “The mechanism for local know how transfer and retention shall be used to engage local companies in the manufacture test and supply chain for the B3iS satellites, which can help spur the development of the local space industry as a possible pathway for economic recovery post-COVID-19,” Marciano said. |
https://up.edu.ph/the-hatch-hub-on-maginhawa-st-offers-remote-learning-spaces-for-up-students/ | The Hatch Hub on Maginhawa St. offers remote learning spaces for UP students – University of the Philippines | The Hatch Hub on Maginhawa St. offers remote learning spaces for UP students The Hatch Hub on Maginhawa St. offers remote learning spaces for UP students September 2, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion Image from The Hatch Hub’s Facebook page. When the COVID-19 pandemic drastically transformed the educational landscape around the globe earlier this year, Filipinos had little choice but to accept the fact that much of teaching and learning in the foreseeable future would have to be done digitally. While this transition, as described in a Memorandum of the UP Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA) dated June 4, 2020, had long been prepared for, no doubt present circumstances accelerated its implementation by at least a few years. [Related: UPCAT qualifiers enrolling in UP can expect the “new normal” of remote learning] A key concern of the University regarding this digital shift is equalizing access to knowledge for students, given the tendency of technology to exacerbate pre-existing socio-economic divisions between the financially more and the less capable. This concern spurred the creation of efforts such as the #KaagapayUP project to bridge this divide and help financially challenged students have a fighting chance to do online classes on more even terms. [Related: Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan FAQs] Several UP alumni, including Julliano Fernando ‘Jules’ Guiang, a National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) alumnus and graduate student, were similarly struck by the inequities highlighted by the pandemic. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Guiang, who is also a journalist, had launched The Hatch Hub, a co-working space on Maginhawa Street, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City with his friends. At first, they envisioned it to be an affordable establishment where students and professionals could study, meet, work, and hold events. The Hatch Hub’s rooftop space. Image from Mr. Jules Guiang. Forging a partnership With the COVID-19 pandemic, however, Guiang and his partners realized the need to shift their focus. While other businesses were struggling to keep afloat, they knew that The Hatch Hub had the potential to help at least UP students nearby to meet the challenges of the coming academic year. “Moving forward,” Guiang said, “I thought, why not offer [The Hatch Hub] for students who don’t have a conducive space with strong internet connection?” With the formal launch of the #KaagapayUP campaign, Guiang contacted the UP Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs and it only took a Zoom meeting and a few emails for the collaboration to take shape. Photo of the indoor working and study space in The Hatch Hub. Image from Mr. Jules Guiang. The Hatch Hub, as it was originally designed, is an establishment where, for the cost of P50 an hour, a customer can get a personal space to work in, with free water, coffee, and power outlets (other services and packages are available). Through #KaagapayUP, Hatch Hub will become one of the University’s partner organizations where students can use the space and its services for their online classes. “Since our space is not that big, and since we’re following health protocols, we can only admit at most 10 students at a time,” Guiang said. Moreover, Guiang also offered The Hatch Hub to be a drop-off point where generous UP alumni can donate their laptops and other gadgets for the use of UP students. “I am also thinking of tapping other UP alumni who can chip in financial assistance so we can cover other expenses, such as WiFi fees, electricity bill, water and coffee,” he added. Serving the people Once all the details have been ironed out, Guiang and his partners hope to launch the service at the beginning of academic year (AY) 2020-2021. “We will be setting up an online registration where students can reserve their slots,” he clarified. He also said that he has been contacting and coordinating with similar businesses this 2020 and will also pitch similar ideas to them. What inspired him to readily offer this service at a time when most other businesses are seeking to downsize or otherwise find ways to be profitable? “As a public administration student, I always bear in mind the ‘public’,” Guiang clarified. “I fully understand the challenges our students are facing right now, so I thought, why not share what we have at the moment? At least on my end, a decent space that students can use for their remote learning. After all, our battle cry is to ‘serve the people’. In my case, this is the least I can offer right now.” Image from Mr. Jules Guiang. Visit The Hatch Hub at 195 Maginhawa Street, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City from 12 NN to 12 AM. You can also visit them online at facebook.com/TheHatchHub or email them at thehatchhub@gmail.com. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-officially-welcomes-2020-batch-of-oblation-scholars/ | UP officially welcomes 2020 batch of Oblation scholars – University of the Philippines | UP officially welcomes 2020 batch of Oblation scholars UP officially welcomes 2020 batch of Oblation scholars October 7, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion Screenshot from the Welcome Ceremony for Oblation Scholars 2020. The replay can be viewed on TVUP’s YouTube channel. The University of the Philippines welcomed its newest batch of Oblation Scholars to its ranks in a virtual ceremony on September 3, 2020 via Zoom, Facebook, and TVUP’s official YouTube channel. Oblation Scholarships are awarded to the top 50 freshman qualifiers based on their UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) scores and University Predicted Grades (UPG). Of these scholars, 43 chose programs in UP Diliman, while 7 chose programs in UP Manila. The current batch of scholars was chosen from among 66,203 UPCAT takers on October 19, 2019. 29 of them have already proceeded with their enrolment for academic year (AY) 2020-2021. Screenshot from the Welcome Ceremony for Oblation Scholars 2020. The replay can be viewed on TVUP’s YouTube channel. The ceremony began with UP President Danilo L. Concepcion greeting the 2020 batch of scholars in his opening remarks. “Kalakip ng pagiging Iskolar ng Bayan ay ang karagdagang allowance at suporta para matugunan ang inyong mga pangangailangan sa pag-aaral ngayong panahon ng COVID-19,” (Lumped together with being dubbed “Iskolar ng Bayan” will be allowances and support to help you meet your educational needs in the age of COVID-19) Concepcion said. He reminded the scholars to always be mindful of their responsibilities and the fact that their education is subsidized by the Filipino people, while assuring them of the University’s constant support in transitioning to remote learning starting this academic year. Screenshots from the Welcome Ceremony for Oblation Scholars 2020. The replay can be viewed on TVUP’s YouTube channel. In her remarks, Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Rose Bautista walked the scholars through the changes they can expect to see for the upcoming academic year. She broke down what remote learning means for students of the University, and how “course packs” containing syllabi, learning guides, assignment guides, and activity guides will be given out to facilitate the learning of each student. This was followed by a message from Prof. Francisco N. de los Reyes, UP Office of Admissions Director, outlining the rules governing the Oblation Scholarship. Office of Admissions Director De Los Reyes. Screenshot from the Welcome Ceremony for Oblation Scholars 2020. The replay can be viewed on TVUP’s YouTube channel. According to de los Reyes, Oblation Scholars have the privilege of enrolling in any academic program within the University, provided they meet all the other academic requirements of their program of choice. Tuition fees, miscellaneous fees and laboratory fees are all free. Moreover, scholars are entitled to P2,250 per semester in book allowances, together with transportation allowance if they live far from their campus of choice. They also receive P3,000 per month as a special incentive allowance. These privileges last for the normal duration of the degree course chosen, computed from date of first enrolment. To maintain these privileges, Oblation scholars must take up the normal load prescribed for their degree programs every semester and maintain a general weighted average (GWA) of 2.0. Furthermore, they must pass all the subjects they enrolled in, without incurring a “4.0”, “incomplete”, or “dropped” in their transcripts. Screenshot from the Welcome Ceremony for Oblation Scholars 2020. The replay can be viewed on TVUP’s YouTube channel. In her message as representative of the current batch, Ms. Beatrice Dominique Caragay urged her fellow students to be open to the many life-changing events that they will experience as students of UP. “Mahaba at mapaghamon ang landas na ating tatahakin bilang mga Iskolar ng Bayan. Ating tandaan na isang malaking karangalan at responsibilidad ang pag-aaral sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas,” (Our journey as mga Iskolar ng Bayan is long and challenging. Let us remember that it is a tremendous honor and responsibility to be able to study in the University of the Philippines) she said. |
https://up.edu.ph/covid-19-raising-the-stakes-for-stroke-patients-in-upcoming-up-stop-covid-deaths-webinar/ | COVID-19 raising the stakes for stroke patients, in upcoming UP Stop COVID Deaths webinar – University of the Philippines | COVID-19 raising the stakes for stroke patients, in upcoming UP Stop COVID Deaths webinar COVID-19 raising the stakes for stroke patients, in upcoming UP Stop COVID Deaths webinar October 28, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion By now, Filipinos are relatively more familiar with the symptoms and risks factors of COVID-19. Fever, dry cough, and loss of smell and taste have become tell-tale signs for many to self-quarantine or seek medical assistance. There are, however, possible associated effects and risk factors of the disease that are not yet as well understood and which deserve more investigation. A case in point is detailed below. A 54-year old male was rushed to the hospital due to the sudden onset of right-sided weakness and the inability to talk. There were no headaches, vomiting, loss of consciousness or seizure-like episodes. He did have, however, a history of heart failure from rheumatic heart disease since 2019. While the patient survived his stroke, he succumbed to complications of COVID-19 associated with neurological damage from blood clots and inflammation. Stroke, otherwise known as cerebrovascular disease, is the second leading cause of death in the Philippines today, and ranks 5th among those with the greatest burden of disease. While several familiar risk factors are linked to strokes, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, hyperlipidemia, smoking, excessive alcohol use, and old age, conditions that cause inflammation like viral infections, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis can also play a role. It was only a few weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic that doctors in China, France, Italy and the United States began noticing that a hypercoagulable state or an abnormal increased tendency towards blood clotting in some COVID-19 patients could increase their risk of ischemic stroke. In this 28th edition of the “STOP COVID DEATHS: VIRTUAL GRAND ROUNDS” webinar series, “Stroke and COVID-19”, Dr. Clare Angeli Enriquez, Vascular Neurology Fellow at the UP-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Department of Neurosciences will discuss findings related to the body-wide increase in blood clot formation associated with COVID-19 that can damage multiple organs, including the brain. Dr. Enriquez will be joined in this discussion by Dean Madeleine Grace Sosa of the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute and Dr. Jose Leonard Pascual, an associate professor at the UP College of Medicine. As done before, it will be held virtually on October 30, 2020, Friday, at 12 noon. Registration slots are limited, so sign up now at: bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar28 to join the discussion. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-to-confer-honorary-degree-on-up-law-alumnus-and-former-finance-sec-edgardo-espiritu/ | UP to confer honorary degree on UP Law alumnus and former Finance Sec. Edgardo Espiritu – University of the Philippines | UP to confer honorary degree on UP Law alumnus and former Finance Sec. Edgardo Espiritu UP to confer honorary degree on UP Law alumnus and former Finance Sec. Edgardo Espiritu November 27, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion In a virtual ceremony on November 28, 2020, the University of the Philippines will confer its highest honor, the Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) to Amb. Edgardo B. Espiritu (’55). A graduate of the UP College of Law in 1958, Amb. Espiritu has been at the head of several of the country’s leading financial institutions such as Metrobank, the Philippine National Bank, and Westmont Bank. Amb. Espiritu also helped guide the country navigate the Asian Financial Crisis as Secretary at the Department of Finance in 1998; served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and Iceland; and oversaw the construction of the buildings like the Ang Bahay ng Alumni as the longest serving UP Alumni Association President. Register for the event here: https://tinyurl.com/honoriscausaconferment-EBE |
https://up.edu.ph/up-announces-november-16-21-as-recovery-period/ | UP announces November 16-21 as recovery period – University of the Philippines | UP announces November 16-21 as recovery period UP announces November 16-21 as recovery period November 18, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion After the Category 4-equivalent Typhoon Ulysses (international name Vamco) devastated several regions that earlier also bore the brunt of Super Typhoon Rolly and Typhoon Quinta, the University of the Philippines (UP) quickly realized the need not only to offer its assistance to communities that suffered tragic loss of life and property, but also to acknowledge the suffering these events have inflicted on its faculty, staff and students in various parts of the country. In the spirit of solidarity with all those affected, the UP administration, via Memorandum 2020-139 of the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, is declaring the week of 16-21 November 2020 as a period of recovery for the UP community. This period is meant to aid in the efforts to raise funds, to solicit donations, to engage in the packing and delivering of relief goods to those in need, following public health protocols, and to assist in the overall rehabilitation process. Synchronous and asynchronous classes, as well as the submission of all course requirements, are suspended during this period. In the spirit of compassion and flexibility, the Office of the Registrar of each UP constituent university (CU) will furnish faculty members a list of the names of students who are based in areas affected by Typhoons Quinta, Rolly and Ulysses. This will help faculty members identify students who may need printed course packs or advice on course requirements. To accommodate later submissions from students, UP is also extending the submission of final grades to 22 January 2021. The 20 percent attendance rule is also suspended this semester and should not have any influence on one’s final grade. Attendance in synchronous sessions are also not required, and faculty members should make allowances for those who miss them. These measures come in addition to previously announced changes to academic rules, including the following: • The deadlines for the filing leaves of absence and dropping are suspended. • A 12-unit course load is considered regular for undergraduate students. • The first semester AY 2020-2021 will not be counted towards MRR (maximum residency rule). • A student enrolled in a course that is a prerequisite to another shall be allowed to enroll in the latter course for credit, despite having no grade in the former due to the extension of submission of final grades. • The rules on academic standing: warning, dismissal, permanent disqualification, and probation are suspended.* (*for undergraduates only) According to the memorandum, since the first semester AY 2020-2021 is considered a transition semester towards a more effective delivery of learning in succeeding semesters, faculty are called to review their course loads in light of student capacities amidst recent natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. “A compassionate calibration of expectations from students and teachers this semester,” the memorandum states, “is an imperative for our academic community.” |
https://up.edu.ph/rule-of-law-key-to-defending-ph-sovereignty-justice-carpio/ | ‘Rule of Law’ key to defending PH sovereignty – Justice Carpio – University of the Philippines | ‘Rule of Law’ key to defending PH sovereignty – Justice Carpio ‘Rule of Law’ key to defending PH sovereignty – Justice Carpio December 15, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice and newest recipient of a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, degree from UP, Justice Antonio Carpio delivering his lecture. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UPMPRO. It was 1995, UP College of Law alumnus and retired Justice Antonio Carpio said, when China first seized Mischief Reef, a submerged atoll located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on the West Philippine Sea. At that time Chief Presidential Legal Counsel for former President Fidel V. Ramos, Carpio remembered how with neither a formidable military nor recourse to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), the nation could only watch as a more powerful state grabbed territory from a weaker one without consequence. “China demonstrated to the world that might makes right,” Carpio said. And with China claiming up to 80% of the country’s territory on the West Philippine Sea, this would only be the beginning. “It was obvious that Mischief Reef would neither be the first nor the last geologic feature that China would seize from the Philippines.” Justice Carpio receives his honorary degree from UP. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UPMPRO. In his acceptance speech after receiving a Doctor of Laws honoris causa degree from the University of the Philippines on December 10, 2020 at UP Diliman’s Malcolm Hall, Carpio narrated how this event that “left a scar in (his) mind” would later help influence his spirited defense of the country’s sovereign rights on the West Philippine Sea by questioning China’s claims to the territory via its ‘9-dashed line.’ It would be in 2011, after Carpio wrote the unanimous decision to Magallona v. Executive Secretary that amended the country’s archipelagic baseline to conform to UNCLOS, that he realized that the country now had its territorial house in order and could build a better territorial case against China. Two months after this decision, with the Philippines fully UNCLOS-compliant, Carpio led the charge along with fellow lawyers and intellectuals to bring China’s ‘9-dashed line’ claims before an UNCLOS tribunal. “China’s 9-dashed line simply cannot co-exist with UNCLOS. Upholding one means killing the other,” said Carpio in a speech at the 50th anniversary of the Ateneo de Davao College of Law. The challenge, thenceforth, was to bring the case before UNCLOS, given China previously opting out of compulsory arbitration. In this challenge he was joined by what they coined the ‘UNCLOS group’, made up of Dr. Jay Batongbacal, Dr. Diane Desierto, the late Dr. Aileen Baviera, Atty. Lani Somera, Atty. John Molo, Atty. Elma Leogardo, Dr. Suzette Suarez, and Dr. Lowell Bautista. After China seized Scarborough Shoal after a vessel standoff in 2012, the preliminary work had already been done. According to Carpio, when then President Benigno Aquino III realized that China would not leave the shoal, Aquino instructed Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario to file the arbitration case. And with the preliminary work mostly having been done by the UNCLOS Group with the approval of international experts, the Statement of Claim against China Pursuant to UNCLOS was filed on January 22, 2013. The Philippines made its case in an arena where facts and rule of law could trump naked military might. In 2015, Carpio complemented this effort with a world lecture tour where the Philippine perspective in the dispute was explained to experts and interested parties. Then, in 2016, the Arbitral Award from UNCLOS invalidated with finality China’s 9-dashed line and declared that the Philippines had full EEZ on the West Philippine Sea. Carpio then gave a few thoughts on how a peaceful enforcement of the ruling could be enforced, citing the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between the country and China in 2018 “to cooperate in exploiting oil and gas in the WPS under the Service Contract system of the Philippines”. Under the Service Contract system, Carpio said that the service contractor would receive 40% of the net proceeds as payment for capital, services, and technology. The Philippine government, on the other hand, would receive 60% as the owner of the oil or gas—the same terms in the country’s contract with Shell, which operates the Malampaya gas field in the WPS. This stated ownership by the Philippine government and another provision stating that Philippine law governs the contract is sufficient for Carpio to preserve the country’s sovereign claim to the WPS, assuming the Chinese state-owned company assumes the role of service contractor. Members of the socially-distanced audience in Malcolm Hall listen to Justice Carpio’s lecture. Photo by Rad Agustin, UPMPRO. “As long as the structure in the MOU and TOR is not changed, I can vouch to the Filipino people that Philippine sovereign rights in the WPS are preserved,” Carpio said. And while he believes that one of the greatest achievements of the Aquino administration was the filing of the arbitration case that secured the nation’s EEZ, he thinks that the Duterte administration can have a similar feather in its cap if the MOA and its Terms of Reference (TOR) are successfully implemented, bringing peace and stability to the region. Carpio, ever the realist, also believes that enforcement mechanisms should be introduced to UNCLOS in the next round of negotiations. This is to ensure that losing parties cannot go rogue after unfavorable decisions. Possible sanctions, he said, could include automatic suspension that would include the suspension of its deep-sea mining permits, voting rights, and representation in UNCLOS committees. Ultimately, he thinks that the battle to defend the nation’s EEZ from China mirrors those our forbears waged against colonizers from the 16th to the 20th century, where the country’s best and brightest gave their lives “to make the Philippines free”. In this new century’s fight against foreign encroachment, Carpio advises utilizing the “most powerful weapon invented by man in the settlement of disputes among states”. “That weapon—the great equalizer—is the Rule of Law. Under the Rule of Law, right prevails over might.” Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UPMPRO. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-to-train-8-new-filipino-satellite-makers/ | UP to train 8 new Filipino satellite makers – University of the Philippines | UP to train 8 new Filipino satellite makers UP to train 8 new Filipino satellite makers November 23, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion The University of the Philippines (UP) Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (EEEI) will be training the second batch of Filipino satellite builders in nanosatellite engineering under the Space Science Proliferation through University Partnerships or STeP-UP Program, at the core of which is the UP EEEI’s Masters in Engineering program. The second landmark batch of STeP-UP scholars met virtually last November 6, 2020 with the pioneering STeP-UP Class of 2019 their successors in a kick-off ceremony over Zoom. The event was attended by many prominent names in the Philippine space science and technology industry, including Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato dela Peña, Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) Director General Joel Marciano, Jr., DOST Science Education Institute Director Josette Biyo, and UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, among others. The STeP-UP Scholarship is a component of the STAMINA4Space program, which aims to build a healthy and vibrant space infrastructure in the country. (Find out more about the STeP-UP Program here.) With the help of UP’s partner, the Kyushu Institute of Technology (KyuTech), the first batch of STeP-UP scholars was trained in the first ever Master’s in Engineering in Electrical Engineering program, with a special focus on nanosatellite engineering, at the UP Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (EEEI). The pioneering class used the knowledge they gained to create the first locally built nano- or cube satellites, Maya 3 and 4. While barely being over a kilogram in mass each, the satellites can contribute considerably to the country’s economic, territorial, and disaster risk reduction efforts. Their predecessor, Maya 1, for instance, which was built by two Filipino students at KyuTech, had the capacity to communicate with ham radios on the ground and carried two cameras with wide-angle and narrow-angle lenses to capture photos and videos when it was launched back in 2018. Screenshot from the STeP-UP Project Batch-2 Scholars Kick-off Meeting. “Though it is very much smaller than its predecessors, its importance to communication and disaster-related concerns is not diminished,” said UP College of Engineering Dean Ferdinand G. Manegdeg. According to him, photographs taken by these smaller satellites can very much be used by policymakers and stakeholders to craft policies that will impact the environment. “Saying that these nanosatellites are essential to the economy is an understatement.” While the pioneering class of STeP-UP scholars are in the process of finishing their degrees—in addition to Maya 3 and 4, which they plan to hand over to JAXA for launching in February 2021—the second batch will be hard at work in applying their knowledge to launching Maya 5 and Maya 6. According to STAMINA4Space Program Leader Gay Jane Perez, they hope to finish their pair of nanosatellites by 2022. Coming from a broad range of backgrounds, these upcoming STeP-UP scholars also come from various regions in the country. They include: Gio Asher Tagabi from Quezon City; Chandler Timm Doloriel from Surigao del Norte; 2nd Lt. Genesis Remocaldo from Clark Air Base Pampanga; Anna Ruth Alvarez from Misamis Oriental; Angela Clarisse Chua from Manila; Joseph Jonathan Co from Valenzuela City; Ronald Collamar from Bulacan; and, Khazmir Camille Valerie Macaraeg from Quezon City. According to STeP-UP Project Leader Paul Jason Co, scholars like those in the upcoming batch are essential if the Philippines is to build its capabilities in satellite building, and in space technology in general. “Capable scientists, researchers, and engineers must be trained to sustain the ecosystem,” he said. And while both batches have hit understandable rough patches in their progress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Co remains confident that the scholars will be able to make their mark in Philippine space sci-tech history on schedule. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-partners-with-universities-and-media-orgs-for-2019-elections-fact-checking/ | UP partners with universities and media orgs for 2019 elections fact-checking – University of the Philippines | UP partners with universities and media orgs for 2019 elections fact-checking UP partners with universities and media orgs for 2019 elections fact-checking February 13, 2019 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Tsek.ph MOA signatories with their copies of the document, with Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia (sixth from left) and UP Department of Journalism’s Prof. Rachel Khan (extreme left), Prof. Yvonne Chua, and Prof. Maria Diosa Labiste (second and third from right). They are (from left): Janvic Mateo representing Teresa Mendoza of Philippine Star, Ellen Tordesillas of Vera Files, Maria Regina Reyes of ABS-CBN Corp., Maria Ressa of Rappler, Danilo Concepcion of the University of the Philippines, Maitel Ladrido representing Jose Ramon Villarin of Ateneo de Manila University, Sonio Soto of Radio World Broadcasting Corp., Anadel Camille Diola of Interaksyon and Philstar.com, Jennifer Aquino of Probe Productions Inc., and Gerardo Mariano representing Raymundo Suplido of De La Salle University. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO Spearheaded by three UP units, a collaborative fact-checking project for the May 2019 elections was launched on February 11, 2019 at Quezon Hall, UP Diliman (UPD). UP, represented by President Danilo Concepcion, entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with two universities and several media organizations to establish “Tsek.ph”, a website that will be the repository of their fact-checking of claims made in connection with the May 2019 elections. “Fact-checking is a very controversial and, often, confrontational activity,” UP Vice President for Public Affairs and Professor of Communication Research Elena Pernia said in welcoming the MOA signatories. “But good journalists and the academe, who are represented, know that it is essential, especially at this time when we are at the cusp of national elections.” UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia welcomes the signatories of the MOA for Tsek.ph. Looking on are UP President Danilo Concepcion, Rappler’s Maria Ressa, and Ateneo de Manila University’s Maitel Ladrido. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP-MPRO According to the MOA, the project arose from “growing threats of disinformation and misinformation in traditional and online media that affect the health of democratic countries and the power of the citizens to make informed choices during elections.” In the initial batch of fact-checking partners are: UP, the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), De La Salle University (DLSU); and media organizations, namely, ABS-CBN Corp., Interaksyon, Philstar.com, Probe Productions Inc., the Philippine Star, Radio World Broadcasting Corp., Rappler, and Vera Files. Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia facilitates the signing of the MOA for Tsek.ph as press people take photographs in the UP Board of Regents Room, February 11, 2018. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO The project was spearheaded by the UPD College of Mass Communication’s (CMC) Journalism Department, the UPD College of Engineering’s Department of Computer Science, and the UP College of Law. It is supported by the Facebook Journalism Project, the Meedan group of open-source investigators of digital media, and the Macaranas Journalism Grant. According to the CMC press release for the event, more media partners will be invited to Tsek.ph. UP Department of Journalism’s Prof. Rachel Khan explains the features of Tsek.ph, as Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili, the master of ceremonies, looks on. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO CMC also said that Tsek.ph would be guided by the Code of Principles of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) in checking “platforms and campaign promises of candidates; statements and remarks made by candidates, personalities, government agencies, and other entities; and election-related posts on social media, blogs, and other platforms.”. The claims will be given the ratings: “accurate”; “false”; “misleading”; “no basis”; and, “needs context”. The website also features a form to be filled out by citizens who want to submit claims for fact-checking. The CMC Journalism Department, headed by Prof. Rachel Khan, serves as the Tsek.ph secretariat. UP officials, members of the Tsek.ph secretariat and others from the UP Diliman College of Mass Communication have a photo with Tsek.ph MOA signatories. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO UP President Danilo Concepcion greets co-signatories of the MOA Anadel Camille Diola of Interaksyon and Philstar.com, after entering the UP Board of Regents Room. Looking on are UP Professor of Journalism Yvonne Chua and Jennifer Aquino of Probe Productions Inc. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO Tsek.ph, headed by UP, is launched with the MOA signing among leaders and their representatives of top universities and media organizations in UP’s Board of Regents Room, February 11, 2018. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO |
https://up.edu.ph/up-in-the-elections-university-election-initiatives-for-the-2019-midterm-polls/ | UP in the elections: University election initiatives for the 2019 midterm polls – University of the Philippines | UP in the elections: University election initiatives for the 2019 midterm polls UP in the elections: University election initiatives for the 2019 midterm polls May 7, 2019 | Written by KIM G Quilinguing With just a few days to go before voters troop to the polling stations for the 2019 midterm elections, several units of the University of the Philippines are busy publishing insights, fact check pieces and other materials aimed at aiding voters in their choice of candidates for the different positions in government. An initiative which seeks to verify claims made by candidates in the campaign trail, as well as in media interviews, debates and public fora, Tsek.ph attempts to provide voters with information relating to the veracity of statements made by political hopefuls. Video by the UP Media and Public Relations Office Tsek.ph is a joint effort of UP, the Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, online news organization Rappler, investigative journalism outfit Vera Files, ABS-CBN News, Interaksyon, Radio World Broadcasting Corporation, Baguio Midland Courier, Central Luzon Television, MindaNews, Probe Productions, The Philippine Star, Philstar.com, and the university’s own radio station, DZUP. Representatives of these institutions signed a Memorandum of Agreement in February. Aside from publishing verification reports made by its staff and contributors, Tsek.ph also accepts submissions from individuals who have come across dubious claims made by candidates to the public and the media. “In Tsek.ph, we have what we call a claim submission. So, the public can put out a question on the website and send a query,” said Prof. Rachel Khan of the Department of Journalism of the College of Mass Communication. “And the members of Tsek.ph are committed to research that question, for as long as it is election related.” Also involved in the project, aside from the Department of Journalism of the College of Mass Communication, are the university’s Department of Computer Science of the College of Engineering and the College of Law. Over at the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, members of the Department of Political Science are also providing the electorate with insights on the issues and situations confronting the country via the UP sa Halalan 2019 project. Video by the UP Media and Public Relations Office An initiative which traces its roots to the UP sa Halalan project by the university’s Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs in the 2013 and 2016 elections, the project aims to provide the public with viewpoints from experts in political science, governance, the electoral process and other issues confronting the electorate. Department chair and project head Prof. Maria Ela Atienza said the project aims to continue “the kind of work particularly during elections, where we present analysis, evidence-based data, that hopefully can inform different sectors about what is at stake during elections.” She added it also wants to “highlight … the relevant issues that may not be discussed by the candidates and the political parties, but at the same time also, we feel they should actually prioritize.” Aside from think pieces by its own faculty, the UP sa Halalan 2019 project also provides analysis from other units of the university, including insights from foreigners who have had a long history of studying the political landscape of the country and collaboration with the department. The UP sa Halalan 2019 project maintains a website (halalan.up.edu.ph) where they publish analyses, viewpoints and materials from affiliated faculty and partners. It also maintains social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter. Preview of UP sa Halalan 2019 website Tsek.ph also maintains a website (tsek.ph) where it publishes the results of its verification of claims made by candidates. It also maintains a Facebook page where it also shares its findings. Preview of Tsek.ph website By providing fact check findings, viewpoints, analyses and research materials on the candidates and the issues discussed leading to the election day, these units fulfill not only the university’s mandate to serve the people, but also to provide information and to educate and empower them as they prepare to perform a very important act of representative democracy. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-cus-join-the-fight-against-disinformation/ | More UP CUs join the fight against disinformation – University of the Philippines | More UP CUs join the fight against disinformation More UP CUs join the fight against disinformation February 2, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Image from Tsek.ph on Facebook. After the successful relaunch of the expanded Tsek.ph on January 24, UP Baguio, UP Cebu, UP Visayas, UPOU, and UP sa Halalan 2022, an initiative led by UP Diliman’s Department of Political Science, are also joining the coalition. They are joining the institutions and initiatives composed of media, academe, and civil society organizations, committed to fighting disinformation under the banner of Tsek.ph. Initiated in 2019, Tsek.ph is a project of the UP System, under the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs through the UP-CMC Journalism Department serving as a collaborative fact-checking network, which at the time united three academic institutions and 11 media partners as a public service commitment to counter disinformation. As the 2022 May elections draw near, fact-checkers from a variety of fields pool their efforts once again to help educate voters as they make the crucial decision of electing new leaders, this time with old and new partners alike. Prior to the 2022 re-launch, only UP Diliman and UP Los Baños were formally in Tsek.ph. Apart from fact-checking groups within the UP System, new members to the Tsek.ph roster include Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan and Carlos Hilado Memorial State College. Also joining is E-Boto, a civil society organization that will soon launch its own voter education website, partnered with the growing collaborative endeavor that included the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting. These new partners will join other collaborators in a series of trainors’ training workshops organized by Tsek.ph in February on Political Fact-checking, which will be conducted by VERA Files and Verification 101- Cohort 2 by UP and Google News Initiative. Tsek.ph will also be conducting a seminar on Ethical Fact-checking for its partners in early March. Tsek.ph is supported by the UP System, Google News Initiative, UP Journalism Department and the UPCMC Foundation, Inc.. For more information on Tsek.ph, visit the website, join the Viber community, email secretariat@tsek.ph, or like and follow it on Facebook and Twitter. |
https://up.edu.ph/upv-oar-launches-the-alumni-cafe-jam/ | UPV OAR launches The Alumni Café Jam – University of the Philippines | UPV OAR launches The Alumni Café Jam UPV OAR launches The Alumni Café Jam May 4, 2017 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The Alumni Café Jam was launched recently by the UP Visayas (UPV) Office of Alumni Relations (OAR), with various alumni groups, classes, batches and associations as co-sponsors. An al fresco musical jamming session at the UPV Alumni Terrace, The Alumni Café Jam aims to strengthen ties between and among UP alumni groups, associations, classes and batches. The kick-off session was sponsored by UP High School Batch ’92 on March 24, 2017. UPV Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Prof. Evelyn Belleza, Prof. Dea Doromal, UP Hamili/Hamilia Alumni Association members, Pretty Farm Boys, and UPAA officers and board members, led by UPHS Batch ’92 Class President and UPV UPAA President Rosendo Arandela III, graced the event. Photo by GC Castro, UPV-OAR As part of its 52nd Anniversary festivities, the UP Hamili/Hamilia Alumni Association hosted The Alumni Café Jam‘s second session on April 21, 2017. The session featured a live acoustic performance by UP Hamili alumnus Pablito Araneta. The UP Hamili/Hamilia Alumni Association, UPHS Batch ’89, and Sotech Alumni Association will co-host other Alumni Café Jam sessions later this year. The Alumni Café Jam is open to UP alumni. The UPV Alumni Terrace can accommodate a maximum of thirty people. Musical sessions usually run from 4:00-7:00 p.m. UP alumni groups are encouraged to perform soft, light and, easy music from their years as UP students, featuring individuals or a duo. For queries, call UPV OAR at (+63)(33) 3368837, email at alumni@upv.edu.lph or visit www.facebook.com/upvoar. |
https://up.edu.ph/pook-aralan-in-bato-leyte-is-now-open-for-all-up-students/ | Pook Aralan in Bato Leyte is now open for all UP students – University of the Philippines | Pook Aralan in Bato Leyte is now open for all UP students Pook Aralan in Bato Leyte is now open for all UP students March 18, 2022 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Picture of Britts Internet Shop located at Brgy Alejos Bato Leyte. The first Pook Aralan provides UP students free internet access, computer use, and printing services. In aid of students seriously affected by Typhoon Odette in December 2021, the University of the Philippines (UP) launched the first Pook Aralan under the Tabang sa Iskolar ng Bayan program. At least 12 students, all of the UP Manila School of Health Sciences (UPM-SHS), are the initial beneficiaries of the learning hub in the town of Bato, Leyte. The Pook, located at Brgy. Alejos Bato, Leyte, provides free internet access, computer use, WIFI, a charging station for gadgets, and printing services to all UP students within the area from March 2022 to July 2022. UP students come in to take full advantage of the Pook Aralan facility. Photo by the UP OSDS. The project aims to set a template of action for setting up learning hubs off campus whenever calamities seriously affect students who are now studying in a blended learning mode. The Office of Student Development Services (OSDS), formerly the Office of Student Financial Assistance, administers the project, in partnership with the UP Padayon Public Service Office (PPSO), the UP System Ugnayan ng Pahinungod, the concerned units of UP constituent universities, and owners of the chosen sites. “We launched the Tabang Para sa Iskolar ng Bayan, a UP System-wide resource generation campaign, for our students affected by Typhoon Odette, in January,” PPSO Director Jeanette Yasol-Naval said during the online launching ceremony on March 14, 2022. “The need for learning hubs was the first in the identified needs and concerns. Many of our students had lost their houses, equipment, connectivity, and other tools necessary for them to continue remote learning in the coming second semester,” Yasol-Naval added. UP Padayon Public Service Office Director Jeanette Yasol-Naval gives an overview of the Tabang Para sa Iskolar ng Bayan Project. Screenshot of the virtual launch of the Student Learning Hub, “Pook Aralan sa Bato, Leyte,” held on March 14, 2022. “The Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs, through UP Padayon, started reaching out once again to the generosity of our alumni, our friends, and our partners,” she said. “We flipped through our past campaigns and requested the pooling of excesses from the previous campaigns. Soon enough, Tabang Para sa Iskolar ng Bayan was able to commit support for the initial establishment of these learning hubs.” UP Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and OSDS Director Richard Philip Gonzalo hosted the launching ceremony. It was also attended by: Pahinungod System Director Marie Therese Bustos, UPM-SHS Dean Filedito Tandinco, and the Bato, Leyte establishment owner, Marissa Rojas. Beneficiary students who were right at the learning hub were present. According to AVP Gonzalo, Director Bustos, and Dean Tandinco, the units of Pahinungod, UP Manila, and the UPM-SHS played prominent roles in looking for partners who could provide locations for the learning hubs. They also identify target beneficiaries and their needs and activities requiring assistance, providing project administration and monitoring. UP Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and Office of Student Development Services Director Richard Philip Gonzalo hosted the Pook Aralan Learning Hub launching event. Screenshot of the virtual launch of the Student Learning Hub, “Pook Aralan sa Bato, Leyte,” held on March 14, 2022. Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Richard Philip Gonzalo said UP aims to build resilience in reaching out to and assisting students during pandemics and natural disasters. Pook Aralan would minimize disruptions in delivering remote learning assistance to students, provided under Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral ng Iskolar ng Bayan and adopt-a-student programs. “These are steps for us to reach out further to our students and ensure that we have a healthy and nurturing environment for our students,” Gonzalo said. For inquiries about Pook Aralan in Bato, Leyte, kindly contact studentwelfare.osds@up.edu.ph or Ms. Marissa Rojas at 09125710943. The Learning Hub partners: Ms. Marrissa Rojas, owner of Britts Internet Shop in Bato Leyte (center); UPM SHS Dean Filedito Tandinco (2nd from right); Prof. Ace Geteros (extreme right); and local government employees of Bato Leyte. Photo by the UP OSDS. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-wins-iabc-gold-quill-for-stop-covid-deaths/ | UP wins IABC Gold Quill for “Stop Covid Deaths” – University of the Philippines | UP wins IABC Gold Quill for “Stop Covid Deaths” UP wins IABC Gold Quill for “Stop Covid Deaths” April 29, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office When the COVID-19 pandemic began to rampage in early 2020, there were no experts on the disease nor any well-established treatments. Any knowledge gained came at a great price as doctors, and other medical professionals were among the first to fall to the new, highly infectious viral disease. The Philippines alone lost nearly two dozen medical specialists to COVID, a devastating blow to a country where health workers were already in short supply. Add to this the skyrocketing incidence of burnout among Philippine health workers as the pandemic raged on, as well as the government’s relatively weak COVID-19 response compared to the rest of ASEAN, and it becomes apparent that the country’s healthcare system’s recovery from the pandemic remains an uphill battle. Early on, the University of the Philippines (UP), the country’s national university, saw the urgent and continuing need for the exchange of accurate information about and on-the-ground experiences with COVID-19 among doctors, nurses, health workers, scientists, government officials, private healthcare representatives, and other frontliners. UP was then determined to ensure that the Philippine healthcare sector provides the best possible care for COVID-19 patients and national and local pandemic response. The general public also needed resources for science-based information about COVID-19 to counter the parallel epidemic of fake news and misinformation. By tapping into its community of the country’s top experts in multiple fields and disciplines, UP organized the “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar series early into the pandemic. This series is a collaborative work with the UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UPM-NIH) and National Telehealth Center (UPM-NTC), and the UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), with TVUP handling the Zoom-based program, including its livestreaming. These informative, educational webinars are held every Friday at noon over the TVUP YouTube channel and through the University’s Twitter account and TVUP’s Facebook page, making them free and openly accessible to anyone. UP has produced 96 “Stop COVID Deaths” webinars. They are still available for viewing on the TVUP YouTube channel. The latest round expands the discussion beyond COVID-19 and other infectious diseases significantly impacting the Philippine population, such as measles. 2022 Gold Quill Award of Merit The university’s significant educational and public service initiative—now into its third year—has recently earned international recognition when the UP “Stop COVID Deaths” webinars won a 2022 Gold Quill Award of Merit from the US-based International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). According to its official website, IABC’s Gold Quill Awards have recognized and awarded excellence in strategic communication worldwide. It is the only awards program that globally honors communicators’ dedication, innovation, and passion. Since 2008, organizers have screened more than 4,451 projects. As one of the awardees for 2022, the UP “Stop COVID Deaths” series won an Award of Merit under the Communication Management Division of the Gold Quill Awards in the “COVID-19 Response and Recovery Management and Communication” category. Its co-winners in its category include projects by the Region of Peel and the Vancouver Coastal Health (Canada), and the London Health Sciences Centre (UK). According to a letter from the IABC Awards Committee sent to UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia, “Our Gold Quill Blue Ribbon Panel evaluators assessed your entry against the IABC Gold Quill Award criteria and IABC’s Seven-point Scale of Excellence. Your work met this high standard—a great accomplishment!” “Through this work, you’ve managed to create a movement that has had a major impact on your country not only as it relates to how information is shared amongst frontline medical workers but also in the access that the public has to information that is highly relevant and important to Filipinos,” the IABC Gold Quill jury commented in its assessment of the webinar series. “In a time where many people and organizations were overwhelmed, this project stands out as one that demonstrates how effective and impactful simple, clear and consistent communication can be,” it added. Other winners from the Philippines are ABS-CBN for excellence in communication award for the web for its “Act as if you have the virus” campaign and recognition of merit in communication skills for its Kapamilya Himig Handog event, Christian Kyle Pascual of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde earned the award of merit in audio-visual communication skills for the presentation “Turtales: Telling the Tales of Endangered Marine Turtles,” the Megaworld Foundation garnered an award for excellence in communication skills in social media for its “Mega Summer Ventures Version 2.0” and Meralco for excellence in communication skills in publications award for its 2020 Corporate Reports and award of merit in communication skills in social media for its Meralco Corporate Partners Viber Community. Everyone is invited to attend this week’s UP “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar titled “Batang Biglang Hindi Makalakad: Siryosohin Natin ang Tigdas”, to be held on April 29, 2022, from 12 to 2 p.m. With reports from Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc |
https://up.edu.ph/ups-stop-covid-deaths-wins-iabc-gold-quill/ | UP’s “Stop COVID Deaths” wins IABC Gold Quill – University of the Philippines | UP’s “Stop COVID Deaths” wins IABC Gold Quill UP’s “Stop COVID Deaths” wins IABC Gold Quill July 6, 2022 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla (left), UP President Danilo Concepcion (middle), and UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia (right) attended the IABC’s 2022 Gold Quill awarding ceremony in New York. They received the award for UP’s “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar series. Photo from UP OVPPA The University of the Philippines’ (UP) groundbreaking effort, the “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar series, was recently honored by the US-based International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) with the 2022 Gold Quill Award of Merit. It won under the Communication Management Division in the “COVID-19 Response and Recovery Management and Communication” category. The IABC Awards Committee told UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia in a letter: “Our Gold Quill Blue Ribbon Panel evaluators assessed your entry against the IABC Gold Quill Award criteria and IABC’s Seven-point Scale of Excellence. Your work met this high standard—a great accomplishment!” UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia (left) and UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla (right) during the awarding ceremony in New York. Photo from UP OVPPA. The jury assessed that the webinar series “managed to create a movement that has had a major impact on your country not only as it relates to how information is shared amongst frontline medical workers but also in the access that the public has to information that is highly relevant and important to Filipinos.” Further, it stated how “stands out as one that demonstrates how effective and impactful simple, clear and consistent communication can be.” See the previous article on the UP “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar series’ international win. According to its website, the Gold Quill is the only program that awards excellence in strategic communication by recognizing communicators’ dedication, innovation, and passion worldwide. “Stop COVID Deaths” was born soon after WHO’s March 2020 declaration of a pandemic. It was UP’s immediate action from its quickly realized urgency to provide accurate information and share on-the-ground experiences among public and private healthcare practitioners, planners, and managers; scientists in various disciplines; all frontline workers; and the public. The highly infectious viral disease rapidly spreads worldwide without established treatments or experts. Early COVID-19 knowledge came at a price, from cases of doctors who first succumbed to the disease to the general public. For the Philippines, already crippled by the low supply of health personnel, losing nearly two dozen victims was devastating. To strengthen the country’s collective action, UP tapped a community of experts, gathering the UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UPM-NIH) and National Telehealth Center (UPM-NTC), and the UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) to create the webinar series that TVUP produced and streamed. Present during the IABC 2022 Gold Quill awarding ceremony in New York (left to right): Former NEDA Director-General Ernesto Pernia, UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia, UP President Danilo Concepcion, UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla, and Atty. Gabriela Concepcion. Photo from UP OVPPA. Free and openly accessible through UP’s Twitter and TVUP’s YouTube, and Facebook accounts, its first episode, “Clinical Management of COVID Pneumonia,” was shown on April 24, 2020. Streamed at noon every Friday, its 106th episode, “COVID-19 SURGE IN EUROPE: Susunod ba tayo?” (COVID-19 SURGE in EUROPE: Are we next?) was released on July 1, 2022. Its upcoming webinar this Friday, July 5, will focus on the recommendations by the newly created Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) on COVID-19 boosters and whether or not we need to booster shots against COVID-19. To register for this episode, sign up here. The complete playlist of “Stop COVID Deaths” webinars is available on TVUP’s YouTube channel. UP’s co-awardees in the category were Canada’s Region of Peel, Vancouver Coastal Health, and the UK’s London Health Sciences Centre. Other Philippine winners were projects by ABS-CBN, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s Christian Kyle Pascual, Megaworld Foundation, and Meralco. |
https://up.edu.ph/covid-19-in-western-visayas-public-health-data-analysis-and-recommendations-as-of-13-july-2020/ | COVID-19 in Western Visayas: Public Health Data Analysis and Recommendations as of 13 July 2020 – University of the Philippines | COVID-19 in Western Visayas: Public Health Data Analysis and Recommendations as of 13 July 2020 COVID-19 in Western Visayas: Public Health Data Analysis and Recommendations as of 13 July 2020 July 23, 2020 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Policy Note No. 4 (July 20, 2020) COVID-19 IN WESTERN VISAYAS Public Health Data Analysis and Recommendations as of July 13, 2020 The good news: quarantine measures have managed to decrease local transmission and flatten the curve in Western Visayas. The bad news: a surge in imported cases in the region has led to testing backlogs and strained quarantine facilities. Given this, UP Visayas researchers and ThinkWell Philippines recommend more preparations for local transmission outbreaks in the LGUs, maintenance of minimum public health standards, and a review of the repatriation protocols in terms of testing, tracing and treatment. Download the full paper here. |
https://up.edu.ph/pgh-shares-lessons-learned-during-ongoing-efforts-to-prevent-covid-19-transmission/ | PGH shares lessons learned during ongoing efforts to prevent COVID-19 transmission – University of the Philippines | PGH shares lessons learned during ongoing efforts to prevent COVID-19 transmission PGH shares lessons learned during ongoing efforts to prevent COVID-19 transmission August 11, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Photo from the UP Philippine General Hospital Facebook page PGH shares lessons learned during ongoing efforts to prevent COVID-19 transmission By Regina Berba, Eric Berberabe, Bill Veloso, Rodney Dofitas, Lilibeth Genuino and Gap Legaspi For the PGH COVID Crisis Team Download the full policy paper here. |
https://up.edu.ph/sandigan-sandalan-strengthens-mental-health-support-for-students/ | Sandigan, Sandalan strengthens mental health support for students – University of the Philippines | Sandigan, Sandalan strengthens mental health support for students Sandigan, Sandalan strengthens mental health support for students November 15, 2021 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo As the world changes and becomes increasingly riddled with uncertainty, so do the issues of thriving in it become more complex. Thriving, not just living. Not merely existing but flourishing, capable of navigating life successfully and progressively. COVID-19 has made the volatility of thriving all too clear. It has not only emphasized the varying degrees of frailty and strength of the human body; it has also forced the focus on mental health, the other part of human well-being that has been often overlooked and neglected. The demand for mental health services has dramatically increased. One only needs to try getting an appointment with a counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist to realize the difficulty of acquiring these services at this time. Using the now clichéd term to describe this pandemic, the demand for mental health services has been unprecedented. Yes, even in UP. And UP is responding. Initiatives to strengthen its mental health support system for students began to take root last year and have since been under the umbrella program called Sandigan, Sandalan: Training and Advocacy Programs for Mental Health. Sandigan and sandalan are Filipino words that refer to something that or someone who can be leaned on, relied upon, or can provide support and relief. Sandigan, Sandalan has four components: the Directory of Mental Health Service Providers, including referral systems for focal persons and faculty members; the Training on Mental Health Promotion in the Teaching-Learning Environment; the Training Program for Peer Mental Health Advocates; and, the Student Mental Health Advocacy Program. “Our approach to providing support is based on the positive view that mental health is not just the absence of mental illness, but an integral part of a person’s overall well-being,” revealed Dr. Richard Philip Gonzalo, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Office of Student Financial Assistance Director. Prof. Dan Paolo Yema of the UP Los Baños Department of Social Sciences explained, “In the past, mental health was only viewed in relation to mental illness and disorders. That is not what mental health is. That kind of thinking only leads to stigmatization. Mental health is about developing a person’s capacity to cope, develop potentials, be productive, and contribute to society.” Yema leads the Training Program for Peer Mental Health Advocates, where participants were active members of student organizations. On the institutional side, Prof. Maria Angela Mabale of the UP Manila College of Nursing said that universities are crucial to mental health promotion because “there is expanding evidence indicating that university students are high-risk for psychological distress and mental disorders, and that the prevalence and severity of mental health difficulties is growing across student populations.” Mabale, who heads the Training Program for Mental Health Focal Persons, added that the program includes faculty well-being as well. She reported that more than 200 faculty members and staff of student affairs offices across the UP System have completed the program thus far. The Student Mental Health Advocacy Program was conceptualized to recognize student-led initiatives on mental health promotion, while the Directory of Mental Health Service Providers, as the name indicates, is a listing of persons and institutions that can assist students on their mental health concerns and needs. The University is hopeful that these mental health support programs will be sustained towards a thriving post-pandemic UP life. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-mindanao-webinars-on-the-digital-economy-agriculture-and-food/ | UP Mindanao webinars on the digital economy, agriculture, and food – University of the Philippines | UP Mindanao webinars on the digital economy, agriculture, and food UP Mindanao webinars on the digital economy, agriculture, and food October 30, 2020 | Written by Rene A. Estremera In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao, the School of Management (SOM) offers free webinars on the digital economy and food security this November 2020. Mr. Ever Abasolo, an economist, a former SOM faculty, and currently a National Consultant to the United Nations Development Programme, will present a two-part lecture on “The Digital Economy and its Implications to Agricultural Development”. Part 1, to be given on 03 November 2020, Tuesday, at 2 PM to 4 PM Philippine Standard Time (PST), will focus on “Fiscal Health and Government Response to COVID-19”. The lecture will look into the key macroeconomic indicators before and during the time of the pandemic and unpack the fiscal strength and the landmark legislation that the government harnessed to meet the financial requirements to respond to the pandemic. Part 2, on 05 November 2020, Thursday, 2 PM to 4 PM, PST, will look at the digital economy and its implications for agricultural development with focus on the Mindanao context. Mr. Abasolo will also discuss emerging opportunities and how the government can leverage these opportunities to fight poverty and inequality. To register for Part 1, go to bit.ly/UPMinSOM-Webinar1; for Part 2, visit bit.ly/UPMinSOM-Webinar2. Meanwhile, UP Mindanao Professor Emeritus Eufemio Rasco, Jr., who was responsible for linking SOM with its first Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)-funded project in the agribusiness supply chain, will deliver a lecture on “Nature with Nurture: Plant Breeding for Food Security in the Midst of the Pandemic and Beyond” on 16 November 2020, Monday, 10 AM to 12 NN. According to Professor Rasco, “A developing concept views the organism as a community rather than an individual, and the same is true for plants. It is now known that many of what we consider ‘traits’ to breed for are actually products of interactions between the plant and its associated microbiota. Thus, a new plant breeding approach might involve breeding for the associated microbiota rather than the plant directly.” Professor Rasco, a retired-UP Mindanao faculty member, was conferred the Professor Emeritus title by the UP Board of Regents at its July 2020 meeting, becoming the first UP Mindanao professor emeritus. UP confers this lifetime title to selected academics for exceptionally distinguished careers in teaching, research or creative work, and public service. A professor emeritus remains on the faculty roster throughout his/her lifetime. To register, click bit.ly/UPMinSOM-Webinar3. For more information, email somcs.upmindanao@up.edu.ph. Since the onset of the new normal, UP Mindanao has organized and contributed to webinars in Filipino literature, disease mathematics, infectious diseases, food and business management in the new normal, genomics research, and public health. The Philippine Genome Center-Mindanao in UP Mindanao has also trained medical personnel from various medical centers in Mindanao for COVID-19 testing and helped establish three COVID-19 testing facilities. Its Interdisciplinary Applied Modeling Lab provided mathematical models to estimate disease spread for the guidance of public officials. This is in respect of the University’s Mindanao Health Initiatives, headed by a DOST-approved Center for decision-support systems in health, which will be followed by a proposed medical education program and a proposed city hospital on campus. Since its creation in 1995 through Republic Act 7889, UP Mindanao has produced 3,000-plus graduates, has funded close to 100 research projects, and endorsed more than 250 research projects for funding by the UP System, government agencies, and private institutions. UP Mindanao is currently implementing its Strategic Plan 2023 to expand its academic program offerings and corresponding personnel, attract project partners through its Campus Master Development Plan, and motivate legislative action in support of the expansion program. |
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