url stringlengths 18 256 | title stringlengths 3 274 | html stringlengths 0 111k |
|---|---|---|
https://up.edu.ph/up-to-hold-virtual-commemoration-of-the-struggle-against-martial-law-in-up-day-of-remembrance-2020/ | UP to hold virtual commemoration of the struggle against Martial Law in UP Day of Remembrance 2020 – University of the Philippines | UP to hold virtual commemoration of the struggle against Martial Law in UP Day of Remembrance 2020 UP to hold virtual commemoration of the struggle against Martial Law in UP Day of Remembrance 2020 September 10, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta On 21 September 1972, then President Ferdinand Marcos signed Proclamation No. 1081, placing the Philippines under Martial Law. This marked the beginning of a period of authoritarian rule that ravaged the nation’s democracy and economy, and saw a record number of human rights violations, such as extrajudicial killings and disappearances. Fourteen years later, the Filipino people succeeded in ousting the dictator with the words “Sobra Na, Tama Na! Oust Marcos! Lansagin ang diktadura!” as their battle cry. Now, 48 years after Marcos’ declaration of Martial Law, we once again revisit this dark period in our country’s history and honor the heroes who fought, struggled and gave their lives for the cause of freedom and justice, even as many of the same dark forces continue to plague our society today. Even as we face the seismic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we refresh our memory of the evils of dictatorship and renew our struggle with the battle cry, “Never again, never forget!” From September 21 to 22, the University of the Philippines System will hold its UP Day of Remembrance 2020, a virtual commemoration of the University’s collective memories of the events leading to and following the declaration of Martial Law from the 1970s to the mid-1980s. This year’s UP Day of Remembrance, titled “Dambana ng Gunita: Mga Hulagway ng Pagkamulat at Kabayanihan 1972-1986”, consists of two main activities: four webinars featuring UP alumni and faculty who fought during Martial Law sharing their experiences; and, an online exhibit to feature Martial Law narratives of resistance and hope that continue to resonate up to now. These online activities will be held across all eight UP constituent units, and will revolve around four themes: Hamon ng Batas Militar, focusing on the early years of clampdown on civil liberties and adapting to the situation with new forms of struggle; Detenido, Desparecido, a remembrance of the Marcos regime’s violation of human rights and cruelty through disregard of due process, indefinite imprisonment, torture, disappearances and killings; Sining at Panitik: Daluyan ng Tinig, recalling writers and artists who created new forms of expression, inspiring and mobilizing the masses for action against deception; and, Patungong People Power: Turning Points, on the events in the 1980s that became turning points which led to the end of the Marcos dictatorship. In pursuit of its tradition of struggle for academic freedom and democratic ideals, UP stood at the forefront of the resistance to Martial Law and the Marcos regime,contributing to this struggle many of its best and brightest. Now UP deems it proper to enshrine their names and struggles for younger and future generations of the University to emulate. It is for this reason that UP President Danilo L. Concepcion signed Proclamation No. 1 in 2018 declaring September 21 of every year as UP Day of Remembrance, during which special lectures, meetings and ceremonies will be held across the UP System to commemorate UP’s participation and sacrifices in the struggle against dictatorship and tyranny. The UP Day of Remembrance 2020 is made all the more significant as the University commemorated in February this year the 50th anniversary of the First Quarter Storm, which led to the Diliman Commune and other watershed events prior to the declaration of Martial Law. The UP Day of Remembrance 2020 is open to all teachers, educators, scholars and Filipinos who wish to continue learning about our country’s history and who believe in the importance of upholding and defending basic freedoms, civil liberties and human rights. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/UPGunita2020. Livestream of the webinars and the online exhibit will be available via TVUP.ph and TVUP’s YouTube channel. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-days-of-remembrance-to-shine-a-light-on-the-myths-and-misinformation-on-martial-law-and-the-marcos-regime/ | UP Days of Remembrance to shine a light on the myths and misinformation on Martial Law and the Marcos regime – University of the Philippines | UP Days of Remembrance to shine a light on the myths and misinformation on Martial Law and the Marcos regime UP Days of Remembrance to shine a light on the myths and misinformation on Martial Law and the Marcos regime September 15, 2021 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The anniversary of the signing of Proclamation No. 1081 by Ferdinand Marcos, placing the Philippines under Martial Law, is coming up on September 21. And yet, 49 years later, we continue to deal with lies, misinformation and historical revisionism of Martial Law and the Marcos regime on various media platforms. This coming week, scholars of history and the social sciences from the University of the Philippines (UP) and other universities here and abroad will team up with human rights activists to set the record straight regarding the myths of Martial Law and the Marcos regime through the UP Days of Remembrance. This is the University’s week-long virtual commemoration that aims to honor the struggle of the Filipino people under the authoritarian regime and UP’s contribution to the uprising against the Marcos dictatorship. It will be held from September 20 to 24, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. With the theme, “Dambana ng Gunita: Mga Batayang Katotohanan at Aral ng Batas Militar”, the commemoration will go in depth on the specific issues that often fall prey to misinformation, such as: Marcos’s alleged heroism; the supposed peaceful society during the Martial Law years; the truth with regard to human rights violations under the Marcos regime; the myth of an economic golden age under the Marcoses; and, the rampant corruption and cronyism of the Marcos administration that set our country back decades. This will be done through educational discussions and conversations on what really happened during the dark years of the Marcos regime. The program for the week-long virtual webinars is as follows: Register here: https://tinyurl.com/DOR21Day1 Register here: https://tinyurl.com/DOR21Day2 Register here: https://tinyurl.com/DOR21Day3 Register here: https://tinyurl.com/DOR21Day4 Register here: https://tinyurl.com/DOR21Day5 The UP Day of Remembrance is an annual event that aims to enshrine the names and struggles of the University’s best and brightest who fought, struggled and made the greatest sacrifices in the name of freedom and democratic ideals. In 2018, UP President Danilo L. Concepcion signed Proclamation No. 1 in 2018 declaring September 21 of every year as UP Day of Remembrance, during which special lectures, meetings and ceremonies were to be held across the UP System to commemorate UP’s contribution in the nation’s struggle against dictatorship and tyranny. The UP Days of Remembrance is open to all students, teachers, educators, historians, scholars, and all citizens who wish to continue learning about our country’s history and who believe in the importance of upholding and defending basic freedoms, civil liberties and human rights. Livestream of the webinars and the online exhibit will be available via TVUP.ph and TVUP’s YouTube channel. For more information about the past UP Days of Remembrance, visit this link: https://up.edu.ph/days-of-remembrance/ |
https://up.edu.ph/truths-and-lessons-of-martial-law-to-be-discussed-in-the-week-long-up-days-of-remembrance/ | Truths and lessons of Martial Law to be discussed in the week-long UP Days of Remembrance – University of the Philippines | Truths and lessons of Martial Law to be discussed in the week-long UP Days of Remembrance Truths and lessons of Martial Law to be discussed in the week-long UP Days of Remembrance September 14, 2021 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The 49th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines and the upcoming national elections call for historical awareness from our voting populace. Once again, the University of the Philippines (UP) is set to honor the struggles of the Filipino people under the authoritarian regime and the University’s contributions in the uprising against the Marcos dictatorship through the UP Days of Remembrance. This year’s UP Days of Remembrance will be a week-long virtual commemoration held from September 20 to 24, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. With the theme “Dambana ng Gunita: Mga Batayang Katotohanan at Aral ng Batas Militar”, the commemoration aims to help expose Martial Law-related disinformation and historical revisionism being propagated in various media platforms. Five educational webinars will bring out the truths and debunk myths about Martial Law and the Marcos regime. Each webinar is interspersed with artistic and musical performances that illustrate the socio-cultural milieu of the era. Faculty and researchers from across the UP System, scholars from outside the University and overseas, and human rights activists and progressive artists will speak about the realities of Martial Law based on their own experiences and studies. This year’s presenters and performers hope to enshrine the names and struggles of the University’s best and brightest who fought, struggled, and made the most extraordinary sacrifices in the name of freedom and democratic ideals. UP President Danilo L. Concepcion signed Proclamation No. 1 in 2018, declaring September 21 of every year as UP Day of Remembrance. The initial one-day event is now a week-long commemoration consisting of special lectures, meetings, and ceremonies. Constituent Units (CUs) across the UP System memorialize UP’s contributions to the nation’s struggle against dictatorship and tyranny. Individuals and institutions who wish to continue learning about our country’s history, who believe in the importance of upholding and defending basic freedoms, civil liberties, and human rights are all invited to be part of this year’s UP Days of Remembrance. Watch this space for more updates on the program, lineup of speakers, and registration links for the UP Day of Remembrance 2021. Livestream of the webinars and the online exhibit will be available via TVUP.ph and TVUP’s YouTube channel. |
https://up.edu.ph/september-21-is-up-day-of-remembrance/ | September 21 is UP Day of Remembrance – University of the Philippines | September 21 is UP Day of Remembrance September 21 is UP Day of Remembrance September 17, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office University of the Philippines President Danilo L. Concepcion signs a proclamation declaring September 21 as UP Day of Remembrance this morning in the UP Board of Regents Room, Quezon Hall, Diliman, Quezon City. The proclamation was issued in honor of UP’s contributions to the fight against dictatorship and despotism, UP having stood at the forefront of the resistance to martial law. Watch the signing ceremony at: https://livestream.up.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/sept-21-to-be-proclaimed-up-day-of-remembrance/ | Sept. 21 to be proclaimed UP Day of Remembrance – University of the Philippines | Sept. 21 to be proclaimed UP Day of Remembrance Sept. 21 to be proclaimed UP Day of Remembrance September 13, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office UP President Danilo L. Concepcion is set to declare September 21 as a Day of Remembrance in memory of the University’s best and brightest who struggled against dictatorship and despotism during the martial law years. Following the proclamation, UP will hold activities remembering its participation in the struggle against martial law, particularly its members who lived and died fighting against dictatorship and despotism; and encouraging UP’s continuous pursuit of academic freedom, civil liberties, and human rights in society. Martial law was imposed by late dictator Ferdinand Marcos through a proclamation dated September 21, 1972. The UP Day of Remembrance signing ceremony will be held on Monday, September 17, 2018, 10:00 AM at the lobby of Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. According to Concepcion, UP has historically stood as champion of academic freedom, democracy, and human rights, but “there is continuing need for awareness, vigilance, and militancy in the assertion and protection of our fundamental freedoms,” he said. |
https://up.edu.ph/pagtatapos-2023/ | Pagtatapos 2023 – University of the Philippines | Pagtatapos 2023 It’s time for the UP Class of 2023! The month of July signals the start of graduation season for a majority of the University of the Philippines (UP) System. Grad photos have been taken. Outfits already chosen. The UP sablay ready to be draped over the right shoulder and later shifted to the left. This year, UP commencement exercises will kick off at both the northernmost and southernmost constituent universities (CUs).UP Baguio and UP Mindanao will get the ball rolling on July 18. UP Visayas then picks it up on July 20 with the ceremony at its Miagao campus. UP Cebu will make it a back-to-back affair by holding its graduation ceremony on July 21. Fast forward to July 25 and it will be UP Tacloban College’s turn—its first as a newly-elevated autonomous unit under the Office of the President. Five days later, July 30, UP Diliman and its trademark sunflower blooms take center stage. Then it will be festive at the foothills of Mt. Makiling with the UP Los Baños graduation on August 5. Closing the series is the CU with the campus where the University began. UP Manila will hold its commencement exercises on August 7. Details on each CU graduation below. Please visit this page for updates. The graduating class of 2019 of the University of the Philippines Baguio light up candles for the Ritwal ng Pagtatanglaw. This unique tradition goes back the 1960s when UP Baguio was an arts and sciences college of UP Diliman. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. UP Mindanao – July 18 University of the Philippines Mindanao was the first to hold its graduation rites among the UP System constituent universities this year. The CU held its ceremonies on July 18, Tuesday, at 7:00 AM. This was held at the Atrium of the Administration Building, UP Mindanao campus, Mintal, Davao City. This was the 25th Commencement Exercises for UP Min. The Guest Speaker for this year was UP alumnus and the President and General Manager of Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc., Mr. Ronald Mascariñas. Meluzvia Marie Amora, Bachelor of Science in Food Technology, summa cum laude, will delivered the response of the graduates in her valedictory speech. Click here to view the highlights video of the UP Mindanao Commencement Exercises UP Baguio – July 18 University of the Philippines Baguio also held its graduation ceremonies on July 18, but at 3:00 in the afternoon. It was held at the Cordillera Convention Hall, Baguio Country Club, Baguio City. This year’s graduating class was composed of 440 undergraduate and doctorate candidates for graduation from three colleges. The attendees included graduates for Academic Year 2021-2022, and first and second semester of Academic Year 2022-2023. Among this year’s graduating class were 271 honor graduates and one graduating as summa cum laude. Jef Mitzel B. Paran, Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences 2023, summa cum laude, delivered the valedictory address. National Scientist Dr. Lourdes J. Cruz was this year’s Commencement Speaker. Click here to view the highlights video of the UP Baguio Commencement Exercises UP Visayas – July 20 University of the Philippines Visayas held its 44th Commencement Exercises on July 20, Thursday, at 8:00 AM, at the UP Visayas Miagao Campus. The graduating class was composed of 779 candidates—744 from UPV Iloilo and 35 from UPV Tacloban College. The batch was led by three who are graduating summa cum laude; 100, magna cum laude; and 297 cum laude. Former Department of Education Undersecretary, Dr. Dina Joana S. Ocampo, was this year’s Commencement Speaker. Mary Manuelita B. Tan, Bachelor of Science in Public Health, summa cum laude, delivered a response on behalf of the graduating class. The other summa cum laude graduates of UP Visayas are Stephen Caro H. Areño, who is earning a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics, and Benreo Rex N. Rembulat, Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics. Click here to view the highlights video of the UP Visayas Commencement Exercises Wearing their Sablay, graduating students in UP Los Baños cheer their fellow Iskolar ng Bayan during the 2019 Commencement Exercises. The Sablay is the official academic costume of the University, worn only by graduates in formal academic functions. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UP MPRO. UP Cebu – July 21 University of the Philippines Cebu held its graduation rites on July 21, Friday, 3:30 PM at the UP Cebu Campus Grounds, Cebu City. This was UP Cebu’s 84th Commencement Exercises. Leading this year’s graduating class was Edsel Suhayon Codoy, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, summa cum laude. He gave the valedictory address. He is the second student to have received the summa cum laude honor since UP Cebu became a UP constituent university in 2016 UP Cebu’s Commencement Speaker was former Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines and UP alumna, Atty. Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo. Click here to view the highlights video of the UP Cebu Commencement Exercises UP Tacloban – July 25 The UP System’s sole autonomous college, University of the Philippines Tacloban College, held its 45th Commencement Exercises on July 25, Tuesday, 3:43 PM, at the UP Tacloban AS Grounds. This year’s graduating class was composed of 303 total graduates for Academic Year 2022-2023, with 34 for the first semester and 268 for the second semester. One hundred and seventy-eight students graduated with honors, with 13 graduating magna cum laude and 165 cum laude. Click here to view the highlights video of the UP Tacloban Commencement Exercises UP Diliman – July 30 Meanwhile in Quezon City, University of the Philippines Diliman held its graduation rites on July 30, Sunday, 7:00 AM at the UPD Amphitheater. This was UP Diliman’s 112th Commencement Exercises. The Commencement Speaker for this year is UP President Angelo A. Jimenez, who is a labor lawyer and authority on global worker migration. Representing the Class of 2023, Jessie Malibiran, Jr., Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (BA-MA Honors Program), talked about living up to the University’s motto of Honor and Excellence in everyday life. Click here to watch UP President Angelo A. Jimenez’s speech to the graduates of UP Diliman UP Los Baños – August 5 University of the Philippines Los Baños held its 51st Commencement Exercises on August 5, 4:00 PM, at the UPLB Copeland Gymnasium, UPLB Campus, Los Baños, Laguna. National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, a UPLB alumnus, was commencement speaker, who used his life and career experience to impart a lesson to the graduating class. Jenel Justo, BS Computer Science summa cum laude, was UPLB Class of 2023 valedictorian. Click here to view the highlights video of the UP Los Baños Commencement Exercises UP Manila – August 7 The University of the Philippines Manila held its 114th Commencement Exercises on 7 August 2023, Monday, 7:00 AM. With the theme, “Talino, Galing, at Puso Tungo sa Kalusugang Pangkalahatan”, Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla, professor and Chancellor of UP Manila, served as commencement speaker. She conveyed ten important lessons based on her experiences as a pediatrician, geneticist, and proponent and pioneer of the country’s newborn screening program and the Philippine Genome Center. Mr. Ivanne Joepert A. Idorot, the summa cum laude from BS Biology, delivered the valedictory address on behalf of Class 2023. Click here to view the highlights video of the UP Manila Commencement Exercises UP Open University – December 16 With its graduation scheduled for December 16, 2023, the University of the Philippines Open University will be the last constituent university of the UP System to hold its commencement exercises. The sunflowers bloom in anticipation of the graduation season in UP Diliman, Quezon City. The planting and blossoming of the flowers have become part of the traditions of the University. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UP MPRO. |
https://up.edu.ph/days-of-remembrance/ | Days of Remembrance – University of the Philippines | Days of Remembrance On September 17, 2018, University of the Philippines President Danilo L. Concepcion signed Proclamation No. 1, Series of 2018, declaring September 21 every year as UP Day of Remembrance. The Day serves to commemorate members of the UP community who stood at the forefront of the resistance to Martial Law during the administration of President Ferdinand E. Marcos. The commemoration also serves to highlight the University’s role as a champion of academic freedom and as a beacon for hope and an advocate of human rights during the darkest days of democracy in the country. The Day is intended to remember the sacrifices and legacy of UP heroes, the living and the fallen, and to impart their stories to younger generations of Iskolar ng Bayan and other patriotic Filipinos. Recently, the Day has been expanded to a series of days which will allow for more online activities and substantial discussions on the impact of Martial Law to the country and its people. Read more: Sept. 21 to be proclaimed UP Day of Remembrance Related reading: September 21 is UP Day of Remembrance Signing of the UP Day of Remembrance Proclamation Day of Remembrance 2022 On September 21, 1972, President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed Proclamation No. 1081 declaring martial law over the entire country, supposedly responding to the rising “communist threat” at the time. This year marks the 50th anniversary of this declaration that led to a decades-long period in Philippine history remembered for its authoritarian rule, a record of human rights abuses, repression of basic freedoms and freedom of the press, and unmitigated corruption and theft by those in power that left much of the country in poverty. This September 21 Wednesday, the University of the Philippines (UP) joins the nation in remembering and honoring the heroes, activists, and human rights victims who stood against martial law and the Marcos regime. This remembrance of struggle and sacrifice is made more poignant and urgent now in a time of disinformation, fake news, and historical revisionism. In this year’s UP Day of Remembrance, with the theme, “Manindigan sa Katotohanan, Itanghal ang Katarungan,” the University will again commemorate the legacy of resistance and heroism of these activists, many of whom are members of the UP community. As with the previous years’ Days of Remembrance, UP will hold a series of activities and events, both online and in person, in all constituent universities of the UP System across the country to share these stories with the younger generations of Iskolar ng Bayan and other patriotic Filipinos and keep the flame of truth and justice alive. This year also marks the fifth UP Day of Remembrance since UP President Danilo L. Concepcion signed. On September 17, 2018, Proclamation No. 1, Series of 2018, declared September 21 every year as UP Day of Remembrance. Read more: ML@50: UP holds 5th Day of Remembrance to mark 50 years since martial law declaration Days of Remembrance 2021 The 50th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines and the upcoming national elections call for historical awareness from our voting populace. Once again, the University of the Philippines (UP) honored the struggles of the Filipino people under the authoritarian regime and commemorated the University’s contributions in the uprising against the Marcos dictatorship through the UP Days of Remembrance. This year’s UP Days of Remembrance was a week-long virtual commemoration held from September 20 to 24, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. With the theme “Dambana ng Gunita: Mga Batayang Katotohanan at Aral ng Batas Militar”, the commemoration exposed Martial Law-related disinformation and historical revisionism propagated in various media platforms. Five educational webinars brought out the truths and debunked myths about Martial Law and the Marcos regime. Each webinar is interspersed with artistic and musical performances that illustrate the socio-cultural milieu of the era. Faculty and researchers from across the UP System, scholars from outside the University and overseas, and human rights activists and progressive artists spoke about the realities of Martial Law based on their own experiences and studies. This year’s presenters and performers enshrined the names and struggles of the University’s best and brightest who fought, struggled, and made the most extraordinary sacrifices in the name of freedom and democratic ideals. Read more: Truths and lessons of Martial Law to be discussed in the week-long UP Days of Remembrance Related story: UP Days of Remembrance to shine a light on the myths and misinformation on Martial Law and the Marcos regime Day 1: Hindi Bayani si Marcos Day 2: Hindi Mapaya sa Panahon ng Batas Militar Day 3: Nilabag ang mga Karapatang Pantao Day 4: Walang Golden Age sa Ekonomiya Day 5: Nagnakaw mula sa Kaban ng Bayan Days of Remembrance 2020 2020’s UP Day of Remembrance, titled “Dambana ng Gunita: Mga Hulagway ng Pagkamulat at Kabayanihan 1972-1986,” consisted of two main activities: four webinars featuring UP alumni and faculty who fought during Martial Law sharing their experiences; and, an online exhibit to feature Martial Law narratives of resistance and hope that continue to resonate up to now. These online activities were held across all eight UP constituent units, and revolved around four themes: Hamon ng Batas Militar, focusing on the early years of clampdown on civil liberties and adapting to the situation with new forms of struggle; Detenido, Desparecido, a remembrance of the Marcos regime’s violation of human rights and cruelty through disregard of due process, indefinite imprisonment, torture, disappearances and killings; Sining at Panitik: Daluyan ng Tinig, recalling writers and artists who created new forms of expression, inspiring and mobilizing the masses for action against deception; and, Patungong People Power: Turning Points, on the events in the 1980s that became turning points which led to the end of the Marcos dictatorship. In pursuit of its tradition of struggle for academic freedom and democratic ideals, UP stood at the forefront of the resistance to Martial Law and the Marcos regime, contributing to this struggle many of its best and brightest. UP deemed it proper to enshrine their names and struggles for younger and future generations of the University to emulate. It is for this reason that UP President Danilo L. Concepcion signed Proclamation No. 1 in 2018 declaring September 21 of every year as UP Day of Remembrance, during which special lectures, meetings and ceremonies will be held across the UP System to commemorate UP’s participation and sacrifices in the struggle against dictatorship and tyranny. The UP Day of Remembrance 2020 is made all the more significant as the University commemorated in February this year the 50th anniversary of the First Quarter Storm, which led to the Diliman Commune and other watershed events prior to the declaration of Martial Law. Read more: UP to hold virtual commemoration of the struggle against Martial Law in UP Day of Remembrance 2020 Related story: Stories from fields of struggle against Martial Law abound in UP Day of Remembrance 2020 UP Day of Remembrance 2020 – Day 1 UP Day of Remembrance 2020-Day 2 Day of Remembrance 2019 As recognition of the University’s role at the forefront of awareness, vigilance, and militancy, and to expand on 2018’s inaugural program, the University launched an expanded lineup of events with the theme, “Dambana ng Paggunita at Pagtutuos sa Batas Militar ni Marcos,” to banner the key messages: Marahas ang Batas Militar, Lugmok ang Ekonomiya, Niyurakan ang Karapatang Pantao, Sinupil ang Pamamahayag, at Ninakaw ang Kabang-Yaman. Pre-event activities started on September 16 with the airing of Lakad Gunita sa Pamantasang Hinirang, a documentary video, on both TVUP and the University of the Philippines online channels to kickstart the weeklong campaign. The documentary highlighted key landmarks in the Diliman campus that became hotbeds of activism: Quezon Hall, Palma Hall, Vinzons Hall, Melchor Hall, and Kamia and Sampaguita dormitories which all stood witness to the events of the First Quarter Storm and the Diliman Commune. On the actual Day of Remembrance on September 19, an opening ceremony was held at the AS Steps (Palma Hall) in UP Diliman, accompanied by the unfurling of streamers across the hall bearing this year’s central messages. Danas, a series of performances recreating and commemorating the martial law experience was featured as street art, ensuring access to the widest audiences. At the center of the performances, a Dambana was set up by students and faculty of the College of Fine Arts. A free premiere screening of TVUP’s Lakad Gunita sa Pamantasang Hinirang capped the year’s Day of Remembrance. The following day, martial law-themed films were screened. Among these were Liway and Portraits of Mosquito Press, and the documentary 1081. The screening was followed by a forum on Media, Martial Law, and Human Rights with journalist Ceres P. Doyo and artist Boni P. Ilagan. Read more: UP Day of Remembrance 2019 Highlights of the Day of Remembrance 2019 Lakad Gunita sa Pamantasang Hinirang Day of Remembrance 2018 (Left to right) Dr. Carol Araullo, representing HRVV, NHCP Chair Rene Escalante, UP President Danilo Concepcion, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, CHR Commissioner Leah Armamento (representing CHR Chair Chito Gascon), and HRVVMC Executive Director Carmelo Victor Crisanto, and UP Vice President for Development Elvira Zamora, sign a Memorandum of Understanding for a Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial in UP Diliman. UP Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs (standing) serves as master of ceremonies. Photo by Bong Arboleda, MPRO UP marked the first UP Day of Remembrance by concretizing plans to construct the country’s memorial for victims of human rights violations during the Marcos regime. UP President Danilo L. Concepcion signed on September 21, 2018 a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission (HRVVMC) formalizing institutional partnership in establishing the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial in UP Diliman. “Higit sa alinmang pook, dito sa ating pamantasan sumibol at lumago ang puno ng pagtutol at pag-aalsa; kung kaya dito rin naman nadama ang mabigat na dagok ng panunupil at pananamantala noong panahon ng martial law ni Pangulong Marcos (More than any place, the University is where resistance and uprising sprang and grew; and that is why this was also where the brunt of repression and abuse of President Marcos’s martial law fell),” Concepcion said. Sa araw na ito tayo ay nagpapasya na ikintal sa puso at damdamin ang dakilang alaala ng mga araw ng pakikibaka, ng mga taong nagsakripisyo at nagbuwis ng buhay, upang ito kailanman ay hindi malimutan at hindi na maulit pa (On this day, we decide to commit the legacy of the days of struggle, of the many who sacrificed their lives; so that they will never be forgotten and [their fates] never repeated),” Concepcion added. “Ito ang ating dasal, ito ang ating banal na panata (This is our prayer, this is our sacred promise),” he added. Four days before the MOU signing, Concepcion signed a proclamation designating September 21, 2018 and September 21 of every year thereafter as “UP Day of Remembrance” in honor of the sacrifice of the University’s “best and brightest” for the struggle against dictatorship and despotism, many of whom died resisting the abuses of the Marcos regime. Read more: UP holds first Day of Remembrance, commits site for martial law memorial Related reading: Memorial for victims of the Marcos regime to rise in UP Highlights of the Day of Remembrance 2018 |
https://up.edu.ph/1st-up-suc-summit-to-launch-four-programs-for-suc-engagement/ | 1st UP-SUC Summit to launch four programs for SUC engagement – University of the Philippines | 1st UP-SUC Summit to launch four programs for SUC engagement 1st UP-SUC Summit to launch four programs for SUC engagement September 14, 2023 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo On September 15, four University programs aimed at promoting engagement between UP and other Philippine state universities and colleges (SUCs) will be launched during Pagtutulay, Pagtutuloy: Strengthening Partnerships in Philippine Public Higher Education to be held in the Grand Ballroom of Dusit Thani, Davao City. The summit is a gathering of leaders of Philippine state universities and colleges (SUCs), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) officials, and interested stakeholders from Congress and private higher education institutions, and dovetails the September 14 investiture ceremony of 22nd UP President Angelo A. Jimenez. It was his cognizance of UP’s public service mandate as indicated in RA 9500 or the UP Charter that led to this exploration of and strengthening of inter-SUC engagement and partnerships. For Jimenez, engagement and partnerships are imperatives for knowledge co-creation, innovation, research, and public service towards national development. The four programs are: the UP Data Commons; Philippines Massive Open Online Courses (PHMOOCs); TVUP programs; and the UP Archipelagic and Ocean Virtual University (UPAOVU). The UP Data Commons, inaugurated in 2021, is a world class high performance computing and storage facility that includes the necessary hardware and software resources, located at the UP Diliman College of Science. Its launch during the summit opens this UP resource to SUC partnerships in pursuit of innovative research, such as those on artificial intelligence and big data. Participants to the Summit will be treated to a demonstration of the various ways SUCs can use this resource for their constituents. It has three petabytes of storage, with plans to increase it to seven, and connectivity speeds that allow data transfer in milliseconds. PHMOOCs is a new platform designed to foster universal access to quality education, promote lifeline learning, and enhance collaboration among higher education institutions in the country. It promotes knowledge sharing, collaborative course development and implementation, research partnerships, and teaching methods and technology use innovations. It is envisioned to widen education opportunities by leveraging technology to provide accessible, inclusive, and high-quality courses, and to address the diverse needs of learners, wherever they may be. The UP Open University, which began offering MOOCS in 2013, leads this initiative that also aims to link up with MOOCs platforms in other countries. TVUP, the UP-owned and operated internet television network, was launched in 2016 and expanded its reach through Cignal TV Channel 101 in 2022. Its debut in Pagtutulay, Pagtutuloy intensifies its commitment to the production of open educational resources in the Philippines by inviting collaborations in knowledge production through the creation of inter-university programs. TVUP will eventually evolve to become a training facility for performance and production. The UPAOVU represents the country’s aspiration of becoming an economically prosperous and environmentally sustainable archipelagic nation. Spurred by the development of the blue economy that ties with archipelagic and ocean studies work done by UP faculty and researchers over many decades, the UPAOVU will become the hub of research and teaching that brings together the strengths of various SUCs in marine biology, oceanography, fisheries, and other allied disciplines. The end goal is to become invaluable resources, partners, and enablers of the blue economy; leading in the formulation of policies and programs that are coherent, inclusive, and sustainable. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-to-hold-noise-barrage-on-day-of-remembrance/ | UP to hold noise barrage on Day of Remembrance – University of the Philippines | UP to hold noise barrage on Day of Remembrance UP to hold noise barrage on Day of Remembrance September 18, 2023 | Written by the President's Commission for Culture and the Arts Raise your voice, break the silence! 📢 Join us in commemorating the Day of Remembrance, as we use symbolic forms of dissent to ensure history is never forgotten. In 2018, September 21 was declared as the UP Day of Remembrance. This year, join us for “Noises and Voices of Memory and Dissent”, a noise-making event, as we remember and reflect on our history. You can participate by making noise (honking horns or by using any sound-making materials, etc.) on September 21 at 12:00nn-1:00pm, wherever you are. Let’s make some noise together! 🗣️ #WeRemember #UPDayOfRemembrance #NeverAgain #KalinangangUP #KalinangangBayan #WeRememberML51 |
https://up.edu.ph/up-invites-the-public-to-join-day-of-remembrance-commemoration/ | UP invites the public to join Day of Remembrance commemoration – University of the Philippines | UP invites the public to join Day of Remembrance commemoration UP invites the public to join Day of Remembrance commemoration September 20, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines (UP) invites the public to join this year’s Day of Remembrance commemoration on September 21, 2023, Thursday, 12: 00 pm to 1:00 pm. Everyone is encouraged to stream the special video hosted here. For instructions on how to stream the video on Facebook live, please click here. This video is part of ‘Noises and Voices of Memory and Dissent’, commemorating the Philippine experience of Martial Law together through art. The Day of Remembrance was established in 2018 to commemorate members of the UP community who stood at the forefront of the resistance to Martial Law during the administration of President Ferdinand E. Marcos. The entire country was placed under martial rule by President Marcos on September 21, 1972. The commemoration also serves to highlight the University’s role as a champion of academic freedom and as a beacon for hope and an advocate of human rights during the darkest days of democracy in the country. The Day is intended to remember the sacrifices and legacy of UP heroes, the living and the fallen, and to impart their stories to younger generations of Iskolar ng Bayan and other patriotic Filipinos. Read more here: Days of Remembrance |
https://up.edu.ph/up-fetes-mr-shooli-with-gawad-plaridel/ | UP fetes “Mr. Shooli” with Gawad Plaridel – University of the Philippines | UP fetes “Mr. Shooli” with Gawad Plaridel UP fetes “Mr. Shooli” with Gawad Plaridel October 2, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines Diliman College of Mass Communication will be awarding actor, satirist, and advertising creative Manuel Urbano Jr., popularly known on television, film and the internet as “Mr. Shooli”, this year’s Gawad Plaridel on October 11, 2023, at 2 pm, at the UP Film Institute Film Center’s Cine Adarna. Urbano Jr. will be feted for both his unforgettable social commentary in numerous performances across time and media as a peculiar Mongolian figure pondering on Philippine realities, as well as his remarkable contributions to multimedia commercial advertising which are distinguished for their humane values and Pinoy humor. At 84, he continues his work via social media and even participates in anti-disinformation campaigns through his own YouTube channel. The Gawad Plaridel is the university’s highest award for outstanding practitioners known for their integrity and excellence in the different fields of media (print media, radio, television, cinema, and new media). Named after the great propagandist Marcelo H. del Pilar, whose nom de plume is “Plaridel,” the recognition comes with a trophy sculpture depicting the editor of La Solidaridad by National Artist Napoleon V. Abueva. Since the establishment of the award in 2004, the Gawad Plaridel laureate has customarily delivered a lecture on important issues pertaining to his/her/their field or craft. Past recipients include Eugenia Apostol (2004), Vilma Santos-Recto (2005), Fidela Magpayo (2006), Cheche Lazaro (2007), Pacheco Seares (2008), Kidlat Tahimik (2009), Eloisa Cruz Canlas (2011), Rosa Rosal (2012), Jose Lacaba (2013), Nora Aunor (2014), Ricky Lee (2015), Francisca Custodio (2016), Tina Monzon-Palma (2017), Jessica Soho (2018), and Bonifacio Ilagan (2019). For information, contact the Gawad Plaridel Secretariat at gawadplaridel@up.edu.ph. —– Press release from the Gawad Plaridel Facebook page. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-para-sa-up-the-up-system-kicks-off-mental-health-awareness-month-with-launching-of-the-up-sanctuary/ | UP Para Sa UP: The UP System kicks off Mental Health Awareness Month with launching of the UP Sanctuary – University of the Philippines | UP Para Sa UP: The UP System kicks off Mental Health Awareness Month with launching of the UP Sanctuary UP Para Sa UP: The UP System kicks off Mental Health Awareness Month with launching of the UP Sanctuary October 4, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office University of the Philippines (UP) President Angelo Jimenez, together with the UP Office of the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs – Office Student Development Services (OSDS) and the UP Portia Sorority, are set to launch the UP Sanctuary in the UP Diliman campus on October 6, 2023, at 4:00 in the afternoon. This inspiring initiative coincides with the celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month this October, underscoring the commitment of the University to the holistic wellbeing of its community. Located in front of the Faculty Center, the UP Sanctuary will offer students and faculty members a convenient retreat to rejuvenate their minds amidst the hustle and bustle of academic life. An artist rendition of the proposed green space. Graphic provided by UP Portia Sorority. It has been meticulously designed as a dedicated space where one can find solace and tranquility during periods of heightened psychological stress, providing a safe refuge for all members of the UP community, especially the students, faculty, and staff. Under the visionary leadership of President Jimenez and the University’s strengthened focus on public service, this project will serve as a tangible testament to UP’s dedication to advancing mental health awareness and support on campus. The concept of the UP Sanctuary originally emerged from the creative minds of the members of the UP Portia Sorority, a UP College of Law-based sorority that counts among its illustrious members former Supreme Court Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, former Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio Morales and former Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. The Sorority has a strong focus on law and a deep commitment to serve not just the UP community but the public as well. Leading the planning and execution of this project, the UP Portia Sorority and its partners will engage the entire UP community in its development journey. Notably, Architect Micaela Benedicto, an alumna of the UP College of Architecture, contributed her expertise by crafting the initial architectural designs. Another view of the artist’s rendition of the proposed sanctuary. Photo from UP Portia Sorority. The launching of the UP Sanctuary marks the commencement of a month-long series of activities and initiatives aimed at enhancing the welfare of the UP community, with the entire month of October dedicated to fostering a culture of well-being within the UP community. The inaugural UP System Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference, a multi-sectoral event led by the OSDS, will take place at UP Los Baños on October 11th and 12th, 2023. A webinar on Emotional and Mental Resilience will also be held via Zoom on October 18, while the OSDS will also launch its Alumni Mentoring Program in partnership with the UP Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAA SF) on October 26. In addition to these flagship initiatives, various UP constituent universities (CUs) have organized a diverse range of events throughout the month, all aimed at promoting the collective well-being of the University community. The UP Sanctuary stands as a symbol of UP’s commitment to the mental health and overall wellness of its community members. As UP opens its arms to this innovative project, it paves the way for a brighter, more resilient, and healthier future for everyone inside the campus. |
https://up.edu.ph/in-memoriam-remembering-those-we-have-lost/ | IN MEMORIAM: Remembering those we have lost – University of the Philippines | IN MEMORIAM: Remembering those we have lost IN MEMORIAM: Remembering those we have lost April 6, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office They died alone, with no relatives around to hold their hands as they breathed their last. Some still have to be buried, and others were cremated with no ceremony and no one to bid them goodbye. This has become the common tale of grief, sorrow and helplessness for the thousands all over the world who have fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the story becomes even more poignant when it strikes closer to home or when the virus takes down somebody you love, somebody you know, or somebody you went to school with. It was doubly tragic for the family of Dr. Dennis Ramon Tudtud, one of the eight University of the Philippines alumni who fought and died in the frontlines of the war against the vicious viral adversary. Dr. Tudtud, a prominent Cebu City oncologist, succumb to the virus on March 31, four days after his wife, Dr. Helen Evangelista Tudtud, a pathologist at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, expired after fighting the virus for 11 days. Their son Dennis Thomas, recalled in a Facebook post the pain of losing both parents in span of four days. He told of how their family was discriminated against; how policemen cordoned off their neighborhood; how insensitive persons had reported his mother’s death even when she was still fighting for her life in the hospital; and how his mother had worried about her husband when she learned her condition was critical. The virus, Dennis Jr. said, had made him an orphan on his birthday, ‘‘but I take comfort that they are happy together in their journey to paradise.’’ The eight UP alumni who fell in the frontlines of what has become a global war against the virus are: 1. Romeo Gregorio “Greg” N. Macasaet III (Died March 22, 2020) 2. Marcelo Y. Jaochico (March 24) 3. Raul D. Jara (March 24) 4. Francisco Avelino“Kiko” S. Lukban (March 25) 5. Salvacion“Sally” Rodriguez Gatchalian (March 26) 6. Raul D. Eslao (March 31) 7. Leandro L. Resurreccion III (March 31) 8. Dennis Ramon M. Tudtud (March 31) Five other UP alumni have died from the virus. They are: 1. Nida Cortes Paqueo (March 11) 2. Aileen San Pablo Baviera (March 21) 3. Alan T. Ortiz (March 2) 4. Prudencio “Dennis” Regis (March 24) 5. Renato Velasco (April 4) ROMEO GREGORIO MACASAET Of the UP COVID-19 warriors, Dr. Greg Macasaet was the first to fall. An anesthesiologist at the Manila Doctors Hospital, he worked tirelessly to treat COVID-19 patients until he himself became ill. Soon after, his wife Evalyn, also an anesthesiologist, also tested positive for the virus. The two had been attending to COVID-19 patients in the emergency room, which was akin to soldiers engaging the enemy in a hand-to-hand combat. Macasaet, according to his godson Renato Paraiso, made the ultimate sacrifice, “not because he was forced or obliged to do so, but because of his dedication to his craft and his constant devotion to be of service to others.” He said Greg and Evalyn chose to stay in the frontlines and made a bold sacrifice while their only child Raymond had special needs. “Our country has lost a genuine hero, and the world has lost one of the [kindest and most] selfless human beings that would ever walk its surface,” Paraiso said. The Manila Doctors Hospital cited Macasaet as a “brave man, one of the best anesthesologists in the country.” MARCELO JAOCHICO When Dr. Marcelo Jaochico lost his heroic battle against the virus, he was being true to his vocation as “doctor to the barrios.” He was the provincial health officer of Pampanga and was the first awardee as Most Outstanding Doctor to the Barrios under the rural health program of the Department of Health. Thus, his daughter Cielo said in her Facebook page, Dr. Jaochico did not deserve to be regarded as than just a statistic. Dr. Jaochico served as doctor to the barrio in Calanasan, Apayao for 16 years here he multi-tasked as obstetrician, pediatrician and family physician, treating such ailments as dengue, malaria and measles. Once, to save a baby who had turned blue after delivery, he used his mouth to suction the obstruction out of the baby’s blocked windpipe. In his latest rural health service, he volunteered to attend to victims of the Taal Volcano eruption in Batangas in January. He was also one of the first responders when Typhoon Yolanda struck in Tacloban City in 2013. “He did so much for the country,” his daughter wrote on Facebook. RAUL D. JARA Dr. Raul Jara, acknowledged as a pillar of cardiology in the Philippines, was also described by the Philippine Heart Association as a “father, teacher, mentor, poet, author, singer, colleague, friend.”He is remembered by patients as a soothing and calming healer who used music to heal the heart. In his younger days as an activist physician, he fought the dictator Ferdinand Marcos and risked his life by treating patients in the underground movement, running rings around the military by faking the names and records of the activists he treated. Later in life, he would remain steadfast and true to his oath, joining a group of doctors attending to an aging martial law figure who had been on the opposite end of the ideological spectrum. In a statement, Dr. Ling Jara-Salva, one of Dr. Jara’s five children, said: “He dedicated his whole life to constant learning and teaching and molding future doctors. He would ask the tough questions and push you to learn and persevere. He believed in his students and would think of them as his children and the hope for the future generations.” Her father, she said, was “a tower of strength and leadership and he served as the head of our family and a beacon of hope for many in the midst of this crisis. He knew the extensive battle he was facing and he kept on fighting.” She said the family would rather have her father remembered, not by how he died, but by how he lived. FRANCISCO LUKBAN Dr. Francisco Lukban was a noted geriatric cardiologist and a brilliant academician, according to the social media post of UP Manila’s Office of the Chancellor announcing his demise on March 25. Always wanting to serve his fellowmen, he was much loved by his elderly patients at the Capitol Medical Center. Like many of the UP doctors of his generation, Dr. Kiko was a courageous activist, especially during the Martial Law days. “Kiko was not afraid to die… and would have loved to volunteer as a frontline physician in PGH in these trying times,” the UP Manila statement said. His wife, Riz, a pediatric neurologist and also a UP College of Medicine graduate, said Dr. Kiko, on the day he was swabbed for testing, expressed his desire to join the heroic young PGH interns who had volunteered to the frontline against COVID-19. Tragically, it was too late. In a tribute, Riz Lukban said Dr. Kiko “had gone ahead of us because he believes he has a better chance of fighting COVID by being a ‘frontliner’ in heaven, giving supplication for us left behind.” RAUL DELLA ESLAO “I cannot stay at home, I’m a nurse” was a hashtag that went with his new profile picture in his final Facebook posting on March 19. Twelve days later Raul Della Eslao paid the ultimate price for his heroism. He died, a friend commented on Facebook, so others may live. A graduate of UP Integrated School, UP Diliman College of Architecture, and a registered nurse, he succumbed to the virus while fighting in the frontline in Michigan, USA where he worked. SALVACION R. GATCHALIAN As consultant and assistant director of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Dr. Salvacion “Sally” Gatchalian was not just in the frontline of the war against COVID-19. She was fighting in the trenches. A pediatric infectious disease expert, Doc Sally most likely acquired the virus from one of her young patients at RITM, the country’s premier testing center for COVID-19. She was president of the Philippine Pediatric Society. The American Academy of Pediatrics cited her efforts in strengthening immunization and tobacco control and her work “to elevate pediatricians’ role in the Philippines and bring systemic changes to community norms and public policy.”Until a vicious nemesis called COVID-19 came to overcome her, much of Doc Sally’s life work was in defeating formidable adversaries like tuberculosis and dengue. Not only was she was a passionate advocate of child health; she was also a champion of children’s rights, lending a strong and vigorous voice to the campaign against the proposed legislation to lower the age of criminal liability among children. “Her bright and cheerful presence could fill an entire room. From her patients and their families to her mentees, colleagues friends and family—they all loved her,” wrote Cathy Babao in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. A colleague and mentee described her as the “epitome of beauty and brains with a very big and generous heart.” LEANDRO RESURRECCION III “There were no hugs, there were no kisses, and there were no goodbyes.” That, according to the family of Dr. Leandro Resurreccion III, was how the country’s foremost and pioneering pediatric surgeon signed off in his fight against the virus. To the very end, he was working on his vision for pediatric surgery, especially in liver transplants, according to the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, where he was chief of the Pediatric Surgery Division. He was the hospital’s “first fallen soldier in the battle against COVID-19.” In a statement, the PCMC said Dr. Resurreccion was “well known locally and abroad as forward looking in his vision for pediatric surgery especially in liver transplants which he was working to the end. Always smiling, friendly and very ‘cool’ he will be missed.” His son, Leandro IV, recalled that his father rejected an offer to practice in Australia after being certified at Westmead Hospital in Sydney, saying the Philippines was where he was needed most. “He always embodied a kind of fiery passion for his profession, but he always spoke of what the country needed together with such passion.” DENNIS M. TUDTUD Among the most tragic but heroic casualties of the global war against the pandemic are the husband-and-wife team of Dr. Dennis Ramon Tudtud and Dr. Helen Evangelista Tudtud. Dennis, a prominent Cebu oncologist, died on March 31, four days after Helen a pathologist at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, died, both victims the virus they so valiantly fought. “My sister and I may never understand why God had to take them both. There are so many questions with no answers,” their son Dennis Thomas said. He asked for prayers for those who continue to fight for their lives against COVID-19. “We have a flood of tears. I also ask for your prayers of strength and of acceptance. Daddy and Mommy, please watch over us from heaven,” he said. Dennis Thomas. “My parents touched many lives and were always at the forefront of helping other people.” NIDA CORTES PACQUEO She was “PH35” on the list of those who tested positive for the coronavirus in the Philippines. Yet, neither Nida Cortes Pacqueo nor her husband Vicente had been in any place where most victims were likely to catch the virus. A few days after her 67th birthday, PH35 became the first known Filipino to succumb to the virus. It was especially painful for their US-based daughter Liza, who, according to her blog, was talking to her mother on the phone when nurses in full protective gear took her mother away to the isolation room in the hospital. That video call on March 8 was the last time she saw her mother. Three days later, on March 11, “she died in the silence of isolation.” “She died alone without her loving family and friends around her. She was cremated alone, without ceremony or tribute. My father is alone as well,” Liza announced on Facebook. Her father, Dr. Vicente Pacqueo, a former World Bank economist and UP economics professor, also had the virus and was in isolation when his wife of 47 years died. As of Liza’s latest post, the 72-year old patriarch of the family was stable and probably well on his way to recovery. AILEEN SAN PABLO BAVIERA The country’s top China expert, Dr. Aileen San Pablo Baviera, was coming home on March 12 from an engagement in France, but she never made it home. From the airport, she was taken straight to the San Lazaro Hospital where she succumbed to COVID-19 nine days later. As political science professor and former dean of the UP Asian Center, Dr. Baviera was one of the country’s foremost experts in international relations and Asian studies. While she was a staunch advocate of Philippine-China relations, she insisted that, “if one has to take a side, one must take the side of the Filipino people.” As a keen China watcher, she was an expert on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, especially as it applied to Chinese incursions into the West Philippine Sea. She described herself as ”an academic, an armchair activist, a government analyst, an author, an editor, a policy adviser, a public speaker on international relations, an advocate of people’s diplomacy, a keen observer of global affairs—sometimes nationalist, sometimes internationalist.” Once, on a cruise on the East China Sea, Dr. Baviera pondered on the overlapping territorial interests of the countries claiming all or part of the China Sea—China, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and other Southeast Asian states. She wrote: “It seems that governments have let their primordial territorial instincts rule them. There is folly in this. They seek control of the waters, as if oceans could be tamed, claimed and fenced off like the land. In truth, no one knows exactly what they are claiming….I envy the free creatures of the sea, for we creatures of the land have become captive of our own illusions of conquest and control.” ALAN ORTIZ Leaving in early March for an international security event in Paris on the invitation of the French government, Dr. Alan Ortiz never made it back. He died on March 23 in a Paris hospital of complications from COVID-19. He is believed to be the first Filipino to die of the ailment abroad. Ortiz was the president of the non-profit Philippine Council for Foreign Relations and he was a leader in finance, banking and industries such as water and power utilities. A friend, AmCham Philippines consultant John Forbes, described Ortiz as a “larger-than-life hero of our times” and a “game changer in both his public and private sector careers.” Former Finance Secretary Roberto de Ocampo, who had worked with him in the Finance Department and in the Development Bank of the Philippines, also paid tribute to Ortiz as a hard-working man of integrity. “I relied on him because of his ability to make things happen, and happen well. It came as no surprise to me that he continued to succeed in various capacities in the private sector and rise in the esteem of his peers with his incisive and respected views on the nation’s economy and its future in an ever global setting,” De Ocampo said. GEN. PRUDENCIO REGIS A ranking official of the Philippine National Police until his retirement, Gen. Prudencio “Dennis” Regis became active in golf, becoming president of the Eastridge Seniors Golfers Association. He attended UP Prep in high school (Class 1969) and entered the Philippine Military Academy (Class 75). He died on March 24 at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center. RENATO S. VELASCO Dr. Renato S. Velasco, another former Cabinet member, is the latest member of the UP community to succumb to the virus. He died on April 4; he was 66. An associate professor in political science in UP where he graduated cum laude in history and later acquired his master’s degree in Asian Studies and doctorate in political science; he was a product of the public school system. He lent his intellectual expertise to the government in 2006 in various capacities under then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, serving as chief of the Presidential Management Staff and director general of the Philippine Information Agency. Rene, as he was called by friends, returned to the academe after his stint in the government. His Alpha Sigma fraternity brother, former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo, called Velasco ”a comrade in the struggle against martial rule.” He will be missed in various circles in which he moved, in advancing the advocacies he championed. Officials of the PIA paid tribute to their former chief as a humble, generous and dedicated public servant who “steered PIA with his unique brand of firm yet compassionate and intelligent leadership.” The list was based on publicly available information as of April 4, 2020 and may not be comprehensive. ERRATUM: In this article “IN MEMORIAM: Remembering those we have lost” published on April 6, 2020, we erroneously included the names of Ambassador Bienvenido Arceo Tan, Jr., a UP alumnus who passed away on March 10, and Ms. Zenaida F. Salas, long-time administrative staff of the UP Diliman Department of Political Science who passed away on April 2. The UP community mourns their loss and condoles with their bereaved families and loved ones; however, Amb. Tan and Ms. Salas passed away due to causes other than COVID-19. The article also contained an error in Arch. Raul D. Eslao, RN’s name. These corrections have been made to this updated web post. The UP Media and Public Relations Office regrets the errors. |
https://up.edu.ph/constituent-universities-weekly-bulletin-week-1/ | Constituent Universities’ Weekly Bulletin (Week 1) – University of the Philippines | Constituent Universities’ Weekly Bulletin (Week 1) Constituent Universities’ Weekly Bulletin (Week 1) April 3, 2020 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Constituent Universities’ Weekly Bulletin (Week 1) (Week 1 | Updates as of 24 March 2020) UP Diliman One deceased, 2 tested negative for COVID-19 among UPD faculty Four faculty members of UP Diliman registered as afflicted, person under investigation (PUI), and under monitoring for coming in from travel from a COVID-19-infested country or for being in direct contact with a COVID-19 patient. One went straight to San Lazaro Hospital upon arrival in Manila on March 12, 2020 for a checkup after traveling to France to attend an academic conference. The faculty member tested positive and was confined in a medical quarantine facility, eventually passing away from complications from the disease. Two were declared persons under investigation for showing symptoms after attending an academic conference in Japan. Tests on them revealed negative results. Another faculty member was declared person under monitoring (PUM) after coming in direct contact with an individual with COVID-19. Task force, measures set vs COVID-19 The UP Diliman administration created a task force on March 8, 2020 to draw up preventive measures and coping mechanisms on COVID-19 for students, faculty members, researchers, staff, and the UPD residents. Headed by Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, the task force is composed of officials and experts from the offices of the vice chancellors for academic, community, and student affairs, and for research and development; the University Registrar, Information Office, Health Service, the Office of Community Relations, Computerized Registration System; the colleges of Science, Law, and Social Sciences and Philosophy; the Institute for Small Scale Industries; and the University Student Council. UPD set out to track all faculty members with travel history outside the Philippines in the 14 days before the community quarantine. It adopted guidelines and mechanisms on where to go and what to do in case an individual or a dormer shows symptoms. An information dissemination platform, upd.edu.ph/covid-19-advisory, was created. Information materials were also posted on the UPD website, Facebook, and Twitter pages. Smart Infocast was used for constituents who do not have access to the Internet. Earlier, Nemenzo addressed the community a number of times through published and broadcasted statements, one immediately after the declaration of enhanced community quarantine of the National Capital Region on March 17, 2020, briefing the latter on the campus situation and actions. Calls for donations issued for UP Diliman’s student volunteers, affected residents, and UPHS Calls for donation have been made by UP Diliman on behalf of student volunteers for donations for affected campus residents; and by the UP Diliman Health Service for personal protective equipment (PPEs). Alternatives proposed in UP Diliman in wake of class suspensions UP Diliman identified several platforms such as the UPD Virtual Learning Environment (UVLE), Zoom, Google Classroom, and Microsoft Office as remote modes of learning in lieu of regular classes. Colleges were asked to consider, evaluate, and suggest open-source versions as alternatives for their students. Online classes endorsed earlier in lieu of regular classes were suspended along with regular classes in consideration of students without proper Internet and computer access. UP Los Baños UPLB brings stranded student-dormers home The declaration of enhanced community quarantine over Luzon left many UP Los Baños (UPLB) students stranded in their dormitories, with no way to go back home. The UPLB Administration established a system wherein parents of stranded UP dormers are contacted first for consent and to confirm address. The students are then ferried to their respective municipal halls at pre-arranged drop-off times, with the parents expected to be physically present receive their child. UPLB officials accompanying the students take pictures of the students with their parents to document that they are safe and have been delivered home without harm. However, there is still a substantial number of stranded UPLB dormers still on-campus. As of March 21, 2020, there are still 517 students in the University dorms. More is being done to help support and care for these remaining UPLB students. To find out, read here: SOS for stranded students UPLB sends out a call for help for its student dormers UP Los Baños currently has 106 student dorm-residents on campus, including international graduate students. Along with students staying in other housing facilities of partner institutions within campus, such as DMST, FNP, NCPC, YMCA and in SEARCA (International Graduate Students), a total of 623 students are staying in the UPLB dorms. With the enhanced community quarantine, the normal canteens, cafeterias and eating places for these students have been closed, leaving the students with no food. The UPLB Administration sent out a call for donations to supply the UPLB students with food—at least P1.9 million a week for three meals a day for students inside and even outside the campus, who number over 900. Aside from food, students are also in need of vitamin C supplements to boost their immune system and protect their health. UP Open University UPOU launches portal for University COVID-19 updates Inspired by the UP System’s portal for its COVID-19 updates, the UP Open University (UPOU) launched its own web portal on March 24. It contains the updates from the UP System and UPOU’s own advisories, announcements, memoranda, and news, as well as emergency numbers that can be contacted by the community. Apart from the web portal, UPOU also sends out pertinent information to its community via email, social media, and MyPortal. As early as March 9, UPOU has posted information materials on open and distance e-learning as an alternative to classroom-based education. And when there was a call to shift to online modes of education because of class suspensions due to the COVID-19 outbreak, UPOU conducted web seminars on the conversion to online classes. While classes have since been suspended by the University, putting an end to the short-lived conduct of online classes by its constituent universities, UPOU’s purely-online classes have continued. As the leading open and distance e-learning institution in the country, UP President Danilo Concepcion referred to UPOU in its anniversary celebration last month as the “most high-tech” constituent in the UP System in terms of using information and communication technologies in teaching and learning. Its administration, some faculty, and staff, who previously reported for work in their headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna as well as in learning centers across the country, have been rendering service from their homes. UPOU’s learning materials may be accessed through its repository, UPOU Networks. Massive open online courses are also available at UPOU MODeL. In a report submitted the UP System dated 24 March 2020, UPOU states that it conducted a survey in its community on COVID-19-related concerns and 62 responded. Of the 62, three students disclosed that they are persons under monitoring. A 34-year-old male abroad has finished his 14-day quarantine period at the time of his response. A 31-year-old female in the country said that she is being monitored daily by the Department of Health. And a 23-year-old female, also in the Philippines, is in self-quarantine. UP Mindanao UPMin to offer diagnostic program for free COVID-19 testing, models maximum possible no. of cases in Davao UP Mindanao recently proposed a diagnostic program that can give free testing for COVID-19 in the Davao Region. The program includes establishing a Php15-million biosafety molecular lab that would be linked to a hospital. The proposal was authored by Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Mindanao director Dr. Lyre Anni Murao, who is also a professor of virology in UP Mindanao. A recent, still-unpublished study on COVID-19 by Dr. May Anne Mata, a bioinformatics expert from UP Mindanao, shows the need to test even the asymptomatic patients. Dr. Mata’s research also discussed her disease model’s projection on the maximum possible number of cases in Davao, given the testing rate of 0.1% per day. However, Dr. Mata’s research has found that if the testing rate were to increase from 70% to 100%, the number of COVID-19 carriers will reach 0 within a faster period compared to the current testing rate. UP Baguio Students cared for, ferried home UP Baguio reached out to students boarding within and outside campus who were stranded by the enhanced community quarantine declared over Luzon on March 17, 2020. It extended assistance to them including transportation arrangements for those who wished to go home. One hundred and fourteen “care packs” containing food, hygiene kits, and medicine were distributed to stranded students on March 19 and 20, 2020. Donations for the care packs were pooled and distributed by faculty members. Calls for monetary donations to purchase care packs are spearheaded by the UPB Ugnayan ng Pahinungod. The Guard House has been designated as the drop-off point for donations in kind. The administration arranged for transport in accordance with travel policies and guidelines dated March 21, 2020. Following a UP System memorandum, UPB suspended all classes, including online and alternative learning activities, from March 17 to April 14, 2020. The deadlines for dropping and leave of absence for the second semester of 2019-2020 were also lifted. Work was suspended in all offices except those performing vital service, such as finance, health, security, systems and network service offices in the same period. UP Cebu UP Cebu ensures work continuity and support for its staff As of March 23, 2020, administrative offices and units in UP Cebu have been required to monitor their daily schedule rotation and ensure work continuity within a work-from-home regime. This is in accordance with a memorandum (CLCD-2020-056) from UP Cebu Chancellor Liza D. Corro. Earlier, UP Cebu employees submitted their approved staff work schedule and program of work deliverables to their heads of office/units, while faculty members submitted to their deans a 40-hour work week certificate in lieu of teaching. The salaries of regular, UP- and non-UP contractual personnel have also been released early to provide a safety net for UP employees during this period of quarantine. |
https://up.edu.ph/constituent-universities-weekly-bulletin-week-2/ | Constituent Universities’ Weekly Bulletin (Week 2) – University of the Philippines | Constituent Universities’ Weekly Bulletin (Week 2) Constituent Universities’ Weekly Bulletin (Week 2) April 3, 2020 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Constituent Universities’ Weekly Bulletin (Week 2) (Week 2 | Updates as of 31 March 2020) UP Diliman Bayanihan spirit swells for constituents Individuals, organizations, and university units offered services, facilities, and resources to help UP constituents cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and the enhanced community quarantine. UP alumna Shamcey Supsup-Lee headed Miss Universe Philippines in donating food to stranded students through the Pedro and Coi’s “Biyaheng Busog” program. In a separate initiative, Bounty Fresh donated 1,000 kilos of chicken to the stranded dormers and personnel on campus. The University Food Service for its part remained open to provide meals for stranded dormers and student athletes. For students, the faculty, and staff, the UPD Psychosocial Services started offering “telepsychotherapy”. COVID-19 frontliners can avail of the services for free, after signing up at bit.ly/PsycServ, or calling 09167573157, or emailing psycserve.upd@up.edu.ph. Journalist and faculty member Kara David distributed 200 washable face masks and alcohol refill to household helpers, street sweepers, security guards, grocery workers, and vegetable sellers. The College of Fine Arts housed 100 Lumad children in its new building. The Bakwit School teachers, however, expressed apprehension over their limited supplies and social distancing. Constituents stepping up aid to frontliners, patients Academic units are reaching out to one another, to the COVID-19 frontliners, and to government in fighting the COVID-19 menace. The College of Engineering (CoE) created a COVID-19 response team headed by Dean Ferdinand Manegdeg, and is currently raising funds and resources for its proposals. These include: 3D Printing for frames of face shields for frontliners using CoE 3D printers to be pooled in the EEEI building. Designing a prototype adult ventilator for quick and cost-effective production. Tracking high-risk individuals in coordination with government agencies and telecommunciation companies. Fabricating a mobile plasma treatment apparatus, in coordination with UP Manila (UPM) College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital (PGH), to disinfect buildings, utilities, and equipment. Fabricating a cleaning chamber prototype that will be used to disinfect used personnel protective equipment (PPEs) using UV light. CoE also proposed a project for the Patient and Health Care Worker Flow for PGH, a PGH COVID-19 Donation Tracking System, and a Knowledge Center, according to Technology Transfer and Business Development Office Director Luis Sison. At the same time, UPD is collaborating with UPM and alumni in the De La Salle University faculty to provide coveralls, headgear disinfection, “SaniPod”, a negative pressure system, disinfection of PPEs, disinfection of intubation kits and telemonitoring team, a telepresence triage, telemetry of admitted patients, and teletracking of sent-home patients. The College of Science (CS) reported providing assistance in COVID-19 testing through its equipment and personnel; and the College of Human Kinetics (CHK), to frontliners through production of “sanitents” or sanitation tents. Some CoE, College of Fine Arts, and CS alumni designed sanitents to be used in hospitals and establishments, composed of PVC pipes, plastic cover, and matting. The design and chemical solution was being finalized. The Department of Public Works and Highways has chosen UPD open areas as one of the plots for installation of prototype tents. 5.5 million seniors at high risk – UP Population Institute According to the research done by the UP Population Institute, in collaboration with the Demographic Research and Development Foundation, among the estimated 9.5 million Filipinos aged 60 and above, 5.5 million have existing high-risk conditions, higher among women and among the rich segment of the population. The study also analyzed data from the first 38 recorded deaths from COVID-19 and an overwhelming majority (89%) are in the age group 55 and older, most of them male. UP Los Baños UPLB continues to support its stranded students As of March 26, UP Los Baños has continued to provide two meals per day to the 1,505 students who are still stranded in their dormitories and in private dormitory facilities in Los Baños and in Bay, Laguna. The UPLB Administration continues to appeal to everyone to help sustain the initiative for UPLB students. In-kind donations are being accepted every day at the UPLB Main Gate at 9-11 AM and 2-4PM. For financial support, please course financial donations to the following bank accounts used solely for this purpose: Land Bank-UPLB Branch Account Name: UPLB Foundation, Inc Account No: 1892-1003-29 Bank Swift Code: TLBPPHMMXXX PNB-UPLB Branch Account Name: UPLB Foundation, Inc. Account No: 2464-7000-1642 Bank Swift Code: PNBMPHMM BPI (Current Account)-Los Baños Branch Account Name: UPLB Centennial Fund Account No: 0911-0139-83 Bank Swift Code: BOPIPHMM Please email a copy of your deposit slip to osado.uplb@up.edu.ph or send a message to the UPLBOfficial Facebook Page. UPLB thanks everyone who have supported and continues to support its students. Art Relief Mobile Kitchen helps feed 500 stranded UPLB students Laguna-based veteran photojournalist and documentarian Alex Baluyot is helping feed 500 students stranded in UPLB through his mobile kitchen, Art Relief Mobile Kitchen (ARMK). Art Relief Mobile Kitchen is a group of volunteers who believe in feeding the hungry through community kitchens. Their description in their Facebook page states that “we can and will cook food for the hungry. This is our creed.” According to an article published in the Manila Bulletin, on Saturday, March 21, Baluyot and the ARMK cooked stir-fried vegetable chop suey to feed the estimated 500 students stranded inside UPLB. The following day, his team prepared hundreds of viands as well as nearly 200 ham sandwiches for both in-campus dormers and students living around the campus. On March 23, Baluyot and his team made 593 pork sinigang meals for the students, in addition to the meals they offered for the municipal frontline workers of Barangay Batong Malaki. The next day, they served the students chicken pochero and pork steak. According to the same Manila Bulletin article, ARMK operates in different parts of the country. ARMK co-founder, Precious Leano, is also leading a mission drive in Batangas, where they are serving hot meals for the frontline workers at Batangas Medical Center. Art Relief Mobil Kitchen can be contacted through Alex Baluyot (09989791629), Precious Leano (0917 828 8690), and Giselle Montero (0917 500 8836). Follow them on Twitter via @Art_Relief. Another representative from the private sector, Bounty Agro Ventures Inc. (BAVI), also donated goods to stranded UPLB students, while the Armed Forces of the Philippines 2nd Battalion, UP Rural High School Alumni Group, and the UPLB Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVCSA) implemented “Oplan Hatid” to help students reunite with their families. UPLB escorted 94 students to their homes in NCR and CALABARZON. According to Rocky Marcelino, officer-in-charge of the Office for Student Activities, more trips will be made by the university in the coming days. UP Beta Sigma-Los Baños Chapter calls for volunteers to make DIY PPEs Resident members of the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity-Los Baños Chapter started working on DIY PPEs project last March 23 and has called upon volunteers for help. The Fraternity, in partnership with the SM Foundation, Inc., also donated additional basic necessities such as food, toiletries, and other hygienic supplies to the dormitory residents inside the University premises. According to the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity-Los Baños Chapter’s Facebook page, their donations were made possible through the continuous partnership of the Fraternity and SM Foundation, Inc., with the goal of spreading #SocialGood in the community. “The UP Beta Sigma, together with its partners, will stand committed on helping the community amidst the CoVID-19 outbreak,” the Fraternity said in its Facebook post. UP Visayas UPV strengthens support for constituents amid COVID-19 crisis Four days after the community quarantine directive was elevated by the provincial government of Iloilo to enhanced community quarantine on March 20, UP Visayas (UPV) announced the availability of psychosocial support services to its community. Guidance specialists and psychology teachers may be contacted from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm via six mobile numbers: 0926-746-5671, 0917-486-1042, 0999-223-6498, 0908-131-4461, 0998-982-7383, and 0922-869-1097. Members of the UPV community may also send an email to upv.psychosocial.sup@gmail.com. For physiological ailments and concerns, the UPV Health Services Unit (HSU) started offering online medical consultations on March 27 via its Facebook account, UPV HSU Miagao Campus. Emails may also be sent to hsu-mia@upv.edu.ph. Alternatively, these numbers may be called from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm for health advice: 315-8301, 0918-564-1942, and 0945-699-4613. The HSU also issues digital or electronic prescriptions to UPV constituents and their families for non-emergency and mild medical cases. For urgent medical attention and emergency situations needing consultations in person, the HSU is open 24/7. To help residents acquire basic necessities and run essential errands, UPV has allotted Wednesdays as transport day for those living in the staff house and dormitories. Staff house residents have the 7:00 to 9:00 am schedule, while dormitory residents have the 1:00 to 3:00 pm schedule. UPV’s COVID-19 Task Force has also established the UPV COVID-19 Complaint Unit, where members of its community may relay their concerns, file complaints, or ask about UPV’s COVID-19 response. The Complaint Unit may be reached through mobile number 0919-002-3698 or email at covid19.upv@up.edu.ph or upvcovid19response@upv.edu.ph. The mechanism has been in place since March 31. UP Cebu UP Cebu FabLab and other FabLabs in the Visayas race to produce face shields for medical frontliners Around March 23, 2020, the UP Cebu FabLab began designing and 3D-printing face shield frames to contribute to the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) desperately needed by medical frontliners in the war against COVID-19. The team of faculty members and staff at the UP Cebu FabLab who have been making the face shields consist of College of Communication, Art, and Design dean Prof. Palmy Marinel Tudtud, Prof. Mona Alcudia, Prof. Jay Nathan Jore, Fidel Laurence Ricafranca, Mark Argel Simacon, and Prof. Raymund Fernandez. The face shield frames they make using a laser cutter is attached to a sheet of plastic or acetate to create a face shield to protect frontliners against the coronavirus. According to an email interview with UP Cebu Information Officer Vanessa Guerrero, the UP Cebu FabLab belongs to a network of fabrication laboratories where technology and innovation is shared. “Together with other Fablabs in the Visayas, the UP Cebu FabLab joined the community of maker-spaces in developing and producing PPEs for our brave Filipino medical frontliners working through the COVID-19 pandemic. UP FabLab opted to do the face shield as its materials can be easily sourced and mass production can be done fast and efficiently,” she said. The UP Cebu’s face-shield production was initially backed by funds from UP Cebu Education and Research Foundation, Inc. (UPCERFI) and the laboratory’s own resources. The UP Cebu FabLab is being supplied materials by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The aim, according to Guerrero, is to produce 500 face shields per week. But with the increasing number of requests for face shields from hospitals and frontliners in Cebu, the UP Cebu FabLab has joined forces with the other FabLabs across the Visayas. “The need is overwhelming, and what we need now is to collectively help produce PPEs,” said Guerrero. UP Cebu has posted on their website a how-to guide for other FabLabs seeking to fabricate five-minute face shields. Since it started production, the UP Cebu Fablab has continued to donate the much-needed PPEs to hospitals and frontliners in need: On March 25, the UP Cebu FabLab donated 150 face shields to Vicente Sotto Hospital. The following day, March 26, 150 more face shields were donated to Chong Hua Hospital, Cebu Doctors Hospital, and Visayas Community Medical Hospital. On March 27, 50 face shields were given to Perpetual Succor Hospital. On March 28, 200 face shields were donated to Eversley Childs Sanitarium, Mandaue City Community Hospital, Lapu-Lapu Community Hospital, Sacred Heart Hospital, and Talisay District Hospital. On March 30, 300 face shields were donated to Mactan Doctors Hospital, North General Hospital, Velez Hospital, Cebu City Medical Center, Arc Hospital, Mandaue City Community Hospital, and Lapu-Lapu Community Hospital. And on March 31, 260 face shields were donated to St. Vincent Hospital, Sogod District Hospital, Guba Community Hospital, Pulang Bato medical frontliners, Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, St. Anthony Mother & Child Hospital, and the DTI Cebu. The UP Cebu FabLab has been seeking support from the Cebuano community so it can continue production of the lasercut face shields and meet the demand. Please course donations of materials for these PPEs through pptudtud@up.edu.ph. The UPCERFI also welcomes financial support given through: Account Name: University of the Philippines Cebu Educational and Research Foundation Incorporation Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Lahug Branch Account Number: 3611 0061 43 |
https://up.edu.ph/up-pgh-preparing-to-operate-as-covid-19-referral-center/ | UP-PGH preparing to operate as COVID-19 referral center – University of the Philippines | UP-PGH preparing to operate as COVID-19 referral center UP-PGH preparing to operate as COVID-19 referral center March 24, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta UP-Philippine General Hospital, a unit under UP Manila. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) has been designated by the Department of Health (DOH) as one of the three COVID-19 referral centers in the National Capital Region (NCR), with the concurrence of UP President Danilo L. Concepcion and UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita D. Padilla. The director of UP-PGH, Dr. Gerardo “Gap” Legaspi, made this announcement during a March 23 virtual press conference of the DOH. The other two hospitals designated as COVID-19 referral centers in the NCR are the Dr. Jose M. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Caloocan City and the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City. Preparing for a potentially protracted battle Government hospitals under the DOH, major private hospitals, and the different offices of the DOH were tasked with coordinating the management of the COVID-19 public health emergency, Dr. Legaspi said. “The stakeholders agreed that one of the solutions to this complex problem was to organize the hospitals in a manner that will rationalize the clinical approach and the utilization of resources in order to equip and enable the designated referral centers for a potentially protracted battle,” the UP-PGH statement added. Representatives of the hospitals, both private and government, met and discussed the issues and have committed financial, manpower, technical and technological assistance to the three COVID-19 referral centers. The DOH and the University of the Philippines also pledged to extend full support. The statement added that “a scaling-up system of preparation was agreed upon so as not to severely hamper the COVID-19 referral centers’ services to their currently admitted patients.” Under the referral system, the coordinated transfer of patients can be done only after official acceptance by the receiving hospital. Admission to the referral center will initially be limited to mild PUIs (patients under investigation) who are at high risk of deterioration (above 60 years of age and/or with co-morbidities) and moderate to critical PUIs. Director Legaspi clarified that not everyone with suspected symptoms of COVID-19 would be admitted to UP-PGH, but patients will at least be seen at the hospital triage, where they are prioritized according to the degree of their ailment and the urgency of their treatment. Eventually, when testing for COVID-19 has been made readily available, only confirmed COVID-19 patients will be sent to the referral centers. Those designated as mild PUIs shall be triaged to their local health units and a quarantine plan shall be strictly implemented. One week to prepare The UP-PGH, Director Legaspi said in the virtual press conference, requested a week to fully prepare the hospital for its role as a COVID-19 referral hospital. Planning began as early as March 20 and hospital officials have designated a location exclusively for COVID-19 patients. The designated COVID ward will be distant from and have very little contact with the hospital’s more than 400 other, non-COVID-19 patients. During the first meeting of UP-PGH officials and department heads, it was decided that 130 beds would be committed to COVID-19 patients, although this number may be increased depending on the number of incoming patients. Director Legaspi also said coordination had been made with private hospitals, which could share the lessons and experiences in dealing with their own COVID-19 crisis. He also noted the willingness of other government hospitals under the DOH to accept non-COVID-19 patients that UP-PGH might not be able to handle because it would be focusing on COVID-19 patients during this public health crisis. Not an exclusively COVID-19 hospital But Dr. Legaspi stressed that “I repeat, UP-PGH will not be an exclusively COVID-19 hospital,” citing the more than 400 patients at the hospital who need the different specializations of UP-PGH’s experts. He noted, however, that the number of these patients had been dwindling because of the lockdown. He was addressing concerns about the continued operations of the Cancer Institute. He said the Cancer Institute is still open and will continue to provide patients with services, including radiotherapy. Another essential service of UP-PGH is the Emergency Room, which will also remain open. COVID-19 patients will have a separate Emergency Room. However, Director Legaspi said when testing becomes adequate and regular, there will be no more need for a separate Emergency Room because the COVID ward will be accepting only COVID-positive patients. “There are challenges, many challenges,” said Director Legaspi. These include the lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and testing kits. However, UP-PGH is preparing itself to handle a number of patients up to 10 times greater than the expected number. “With the help of the private sector, donors, and the DOH, we are hoping that before we formally open our doors to COVID-19 patients, we will be ready to take care of these patients for even as long as a month… UP has accepted this challenge and we will face up the difficulties together and hopefully be a part of the solution of the DOH to this problem,” Director Legaspi said. (co-author Fred Dabu, UP MPRO) |
https://up.edu.ph/the-bayanihan-spirit-burns-bright-in-the-university-of-the-philippines/ | The bayanihan spirit burns bright in the University of the Philippines – University of the Philippines | The bayanihan spirit burns bright in the University of the Philippines The bayanihan spirit burns bright in the University of the Philippines March 26, 2020 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office No task is too big nor too small in UP’s fight against COVID-19. This is the rallying spirit behind the various UP bayanihan efforts that range from science and technology to humanitarian efforts, leading the way in social responsibility for its students and staff. Responding quickly to the developing crisis, UP scientists, led by Dr. Raul V. Destura, went ahead and developed the diagnostic COVID-19 test kit, GenAmplify COVID-19 rRT-PCR Detection Kit. But this initiative by UP Diliman’s Philippine Genome Center (PGC) and the UP Manila-National Institute of Health (UPM-NIH), funded by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), is only one of many. Recently, the UP Administration accepted the challenge of making the UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) one of the three referral centers for COVID-19 patients in the National Capital Region. This means that UP-PGH will have a COVID-19 ward, located far from the hospital’s more than 400 other, non-COVID-19 patients.UP-PGH is preparing itself to handle a number of patients up to 10 times greater than the expected number.True to the UP spirit of honor and excellence, over 100 interns at UP-PGH volunteered to go back on-duty to help the patients and the remaining healthcare workers in the hospital. The frontline personnel at UP Manila’s Philippine General Hospital will soon be joined by faculty, staff, and students of the UP Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS), who will undergo training and accreditation at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM)before being deployed to the various testing centers. Meanwhile,the UP Diliman College of Engineering (UPD-CoE) and the UP Cebu’s FabLab (under the College of Communication, Arts and Design) are both working on mass-producing face shield frames for the Personal Protective Equipment of the frontliners. The UP Cebu FabLab is also designing a bodysuit prototype for the PPE. Moreover, the UPD-CoE and UPD-CS are currently developing disease transmission modeling and a more cost-effective adult ventilator to aid the breathing of COVID+ patients. In Southern Philippines, UP PGC Mindanao director Dr. Lyre Anni Murao is proposing the setting up of a laboratory that can give free testing for COVID-19 in the Davao Region to supplement the ongoing tests in the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). SPMC is currently the only medical facility in Mindanao recognized as a subnational reference laboratory that can test for COVID-19. The proposed lab will be made from two container vans—the easiest way to set up the facility—and equipped with a real-time polymerase chain reaction or PCR detection system and other equipment. Apart from rallying its science and technology, the University is also taking the lead in online education and humanitarian practices and programs. Prior to the enhanced community quarantine, UP led the initiative to shift to virtual classrooms. UP was also the first among educational institutions that opted to suspend online classrooms as this would create the need for some students to go to computer rental shops. As directed by the UP System leadership, constituent units were among the first higher education institutions to process and release in advance the salaries of its faculty and staff, including contractual personnel, to help them during the quarantine period. UP President Danilo Concepcion, UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla, and UP Philippine General Hospital Director Gerardo Legaspi are also spearheading the establishment of a UP PGH Bayanihan Na! COVID-19 Operations Center to formalize the system and structure that will facilitate the University’s reception of support for its frontline workers. Furthermore,the UP community continues to undertake various initiatives to address social problems that have arisen because of the enhanced community quarantine. For example, the UP Vanguard has stepped forward to assist indigent students stranded in the Diliman and Los Baños campuses by giving them and the dorm staff free brunch and dinners, a laundry facility, and a cash allowance. The constituent units’ Office of Student Affairs have also been coordinating with other groups to deliver various forms of assistance for the stranded students in the various UP campuses. *Featured image courtesy of Tulong Kabataan UPM Facebook page |
https://up.edu.ph/up-pgh-to-continue-treating-non-covid-19-patients-even-as-a-covid-19-referral-center/ | UP-PGH to continue treating non-COVID-19 patients even as a COVID-19 referral center – University of the Philippines | UP-PGH to continue treating non-COVID-19 patients even as a COVID-19 referral center UP-PGH to continue treating non-COVID-19 patients even as a COVID-19 referral center March 26, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta UP-Philippine General Hospital, a unit under UP Manila. Source: UP PGH Child Protection Unit website The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) will continue serving non-COVID-19 patients even while operating as a COVID-19 referral center as designated by the Department of Health (DOH). “Uulitin ko po, hindi po exclusively COVID hospital ang UP-PGH. [I repeat, UP-PGH is not an exclusively COVID hospital],” Director Legaspi stressed during a DOH virtual press conference on March 23. Addressing concerns about the Cancer Institute, Director Legaspi said that the Institute will remain open and will continue to provide patients with services, including radiotherapy. The Emergency Room, another example of an essential service of UP-PGH, will also remain open. COVID-19 patients will have a separate Emergency Room. UP-PGH is the biggest modern government tertiary hospital and referral center in the Philippines, with 19 clinical departments and attached units that offer excellent facilities for comprehensive care for Filipinos seeking specialty and subspecialty care. The hospital currently has over 400 patients who are being treated for conditions other than the viral disease currently spreading across the globe. In his recent message to the administration and staff of UP-PGH, UP President Danilo L. Concepcion also stated that UP-PGH agreed to become a COVID referral hospital on the condition that it “may continue to serve other patients with other ailments, and that the COVID Wing be exclusive and segregated from the rest of the hospital, with its own ER.” President Concepcion also said in his message that UP and UP-PGH agreed to the DOH’s request for the hospital to become a COVID referral center “on the condition that the DOH will give us additional medical personnel for the Wing and that all its needs, e.g. PPEs (personal protective equipment), will be provided. If these conditions are not met, we shall restrict admission of cases to keep them at a safe and manageable level.” Additionally, the UP president assured UP-PGH that the University will undertake measures to protect and care for all hospital personnel, such as: securing enough PPEs and instituting proper Infectious Control Measures in the hospital; ensuring a strict one-week tour of duty followed by a two-week period of quarantine; arranging for free lodging and accommodation as well as transport for all UP-PGH healthcare workers during the crisis; providing adequate nutrition and physical and psychosocial support, especially to frontliners and those in the clinical areas; and ensuring full support from the DOH and the national government as well as partner private hospitals for the augmentation of UP-PGH’s manpower, technical, technological, and financial needs. President Concepcion also emphasized that only UP-PGH personnel and staff who are fit will be allowed to volunteer and join the Ward. UP-PGH has requested a week to prepare before beginning operations as a COVID-19 referral center. It is one of the three COVID-19 referral centers in the National Capital Region (NCR) designated by the DOH, the other two being the Dr. Jose M. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Caloocan City and the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City. *Featured image courtesy of UP PGH Child Protection Unit website |
https://up.edu.ph/free-online-biosafety-training-for-laboratorians-who-will-be-handling-sars-cov-2/ | Free Online Biosafety Training for Laboratorians who will be handling SARS-CoV-2 – University of the Philippines | Free Online Biosafety Training for Laboratorians who will be handling SARS-CoV-2 Free Online Biosafety Training for Laboratorians who will be handling SARS-CoV-2 March 27, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The National Training Center for Biosafety and Biosecurity (NTCBB) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), UP Manila is offering a free Online Biosafety Training for Laboratorians who will be handling SARS-CoV-2 on March 30 – April 3, 2020. Lecture Topics (approximately 1 1/2 hours per lecture) Introduction to Biorisk Management with Focus on Biosafety Risk Assessment Biocontainment Facilities Biosafety Cabinet Use Personal Protective Equipment Disinfection, Sterilization, and Decontamination Waste Management of Biological Materials Mode of Teaching Online and distance education modes will be used. Distance teaching will be used by providing relevant materials, including the pre-recorded lectures, handouts, book chapters, journals, that are essential to the Covid-19 response. Further, discussion forums and quizzes will be utilized to evaluate the participants formatively and summatively. Online teaching will be utilized for the open forum (April 1 and 2 (2 – 4 PM PST) Live via Zoom, choose one only) Registration: https://tinyurl.com/ntcbb-online. For more information, please contact ntcbb.upm@up.edu.ph. About the National Training Center for Biosafety and Biosecurity, National Institutes of Health, UP Manila The National Training Center for Biosafety and Biosecurity (NTCBB) was created on February 22, 2018 by the UP Board of Regents as the national training center for training and practice of the principles of biosafety and biosecurity among research, academic and healthcare institutions in the Philippines and the region. Its mission is to create a culture of biosafety and biosecurity in all laboratories working on biological hazards. Specifically, the Center envisions to be a source of relevant information and expertise related to the practice of biosafety and biosecurity in the Philippines, to provide the capacity for training for biosafety and biosecurity practitioners in the Philippines, and to be the focal training center in the country that will link with counterpart organizations globally. The programs, projects, and events of NTCBB were developed and implemented in line with the center’s major functions of advocacy and leadership, training and awareness, development of applicable biosafety standards tailored to the capacity of the country, generation of best practices and standards in laboratory biosafety and biosecurity, and creation of mechanisms for both degree (in partnership with a degree granting college) and non-degree programs that will enhance the professional practice of biosafety and biosecurity in the Philippines. The Advanced Biorisk Officers Training & Certification Program is the flagship program of NTCBB. For the past 10 years, this 6-weeks advanced certification program has produced 120 certified biosafety officers all over the country. For more information visit www.ntcbb.com.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/sos-for-stranded-students/ | SOS for stranded students – University of the Philippines | SOS for stranded students SOS for stranded students March 27, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo UPLB students stranded in dorms are provided food to eat through donations from sectors of the UPLB community. Photos by the UPLB Community Affairs. More in their Facebook photo album. Donations and other forms of assistance continue to pour in for UP students stranded in campus and off-campus housing. Food, hygiene needs, and even transport going home are being facilitated by University offices and concerned groups and organizations. Members of the UP community across its constituent universities—alumni, students, faculty, administration, and staff—as well as private individuals, businesses, government units, and the armed forces have been pitching in to help. In UP Diliman (UPD), the administration has called for donations and volunteers. The University Food Service remains in operation to prepare meals for dormitory residents on campus and donations of ingredients are being received. UPD psychosocial services are still being provided through PsycServ. The mode of counseling has been shifted from face-to-face to online. The UPD University Student Council (USC), meanwhile, launched IskoOps: COVID-19 to help not only the more than 250 students, but also the vendors and jeepney drivers affected by the enhanced community quarantine. UPLB’s Oplan Hatid sends UP students safely back home to their families. Photo from the UP Los Baños Facebook page. Oplan Kawingan and Oplan Hatid were initiated in UP Los Baños (UPLB). There are 517 students in University-administered dormitories, 106 in UPLB partner institution housing facilities on campus, and more than 900 who live off-campus. UPLB needs at least P1.9 million per week to provide three meals per day to all of its stranded students. Oplan Kawingan is a food drive from the consolidated effort of UPLB, Every Nation Campus, Serve the People Brigade Task Force Community Unit Response, Chelsea’s, volunteers, and independent contractors, with support from Barangay Batong Malake. The UPLB Dairy Training and Research Institute delivered and has committed to deliver milk and white cheese to the campus dorms twice a week. The Institute of Plant Breeding has also provided produce to the dorm residents. Those stranded continue to be the beneficiaries of alumni as well as organizations like the UPLB USC, UPLB All UP Academic Employees Union, Bounty Agro Ventures Inc., and Art Relief Mobile Kitchen, among others. The call of those who wanted to go home was also heeded through Oplan Hatid. As of March 23, 94 students have been reunited with their families through the initiative of UPLB, UP Rural High School Alumni Group, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Second Battalion. Hygiene kits and other essentials have also been received and the University continues to provide stable internet connectivity so students can remain in contact with their families and relatives. UPV students stranded in dorms make excellent use of their time by making improvised face shields. Photo by Joyce Ann Clavecillas, ABS-CBN News, shared on the UPV University Student Council FB page. UP Danay, a play on the Ilonggo word “updanay,” which means coming together or fellowship, is the UP Visayas (UPV) Community Donation Drive. UPV dormers have received donations from alumni, facilitated by I am UPHi. The UP Iloilo College (UPV’s former name and status) Class of 1961 has also given assistance. In return, the UPV stranded have decided to pay it forward. Mobilized by the UPV USC, they have been making improvised face shields for distribution to health facilities nearby. They have created around 1,500 face shields from March 18 to 20. In a UPV bulletin released on March 20, the administration will be facilitating the transport of Panay-based UP students so they can go home. Protocols for implementation are currently being studied. UP Baguio’s Task Force “Out of Baguio” assists students and faculty who are stranded in Baguio and would like to go home. Photo from UP Baguio’s official Facebook page. In UP Mindanao (UPMin), the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) has been spearheading the donation drive for its dorm residents. UPMin faculty, students and student organizations, alumni, and friends of UP have provided needed assistance. OSA’s Health Services and Student Housing units have also remained on duty. UP Baguio (UPB) has also distributed what they referred to as “care packs” to its dormers and students living outside the campus. Faculty members have volunteered to distribute these. Donations are facilitated by the UPB Ugnayan ng Pahinungod. Transportation for those who want to leave Baguio and return home are being facilitated by the UPB administration, subject to the protocols of the local and national government during the enhanced community quarantine period. Photo from the UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs Facebook page. All in all, the various UP constituent units have been demonstrating concern and compassion for the UP students and other sectors who have been most impacted by the enhanced community quarantine, in keeping with the bayanihan spirit of the UP community. If you would like to give a donation to help support our UP student-dormers and the other members of our UP community during this difficult time, please consider donating to Give to UP: UP Fights COVID-19! *Featured image courtesy of Gulay Lang PH Facebook page |
https://up.edu.ph/announcement-on-the-release-of-upcat-2020-results/ | Announcement on the release of UPCAT 2020 results – University of the Philippines | Announcement on the release of UPCAT 2020 results Announcement on the release of UPCAT 2020 results March 28, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines Office of Admissions is postponing the release of the UP College Admissions Test (UPCAT) 2020 results, which was originally scheduled on 30 March 2020. Please wait for further announcement. The University of the Philippines has always been committed to ensuring the integrity and timely release of the UPCAT results. However, its decision to postpone the release of the results is prompted by two considerations: 1) the reality that the UPCAT applicants will have different levels of access to online results in light of the Enhanced Community Quarantine; and 2) the need to suspend UPCAT processing after 16 March 2020 in consideration of the welfare of the large team of employees working on the pre-release validation of UPCAT results—who live in various locations within and at the outskirts of Metro Manila. Thank you for your kind understanding. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-personnel-to-receive-emergency-allowance/ | UP personnel to receive emergency allowance – University of the Philippines | UP personnel to receive emergency allowance UP personnel to receive emergency allowance March 28, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines Administration has announced the release of an Emergency Allowance amounting to P5,000.00 each for all UP faculty and Professors Emeriti who are in active service as of March 17, 2020; research, extension and professional staff (REPS); administrative staff, whether regular, permanent, temporary, UP contractual/casual or substitute; and Contract of Service (COS) and Job Order (JO) workers who are rendering full-time service. The release of the Emergency Allowance was announced in a memorandum from UP Executive Vice-President Teodoro J. Herbosa, dated March 27, 2020. The Emergency Allowance will be sourced from the UPSA Reprogrammed Funds from prior years’ unexpended balances, and payment will be made not earlier than April 03, 2020. This additional measure is meant to provide immediate economic relief to UP personnel during this period of enhanced community quarantine, which was declared first in Luzon, and which set precedence for similar declarations across local government units in Visayas and Mindanao. |
https://up.edu.ph/video-how-the-up-developed-covid-19-test-kits-aid-hospital-work/ | [Video] How the UP-developed COVID-19 test kits aid hospital work – University of the Philippines | [Video] How the UP-developed COVID-19 test kits aid hospital work [Video] How the UP-developed COVID-19 test kits aid hospital work April 1, 2020 | Written by KIM G Quilinguing Video recorded and edited by KIM Quilinguing, UP Media and Public Relations Office. Test kits are essential for rationalization in hospital work. This is what University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Director, Dr. Gerardo Legaspi said in a press conference on March 12. This, he said, allows them to provide their patients proper advice when they consult them about their health. Talking about the COVID-19 test kit developed by the UP Manila National Institutes of Health and the Philippine Genome Center, Legaspi said it would help in identifying which patients have contracted the virus. He also expressed faith in the quality of the kit, as it was made by UP scientists with safety and efficiency in mind. Dispelling misconceptions, Legaspi said the kit is merely for diagnosis and not treatment. It is not a drug against COVID-19. If people also want to fight against the virus, he added, one can start by considering treatment at home by strengthening one’s immune system. Recently, Dr. Legaspi announced online, the designation of the UP-PGH as a COVID-19 referral center by the Department of Health. With this, the Hospital designated a portion of its facilities, undertook the necessary preparations and rallied its personnel to prepare for its role in fighting the disease. [Related: UP-PGH begins operating as COVID-19 referral center] On March 30, the UP-PGH also launched Bayanihan Na! COVID-19 Operations Center, a contact hub where the public may call for information regarding the virus and the disease. Experts from the university will provide assistance for queries on COVID-related medical concerns, and even ways to volunteer and donate to UP-PGH. Interested parties may call the center via 155-200. [Related: Bayanihan Na! UP-PGH launches COVID-19 Ops Center] On the same day, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato dela Peña announced on Facebook how the locally-produced test kit was nearing testing completion and would be deployed to different hospitals in the country. An initial batch of 120,000 test kits will be produced. For more information on the UP-developed COVID-19 test kits, please visit the COVID-19 UPdates. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-pgh-begins-operating-as-covid-19-referral-center/ | UP-PGH begins operating as COVID-19 referral center – University of the Philippines | UP-PGH begins operating as COVID-19 referral center UP-PGH begins operating as COVID-19 referral center April 1, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital. Source: Philippine General Hospital Facebook Page. Preparations have been completed, and on March 30, the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) begins operations as a COVID-19 referral center. According to UP-PGH director Dr. Gerardo “Gap” Legaspi, readying the UP-PGH to accept COVID-19-positive patients was a joint effort by the University of the Philippines, the public sector through the Department of Health (DOH) and with the help of DOH-retained hospitals, and the private sector, including the construction industry and St. Luke’s Medical Center. Speaking during the official launch of the UP-PGH Bayanihan Na! COVID-19 Operations Center on March 30 from the Nurses Home, PGH Compound in UP Manila, Director Legaspi gave a brief report on the preparations undertaken by the hospital, which began on March 23. [Watch the livestream here] UP-PGH director Dr. Gerardo “Gap” Legaspi. Screenshot from the Launch of UP-PGH COVID-19 Bayanihan Operations Center. “Sa isang linggo po ay na-convert ang anim na bahagi ng ospital para tumanggap ng mga pasyenteng COVID. [In one week, we converted six sections of the hospital to ready them to receive COVID patients],” Director Legaspi said during his message to the UP community and the public. Partners in the private sector He thanked their partners in the private sector who helped with the daunting task of retrofitting two wards in the UP-PGH into a facility able to handle COVID-19 patients. The retrofitting of the wards was completed in record time by the DM Consunji, Inc. (DMCI), with the help of Architect Dan Lichauco, founding partner and principal architect of Manila-based Archion Architects. An article published by the Philippine Star quotes a statement by DMCI president and chief executive officer Jorge Consunji: “We thank our workers who rose to the challenge of delivering this project on time and in accordance with social distancing and sanitation protocols. We also commend the management of the UP-PGH, architect Dan Lichauco and Bloomberry Foundation for supporting our workers.” Director Legaspi also reiterated that an initial 130 beds with ICU units have been dedicated for COVID-positive patients “para po mas maganda at organisadong-organisado ang paggagamot ng mga COVID-19 patients, at pinaka-importante po, mas safe sa ating mga health workers [so that treatment of COVID-19 patients will be effective and organized and, most importantly, our health workers will remain safe.]” With that, the first COVID-19 ward in the UP-PGH has been launched and will gradually be occupied by COVID-19-positive patients. The ward, Director Legaspi added, also houses new electric beds, which are more comfortable for the patients and easier for the health workers to handle. He thanked St. Luke’s Medical Center and its Board of Directors for transferring 48 of these electric beds to the UP-PGH. 48 Hillrom beds were donated by St. Lukes Medical Center. Source: Philippine General Hospital Facebook Page Director Legaspi describes feeling overwhelmed by all the help that has come in from both the private and the public sector. Aside from the infrastructure retrofitting and the equipment, he also cited the financial and material support such as personal protective equipment (PPEs). Easing the burden on UP-PGH personnel He also thanked the volunteers, reporting that a personnel schedule good for three weeks has been drawn up. “Ang prinsipyo po nito ay hindi sila tuloy-tuloy na pagtatrabahuhin,” he said, “una nga dahil mahirap at mainit ang nakasuot ng PPE; pangalawa, dahil siyempre may takot ng konti dahil kakaiba ang mga pasyente; at pangatlo, ang psychological effect ng nasa area na ganito.” [The principle behind it is not to allow them to work continuously because, first of all, the PPEs are hot and uncomfortable to wear; second, because they are also dealing with anxiety about being around COVID-positive patients; and third, the psychological impact of being in an area like this.] Director Legaspi also reported that, to ease the burden on the UP-PGH’s personnel and to provide them sufficient comfort to rest in, Citystate Tower Hotel president D. Edgard A. Cabangon allowed the UP-PGH personnel to use 200 beds of the Citystate Tower Hotel on AA Mabini Street, Ermita. “Ang ating pong mga manpower services ay atin ding sinisiguro na kumportable,” said Legaspi. “Marami pong hotel na nag-donate din ng kanilang mga kwarto, at ang pagkain po nila ay organisado pareho ng mga pribado at ng ating Dietary Service headed by Ms. Emelita Lavilla.” [We are also ensuring that our manpower services are also provided comfort. Many hotels have donated the use of their rooms, and food for our personnel is being organized by both private entities and our UP-PGH Dietary Service headed by Ms. Emelita Lavilla.] PGH: People Giving Hope “Sagana po ang resources na ating mga natatanggap. Papantayan po ito ng UP-PGH ng tapat na serbisyo sa ating mga pasyente. [UP-PGH has received a bounty of resources. We will match that with our dedicated service to our patients]” Director Legaspi vowed. Most of all, Director Legaspi thanked the UP-PGH personnel—the doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, field-care and janitorial services, and security services—for their dedication and courage in continuing to hold their posts and serve the people, no matter the circumstances. In his written message to the UP-PGH community, which was posted on the UP-PGH Facebook page on March 26, he called back to the same courage of the doctors, nurses and staff of the UP-PGH during World War II, when it became the only hospital that remained open during the war. “We have always responded, time and again, to the call of our countrymen when needed. This is that time again.” This sentiment was echoed in UP President Danilo L. Concepcion’s own message to the UP-PGH community, also published on March 26. “‘PGH’ has become synonymous with hope and caring, with compassion and commitment, even in the direst circumstances. I have no doubt that once again, the brave men and women of UP-PGH will rise to the occasion and respond to their country’s call with steadfast courage, abounding talent, and exemplary professionalism.” |
https://up.edu.ph/upd-college-of-science-responds-to-covid-19/ | UPD College of Science responds to COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | UPD College of Science responds to COVID-19 UPD College of Science responds to COVID-19 April 1, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc UP Diliman College of Science Building. Photo by Nadine Lim, UP Photography Society. The UP Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) expressed its appreciation for its constituents who are actively helping the country respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a Facebook post, the College enumerated their efforts, which include lending equipment for COVID-19 testing, producing personal protective equipment (PPEs), donating supplies for frontliners and public hospitals, modeling disease transmission and ventilator production, and deploying personnel to testing centers. “In this time of crisis, we are all called to help our fellow countrymen. The College is lucky to have students, faculty, researchers and staff who are willing to lend a hand in any way they can,” the Facebook post dated March 23, time-stamped 6:47 PM, said. “All these efforts are being done because our standing mandate as UP scientists is to make science serve the people. We offer our expertise, services, and laboratories to the Filipino people in the hope of providing solutions to our current crisis,” CS Associate Dean Lillian Jennifer Rodriguez told the UP Media and Public Relations Office. Experienced personnel According to Rodriguez, the Institute of Biology (IB) and the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB) of the College have been tapped by both public and private sectors for experienced personnel who can be trained to perform COVID-19 tests. “We are proud of our people who will be joining the frontline in the fight against this virus,” the College’s Facebook post read. It added that the personnel will be trained for accreditation by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) of the Department of Health (DOH) before deployment to different testing centers. “We are asking the UP Diliman community and the Filipino people to please pray for their safety,” the College said. Meanwhile, Dr. AC Yago and Dr. Emily Castriciones of the Institute of Chemistry (IC) have been tapped by the Quezon City local government for advice on disinfection and cleaning strategies. Equipment for COVID-19 testing “The NIMBB, through Dr. Rey Garcia, and the Natural Sciences Research Institute (NSRI), through Dr. Cora de Ungria, have lent or will be lending their qPCR machines to satellite testing centers,” Rodriguez said. The machines are needed side by side with the test kits currently being used by the RITM. To ensure the quality of the tests, these qPCR machines are recalibrated by CS personnel upon transfer to the satellite testing centers, Rodriguez added. PPE and supplies At the National Institute of Physics(NIP), CS Dean Giovanni Tapang leads 3D printing of disposable face shields for donation to public hospitals. He is also trying out designs to facilitate the printing. “We also have Dr. Chelo Pascua and Dr. Cherry Ringor working with Dr. Mahar Lagmay and UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) on the 3D printing of face masks,” Tapang said. Laboratories of the IB, IC, NIMBB, NSRI, and Marine Science Institute (MSI) are also donating supplies needed by public hospitals and frontliners. These include surgical masks, gloves, and disinfectants such as alcohol and bleach. “We have donated a first batch of these supplies to the UP Health Service, a second batch to PGH [Philippine General Hospital],” Dr. Rodriguez reported. “We have a third batch that we will most likely give to either PGH or RITM.” MSI professor and former UP System vice president for academic affairs Dr. Gisela Concepcion also donated naso-oral sprays to PGH. Disease transmission modeling “When we first met with several experts of the College, our initial objective was to provide a disease transmission model to try to suggest the next best move to UP administration and the national government administration,” Rodriguez said. Dr. Aurelio delos Reyes of the Institute of Mathematics reported: “The Modeling and Applications group of the IM is currently working on modeling and applying optimal control theory. Estimation of basic reproduction number (R0) and flattening the curve through different simulations are simulated.” Modeling is also being done by NIP faculty and students led by Dr. Johnrob Bantang. Preliminary results have been communicated to Lagmay of the UPRI. “Of course, Dr. Mahar’s work in UPRI is another story altogether,” Tapang added. The CS dean is also involved in a modeling initiative for ventilation of public hospitals. Care and advice from experts The CS is making sure its own home is safe. “We are making sure that people from our College are following the guideline to stay at home by restricting access to the buildings from March 11, 2020 until April 14, 2020,” Rodriguez said. “Only people with an extraordinary need to go to Diliman, such as researchers maintaining live animals and cell cultures, are allowed entry into our buildings.” Rodriguez added that CS students in dormitories in and outside the campus and guards on duty are being provided food packs and toiletries. She offered an expert’s opinion on outbreaks such as COVID-19: “We biologists know that viruses like SARS-CoV-2 are abundant in nature. But if we continue invading animals’ natural environments or forcibly taking animals outside of nature, we only increase the risk of exposing ourselves to new strains or new types of viruses that we have never encountered before,” Rodriguez said. “In light of this crisis, my call as an ecologist is to leave Nature be. We have already taken too much from her.” |
https://up.edu.ph/upd-food-tech-students-produce-ginger-calamansi-concentrate-for-pgh-and-lung-center-frontliners/ | UPD food tech students produce ginger-calamansi concentrate for PGH and Lung Center frontliners – University of the Philippines | UPD food tech students produce ginger-calamansi concentrate for PGH and Lung Center frontliners UPD food tech students produce ginger-calamansi concentrate for PGH and Lung Center frontliners April 2, 2020 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Frontliners from the UP-Philippine General Hospital receive bottles of Lucal drink. Photo courtesy of Meghan Sevilla. Meghan Sevilla and Sofia Tagle, 4th year BS Food Technology students from UP Diliman’s College of Home Economics (CHE), formulated and produced a ginger-calamansi concentrate called Lucal. Lucal can easily be consumed when mixed with warm or cold water. Ginger and calamansi are Lucal’s main ingredients. Photo courtesy of Meghan Sevilla. They were able to achieve this through the guidance of UP Food Science and Nutrition Professors Abigail Rustia, Lotis Francisco, Blanca Villarino, and Bee Dumelod, who checked on their process flow, gave advice, and connected them with raw material suppliers. Meghan and Sofia’s families also supported them. Vanessa Tangcueco, another BS Food Technology student and a good friend of Meghan and Sofia, also created an infographic for Lucal. Infographic by UPD BS Food Technology student, Vanessa Tangcueco. Because of the team’s collective efforts, they were able to produce 40 bottles of Lucal, which is equivalent to 466 glasses of the vitamin C-enriched drink. These bottles were distributed to the Philippine General Hospital and Lung Center of the Philippines. Currently, they are working on a second batch of Lucal, to be distributed to frontliners of other hospitals. Frontliners from the UP-Philippine General Hospital enjoy their Lucal drink. Photo courtesy of Meghan Sevilla. Meghan Sevilla and Sofia Tagle, 4th year BS Food Technology students from UP Diliman’s College of Home Economics, formulated the ginger-calamansi concentrate Lucal. Photo courtesy of Meghan Sevilla. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-pgc-visayas-satellite-facility-shares-equipment-for-covid-19-testing/ | UP PGC-Visayas Satellite Facility shares equipment for COVID-19 testing – University of the Philippines | UP PGC-Visayas Satellite Facility shares equipment for COVID-19 testing UP PGC-Visayas Satellite Facility shares equipment for COVID-19 testing April 6, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo A medical staff at Western Visayas Medical Center inspects the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machine and its accompanying laptop lent by the UP Philippine Genome Center-Visayas Satellite Facility. Photo from UP Visayas Information and Publication Office. It has not been formally launched, but it has already shared its resources in a big way. The UP Philippine Genome Center-Visayas Satellite Facility (PGC-VSF) has lent its reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machine to the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) to strengthen the hospital’s capability in testing patients for COVID-19. PGC-VSF also lent its digital dry bath and provided nuclease-free water to WVMC to enable the use of a different set of testing kits the hospital has received. The PCR device from the UP Philippine Genome Center-Visayas Satellite Facility already in place at the Western Visayas Medical Center testing laboratory. Photo from UP Visayas Information and Publication Office. The initiative was made possible with the help of the local and provincial governments, the Department of Health-Region VI, UP alumni, and University partners. PGC-VSF, which is scheduled to be inaugurated on April 28, is the expansion of the PGC in the Visayas, following the launch of its Mindanao Satellite Facility last year in UP Mindanao, Davao City. It is strongly supported by UP Visayas (UPV) and is located at the Regional Research Center in UPV’s main campus in Miagao, Iloilo. PGC-VSF’s program director is Dr. Victor Marco Emmanuel Ferriols of the UPV College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Institute of Aquaculture. UP established the PGC in 2009 to harness the use of genomics research for applications in health and medicine, food security, environment and biodiversity, ethnicity, and bioinformatics, among others. (With report from UPV-Information and Publications Office) Related: UPV PGC beefs up WVMC CoViD testing center |
https://up.edu.ph/up-tacloban-produces-alcohol-based-hand-rub-for-frontliners/ | UP Tacloban produces alcohol-based hand rub for frontliners – University of the Philippines | UP Tacloban produces alcohol-based hand rub for frontliners UP Tacloban produces alcohol-based hand rub for frontliners April 6, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office UPV Tacloban College’s URUGUP has produced 75% isopropyl alcohol and 80% ethyl alcohol as donation to healthcare facilities and other frontline service providers in Eastern Visayas. Photo from UP Visayas Tacloban College Facebook page. Through its URUGUP public service initiative, UPV Tacloban College has produced an alcohol-based hand rub following World Health Organization standards for donation to healthcare facilities and other frontline service providers in Eastern Visayas. On 3 April, 20,000 mL, 5,000 mL, and 2,500 mL of the URUGUP 80% ethyl alcohol hand rub were donated to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC), Maasin City Hospital, and Abuyog District Hospital, respectively. The UPVTC Security Office received two 300 mL bottles of 75% isopropyl alcohol and 1 gallon (about 3300 mL) of 80% ethyl alcohol hand rub on the same day. Photo from UP Visayas Tacloban College Facebook page. On 4 April, 1500 mL of the URUGUP 75% isopropyl hand rub was turned over to personnel manning the entry and exit points of Tacloban City at San Juanico Bridge, Marasbaras, and Diversion Road near Imelda Village. Photo from UP Visayas Tacloban College Facebook page. The local production of the alcohol-based antiseptic hand rub by a team of Chemistry faculty, researchers, and a volunteer alumnus is part of UP Tacloban’s URUGUP public service program in response to the COVID-19 public health crisis. The first batch was produced with funding support from the UP Tacloban and UP Visayas administration through the UP, Magbubunga Tayo!initiative, a collaboration with the UPV Foundation, Inc. With support from generous donors, the project team and the UPVTC community hope to produce more and help meet the need for disinfectants and hand sanitizers in healthcare and other frontline facilities in Region 8. Mr. Rigelio G. Pagpaguitan receives the URUGUP hand rub for Maasin City Hospital. Photo from UP Visayas Tacloban College Facebook page. The UPVTC security personnel with their URUGUP hand rubs. Photo from UP Visayas Tacloban College Facebook page. (This article was originally published on the UP Visayas Tacloban College Facebook Page.) |
https://up.edu.ph/tv70-up-looks-back-on-70-years-of-philippine-television/ | TV@70: UP looks back on 70 years of Philippine television – University of the Philippines | TV@70: UP looks back on 70 years of Philippine television TV@70: UP looks back on 70 years of Philippine television December 13, 2023 | Written by Louie Jon A. Sánchez The University of the Philippines Department of Broadcast Communication (UP DBC) closed its year-long celebration of 70 years of Philippine television this November with several activities. The department spearheaded a lecture on long-form narratives in the age of algorithm and Tik-tok; launched an exhibit of short documentaries on local TV experiences; and conducted a roundtable discussion on radical television “in the time of crisis.” UP DBC Lecturer Dorian Merina delivered a talk titled “Countering the Algorithm: Is There Space for Long-Form Media in a Tik-Tok World?” on November 13, 2023. He emphasized the importance of cultivating long-form media amidst the proliferation of short-form content and platforms, both of which also tend to be influenced by algorithms. The Columbia University-educated lecturer asserted that there is currently an increasing demand for longform content, such as full-length articles and multimedia reportage. Apparently, consumers are also looking for depth, contrary to the popular belief that media culture nowadays is constricted by the public’s short attention span. “Shorter and faster trends in broadcast media promise to amplify new voices and reach audiences. . . it is not only possible, but critical, to produce and engage with long-form media to better serve our communities,” the Batanes-based Filipino-American lecturer underlined in his abstract. Meanwhile, UP DBC launched “TV sa Tabi-tabi: Maiiksing Dokumentaryo ng Danas TV ng mga Pilipino” on November 17, 2023. The exhibit mounted at the UP College of Mass Communication lobby featured videos produced by undergraduate students of the UP DBC’s Broadcast Media and Arts Studies program. The videos offered first-person accounts of TV viewing habits, recollections, and reflections. “In addition, this exhibit examines television as object, text and practice, urging us to ruminate on the technological, political-economic, sociocultural, and ontological realities that define and are defined by televisual engagement,” stated the Department in the exhibit’s brief. The exhibit, which ran until December 1, 2023, consisted of an iconic couch where visitors sat to watch; a TV monitor from which the documentaries were viewed; and some panels offering discourses on television, such as a poem by Joi Barrios, and popular culture as power articulations by the late National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera. Lastly, the roundtable discussion, “Radical Television in the Time of Crisis”, on November 17, 2023, surveyed the ever-changing terrain of broadcast media and explored current trends and perspectives in emergent televisualities. The panelists included: Benson Logronio, writer of GMA Network’s hit TV series Maria Clara at Ibarra; Jervis Manahan, ABS-CBN News reporter and teacher; Nick Santiago, Arcade Film Factory founder, partner, and commercial director; Eji Santos, IUGO Mobile Entertainment software developer and game designer; and Joelle Yuvienco, voice artist, host, and creator of the “Papaano Kung” Podcast. UP DBC’s year-long celebration, titled “Panonood at Pagtatanod: Paggunita sa ika-70 taon ng Telebisyon sa Pilipinas”, marked the sterling seven decades of Philippine Television, which began in 1953 with the first television broadcast of Alto Broadcasting System (later to become ABS-CBN). It was one of the few commemorations undertaken in Philippine academia. The celebrations kicked off in March 2023 with a colloquium on children’s television in the Philippines. It was followed by a conversation on “streaming unsettling televisuality”. The activities were supported by the UP Diliman Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (OICA), and streamed at the department-managed DZUP 1602 khz. In 2022, UP DBC also marked the centenary of Philippine broadcasting, capping it with a virtual national conference. It also hosted several colloquial and roundtable discussions, as well as aired select broadcast productions marking the event. Louie Jon A. Sánchez is an Associate Professor of Broadcast Communication at the College of Mass Communication, University of the Philippines Diliman, where he teaches critical theory, broadcast history, media research, and gender and sexuality in media. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-cmc-battles-covid-19-infodemic-through-fact-checking/ | UP CMC battles COVID-19 ‘infodemic’ through fact-checking – University of the Philippines | UP CMC battles COVID-19 ‘infodemic’ through fact-checking UP CMC battles COVID-19 ‘infodemic’ through fact-checking April 17, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office FactRakers is a fact-checking initiative of journalism majors at the University of the Philippines Diliman. The UP College of Mass Communication Journalism Department is joining the fight against COVID-19 through fact-checking. Initiated and supervised by Associate Professor Yvonne T. Chua of the Journalism Department, FactRakers is battling the infodemic by actively verifying COVID-related information. Fact-checked information can be accessed through its website and social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter. They can also be retrieved through Google’s Fact Check Explorer, a tool to easily browse its database of fact checks. Since the beginning of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, FactRakers has produced 23 fact checks on false or misleading claims circulating amid the pandemic among Filipinos on social media platforms and mobile community chats. Panelo’s anti-poor quote concocted—FactRakers. Read fact check here. The initiative began last year as part of the Journalism Seminar course on fact-checking (Journ 196). It won the special projects category of the Philippine Journalism Research Conference in early March. The World Health Organization defines an infodemic an “over-abundance of information, some accurate and some not that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it.” Infodemic poses a serious problem for public health because people are bombarded with erroneous or confusing messages on actions to take to protect themselves and others and mitigate the impact of a disease such as COVID-19. #UPFightsCOVID-19 #UPBayanihanNa |
https://up.edu.ph/dilg-endorsed-upou-mooc-begins-in-may/ | DILG-endorsed UPOU MOOC begins in May – University of the Philippines | DILG-endorsed UPOU MOOC begins in May DILG-endorsed UPOU MOOC begins in May April 20, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Image from the UPOU Facebook page. Image from the UPOU website. Enrollment is ongoing for the UP Open University (UPOU) Master of Public Management (MPM) program’s massive open online course (MOOC) on interlocal cooperation. It is free and open to the public. The course was even endorsed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through Memorandum Circular No. 2020-069, signed and issued by DILG Secretary Eduardo Año on April 3. The memo encourages local government heads and officials to enroll and directs DILG regional directors as well as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao Minister for Local Government to widely disseminate the memo. It is a redeveloped version of the PM 265 course that has now been packaged as a stand-alone MOOC by the Faculty of Management and Development Studies, to which the MPM belongs. It is an initiative that aims to help harness the capabilities of local governments in working together to accomplish common goals that will benefit the larger Philippine society. The mettle of local governments is being tested by the current COVID-19 pandemic, and this MOOC proves a timely opportunity for these units to beef up their knowledge stores and skill sets. The MOOC on Interlocal Cooperation is a four-module course, with each module consisting of three weeks. It is scheduled to begin on May 18 with Module 1: General Course on Interlocal Cooperation. The first module ends on June 5. Module 2: Legal Ingredients will be conducted from June 8 to 26. Module 3: Institutional Ingredients will be on June 29 to July 17. Module 4: Financial Ingredients will be on July to August 7. Enrollment for Modules 2 to 4 will be announced prior to their conduct. Original article published at https://www.upou.edu.ph/announcement/massive-open-online-course-mooc-on-interlocal-cooperation-ilc/. |
https://up.edu.ph/call-for-blood-donations-red-cross-love-bus-goes-to-up-diliman-dorms/ | Call for blood donations: Red Cross ‘Love Bus’ goes to UP Diliman dorms – University of the Philippines | Call for blood donations: Red Cross ‘Love Bus’ goes to UP Diliman dorms Call for blood donations: Red Cross ‘Love Bus’ goes to UP Diliman dorms April 20, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Dahil sa COVID-19 at sa umiiral na enhanced community quarantine, maraming mga mass blood donation ang nakansela. Nahihirapan din ang mga walk-in donors dahil sa limitasyon sa public transportation, kahit na bukas ang ibang blood donation centers. Kaya’t ang Red Cross ang pupunta sa UP Diliman kasama ang kanilang “Love Bus”. Ang Love Bus ay paparada sa parking lot pinakamalapit sa mga dorm sang-ayon sa schedule na ito, mula 9:30 am hanggang 5:00 pm: April 20-21 : Sanggumay Residence Dorm (for Sanggumay and Kalayaan Dormers) April 22-23: Between Acacia Dorm and the Parish office (for Acacia, Ilang-Ilang and Ipil dormers) April 24/27: Kamagong and Centennial Dorms April 28 : Sampaguita Dorm For non-dormers who are interested to donate, please send a message to 0928 503 8628. Red Cross’ ‘Love Bus’ goes to UP Diliman dorms for blood donations. Atty. Ma. Gabriela Roldan-Concepcion donates blood through Red Cross’ ‘Love Bus’. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-students-given-options-in-complying-with-course-reqs-safety-nets-against-failing-grades/ | UP students given options in complying with course reqs, safety nets against failing grades – University of the Philippines | UP students given options in complying with course reqs, safety nets against failing grades UP students given options in complying with course reqs, safety nets against failing grades April 17, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta In light of the global pandemic and enhanced community quarantine declared across most of the country, the University of the Philippines has decided to end the second semester of AY 2019-2020 on April 30, 2020, instead of the original May 23, 2020. This decision was made during a meeting of the UP Board of Regents (UP BOR) held on April 16, following deliberations and revisions of a proposal submitted by the President’s Advisory Council, a committee composed of the UP System vice presidents and the chancellors of all UP constituent units. The details of the final decision and corresponding guidelines will be issued in an official memo that will soon be made available and cascaded through proper channels. With this decision, UP students in all constituent units are given two options. They can choose to complete their course requirements until May 31, 2021, and upon compliance shall be given a numeric grade under a “deferred grade” scheme. Instead of receiving a failing grade, students who find themselves unable to complete their course requirements by May 2021 will be considered dropped and will have to retake the course in the succeeding semester. However, students whose circumstances allow them to work on course requirements during quarantine, can choose to complete these requirements, following the adjusted syllabus and the deadlines set by their constituent university. They will then be given a numerical grade based on faculty assessment of their performance. Moreover, students who enrolled in a course that is a prerequisite to a higher course will be allowed to enroll in the latter for credit, despite the “deferred grade” for the prerequisite course. To help students catch up with their courses, departments, units and institutes shall offer bridging programs during the first semester of AY 2020-2021. Departments and faculty have been urged to prepare necessary course requirements that will allow them to assess academic performance, taking into consideration the crisis conditions the students are working in. These adjusted course requirements must be communicated to the students by May 1, 2020. For postgraduate students, their departments, units and institutions shall determine how best to proceed with the courses and how to assess students’ academic performances, in consultation with the students and in consideration of the current crisis situation. UP is also waiving academic rules as well as policies on scholastic standing and student financial assistance. Specifically, the deadlines for the dropping of subjects and for filing Leave of Absence for the second semester of AY 2019-2020 are lifted. As for the maximum residency rule, residence for this semester shall not be counted in the years of residence of a student. A student who incurred a grade of incomplete (INC) during the second semester of AY 2018-2019 shall be allowed to remove the INC until first semester AY 2020-2021. Similarly, a student who incurred a grade of 4.0 during the same period shall also be allowed to remove the 4.0 until first semester AY 2020-2021. Rules on scholastic standing (delinquency), including rules on warning, probation, dismissal and permanent disqualification, are suspended for the second semester AY 2019-2020. Policies on student financial assistance, which are tied to scholastic standing, are similarly suspended. The University will continue to explore alternative modes of instruction, requirements and assessment methods that are consistent with its mandate as national university, and with the principles of honor and excellence, all while taking into account the extreme conditions, unequal life circumstances, and high levels of anxiety, stress and suffering that UP faculty and students are enduring. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-baguio-produces-ethyl-alcohol/ | UP Baguio produces ethyl alcohol – University of the Philippines | UP Baguio produces ethyl alcohol UP Baguio produces ethyl alcohol April 20, 2020 | Written by Jo. Lontoc, UP Media and Public Relations Office A UP Baguio faculty member measures an ingredient in ethyl alcohol production for the campus and for public health care facilities in the locality. Photo by UP Baguio Office of Public Affairs A team from the UP Baguio College of Science (UPB-CS) is producing 70-percent ethyl alcohol in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, UPB announced through an official Facebook post on April 8, 2020. Using campus laboratories, the team composed of Chemistry professors Ofelia Giron and Reymark Ereje, CS administrative staff Joeran Valdez, and Biology alumni and research assistants Donna Castro, Jen Manglinong and Bea Palaganas produced almost 50 liters of the alcohol in the first two days. The project initially intended to produce alcohol for the University’s own need to disinfect personal protective equipment (PPE). UPB had composed Task Force PPE to produce these in efforts to help in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The team produced 10 liters on the first day, April 7, 2020. To help address the need for disinfection solutions particularly of public health care facilities in the locality, it decided to produce more. On the second day, an additional 37 liters was produced. Three members of a UP Baguio team producing 70-percent ethyl alcohol present the finished product straight from the campus laboratories. |
https://up.edu.ph/get-help-on-how-to-teach-learn-and-work-remotely/ | Get help on how to teach, learn, and work remotely – University of the Philippines | Get help on how to teach, learn, and work remotely Get help on how to teach, learn, and work remotely April 20, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Physical or social distancing have been buzzwords since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out more than a month ago. Traditional classes have been suspended. Work has been reduced to skeleton forces and confined to industries of basic goods and services. Being the only virtual constituent university in the UP System, the UP Open University (UPOU) has more experience in physical distancing in education delivery. And as the leading open and distance e-learning (ODeL) institution in the country, its expertise has been widely acknowledged. Faced with the possibility of distance education complementing the usual classroom setup and continued work-from-home arrangements because of this pandemic, UPOU has put together a web page where people can read, watch, and listen to curated materials on teaching, learning, and working remotely. UPOU Networks is the repository of all UPOU-produced materials. UPOU MODeL is platform for all its massive open online courses. Open UP Connect is the official blog of UPOU, where faculty, staff, and students share their expertise and experiences. The UPOU YouTube channel has video lectures on various subjects. For its faculty members, UPOU has the Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services microsite, which aims to assist in the development of modules and in teaching in the ODeL environment. Whether or not remote teaching, learning, and working become the new normal because of COVID-19, UPOU is sharing its resources to help people prepare. Just in case. |
https://up.edu.ph/uplb-publishes-free-to-download-childrens-ebooks-on-covid-19-prevention-and-control-measures/ | UPLB publishes free-to-download children’s ebooks on COVID-19 prevention and control measures – University of the Philippines | UPLB publishes free-to-download children’s ebooks on COVID-19 prevention and control measures UPLB publishes free-to-download children’s ebooks on COVID-19 prevention and control measures April 21, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta, UP Media and Public Relations Office Cover of “Ang mga Maskara ni Miko,” one of the two children’s ebooks published by the UPLB Department of Human and Family Development Studies. The Department of Human and Family Development Studies (DHFDS) under the UP Los Baños College of Human Ecology (UPLB-CHE) has published free-to-download children’s e-books about the importance of social distancing and of wearing face masks during this time of COVID-19. This was announced in recent posts on UPLB’s Facebook page. Cover of “Isang Metro,” the other children’s ebook published by the UPLB Department of Human and Family Development Studies. The first book is “Isang Metro: Kwentong Pambata ukol sa COVID-19”, written by Kate del Rosario, and illustrated by Dandin Espina, with with Paeng Ferrer as editor and layout artist. In it, a little girl named Ella asks her mother, Aling Marie, why people need to maintain social or physical distance, staying one meter apart from one another. Her mother then shares with her other measures to prevent the spread of the viral disease, such as washing hands and refraining from touching one’s face. Ella then finds ways of working with the social distancing rule to still have fun with a friend. Download “Isang Metro” ebook for free here. One of the illustrations from “Isang Metro”. The second book, “Ang mga Maskara ni Miko: Kwentong Pambata Ukol sa COVID-19” (2020), was also written by Kate del Rosario and illustrated by Rachelle Ann Fabula, with editing by Paeng Ferrer and layout by Kenneth Turaray. The story centers around a little boy named Miko, who asks his father why people nowadays have been wearing face masks that cover their nose and mouth. Miko then goes on to compare these masks to the ones that he himself plays with. His father, Mang Berto, explains to him the need for people to wear these masks, and the different types of masks that frontliners use. Download “Ang mga Maskara ni Miko” ebook for free here. The books, as well as the audio/video reading of “Isang Metro” are a good help for parents seeking to explain to their children the need and ways to stay safe and healthy during this time of a pandemic, in language that children can understand. They were published under the Tsikiting Stories series of the DHFDS. Watch ‘Isang Metro: Kwentong Pambata ukol sa COVID-19’. One of the illustrations from “Ang mga Maskara ni Miko”. Special discounts, however, are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations and others. For inquiries, please contact the Department of Human and Family Development Studies, UPLB-CHE, or Tsikiting Stories at tsikitingstories@gmail.com. |
https://up.edu.ph/stop-covid-deaths-clinical-management-updates-webinar-series/ | Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates Webinar Series – University of the Philippines | Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates Webinar Series Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates Webinar Series April 22, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Changes in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 as an infection, and as it impacts on all medical and surgical conditions occur at great speed. There are no experts in COVID-19. But over the past month, expertise in different specialties of medicine is growing. The University of the Philippines, in partnership with the UP Manila National Telehealth Center and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, strongly support the promotion of the highest possible standards of care for COVID-19 patients and also seek to protect the entire health system from the devastation of viral spread through measures and interventions that will insulate the whole range of the practice of medicine and all its sub-specialties in the post-Enhanced Community Quarantine phase and for continuing pandemic preparedness and response. To tap into the experiences of clinicians, hospital administrators, and researchers on COVID-19, a series of Zoom meeting-webinars are organized every Friday from 12:00 NN to 2:00 PM (Manila time) by the University of the Philippines in partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. This partnership is a public health measure, designed to ensure that health workers are protected in the first instance, and that health facilities remain viable, safe and will continue to provide for a wide range of medical and health needs of the Filipino people. In this regard, everyone is cordially invited to the first Zoom meeting-webinar on the Clinical Management of COVID Pneumonia on Friday, April 24, 2020, at 12:00 NN (Manila time) with Dr. Camilo Roa, Dr. Leonora Fernandez, and Dr. Aileen David Wang as resource persons.All medical staff and practitioners are encouraged to avail of this opportunity to be part of a learning network on the management of COVID-19. Registration is free and open to all at https://tiny.cc/StopCOVIDDeaths. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-ait-houses-qc-district-6-testing-center-for-covid-19/ | UP AIT houses QC District 6 testing center for COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | UP AIT houses QC District 6 testing center for COVID-19 UP AIT houses QC District 6 testing center for COVID-19 April 22, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Booths and paraphernalia being trucked into the UP-AIT compound along Commonwealth Avenue to establish the City District 6 COVID-19 testing center. Photo courtesy of Jojo Cabangon, April 19, 2020, retrieved from the UP-AIT Facebook page. The east wing of the newly renovated UP Asian Institute of Tourism (AIT) building located along Commonwealth Avenue is now COVID-19 Testing Center of Quezon City District 6. “When a request for assistance in setting up a COVID-19 testing center in Quezon City was received from [District 6 Representative] Kit Belmonte by [UP Diliman] Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, an affirmative response was immediately given after consultations with [UP] President Danilo Concepcion and myself as the head of unit of the building that was identified as the suitable location for the purpose,” UP-AIT Dean Leticia Susan Lagmay-Solis told the UP Media and Public Relations Office. For testing operations that would begin on April 20, 2020, an ocular inspection of what used to be the AIT House Hotel was undertaken on April 17, 2020 by Belmonte and QC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Head Karl Marasigan, together with personnel from the UP Diliman (UPD) Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development, the UPD Office of the Campus Architect, and UP-AIT. They addressed operational concerns and identified the most efficient way of setting up the facility at the soonest possible time. This included clearing the areas of furniture and equipment and disinfecting the internal and external areas of the building on April 18, 2020. Thus, the center was set up, with booths and paraphernalia coming from the LGU, within two days after the request from the city; and was operating on the third. A room furnished with cots at the UP-AIT COVID-19 testing center. Photo courtesy of Jojo Cabangon, April 19, 2020, retrieved from the UP-AIT Facebook page. “As time is of the essence… the University extends its full support without hesitation… as it tries to find ways to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, and to find solutions to end the pandemic,” Lagmay-Solis said. “We in AIT wholeheartedly offer the building we consider our second home as our humble contribution in response to the urgent appeal of the QC LGU for support,” the dean added. “All throughout this period, I, Chancellor Nemenzo, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Raquel Florendo, and Congressman Belmonte were in constant communication… until nighttime to ensure smooth operations when the testing facility is finally opened,” she said. “We constantly coordinate even now as the facility is already operational.” Lagmay-Solis assured that all safety precautions and protocols are in place to ensure the welfare of all stakeholders. Booths from the Quezon City Hall installed at a UP-AIT lobby. Photo courtesy of Jojo Cabangon, April 19, 2020, retrieved from the UP-AIT Facebook page. After pilot-testing community-based testing the previous week at the Quezon Memorial Circle, the city opened the AIT testing center along with the testing center each for Districts 4 and 5. Based on a Quezon City government press release dated April 20, 2020, the city opened the testing centers for Districts 1, 2, and 3 on April 21, 2020. The testing centers are equipped with swab booths to handle a targeted 50 tests per day, blood testing and x-ray examination. District health officers, in coordination with barangay health center personnel, will man and supervise the booths. Specimens are forwarded to the Lung Center of the Philippines and St. Luke’s Medical Center-Quezon City for processing. The city has also partnered with other organizations and agencies to expand testing and include house-to-house tests, particularly of senior citizens and immuno-compromised constituents. “For those who would like to undergo testing, the QC government requests its residents to coordinate with their barangay health officers for initial interview and assessment before they will be scheduled and brought to the testing centers,” according to the press release. Seats spaced according to social distancing protocols at the UP-AIT COVID-19 testing center. Photo courtesy of Jojo Cabangon, April 19, 2020, retrieved from the UP-AIT Facebook page. |
https://up.edu.ph/urugup-upv-taclobans-call-for-cooperation-amid-covid-19-crisis/ | URUGUP: UPV Tacloban’s call for cooperation amid COVID-19 crisis – University of the Philippines | URUGUP: UPV Tacloban’s call for cooperation amid COVID-19 crisis URUGUP: UPV Tacloban’s call for cooperation amid COVID-19 crisis April 23, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo, UP Media and Public Relations Office Partner, ally, kaugop. This is what UP Visayas Tacloban College (UPVTC) advocates each and everyone to be in facing the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the Waray word, ugop, URUGUP is UPVTC’s institutional initiative in bringing together various sectors to help those in need in these trying times. From collecting donations for the production of alcohol by its Chemistry faculty, researchers, and alumni to putting together and distributing relief packs to its stranded students off campus, URUGUP has been hard at work to continue the delivery of needed assistance. While there are no students living on campus, there are those who remain in boarding houses and with friends and relatives because they cannot travel to their hometowns to be with immediate family. And UPVTC is doing what it can to provide for them. On April 3, URUGUP provided the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center with 20 liters of 80% ethyl alcohol, Maasin City Hospital with 5 liters, and Abuyog District Hospital with 2.5 liters. The UPVTC Security Office also received 600 milliliters of 75% isopropyl alcohol and almost 3.8 liters of 80% ethyl alcohol. The following day, 1.5 liters of 75% isopropyl alcohol were given to personnel manning Tacloban entry and exit points. As of April 13, URUGUP raised almost P60,000 in cash donations. Faculty and staff have also banded together for UPVTC Puso. On April 1, UPVTC Puso donated the face shields it produced to frontliners in seven hospitals in Leyte and food packs to four barangays in Tacloban. Face shields and food packs were also given to UPVTC security personnel. Hygiene kits were distributed to 200 tricycle driver members of two associations. On April 8, UPVTC Puso gave cash assistance of P1,000 each to 15 security guards on campus and to the nine security guards in the Sta. Elena property. They, along with the UPVTC Security Office, were also given face shields. UPVTC is also cognizant of the importance of mental and psychosocial health, so it has made available the necessary support for affected individuals and communities in Eastern Visayas through its Psychology program. Apart from this, the Division of Humanities and UP An Balangaw Performing Arts Group are using the arts to provide emotional and mental relief. Pasundayag Paghilom: Songs and Poetry for Healing at the Time of COVID-19 was launched for April’s National Literature Month and International Month of Poetry 2020. The video performances are available via UP An Balangaw’s Facebook page. UPVTC’s call for partnerships through donations and whatever form of support continues as it maintains its commitment to serve not only its community, but the region of Eastern Visayas as well. |
https://up.edu.ph/upd-department-offers-free-counseling-in-a-time-of-physical-distancing/ | UPD department offers free counseling in a time of physical distancing – University of the Philippines | UPD department offers free counseling in a time of physical distancing UPD department offers free counseling in a time of physical distancing April 23, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Image from https://www.facebook.com/updpsycserv/ The UP Diliman Department of Psychology, along with its UPD Psychosocial Services (PsycServ) program, has offered free telepsychotherapy services to frontliners, PUMs and PUIs, COVID-19 positive individuals, their relatives, and others severely affected by COVID-19. The latter can send a text or Viber message to 09063743466 or 09167573157 with their name and concern or accomplish the form on the link http://bit.ly/PsycServPH to receive a call from a PsycServ volunteer. PsycServ operates from Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm. “Indeed physical distancing is hard but we can still enable people to connect for encouragement and comfort,” said Dr. Violeta V. Bautista, PsycServ director and Clinical Psychology Program chair of the Department. Image from https://www.facebook.com/updpsycserv/ According to the https://www.facebook.com/updpsycserv/, the program aims to provide support and a listening ear to those feeling anxious in quarantine with no one to talk to, those diagnosed with the disease or caring and directly working with those who were and thinking of the worst possibilities, those in anguish over a loved one who is ill or who died, and those unsettled and destabilized by the uncertainties and tragedies of the times. The Facebook page offers a general advice: “Halo-halong emosyon ang dala ng COVID-19 sa buhay natin: takot, lungkot, saya, galit, gulat, at marami pang iba. Alalahanin nating normal lang na maranasan ang mga ito lalo na sa panahon na ito. [COVID-19 has awoken mixed emotions in our lives: fear, loneliness, relief, anger, shock, and others. Let us remember it is normal to experience these especially at these times].” Images from https://www.facebook.com/updpsycserv/ The telepsychotherapy team is composed of licensed psychologists, experienced psychologists-in-training, clinical psychology graduate students, and trained counselors of the department. UPD PsycServ was formed in 2017 in response to an increasing number of students who are at risk for psychiatric conditions and those already suffering from them. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-historic-building-to-shelter-persons-for-covid-19-isolation/ | UP historic building to shelter persons for COVID-19 isolation – University of the Philippines | UP historic building to shelter persons for COVID-19 isolation UP historic building to shelter persons for COVID-19 isolation April 23, 2020 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Beds lined up in parts of Palma Hall designated as isolation areas. Photo by UP COVID-19 Task Force and Act as One PH, April 19-20, 2020, from the UP-CSSP Facebook page Operations of “Kanlungang Palma” will begin on April 22 after the historic Palma Hall of UP Diliman (UPD) was designated an isolation area for suspected and probable cases of persons with COVID-19, according to bulletins from the UPD College of Social Sciences of Philosophy (CSSP). The shelter will handle cases coming from the UPD area. In an update by CSSP on April 21, 50 of the 85 beds that were set uphave been retained foruse. This was to accommodate the University Health Service’s (UHS) capability to handle only 50 cases at any given time. In the same bulletin, CSSP revealed that the installation of plastic dividers of bed areas was already underway via the volunteers of Act as One PH, led by Dr. Jesusa Catabui, UHS director. There will only be two patients in each classroom to ensure proper physical distancing. Arrangements were previously made for the setting up of tents at the parking lot across the façade to serve as the swabbing or testing area of the UHS. A classroom converted into an isolation area. Photo by Jem Javier, April 18, 2020, from the UP-CSSP Facebook page Palma Hall, the home of CSSP, has been known as a shelter for activism.“Ang mga silya ay nasa fourth floor, echoing [the First Quarter Storm] and the Diliman Commune, pero ang kalaban ngayon ay sakit. At sa halip na magtaboy ng manunupil ay tatanggap ng mga nangangailangan,” said Prof. Jem Javier of CSSP’s Department of Linguistics on the latest social engagement by the University in the storied building. Javier was referring to classroom furniture being moved to the fourth floor, as the second and third floors might also be used for isolation, to give way for isolation beds. The classrooms were being prepared under the supervision of the UPD Office of the Campus Architect and the UHS, with proper ventilation and spacing of beds ensured. “Only the front entry of Palma Hall will be used and the east and west wing gates will be closed. The pavilions and all offices will also be closed off,” according to CSSP’s bulletin dated April 18. Dr. Jesusa Catabui of the University Health Service, an Act as One PH volunteer, and Palma Hall Assistant Building Administrator Roy Ramos discuss the partitions to be placed between beds. Photo by UP COVID-19 Task Force and Act as One PH, April 19-20, 2020, from the UP-CSSP Facebook page In its first bulletin dated April 17, the College assured its constituents that the decision would not risk their safety as “we are not returning to our physical classes for the rest of the semester and the midyear.” CSSP added that all proper health protocols identified by UP COVID-19 Task Force to keep the personnel, including security guards, safe would be followed. “Only the custodial workers who volunteer for the task will work in the area, with consideration for their own health conditions. They will all receive hazard pay,” according to CSSP. As of April 18, seven such workers had volunteered. The UPD Administration added another five to the task of preparing the area. They were provided meals. CSSP said that these workers will be replaced by “professional janitors” once isolation operations start on April 22. Disinfection and decontamination before and after the COVID-19 operations will be conducted by a Sanitary Anti-Viral Entry Point or SAVEPOINT team following WHO protocols and utilizing “internal establishment disinfecting” services and misting tents, among others. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-united-how-the-state-university-is-raising-head-and-heart-against-covid-19/ | UP united: How the state university is raising head and heart against COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | UP united: How the state university is raising head and heart against COVID-19 UP united: How the state university is raising head and heart against COVID-19 April 23, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office As expected of the country’s national university, the University of the Philippines has been among the main institutions at the forefront of the battle against the coronavirus. The spirit of honor, excellence and compassion shines brightly among faculty, students, alumni, and staff across constituent universities nationwide. There is the selfless courage of those who continue to serve daily in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), or as PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi aptly puts it, the “people giving hope.” Despite a directive to pull out interns from medical colleges, about 214 PGH interns have volunteered to stay on duty, assisting and augmenting the hospital’s health workers. Despite the danger, PGH has accepted the appointment as one of the country’s COVID-19 referral hospitals. Aiming for more tests In the search for solutions, there are minds hard at work at the UP National Institutes of Health and the Philippine Genome Center (PGC). Scientist Dr. Raul Destura has called on laboratories and hospitals for proper equipment to test their locally developed SARS-COV 2 detection kits. According to UP’s National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, the search for equipment and qualified personnel to properly conduct tests will be in preparation for the expanded testing of the Department of Health (DOH). Completion of field tests over a two- to three-week period may allow these more affordable test kits to be readily available. Increasing the testing capacity for coronavirus in other regions has also been stressed by UP Mindanao’s (UPM) PGC. Its director, virology professor Dr. Lyre Anni Murao, has proposed a diagnostic program for free testing of COVID-19. Currently in Mindanao, only the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) is capable of running the test. The proposal includes building a biosafety molecular lab attached to a hospital that will not only help the region against COVID-19 but can eventually help against other infectious and emerging diseases. Discussions ongoing about the establishment of a COVID-19 testing lab in the Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City. Involved are Dr. Lyre Anni Murao, director of the Philippine Genome Center-Mindanao, and the DRMC team, led by chief of hospital Dr. Bryan Dalid and pathologist Dr. Alejandro Domingo. Additional testing labs are an urgent requirement of local governments and the Department of Health to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines. Photos from Dr. Murao, taken from a UP Mindanao Facebook post, April 6 Ideas and more Over at the UP Diliman College of Engineering (CoE), a meeting of minds converged to find engineering solutions to the virus outbreak. Five feasible proposals with immediate benefits were identified. The first project pools together all 3D printers across the university system for the production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Second is the development of a prototype adult ventilator, as COVID-19 is essentially a respiratory illness. Third is a movement tracker in conjunction with government agencies and telcos for registered Persons Under Investigation. The tracking solution will help assess possible contamination in an area. Fourth is the creation of a mobile plasma treatment apparatus for the disinfection of hospital walls, ERs, walkways, PPEs, health utilities like air filters, and office equipment. Last is a prototype cleaning chamber based on ultraviolet exposure that can disinfect used PPEs. Photo from the UPD College of Engineering Facebook page, March 28 Project implementation will be conducted in coordination with the UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (UPERDFI) and UP Alumni Engineers (UPAE). The UPERDFI has called for donations as the projects will have a total cost of over P1.6 million. The cause has led to generous donations in both cash and kind, including the donation of electronic equipment and devices for prototype and fabrication works. Dr. Enrique Ostrea, Jr. (UP Med’65), patent holder of a ventilator for newborns, has waived his right to the patent to shorten the prototype development of the proposed adult ventilator. Facing the shortages The UP Cebu FabLab assembles over 100 lasercut faceshields for Cebu’s medical frontliners in half a day. Photo from the Fablab UP Cebu Facebook page, March 25 With the shortage of masks and safety equipment, UP units in the Visayas have also used their creativity and resourcefulness to help. The UP Cebu Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab), built for the Product Design program in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu, has used a 3D printer and laser cutter to come up with about 100 face shields. Additional materials from DTI are expected for more face shields to be made. Students at UP Visayas (UPV) in Miagao and Iloilo campuses have initiated a project to mass-produce alternative face shields. Based on a design from a health worker at the Iloilo Mission Hospital, the face shield is made from Velcro straps, acetate sheets, craft foam and PVC covers. Both campuses are accepting donations of materials including adhesives, double-sided tapes, staples and staplers. The students have so far produced 300 face shields that have been distributed to hospitals across Iloilo. They hope to make many more for the Western Visayas Sanitarium, which is being eyed as a COVID-19 center for the province. UP Visayas student-dormers assembling faceshields to donate to the frontliners. Photo from the UP Visayas Facebook page, April 16 Volunteers were mobilized from among many dormers still in the UPV campuses. Because of travel restrictions to Manila and other provinces, about 174 students remain stranded. Fellow students and alumni groups have been donating food and supplies, especially as the Miagao campus is about 42 kms south of Iloilo City. UPV, through its Philippine Genome Center Visayas, has also transferred its PCT Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine and its Digital Dry Bath to the Western Visayas Medical Center. With these transfers, Iloilo City becomes better equipped to diagnose the disease. An alumni group from UPV has also met with government officials to push for the establishment of an accredited coronavirus testing center in the city. Stranded students In the meantime, UP Los Baños (UPLB) has experienced a similar plight to UPV and has appealed for help. The campus has been providing supplies to 700 students in university dorms and another 900 in off-campus housing facilities. The university needs at least P2 million a week to help feed the students. UPLB recently concluded Oplan Hatid in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 2nd Battalion, the UP Rural High School Alumni Group and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Some 94 UPLB students were reunited with their families in CALABARZON and across NCR. Some UPLB dormers, such as those from the Women’s Residence Hall, have decided to be productive about their stay. Difficult as it is to find food and supplies, the residents have managed to make 100 DIY face shields in a project initiated by the School of Environmental Science and Management. Beta Sigma-UPLB chapter has called for volunteers to make more face shields as their group provides instruction guides and raw materials. Aside from face shields, the UP community has been looking at other equipment. A group of designers, engineers and chemists from UP Diliman have put together a prototype COVID-19 decontamination tent. The group, called SaniTents PH, said it could guide hospitals and other establishments who want to increase their safety protocols against the disease. The booth can be constructed in one and a half days, and features a diffuser that sprays disinfectant from head to toe. SaniTents PH has released the design for the general public, so that it can be freely copied or modified for use. SanitentsPH is inviting LGUs and individuals who have developed their own handwashing stations, sensitive to the current situation, to share their ideas in their SaniTents PH Bayanihan Community group: https://tinyurl.com/ud4qsfa. Post taken from SaniTents PH Facebook page, April 13 A listening ear The UP Diliman-Psychological Services (UPD PsycServ), established to provide accessible mental health and psychosocial support services for students, faculty and staff, has offered free therapy services for frontliners. The organization encourages these overworked and stressed-out medical staff to contact 0906-3743466 via text or Viber for free tele-psychotherapy. The UPD PsycServ is composed of licensed psychologists and experienced clinical practitioners completing graduate degrees in Clinical Psychology. A listening ear is another way to support our harried health care workers. There are many other stories of the generosity of the entire UP community, a generosity that extends from thoughts and ideas to concrete action. An alumna, who wishes to remain anonymous, continues to send cash donations for food, medicines and vitamin C to students still in UPLB. Journalist Kara David has driven around the Diliman campus to distribute face masks and alcohol to UP workers, including food sellers, street sweepers and security guards. Shamcey Supsup-Lee, national director of the Miss Universe Philippines Organization and Architecture alumna, has been donating food to Diliman dormers, as well as to the National Children’s Hospital. UP Baguio has distributed 114 care packs containing food, hygiene kits and medicines to students. Many remain on campus due to the Luzon lockdown and need donations for food and supplies. UP Baguio distributes care packs to its stranded students. Photo from the UPB Facebook page, April 9 Nowhere to Go But UP, a volunteer group supporting UP sports teams, has been steadily raising funds for a number of healthcare frontliners that include hospitals, AFP checkpoints, the MMDA Rescue Hotline Group, the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine, and the Philippine Genome Center. Their projects include Oplan Hatid for some 272 Diliman dormers, and more recently, a Canon Digital Masterclass series that will allow participants to donate to UP. The needs are great, and the danger is real. But it is in these situations that UP rises to the ideals that embody its purpose. Give to UP. Donations in cash, kind or volunteerism will be contributions to the welfare not only of our community but of our nation as well. Visit https://giveto.up.edu.ph/gate/covid19 to learn how to donate or email giveto@up.edu.ph or contact the UP Padayon Public Service Office at 0917 571 8886. |
https://up.edu.ph/statement-on-the-reported-proposal-of-the-up-covid-19-pandemic-response-team-to-delay-the-reopening-of-schools-up-to-december-2020/ | Statement on the Reported Proposal of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team to Delay the Reopening of Schools up to December 2020 – University of the Philippines | Statement on the Reported Proposal of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team to Delay the Reopening of Schools up to December 2020 Statement on the Reported Proposal of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team to Delay the Reopening of Schools up to December 2020 April 24, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team In a press briefing at Malacañang Palace on 21 April 2020, the scientific findings by the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team on age-group social interactions and its implications on flattening the so-called epidemic curve was presented. For everyone’s guidance on the matter, we are issuing this statement to clarify the following: The analysis conducted by our modeling group shows that the 0-19 years old age-group accounts for the greatest number of possible interactions which is about 56%. From one of our projections, eliminating the interaction of this group, which takes place primarily in schools, can substantially reduce spread of the COVID-19 virus. If unmitigated, this number can represent a substantial amount of transmissions if and when we lift the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine after April 30, 2020. The proposal to start the school year much later is under the assumption of a full contact (physical) setup. Even with the closure of school grounds, it does not mean we have to discontinue class delivery. Alternative and innovative approaches for continued learning are encouraged and should be explored and implemented. Ultimately, the decision when or how to reopen the schools should be nuanced with the actual situation on the ground. The decision to close schools, or for any action for that matter beyond April 30, is entirely an executive government matter. We only present the results of our models based on data for a science-based approach in the war against COVID-19, especially when we transition to the “new normal.” We presented on 20 April 2020 the results of our models and their corresponding meaning to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and several Cabinet Secretaries upon the invitation of the Office of the President. We do recognize that there are factors that need to be considered as there are consequences for any decision. But those will ultimately be decided upon by the concerned agencies, in particular the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Department of Education (DepEd). For everyone’s information. |
https://up.edu.ph/upd-chemists-produce-sanitizers/ | UPD chemists produce sanitizers – University of the Philippines | UPD chemists produce sanitizers UPD chemists produce sanitizers April 24, 2020 | Written by Jo Lontoc, UP Media and Public Relations Office Production of alcohol in a UP Diliman Institute of Chemistry laboratory. Photo courtesy of the UP Diliman Institute of Chemistry Like other UP campuses with chemists and chemistry laboratories, UP Diliman (UPD) has been producing alcohol sanitizers—the demand for which has significantly increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These were distributed to the UPD community and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). Dr. AC Yago of UPD’s Institute of Chemistry (IC) said a team from the institute had produced a total of more than 100 liters of isopropyl and ethyl alcohol from three batches from April 6 to 16. “The preparation of alcohol formulations as hand sanitizers was initially requested by [UPD] Chancellor [Fidel] Nemenzo to IC,” Yago told the UP Media and Public Relations Office. “IC responded positively and provided guidelines on the preparation of alcohol sanitizers, following the Food and Drug Administration guidelines,” he added. The volunteers included 10 members of the Institute, who included faculty members, instructors, research associates who are licensed chemists, laboratory technicians and a staff member. They were: Dr. Marlon Conato; Dr. Hiyas Junio; Dr. Monissa Paderes; Dr. Grace Gregorio; Dr. AC Yago; Mr. Mark Jeffrey Diaz; Mr. Vicenzo Torreno; Mr. Francis Alinabon; Mr. Manuel Dela Paz; and Mr. Bryan Rivera. Chemicals being processed in the production of alcohol in a UP Diliman Institute of Chemistry laboratory. Photo courtesy of the UP Diliman Institute of Chemistry As part of the UPD bayanihan activity, the alcohol sanitizers were distributed to UPD constituents, which include the University Health Service, Solid Waste Management, Campus Maintenance Office, the police, and the Special Services Brigade. All UPD dormitories received a 4-liter bottle of the prepared alcohol. “We have also donated to [the PGH], both as pure reagents and prepared alcohol sanitizers. And yes, our staff and maintenance personnel also received some of the alcohol sanitizers for their use,” Yago said. After preparing laboratories on April 3, 2020, 69 liters of 75% isopropyl alcohol and 32.5 liters of 80% ethyl alcohol have been produced. “April 23, technically is our last day of preparation, so the amount [mentioned] could change slightly,” Yago said. Alcohols prepared by a UP Diliman Institute of Chemistry team being received at the Campus Maintenance Office, the UP Diliman Police, Acacia Residence Halls, and the University Health Service. Photo courtesy of the UP Diliman Institute of Chemistry |
https://up.edu.ph/up-sets-guidelines-on-proceeding-with-academic-year-affected-by-the-ecq/ | UP sets guidelines on proceeding with academic year affected by the ECQ – University of the Philippines | UP sets guidelines on proceeding with academic year affected by the ECQ UP sets guidelines on proceeding with academic year affected by the ECQ April 25, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc The University of the Philippines released on 23 April 2020 implementing guidelines for proceeding with the Second Semester of Academic Year 2019-2020, which has been affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon and other parts of the country. The guidelines, issued by UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, reflect the resolution of the UP Board of Regents (BOR) in its special meeting on 16 April 2020. The resolution was based on the 13 April 2020 recommendations of UP’s President’s Advisory Committee (PAC) which, in turn, were drawn from the recommendations of the UP System Academic Affairs Committee that were based on the decisions of the Constituent Universities’ Executive Committees in consultation with College Secretaries, Graduate Program Coordinators, Deans and faculty. The PAC endorsed the following proposed policy on the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 to the BOR: 1) end the semester on 30 April 2020; 2) assure that students will not fail the course but that their grade of P (Pass) with optional adjectival remarks will be deferred until they meet adjusted course requirements by 31 May 2021; and 3) allow earlier completion of requirements by students on a CU-set deadline. Guided equally by the UP’s mandate as the National University committed to quality education and by the extreme conditions confronting its students and faculty during the ECQ in Luzon and other parts of the country, the BOR adopted the PAC-proposed “Policy on the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 in the time of COVID-19”, dated 13 April 2020, with revision. Specifically, the Board replaced the recommended P (Pass with optional adjectival remarks) with numeric grades and granted units offering graduate courses the leeway to determine how best to proceed with learning and assessment, in consultation with their students and in consideration of the current crisis situation. The Academic Year and deadlines The last day of class for the semester is 30 April 2020. The CUs will set a deadline for faculty members to disseminate the adjusted course requirement to all their students. Faculty members who are unable to reach some students may seek the assistance of the College Secretaries of the students’ home unit. The CUs will also set the deadline, allowing sufficient time, for the earlier completion within the semester of adjusted course requirements by graduating students and other students who may opt for this. The end dates indicated in the approved academic calendar—such as for the submission of grades and University Council meetings for graduating students—will be revised by the CUs for approval by the UP President. The CUs may decide on proceeding with Midyear 2020 on a schedule informed by ongoing assessments of the COVID-19 situation. In any case, Midyear 2020 should be seen as an opportunity to offer bridging programs. Academic activities after 30 April 2020 There will be no face-to-face classes for the rest of the academic year for both undergraduate and graduate programs. Due to internet access issues that will be addressed in the next semester, online classes are discouraged, but may be conducted only for leveling expectations, clarifications, overall guidance, and summation. Real-time online meetings should not impact grading and should be recorded and disseminated to all students concerned. Units offering laboratory, studio, PE, NSTP, and similar courses are free to redesign the course and explore options to facilitate the completion of these courses remotely. Adjusted course requirements may take the form of an examination or alternative forms of summative assessment (e.g. reflection paper or critical analysis) to be scheduled by the units based on the CU deadline for earlier completion. As a sit-down proctored final examination may no longer be feasible, online exams may be administered. For this, the platform to be used, the students’ internet connection, and their psychological preparedness to take the exam online must be considered. Graduate programs are strongly encouraged to adopt or conform with the general framework, rationale and guidelines on the conduct of academic exercises, as contained in the BOR Resolution. Units offering or handling graduate programs may opt to adopt the policies in this section. Grading No student will be given a grade of 4.0, 5.0 or INC for courses in the Second Semester AY 2019-2020. Students may elect to drop at any time and re-enroll their courses or re-enroll in alternative elective courses or equivalent courses in succeeding semesters. DRP given for the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 will be annotated in the Transcript of Records with an asterisk to indicate: due to COVID-19. Students may also choose not to pursue, in any way, their enrolled courses for the Second Semester AY 2019-2020, as long as they inform in writing their registrar, through their dean, of this choice at any time before 31 May 2021. The students will be deemed dropped as of that date and will not receive grades for these courses in their transcript of records. They will be allowed to re-enroll their courses or equivalent courses in the succeeding semesters. Faculty members who have sufficient basis to give their students a grade as of the end of the semester must give a numeric grade to students with passing status and a deferred grade to those failing or incomplete. The latter have until 31 May 2021 to complete the adjusted course requirements. “When faculty members are unable to perform their academic function due to the COVID- 19 crisis, their respective units, out of duty and compassion for the faculty members concerned and their students, shall ensure that those who comply with the adjusted requirements of the course are given a grade.” Where there is no sufficient basis for giving students a grade as of the end of the semester, grades will be deferred. Again, students have up to 31 May 2021 to complete the adjusted course requirements. Upon completion, the faculty will give a numeric grade to students who have complied with the adjusted course requirements, or drop the students unable to comply for whatever reason, whose performance is unsatisfactory or whose status is failing. The latter may re-enroll the same course or equivalent subject in succeeding semesters. Numeric grade exemption A unit, on behalf of its faculty members, may file applications for exemption from the provisions of the UP System policy of imposing only a numeric grading system in the Second Semester AY 2019-2020. The application should be justified and limited to seeking authority to give P (Pass) as a grade with the faculty having the option to give numeric grades to students whose circumstances so require. Applications must be filed on or before 15 May 2020 through the chancellors, who will then endorse them to the UP President through the Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs for eventual consideration of the BOR. Academic standing and scholarship The University is waiving academic deadlines on scholastic standing and student financial assistance for this semester. The deadlines for dropping subjects and filing leave of absence for this semester have also been lifted. The semester will not be included in the reckoning or in the counting of years of residence of a student. A student who incurred an INC or a 4.0 in Second Semester 2018-2019 will be allowed to remove the INC or 4.0 until the first semester of AY 2020-2021. For this semester, the University is suspending the rules on scholastic standing having to do with delinquency, and policies on student financial assistance tied to scholastic standing. Bridging programs A student enrolled in a course this semester that is a prerequisite to another will be allowed to enroll in the latter course for credit, despite having no grade yet for the prerequisite course. Appropriate bridging mechanisms by the offering units should be devised to help these students catch up with the prerequisite course. The bridging programs may be in the form of self-instructional modules, learning packages, or online workshops. The design and mode of delivery of the bridging programs should consider the current crisis conditions as well as the need to manage the workload of both faculty and students. The unit can develop programs, that will hone the competence of students in the critical courses of their programs, designed for flexible delivery that students can avail in the Midyear 2020 or the First Semester AY 2020-2021. Graduating students Graduating students completing the requirements by the deadline set by the CU for the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 will be endorsed for graduation to the BOR when it meets in June or July 2020. However, graduation ceremonies are postponed “to a more auspicious time”. Graduating students with deferred grades at the end of this semester, who complete their requirements after the deadline set by the CU for the Second Semester AY 2019-2020, will be endorsed for graduation to the BOR in the semester the student completes the requirements. However, the student will be deemed “graduated as of the Second Semester AY 2019-2020”. Download the UP System Policy on the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 in the Time of COVID-19. Download the Implementing Guidelines of theUP System Policy on the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 in the Time of COVID-19. Related: UP students given options in complying with course reqs, safety nets against failing grades |
https://up.edu.ph/upv-team-submits-post-ecq-plan-to-iloilo-city-govt/ | UPV team submits post-ECQ plan to Iloilo City gov’t – University of the Philippines | UPV team submits post-ECQ plan to Iloilo City gov’t UPV team submits post-ECQ plan to Iloilo City gov’t April 29, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo UP Visayas (UPV) Professors Maria Elisa Baliao (Sociology), Rhodella Ibabao (Management), Hanny John Mediodia (Economics), Cristabel Parcon (Sociology), Juhn Cris Espia (Political Science), and Vicente Balinas (Statistics) have forwarded their team’s proposed exit plan to the Iloilo City government in anticipation of the eventual lifting of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). At the time of the group’s submission, the ECQ was scheduled to be lifted on 01 May 2020. As of April 24, following the announcement of the Iloilo provincial government to extend the ECQ until May 15, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said the LGU is still studying the prospect of extension. He explained that the city government will consult Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. and the other governors of Panay Island and Guimaras on the matter. In the proposed post-ECQ plan, a “phased reopening and scaling back” of the city government’s support to the local economy would gradually allow businesses to operate and help mitigate the economic losses brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. This, while maintaining safety protocols against the disease. A redefined way of life to combat the spread of COVID-19 would have to be the new normal as going back to pre-pandemic activities immediately is not advised. According to Treñas, this involves continuing the practice of physical distancing, wearing of face mask, and frequent hand washing. He has sent copies of the UPV post-ECQ proposal to other sectors for their input. |
https://up.edu.ph/more-support-for-up-cebus-stranded-students/ | More support for UP Cebu’s stranded students – University of the Philippines | More support for UP Cebu’s stranded students More support for UP Cebu’s stranded students April 29, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Photo by Abegail May Soria, from the Tug-ani Facebook page More support has come in for the students left stranded at the University of the Philippines Cebu campus following the declaration of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and travel ban over the City of Cebu. According to posts in the UP Cebu Office of Student Affairs (OSA) Facebook page, stranded UP Cebu students were given relief assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region VII (DSWD-7) on Wednesday, April 22. This was first reported by Tug-ani, the official student publication of UP Cebu. The UP Cebu OSA wrote a letter to DSWD-7 Director Rebecca Geamala on April 17 to request assistance for the dormer and non-dormer students left stranded in the city, numbering over 70. In an interview conducted by Tug-ani, OSA Director Alvin Ray Yu said that initiatives from the other UP campuses are being adopted by the UP Cebu administration to help its students, including making arrangements to distribute supplies to students residing in apartments outside the UP Cebu campus. As of April 22, the UP Cebu University Student Council (USC) has received Php17,500 in financial aid for the stranded students, with a total of Php 4,822.70 remaining balance. The USC has been able to conduct three batches of supply distributions for the students. Since the implementation of ECQ, the stranded UP Cebu students have received support in the form of in-kind and financial donations from UP alumni, administrators, faculty members, and staff. The UP Cebu administration and the USC are still welcoming donations for the students in light of the two-week extension of the ECQ. Donors may transfer their funds to the following contact details: Bibi Jessica Golocino BPI bank account: 9389242443 Niño Aldjenn Belocura GCASH: 0977 777 0769 In-kind donations may be dropped off at the UP Cebu Entrance Gate. Original story and photos by Abegail May Soria, from the Tug-ani Facebook page. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-holds-stop-covid-deaths-clinical-management-updates-webinar-for-healthcare-frontliners/ | UP holds “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar for healthcare frontliners – University of the Philippines | UP holds “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar for healthcare frontliners UP holds “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar for healthcare frontliners April 30, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The University of the Philippines continues its mission to help educate our country’s medical and healthcare workers and frontliners, enabling them to win the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic through the sharing of information, research, experience, and expertise. The latest of such endeavor from UP is the series of Zoom meeting-webinars dubbed “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates”, organized by UP, in partnership with the UP Manila National Telehealth Center and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). The first of this webinar series, held last April 24, focused on the “Clinical Management of COVID Pneumonia”, and featured heads of national and international medical associations and research units and professors of the UP College of Medicine as speakers. [Watch the recording of the webinar here] A graphic from Dr. Roa’s lecture showing the pattern of disease progression for COVID-19, with most recoveries by patients showing mild to moderate symptoms happening within 3-6 weeks, and most deaths for COVID-19 patients with severe to critical symptoms happening within 2-8 weeks due to acute respiratory failure, sepsis, or hospital acquired infections. Screenshot from the “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” replay. The first speaker, Dr. Camilo Roa, Global Governor of the American College of Chest Physicians and past president of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians, presented an overview of the clinical management of patients. He noted that while most of COVID-positive patients have mild to moderate symptoms, around 20% have severe or critical symptoms. Factors such as age and co-morbidities such as cardiovascular illnesses, diabetes and cancer affect one’s chances of dying from COVID-19, and as yet, there is no proven antiviral treatment for the disease. Thus, for healthcare workers, managing patients means supporting the patient’s immune system as it battles the disease, watching out for critical developments such as hospital acquired infections or other complications, and to use drugs with compassionate purpose and the informed consent of the patient. A slide from Dr. Wang’s lecture, showing the various COVID-related research initiatives of the UPM-PGH COVID-19 Research Initiative Program. Screenshots from the “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” replay. The second lecture was delivered by Dr. Aileen David Wang of the UP College of Medicine’s Department of Medicine. She stressed the critical role that research plays in the global fight against the pandemic, reflecting lessons from past epidemics. Research, such as those being done by the UP Manila-Philippine General Hospital (UPM-PGH) COVID-19 Research Initiative Program and on a global scale, the World Health Organization’s Solidarity Trial, is needed to find a antiviral treatment for the disease, to help hospitals cope with the influx of COVID patients, and to come up with strategies to deal with the pandemic at the medical, psychosocial, and socioeconomic levels. Research based on a combination of randomized controlled trials and real-world evidence will be key to winning the global war against COVID-19. A slide from Dr. Fernandez’ lecture showing a revised algorithm for the respiratory management of COVID-Patients. Screenshot from the “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” replay. Finally, Dr. Leonora Fernandez, head of the UPM-PGH Division of Pulmonary Medicine, spoke about a critical aspect in the management of COVID patients. She cited findings that show that COVID patients who end up on mechanical ventilators have a higher chance of dying from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Instead, she recommends a new approach in ventilator therapy for COVID-19: the non-invasive high flow nasal canula (HFNC) oxygen therapy, which in combination with the strategy of self-proning, can improve the outcomes for a COVID patient. The highly successful webinar drew in more than 180 participants. The second webinar in the series will be held tomorrow, May 1, 2020 (Friday), at 12:00 noon (Manila time), and will focus on infectious diseases and fighting and controlling the spread of an infection such as COVID-19. Speakers will be Dr. Regina P. Berba, head of the PGH Infection Control Unit and faculty of the UP College of Medicine, and Dr. Marie Yvette Barez, chair of the Infection Prevention and Control Unit, Southern Philippines Medical Center. [Register now at http://bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeaths or watch the livestream at TVUP.] As UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla said: “Physicians lead lives of learning throughout their lives. But what happens when we are dealing with a virus that is not behaving like the old types of viruses? We turn to experience. Decisions will have to be made based on our experience or the experience of others. We are fortunate that we live in a generation where technology is in our favor. This webinar series is a commitment of service to our fellow health workers and our patients.” |
https://up.edu.ph/upso-up-musicians-come-together-in-alay-sa-sambayang-pilipino-sa-panahon-ng-agam-agam-a-musical-tribute/ | UPSO, UP musicians come together in “Alay sa Sambayang Pilipino sa Panahon ng Agam-Agam”, a musical tribute – University of the Philippines | UPSO, UP musicians come together in “Alay sa Sambayang Pilipino sa Panahon ng Agam-Agam”, a musical tribute UPSO, UP musicians come together in “Alay sa Sambayang Pilipino sa Panahon ng Agam-Agam”, a musical tribute May 4, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta UP musicians come together while staying apart in a virtual performance. Watch the video here: https://www.facebook.com/upsymphonyorch/videos/2678550799042064/ Musicians, vocalists and choristers from the University of the Philippines came together in a virtual performance to honor of the medical and healthcare workers, the frontliners, and the ordinary Filipino people battling against a global pandemic and socio-economic uncertainty. In a project dubbed “Alay sa Sambayanang Pilipino sa Panahon ng Agam-Agam”, the UP Symphony Orchestra (UPSO), led by Maestro Josefino “Chino” Toledo, brought together various artists and UP choirs to perform “Maghintay Lang, Kaluluwa at Diwa,” an adaptation of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’ Finlandia (Op. 26), with lyrics from Psalm 46 translated into Filipino by Toledo, and arrangement and orchestration by the same. Performers included vocalists Michelle Mariposa (alto), Malvin Macasaet (tenor) and Stefanie Quintin (soprano), and the UP Madrigal Singers. The chorus consisted of members and representatives of the UP Concert Chorus, the UP Staff Chorale, Auit Vocal Ensemble, and UP Chorus Classes from the UP College of Music. Including the members of the UPSO, the group consisted of over a hundred individuals, all performing or singing remotely and practicing social distancing, yet coming together in a stirring tribute to hope, faith, and the Filipino spirit in a time of unprecedented darkness. View the video, which was uploaded on the UPSO’s Facebook page on April 19. The UPSO is the official system-wide orchestra of UP. Founded on August 30, 2018, the UPSO is supported by the UP System and hosted by the UP College of Music. The orchestra consists of 65 members coming from within the UP community, including alumni, students, faculty and staff from all UP campuses. It functions as a training ground for both composers and musicians, and as a representative not only of the University but also of the country on the worldwide stage. “Alay sa Sambayanang Pilipino sa Panahon ng Agam-Agam” was supported by the UP Office of the President, the Office of the UP Diliman Chancellor, the UP College of Music through Dean LaVerne de la Pena, the heads of the various performing choirs, and Mr. Paul Cyril Torrente. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-beta-epsilon-fraternity-donates-10000-ppes-for-upm-pgh-frontliners/ | UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity donates 10,000 PPEs for UPM-PGH frontliners – University of the Philippines | UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity donates 10,000 PPEs for UPM-PGH frontliners UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity donates 10,000 PPEs for UPM-PGH frontliners May 5, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Alumni-brothers of the UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity delivering the 10,000 isolation coveralls for the frontliners of the UPM-PGH. Photo from Engr. Tito Aliga. The UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity (UPBE), based in the UP Diliman College of Engineering, is doing its part to help the country win the war against COVID-19. As reported in an April 29 post in the UP Beta Epsilon’s Facebook page, the fraternity donated 10,000 high-grade isolation coveralls to the medical and healthcare frontliners of the UP Manila-Philippine General Hospital (UPM-PGH), one of the country’s designated COVID-19 referral centers. The Class-A isolation coveralls were approved by UPM-PGH officials and department chairpersons beforehand, and delivered to the hospital via two trucks on April 28. The trucks bearing the 10,000 donated PPEs arrive at the UPM-PGH. Photo from Engr. Tito Aliga. The donation of the isolation coveralls was the result of a three-week mobilization of UPBE brothers and friends, some of whom worked to secure funding for the project, while other members who are based in China handled selection, procurement and air-freighting. UPBE alumni Engr. Alex Ibasco (EE ’78) and Engr. Ojie Alzona (IE ’77) spearheaded the effort. As UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity member and UP Engineering Research & Development Foundation, Inc. (UP ERDFI) executive director Engr. Alfonso “Tito” Aliga, Jr. shared in an email, UPM-PGH executive director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi thanked the fraternity for its efforts, but noted that “the challenge continues,” although he cited the greater number of COVID-19 recoveries than deaths as an encouraging development. According to the Facebook post, “PPEs (personal protective equipment) are rapidly decreasing everyday as our hospitals continue their battle against the coronavirus pandemic. The donated PPEs will hopefully help the PGH frontline medical workers to properly equip themselves with protection against the COVID-19 virus.” Photo from Engr. Tito Aliga. The UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity, which stands for “Brotherhood of Engineers”, is the oldest engineering fraternity in Asia, having celebrated its 90th anniversary last August 23. The fraternity is exclusive for Engineering and Architecture students of UP Diliman, and has strong ties with the UP College of Architecture, recognizing the importance of architecture in the engineering discipline. The UPBE is one of the three organizations and the only fraternity to be given the Wenceslao Q. Vinzons Award for outstanding service to the UP with its conceptualization and construction of the Beta Epsilon Way. It is also the first and only recipient of the Best Fraternity award back in 2004. |
https://up.edu.ph/upou-launches-edu-hack-podcast-series/ | UPOU launches “Edu-Hack” podcast series – University of the Philippines | UPOU launches “Edu-Hack” podcast series UPOU launches “Edu-Hack” podcast series May 5, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Image from the UPOU website, https://www.upou.edu.ph/news/upou-launches-edu-hack-a-podcast-on-crises-adaptation-for-higher-education/ Flexibility and compassion. These were the key takeaways in the first episode of UP Open University’s (UPOU) podcast series, “Edu-Hack: Navigating through a Turbulent Educational Landscape” on April 28. The discussion centered on answering the question, “How are Philippine Universities Responding to Disruptions in Education Brought About by COVID-19 Pandemic?” Dr. Alexander Flor, Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication Studies, moderating the first of UPOU’s podcast series, “Edu-Hack: Navigating through a Turbulent Educational Landscape”. Screenshot from the replay of the podcast. The panelists were UPOU Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria, University of Batangas (UB) Vice President for Academic Affairs Abegayle Chua, and De La Salle University (DLSU) Association of Faculty and Educators President Antonio Contreras. This year saw Southern Luzon and Metro Manila being hit with back-to-back crises, with the phreatomagmatic eruption of Taal Volcano in January and the COVID-19 pandemic in March. For the education sector, it meant multiple weeks-long class suspensions. While the institutions to which the panelists belonged had online learning systems in place, Chua said it best: “No one was prepared for this kind of lockdown.” UPOU Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria. Screenshot from the replay of the podcast. UPOU started shifting to online classes in 2001 and its classes were fully online by 2007, so Bandalaria said that the University initially assumed things would be business as usual. But she admitted the quarantine brought up issues beyond the usual open and distance e-learning operations. Anxiety, stress, accessibility, work-school scheduling, and health risks were some of the concerns raised by faculty, staff, and students alike. Chua described the class and work suspensions due to Taal Volcano activity as the “dry run” for the COVID-19 quarantine. While web presence and blended learning were already in place at UB, the pandemic forced the institution to shift everything online. Chua, being an otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose, throat or ENT) surgeon, knew “we could not go back to school” because of the health risks. University of Batangas (UB) Vice President for Academic Affairs Abegayle Chua. Screenshot from the replay of the podcast. Sixteen years ago, DLSU already started adopting a learner-centered, outcomes-based approach and online platforms eventually replaced face-to-face sessions when classes were suspended. COVID-19 changed things drastically, but Contreras said, “We hit the ground running.” “We anchored our response to this crisis on flexibility and compassion,” explained Bandalaria. “Now is not the time to be rigid,” according to Contreras. As for Chua, “Everything now is fluid [and] leniency is key at this time.” The panelists were in agreement that higher education institutions need to monitor and adjust its actions according to changes in the COVID-19 situation—from government decisions to emerging concerns from their academic and surrounding communities. UB has prepared scenarios for different end-of-quarantine periods and has anticipated its next term to be fully online. Chua said they have also studied the possibility of limited physical attendance for necessary laboratory work and preparations for those who will be taking licensure examinations. De La Salle University (DLSU) Association of Faculty and Educators President Antonio Contreras. Screenshot from the replay of the podcast. DLSU has been providing internet connectivity support for its students and faculty, and has refunded the fees it collected for the use of its facilities. Contreras revealed that DLSU is working under the assumption that classes will resume on July 1, but fully online. Like UB, has started to look into managing courses with key activities that require physical presence. The private university has also foreseen a possible decrease in enrollment following the COVID-19 pandemic. UPOU, because of its nature as an open and distance e-learning institution and its fully online classes, has thus far been exempted from class suspensions and other decisions on the academic year. To cater to the needs of its students, UPOU has made revisions to its academic calendar, adjusting academic year terms, registration schedules, and admission applications periods. The changes will be announced once approved. As it is primarily a graduate institution, UPOU has also anticipated a decrease in enrollment at the graduate level. This episode of “Edu-Hack” may be viewed here. For announcements on succeeding episodes of the podcast series, follow the UPOU Facebook account. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-law-offers-free-legal-aid-online/ | UP Law offers free legal aid online – University of the Philippines | UP Law offers free legal aid online UP Law offers free legal aid online May 5, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Image from the UP College of Law Facebook page The UP College of Law launched on April 20, 2020 an online portal to “handle requests for legal assistance, legal advice and education, and if necessary, legal representation for issues arising from the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine [ECQ].” Law Dean Fides Cordero-Tan, in an open message posted at the college website, announced the signing on of #UPLawHelps, which can be accessed at https://law.upd.edu.ph/uplawhelps/ and emailed at uplawhelps@up.edu.ph. “#UPLawHelps brings together the commitment, passion, expertise, resources, and networks of the entire UP Law Community—faculty, REPS, staff, students, and alumni (with a lot of friends and allies joining in)—into one, focused effort to help our people through this pandemic,” Cordero-Tan said. According to the portal, #UPLawHelps is an ad hoc initiative to assist the public in following legal areas:“the exercise of civil and political rights; the conduct of private and public entities specific to the rights of COVID-19 patients; the interruption of businesses and other day-to-day operations, in relation to payments and like obligations; and, conflicting rights and obligations arising from scenarios particular to COVID-19 or the ECQ.” The college formed teams corresponding to these areas. These are the teams on: • Civil and Political Rights (CPRT), operating out of the UP Law Civil and Political Rights Clinic under Atty. Theodore Te; • COVID-19 Patients and Family Rights (PFRT), operating through Volunteer Lawyers Against Discrimination under Atty. Divina Pedron; • Conduct of Business (CBT), operating through volunteer lawyers from UP Law Class of 1993 under Atty. Paul Alcudia; and • Rights under Quarantine (RQT), operating through the UP Office of Legal Aid under Director Carlo L. Vistan. Additional teams may be formed as the need arises, according to the website. Those requesting legal assistance or advice can email a team at uplawhelps@up.edu.ph. All requests are attended to between 8 AM and 12 noon and 1 PM to 5 PM, Mondays to Fridays. Those wishing to volunteer to help with any of the four teams may email Atty. Golda Miñoza at ggminoza@up.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/upv-to-stranded-students-prepare-to-go-home/ | UPV to stranded students: “Prepare to go home” – University of the Philippines | UPV to stranded students: “Prepare to go home” UPV to stranded students: “Prepare to go home” May 5, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo UP Visayas (UPV) has advised its students stranded in campus and off-campus housing to start preparing to go home. Memorandum No. RPB 2020-04-052 issued by UPV Chancellor Ricardo Babaran on April 26 states that the move was prompted by the April 30 closing of the second semester this academic year. While the University is finding ways to provide transportation and coordinating with relevant government agencies for those living within Panay Island, it has asked all students to make travel arrangements such as purchasing or rebooking tickets. For those needing interisland travel, whether by boat or plane, local transport to the airport or seaport “is being considered” by UPV. The memo also says that students are responsible for immediately contacting their parents or guardians to get information on the requirements of their localities for returning residents. The Office of Student Affairs is in charge of distributing and collecting copies of an undertaking that students need to accomplish. UPV will also assist students in COVID-19 testing, should it be required by their localities, three days before their definite date of departure. Departures are expected to begin on May 16 as the enhanced community quarantine in the Province of Iloilo is scheduled to end on May 15. From the UP Visayas website, https://www.upv.edu.ph/index.php/announcements/reminders-on-preparations-for-returning-home-at-the-end-of-the-second-semester. |
https://up.edu.ph/air-quality-after-ecq-far-from-new-normal-expectations-upd-experts/ | Air quality after ECQ far from ‘new normal’ expectations – UPD experts – University of the Philippines | Air quality after ECQ far from ‘new normal’ expectations – UPD experts Air quality after ECQ far from ‘new normal’ expectations – UPD experts May 5, 2020 | Written by Dr. Mylene G. Cayetano, Dr. Gerry Bagtasa, and Ms. Roseanne Ramos, UP Diliman IESM Experts from the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Science and College of Engineering are looking at the positive impact of the enhanced community quarantine on air quality, but are not seeing this to be the “new normal” in a post-enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) Philippines. In making this conclusion, they conducted ground-, satellite- and modeling-based approaches to visualize the extent of air quality during pre-ECQ and while on lockdown. “If we wish to maintain ‘good air quality’ to be the ‘new normal’, we have to make conscious choices in our usual activities pre-ECQ”, said Dr. Mylene Cayetano, an Associate Professor from the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology. [Read this story for more: Elevate air pollution problem in post-ECQ “new normal” agenda – UPD scientist] She emphasized that people surely noticed how clean air surroundings look and feel like after the lockdown, but this is far from what we can expect after the ECQ is lifted. “As we slowly enter the ‘new normal’ activities, the air pollution will go back to moderate to unhealthy levels”, Dr. Cayetano warned. Weeks before the ECQ implementation in the northern and central NCR cities, elevated levels of NO2, a criteria pollutant that ‘primarily gets in the air from the burning of fuel, i.e., emissions from cars, trucks and buses, power plants, and off-road equipment, were observed (See Figure 1). On the first two weeks of ECQ up to the sixth week of quarantine, however, the weekly average levels of NO2 decreased, according to Roseanne V. Ramos, Assistant Professor from the Department of Geodetic Engineering, who mapped Metro Manila’s weekly NO2 average. 2 weeks before ECQ Mar 2-8 1 week before ECQ Mar 9-15 ECQ Week 1 Mar 16-22 ECQ Week 2 Mar 23-29 ECQ Week 3 Mar 30 – Apr 5 ECQ Week 4 Apr 6-12 ECQ Week 5 Apr 13-19 ECQ Week 6 Apr 20-26 Figure 1. Weekly average of NO2 Total Vertical Column density, derived from satellite sensor Sentinel 5P TROPOMI L3 products. Graph generated for Research purposes, contact Roseanne V. Ramos for more details. rvramos@up.edu.ph The above observation was also confirmed by the continuous data from the www.airtoday.ph stations in Quezon City and EDSA Munoz, which records improvements in PM2.5 in the Quezon City stations of Lung Center of the Philippines and EDSA Munoz (see Figure 2). The airtoday.ph is a joint effort by the UP Diliman, Rotary Club of Makati and Lung Center of the Philippines. Figure 2. Hourly plots of PM2.5 levels in the LCP and EDSA Munoz station, showing improvements of breathing-level air quality while Quezon City is on ECQ. Graphs generated for Research purposes, contact Dr. Mylene G. Cayetano for more details. mcayetano@iesm.upd.edu.ph Dr. Gerry Bagtasa, Professor of the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, who plotted the aerosol optical depth (AOD) using Himawari-1 satellite data products (See Figure 3), also confirmed that the drop in NCR pollution levels in the second week of March are due to the ECQ. During this time, however, parts of Pampanga, Tarlac, and Cagayan Valley actually experienced higher pollution levels due to open burning. Dr. Bagtasa also pointed out the existence of transboundary pollution from Indochina region during the first half of April, as the northern seas (Luzon Strait and north of West Philippine Sea) was evidently polluted, but unaffecting the NCR. The first half of April also marked higher aerosol levels over Rizal/Bulacan – but there is still a need to confirm if these are due to burning or other human-related activities. Mar 16-31 Apr 1-14 Apr 15-28 Figure 3. Aerosol Optical thickness from Himawari-1 satellite data products. Graph generated for Research purposes, contact Dr. Gerry Bagtasa for more details. gbagtasa@iesm.upd.edu.ph “Car emission is a big contributor, but not the only contributor to NCR pollution”, Dr. Bagtasa said. The second half of April (ECQ Weeks 4,5 and 6) registers an overall lower pollution in most of Luzon, but increase in NCR and south of NCR. Slightly higher pollution in NCR maybe due to dust and contamination from open burning in some parts of Central Luzon, brought to NCR by winds from north. |
https://up.edu.ph/upv-increases-priority-of-relief-to-its-affected-communities/ | UPV increases priority of relief to its affected communities – University of the Philippines | UPV increases priority of relief to its affected communities UPV increases priority of relief to its affected communities May 5, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Photo from the UP Visayas Facebook page While the University continues to deliver public service in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, UP Visayas (UPV) has decided to give more priority to the sectors that have been affected by its work and class suspensions. These include its students and employees as well as those who rely on the UPV community’s patronage: tricycle drivers, food vendors, and laundry service providers, among others. UPDanay and UP, Magbubunga Tayo!, UPV’s donation drive and relief fund campaign, respectively, will be putting more of its resources to intensify support for the aforementioned sectors in its Miagao, Iloilo City, and Tacloban campuses. Undergraduate students, for example, will receive food subsidies varying at P150, P120, or P100 per day at the UPV Employees Cooperative (UPVEC), depending on their financial capacity. A viand serving costs between P20 to P30 and a serving of rice costs P10 at the UPVEC. All UPV personnel, including job orders and contract of service employees, were granted full salaries for the month of April. The University remains the recipient of cash and in-kind donations from alumni, faculty, staff, and private individuals and organizations. Activities to help the greater community such as alcohol production, training programs, and information campaigns continue to be conducted. Recognizing the importance of mental and emotional well-being in a time of crisis, UPV Tacloban’s Division of Humanities has launched “Paghilom, Paglaom (To Heal and To Hope): Arts for Healing at the Time of COVID-19.” All resources are uploaded on Facebook. The program includes “Pasundayag Paghilom: Songs and Poetry Performance Video Series” featuring members of UP An Balangaw, a performance group, as well as their friends and family. Watch the performances here. “Paglantaw ha Sidawan: A Poetry and Photo Exhibit” showcases the works of BA Communication Arts students who underwent the Siday Writing Workshop of the Division. Sidawan combines “siday” (poem) and “ladawan” (image). Explore the exhibit here. “Ato! Pag-arnis! Basic Arnis Moves on Video” features basic moves of arnis, which is also known as Kali or Eskrima. The initiative aims to promote physical activity during home quarantine. View the videos here. |
https://up.edu.ph/elevate-air-pollution-problem-in-post-ecq-new-normal-agenda-upd-scientist/ | Elevate air pollution problem in post-ECQ “new normal” agenda – UPD scientist – University of the Philippines | Elevate air pollution problem in post-ECQ “new normal” agenda – UPD scientist Elevate air pollution problem in post-ECQ “new normal” agenda – UPD scientist May 5, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Oblation at UP Baguio (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) A scientist from the University of the Philippines-Diliman Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology has called on all sectors to consider putting the issue and solutions to the air pollution problem in the higher agenda for a post-enhanced community quarantine (post-ECQ) “new normal” Philippines. “If we wish to maintain ‘good air quality’ to be the ‘new normal’, we have to make conscious choices in our activities pre-ECQ”, said Dr. Mylene Cayetano, an Associate Professor from the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology. Dr. Cayetano, who advocates clean air for all, called on the government to (1) strengthen the long-term solutions that are being discussed (inclusive mobility, mass transport system, green cities, urban planning, road space to non-motorized transport systems, fuel economy, clean energy), and make them happen fast; (2) increase transparency in the emission testing system, proper and rightful apprehension to emission testing violators; (3) set-up more motor vehicle inspection systems; (4) insure road worthiness compliance to all vehicles (including armored vehicles, nothing and nobody should be exempt!); and most importantly, (5) think about protecting our hospital zones, which are located along major thoroughfare with trucks and pre-euro vehicles fleeting along. For individuals, Dr. Cayetano recommends the following choices: (1) if you own a vehicle, avoid unnecessary idling; (2) avoid burning solid wastes in open spaces; (3) avoid smoking in public places; (4) be responsible with your own vehicle. Follow the periodic maintenance schedule and minimum protocols and drive a road-worthy vehicle; (5) inform as many people as you can about the disadvantages and benefits of clean air, because knowledge is power; and (6) learn more about the science of air pollution and how you can help prevent it by check Airtoday.ph before you head out. “Clean air in cities has become a luxury. Normally, we need to go to the seaside or the lush provinces to breathe in cleaner air. And it took us a total lockdown, a number of front liners (COVID-19 mortalities) to attain this. Not to mention the trillions lost in the stock market, and jobs lost by our fellowmen. LGU funds are depleted to feed the people. We wouldn’t want this scenario again to attain clean air,” she said. |
https://up.edu.ph/upcat-2020-results-targeted-for-release-within-the-month-of-may/ | UPCAT 2020 results targeted for release within the month of May – University of the Philippines | UPCAT 2020 results targeted for release within the month of May UPCAT 2020 results targeted for release within the month of May May 5, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Image from the UP Office of Admissions Facebook page As previously announced, the release of the UPCAT2020 results has been delayed due to the enhanced community quarantine. The Office of Admissions, like all other units and offices in the University of the Philippines, has had to adapt by operating with only a tiny fraction of its workforce to complete the necessary validation procedures and the final computations of results for over 100,000 UPCAT examinees. We understand your concern about the pending release of UPCAT 2020 results, but rest assured that the Office of Admissions continues to do its utmost despite severe limitations and challenges. The results are targeted for release within the month of May. Please disregard any announcements other than those coming from the UP Office of Admissions and refrain from sharing misleading information through social media in order not to exacerbate the anxiety of our UPCAT applicants. We thank you for your continued understanding. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-pays-tribute-to-covid-19-fatalities/ | UP pays tribute to COVID-19 fatalities – University of the Philippines | UP pays tribute to COVID-19 fatalities UP pays tribute to COVID-19 fatalities May 6, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Screenshot from the IN MEMORIAM UP Video Tribute UP honors the memory of those who have succumbed to COVID-19 as “unknown heroes who fell during the night” in a music video of Fr. Manuel Francisco’s “Hindi Kita Malilimutan”, featuring the symbolic image of UP’s Oblation and an alumni roster whose lives were also taken by the virus. UP’s internet television, TVUP, produced the video “In Memoriam: UP Video Tribute” with the song performed by the UP Villancico Vocal Ensemble as arranged by Eudenice Palaruan. Twenty-two alumni were memorialized in the video, headed by those who died as active medical frontliners: Dr. Romeo Gregorio Macasaet, Dr. Marcelo Jaochico, Dr. Raul Jara, Dr. Francisco Avelino Lukban, Dr. Salvacion Rodriguez Gatchalian, Arch. Raul Della Eslao RN, Dr. Leandro Resurreccion III, Dr. Dennis Ramon Tudtud, Dr. Ephraim Neal Orteza, Faye Marie Palafox RN, and Dr. Eduardo Vidal. The alumni from various other fields were Nida Cortes Paqueo, Dr. Aileen San Pablo Baviera, Dr. Alan Ortiz, Gen. Prudencio Regis Jr., Domingo Cobarrubias, Amb. Bernardita Catalla, Asec. Gladys Fua Rosales, Dr. Victor Rivera, Dr. Renato Velasco, Catherine Bello, and Sen. Heherson Alvarez. UP alumni and UP Alumni Association chapters worldwide are invited to watch “In Memoriam: UP Video Tribute”, and to honor the UP alumni heroes who have fallen during the night. Screenshot from the IN MEMORIAM UP Video Tribute |
https://up.edu.ph/5-tips-to-maintain-psychosocial-health-amid-covid-19-pandemic/ | 5 tips to maintain psychosocial health amid COVID-19 pandemic – University of the Philippines | 5 tips to maintain psychosocial health amid COVID-19 pandemic 5 tips to maintain psychosocial health amid COVID-19 pandemic May 6, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Image from the UPOU website Physical health is not the only thing that needs precious care in this COVID-19 crisis. Equally important is mental and psychosocial well-being. UP Open University (UPOU) Assistant Professor Finaflor Taylan of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies, who is also a registered social worker, gives advice on maintaining psychosocial health during this time. While aimed at helping UPOU students, these tips are useful to the general public as well. 1. Accomplish what you can, within your capacities and limits. Manage your expectations of yourself. Forgive yourself for your shortcomings. 2. Have constant communication with your support group/s. This can include your family, friends, teachers, co-learners, or even your pet. 3. Take care of yourself. Stay healthy. This includes your mental aspect. Have enough rest. Spend time on people, things, or activities that make you feel calm or at peace. Your favorite film, song, or spot in the house is waiting for you. 4. You are not alone. Reach out to professionals for help if deemed necessary. There are volunteers who are willing to share their time and listening ears. You can also be one of them. 5. Count your blessings. The sun shines for a reason. UPOU students, in particular, may contact the Office of Student Affairs through its Offering Sincere Advocacy Helpdesk, which was launched in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Students may email osa@upou.edu.ph or send messages to the hotline 0929-818-1996. UPOU has announced on April 20 that the registration for AY 2019-2020 third trimester and midyear term is postponed until further notice. To those seeking psychosocial support, Taylan may be reached via her Facebook account (Taylan Fina) or email at finaflor.taylan@upou.edu.ph. She is also part of the Facebook group, United Registered Social Workers, where members “provide free and confidential psychosocial support and psychological first aid.” They have agreed to post their contact information in the group page for those who need support. (With reports from Anna Cañas-Llamas and the UPOU Information Office) |
https://up.edu.ph/ups-stopcoviddeaths-webinar-to-discuss-covid-19-treatment-landscape/ | UP’s “StopCOVIDDeaths” webinar to discuss COVID-19 treatment landscape – University of the Philippines | UP’s “StopCOVIDDeaths” webinar to discuss COVID-19 treatment landscape UP’s “StopCOVIDDeaths” webinar to discuss COVID-19 treatment landscape May 7, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo The third installment of the UP webinar series, “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates,” will happen on Friday, May 8, at 12:00 PM in Taipei. Dr. Marissa Alejandria will talk about “The Treatment Landscape of COVID-19.” She is the director of the Institute of Clinical Epidemiology of the National Institutes of Health, UP Manila (UPM); a professor at the UPM College of Medicine (UPCM); and the president of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Alejandria leads the Philippine contingent participating in “Solidarity,” the international randomized and adaptive clinical trial to test the safety and effectiveness of four possible therapies in treating COVID-19 in comparison to standard of care. “Solidarity” involves more than 100 countries around the world. The Philippines has 20 hospitals participating in the study that investigates the safety and potential therapeutic effects of the following: the investigational antiviral Remdesivir, antimalarial drug Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine, antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV Lopinavir with Ritonavir, and Lopinavir with Ritonavir plus Interferon beta-1a. “Stop COVID Deaths” was launched on April 24 with “Clinical Management of COVID-19 Pneumonia.” The speakers were Dr. Camilo Roa, Global Governor of the American College of Chest Physicians; Dr. Aileen David Wang of the UPCM’s Department of Medicine; and Dr. Leonora Fernandez, head of the UP-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Division of Pulmonary Medicine. The second episode, “Fighting Back COVID-19 Infection,” was held on May 1 and featured Dr. Regina P. Berba, head of the UP-PGH Infection Control Unit and a member of the UPCM faculty, and Dr. Marie Yvette Barez, chair of the Infection Prevention and Control Unit of the Southern Philippines Medical Center. The UP webinar series taps into the experiences of clinicians, hospital administrators, and researchers with the goal of protecting the health systems against COVID-19 by bridging the gap between knowledge and practice in the clinical management of cases in the Philippines. The University has partnered with the National Telehealth Center and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for this undertaking. These institutions are united in its support for the promotion of the highest possible standards of care for COVID-19 patients. They endeavor to protect the entire health system from the devastation of viral spread through measures and interventions that will insulate the whole range of the practice of medicine and all its sub-specialties in the post-enhanced community quarantine phase and for continued pandemic preparedness and response. To register for the webinar series, click the link: http://bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar3. |
https://up.edu.ph/covid-19-ecq-and-crash-landing-on-you/ | COVID-19, ECQ, and Crash Landing on You – University of the Philippines | COVID-19, ECQ, and Crash Landing on You COVID-19, ECQ, and Crash Landing on You May 8, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Question: How does one explain the COVID-19 crisis from a governance perspective in an easily digestible and palatable manner? Answer: Use a popular web series for parallelism. Screenshot taken of Dr. Kristoffer Berse’s talk, “Crash Landing on ECQ: Crisis Leadership and Accountability in COVID-19 Philippines” This was what Dr. Kristoffer Berse did in his talk, “Crash Landing on ECQ: Crisis Leadership and Accountability in COVID-19 Philippines.” It was organized by the Master of Management Program of the UP Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Management and Development Studies in partnership with the Association of Schools of Public Administration in the Philippines, Inc. as part of UPOU’s “Let’s Talk It Over” online lecture series. Berse is a faculty member of the UP Diliman National College of Public Administration and Governance. He is also the director for Research and Creative Work at the UP Resilience Institute and part of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team. What constitutes a crisis? Threat, uncertainty, and urgency, Berse said. When South Korean heiress Yoon Se-ri finds herself hanging from a tree on the wrong side of the border, following a paragliding mishap, all three elements are present. All three elements are present in this COVID-19 pandemic as well. Both illustrate the threat to life and safety, the uncertainty of survival with or without injury and repercussion, and the urgency to deal with the threat. He said there were four ways to respond to a threat: tolerate, terminate, treat, or transfer. One can just accept the losses due to the threat, do something to eliminate the threat, mitigate the impacts of the threat, or share the impacts of the threat. And the response could be a combination of those. In the series, Se-ri removes the threat to her life and safety by deciding to get off the tree, and ends up in the arms of Ri Jeong-hyeok, captain of North Korea’s Special Police Force. Berse likened Se-ri to the Philippines wanting to eliminate the threat of COVID-19 and the landing in Jeong-hyeok’s arms as the resulting enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) that broke the fall. Minus the kilig factor, of course. Dr. Kristoffer Berse delivers his lecture, “Crash Landing on ECQ: Crisis Leadership and Accountability in COVID-19 Philippines” Delving deeper into the Philippine government’s response to COVID-19, Berse said it adopted a “whole of government” approach. He then zeroed in on one of the national action plan’s objectives. That is, to “prevent, contain, and/or eliminate the spread of COVID-19.” “Is the ECQ effective?” Berse asked. The answer was not a simple yes or no. Using available data at the national level, he showed the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team’s “Time-Varying Reproduction Number of the Philippines” graph as of May 5, 12:49am. In it, the average transmission over a period of time by infected individuals is a little over one. For an epidemic to be under control it needs to be one or less. This means that a person with COVID-19 infects only one other person, at most. The higher the average transmission number, the greater the number of people an infected person transfers the disease to. So if the average transmission number is four, then one infected person has the capability to infect four other individuals. While the national picture may look promising, Berse countered that the average transmission is not “uniform across the country.” When broken down into specific localities, some record higher or lower numbers than the national average. “We must be careful,” he cautioned, because the pace of the disease spread varied across the country. Berse added that scientific projections were only as good as the best available data. Screenshot taken of Dr. Kristoffer Berse’s talk, “Crash Landing on ECQ: Crisis Leadership and Accountability in COVID-19 Philippines” In dealing with the uncertainty of a crisis, there were three key leadership attributes, he said. One was sense-making, like Se-ri perhaps asking herself what was going on. The second was decision-making, where Jeong-hyeok may be asking himself what he should do. And the third was meaning-making, with Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok working together to establish their story. Berse emphasized the importance of crisis communication in dealing with an uncertain situation. The government has been consistent, at the national and local levels, about “science-based decision-making.” Scientists and technical experts have played major roles in the COVID-19 crisis, again making use of best available data. He pointed out, however, that the country’s data management system “has yet to stabilize.” There was also the issue of data access and ownership, where a balance must be struck between privacy and public safety. Accountability in missing or erroneous data must also be established. Berse also said that accuracy and the speed by which information is delivered affected the credibility of experts and government leaders. Empathy and openness resulted in trust. On the matter of urgency, Berse enumerated three ways decisions “happen”: non-decision-making, decentralization, and improvisation. In the Philippines, the initial response was overly-cautious and slow, and downplayed the risk. In crisis decision-making, he said there were some key considerations such as acceptability, compatibility, cost effectiveness, environmental effects, individual freedom, organizational objectives, regulatory requirements, and risk creation. Screenshot taken of Dr. Kristoffer Berse’s talk, “Crash Landing on ECQ: Crisis Leadership and Accountability in COVID-19 Philippines” How society emerges from a crisis will be influenced by answering what went wrong and what should be done, he explained. There may also be what he called the “crisis-induced blame games.” But the bottom line, he said, was the question of changing or maintaining the status quo. Citing Drennan and McConnell (2007), Berse showed four forms of post-crisis policy change: no change, symbolic gestures but no substantive change; instrumental refinement of existing policies/procedures; and realignment through new policies/goals/institutions. No one has the answer to how the COVID-19 pandemic will exactly play out. Whether a relatively happy ending is in store, like Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok getting together, remains to be seen. |
https://up.edu.ph/upd-nimbb-trains-med-techs-for-covid-19-detection/ | UPD-NIMBB trains med-techs for COVID-19 detection – University of the Philippines | UPD-NIMBB trains med-techs for COVID-19 detection UPD-NIMBB trains med-techs for COVID-19 detection May 8, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Participants of the UPD-NIMBB training workshop for COVID-19 detection at a UPD-NIMBB workstation. Photo courtesy of UPD-NIMBB The University of the Philippines is training medical technicians in performing the qRT-PCR assay for the detection of the SARS CoV2, to support the training efforts of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for COVID-19 testing. Dr. Jose Enrico Lazaro, director of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB) in UP Diliman (UPD), said the training program that the Institute administers will have served 80 participants in May after the first batch served on April 18 and 20, 2020. Funded by the UP System, each training session is composed of one day each for a lecture and a hands-on workshop. Participants of the UPD-NIMBB workshop on COVID-19 detection go over rules of sample management. Photo courtesy of UPD-NIMBB “The lecture covers the science of virus detection and the rules on sample management and data interpretation,” Lazaro said. “An exam is administered by the team at the end of the workshop, upon which a certification of completion is issued,” he added. The certification is a requirement for the accreditation of participating diagnostic laboratories. According to Lazaro, the NIMBB made the proposal to the DOH and RITM for UP to cater to medical technicians unable to attend the DOH and RITM training workshops because of the current high demand. Participants of the UPD-NIMBB workshop on COVID-19 detection go over rules of sample management. Photo courtesy of UPD-NIMBB. A biosafety course is required of the participating professional medical technicians. They are then provided lectures by NIMBB’s Dr. Pia Bagamasbad and the UP-Philippine Genome Center’s Dr. Benedict Maralit. Laboratory workshops are facilitated by volunteer graduate students and research assistants of the Institute under the supervision of NIMBB Biosafety Officer Mark Fran. The Sansure qRT-PCR kit is used for the demonstration, and positive controls in the form of plasmids are used instead of human samples, according to Lazaro. The kit is the one being used by the DOH-RITM for its proficiency exam. As of the first week of May, the NIMBB has trained participants from Marikina Molecular Diagnostics, Singapore Diagnostics Laboratory and Singapore Medical Laboratories, De La Salle University Medical Center-Dasmariñas, De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute-Dasmariñas, the Philipine General Hospital, UP Los Baños, Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center, PNP Crime Laboratory, PNP Health Service, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Divine Word Hospital-Tacloban City, Lucena United Doctors Hospital and Medical Center, Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, Tarlac Provincial Hospital, and Hi-Precision Diagnostics. University personnel and participants of the UPD-NIMBB workshop on COVID-19 detection at the training premises. Photo courtesy of UPD-NIMBB |
https://up.edu.ph/pandemic-shines-light-on-countrys-brightest-minds/ | Pandemic shines light on country’s brightest minds – University of the Philippines | Pandemic shines light on country’s brightest minds Pandemic shines light on country’s brightest minds May 11, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team UP System executive vice-president Dr. Ted Herbosa, one of the team leaders of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team, leads the team’s exploratory meeting with QC Government’s City Health Office, March 20. Photo from Dr. Emmanuel Luna. If there’s one other way the health crisis has changed the world as we know it, it’s seeing Filipino scientists and scholars operating at the forefront of managing a global threat. For far too long, their advances and contributions fell to the back pages of the news, if at all. Not this time. Their heroics are happening in hospitals and laboratories, in schoolrooms closed for classes and out in the open,as our brightest minds tackle this deadly disease. Take the brain trust that is the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team. Organized just four days after the ECQ, the University of the Philippines gathered some 200 professors, researchers, alumni and students from across the entire UP System, from Baguio to Mindanao. Specializations included epidemiology, emergency medicine, public health, veterinary medicine, computer science, data science, disaster science, mathematics, statistics, economics, geography, public administration and governance, social work and community development, and political science.By utilizing this wide range of expertise, the team sought to cover different aspects of the pandemic. Among its recent contributions to the fight has been the Outbreak Threshold model, which can help design localized community quarantine protocols for LGUs. The response team has drafted a number of policy notes based on the results of their studies, including recommendations for a graduated activation of the ECQ that depends on the level of risk per area. Dr. Jomar Fajardo Rabajante (top) and Dr. Peter Julian Cayton (bottom), members of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team, presenting their respective projections, analysis, and post-ECQ recommendations in a meeting with international and national civil society organizations on 27 April 2020. Screenshot via Skype, c/o Dr. Kristoffer Berse. While much of their data are from the Department of Health, the team has been vocal about gaining more open data to refine their studies, urging: “We have to gather and share as much data as possible, apply the best science available, and ultimately listen to what the numbers could tell us.” The team has had to reach out to LGUs for updates on COVID-19 cases in different localities to refine their studies through cross-validation of methodologies and outputs among scientists. Aside from working with national and local government units, the UP response team has been collaborating with academics from the National University of Singapore, University of California Davis and University College London as well as local academic institutions. On the international front, the team has joined the Forecast-based Warning, Analysis and Response Network (FOREWARN), an organization of academics, scientists and humanitarian workers. The network aims to mitigate disasters and enable early humanitarian action, providing the team with opportunities for mutual consultations and improved data-gathering. Press briefing at Malacañang Palace, with Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay, one of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team’s leaders, presenting the findings of the team, April 21, 2020. Photo from Dr. Kristoffer Berse. Team members have also given presentations to the President and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF). Given their highly specialized competencies, members have been called to join the IATF Technical Working Group on Anticipatory and Forward Planning. To better inform the general public, the team has also redesigned their studies into animation, video formats and flashcards to be more accessible. Policy notes are now available in English as well as Tagalog, Ilokano, Bikol Sentral, Waray, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Aklanon, Kapampangan, Itawis, Chavacano de Zamboanga, Meranaw, and Bahasa Sug. The team’s works and research, including the regularly updated case overview, are accessible on their website, endcov.ph. The work of groups like the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team will help reshape life and society post-lockdown, and further down the line, post-COVID-19. Guided by their mandate to serve the Filipino people, the U.P. team reflects the persistence and determination of what our best minds can achieve under such troubling circumstances. The UP Resilience Institute’s YANI, the COVID-19 chatbot, featured on ANC, April 19. Photo from Dr. Kristoffer Berse. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-to-provide-its-workforce-additional-emergency-allowance/ | UP to provide its workforce additional emergency allowance – University of the Philippines | UP to provide its workforce additional emergency allowance UP to provide its workforce additional emergency allowance May 14, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc In consideration of the unprecedented situation confronting its constituents, UP is providing its workforce an additional emergency allowance of P5,000 each not earlier than May 15, 2020. UP gave an initial P5,000 emergency allowance to UP personnel in April 2020 to provide immediate economic relief during the period of enhanced community quarantine, declared first in Luzon then across local government units in the Visayas and Mindanao to stem COVID-19 transmission. According to a memorandum released by the Office of the Vice President for Administration on May 13, 2020, the qualified recipients of the additional grant are all UP faculty, REPS, and administrative staff, whether regular, permanent, temporary, or on contractual, casual, or substitute status; Contract of Service and Job Order workers rendering full-time service; and professors emeriti in active service as of March 17, 2020. “Project-based personnel may also be granted the emergency allowance if funds are provided in the budget of the projects, and if they have complied with the service requirement stated [in the preceding paragraph],” the memorandum spelled out. The UP Board of Regents approved the proposal of the UP System Administration to grant the additional emergency allowance through a referendum conducted from May 6 to 9, 2020. |
https://up.edu.ph/yani-the-endcovbot-has-unlocked-a-new-skill/ | Yani the EndCovbot has unlocked a new skill! – University of the Philippines | Yani the EndCovbot has unlocked a new skill! Yani the EndCovbot has unlocked a new skill! May 12, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Remember Yani the EndCovBot? If you’re looking for the latest COVID-19 statistics in your municipality, city, province, region, or for the whole Philippines, 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 a𝘀𝗸 𝗬𝗮𝗻𝗶 on Messenger: 𝗺.𝗺𝗲/𝗬𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗘𝗻𝗱𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗕𝗼𝘁 Yani is the first AI member of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team, designed to provide information on the latest numbers, nearest hospitals and testing centers, therapy and counselling, and COVID-19 policies. Yani can be found chilling at the encov.ph dashboard where other information resources are also available. For more updates, please like and follow YaniTheEndcovbot at https://www.facebook.com/YaniEndCovBot. #UPCOVID19ResponseTeam #UPRI #COVID19PH |
https://up.edu.ph/philippines-in-a-global-race-to-find-a-treatment-for-covid-19/ | Philippines in a global race to find a treatment for COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | Philippines in a global race to find a treatment for COVID-19 Philippines in a global race to find a treatment for COVID-19 May 13, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Screenshot from the replay of the third “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 7, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel As the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the planet, medical experts and scientists around the world have found themselves in an unprecedented race to find a treatment for the disease. “At this time, there are no medical therapies that have been definitively shown to improve outcomes in patients with COVID-19,” said, Dr. Marissa Alejandria, director of the Institute of Clinical Epidemiology of the UP Manila National Institutes of Health, professor at the UP College of Medicine, and president of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Screenshot from the replay of the third “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 7, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel Speaking during the third installment of the UP webinar series, “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” held on May 8, which focused on “The Treatment Landscape of COVID-19”, Dr. Alejandria reports that a number of drugs currently being studied around the world have demonstrated in vitro activity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus or have demonstrated potential clinical benefits in observational or small, non-randomized studies. She also presented clinical data on four antiviral drugs being used to treat COVID-19: chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir-ritonavir, remdesivir, and favipiravir. “We have no drug that has been really approved, no effective antiviral therapy at this time,” she said. “The studies raised optimism, but we all know the limitations of observational studies and case series without a control group, so we don’t know if it’s the drug that resulted in a clinical benefit or if it is due to host factors or a combination of interventions. We still need clinical trials.” Screenshot from the replay of the third “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 7, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel, showing the evidence network for clinical trials for drugs being compared vs standard of care, while the curved arrows on the right show the number of non-comparative trials. Adequately powered randomized clinical trials are currently enrolling and are needed to establish the efficacy of these proposed therapies. One is the World Health Organization (WHO) SOLIDARITY Trial, which aims to test the safety and effectiveness of the four possible therapies in treating COVID-19 compared to standard of care. The Department of Health announced the participation of the Philippines in this last April 22, with Dr. Alejandria as country representative leader. Other randomized clinical trials around the world are the Anti-Coronavirus Therapies to Prevent Progression of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Trial or ACT COVID19; and the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial or ACTT. For now, when it comes to the management of COVID-19 patients, the standard of care in the country is delivering best supportive care while the body battles the virus: treatment of symptoms, hydration, antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia, oseltamivir for influenza, and for patients with severe or critical cases, intensive respiratory management and intensive care support. Screenshot from the replay of the third “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 7, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel However, there is another way that patients and medical workers can contribute to the race to defeat COVID-19. “The priority should be to enroll the patient, if they qualify, in a clinical trial [of the investigational drugs], if these do not have the contraindications that would cause harm to the patient,” said Alejandria. Patients who are stable or who do not have evidence of oxygen requirements or pneumonia can generally be managed with supportive care alone. But patients with hypoxia or pneumonia, especially those with risk factors, can be considered for a specific COVID-19 therapy after discussing the risks and benefits with their doctors and giving their informed consent, in accordance with local hospital treatment guidance. “Now that we have the WHO Solidarity Trial in the country, there is an option for the clinician to enroll the patient into the clinical trial rather than just outright giving chloroquine, lopinavir or tocilizumab,” said Alejandria. “It would be a benefit to science if we are able to contribute to this clinical trial to be able to answer the question on which antiviral treatments are effective for COVID-19.” “As of today, we have 63 enrolled patients, with hospitals contributing to the trial, number of patients being enrolled per day,” said Alejandria. There are 24 site hospitals in the country participating in the trial, including nine government hospitals, one of which is the UP Manila Philippine General Hospital, and 15 private hospitals. “We hope to be able to contribute more. This is not a race against each other, but a race against time to find the effective drug that will hopefully end this pandemic.” Screenshot from the replay of the third “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 7, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel The UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series taps into the experiences of clinicians, hospital administrators, and researchers with the goal of protecting the health systems against COVID-19 by bridging the gap between knowledge and practice in the clinical management of cases in the Philippines. This webinar series is produced by the University in partnership with the National Telehealth Center and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. The fourth webinar in the series, set for May 15 at 12:00 noon, will tackle the impact of COVID-19 on the other parts of the body, specifically the kidneys. Dr. Elizabeth Montemayor, Professor, UP College of Medicine, and Vice President, Philippine Society of Nephrology, will be the speaker. Register here. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-beta-sigma-fraternity-up-visayas-chapter-ramps-up-covid-19-response-distributes-medical-supplies-sends-relief-in-southern-iloilo/ | UP Beta Sigma Fraternity – UP Visayas Chapter ramps up COVID-19 response, distributes medical supplies, sends relief in southern Iloilo – University of the Philippines | UP Beta Sigma Fraternity – UP Visayas Chapter ramps up COVID-19 response, distributes medical supplies, sends relief in southern Iloilo UP Beta Sigma Fraternity – UP Visayas Chapter ramps up COVID-19 response, distributes medical supplies, sends relief in southern Iloilo May 21, 2020 | Written by Jay Pascual UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter members Mark Aaron Tinambunan (in black shirt) and Mon Francis Sorongon (in white) donate two gallons of alcohol and three boxes of disposable face masks to the Municipality of Oton. The donation was received by Oton Municipal Administrator Juan Miguel M. Flores The local chapter of UP Beta Sigma Fraternity in the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) distributed 100 liters of alcohol and 1000 pieces of medical grade surgical masks to different health centers and hospitals in the first district of Iloilo, including the municipalities of Oton, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miag-ao, and the UPV Infirmary and dormitories. UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter members Mark Aaron Tinambunan (in black shirt) and Mon Francis Sorongon (in white) donate four gallons of alcohol and four boxes of disposable face masks to the Rural Health Center of the Municipality of Tigbauan. The donation was received by Tigbauan Tourism Officer Phoebe M. Torrico The Fraternity is also providing 20 essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to the UPV health unit. The said PPEs are part of the project of UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Los Baños Chapter. The distribution was facilitated by Betan alumni Mark Aaron Tinambunan and Mon Francis Sorongon who are also residents of the first district. Beta Sigma, in partnership with its sorority counterpart, UP Sigma Beta Sorority-UP Visayas Chapter, is also continuing its daily food drive effort to help stranded UP Visayas students in the municipality of Miag-ao. To date, the members of Beta Sigma and Sigma Beta were able to provide 12 sets of healthy meals to the stranded dorm residents in the past two weeks, and they will continue to provide meals to the students in the coming weeks. UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter donates one gallon of alcohol to Balay Kanlaon Dorm in UP Visayas Miag-ao. The Fraternity donated one gallon of alcohol each to all the active dorms in UP Visayas, Miag-ao. From left to right: El Andro Obar, Mon Francis Sorongon, Balay Kanlaon Dorm Head Head Divina Punongbayan, Balay Kanlaon Dorm Representative Lara Shane Alcantara, L’Jude Mikkel Cortes, Mark Aaron Tinambunan, Kyle Dominic Barnuevo Last Monday, May 4, Beta Sigma also distributed fuel relief aid to frontline workers of the University. It handed Php120 worth of cash assistance to more than 40 workers belonging to different units of UPV. According to one of its alumni, Atty. Doni June Almio, the increased relief effort is the “Fraternity’s response to the pressing need of the people in southern Iloilo during this crucial time of the pandemic.” “We will continue to help our fellow Filipinos and UPV students because this is our sworn duty as responsible members of a larger community,” said Almio, who supervises the group’s relief effort. Almio added that “the entire membership and alumni of the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity in UPV are ready to extend essential aid so long as we have the resources for it.” UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter donates four gallons of alcohol and four boxes of face masks to Miag-ao Rural Health Unit. From left to right: Mon Francis Sorongon, Marv Aranjuez, Kyle Dominic Barnuevo, Dr. Jesel Cometa-Gellada, L’Jude Mikkel Cortes, Mark Aaron Tinambunan Almio also added that they are now preparing to provide water and snacks to UPV students who will be ferried home by the university officials in the coming weeks. Aside from this, he mentioned that the fuel relief for UPV workers will continue next week. He also thanked alumni members who donated to the group’s relief effort. Founded in 1946, the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity is one of the oldest fraternities in the Philippines, with tens of thousands of members across the country. Its local chapter in UP Visayas is one of the leading fraternities in the campus. UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter at the Guimbal District Hospital with Admin Support Staff Shenly Kate Robles UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter at UPV Balay Lampirong with Dorm Rep Patrick Casana. |
https://up.edu.ph/negrense-students-of-upv-go-home/ | Negrense students of UPV go home – University of the Philippines | Negrense students of UPV go home Negrense students of UPV go home May 21, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo UP Visayas students at the seaport on their way home to Negros Occidental. Photo taken from the UP Visayas Facebook account, where photo credits were given to Fermin Novilla, Lyncen Fernandez, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration Twenty-three UP Visayas (UPV) students from Negros Occidental who were stranded in Miagao and Iloilo City due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) have gone home. The UPV Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration facilitated the May 5 travel of the students in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense Office of the Governor, Negros Occidental; and the Office of the Mayor, Bacolod City. The undertaking followed two memoranda from UPV Chancellor Ricardo Babaran. Memorandum No. RPB 2020-04-052 issued on April 26 advised students to start making preparations for going back to their hometowns. Memorandum No. RPB 2020-05-055 issued on May 3 provided more details on what the students needed to do. UP Visayas students board the bus that will take them to the seaport so they can go home to Negros Occidental. Photo taken from the UP Visayas Facebook account, where photo credits were given to Fermin Novilla, Lyncen Fernandez, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration The later memo instructed stranded students to fill in a request for assistance form to be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs by May 5. As in the earlier issuance, Babaran reiterated that students should coordinate with their parents or guardians about their plans and the requirements on entry of their respective localities, such as quarantine protocols and passes. Students were also reminded to secure medical certificates from the UPV Health Service Unit. Medical certificates and quarantine passes were needed at the border control gates for students to pass through. UPV assured transportation to the airport or seaport from Miagao and Iloilo City for those who need to travel interisland. Fares for air and sea travel will be shouldered by the students. UP Visayas students on their way to the seaport where the next leg of their journey home will begin. Photo taken from the UP Visayas Facebook account, where photo credits were given to Fermin Novilla, Lyncen Fernandez, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration The wearing of masks in public, physical distancing, and the use of disinfectants were also emphasized in the memo. While students living in the main campus dormitories in Miagao were making preparations, they were provided daily meal vouchers by UPV until May 15 to be redeemed at the UPV Employees Cooperative cafeteria. The ECQ is expected to be lifted by May 16. Those living in Balay Ilonggo in the Iloilo City campus have been allowed to continue cooking their meals in the dorm kitchen. Other needs of stranded students will be considered depending on available funds. Finally, UPV will only waive lodging fees up to May 15, following “budget cut directives from the national government.” The dormitories will undergo disinfection and sanitation after May 15 and will be prepared for the next school term. Only Balay Apitong in Miagao will remain in operation for graduating students. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-cebu-cenvi-presents-a-timeline-in-maps-of-cebu-citys-battle-against-covid-19/ | UP Cebu CENVI presents “a timeline in maps” of Cebu City’s battle against COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | UP Cebu CENVI presents “a timeline in maps” of Cebu City’s battle against COVID-19 UP Cebu CENVI presents “a timeline in maps” of Cebu City’s battle against COVID-19 May 21, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta From the website “COVID-19 Brief : A Timeline in Maps” The University of the Philippines Cebu Central Visayas Center for Informatics (CENVI), a Department of Science and Technology-funded project under the NICER program, created last May 5 a story map showing the series of events that took place after the first COVID-19 cases were reported in Cebu City. From the website “COVID-19 Brief : A Timeline in Maps” “COVID-19 Brief : A Timeline in Maps” lays down the story with a map of highly urbanized Cebu City as well as its 80 barangays, divided into urban (lowlands) and rural (highlands), and delineated by population density. The map also shows the places in the highly dense residential areas of Cebu City where “social distancing”, which means staying ideally two meters away from other people, is virtually impossible. The timeline of Cebu City’s battle against COVID-19 begins on April 1, after the Cebu City Health Department reported the first 20 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Cebu City on March 29 and released a breakdown by barangay on April 1. The map goes on to plot the progression of the number of cases per barangay one week later, and on April 15. From the website “COVID-19 Brief : A Timeline in Maps” The story map also focuses on Barangay Luz, which had an outbreak of cases, particularly in Sitio Zapatera. By April 22, another community, the Cebu City Jail, had become a hotspot. By April 30, the City Government ordered the extension of the enhanced community quarantine to May 15 as the city continued to record a high number of cases as mass testing was employed. From the website “COVID-19 Brief : A Timeline in Maps” The story map also shows the number of deaths and recoveries, financial aid deployed, and the number of Bayanihan Response Centers. The map then projects into the future or the “new normal” through Project Balik Buhay, which aims to transition the city from enhanced to general community quarantine. The UP Cebu CENVI makes use of computing techniques to produce solutions to pressing environmental problems, which in 2020 includes constantly mapping and monitoring the progression of a fast-spreading viral pandemic in its localities. Among the products being offered by the UP Cebu CENVI are remote sensing and GIS, climate and disaster risk assessment, DRRM-CCA, ecosystem conservation and management, web and database management, policy research, and Visualization and analytics In a related news, according to a latest update, UP Cebu’s CoVcheck web app, which was developed by the FireCheck Project team and UP Cebu, now includes mass testing data entry, patient monitoring, and dashboard functionalities for LGUs. Interested LGUs may contact CovCheck. From the website “COVID-19 Brief : A Timeline in Maps” |
https://up.edu.ph/kidney-patients-more-vulnerable-to-covid-19/ | Kidney patients more vulnerable to COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | Kidney patients more vulnerable to COVID-19 Kidney patients more vulnerable to COVID-19 May 21, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Screenshot from the replay of the fourth UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 15, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic, is well-known for causing respiratory problems. However, the virus does not only attack the lungs but targets other organs as well. As UP College of Medicine professor and Philippine Nephrology Society vice president Dr. Elizabeth Montemayor said: “Patients with kidney problems are a very special group of patients who will need very special attention.” Clockwise, from top left: Dr. Susan P. Mercado, Board Director, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation; Dr. Raymond Sarmiento, Director, UP-NIH National TeleHealth Center; and Dr. Elizabeth Montemayor, Vice President, Philippine Nephrology Society. Screenshot from the replay of the fourth UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 15, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel Dr. Montemayor delivered her talk on “COVID-19 and the Kidneys” during the fourth installment of the UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates”, which was held on May 15, with replay available on the TVUP YouTube channel. She discussed four different kinds of patients with kidney disease who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19: patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD); patients who have had kidney transplants; patients who are on hemodialysis; and patients who have developed acute kidney injury (AKI). Screenshot from the replay of the fourth “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 15, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel According to Dr. Montemayor, patients with Chronic Kidney Disease have a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19. “This should be emphasized, because CKD patients should be advised to take extra precautions to minimize risk of exposure to the virus. Doctors engaged in the care of CKD patients should be really monitoring them for timely detection of disease progression,” she said. She also discussed the effect of the virus on ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) receptors in the kidneys, and the use of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers, which are used to treat hypertension and to prevent kidney failure in patients with diabetes. Screenshot from the replay of the fourth UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 15, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel Kidney transplant recipients need to take immunosuppressants to keep their bodies from rejecting the transplanted organ. These significantly reduce their body’s ability to fight off pathogens, including the SARS-CoV-2. As a result, the mortality rate is high for transplant patients who contract COVID-19. Hence, Dr. Montemayor stressed the need to enhance a transplant patient’s protection against contact with the virus. She also reiterated the statement of the Philippine Society of Transplant Surgeons, which recommends that “all living and deceased organ transplant surgical procedures be suspended indefinitely.” The situation in the Philippines for patients undergoing hemodialysis during the time of COVID-19. Screenshot from the replay of the fourth UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 15, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel Patients undergoing hemodialysis are another distinct population in the COVID-19 outbreak, given their relatively large number; their mobility as they travel to and from the dialysis facilities, which makes them potential vectors for infection; their close proximity to other patients and medical staff; and their impaired immune systems and comorbidities. In the Philippines, many hemodialysis facilities cannot handle or accept COVID-positive patients, displacing these patients and putting pressure on remaining hemodialysis facilities. “There is a need for designated COVID-19 dialysis units in different parts of the country to cater to the needs of this special group of patients,” Dr. Montemayor noted. Finally, patients hospitalized for COVID-19 run the risk of developing Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) along with respiratory failure. Dr. Montemayor discussed the findings of various studies showing the association between respiratory failure and AKI, among others. Identifying patients with AKI may lead to a better allocation of hospital resources and better clinical outcomes for the patients. Screenshot from the replay of the fourth UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar, streamed live on May 15, 2020, on TVUP’s YouTube channel The UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series taps into the experiences of clinicians, hospital administrators, and researchers with the goal of protecting the health systems against COVID-19 by bridging the gap between knowledge and practice in the clinical management of cases in the Philippines. This webinar series is produced by the University in partnership with the National Telehealth Center and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. The fifth installment of the webinar series will focus on COVID-19 and how it impacts other infections the Philippines is already battling with, such as tuberculosis, HIV and dengue, focusing on the experience of San Lazaro Hospital. The featured speaker will be Dr. Rontgene M. Solante, head of Adult Infectious Diseases, Tropical Medicine, San Lazaro Hospital. Register for the UP “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar no. 5 here. |
https://up.edu.ph/upvtc-turns-47/ | UPVTC turns 47 – University of the Philippines | UPVTC turns 47 UPVTC turns 47 May 22, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Photo by Jojit fb, from Wikimedia Commons What to do when mass gatherings are not allowed to celebrate an occasion because of a pandemic? Take it online. This is what UP Visayas Tacloban College (UPVTC) is doing for its upcoming 47th founding anniversary on May 23. With the theme, “URUGUP para han Kaupayan han Katilingban ngan Kalibutan” (Solidarity for the Well-Being of Our Community and the World), UPVTC’s celebration will kick off with the launch of Pagsurumpay: Online Talk Series. “Pagsurumpay” is Waray for “to connect.” The pilot episode, “Context, Opportunities, and Challenges for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in the Time of COVID-19,” will feature UPVTC Psychology lecturer Ruth Edisel Rylle Sadian-Cercado and Prof. Ervina Espina, and licensed psychologist Mary Jane Flores. It will be available for viewing on UPVTC’s Facebook page. Apart from Pagsurumpay, UPVTC’s institutional call for donations, URUGUP, will also launch the 47th Anniversary URUGUP Fund Drive for Eastern Samar. It will raise funds for cash or in-kind donations to the communities severely affected by Typhoon Ambo, such as Jipapad, Maslog, and San Policario. The UPVTC Student Council’s official donation drive, Bulig Oble, will be launched on the same day as well. It will consist of donation drives for specific causes, the first of which is Project HangkUP, intended to help UPVTC students in Eastern Samar affected by the recent Typhoon Ambo. UP KA1SSA is the Student Council’s partner in this initiative. On May 26, the Kalungganayan Community Vegetable Garden will be launched with a ceremonial planting. It is spearheaded by the All UP Worker’s Union (AUPWU) Tacloban Chapter. The word “kalungganayan” means “benefit, blessing, grace, or the bringing of abundance, wealth, or livelihood to people.” And on May 29, the Student Council will hold the 8th EdukAksyon Quiz Bee with the theme “47 Years of Militant Solidarity: Breaking the Silence amid the Storm and Social Pandemic.” For information and updates on UPVTC activities, announcements, and news, visit its Facebook page. UPVTC was established in 1973 through a decision by the UP Board of Regents to “(1) provide quality education in the Eastern Visayas region and turn out graduates who possess essential attributes for becoming productive and responsible members of the community; (2) undertake and encourage scientific research in public affairs that will help illuminate phenomena as well as serve practical values of resolving problems and enhancing regional development; and (3) offer technical assistance to the community, viz., government, business, and the public at-large toward the further improvement of the quality of life in the Eastern Visayas region.” |
https://up.edu.ph/ovpaa-memorandum-no-2020-62-reiteration-of-the-grading-system-in-the-implementing-guidelines-of-the-up-system-policy-on-the-second-semester-2019-2020-in-light-of-covid-19/ | OVPAA Memorandum No. 2020-62: Reiteration of the Grading System in the Implementing Guidelines of the UP System Policy on the Second Semester 2019-2020 in Light of COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | OVPAA Memorandum No. 2020-62: Reiteration of the Grading System in the Implementing Guidelines of the UP System Policy on the Second Semester 2019-2020 in Light of COVID-19 OVPAA Memorandum No. 2020-62: Reiteration of the Grading System in the Implementing Guidelines of the UP System Policy on the Second Semester 2019-2020 in Light of COVID-19 May 22, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs has issued Memorandum No. OVPAA 2020-62 reiterating the grading system in the implementing guidelines of the UP policy on the second semester 2019-2020 in light of COVID-19. To clarify, the University has NOT reversed its position on mass promotions and that all provisions regarding the grading system as stated in the implementing guidelines REMAIN VALID AND IN EFFECT. The Board of Regents merely approved the applications for exemption from numeric grades as endorsed by the Chancellors following the provisions under Section 6.1.6 of the implementing guidelines. Please read Memorandum No. OVPAA 2020-62 and be guided accordingly. Related story: https://www.up.edu.ph/up-sets-guidelines-on-proceeding-with-academic-year-affected-by-the-ecq/ |
https://up.edu.ph/more-upv-students-reunite-with-families/ | More UPV students reunite with families – University of the Philippines | More UPV students reunite with families More UPV students reunite with families May 29, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo UPV students heading home to Palawan. Photo from UPV Facebook page Stranded no more. Students of UP Visayas (UPV) who hail from other cities, municipalities, provinces, and regions have gone home as UPV has continued to facilitate their return to their families with the province of Iloilo’s transition to general community quarantine. Their journey was coordinated with their respective local government units and other relevant agencies by UPV. On May 22, a student from Passi, Iloilo along with 13 students from Aklan, Capiz, and Mindoro Oriental left Miagao to travel back home. Those who returned to Aklan were immediately debriefed and were even treated to lunch by UPV alumni and the Aklan provincial government. UPV students practice physical distancing while waiting for the bus that will take them to the respective jump-off points for travel to Aklan, Capiz, and Mindoro Oriental. Photo from UPV Facebook page. On May 24, a student bound for Lemery, Iloilo and 18 students going back to Palawan were sent off by the UPV Logistics Team. On May 27, seven students going home to Negros Oriental were brought to the Dumangas Port. They were provided packed food by the UPV Logistics Team. UPV student bound for Negros Oriental (Photo by Juvy Janeo of UPV OSA, taken from UPV Facebook page) Prior to these departures, UPV had already sent home 23 students to Negros Occidental on May 5. Seven students made up the first batch of those who had been successfully reunited with their families on March 21 within the province of Iloilo. On May 18, Office of Student Affairs Director Agustin Huyong released an advisory on the retrieval of personal belongings left by UPV students in dormitories. They were instructed to contact dormitory managers to set a schedule; issue a letter of authorization to a representative who will claim their belongings if the students are unable to do it themselves; and present a health certificate from their local health unit issued not more than five days prior to claiming of belongings. Retrieval period is scheduled from May 25 to June 22, 9:00AM to 4:00PM. Dormitories will cease operations on June 23. For those who will be unable to get their things, UPV will temporarily store them for safekeeping. Final retrieval will resume not later than the enrollment period for AY 2020-2021. Those who prefer to have their belongings stored by UPV will need to accomplish a waiver. |
https://up.edu.ph/23-stranded-up-mindanao-students-return-to-hometowns-through-inter-agency-efforts/ | 23 stranded UP Mindanao students return to hometowns through inter-agency efforts – University of the Philippines | 23 stranded UP Mindanao students return to hometowns through inter-agency efforts 23 stranded UP Mindanao students return to hometowns through inter-agency efforts May 29, 2020 | Written by Rene A. Estremera, UP Mindanao UP Mindanao students departing for Region 12 (Soccsksargen), assisted by the UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs, in coordination with the Office of the President‒Presidential Management Staff and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (Note: Images are intentionally blurred in compliance with the Data Privacy Act.) Photo from the UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs. Twenty-three students of the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao successfully returned to their respective hometowns starting May 6, following a tightly coordinated inter-agency operation. Ten more students are awaiting their turn. These students from different parts of the country were stranded on campus following the imposition of a nation-wide community quarantine to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. UP Mindanao students departing for Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), assisted by the UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs, in coordination with the Office of the President‒Presidential Management Staff and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (Note: Images are intentionally blurred in compliance with the Data Privacy Act.) Photo from the UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs. “We were exploring various options to bring the students home. Fortunately, I got a call from an official of the Office of the President‒Presidential Management Staff (PMS). They offered to bring our students to the borders of their respective hometowns, from where the local PMS staff will take over and bring the students home,” said UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs (OSA) director Ma. Teresa Escano. “I submitted the list of the hometowns of our students, and the PMS, the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, the Davao City Tourism Office, and the City Government of Davao took action,” she added. On May 6, three UP Mindanao students, together with a UP Diliman student and a UP Los Baños faculty member also stranded in the city, boarded the Davao‒Manila sweeper flight. The CALABARZON local government units (LGUs) arranged for transport from the airport to their hometowns. “Davao City Councilor Mabel Acosta helped in the arrangements for the air transport,” Escano said. Among the Mindanao-based students, seven went home to the CARAGA Region on May 6, eight went home to SOCCSKSARGEN on May 7, and five went home to Northern Mindanao on May 8. The PMS brought each group to the designated hand-over points in Monkayo, Davao del Norte, for those bound for CARAGA; Bansalan, Davao Del Sur, for those bound for SOCCSKSARGEN; and the boundary of Bukidnon Province for those bound for Northern Mindanao, where their respective LGUs received them. UP Mindanao students departing for Region 13 (Caraga), assisted by the UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs, in coordination with the Office of the President‒Presidential Management Staff and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (Note: Images are intentionally blurred in compliance with the Data Privacy Act.). Photo from the UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs. All 23 students arrived in their respective hometowns, as ascertained by the UP Mindanao OSA through their group chat and other student monitoring mechanisms, and are either on strict home quarantine or at a quarantine facility, as required by their LGUs. Of the 10 remaining students, five come from provinces in the Davao Region. The City Government of Davao and the PMS are still making transport-sharing arrangements for these students. The other students come from Zamboanga (2), Palawan (1), Cebu (1), and Iloilo (1). “We have sent a letter to the Office of the President to request for sweeper flights. Rest assured that we are exhausting all possible ways and means to bring them home too,” Escano said. Throughout the quarantine period, the stranded students were housed in the Elias B. Lopez Hall dormitory within the campus and nearby boarding houses. Last March, OSA held a donation drive to provide food and personal hygiene kits for the stranded students, which saw participation from UP Mindanao constituents, the alumni, and various organizations. Aside from monitoring their physical wellbeing, OSA also provided psychosocial support. Three UP Mindanao students, one UP Diliman student, and one UP Los Baños faculty member bound for Region 4A (Calabarzon) awaiting their flight at the Davao International Airport; they were assisted by the UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs, in coordination with the Office of the President‒Presidential Management Staff and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (Note: Images are intentionally blurred in compliance with the Data Privacy Act.) Photo from the UP Mindanao Office of Student Affairs. Before traveling, the UP Mindanao administration assisted the students in complying with travel requirements, which include medical certificates, quarantine clearances, letters of acceptance from the receiving LGUs, and the parents’ authorization. The Association of the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity-UP Mindanao Chapter provided transportation for the students during the health clearance process and, together with UP Sigma Beta Sorority, Alpha Phi Omega‒ Lambda Nu Chapter, and UP Omega Alpha Sorority, distributed food packs during the send-off. The PMS provided two vans for each departing group to abide by social distancing rules. The Inter-Agency Task Force has classified the Mindanao regions as being under a low or moderate risk for COVID-19 through its Resolution No. 35, and economic activity is expected to resume with health guidelines in place. |
https://up.edu.ph/upvtc-reflects-on-mhpss-in-covid-19-crisis/ | UPVTC reflects on MHPSS in COVID-19 crisis – University of the Philippines | UPVTC reflects on MHPSS in COVID-19 crisis UPVTC reflects on MHPSS in COVID-19 crisis May 29, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Screenshot from the video of UPVTC’s Pagusurumpay Online Talk Series Episode 1, on “Context, Opportunities, and Challenges for Mental Health and Pyschosocial Support (MHPSS) in the Time of COVID-19.” The COVID-19 pandemic, just like previous emergency and crisis situations, activated the UP Visayas Tacloban College (UPVTC) mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) core team. But unlike previous emergency and crisis situations, traditional face-to-face interaction was no longer possible. In a time of physical distancing and stay-at-home measures, MHPSS, as with many other forms of service, had to shift online. In “Context, Opportunities, and Challenges for MHPSS in the time of COVID-19,” the inaugural episode of Pagsurumpay Online Talk Series streamed on May 23 in UPVTC’s Facebook page and launched in celebration of UPVTC’s 47th founding anniversary, three of the nine-member MHPSS core team discussed the group’s experience and reflected on ways it can improve and move forward in the new normal. It was moderated by fellow team member and UPVTC Psychology faculty member, Prof. Pierce Docena. Prof. Ruth Edisel Rylle Sadian-Cercado (Screenshot taken of her in “Context, Opportunities, and Challenges for MHPSS in the time of COVID-19″) Setting the context was Psychology Prof. Ruth Edisel Rylle Sadian-Cercado, who said that “MHPSS” is used in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Guidelines in Emergency Settings and “refers to any type of local or outside support that aims to protect of promote psychosocial well-being and/or prevent or treat mental health conditions.” She explained that MHPSS is nuanced and must be appropriate to the culture, language, health, and social system of the client. Within each population, Sadian-Cercado clarified, there are groups that are more vulnerable than others and their needs must be taken into account as well. These groups include children, elderly, persons with disabilities, marginalized persons such as members of the LGBT community, and in the current pandemic, people with suppressed or compromised immune systems. Standards in response, the identification of individuals who may be trained to respond, the identification of issues that are inherent to the community, clarity of organization roles, referral pathways, and access to needed services must also be established. Dr. Ervina Espina (Screenshot taken of her in “Context, Opportunities, and Challenges for MHPSS in the time of COVID-19″) Fellow Psychology professor and UPVTC Office of Student Affairs Coordinator, Dr. Ervina Espina, then discussed the opportunities presented by COVID-19 to the delivery of MHPSS. First of which was the use of ICT as the shift to online mode has become inevitable. The creation of online platforms, use of digital resources and materials, and tele-processing were all part of moving away from face-to-face sessions. The pandemic also allowed the team to focus on specific groups such as UPVTC students and frontline workers. It opened avenues for partnerships with psychiatrists in Eastern Visayas and with organizations like Cognitio+. Espina expressed the group’s desire to eventually expand its clientele and create an MHPSS webinar series. Dr. Mary Jane Flores (Screenshot taken of her in “Context, Opportunities, and Challenges for MHPSS in the time of COVID-19″) Dr. Mary Jane Flores of Chong Hua Hospital in Mandaue, Cebu and one of the team’s supervising clinical psychologists talked about the challenges in MHPSS at this time. While the shift to online mode afforded many possibilities in the delivery of MHPSS, it was not without problems. Access and connectivity were still major problems. In addition, the team also had varying levels of technical know-how. The team itself only consisted of nine members and continued to look for possible qualified recruits or those trained in psychological first aid (PFA). As for client response, Flores pointed out the low turnout of respondents, numbering around 70. And in this group who filled out the online rapid assessment form, only around ten were willing to communicate further. She said that the low turnout may be attributed to lack of access, not enough dissemination of UPVTC’s MHPSS offering, and/or fear of stigmatization. As for those who were hesitant to talk with members of the team, she surmised that it may be due to their perception of their ability to cope, protection of their privacy, and/or the perception of the services provided or the people providing the services. Sadian-Cercado added that help-seeking needs courage and depends on the person’s readiness to talk. She also said that the low response may also be a good thing if it means that more people were coping better with the crisis. Prof. Pierce Docena (Screenshot taken of him in “Context, Opportunities, and Challenges for MHPSS in the time of COVID-19″) Moving forward, Flores emphasized the need to continuously evaluate the MHPSS program; to remove the negative image of the need for mental health services through education; to increase awareness on available resources and services; and to strengthen institutional support for MHPSS. To end the online discussion, Sadian-Cercado, Espina, and Flores left the following messages: ● Stress and fear are normal responses to a crisis; ● Listen to what you feel; ● Do not be ashamed or afraid to ask for help; ● Make connections; ● Your level of well-being is not entirely dependent on your circumstances; and ● Never think that there is nothing you can do to make yourself feel better and that you can always make yourself feel better. |
https://up.edu.ph/frontliners-at-the-forefront-of-the-6th-up-stop-covid-deaths-webinar-may-29/ | Frontliners at the forefront of the 6th UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar, May 29 – University of the Philippines | Frontliners at the forefront of the 6th UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar, May 29 Frontliners at the forefront of the 6th UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar, May 29 May 26, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines, in partnership with Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center, is inviting you to join the fight against COVID-19. The UP Webinar Series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” is scheduled EVERY FRIDAY from 12nn to 2pm. In late April, the Department of Health reported COVID-19 infections of more than 1000 health care workers—422 doctors, 386 nurses, 30 medical technologists, 21 radiation technologists, 51 nursing assistants, and 152 other personnel including barangay health workers. At that time, there were 26 deaths, including 19 doctors. The numbers have gone up since. This initial shock reverberated through health care facilities throughout the nation. Part of the problem was the rapid spread of COVID-19 among patients who did not have a history of travel or known exposure. Part of it was that patients had non-specific symptoms. Part of it was that there was a lack of personal protective equipment— not then required for interaction at patient admission, ER consults, OPD check-ups. SARS-CoV-2 is a highly infectious agent. This places health care workers at the highest risk for disease transmission as it is inevitable that procedures, conversations and treatment be done without close interaction. How are our hospitals retrofitting their physical, social and therapeutic environments to ensure safety of hospital personnel? Vision, teamwork and strong management are required to keep our frontliners safe. The Lung Center of the Philippines as a COVID referral center shares lessons learned for protection of hospital personnel. Join the sixth installment of the UP Webinar Series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates,” on May 29, 2020 at 12:00 NN, focusing on “Hospital Personnel Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic” and featuring Dr. Antonio B. Ramos, Manager of Administrative Services, Lung Center of the Philippines, as resource speaker. Limited slots only. Register now at bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar6 |
https://up.edu.ph/medical-elearning-at-the-time-of-covid-19/ | Medical eLearning at the time of COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | Medical eLearning at the time of COVID-19 Medical eLearning at the time of COVID-19 May 29, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office UP College of Medicine, DOH, and APMC to hold month-long Medical eLearning: Behind the Screens Virtual Conference on June 2020 The Department of Health, in collaboration with the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, and the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges, will hold the Medical eLearning: Behind the Screens, a virtual conference series on the use of computers in medical education, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on all Tuesdays and Thursdays of June 2020. It will be available at https://livestream.up.edu.ph/ and https://fb.com/mccodtraining/. This virtual conference series stems from the development of the eLearning Course on Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCOD). More than 1,850 medical students and interns from seven medical schools and hospitals across the country have completed the Course. Towards the DOH campaign for better quality health data, this Project is a step in developing more effective physicians – central to better quality death certificates. The UP College of Medicine prides itself for taking part in this endeavor by leading the development of this MCCOD eLearning Course, and engaging six other medical schools and hospitals to produce a high quality, learner-centric educational material for physicians. Medical eLearning: Behind the Screens makes the case for computer-based training as assistive to clinical instructors and medical schools to meet student learning needs. This is heightened especially amidst the continued threat of COVID-19 where physical distancing, and community quarantines are a reality. Using the MCCOD eLearning Course as an example, this Virtual Conference will instruct participants on how to craft their eLearning modules, engage with their target participants, and scale-up for wider use in each of their institutions. This emphasizes the importance of good quality data on MCCOD and each health workers’ role in managing causes of mortality and improving overall health. The Department of Health aims to launch the MCCOD eLearning Course for wider use by APMC member schools, APMC-accredited hospitals, and the wider healthcare workforce nationwide. As an ally in education, the DOH promotes continuous learning in a format available 24/7 and on-demand. The Course will be made available at the DOH Academy (https://learn.doh.gov.ph) to participants of this Virtual Conference series. About the MCCOD eLearning Course: The MCCOD eLearning Course contributes to the efforts of the Department of Health (DOH) in fostering good quality capture of mortality data as a crucial input to evidence-based health planning and decision-making. In 2015, the DOH Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service (DOH KMITS) produced the first version of the handbook on medical certification for MCCOD. Likewise, the Post Graduate Interns (PGI) Practicum Guidelines on MCCOD was crafted through support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and partnership with the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges. To ensure scale and sustainability, the eLearning modality is designed for the PGI Program of APMC-accredited hospitals, medical students, and even licensed medical doctors. The MCCOD eLearning Course Development and Implementation Project is led by the UP College of Medicine on behalf of the DOH. The team is led by Professor Portia Fernandez-Marcelo MD, with UPCM Consultants Ma. Cecilia Alinea MD, Jose Modesto Abellera III MD, Cecil Lim MD, Patrick Sylim MD, and UP CPH Professor Buenalyn Teresita Ramos-Mortel. They are joined by Asuncion Anden MD (former DOH Regional Director), Maria Lora Cabrera-Tupas MD and Aretha Gacutan-Liwag MD (both UPCM alumna and currently with the West Visayas State University Medical Center), Abegail Jayne Amoranto, RN MSGC (UP College of Nursing Class 2012 and Research Consultant) and Monica Sunga (eLearning Design and Development Consultant). The Project Team includes Manu Gaspar (Project Manager), Jae-Ann Sumalo, RN MPH-c (Advocacy and Deployment Officer), Romeo Luis Macabasag, RN MAN (Research Officer), Ma. Ysabel Leanne Brual RND MSPH-c (Research & Project Assistant), Nicole Ysabel Dela Luna (Research & Project Assistant), and Rupert Sievert (Research & Project Assistant). |
https://up.edu.ph/lessons-from-the-san-lazaro-experience/ | Lessons from the San Lazaro experience – University of the Philippines | Lessons from the San Lazaro experience Lessons from the San Lazaro experience June 3, 2020 | Written by Fred Dabu Screenshot from the replay of the fifth webinar in the UP “Stop COVID Deaths” series on the TVUP YouTube channel. In the fifth presentation of the UP webinar series,“STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates,” on May 22, 2020, Dr. Rontgene M. Solante, head of the Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine unit of the San Lazaro Hospital, shared valuable insights from their care and management of COVID-19 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and other infections. The San Lazaro Hospital is a 500-bed infectious diseases referral hospital and is one of the 31 subnational referral laboratories for COVID-19. It is also an HIV treatment hub, DOTS and multidrug-resistant TB referral hospital. It was the hospital that admitted the first two COVID-19 cases in the Philippines on January 23, 2020. Dr. Solante, one of the Philippines’ top experts on infectious diseases, discussed how the hospital is managing COVID-19 cases and is participating in the World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity Trial for interventions using investigational drugs, wherein hospitals in more than 70 countries compare treatment options to assess effectiveness against COVID-19. In Solante’s presentation on COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, dengue was shown as the top case admitted in San Lazaro, followed by tetanus, TB, and others. He explained that anybody who is admitted with fever now has to be tested for COVID-19. “We have to look at the history and findings of respiratory tract infections. Focusing on COVID, we now have a total of 88 confirmed cases (as of May 14). Most of the deaths (total of 19) were of males 50 years old and abovewho died due to sepsis or acute respiratory disease syndrome,” he said. Dr. Solante said the patient’s age is a major risk factor of determinant for survival, as well as patients who are immunocompromised, with TB or other infections or comorbidities. The majority of those who died have comorbidities, with hypertension as the most common, followed by diabetes, which also reflect the findings from COVID-19 research in China. He added that there were also patients who died with influenza B, streptococcus pneumoniae and staphylococcus hominis bacteremia. Dr. Solante explained that the radiographic findings for 16 of those who died showed that they had bilateral pneumonia and two had lobar pneumonia. Some of their Chest CT (Computed Tomography) findings showed ground glass opacification, but most showed none. The RT-PCR test must always be used in detecting COVID cases, he added. Screenshot from the replay of the fifth webinar in the UP “Stop COVID Deaths” series on the TVUP YouTube channel. Interventions using investigational drugs Dr. Solante said that as part of the solidarity clinical trial for COVID-19 treatments, the San Lazaro hospital is among those that test the following investigational drugs for inhibiting viral replication or entry, and for preventing receptor activation of inflammatory molecules: remdesivir, lopinavir/ritonavir, lopinavir/ritonavir with interferon beta-1a, chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, and tocilizumab. He said the use of tocilizumab on selected patients showed significant improvements seen in radiologic and chest CT results. However, extra care should be done to prevent the use of these drugs that would have interaction or effects on other medications needed by the patients, he explained. Screenshot from the replay of the fifth webinar in the UP “Stop COVID Deaths” series on the TVUP YouTube channel. Managing COVID-19 and co-infections (bacterial, PTB, HIV) Dr. Solante explained that if one is a COVID-19 patient with multiple infections, a higher rate of mortality is also expected. For instance, a COVID-19 patient with PTB would have a higher mortality rate, especially if untreated, or if the patient is immunocompromised, elderly, and with comorbidities. “It is advisable to test for TB with the Genexpert. COVID-19 and PTB would exacerbate the symptoms of each other,” he said. Dr. Solante advised that people and “patients with TB lung disease should limit their exposure to high-risk environments. Stop using tobacco or vape products.” He emphasized that the TB treatment programs for patients should continue, with the daily observed therapy (DOT) replaced with alternatives, such as self-administered therapy (SAT), video-observed therapy (VOT), and mobile-phone supported adherence strategies. “If a patient has HIV but continues the antiretroviral medication, the risk would be the same as with a normal person.But if the medication is stopped, the risk of getting the infection is very high since the patient is already immunocompromised. The antiretroviral treatment for all HIV patients should continue,” he added. Dr. Solante emphasized that “prevention and precautionary measures are very important for these high-risk populations, including the elderly. Hand hygiene, face mask and physical distancing,” plus vaccinations (influenza and pneumococcal vaccines) should be up-to-date. Patients should also be screened for COVID, TB, and HIV, he reiterated. Care for healthcare workers In addition to personnel safety protocols and precautions, Dr. Solante said San Lazaro Hospital conducts regular health surveillance and testing for its healthcare workers. He said that out of the 196 given rt-PCR testing, seven were found positive (one doctor, three nurses and three lab personnel), although none of them had fever. Their common symptoms were fatigue, headache, cough, and sore throat, among others. Since healthcare workers are highly vulnerable, they should be monitored and tested regularly, he explained. UP webinar series This series of webinars is conducted by the University of the Philippines, in partnership with the National Telehealth Center and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, to promote the highest possible standards of care for COVID-19 patients and also to seek to protect the entire health system against COVID-19. The webinars, scheduled every Friday from 12nn to 2pm,are hosted by Dr. Raymond Francis Sarmiento of the National Telehealth Center, Dr. Susan Pineda-Mercado of Philhealth, and Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-De La Paz of the National Institutes of Health and UP Manila. The video of this webinar is available at TVUP’s website and YouTube channel. On June 5, 2020 (Friday), 12nn, Dr. Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial, former Secretary of Health, Medical Volunteer at the Quezon Institute COVID-19 Community Isolation Facility, and Head of the Philippine Red Cross Biomolecular Laboratories, will talk about “Supportive Care for Mild Pneumonia in Community Isolation: The Quezon Institute Experience.” Interested parties can sign up for the next webinar here. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-researchers-develop-vr-prototype-of-stay-homecare-for-behavioral-and-psychological-conditions/ | UP researchers develop VR prototype of stay-homecare for behavioral and psychological conditions – University of the Philippines | UP researchers develop VR prototype of stay-homecare for behavioral and psychological conditions UP researchers develop VR prototype of stay-homecare for behavioral and psychological conditions June 3, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Neurological conditions, such as Dementia and Cerebral Palsy, affect the cognitive abilities, motor functions, and performance of activities of daily living of patients. These manifestations may occur throughout the patients’ lifetime, which may render poor quality of life for both the patients and their families. To date, there is no cure for both of these conditions, as pharmacologic management is limited to symptomatic treatment only. There are several therapies available for patients with these conditions, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and recreational therapy, which may improve outcomes and enhance the quality of life of patients and their families. In international settings, research studies are being conducted to explore the use of virtual reality technology as an innovative tool for the rehabilitation management of these conditions. Most relevant to the current Covid19 pandemic, the technology is seen to redefine homecare as stay-homecare. The VR media is meant to promote home therapy for the target patients, mostly composed of a population that is vulnerable to the current pandemic. The research team – composed of Dr. Jaime DL. Caro (Department of Computer Science, UP Diliman), Dr. Veeda Michelle M. Anlacan, Dr. Michael L. Tee, Dr. Cherica A. Tee, Dr. Dominic Jamora, Dr. Marilie Ruiz Aguila (College of Medicine, UP Manila) and Prof. Gregg S. Lloren (College of Communication, Art, and Design, UP Cebu and the University of Edinburgh) – is developing an immersive technological system to rehabilitate the different neuropsychiatric symptoms that come with behavioral and psychological dementia. (Top L-R) Dr. Veeda Michelle Anlacan, Prof. Gregg Lloren (Bottom L-R) Dr. Cherica Tee, Dr. Michael Tee, and Dr. Jaime Caro (Not in the photo: Dr. Dominic Jamora and Dr. Marilie Ruiz Aguila) The proposed Immersive Technology System (ImTS) will serve as a complementary strategy for implementing rehabilitation techniques for patients with dementia and behavioral and psychological symptoms and patients with cerebral palsy and mobility limitations. ImTS will manage the creation, customization, and fruition of multimedia interactive simulation of the world in a virtual environment (VE) that is meant to optimize the power of a technology that augments human capability. Such technology supplies a more flexible environment than the real world, thus giving users a new experience with minimized risk of real danger or physical harm. The program aims to improve the overall quality of life of both patients and their caregivers by assisting patients to recall memories, encourage physical activity, improve social interaction, enhance their emotional well-being, and perform activities of daily living through the interactive visual content/game applications. The research also aims to establish an effective immersive technology system that can be integrated into the standard therapeutic practices in rehabilitation management. As an alternative to HMD, the research team will develop a cheaper version of a semi-CAVE (an immersive screen) for the projection of interactive immersive media. This example of a projection of a panoramic painting by Robert Barker (18th century) of Old Town, Edinburgh, UK, is at the Main Library of the University of Edinburgh. Dr. Veeda Anlacan, Dr. Mike Tee, Dr. Chericca Tee, Dr. Dominic Jamora, and Dr. Marilie Ruiz Aguila will be conducting the clinical trials. Dr. Jaime Caro and his team will focus on software and engineering of the prototype, and Prof. Lloren and his team in uCreate Laboratory from the University of Edinburgh will deal with media design. The research is composed of four projects that all touch on different behavioral and psychological conditions. The first phase will focus on the design and development of a semi-CAVE system for non-HMD (Head Mounted Display) users, customized software VR solution, and training of healthcare professionals. The study will run for two and a half years. The second phase will focus on clinical trials and pre-clinical studies and will run for fifteen months. The research is funded by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) with the technical support of uCreate Makerspace Studio of the University of Edinburgh. To record/capture ‘memory’ scenes and archive them in a virtual environment for memory triggers, Prof. Lloren uses a stereoscopic 360 video camera in the production and design of an immersive audiovisual experience. The media is designed to augment the memory functions of the brain in terms of recall, reminisce, and remember. Professor Gregg S. Lloren developing a VR media for memory triggers at the uCreate Maker Space laboratory of the University of Edinburgh. The idea is to trigger memory recollection, reminiscence, and remembrance through an immersive audiovisual experience. Prof. Lloren tests a more advanced VR Head Mounted Display (HMD) with whole-body motion tracking at the uCreate Makers Space laboratory, University of Edinburgh, UK. The technology is meant to diagnose, assess, and train mobility among patients suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. This feature was originally posted on the UP Cebu website at https://upcebu.edu.ph/up-researchers-develop-vr-prototype-of-stay-homecare-for-behavioral-and-psychological-conditions/. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-mindanao-launches-online-platform-to-track-covid-19-cases-in-the-davao-region/ | UP Mindanao launches online platform to track COVID-19 cases in the Davao Region – University of the Philippines | UP Mindanao launches online platform to track COVID-19 cases in the Davao Region UP Mindanao launches online platform to track COVID-19 cases in the Davao Region June 2, 2020 | Written by Fred Dabu Screenshot of COVID-19 Insights COVID-19 Insights, a web-based platform created and maintained by the UP Mindanao COVID-19 Modeling Team for tracking COVID-19 cases in the Davao Region was launched last month. The team created the platform to provide local government officials, policymakers, researchers, and health professionals valuable tools for decision-making. The dashboard features a map showing locations, charts, and numbers of COVID-19 cases, and also the total patient recoveries and deaths. The portal also features text analytics and spatial modelling pertinent to Region XI in Mindanao. Screenshot showing text analytics for research on COVID-19. The platform shows information on localized COVID-19 cases and enables viewing and sharing of models and comparisons of results under different assumptions and scenarios. Users can input data to derive projections and simulate scenarios for epidemiological modeling and for survival analysis. Screenshot of page for survival analysis from COVID Insights. Prof. Nilo Oponda, UP Mindanao Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, heads the COVID-19 Insights team, with Prof. Pedro Alviola IV, Prof. May Anne Mata, Vladimer Kobayashi, and Zython Lachica as members. As of 4:00 PM of June 1, the Department of Health reported that the total number of verified cases of COVID-19 in the country is now at 18,638 with a total of 13,220 active cases. The DOH also reported the total number of recoveries to 3,979. Region XI will be included under the Modified General Community Quarantine areas starting June 1. |
https://up.edu.ph/upou-sets-more-online-lectures-and-discussion/ | UPOU sets more online lectures and discussion – University of the Philippines | UPOU sets more online lectures and discussion UPOU sets more online lectures and discussion June 10, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo The easing of restrictions does not mean the crisis is over, with the impact of COVID-19 cutting across various sectors. In an effort to continue the capacity-building of affected individuals, organizations, and fields, the UP Open University (UPOU) has embraced its unique role as online education provider, at a time when physical distancing is a must and mass gatherings are prohibited. As the leading open and distance e-learning institution in the country, UPOU has remained true to its commitment of providing public service and delivering quality education through digital means such as online lectures and webinars. Its repository of learning materials are readily available for access online. As of this writing, it has four upcoming web stream events in UPOU Networks. The Master of Public Management Program of the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies, in partnership with the Association of Schools of Public Administration in the Philippines, Inc. (ASPAP), has the three-part “Are We Really Going Online? ASPAP Webinar Series on Public Administration and Governance Education During the Time of the New Normal.” It will kick off on June 10, 10:00 AM, with “Open and Distance e-Learning in Philippine Public Administration/Governance Education: Practices and Lessons.” The second of the webinar series, “Instructional Design and Content Development for Public Adminstration/Governance Programs,” will be on June 17. Closing off the three-part series is “Online Tutoring/Support and Assessment: Requirements and Challenges” scheduled on June 24. UPOU’s Let’s Talk it Over online series also has an upcoming discussion titled “Who Takes Care of the Caregivers? The COVID-19 experience,” that will be streamed live on June 11 at 2:00 PM. To view, listen, and participate in UPOU’s online discussions in real time, register at networks.upou.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-alumni-association-to-hold-kapihan-ng-bayan-sa-up-on-covid-19-and-the-economy/ | UP Alumni Association to hold Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP on “COVID-19 and the Economy” – University of the Philippines | UP Alumni Association to hold Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP on “COVID-19 and the Economy” UP Alumni Association to hold Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP on “COVID-19 and the Economy” June 11, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office From jobs lost, businesses shutting down, manufacturing and supply chains interrupted, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a tremendous toll on both the global and national economy. How far this impact goes, at both the macro and micro-economic level, will be the topic for discussion of the upcoming “Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP,” hosted by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association, Inc. (UPAA). This online UPAA “Kapihan,” on the topic of “COVID-19 and the Economy,” will be held via Zoom on June 16, 2020, Tuesday, at 3:00-5:00 p.m. (Manila time). Professor Emeritus of Economics of UP and former Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Dr. Ernesto M. Pernia will be resource speaker. He will share his thoughts on the once-in-hundred-years pandemic that is having profound and far-reaching effects on the lives of all Filipinos. An open forum will be held following his discussion. All members of the UP community—alumni, faculty, students and staff—as well as the general public are invited to participate. Please register with the UPAA Secretariat at tels. 920-6868; 920-6871; Mobile 0917-8372098; or e-mail upalumniasso@gmail.com to get the Zoom meeting ID and your personal participant’s password. The “Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP” is a public service project of the UPAA aims to serve as a regular forum for intelligent and constructive discussion of issues relevant to our development as a nation. In a democracy like the Philippines, such public discourse is a valuable tool for guiding the national leaders and all concerned citizens to collectively confront and attempt to resolve the challenges posed by current issues of general concern. |
https://up.edu.ph/upv-community-takes-care-of-upd-students/ | UPV community takes care of UPD students – University of the Philippines | UPV community takes care of UPD students UPV community takes care of UPD students June 11, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Photo by Nickrds09 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 The arrival of 14 Ilonggo UP Diliman (UPD) students in Iloilo City on May 31 may have come as a surprise to the UP Visayas (UPV) administration and alumni, but they wasted no time in taking care of these students. The students were able to return to Iloilo after being cleared to go home. They were stranded in Metro Manila when flights were cancelled due to the implementation of quarantine measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. While UPV had prepared its dormitories in its Iloilo City and Miagao campuses for UP constituents coming home from other units, it learned of the UPD students’ arrival only after they had already landed at the Iloilo International Airport via a sweeper flight organized by the Iloilo City government. No prior official communication had been delivered to UPV regarding the students’ inclusion in the flight. UPV alumni sprung into action upon learning that the UPD students were brought to Iloilo City Diamond Jubilee Hall, the city’s isolation facility, where they will wait out the required 14-day quarantine. Recognizing the urgency of protecting them from possible exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, the alumni coordinated with the local government and UPV for the transfer of the UPD students to another location. They are now finishing their quarantine period in a private pension house at a great discount. UPDanay, UPV’s institutional call for relief in response to the pandemic, will do what it can to help pay for their lodgings. UP alumni groups, such as the UP Alumni Association-Iloilo Chapter and the UP High School in Iloilo alumni organization, iAmUPhi, through UPV Legal Counsel Nellie Jo Regalado, have campaigned to provide the students with food and other health needs. Faculty and staff members of UPV have also sent various forms of assistance. The UPD students await the result of their RT-PCR tests while in quarantine. Once they have been given the all clear, UPV will transport them to their residences to be with their families. The arrival of these Ilonggo students from UPD has prompted UPV Chancellor Ricardo Babaran to instruct the Office of Student Affairs to coordinate with its counterpart offices in other UP constituent universities to ensure that Ilonggo UP students from across the country will be taken care of by UPV upon arrival in Iloilo. (With report from the UP Visayas Information and Publications Office) |
https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-takes-on-covid-19-and-its-impact-on-heart-disease/ | UP webinar takes on COVID-19 and its impact on heart disease – University of the Philippines | UP webinar takes on COVID-19 and its impact on heart disease UP webinar takes on COVID-19 and its impact on heart disease June 11, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office One out of four adult Filipinos has hypertension, while a large portion of the population are not aware that they have persistently high blood pressure. How does the COVID-19 pandemic impact adult Filipinos with heart disease? Heart disease and COVID-19 is the topic of the eighth installment in the UP Webinar series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates,” which is produced in partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center.The webinar is scheduled every Friday from 12nn to 2pm. People with hypertension or heart disease are at risk for developing more severe forms of COVID-19, compared to people without heart disease. A report from China among 136 COVID-19 patients shows that 26% of them required cardiovascular intensive care, while a more recent report from the Chinese Centre of Disease Control shows a mean death rate of 2.3%, which increases to 5% in patients with cardiovascular disease and to 7.3% in those with diabetes. Collated data from England and Wales, the Netherlands, Italy and New York State have also highlighted notable levels of excess mortality, not all attributable to COVID-19. What is not clear is whether these excess deaths are due to unconfirmed or unsuspected COVID-19 infection in a high-risk population or if more people are suddenly dying of heart attacks because they are afraid of going to hospitals. Resource person for this very important topic is Dr. Chito C. Permejo, Medical Specialist III in Cardiology-Intensive Care of the Philippine Heart Center. The webinar is open to all health and medical frontliners, practitioners, hospital administrators, public officials and the general public. The webinar is set this Friday, June 12, from 12 nn to 2 p.m. Registration slots are limited, so sign up NOW: bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar8. |
https://up.edu.ph/gender-inclusion-appreciative-resilience-vital-to-crisis-response/ | Gender inclusion, appreciative resilience vital to crisis response – University of the Philippines | Gender inclusion, appreciative resilience vital to crisis response Gender inclusion, appreciative resilience vital to crisis response June 16, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Visit the UPOU Networks for more educational videos. Response to a crisis, whether the crisis may be resolved quickly or drawn out over a long period, benefits greatly from gender inclusion and appreciative resilience. For which reason these actions are vital to successfully ensuring the psychosocial well-being of persons dealing with crises. In “Capacitating Oneself for the New Normal”, Prof. Finaflor Taylan and Dr. Emely Dicolen discussed institutional and personal strategies in dealing with a crisis like COVID-19, from the prolonged quarantine period to the new normal. The online lecture was organized by the Social Work Program of the UP Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) as part of the University’s Let’s Talk it Over series and was streamed on May 27 in UPOU Networks. Taylan, a registered social worker who is a faculty member of the FMDS Social Work Program, talked about “Gender Perspective in Psychosocial Support and Well-Being”. She said the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified vulnerabilities and placed multiple burdens on women, especially the abused who may be “locked in” with their abusers. Unplanned and at-risk pregnancies may also occur. There have also been reports of power struggles in quarantine management, such as instances of “sex for quarantine pass”. Screenshot of Prof. Finaflor Taylan delivering her presentation on “Capacitating Oneself for the New Normal”. Taylan emphasized the fact that as individual, we should know the importance of our rights, recognize or condition and report violations of our human rights, be aware of existing and new rules and laws, and do volunteer work. She also mentioned “proactive protection programs” that may be undertaken by households and communities. Using a code word to report abuse when one is afraid because the perpetrator is nearby, and having an exit plan to escape abuse are actions that may be taken, among others. In the delivery of gender-inclusive well-being programs, functioning structures for violence against women and children, gender and development, and reproductive health must not be derailed by the pandemic, because these programs address issues that did not go away when COVID-19 reached the country. Taylan also mentioned the need to review referral pathways as the crisis has given way to new protocols. The remote delivery of psychological first aid (PFA), for example, is a critical form of service. It would help, she added, if previous reports of abuse were used to identify target areas for random, but regular, roving by security personnel for community safety. Screenshot of Prof. Finaflor Taylan’s presentation slide on “COVID-19 and Gender Context.” In giving psychosocial support to survivors of gender-related violence, PFA or the first interaction in a case is crucial. She underscored the necessity of using gender-fair, non-judgmental language. Building rapport by showing support, being empathetic, and empowering courage are keys to helping survivors sort through fears and anxieties. “They need support, not scrutiny,” Taylan said. She explained that help-seeking is a turning point for them and begins the healing process, so it is imperative that insensitive language is avoided because the survivors should not be “re-victimized”. Taylan closed her talk by reiterating that gender rights are human rights, which means these rights ensure the well-being of all, regardless of gender. Dicolen, the program chair of the UPOU Diploma in and Master of Social Work program, as well as being an associate professor at the UP Manila National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions, discussed “Appreciative Resilience in Times of Crisis”, which was more of a personal technique to cope with problems. Screenshot of Dr. Emely Dicolen giving her talk in “Capacitating Oneself for the New Normal”. Appreciative resilience (AR), Dicolen explained, stemmed from appreciative inquiry (AI), which is “the search for what is life-giving and possible within the people and the world around us”. It is purposely seeking what one wants to accelerate and develop, realizing that “what we appreciate, appreciates.”She said that it shifts the focus from the problem to what has been going well. In the current situation, Dicolen suggested finding one’s personal answers to the following questions: “What was the BEST thing that ever happened to you during the [enhanced community quarantine]? How have you used your strengths to help yourself and others during the COVID-19 times? What is the one small action you can take today to help make tomorrow better for you and others?” AR was conceptualized by Joan McArthur-Blair and Jeanie Cockell in their 2018 book, Building Resilience with Appreciative Inquiry: A Leadership Journey through Hope, Despair, and Forgiveness. In it, the authors say AR “assists people in developing their own understanding and personal call to resilience by using AI principles and practices.” Screenshot of Dr. Emely Dicolen’s presentation slide on appreciative inquiry, which is about reformulating questions from the negative to the positive. There are three elements of AR: despair, forgiveness, and hope, Dicolen said. Despair is where one is doubtful because of uncertainty. Forgiveness makes moving forward possible by resolving to give up “resentment, anger, and fear and step toward accepting things as they are”. Hope is the belief that the “future will open possibilities” and “looks at ‘what is’ and ‘what might be’“. Dicolen shared her own experience of despair, forgiveness, and hope to illustrate how AR has helped her. Her moment of despair came when her daughter, Kelly, a graduate student in Germany, was found to be COVID-19 positive on March 19 after returning from a study trip to Belgium. Forgiveness came when Dicolen let go of blame and anger—at the organizers of the study trip, at her daughter, at the whole situation. Hope, she revealed, sprung from her family members supporting each other and realizing that relationships within their family could still get better and stronger, even when they thought they were already as close as family could get. She clarified how people have different capacities to cope. While there is no timetable for the process of healing, she said, “It’s OK not to be OK, but it shouldn’t be forever. Dicolen ended her talk by encouraging everyone to take a “self compassion break” during trying times by telling oneself, “May I be kind to myself at this moment. May I accept this moment exactly as it is. May I accept myself exactly as I am in this moment. May I give myself the compassion I need.” The archived video of the web streamed lecture and discussion may be viewed at networks.upou.edu.ph. Get tips from Taylan on maintaining psychosocial well-being during the current pandemic here. |
https://up.edu.ph/upv-tacloban-college-maps-the-covid-19-outbreak-in-eastern-visayas/ | UPV Tacloban College maps the COVID-19 outbreak in Eastern Visayas – University of the Philippines | UPV Tacloban College maps the COVID-19 outbreak in Eastern Visayas UPV Tacloban College maps the COVID-19 outbreak in Eastern Visayas June 16, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Motivated by recent developments in the COVID-19 situation and incremental movements towards the new normal in Eastern Visayas, the University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College, through its Regional Environmental Information Systems program and Health Services Unit, has endeavored to visualize key COVID-19 data in the region. This album is a collection of maps based on data from the Department of Health – Eastern Visayas Center for Health and Development. The presentation, which highlights spatial relationships between data, provides a different perspective on the public health crisis faced by the region. It also underscores the importance of protocols for mitigating the spread of the virus. It is hoped that these maps will serve as valuable input to the policymaking process of local government units and decision-making by individual members of society. Disclaimer: The figures reported here do NOT represent final numbers and are subject to change after the inclusion of delayed reports and review of cases. As of May 22, 2020, there were 26 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported. Tarangnan, Samar had the biggest number, followed by the municipality of Buruean with two confirmed COVID-19 cases. Three other cities and municipalities were also reported to have confirmed COVID-19 cases. As of June 2, 2020, 43 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Eastern Visayas have been reported, with Tarangnan, Samar having the biggest number of confirmed cases. Burauen comes in second with three confirmed COVID-19 cases, followed by Tanauan with two confirmed cases. Seven other cities and municipalities have also been reported to have one confirmed COVID-19 case each. The increase in the number of cases may be attributed to the influx of citizens returning from Manila and overseas. As of May 29, 2020, there were 3,382 cumulative suspected COVID-19 cases in Eastern Visayas, majority of which have already recovered and are currently asymptomatic. The map shows that Tarangnan, Samar has the highest cumulative suspected cases in Eastern Visayas. As of May 29, 2020, 3,384 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests have been conducted to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Region VIII. Of these, 1443 PCR tests were done in Tarangnan, Samar. There are 86 hospitals in the entire Eastern Visayas—77 Level 1 and infirmary level, seven Level 2, and two Level 3. Levels 2 and 3 facilities are located in cities while Level 1 and infirmary level facilities are spread out across all six provinces of Region VIII. In terms of individual facility bed capacity, the facility with the biggest capacity is in Tacloban City with 73 allocated beds, followed by the facility in Naval, Biliran with 30 beds. There are hospitals with no allocated beds for COVID-19 patients: six in Northern Samar, four in Eastern Samar, five in Leyte and one in Southern Leyte. As of May 22, 2020, there are 294 Level 1 or infirmary level beds, 38 Level 2 beds, and 76 Level 3 beds allocated for COVID-19 patients in Eastern Visayas. Tacloban City has the highest cumulative bed capacity with 90 allocated beds, followed by Ormoc City with 58, Naval in Biliran with 30, and Calbayog City with 25 beds. Facilities in other cities and municipalities have less than 20 cumulative bed capacities. There are three areas with no cumulative bed capacity—Laoang, Northern Samar; Capul, Northern Samar; and Matalom, Leyte. As of May 22, 2020, the majority of the COVID-19 referral hospitals in Eastern Visayas have 0-25% occupancy rate of the allocated beds for COVID-19 patients. The facility with the highest occupancy rate is in Maasin City at 217%. |
https://up.edu.ph/upcat-qualifiers-enrolling-in-up-can-expect-the-new-normal-of-remote-learning/ | UPCAT qualifiers enrolling in UP can expect the “new normal” of remote learning – University of the Philippines | UPCAT qualifiers enrolling in UP can expect the “new normal” of remote learning UPCAT qualifiers enrolling in UP can expect the “new normal” of remote learning June 15, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta For this year’s batch of successful UPCAT qualifiers who will be entering the University of the Philippines (UP) as freshmen enrollees, their first taste of university life will be that of the “new normal”: remote teaching and learning, with the possibility of blending remote and face-to-face meetings. A memorandum issued by the UP Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs dated June 4, 2020 lays down what incoming UP freshmen can expect. Remote teaching and learning The memorandum states that UP, like other universities in the country, ASEAN and the world, is “putting the safety of our students and faculty first.” This will be done by adopting remote teaching and learning for academic year 2020-2021. A combination of remote teaching/learning and face-to-face meetings will be done in laboratory, studio and practicum courses, if the COVID-19 situation permits it, and following public health and social distancing requirements. Remote teaching and learning cover both asynchronous or non-real time communication between teachers and learners, and synchronous or real-time communication between teachers and learners. Asynchronous communication includes text-based communication such as email, Facebook Messenger, Viber groups, etc., and online discussion boards in different learning platforms such as UP’s Learning Management Systems, Canvas, Google Classroom, etc. Synchronous communication includes lectures, webinars and teleconferences using such platforms as Zoom, Google Hangouts Meet, etc. “Given the uncertain trajectory of the pandemic at this time, the University is preparing for the scenario where courses are delivered remotely throughout the first term without sacrificing quality,” the memorandum states, adding that remote learning is not necessarily inferior and in certain cases may even be superior to face-to-face learning. Starting July 1, UP faculty will be redesigning course offerings for remote learning. Laying the infrastructure In addition, UP is laying the physical infrastructure for remote learning, such as gadgets for online learning, Internet or cell phone data connectivity. The academic infrastructure is also being strengthened through upgrading the University’s Library Management System, subscribing to a cloud-based service that provides remote access to library resource, subscribing to relevant databases of peer-reviewed literature and e-publications, retooling faculty and staff, and redesigning courses for remote delivery to different types of students depending on their internet connectivity in their homes. To ensure UP’s readiness for remote learning, the UP System administration has obtained the Board of Regents’ approval in principle to move the opening of classes to September 10, subject to ongoing consultations with faculty and students. UPCAT qualifiers will be informed of the academic calendar, including the opening of classes, and details of UP’s remote learning delivery within July. Important deadlines Generally, UPCAT qualifiers are categorized into four types: Type 1 would be those accepted in their first choice of degree program; Type 2 would be those accepted in their second choice of degree program but waitlisted in their first choice; Type 3 would be those who are waitlisted in their choices of degree programs; and Type 4 would be those who will be assigned to a degree program with available slots. UPCAT qualifiers were reminded of the following deadlines: June 30, 2020 to confirm their acceptance of the University’s offer of an admission slot in UP for 2020; July 6 to 31, 2020 to confirm acceptance at the level of the constituent unit (CU) they applied for, for those who are waitlisted and those who are assigned to a degree program with available slots; and July 5 to August 15, 2020 to appeal for reconsideration, to be submitted to their CU of interest. More than 100,000 high school students took the UPCAT in October 2019. Results were released on May 30, 2020, with 12,000 qualifiers offered slots to enter the national university. Download a copy of the memorandum here. |
https://up.edu.ph/catastrophic-loss-in-jobs-and-work-hours-save-the-msmes-and-protect-the-workers/ | Catastrophic Loss in Jobs and Work Hours: Save the MSMEs and Protect the Workers – University of the Philippines | Catastrophic Loss in Jobs and Work Hours: Save the MSMEs and Protect the Workers Catastrophic Loss in Jobs and Work Hours: Save the MSMEs and Protect the Workers June 17, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Statement of the UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations on the COVID-19 crisis impact on labor and call to action 8 June 2020 About 8 million Filipinos lost their employment in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the first quarter of 2019 corresponding to a decline in the number of employed from 41.8 million workers to 33.8 million workers (April 2020, Labor Force Survey, Philippine Statistics Authority). Moreover, for the majority of those who managed to stay employed, they do so at less than the standard 48-hour workweek. The percent of workers who worked at least 48 hours a week dropped from 68 percent in the first quarter of 2019 to 28 percent in the first quarter of 2020 or a decline by 18.6 million full-time workers. Of the 23.6 million part-time workers as of April 2020, 17.3 million cited the COVID-19 lockdown as the reason for working less than the standard workweek. Equally disturbing is the sharp decline in the labor force participation rate from 61.3 percent in April 2019 to 55.6 percent in April this year, the lowest since the 1970s and translates to 3 million less Filipinos in the working ages that are participating in the labor force. More catastrophic losses in both jobs and work hours are expected in the second and third quarters of 2020 in view of: (a) the expansion of the lockdown from Luzon in mid-March to virtually the rest of the country by early April 2020; (b) the extension of the community quarantine until a vaccine against COVID-19 is available and made more widely accessible; and (c) the influx of tens of thousands of displaced overseas Filipino workers. In the provision of the proposed 1.3 Trillion pesos economic stimulus package, we call on the government to ensure priority to both the economic recovery of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which comprise 99.5 percent of total business establishments, and the protection of their workers which account for 63.2 percent of all workers in the country, by providing higher financial incentives (e.g. zero-interest soft loans, deferment of loan payments for a year without penalties, wage subsidies for regular employees, etc.) to MSME employers who will keep at least the same level of employees before the lockdown and regularize their employment. We call on the government and employers to effectively involve trade unions and workers’ representatives in the crafting and implementation of any programs and adjustment measures that address economic and business recovery. The imposition of the lockdown to contain the spread of the corona virus has inflicted the most severe damage upon the informal workers (e.g. tricycle and jeepney drivers, street vendors, own-account workers, etc.) who, without work and social security protection, were deprived of the means for survival for themselves and their families. We call for the immediate passage of the Magna Carta for Workers in the Informal Economy, which mandates the State to uphold decent work standards for the informal workers. Finally, where the crisis has stripped most workers of their capacity to earn subsistence incomes, it becomes incumbent upon the State to adopt bolder and effective social reform measures. At the height of the Global Depression in the 1930s, then US President Franklin Roosevelt acted swiftly to curb economic paralysis by enacting the New Deal program of massive job creation through public works that was supplemented by the passage of laws recognizing the right of workers to associate and bargain collectively. Similarly, the then Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon made a bold response by launching a Social Justice Program and establishing the Department of Labor for the protection of labor. We call on the government to take a swift and bold action for social reforms that are necessary to prevent the COVID-19 crisis from morphing into a national human and economic crisis, and to build social cohesion and solidarity through consultation and social dialogue with all affected sectors, including the organized and unorganized workers. This statement was originally posted on the UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations Facebook page. |
https://up.edu.ph/is-there-more-to-a-zero-in-disease-statistics/ | Is there more to a zero in disease statistics? – University of the Philippines | Is there more to a zero in disease statistics? Is there more to a zero in disease statistics? June 17, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office UP Mindanao’s (UPMin) Interdisciplinary Applied Modeling (IAM) laboratory will hold a free webinar to discuss this topic. “Are Zeroes Really Zeroes?: Detecting Underreporting in Disease Reports” featuring Zython Paul Lachica will be streamed live via the One UP Applied Mathematics YouTube channel on June 19, 10:00 AM, Philippine Time. This initiative is part of the One UP Applied Mathematics Webinar Series, where researchers from across the UP System discuss different topics in applied mathematics each week. Lachica is a member of the IAM laboratory and has been involved in the conduct of COVID-19-related research. He is also a research assistant in the Commission on Higher Education-Discovery-Applied Research and Extension for Trans/Interdisciplinary Opportunities: Synoptic Study on Transmission and Optimum Control to Prevent Rabies Program or the CHED DARE-TO: STOP Rabies Program, which is headed by UPMin. The IAM lab is a research group of the UPMin Department of Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science, composed mostly of applied mathematicians who promote interdisciplinary research. The IAM team focuses mainly on the application of mathematical modeling to study real-world phenomena and generating approaches to address gaps in a variety of disciplines, including the physical, chemical, biological, and engineering sciences. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-highlights-lung-centers-innovations-in-fighting-covid-19/ | UP webinar highlights Lung Center’s innovations in fighting COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | UP webinar highlights Lung Center’s innovations in fighting COVID-19 UP webinar highlights Lung Center’s innovations in fighting COVID-19 June 18, 2020 | Written by Fred Dabu Screenshot from the livestream of the sixth installment of the UP “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series. Dr. Antonio B. Ramos, manager of the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) Department of Administrative Services and resource speaker for the sixth episode of the University of the Philippines’ “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series held on May 29, talked about the LCP experience in promoting hospital personnel safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The LCP serves as the country’s premier hospital for the treatment of lung diseases and as a referral center for COVID-19 moderate to severe respiratory diseases. Dr. Ramos said their personnel are now using about 500 personal protective equipment (PPEs) per day due to the increasing number of patients over the past weeks, and the hospital is still stockpiling PPEs for appropriate personnel safety and patient care. According to Dr. Ramos, the LCP decided to make personnel safety its priority. He further talked about the hospital’s incident command system, safety officer and zoning, infrastructure modifications, equipment, supplies, and personnel care. The structure of the incident command system includes the hospital’s officers for public information, safety, liaison, planning, operations, logistics, finance, and sub units, taskforces (medical, triage, personnel), and teams under these main sections. They hold daily briefings at the incident post situated outside of the hospital buildings. This post maintains an open-air ventilation setup to prevent virus transmission among personnel. Hospital zoning and safety policies Colored signs, pictures, maps, instructions, and reminders are posted in all corners and hallways of the LCP. Screenshot from the livestream of the sixth installment of the UP “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series. Dr. Ramos said the hospital was divided and labelled into “safety zones”, with the red colored zones indicating “very high risk” areas, orange for “high risk”, yellow for “medium risk”, and blue for “lower risk”. He said that “for red zones, hospital personnel must wear full PPEs with boots. For orange zones, they have to change PPEs every time they have to enter a new room since there they are not yet sure if the patients are COVID positive or negative. For yellow zones, the laboratories and radiology areas, they wear their face mask unless there is need to wear full PPE if procedures are done. For blue zones, all other areas of the LCP, they are required to wear their face mask. There are no green zones or safe zones.” “Upon entering the hospital grounds, everyone must wear a face mask and regularly perform hand hygiene,” Dr. Ramos said. “There are colored signs, pictures, maps, instructions, and reminders posted in all corners and hallways of the complex to increase LCP personnel’s awareness. Medical and non-medical personnel are also segregated, wherein passageways and elevators are also designated to prevent possible contact and virus transmission among personnel,” he explained. Modifications and innovations The LCP COVID ward. Screenshot from the livestream of the sixth installment of the UP “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series. According to Dr. Ramos, the LCP infrastructure modifications include the putting up of: CCTV cameras, patients’ monitors, translucent and plastic doors, controlling ACH (air change per hour), temporary plastic walls, donning and doffing areas, and other modifications. He elaborated that these modifications allow the hospital personnel to see and monitor their patients better, control flow of air, and prevent virus transmission. “Another advantage of the LCP architecture is that it has interconnected halls and corridors that allow a one-way flow of personnel” wherein the entry for one area is at one end while the exit is on the opposite end, he added. LCP equipment for monitoring their COVID patients. Screenshot from the livestream of the sixth installment of the UP “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series. Dr. Ramos described their COVID-19 ward: “The air is controlled, the supplies, equipment and other needed items are segregated, including the tables, trashcans and disinfectants that are adequately replenished after every shift.” The nurses’ station is equipped with monitors for displaying patients’ vital stats side by side with CCTV display to allow them to see the patients’ conditions. In the intensive care unit, the nurses can directly see the patients through a glass wall while computer monitors and CCTV also allow them to see the patients’ stats. LCP Medical Intensive Care Unit. Screenshot from the livestream of the sixth installment of the UP “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series. Among the tips mentioned during the webinar were: COVID-19 facilities should not have centralized air conditioning; hospitals should separate medical and non-medical personnel; and other (non-hospital) buildings must rethink the use of centralized air conditioning or recirculated air to prevent transmission of the virus. In addition, Dr. Ramos said the LCP, together with their partners and donors, are attending to the healthcare workers’ needs for shelter, food, transportation, and psychosocial support. He said the temporary shelters donated to LCP have beds, toilets, showers, and Wi-Fi, and that they also have services for personnel haircut, manicure/pedicure. He added that the LCP, with a heightened sense of preparedness, is still accepting donated PPEs and ventilators for the hospital to be able to have a reliable supply of needed equipment in case there would be a surge of COVID-19 patients. Screenshots from the livestream of the sixth installment of the UP “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series. Safety officers and promoting a culture of safety Dr. Ramos shared how their safety reminders and precautions for personnel extend outside the hospital grounds, to their homes and families. He said the LCP campaigns to maintain safety and awareness at all times. Their safety reminders feature detailed, step-by-step instructions for maintaining hand hygiene, eating habits, wearing and removing protective equipment, and other reminders for conducting daily activities under the “new normal”. Dr. Ramos furthered that every hospital, all homes, and all businesses should have a safety officer. He said everybody should eventually imbibe the role of the safety officer, and that the safety officer of corporations should even be able to cite their CEO for any violation. While the zoning prevents the spread of viruses and the wastage of PPE worn by the healthcare personnel, he said the safety officers in every unit make sure that everyone in their unit is wearing proper PPE, practicing regular hand hygiene, and observing physical distancing. Safety officers have to guarantee that all the precautions and disinfection procedures are followed, even in the upkeep of equipment, air conditioning and for needed repairs. Dr. Ramos emphasized that “the best way to take care of our patients is to take care of our health personnel.” He concluded his presentation with a reminder: “the bottom line is, if you cannot protect healthcare workers and they get sick, the whole system goes down.” This sums up the LCP prioritization for personnel safety. UP webinar series Dr. Antonio B. Ramos, Dr. Raymond Francis Sarmiento, and Dr. Susan Pineda-Mercado. Screenshot from the livestream of the sixth installment of the UP “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” webinar series. More than 250 participants from across the nation and even from abroad attended this webinar. This webinar was hosted by Dr. Raymond Francis Sarmiento of the National Telehealth Center, and Dr. Susan Pineda-Mercado of Philhealth. The video of this webinar is available at TVUP’s website and YouTube channel. The webinar series is made possible by the University of the Philippines, in partnership with the National Telehealth Center and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. It provides the country’s health professionals and clinicians a venue to share the best information on how to best manage COVID-19 cases and to protect the entire health system. Upcoming webinar: The Cebu Experience |
https://up.edu.ph/upvtc-urugup-distributes-2nd-batch-of-alcohol/ | UPVTC URUGUP distributes 2nd batch of alcohol – University of the Philippines | UPVTC URUGUP distributes 2nd batch of alcohol UPVTC URUGUP distributes 2nd batch of alcohol June 17, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Photo by the UP Visayas Tacloban College Office of the Continuing Education and Pahinungod. UP Visayas Tacloban College (UPVTC), through URUGUP, its institutional response to the COVID-19 crisis in Eastern Visayas, distributed its second batch of 80% ethyl alcohol URUGUP hand rub on May 27. Photo by the UP Visayas Tacloban College Office of the Continuing Education and Pahinungod. Five liters each of the UPVTC-produced antiseptic solution were given to: the Philippine National Police Region VIII Infirmary; Schistomiasis Hospital;the local government of MacArthur, Leyte; and, the local government of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. These institutions also received 3D-printed face shields produced by the Department of Science and Technology-Metal Industry Research and Development Center in partnership with UPV. Photo by the UP Visayas Tacloban College Office of the Continuing Education and Pahinungod. URUGUP hand rub is produced by UPVTC Chemistry faculty, researchers, and alumni. UPVTC previously provided: the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center with 20 liters of 80% ethyl alcohol; Maasin City Hospital with 5 liters; and Abuyog District Hospital with 2.5 liters. The UPVTC Security Office received 600 milliliters of 75% isopropyl alcohol and almost 3.8 liters of 80% ethyl alcohol. Personnel manning Tacloban entry and exit points were also given 1.5 liters of 75% isopropyl alcohol. (With report from Marvie Villones, UPVTC Office of the Continuing Education and Pahinungod) |
https://up.edu.ph/up-baguio-opens-arts-and-crafts-market-at-oblation-grounds/ | UP Baguio opens arts and crafts market at Oblation grounds – University of the Philippines | UP Baguio opens arts and crafts market at Oblation grounds UP Baguio opens arts and crafts market at Oblation grounds June 22, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office It is the artists and artisans their turn at trading their works at the University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB) Oblation Grounds with an arts and crafts fair dubbed “Mandëko Kito, Artisans Market” scheduled every Monday and Tuesday 9:00am-12:00nn starting June 15. Convenor of the activity, UPB faculty member Dr. Analyn Salvador-Amores said the activity will cover a month-long period or up to July 15 and is an offshoot of the farmer’s market being held in the same venue from Wednesday to Friday. Dr. Amores, former director of the UP Baguio Museo Kordilyera said the activity aims to provide a venue for artists and artisans to market their merchandise since their livelihood had been heavily impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. It also taps into the concept of creative economy espoused by the city’s membership in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. UPB chancellor Raymundo D. Rovillos said the artisans’ market is a university initiative that serves as a “continuity of its engagement in the creative cities endeavor.” He added that support to artists and artisans is even more imperative since arts and crafts is now emerging as a new paradigm for sustainable tourism in Baguio. “If we hope to recover and bounce back from the debacle of this pandemic, the city’s decision-makers must incorporate creativity, innovation, and sustainable development into its plans and programs for economic recovery,” the chancellor said. The arts and crafts sector could provide an outlook for a gradual post-pandemic recovery. The artisans market initiative embodies a regionwide scope that includes artists and artisans from the Cordillera. The participating artists and artisans and their products include Ifugao Nation, Can-eo Bontoc Weavers, Dye Indigo Abra, Pasakalye, Knitting Expedition, Narda’s, John Frank Sabado, Tam-Awan Artists, Pine Gypsy, Everything is Pine, Ibagiw Tublay, Basketweavers, Butatow Artists, Museo Kordilyera, Asin Woodcarvers, Loakan Crafters, Masalingga Arts and Crafts Kalinga, Cafe by the Ruins, Pilak Handicrafts, Marge Gomez, Made by Flor, Battallna Ga’dang, Armstrong Mina, and Indi Socks. Products include silvercraft, custom-designed shirts, hand-embroidered face masks, and hand-woven ikat, bamboo craft, woodcarving, weaving, and knitting among others. The coordinating group for participating artists and artisans is the Baguio Arts and Crafts Collective, Inc. (BACCI). Heightened health security protocols are still observed at UP Baguio. Shoppers are reminded to cooperate and observe basic sanitation practices by wearing face masks, follow physical distancing guides measures, and to also bring their own shopping bags or containers. Photo gallery (Text and photos by Roland Rabang and J.L. Lazaga, UP Baguio Public Affairs) |
https://up.edu.ph/surviving-covid-19-becoming-a-better-nurse/ | Surviving COVID-19, becoming a better nurse – University of the Philippines | Surviving COVID-19, becoming a better nurse Surviving COVID-19, becoming a better nurse June 23, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Photo from the Facebook page of the UPOU Faculty of Management & Development Studies. John Alex Melencio is a charge nurse and team leader at The Royal Brompton Hospital in London, UK. He is also a UP alumnus, having earned his Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN) degree from the UP Open University (UPOU). He was one of three nurses who shared their COVID-19 experiences in “Who Takes Care of the Caregivers?”, the latest installment of the UPOU Let’s Talk it Over online lecture series that was streamed live on June 11 in UPOU Networks. It was organized by the UPOU MAN program of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies. Screenshot of John Alex Melencio in “Who Takes Care of the Caregivers?” “It’s not easy being a patient and because of my experience, I am pushing harder to become a better nurse,” Melencio said, after having been a COVID-19 patient and eventually returning to work upon recovery. It was March 26 and the end of a particularly long day at the COVID-19 unit where he worked. He went home, ready to face another long-day shift the next day. But he woke up in the middle of the night with chills and a high-grade fever. The lockdown in London had just started. He called in sick the following morning. Soon, Melencio developed a dry cough. He felt nauseated. He lost his sense of taste, his sense of smell. He felt dizzy. He was aware he had COVID-19 symptoms and was struck with fear and anxiety. He called the National Health Service (NHS) hotline and after finally getting through, was instructed to self-isolate for seven days. He told his roommate, his best friend, who had to self-isolate as well. “But my best friend still took care of me,” Melencio revealed. When his fever had not abated for around ten days, Melencio asked his roommate to bring him to the hospital where he worked to get tested for COVID-19. The Royal Brompton Hospital had just begun testing their employees. By then, Melencio was already experiencing shortness of breath. He went home after getting tested. “I didn’t feel I was getting any better, so I called NHS again and they finally sent people to see me,” he recalled. But the result of that visit was not what he expected. He was advised to continue self-isolation. “You are a nurse. You know you can handle this. There’s no need for you to go to the hospital,” he was told. And then he got his test result. Melencio had COVID-19. He had to tell his partner. He had to call his family back in the Philippines to break the news. He also decided he needed to go to the hospital. “I am a nurse and I knew I needed proper care.” On April 8, he was confined to the acute care unit (ACU) of a nearby hospital, where he had previously worked. His chest x-ray revealed patches in his lungs. “It made me feel even more depressed.” His heart rate was high and when he saw his arterial blood gas result, he knew it did not look good. “For some patients, those levels meant intubation.” But the acute care doctors had faith in his ability to recover and did not recommend intubation nor a transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU). He went from 60% to 40% to 35% oxygen support and he thought things were going great. Until his oxygen saturation level dropped. He was referred to the ICU, but it was decided that the ACU could still handle his case. Melencio said he told his loved ones to be strong for him and he just kept his faith, that he would survive COVID-19. “I never stopped praying.” He was discharged after five days and was told to rest. His heart rate was still above normal. Over his recuperation period, Melencio did all he could to maintain good physical health by getting proper nutrition, enough rest, and exercise. As for his mental and emotional well-being, he felt the care of not only his best friend, but also of his partner and family members who, while unable to be with him, still sent messages of love and encouragement. He appreciated the support of friends who sent him food and other necessities. “After three weeks of rest, I went back to work. I wanted to be productive again,” he said. Melencio could have stayed home and rested for alonger time. His superiors at the hospital told him as much. But he believed that he would feel much better if he was back serving as a nurse again. There was no discrimination upon his return, only compassion from his co-workers, which meant a lot to him. His experienced has re-emphasized in him the belief that “our patients deserve the best care from us.” As a COVID-19 patient, he found that “kindness, patience, compassion, and love” made a lasting impact on his recovery. As a survivor and a nurse, Melencio returned to work guided by that realization, resolute in his goal to be the best nurse that he can be for his patients. |
https://up.edu.ph/csc40-anniversary-lecture-katatagan-at-pagbangon-sa-panahon-ng-pandemya/ | CSC@40 Anniversary Lecture: “Katatagan at Pagbangon sa Panahon ng Pandemya” – University of the Philippines | CSC@40 Anniversary Lecture: “Katatagan at Pagbangon sa Panahon ng Pandemya” CSC@40 Anniversary Lecture: “Katatagan at Pagbangon sa Panahon ng Pandemya” June 24, 2020 | Written by UP Baguio Office of Public Affairs The UP Baguio Cordillera Studies Center invites everyone to join us on Friday, 26 June 2020, 10:00 a.m., via Livestream for the CSC@40 Anniversary Lecture titled, “Katatagan at Pagbangon sa Panahon ng Pandemya” to be delivered by Prof. Rozel Balmores-Paulino of the Department of Anthropology, Sociology and Psychology, University of the Philippines Baguio. Prof. Balmores will talk about the impact of a pandemic and the diverse psychological reactions to the crisis as well as the practical ways of dealing with pandemic-related emotional distress, and managing the impact of COVID-19 through a resilience framework. An online question and answer (Q&A) session will follow the lecture. Questions may also be sent in advance by private message on CSC’s Facebook page. The Livestream link will be posted on Facebook and will be shared with you via email once available. Please do follow the CSC page at https://www.facebook.com/cordistudiescenter/. You may also share this information via Facebook through: https://web.facebook.com/OfficialUPB/posts/2361710780790149. For other information and updates on UP Baguio, please follow https://web.facebook.com/OfficialUPB/. |
https://up.edu.ph/bawal-lumabas/ | “Bawal lumabas.” – University of the Philippines | “Bawal lumabas.” “Bawal lumabas.” June 23, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Photo from the Facebook page of the UPOU Faculty of Management & Development Studies. Angelique Rosete is a gynecology and trophoblastic nurse, and a research coordinator at the UP-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) who is currently finishing her thesis in the Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN) program of UP Open University (UPOU). She was one of three nurses who shared their COVID-19 experiences in “Who Takes Care of the Caregivers?”, the latest installment of the UPOU Let’s Talk it Over online lecture series that was streamed live on June 11 in UPOU Networks. It was organized by the UPOU MAN program of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies. Screenshot of Angelique Rosete in “Who Takes Care of the Caregivers?” Rosete likened her experience to elements in “batas ng classroom” (law of the classroom), the meme that recently went viral. In a class, she said, people learn and gain strength from each other. During her first week of duty as part of Team 3 when UP-PGH started operating as a COVID-19 referral center, she said, “We felt like we were going to war.” Her anxiety increased with each passing day and she isolated herself from her peers. But she pushed herself to have a positive attitude and focused on providing forms of community service “to gain back [her] sanity”. She provided carpool services, looked for nearby accommodations for co-workers, and participated in surveys that she knew would help in the formulation of strategies against COVID-19. It was in the course of her volunteer work that she developed a dry cough and had headaches. She was tired and felt afraid. Getting transferred from a non-COVID-19 ward to a medical intensive care unit COVID-19 ward did not make things easier for her. Screenshot of Angelique Rosete’s presentation slide showing photos of her providing carpool services to fellow UP-PGH employees “Bawal lumabas” (going out is prohibited), she said, just like in the meme. There were limited supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) back then. No doffing of her level 4 PPE for less exposure, she explained. No bathroom breaks and no food or liquid intake for the entire shift in PPEs that felt like “sauna suits.” She still had a dry cough and was told by a resident-on-duty that she needed to get tested for COVID-19. She had to self-quarantine for 14 days. “Bawal lumabas.” She was negative for SARS-CoV-2 and was diagnosed instead with an allergic cough. Rosete was grateful that her condition was taken into consideration by her superiors. who then assigned her to a non-COVID area, with patients who tested negative. But a fellow nurse got infected and Rosete was now a suspect case. She had to be tested and self-isolated for the second time. “Bawal lumabas.” Again, she had a negative result. Screenshot of Angelique Rosete’s presentation slide showing photos of her and her colleagues wearing donated face shields “As the meme says, if you comply, ay pwede na pala ikaw lumabas” (you can now go out), she said with a laugh, talking about adherence to safety and quarantine protocols. She credited the people around her—her husband and baby, other family members, friends, colleagues, and the UP-PGH administrators—for continuing to take care of her and helping her get through this pandemic. She is also thankful for individuals and organizations that have been making her and her UP-PGH co-workers feel appreciated and valued through donations of PPEs, food, and other necessities. Rosete said of nurses, “Kami’y mapapagod pero hindi susuko” (We’ll get tired but we’ll never give up). |
https://up.edu.ph/10th-up-philhealth-webinar-will-be-about-childrens-health-during-covid-19-pandemic/ | 10th UP-PhilHealth webinar will be about children’s health during COVID-19 pandemic – University of the Philippines | 10th UP-PhilHealth webinar will be about children’s health during COVID-19 pandemic 10th UP-PhilHealth webinar will be about children’s health during COVID-19 pandemic June 24, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office There are many ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic may negatively affect the health, wellbeing, and development of children. Like adults, they are also at risk of getting COVID-19 or facing various stressful situations, such as lack of access to food, vaccination, healthcare, education, and other basic needs due to lockdown policies, unfavorable environment, or possibly other illnesses. Children may also become anxious about this “new normal” or have difficulties in expressing their feelings about the situation. Although most reports showed children with COVID-19 recovered quicker or had mild to no symptoms, new findings are showing that some may have a multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) that can lead to life-threatening problems with the heart and other organs in the body. On the other hand, we also have to learn more about how to properly detect, treat and manage COVID-19 in children, to distinguish this from other infectious diseases, and to protect children with other types of diseases, like cancer or rheumatoid arthritis, who are more at risk as the number of confirmed cases in the country surpassed 30,000 this week. “COVID-19 and Children: The Experience of Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), Davao”, our 10th webinar in this series, will be held on June 26, Friday, 12nn. SPMC Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist Ma. Delta S. Aguilar will discuss with us how to protect and care for children during the pandemic. The UP webinar series, “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates,” is hosted by the University of the Philippines, in partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the UP Manila National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Telehealth Center, every Friday from 12nn to 2pm. Registration slots are limited, so sign up NOW at bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar10.Videos of the previous webinars can also be viewed and shared via the YouTube page of TVUP. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-mindanao-dost-xi-to-help-set-up-covid-19-testing-facility-in-davao-de-oro/ | UP Mindanao, DOST XI to help set up COVID-19 testing facility in Davao de Oro – University of the Philippines | UP Mindanao, DOST XI to help set up COVID-19 testing facility in Davao de Oro UP Mindanao, DOST XI to help set up COVID-19 testing facility in Davao de Oro June 26, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, UP Mindanao Chancellor Ρrof. Larry Digal, Davao de Oro Chief of HospitalsDr. Ferdinand Soberano, Ρhiliррine Genome Center Mindanao Director Ρrof. Lyre Anni Murao sign the Memorandum of Agreement for a COVID-19 testing facility in Davao de Oro. (Ρhiliрpine Genome Center Mindanao) The University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao will help set up another COVID-19 testing facility in Davao de Oro Province, signing a memorandum of agreement with the Provincial Government and the Department of Science and Technology Region XI last 22 June 2020 at the Provincial Capitol in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro. UP Mindanao Chancellor Prof. Larry Digal, Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, and DOST XI Assistant Regional Director Kenneth Barroga signed on behalf of their government institutions. Philippine Genome Center Mindanao Director Prof. Lyre Anni Murao and Davao de Oro Chief of Hospitals Dr. Ferdinand Anthony Soberano were witnesses to the agreement. The facility, to be set up in the Provincial Hospital in Montevista Town, will be used to test patients, frontline workers, and other individuals for COVID-19 once accredited by the Department of Health (DOH). The service can also be extended to nearby provinces. The facility can also serve as a surveillance and research center for other infectious diseases. Chancellor Digal thanked Governor Uy for giving UP Mindanao the opportunity to assist the province against COVID-19. “It is a good opportunity to share the commitment of UP Mindanao and the expertise of Dr. Lyre Murao and her team in the Philippine Genome Center Mindanao and to partner with the DOST, the funding agency of PGC,” he said. UP Mindanao will provide training in molecular diagnostics and biosafety for personnel who will operate the Davao de Oro facility, as well as help in designing the facility following DOH guidelines, develop a manual of operations, and give technical assistance in the accreditation process. The university will also provide consultancy services for technical issues that may arise during regular operations of the facility and formulate programs for the expanded use of the facility in infectious disease surveillance and research. Department of Science and Technology XI Assistant Regional Director Kenneth Barroga, Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, UP Mindanao Chancellor Ρrof. Larry Digal, Davao de Oro Chief of Hospital Dr. Ferdinand Soberano, and Ρhiliррine Genome Center Mindanao Director Ρrof. Lyre Anni Murao show the Memorandum of Agreement for a COVID-19 testing facility in Davao de Oro. (Ρhiliрpine Genome Center Mindanao) For this initiative, the DOST XI will provide financial support for the training of personnel for the facility.Assistant Regional Director Barroga described the Davao de Oro leadership as “agile and innovative” in responding to the needs of its people and offered the services of the DOST Regional Health Council in funding projects “not just for COVID-19 but other infectious diseases as well.” The Provincial Government will design and construct the facility, procure the laboratory supplies and equipment to be used in the facility, apply for DOH accreditation, and serve as the fund manager. It will spearhead the sample collection and storage and take charge of the facility’s maintenance and operation. Governor Uy said it was timely that UP and DOST came in when President Duterte gave the Bayanihan funds for the province. “It’s one less worry, and hopefully, the COVID-19 facility will be up and running by August,” he said. UP Mindanao, through the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Mindanao, also lent its expertise for a COVID-19 testing facility in Tagum City on 19 May 2020 and provided training for the personnel. UP Mindanao also entered into a strategic partnership with the Southern Philippines Medical Center on 26 May 2020 to train personnel who will operate other COVID-19 testing facilities in Mindanao. The PGC Mindanao is the training arm of the UP-DOH collaboration for COVID-19. (Rene Estremera, Public Relations Officer, University of the Philippines Mindanao) |
https://up.edu.ph/upou-offers-free-online-bridge-courses/ | UPOU offers free online bridge courses – University of the Philippines | UPOU offers free online bridge courses UPOU offers free online bridge courses June 23, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo True to the University as a public service institution, UP Open University (UPOU) will offer free online bridge courses in English and Mathematics for senior high school students, college freshmen, and all other interested individuals starting July 1. The courses will be conducted in UPOU’s portal for massive open online courses, UPOU MODeL. The initiative, tagged “Kahandaan, Kasanayan, at Kaalaman” (Readiness, Proficiency, and Knowledge), is a joint undertaking of the Faculty of Education and Ugnayan ng Pahinungod of UPOU. The latter was established in June 2019, following the revival of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod/Oblation Corps program, the University’s volunteer service program, as a UP System unit. The program had previously been devolved to UP’s constituent universities. To sign up, go to https://tinyurl.com/UPOUBridge2020. For further inquiries, send an email to pahinungod.upou@up.edu.ph or a message via the Facebook page of Ugnayan ng Pahinungod UPOU. UPOU is the leading open and distance e-learning institution in the country. Apart from UPOU MODeL, it also has other portals for online learning materials. UPOU Networks is the repository of all UPOU-produced materials. Open UP Connect is UPOU’s official blog, where members of its community share their expertise and experiences. The UPOU YouTube channel has a collection of videos on a wide variety of topics. |
https://up.edu.ph/self-reliance-needed-in-countrys-response-to-covid-19/ | Self-reliance needed in country’s response to COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | Self-reliance needed in country’s response to COVID-19 Self-reliance needed in country’s response to COVID-19 June 30, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Screenshot of Dr. Charlotte Chiong in “COVID-19 and the Heart”, with replay on TVUP’s YouTube channel. UP Manila (UPM) College of Medicine (UPCM) Dean Charlotte Chiong said, “We need to be self-reliant in testing, prevention, and treatment.” This was her statement after being asked by PhilHealth Board Director Susan Mercado to comment on the country’s independence in the fight against COVID-19. Chiong was a guest speaker in the eighth installment of UP’s STOP COVID DEATHS webinar series, “COVID-19 and the Heart,” of which Mercado was a co-host, along with UP Manila National Telehealth Center (NTHC) Director Raymond Sarmiento. The episode was streamed live on June 12, the 122nd anniversary of Philippine Independence. Screenshot of Dr. Charlotte Chiong in “COVID-19 and the Heart”, with replay on TVUP’s YouTube channel. Chiong said that the University started developing RT-PCR test kits as soon as the genetic sequence of the virus was made available. The effort was led by Dr. Raul Destura. While the country had to order test kits from abroad and initially had the tests done abroad as well, the locally made kits were undergoing validation in the laboratory as a requirement for in-country use. The capacity to test for COVID-19 was also strengthened within the University. In UPM alone, there are two accredited testing laboratories: the UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Medical Research Laboratory and the UP National Institutes of Health, where the test kits were developed. Chiong added that they are expecting the arrival of two automated RT-PCR machines in July. As for disease prevention, different research groups in UP are looking into the creation of a vaccine. It is hoped that a center for vaccine research and development would emerge from the initiatives in this pandemic. Chiong admitted that such a project is ambitious. “Can we afford it? Or do we just focus on clinical trials?” In the treatment of COVID-19, Chiong revealed that while UP-PGH, which was designated as a COVID-19 referral hospital in March, is part of the World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity clinical trial, it still validates all information and protocols handed by WHO. Chiong said, “The WHO protocols that we followed hook, line, and sinker turned out to be inapplicable to us, like we don’t need ventilators as much because high flow of oxygen can work.” In the course of their COVID-19 management experience, some realizations were made, such as that convalescent plasma therapy must be given earlier than usual, and that some prophylactic antibiotics are not effective. “What treatment is applicable to the Filipino? Our reactions to certain medications may be different,” she said. Innovation was and remains a key factor in dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 management, Chiong emphasized. With the help of the UP Diliman (UPD) College of Engineering (CoE), face shields were being produced for UP-PGH workers. The UPCM Surgical Innovations and Biotechnology Laboratory developed telepresence monitors to help patients connect virtually to their families. The RxBox, a telemedicine device developed by the NTHC, UPD Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute, and UPD National Institute of Physics, was repurposed to become telemetry stations for UP-PGH patients. Classrooms were converted to convalescent plasma therapy centers, so that plasma donors are kept away [Ed: outside the hospital building?] from the hospital building. UPCM and UPD CoE have also embarked on the development of SANI-POD, a self-contained cubicle for sanitation of health frontline workers. Four locally made ventilators were also in the process of safety validation. Research also plays a significant role in improving the management of present and future diseases. Chiong said studies on the effect of virgin coconut oil on COVID-19 patients and on the validity of antibody rapid test kits, for example, are being undertaken, with numerous others awaiting research funding. “During World War II, UP-PGH was the only University unit operating. We look at [the] COVID-19 [pandemic] as a war. . . . We’re one with the Filipino [people]. When we were called to serve, we said yes.” Watch “COVID-19 and the Heart” in full here. The UP webinar series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” is scheduled every Friday from 12nn to 2pm. The webinar on “Rehabilitation for Critical Care Survivors of COVID-19”, with Dr. Celso F. Bate, physiatrist of The Medical City and VRP Medical Center, is set for Friday, July 3. Registration slots are limited, so sign up NOW: bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar11. |
https://up.edu.ph/urugup-para-han-jipapad/ | URUGUP para han Jipapad – University of the Philippines | URUGUP para han Jipapad URUGUP para han Jipapad June 30, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Photo from the UPVTC OCEP UP Tacloban turned over to the local government of Jipapad, Eastern Samar 231 sacks of rice (@ 10 kilos), 10 liters of alcohol-based hand rub, and 350 3-D printed face shields on 21 June 2020 for distribution to residents. The donation was delivered with the assistance of Navara Nation Philippines-Eastern Visayas Chapter. Photo from the UPVTC OCEP The sacks of rice were purchased from funds donated by UP Tacloban faculty and staff, amounting to 95,400 pesos, including a donation of 50,500 pesos from Batch 83 led by Assoc. Prof. Ladylyn Mangada and Prosecutor Nemitz Negado. The faculty and staff fund drive was held on 20-29 May 2020, as part of the College’s 47th founding anniversary celebration. Photo from the UPVTC OCEP The alcohol-based hand rub is courtesy of the UP Tacloban hand rub production team led by Dr. Rolly G. Fuentes. The 3-D printed face shields were produced by the Department of Science and Technology-Metal Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) in partnership with the University of the Philippines Visayas led by Chancellor Ricardo P. Babaran. (Report from Marvie Villones, UPVTC OCEP) |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.